I've got my AKG headphones and can now play the piano while the kids sleep and my wife watches a movie. But now I get "comments" from the family that the thumping sound of the keys is loud. And frankly, when I play and take the headphones off my head, it is pretty loud. So I brought this up to my piano teacher,who has a Yammy DP, and he said he woke up his downstairs neighbor while wearing headphones! I suppose my old accoustic made the same sound, but was covered over by the piano strings/soundboard.

I had no idea. I'm just ranting here,not complaining, just surprised at my ignorance in believing that somehow I'd be silent while playing with headphones.

(for anybody thinking of a console DP, this CA91 is unbelievably real. Simply incredible.)

Yeah, when I would play my old YDP-113 I would get a ton of complaints from anyone who was downstairs at the time. I guess the hammers hitting the felt really made a thump. I now own a Kurzweil K2600X and it seems quieter on the down stroke... But let the key up quickly (letting the "hammer" fall) and the sound of the key weight returning to it's original position is loud. So it's the same problem, different point of contact. I guess all actions make noise, putting all those parts in to motion.

I've noticed a lot of digitals with "spongy" actions - RD-300SX, Kawai ESX, Korg Triton... I wonder if they have the same characteristics?

Hi 4sCompany... that's good to read, since I'm presently waiting for my CA 91 to be delivered! Ironically, when I was testing the CA 91 and its competitors, the sound (grand piano) was what impressed me the least. I eventually chose the Kawai for its superior keyboard action. I'd be interested to hear which settings you've used (including virtual technician etc) for your grand piano sound assuming that, like me, you play mostly classical music.

Michael

Yeah the thumping in these digital pianos is a problem sometimes. About 10 years ago when I lived in an apartment the chick downstairs would beat on the ceiling with a broomstick when I would practice on my Yamaha P200 with headphones early in the morning before work 6-7am.

I thought to myself this chick must be nuts because when I would take off the headphones all I could hear was a gentle thumping like someone drumming their fingers on a table. The apartment had wall to wall carpet with a thick foam padding.

I figured maybe she heard something because she would after all beat on her ceiling like a maniac but how loud could it be down there through the foam lined keyboard stand and carpet. I just ignored her banging....

Now I live in a one story house and have a Kawai MP3 which is noticably louder in the thump department. Not loud enough to wake and disturb my wife but it does thump louder than the Yamaha did. But I was surprised that my wife can hear the thumping even if she is on the other side of the house in the kitchen.

She appreciates me practicing on the digital in the mornings and late at night rather than the grand though. So the thumping isn't all that loud....

Ciao,
Daniel

lescharles - good point on the spongy touch DPs...
Cruiser - you'll love your CA91. I can feel this piano vibrate like an acoustic. It's wonderful. As for the virtual technician, I haven't touched it yet. I'm still discovering all the sounds and samples..(I play everything, but I'm a hacker). I have found though, for grand piano sound, Grand Piano 2 sounds nicer to my ear.
DM - so it's not just me. I think the thumping is low enough that it pulsates through stone!

Perhaps you should consider placing some sort of padding under the stand, and see if it helps? Test with a blanket or something.