Kawai
NV-10S
$18,099
Kawai NV-10S: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
10.0 Beginner 8.5 Night Practice 1.5 Portability 9.2 Touch Reality 5.8 Value
88 115 kg
Kawai NV-5S Review
Kawai NV-5S: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
88 Keys 89 kg Grand Feel III
Bluetooth
Advanced
Scores
Where to Buy
MSRP
$12,499
Retail prices change, so check current pricing at retailers.
These buttons open retailer search results and may include affiliate tracking where available. Stock and listing status can change without notice.
How These Scores Were Calculated
Beginner
10.0| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 3.0 |
| Lesson Function | Yes | +1.5 |
| App Connectivity | Yes | +1.5 |
| Recording | Yes | +1 |
| Metronome | Yes | +0.5 |
| Transpose | Yes | +0.3 |
| Layer / Split | Yes | +0.3 |
| Preset Songs | 371 | +1.5 |
| Sound Variety | 96 sounds | +0.5 |
Night Practice
8.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 2.0 |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 | +2 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm, 3.5mm | +1.5 |
| Headphone Optimization | Yes | +1.5 |
| Key Action Quietness | Grand Feel III | +0 |
| Volume Control | Yes | +1 |
| Bluetooth Audio | Yes | +0.5 |
Portability
1.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 5.0 |
| Weight | 89 kg | -3 |
| Width | 1445 mm | -0.5 |
| Battery | No | +0 |
| Foldable | No | +0 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +0 |
Touch Reality
9.2| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Key Action Quality | Grand Feel III (grade 9) | +5.4 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +1.5 |
| Polyphony | 256 notes | +1.5 |
| Sound Modeling | SK-EX Rendering | +0.5 |
| Key Surface | wood | +0.3 |
Kawai NV-5S review verdict
This Kawai NV-5S review reads the published specifications from a comparison-first point of view: touch, sound, practice fit, value, and limits.
Kawai NV-5S is best read as a hybrid digital piano for experienced players comparing serious practice instruments. This review looks at weighted-key feel, sound, practice features, value, and realistic comparison points instead of treating the spec sheet as advertising copy.
Pros
- • Key count: 88 keys, a clear basis for digital piano comparison.
- • Touch: weighted hammer action, so the review stays focused on practice feel.
- • Quiet practice: Headphone practice support.
- • Connectivity: USB MIDI, Bluetooth and app support.
- • Use case: Its best fit is home practice.
Cons
- • Main limit: the need for maximum portability.
- • Furniture footprint should still be checked.
- • Nearby current models may offer a better match for some players.
Kawai NV-5S is a hybrid digital piano that makes most sense when its strengths are matched to the right practice situation. The useful points are 88 keys, weighted hammer action, 256-note polyphony, 150W speakers, and a weight of 89 kg. In a digital piano review, those details matter more than broad claims about being the best digital piano overall. For home practice, this model can be a sensible candidate if the layout and feature set match the way the instrument will actually be used. It is still worth comparing as a current buying candidate. The fairest comparison is with models in the same price and use class, where touch, speakers, headphone practice, and connectivity can be judged side by side.
Kawai NV-5S evaluation points
Kawai NV-5S key action and touch
Kawai NV-5S uses a weighted hammer action. For a digital piano with weighted keys, the important question is not only whether the keys are heavy, but whether they help steady daily practice. The wood key surface is a useful comfort detail. The specification lists 256-note polyphony; that is enough for ordinary pieces, while more layered playing or heavy pedal use benefits from a higher number. This makes the key action a practical comparison point rather than a decorative specification.
Who the Kawai NV-5S is for
Kawai NV-5S is most relevant for experienced players comparing serious practice instruments. The main use case is home practice. Strengths: a more piano-like touch. Limits: the need for maximum portability. Buyers comparing digital pianos should also check the stand, pedal, headphone jack, app support, and local availability before deciding.
Kawai NV-5S sound and speakers
Kawai NV-5S offers 96 sounds and 150W speakers. That is the sound side of the review: enough variety for practice, but the real experience depends on speaker power, headphone use, and the room where it will be played. The headphone output supports quiet practice. For lessons, apps, or recording workflows, the useful connectivity is USB MIDI, Bluetooth and app support.
What to know before buying the Kawai NV-5S
Before buying Kawai NV-5S, compare it with nearby alternatives on touch, sound, portability, and value. The stand is included, which simplifies the purchase. A damper pedal is included, though some players may still want a fuller pedal unit. It is still worth comparing as a current buying candidate. For searchers looking for a Kawai NV-5S review, the practical conclusion is to treat it as one candidate in a digital piano comparison, not as a universal answer for every player.
