Another happy N3X owner here; I've had mine for about a year and a half, and love it. I'm not a professional, so I don't have quite the concerns that you do. It is simply an outstanding piano, both touch/feel of the keyboard, but also the amazing sound. I particularly appreciate having the choice between the different samples, the brighter Yamaha CFX or the warm resonance of the Bosendorfer Imperial, especially for Debussy. And the harpsichord samples for Scarlatti. You are absolutely right about the half-pedal issues on the N3X. That's really my only complaint. I did try out a Silent Piano when I was trying different pianos before purchasing. (Actually, a transacoustic U1 upright.) It's amazing technology, especially the transacoustic ability to play sampled digital sound through the piano's soundboard, but I decided against that for several reasons. For one thing, the digital samples did not match the sound of the acoustic piano, so it was jarring to switch between digital and acoustic. And the strings still need to be tuned, especially if your ears are well-trained. (I'm a former cellist, and you need your ears to know when you're playing in tune!) Also, at the time I was shopping, I was working on Debussy's prelude "La Cathedrale Engloutie," which needs a good sostenuto pedal. Most of the Yamaha uprights don't have a sostenuto pedal (only the YUS5 does), so a Silent Piano option on the YUS5 or a baby grand would have cost more than the N3X. So thank you for an honest follow-up review! I especially appreciated your perspective as a professional pianist.
Hi Diane! Thank you for watching 🙏 So glad to hear you had the same experience with the pedals. With regards to the Silent Piano, maybe the N3X isn’t bad after all? 😉🙃
On all of the Avantgrands I don't like the fact that notes held down without the damper depressed and then the damper is depressed with those noters still held down, the notes get unnaturally louder. Also the sample length of all of the notes is only about three seconds long, so any note held longer than that switches to loop mode. While some notes are looped pretty well, for several others it's painfully obvious when the transition happens.
I had played an electric violin exclusively for over a year and was shocked when I picked up my acoustic how much louder it was under my ear. Your point is very valid and I honestly hadn’t even thought about the fact that I’m doing the exact same thing with my Yamaha DGX670 keyboard, but I don’t have access to an acoustic piano at the moment.
Just to let you know, if you have not found out about this youeself, that there are headphones which are partialy open and do not isolate you accousticaly so that you can put the headphones on both your ears and still hear the environemnt, your phone or someone nocking on the door.
Greetings from France. Thank you for this video Mariya. Great infos for me who's looking to buy one. I also checked some of your other videos, you are truly gifted.
Interesting experience report. I'd be interested to know if there were any complaints from your neighbours when you played with headphones. I own an Avantgrand N1x and am very happy and satisfied with it. Unfortunately, I currently live in a poorly soundproofed attic apartment. When I was playing very intensively with my headphones late in the evening, the neighbour who lives below me came up. He thought I was playing electronic drums. So he heard the sound of the keys. Have you ever had similar experiences?
Hello Mariya! Thank you for an update on N3X. I enjoy your channel. I also have N3X and love it. Do you get any squeak or clicking noises from the damper pedal? I sometimes get that.
Yes… I thought about mentioning that, but those are actually just “normal” piano problems ☺️ Sometimes pedals need to be tightened, or just lubricated. Check with your piano technician!
