Yep. Sad state of affairs for someone like me as I have little to zero interest in organs or synths.

As my first experience at NAMM, I thought it was a decent show. I wasn't amazed. I forgot to bring my Audio Technica headphones, so I had to settle with the crappy ones they provided there. On the acoustic side, I could barely hear anything with everything else going on. Only a good place to test the action of the pianos (sort of, since you really couldn't hear what your playing). Only way to experience anything good there would be with a decent set of headphones and an electronic instrument where you can use headphones. Anyways, here are some photos I took.

PS: I didn't bother taking pics of models that were already out.

Casio PX-5S


Another shot of the 5S



Yamaha Arius 162



Some specs on the Arius 162


Kawai VPC1


Specs on the VPC1 (was really hoping for a GF action)


NEW Kawai CS-10 hybrid piano


Specs on the CS-10


NEW Kawai CS-7


Specs on the CS-7


New Kawai CS-4


Specs on the CS-4

@Gatsbee13,

You did a nice job in getting all of those pictures, although it is apparent there is nothing really new to speak of with Kawai, as both the CS7 and CS10 models have identical specs with the CA65 and CA95. Just different cabinets for each model.

Therefore, no improvements/updates on the current offerings.

Gatsbee 13, thanks for the pics. But I expect many of us here are most interested in what you thought of the sounds and actions involved. Any comments on the PX-5s for starters?

Here is something new, I believe, from Roland.. Keyboard and screen are synchronized so that when you play notes displayed on the screen, it is highlighted (+ automatic page turns)

I didn't get a chance to play the PX-5s as there was someone demonstrating the product. I did get a brochure of the PX-5s which I can upload later.

I got to play the Kawai ES-7 for the first time and I liked it a lot.

As far as sounds and actions, this is going a little beyond this sub-forum, but I think I may start to save up for the Silent Piano from Yamaha. They have the CFX sampling and theres quite a bit you can do with the system. By the time im finished saving up, im sure there will be more upgrades to the Silent Piano. Just wish they could install something like that on my Yamaha U1, but its only factory installed.

I believe the PX-5s is shipping in march/april from what I heard..

Uh oh, "Harmonic Imaging XL" - I wonder what heck that means? (re. Kawai CS10)

Kawai use this technology in the CA-65/95 as well, something about "eXtra Long" samples if I remember correctly. See the CA-65/95 brochure for the usual "marketing speak" description.

Can I recruit some help from someone at the NAMM show? Could you please ask a rep at the Nord booth if they are doing anything to upgrade memory on the piano 2? I am currently waiting for the "new release" to be delivered at the end of Feb and I won't receive it until March. If there is nothing different between the newest inbound shipment and the ones in the warehouse I'll just have them ship one from warehouse.

Cheers,
Greg

Vintage Vibe came out with their Vibanet. Looks wicked.

Casio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfIMTbOg20I

Kawai

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoktYu4D9HU

I really wonder how that alpha piano came to be. As if a real grand action wasn't expensive enough already, they decided to go with a Porsche design and somehow position this in the luxury segment. Unbelievably stupid to believe that anyone would want such a thing. The vast majority can't afford it, and those who can are sure to be buying a real grand which also come in futuristic designs if someone really digs that. Here's one example:

http://www.boesendorfer.com/en/special-models.html

That's not entirely fair. The Bösendorfer you linked to is probably three times as much as the Alpha.

I once got a quote for a Bösendorfer Imperial Grand and I would have to decide whats more important buying a house or buying the Bösendorfer if I ever came across that kind of money (it would probably still take a few minutes to decide though :D)

Problem is, you usually need a house for the Bösendorfer as well

Sure it costs more, but someone considering an Alpha piano is probably not too far off from being able to afford it. I just don't think that somebody who saved up $40k is going to throw it at a Porsche design luxury piano with a crappy VST inside. The only people I see could be even remotely interested are those who can afford a real grand and also have the space for it. Apparently there are plently of people buying grands as furniture as well.

You forget about the euro show in April .....

Frankfurter Messe ?!

By the way that px5 is great on specs and probably a good and lightweight gigging board, but it looks weird to say the least. Especially on the fotograph of the back it looks as if it is patched and glued together from all different kinds of parts, materials and colors. No design award there. Casio is making great leaps in technical specifications and keybeds lately, but they should really hire someone who knows something about product design ! (And not Porsche please ;-)

That's putting it mildly ....I'd call it fugly

It was an understatement to put it mildly ;-) I understand Casio wants to make a comeback in the synth marked and climb up the ladder in the DP market. A better , more stylish and professional design should be part of that effort. Apparently ; either no one has come to that idea at Casio headquarters or the design specialist at Casio simply has a totally different taste in terms of design and finish of the product(s). Maybe next year...

Hey, they're Japanese. Have you seen some of the car designs those folks have come up with?

Where are Studiologic's new product(s)?

Not only in Kawai's brochure but generally I see lots of adjectives like unique, stunning, incredible, inovative, etc, ad nauseum. Some but not really much breakthrough technology lately.

Best in show so far ..... DSI prophet 12 ....

C'mon now. Don't go there. I can name plenty of European and American cars that will make you go blind too.

Please check out the Vibanet by Vintage Vibe. Would love to get a first hand impression.

Finally something like Roland RD-64! Unfortunately it has keyboard starting on A on the bottom (I'd rather have at let low E), but there is octave switch button. Great keyboard + SN pianos + SN e.pianos! That's awesome, many people needed something like this, I suspect I'll see it on many stages, especially talking about gigs. Portability is very important for modern musician. With 12.8 kg you can even go by a metro with this I hope for price below 2000$.

All specs etc. are here http://www.rolandus.com/products/details/1266/471/specs/

Anyone?

Scuttlebutt on this forum has suggested a much lower street price. If that's accurate, I'll probably get one as a "travel piano."

The price in the US seems to be $999.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RD64

I consider many Japanese products rather sleek and good-looking, although there was a time when almost all of their cars didn't have a single sharp edge, everything was smooth and round... That was weird. Now I think it's mainly French car manufacturers who have lost their touch. But it's getting better... slowly.

But back on topic - that Casio keyboard does look a little strange, blocky maybe and kinda retro if you will. I'm not into such sort of thing but I'm sure there are people out there who are.