Yamaha
CLP-885
$7,899
Yamaha CLP-885: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
10.0 Beginner 8.5 Night Practice 1.5 Portability 9.8 Touch Reality 6.0 Value
88 82 kg
Yamaha CLP-785 Review
Yamaha CLP-785: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
88 Keys 79 kg GrandTouch
Bluetooth
Advanced
Scores
Where to Buy
MSRP
$4,500
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 | 303 | +1.5 |
| Sound Variety | 38 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 | GrandTouch | +0 |
| Volume Control | Yes | +1 |
| Bluetooth Audio | Yes | +0.5 |
Portability
1.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 5.0 |
| Weight | 79 kg | -3 |
| Width | 1467 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 | GrandTouch (grade 9) | +5.4 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +1.5 |
| Polyphony | 256 notes | +1.5 |
| Sound Modeling | Yamaha CFX + Bosendorfer Imperial | +0.5 |
| Key Surface | wood | +0.3 |
Yamaha CLP-785 review verdict
This Yamaha CLP-785 review reads the published specifications from a comparison-first point of view: touch, sound, practice fit, value, and limits.
Yamaha CLP-785 is best read as a console 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.
Yamaha CLP-785 is a console 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, 200W speakers, and a weight of 79 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.
Yamaha CLP-785 evaluation points
Yamaha CLP-785 key action and touch
Yamaha CLP-785 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 Yamaha CLP-785 is for
Yamaha CLP-785 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.
Yamaha CLP-785 sound and speakers
Yamaha CLP-785 offers 38 sounds and 200W 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 Yamaha CLP-785
Before buying Yamaha CLP-785, 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 Yamaha CLP-785 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:
Rimmers Music Watch on YouTube ↗
Specifications
| Keys | 88 |
| Key Action | GrandTouch |
| Polyphony | 256 notes |
| Sounds | 38 |
| Weight | 79 kg |
| Speakers | 200W (×8) |
| Bluetooth | Audio + MIDI |
| Key Surface | Wood |
| Sound Modeling | Yamaha CFX + Bosendorfer Imperial |
| 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 | 303 |
| Battery | No |
| Foldable | No |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 1467×465×1003 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
$4,500
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
CLP-785 vs CA-501
The CLP-785 and CA-501 score very similarly across the main review axes. The CA-501 costs $501 less.
Kawai CA-501 →CLP-785 vs LX-6
The CLP-785 and LX-6 score very similarly across the main review axes. The CLP-785 costs $199 less.
Roland LX-6 →CLP-785 vs CLP-775
The CLP-785 and CLP-775 score very similarly across the main review axes. The CLP-775 costs $1,000 less.
Yamaha CLP-775 →Related Guides
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A console digital piano is the closest thing to an acoustic upright you'll find without tuning and hammers. With a fixed cabinet, built-in three-pedal unit, and speakers voiced for the room, it behaves like a piece of furniture first and an instrument second. This guide explains what separates a great console from a middling one, which features actually matter at home, and which models deliver the best balance of touch, tone, and craftsmanship.
Read more →Best Digital Pianos for Church and Worship Use (2026)
A church piano has a harder job than a home piano. It needs to cover hymn accompaniment on Sunday morning, lead a praise set on Saturday night, back a choir rehearsal midweek, and survive the move between sanctuary and youth room. This guide explains what matters most in a worship context — reliable sounds, simple controls under stage lighting, clean connection to the sound desk — and which models serve that role without overspending. It also addresses when a stage piano or an arranger keyboard is a better fit than a standard digital piano.
Read more →Best Digital Pianos for Classical Music (2026)
Classical piano demands more from an instrument than almost any other style. The keybed has to respond to the lightest whisper and the heaviest chord. The pedals have to behave like those on an acoustic grand. The sound engine has to hold up under close listening. This guide focuses on digital pianos that can genuinely support serious classical study, from late beginners through to conservatory-bound players, and explains what really matters when you compare them.
Read more →Best Digital Pianos for Intermediate Players (2026)
You've played for a year or two. You can read music, hold a rhythm, and tackle pieces beyond the beginner books. You're also starting to notice where your current piano holds you back — usually the key action and the dynamic range. This guide is for players ready to leave the entry level. It explains what an intermediate-grade instrument actually changes, which specs matter now that you can hear the difference, and which models hit the sweet spot between price and real musical return.
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 Yamaha CLP-785 is the top console in the Clavinova CLP 700 series. Across specialist review sites and retailer comparisons, reviewers mainly give high marks to its long, counterweighted GrandTouch wooden keyboard and the expansive sound of its 200W, 8-speaker setup. At the same time, some note that the keyboard is on the heavy or firm side and touch on constraints in weight and external connectivity.
Praised most often
-
Long keys and counterweights make expression easier
On the point that, even within GrandTouch, the keys have a long pivot and carry counterweights inside, reviewers note that it is "easy to control evenly all the way down" and that it "keeps up with fast repeated notes." It is said to handle even advanced classical repertoire.
-
The three-dimensional soundstage of the 200W, 8-speaker system
On the acoustics, which include transducers at the top of the cabinet, many say it has "a natural spread like a grand piano's soundboard" and "high resolution from bass to treble." It is regarded as the richest sound in the 700 series.
-
CFX and Bösendorfer sources plus binaural recording
The re-sampled CFX and Bösendorfer sounds, along with binaural recording over headphones, are rated as producing a dense resonance befitting a top model.
Common cautions and criticisms
-
Comments that the keyboard is on the heavy or firm side
Some say it requires a little more finger force when playing softly or feels firm. There are also measured comments that the static touch weight around middle C is heavier than a typical acoustic, so it may not suit players who prefer a nimble keyboard.
-
Heavy as the top model, with a high hurdle for delivery
Reviewers repeatedly note that the unit is very heavy, so placement and delivery should assume professional movers. A use case where you set it once and never move it is the premise.
-
No line output
Some find it surprising that, despite being a higher model, it has no line output, and a common takeaway is that it is not suited to connecting to external speakers or PA gear.
By source
-
Specialist review sites and piano forums
Sites such as azpianoreviews and forums such as Piano World tend to rate the long keys and the 8-speaker acoustics as the peak of the 700 series, while framing the sense of key weight as varying from person to person.
-
Retailer comparisons (vs CLP-745 / CLP-775)
Retailer comparisons such as those from Alamo Music tend to explain the basis for the price differences, holding that the gap with the CLP-745 / CLP-775 lies in speaker scale and keyboard grade (the presence or absence of counterweights).
Net take
On balance, the CLP-785 earns high marks in international reviews as "the top model that raises the genuine feel of a console to its peak with a counterweighted keyboard and eight speakers." It is an instrument suited to those who value expressive range and an expansive soundstage. Because the sense of key weight varies from person to person, anyone prioritizing nimbleness can also consider the GrandTouch-S CLP-745, or the 2024-generation CLP-875, as alternatives 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
- Published spec sheet
How the 5-axis scores are calculated
We do not aggregate user reviews or star ratings (see methodology for why).
Spot a mistake or have a question about what's on this page? Let us know and we'll review it.
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Yamaha CLP-785