Hey just watched your video and loved your review of the N3X. Just wanted to back up some of the other commenters who have recommended that what you need is a pair of "open backed" headphones. These are studio type headphones that cover your ears but have holes in the back allowing you to hear everything in the room around you. It's like you're not wearing headphones at all. When you first try them I swear you will have to double check that the sound is coming from the headphones and not the piano as it will literally feel like you are hearing the sound coming from the piano speakers. This combined with the binaural samples of the N3X will give you the feeling of sitting at the grand piano from which it was recorded, but without disturbing your neighbours, allowing you to practice at normal playing volume, eliminating all the issues you were getting when transitioning to an acoustic piano after practicing at unnaturally lower volumes. I can also recommend the exact headphones to buy as this can be a minefield. They are not expensive. (Only around £80 here in the UK) and are very comfortable to wear. The are made by Roland specifically for digital pianos and I have to admit they are the most natural sounding headphones I've ever heard and sound clear and accurate in all the registers of the piano. They are the Roland RH-A7 Open Air Headphones. www.roland.com/uk/products/rh-a7/ I hope this is helpful to you. And I hope you have many more years of enjoyment playing your N3X. David
Thank you so much for your comment, David! I will definitely look into the "open backed" headphones in the near future! I am also hoping that there are many more years to come with the N3X :)
If you will forgive my 2 cents worth this is my personal experience having played both enough now to have an opinion. Both are excellent, but that being said based on my personal preferences I find the Kawai to have a better action overall. Kawai just seems to have done a better job with action realism and consistency across the keys,. Pedaling seems better on the Kawai as well. As far as sound, it’s a personal preference, but again I prefer the Kawai which has a bit less of that digital aspect to the sound. Interestingly the Kawai NV5S sounds better than either one to my ears. Both the N3X and Kawai Novus pianos are about as far as you can go up the digital piano ladder. I don’t think someone could go wrong with either of them.
@@hwaldman6479 Thank you very much for taking the time to respond to me. You are very humble, as a professional pianist, your opinion is more than appreciable. I wish you the best Paul
Thanks for your input. I'm planning to get my first digital grand, the Yamaha CLP-795GP (cheaper) and restart a serious practice regimen; your tips will be helpful (I too am not keen on headphones, but I hate to practice without them when there are people around)! I too have been playing mostly Yamaha acoustics (I've had a U1AR(sp?) upright for many years). I also have a small Yamaha P-115 digital whose action is pretty good if on the light side. Were you able to audio and/or MIDI multitrack directly on the instrument? The 795 has 16 MIDI tracks but seemingly only 1 audio track... but multitracking can always be done on a connected computer. Do you post your performances to your channel? Best of luck in your career! (PS the 795 has a half-pedal sustain action, as does your model)
@@WithMariya My pleasure! Yes, they are pricey...but the N3X deserves a headphone like that so you can enjoy the most out of the sound quality. Also, Clear MG by being open back you would not need to take them off to listen to your surroundings. Best wishes! (:
I decided that the sound of the N3X was a bit too big for the small room I keep it in, so went with the N1X. Four years in, I am still delighted with it, but occasionally I wonder whether I should have gone with the bigger one. Like you, I prefer not to use headphones when I practice.
Thanks re: the piano. a year in. Looking at the AvantGrand series for next digital. I love your technique; up on the finger tips as much as possible with more verticality of hands and fingers. Strong and sensitive-I think that's down to the tips rather than the pads.
Great video! - Good to hear how you've got on with the Piano a year later. In regards to the half-pedalling and quarter-pedalling behaviour, I'm interested if you've ever considered using Pianoteq VST software? The reason I ask is that because it is an acoustic model of a piano, rather than sampled based it responds in real-time to how a real acoustic piano would react. I like to half-pedal and 're-catch' the strings a lot in my playing, and since I grew up playing acoustic uprights I always found the pedal simulation in digitals somewhat lacking. The hybrids have come a long way since then, but I still find nothing comes close to the realism of Pianoteq software. It comes 'alive' just like a real acoustic piano, and you mind find it helps with the transition from your NX3 to acoustic piano with pedal technique. You could also play the Pianoteq sound directly through the in-built sound system of the NX3 I believe, so you could still play it without using headphones. - Maybe something for a future video perhaps?
Wow, that’s not something I’m familiar with, thank you for bringing that up!! I will try to take a look at it and see if it’s a good fit 🙏👍 Thank you so much for watching, my friend!!
