NP5 keybed after time ....

[papynico]

mod wheel and pitch bend will be better for all the sounds of the sample parts, not for the piano part of course. I don't now why they do that, the NP5 is around 3000 euros ! And the action noise is very discreet.

[maxpiano]

It's interesting to see comments about action noise. I think complains about digital pianos' action noise that wouldn't exist if players couldn't reduce the volume of those instruments lower than the volume of real acoustic piano. All acoustic pianos' actions make noticeable noise, and any digital piano with a realistic hammer action is bound to make a similar level of noise. With power off on both instruments, I've compared the action noise of my P5 to that of my Yamaha AvantGrand, which has essentially the same action as Yamaha's CF series acoustic pianos. The P5's action is a little less noisy than the AvantGrand's.

+1 I have a Kawai upright piano, when I use its felt ("sordina") pedal the keys noise is almost louder than the sound... and anyway for a stage piano is the level of keyboard noise really that important?

[kirsty]

I have had the NP5 over a year. Play it several times a week and still feels like the day I opened the box. The NP keybed is pretty smooth and I'd be interested to know what you feel is more substantial as this is a very personal and subjective topic.
Some rave on Roland actions for example, where I personally find them terrible and hard work to play. Korg is underwhelming and nothing like a real Grand action IMO and I didn't get on with the particular Kawai action in the Nord Grand as much as I like the NP5. (I have played other Kawai's that I did like though)

Before getting my NP4 I seriously looked at a Roland RD2000. Tested one out in a store and absolutely HATED the action.

I was the same. I don't know what it is about the Roland actions but I always come away with hand fatigue. I don't experience that on any other keyboard, digital or acoustic.

[kirsty]

It's interesting to see comments about action noise. I think complains about digital pianos' action noise that wouldn't exist if players couldn't reduce the volume of those instruments lower than the volume of real acoustic piano. All acoustic pianos' actions make noticeable noise, and any digital piano with a realistic hammer action is bound to make a similar level of noise. With power off on both instruments, I've compared the action noise of my P5 to that of my Yamaha AvantGrand, which has essentially the same action as Yamaha's CF series acoustic pianos. The P5's action is a little less noisy than the AvantGrand's.

+1 I have a Kawai upright piano, when I use its felt ("sordina") pedal the keys noise is almost louder than the sound... and anyway for a stage piano is the level of keyboard noise really that important?

+1 on this also. Its something I hadn't really thought about until you wrote this but a very valid point. My C6 has the silent function for practice installed but when used you can still hear the action and its not THAT quiet. There is more thud evident from the real Yamaha acoustic action than the NP5 action.

Perhaps expectations of some folks are unrealistic in that they expect the playing experience to be silent to anyone else when they play a digital instrument and put headphones in at night to practice. I learnt the hard way when I was around 15 and hammering away some Billy Joel through the headphones on my then Technics piano in my bedroom about 1am, and remember my Dad bursting in to my room to bollock me for making such a noise when he was up early in the morning for work. I was so confused at first as I was thinking 'I have the headphones on, what on earth are you talking about?' I later realised it was the action thumping away that he was referring to.