Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Yamaha Clavinova CLP-480

What do folks that own (or, have had) the CLP-480 think about it?

1) Does this piano have full 88-key sampling as I am not sure if this detail is mentioned in the specs?

2) How does the wooden action behave and is it good with repetitions?

3) How well do the built-in speakers project the sounds?

The estimated retail price is currently around $5,364.*
(For the rosewood finish only, not ebony polish.)

*Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer guide

It`s not cheap, is it? Some DPs retailing below £1k actually have 88 key sampling and velocity sample levels too; according to Youtube they sound great. So this totr Yam sould be the business . . . .but will it fit in that corner?

For that money I'd go for a NU1.

I would like to hear any additional feedback from owners of this model (i.e., CLP-480) and specifically as to the playability with the speakers/soundboard perspective for the player.

Question 1:

Does anyone know if the CLP-480 has 88 key sampling, similar to the Kawai CA95?

The specs page indicates it has "Stereo Sustain Samples" so does that mean all 88 keys are individually sampled?

http://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical-instruments/keyboards/digitalpianos/clp_series/clp480/

Question 2:

Does the CLP-480 arrive preassembled from the dealer/store, or, does the customer have to put it together from the box?

The Owner's Manual shows detailed assembly instructions for the CLP-480 starting on page 82.

I think not. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe all CLP-4xx pianos share the same sound engine and thus the same set of samples. And I'm quite certain that CLP-430 does not have all 88 keys sampled.

@Clayman,

Did you have to assemble your CLP-430 from the box, or, was it delivered from the dealer/store already preassembled?

Eh, sorry about the confusion. I don't own the CLP-430 but I think, since it's pretty much the lowest model in the CLP line, that it doesn't have all the keys sampled.

Yamaha would have touted such a feature more if the pianos did have it.

EDIT: Also, the keyboard is the same as with CLP-470, which is substantially cheaper (the CLP-470 is still one of the two pianos I'm considering for purchase in a few months). To be honest, I have not yet found the reason why the CLP-480 is so much more expensive than the CLP-470 since it "only" has an upgraded speaker system, a soundboard and more sounds. Do these extras really qualify for an extra ~$2000?

EDIT 2: Here is a ~10 MB brochure about the CLP series. It contains a "chart" of sorts where each model is listed with features upgraded from its preceding model.

Does anyone here know as to how the CLP-480 would ship from the store/dealer, in its box to be assembled by the customer, or, already fully assembled upon delivery?

I don't know about the CLP-480, but my CLP-470 came in a big box and was partly assembled, that is I only had to set up the stand and then mount the top part. It's about 10 min work, 15 is you have a cautious approach. You need two people for assembly as the top part is heavy to handle alone (and anyway the delivery man probably won't bring the huge box into your house either)

@gerion,

My Kawai CA95 had arrived completely assembled as two delivery men simply had to cart it in off of their truck and roll it into place, ready to play.

I may ask to see if my local store can deliver it, i.e., a pre-assembled Yamaha in the same way, as I think they might do so if I request it.

pv88, it's perhaps worth noting that the CA95 is pre-assembled at the factory, due to the soundboard speaker.

Kind regards,
James
x

James,

It is interesting to note that there are also "GP" (Grand Piano) soundboard speakers in the back of the Yamaha CLP-480, although it appears from the owner's manual that one has to put all of these components together, from the box. It is a lot of work, including needing another person to help lift the very heavy console section onto the stand and screwing all this stuff together.

I am going to ask to see if the CLP-480 can be assembled at the store/dealer before it is delivered which will save me a lot of time and trouble. After it's put together they can easily move it on a small dolly, just as they did with the CA95. And, an assembled digital is basically ready to play after it gets rolled into place.

You can have it either way. Ask your dealer.

I'm one "those guys" that wants to assemble it myself because I want to know each bolt was tightened just right, and not stripped by a couple of kids hurriedly assembling it at the shop. And I want it to arrive at my home in the box without scratches, etc. Yeah, I'm one of those guys.

But I must say - my CVP-409GP arrived packed in the most Styrofoam I have ever seen in one box. Thick sheets of Styrofoam, big blocks of Styrofoam, the huge box was probably half full of Styrofoam. If the CLP-480 is packed anything like that, be prepared.

Oooh nice, I was just admiring the CVP-609GP yesterday!

They are a nice MIDI keyboard, MIDI recorder, and speaker system for a software piano. Are you interested in the other bells and whistles? I probably use them 2% of the time, but they can be fun to fool around with once in a while.

Hi PV88,

during my "saga" finding DP for me and my 6 y.o. son, I started from Roland HP305, Roland RD-700NX, Yamaha CLP 470/480, CP 5, Kawai CA 65/95 SC 6/9, Yamaha NU1 and finally N1.

Personally I like sound of Roland. Therefore it stays on first position from those I tested. HP 305 has good key top, but the action is a bit lighter for me.
The sounds is brilliant and man can hear no any sample transition.
IMPO, next as a sound quality (not as an action) come 2 yamaha DP:

Yamaha CP 5(1)
and
CLP 470/480.

Both sound a bit different from each other.
I would prefer the sound of CPL 470 (480) over CP1. Very nice instruments, indeed. (480 is a bit pricy, don't you think?)
The sample transitions on first glance are difficult to be heard.
If you are interested on 88 key samples – you should be aware, that they are not your pianos.
There was an audio project, led by some colleague, where man can see and listen to the issues of sampling.
But honestly, they are very slide.
From other hand - Kawai, with all its derivates, is a DP with attractive price for its cabinet and action, but when is being recorded sounds harsh and with short decay. Its FX system and so called "sound board" are good as an idea for practicing (may be), but they do not help a lot if you need this instrument as a recording tool.

Talking about assembling of CPL series:
when I went to the shop to pick up my N1, there was one CPL 480 separated into 2 boxes – stand and keyboard. It is easy to transport it.

At the end: I would suggest, if you like the sound of CPL 480, think that in one moment you will work with headphones. Why not 470 then? It is cheaper and as a cabinet looks pretty the same.

Talking about the price: CPL 480 (PE) in Germany could be found for ca. €4670 and NU1 €4560 (inc.19% VAT).
The action and sound quality of NU1 is much better... Just try it. It has no any gadgets and extra presets, just two loudspeakers, but again IMO that is a DP piano!

As a conclusion I will paste what "boyonahill" wrote: "For that money I'd go for a NU1".
I couldn't agree more with him.

Why are those two so similar in price?

Speaking of assembly, don't the first set of hands/arms appear to be backwards, and shouldn't that person* be facing the other direction?

Look at the illustrations on the 2nd page:

http://imgur.com/a/BqhMM

*Extra note:

Unless it's a four-armed monster!