Hi. I've been watching this forum for a while as I attempt to make up my mind about which digital piano to invest in... as of today, I've pretty much narrowed my choices down to the yamaha clp150 or the kawai ca1000, which appear to be approximately the same price, at least taking into account current sales.

The biggest difficulty I'm facing is that I haven't been able to try the ca1000. In my area, the dealers with Kawais only have the CN380. I liked the action on the CN380... but after playing with the yamaha, I wanted a few more features than the CN380, like half-pedaling... Can anyone comment on whether the half-pedaling is worthwhile? Also, I would love to hear comments on the wooden keyboards on the kawais--I have only seen the plastic keyboard of the CN380.

There are things I like about the Yamaha--like a usb connection (I have a macintosh, the serial port on the kawai would help me not at all.) And the Yamaha does manage to *look* nicer. But shouldn't it be how the piano *sounds* that counts?

Anyway, if anyone has any comments or advice on my choice, I'd be thrilled to hear from you. My background is that I played an acoustic piano when I lived at home with my parents, but for the last six or so years I've been living on my own and haven't played much... now I have an apartment, and decided a digital piano would be the best way to go.

Thanks for any advice,
Amy

I don't have a whole lot of info for you, and I did not shop for a home digital piano. I originally thought I wanted a "professional stage piano" - even though I doubt I'll be gigging. I wanted the best action, sound, and the best midi controller keyboard (with splits, pitch benders, etc) rolled into one. I should mention here that the salesman warned me that these things (keyboards) were "like women.......impossible to get everything you want rolled into just one package.".......Many weeks of shopping later, I had to agree with him.

Anyway I tried various things including Roland RD700, KawaiMP9500, Yamaha Motif8, and Yamaha S90. Yes, the Kawai came with the much hyped new "real wooden hammer" setup. I thought it was good but, for lack of a better word, sluggish. Roland was snappier but too light. Yamaha seemed to have the best feel. Just for fun I tried their model P80 (very light, portable - requires external, powered speakers). It had the best action of all! Good price too. Try one and maybe get a couple of good powered studio monitors to go with it.

By the way........I ended up not being able to resist going for the (relatively new) Korg Studio 88 Workstation/sampler and a pair of Tannoy System 600 monitors. Expensive, but it is one helluva toy. Now all I have to do is devote a year or so trying to learn how to use it!