Demo Video
Source:
Merriam Music Watch on YouTube ↗
Specifications
| Keys | 88 |
| Key Action | Grand Feel III |
| Polyphony | 256 notes |
| Sounds | 96 |
| Weight | 89 kg |
| Speakers | 150W (×6) |
| Bluetooth | Audio + MIDI |
| Key Surface | Wood |
| Sound Modeling | SK-EX Rendering |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm, 3.5mm |
| Headphone Optimization | Yes |
| USB MIDI | Yes |
| Line Out | No |
| Lesson Function | Yes |
| App Connectivity | Yes |
| Recording | Yes |
| Metronome | Yes |
| Transpose | Yes |
| Layer / Split | Yes |
| Preset Songs | 371 |
| Battery | No |
| Foldable | No |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 1445×495×1010 mm |
| Stand Included | Yes |
| Pedal Included | Yes |
Spec terms are explained in the glossary. Glossary →
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Recommended Accessories
🪑
Stand
Stand included
A sturdy X-stand or furniture-style stand is essential if one isn't included.
🎧
Headphones
Closed-back headphones with good bass response make practice sessions more enjoyable.
🎹
Sustain Pedal
The included pedal is usually basic. A half-damper pedal upgrade is worthwhile for expressive playing.
💺
Bench
An adjustable-height bench helps maintain proper posture during long practice sessions.
Where to Buy
MSRP
$12,499
Retail prices change, so check current pricing at retailers.
These buttons open retailer search results and may include affiliate tracking where available. Stock and listing status can change without notice.
How It Compares
NV-5S vs NU1XA
the NU1XA is stronger in value for money. The NU1XA costs $3,700 less. Choose the NU1XA if value for money matters most.
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Read more →What reviewers say online
A synthesis of recurring points from price-comparison sites, Amazon reviews, music-store staff videos and forum threads. Not a star-rating average — we read across multiple reviews and pulled out the points that came up repeatedly.
The Kawai NV-5S is a Novus-series hybrid that fits a genuine grand piano action (Millennium III Hybrid) into an upright-style cabinet. Across specialist review sites, the dominant view praises the "authentic touch you would not expect from a digital" and the sound derived from SK-EX Rendering, while some reviewers also flag the weight and delivery as well as the trade-offs that come with this price tier.
Praised most often
-
The playing feel of a genuine grand action
On the Millennium III Hybrid action, also used in Kawai's higher-end uprights, many reviews agree that "few digitals come this close to a real touch." The fact that an actual key mechanism moves, rather than a simulation, wins support from players who have spent years on acoustics.
-
The Shigeru Kawai sound through SK-EX Rendering
On the sound source, which samples the flagship SK-EX concert grand, reviewers often note that "you can hear the fine detail, and the response to dynamics is natural." A rich, rounded voicing with abundant overtones is another point raised repeatedly.
-
Spatial resonance from the TwinDrive soundboard
Equipped with the CA-901-family TwinDrive speakers, it draws the comment that "there is a spread, as if the sound emerges from the whole instrument." Reviewers also note a natural sound field even with headphones, thanks to the spatial-audio optimization.
-
Practicality of practising at night with no tuning required
The ability to silence it while keeping a genuine playing feel is welcomed by apartment dwellers and late-night players. A common takeaway is that it has Bluetooth audio and MIDI, and that the tone can also be adjusted through app integration.
Common cautions and criticisms
-
The same weight as full-scale furniture
A shared caveat is that the unit is heavy and that delivery assumes a specialist crew. Reviews repeatedly point out that this is not an instrument you can move on a whim.
-
Key noise inherent to a mechanical action
Because real hammers physically move, reviewers note that a faint key noise remains even when using headphones. This is framed as a difference from a purely digital keybed.
-
Limited line-output and cabinet options
Reviewers note that the line output is a stereo mini jack rather than the usual pair of standard phone jacks, which feels insufficient for stage use. Some also mention that the finish is limited to mirror-polished black.
By source
-
Specialist review sites & retailer reviews
Specialist and retailer reviews such as Merriam Music position the Novus series as "a leading example of a hybrid built around a genuine grand action," with a tone that rates the touch and the polish of the sound highly.
-
Head-to-head comparisons (vs NV-10S / acoustic)
In side-by-side play against the higher NV-10S, the NV-5S is described as a model that brings the same concept together in a slightly toned-down configuration, with reviewers noting that in a normal-sized room it delivers an experience close to the NV-10S.
Net take
On balance, the NV-5S is a model that earns steady marks in international reviews among advanced players who "want a genuine grand action at hand in a form that needs no tuning and can be silenced." The authenticity of the touch and the SK-EX Rendering sound are the central plus points, making it an instrument that readily becomes the answer for those torn between an acoustic and a digital. That said, the weight and delivery, plus the slight key noise inherent to a mechanical action, are worth understanding up front. If you want larger speakers and more presence, the higher NV-10S becomes an alternative to compare.
We do not compute a numeric star average. The points below are recurring themes we identified by reading across multiple reviews.
Sources & transparency
This page is written by the operator, who has run the piano-learning site Piano Juku since 2017, based on published manufacturer specifications. We are not a retailer or tied to any maker — every model is compared by the same criteria. About the operator
- Last verified
- Data referenced from
- Manufacturer official
How the 5-axis scores are calculated
We do not aggregate user reviews or star ratings (see methodology for why).
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