I have been using Pianoteq for many years. You are right about the modeling versus sample based solutions to piano sound reproduction. Partial damper pedaling, damper felt noise, dynamic profiles, tone, tuning, mic placement - every imaginable parameter are all editable within Pianoteq. Mated with a first class weighted keyboard and sound system, you get as close to a viable piano sound I have been able to find. I own a Steinway B. I absolutely love that instrument. But when I need to make a recording, I inevetibly turn to Pianoteq because I have control over every parameter. Plus, I do not have to worry about my neighbor using his grass blower!
@@erikpnoman Only issue with pianoteq is that it sounds fake as all hell compared to any sampled instrument. Guess thats the big difference between a recording of a real piano and a mathematic algorithm trying to recreate the soul of an instrument. I'm a piano technician and also a sound designer, and I've never got on with the sound of PianoTeq, which is a shame because I think the software has potential, but in its current state it just sounds REALLY bad compared to real samples or a real piano if you have an actual trained ear on what a piano should sound like.
As an alternative, you should take a look at some of the Vienna Symphonic Libraries VST pianos, they absolutely blow PianoTeq out of the water in realism, as do a lot of other superior sampled instruments. It is true that you have marginally more realism in regards to instrument control with PianoTeq, but it doesnt change how awful the instruments sound no matter what you do to it unfortunately.
@@Erainia In the past that may have been true, but the Pianoteq models have been getting better and better with each iteration. The New York Steinway D is pretty special in the latest Pianoteq 7 version. - A prestigious company like Steinway would not have put their name to it if they didn't feel it lived up to the exquisite sound of a Steinway Grand. The Yamaha models still leave a lot to be desired however.
Hi. So I'm in the market for a piano (I'm an amateur player for fun) Question would you choose this piano or Yamaha CLP Clavinova 795GP? What's the price of your piano run for? Thanks!!
thanks so much for sharing your insights and experience. it would be awesome to revisit this for a 3-year or 5-year update that also comments to the reliability or longevity of digital pianos. great video!
Mariya, first off I LOVE your channel and even subscribed to the Bell notification :). Because of you I am considering a N3X or an N1X. I am curious why you got the N3X instead of the Yamaha baby grand (5’1) that has the silent play feature? I live in a house with 4 teens/adults and we share a small space so I am considering the N3X to be able to play with headphones or a low volume. I only own a keyboard now but want to upgrade to a grand as I will be an acoustic grand at some point later on when we are empty nesters and don’t have high school/college kids at home studying. Are you still happy with your N3X? Right now, anything will be an upgrade from the keyboard I am playing on now. But considering the price I am trying to get as much information as i can.
Hi Christine!! Super appreciate you ❤️😍 Thank you for your support!! To be honest, I never even considered it. Going back, I would probably do more research into how silent pianos compare to hybrids 🤷♀️ From what I hear from others, they are also excellent options, but often the change between the synthetic sound and authentic can be jarring, and I’m not sure you can adjust the volume as you’re playing without headphones. Hope this helps!! 🙏❤️
5:45 It's not about picky... you're absolutely right about the color and you pointed out a great opportunity for future technology. I'm thinking of making a purchase on a piano and you've given me things that I would have never considered... so I appreciate that.
The hearing thing is probably just nerve sensitivity not hearing damage. When you had just one headphone on. The headphone side becomes desensitized and the non headphone side becomes highly sensitive searching for sounds. It can take a few weeks to months to resolve once you go back to proper stereo.
Hey Mariya. I have a question about the right pedal. When I quickly release the right pedal on my N3X, I get a noticeable“thunk” sound. My dealer says this is normal as it mimics a real grand piano. Is that correct?
