Keys on stage 4 88 vs piano 5 88

[jmkvalsund]

I recently got the opportunity to try a stage 4 88 keys “back to back” vs a Piano 5 88 keys and I was a bit amazed. I thought they had the same keyboard and action, but to my (uneducated) fingers, the stage 4 felt more mechanical. Especially in the release-action it felt more noisy and live, like my old Bechstein model A grand piano. And as well more like my current stage keyboard, which is an old Roland A80 master keyboard connected to a Elektro 3. I will carry that Roland’s 35 kg around as long as it lasts just because of the keys..
The Piano 5 keys felt more electronic, more tight and firm without mechanical impression. Can someone tell me if they really are different, or if it was just production varieties that made my impression?

Regards,
John Martin

[Nordlicht]

The keybeds/actions are different indeed and according to unofficial sources as follows:

Nord Stage 4 88 and 73: Fatar TP/40M
Nord Piano 5 88 und 73: Fatar TP/40H

They differ in their weightings, but the general "mechanic" is the same.

[FZiegler]

I don't understand what you mean by 'mechanical' vs. 'electronic' feeling of a key action.

Both don't have graded weights but they seem to differ in weight. Both have triple sensors. Both don't have a mechanical double escapement on the hammers. But only the NP5 claims to have a 'virtual hammer action' AFAIK.

They need to feel different as the NP5 is specialised on piano playing while the NS4 needs to be playable with synth sounds, too.

[jmkvalsund]

So then I’ve got it confirmed that they are really different. And to me, the keyboard on the Stage 4, felt more piano~like than the Piano 5, according to my piano skills and references. As I said, I’m not an educated piano player so it may be my subjective perception. But I’m still amazed that the stage 4 feels more like a real piano than the Piano 5. Anyhow, both sounds amazing though.

[MrLeoMadrid]

I have the NS4 73 HA and I was able to try the NP5 before buying the Stage… and for me it’s just the opposite: the NS4 feels harder and the NP5 is lighter which is weird, because the Stage is supposed to be able to handle organs and synths better and the NP5 only pianos… it doesn’t make sense, but that was my impression.

[Nordlicht]

Of course, keyboard actions are very subjective.
I have a NP5 88 and played the Stage 4 88 extensively in the shop. The NP5 doesn’t have the heaviest keybed among various stage or home pianos, but it is very piano-like. I had the chance to play on a Boesendorfer grand piano many times in the past, and it reminds me to that feeling when playing the NP5. Whereas the Stage HA is significantly lighter, what enables you to play also synth and organ with it (what is very painful at the NP5).