Hi Steven! Yup, that's totally normal. We have to learn to release the pedal gently (and not all the way) to prevent that sound from happening. By the way, have you heard about our new Facebook group? We would love to have you :D
Hi Mariya! Would a hybrid be better than a straight up digital. I can see how your skills would be different from one instrument to the next also from a “fake” piano to a real piano. I think you can use a open back headphones rather than closed back - it mixes the ambient sound with the digital piano (somewhat - because only u can hear the piano) so you can be aware of your door bell or phone. Nice revisit of the Yamaha - you certainly make it sing. You need a piano maker contract! Happy Thursday!
Heyy thank you so much for watching and commenting!! Yes, of course a hybrid in every way better than a digital 🙏 The action in this piano, since it is real, is the main deciding factor. Thank you for the tip with headphones - I didn’t know those existed!! 😅 Will definitely take a look
@@WithMariya unsure of what your budget is but the sennheiser HD650 are a great open back set of headphones and great for music too. Just my 2 cents. Thanks!
@@Toogoodtobetrue458 those headphones are great but really designed for studio monitoring. Ie they are designed to pick out problems in sound rather than to make music sound good. They have a very deliberately flat and unattractive tone and are very heavy so get uncomfortable after an hour or so. Just my 10c.
I'm waiting for my NX3avantgrand and have been given a loaner NX2avgrand. I'm freaking out because I don't know how to get an una corde out of this thing by depressing the left pedal. What's the secret?
Hi Mariya Very nice Video. I can only share your enthusiasm with you. I'm also obsessed of my N3x. For me this instrument is the perfect balance after a busy day. I love to play it also in the late evening hours to find a better sleep afterwards :-)
I definitely get that!! Music can be so healing (when you’re not getting upset about hard passages 😭), and it’s been a joy to be able to practice without worrying about anything else!! ❤️ Thank you for watching 🙏
I do that too; most of my playing of my N3 is late at night with headphones when the rest of the household has gone to bed. Ad Mariya said, this piano has saved my life (and sanity) over the last year and a half. Thank you Mariya for this and the other N3x videos.
Do you have any thoughts on the clavinova clp 795-gp I do not play but want something that the computer can play. It has speakers inside and a lot of interesting technology.
If the model of that AvantGrand piano has midi out then one should be able to try some other sound sources besides the built in digital sound source in the AvantGrand Like some plug-ins for computer … option KEYSCAPE by SPECTRASONIC is a very nice sounding plug-in to use (with a laptop )
Hi Mariya, I love your videos. I have a question about polyphony in the digital piano. I understand that 1 polyphony is 1 sound at the time, however, if the rate is 64 for playing classical, or accompanying students who sing opera, would 64 be far enough? You Yamaha will probably have 256. You have experience with digital grand pianos and for the accompanying work I use the piano for I was just wondering if 64 would be enough to have a good professional sound, including for recording classical work.. Thanks in advance
I believe 64 may be enough for accompanying, but you have to try it on some real pieces and see for yourself! There are many factors that go into choosing a good digital piano that are not just polyphony! Hope this helps, I know it wasn't too specific 😅
@@WithMariya I am very grateful you answered Mariya. I know you as a professional experienced pianist hear instantly the difference between pianos and know what is important when making the decision to choose one. I only hear if the piano sounds warm or sounds like a children's piano 🙂. I like a warm sound and that the piano works good. Nothing is worse than when you make music and get annoyed by something that is not sounding right in the instrument. For me it will only be used to accompaniment students in their opera arias and songs and perhaps in my DAW record a professional pianist whop wants to record his or her classical pieces or their own compositions. I understand we may not hear the cut off using 64 in the room but would it be noticeable when it is recorded with midi? If so, I may want to save up an extra 1000 euro and get the Thomas grand piano that has 256 and looks very solid for the price of course. Love to hear your thoughts about the midi recording. Thanks in advance.
Nice video! I was wondering whether you ever did grades as was wondering whether it's something that you need to do it proffesionally. I play piano and have never done grades and can play difficult pieces as I have built my way up to them . Thanks
Hi Christopher! I grew up with the RCM syllabus (the most popular exam system in Canada), and I found that insanely helpful in getting a well-rounded musical education! I would definitely get started with looking into the RCM syllabus to help you create a plan for your next steps!
Thanks so much for your video. I am currently shopping for an N3X so your insight has been helpful. Have you considered open-back earphones? I find them to be less confining, generally lighter and also helpful in allowing you to be somewhat aware of your surroundings. Of course they do "leak", but not so much that you could disturb neighbors.
Ahhh I have been thinking about this option for so long... They tend to be more pricey, so I definitely want to wait before I commit to a pair. Are there some you enjoy in particular? Thank you so much for watching!!
@@WithMariya I’m thinking of buying the N2X. I have a nice 5’4” grand and intend on starting an intense practice regime to reboot my piano technique. A hybrid seems idea. How is the action on the N3X holding up after a year? Can adjustments be made by most piano technicians, or does a Yamaha person have to do the job?
@@b1sing53 N2X is good as well! If I’m not mistaken, one of the defining factors is that the N2X doesn’t have the vibrational feature that really makes the piano alive, but I have many friends who have used their N2X’s and absolutely love them!! Especially since you have an acoustic grand, I think it’s definitely the way to go 👍
Regarding the action, I did have some trouble with one of the low B flats getting stuck, but those are just normal piano action problems 😭 Technician can help with that!
Hi, Mariya! When I looked up this piano on a European site it states that it runs exclusively on an operating voltage of 230V and therefore requires a voltage transformer to run in US. Do you have such transformer or in US they sell an already compatible model without any of this hustle? 😁😁
Hello! Thank you for watching 🙏❤️ I didn’t need to buy a voltage transformer 🤷♀️ But I understand your concern! Seems like the US/Canada already sell a compatible version?
you can google the manual for the NX3. it looks as if the current models have a voltage selector built in, which must be set to the correct voltage before you connect your piano.
The fact about the pedal on acustic vs digital is true. When i practice on my digital piano and change over the church's upright piano, it feels and sounds very diferent and i need to change some things on my playing. One of the things that more bothers in the digital piano is the pedal, the sound go off so quickly when you push down and up the peda.
It is surprising that Yamaha hasn't ever recognized this issue. It would be such a simple fix to have some option to increase pedal sensitivity as volume is lowered.
Still waiting to see if one my children fall in love with the piano to upgrade from our 809 I’m just learning, and old, so wouldn’t buy one just for me.
Totally get it. I don’t like a particularly heavy action, either (which is why I’ve always gravitated towards Yamahas). I find that it makes my hands tired!! 🥵
My Yamaha digital piano has a half damper pedal, but some notes still disappear a little abruptly. I'm surprised to hear that the Yamaha uprights have lighter actions. Well, it's been ages since I tried one. I don't think there will be many new acoustic uprights made in 10 years time. Lifestyles and maintenance costs just don't favour them, so only the best uprights models will stay in production. P.S. On a final held chord (acoustic or digital piano) I usually lift my pedal just before my hands, to avoid that funny note-morphing sound. Strangely, I see and hear few pianists doing this - so there is often a funny sound, eventually. I suspect the problem doesn't happen on every piano, but I employ the preventative technique, always. Am I "wrong" to do so, I wonder?
IMO you’re not wrong to do so at all!! With regards to releasing the pedal before your hands, I also wish more people would 🙏 I was taught this by my teachers to avoid the buzzing sound (I assume this is what you’re referring to)… Very effective IMO, and you can also release the pedal slightly before taking your hands off, then releasing the pedal entirely, if that makes sense. That also gets rid of the buzz 🙏🎹
@@WithMariya Thanks. Yes the buzz, though sometimes it seems more like "gnyeh" or "zhyeh" as well as I can remember. In language it would be considered a dipthong. Anyway, your instrument sounds fantastic so far as I can tell, and I'll bet you enjoy the action too, despite whatever misgivings. Yamaha is leading the way again!
