Yamaha
CLP-785
$4,500
Yamaha CLP-785: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
10.0 Beginner 8.5 Night Practice 1.5 Portability 9.2 Touch Reality 6.4 Value
88 79 kg
Yamaha CLP-885 Review
Yamaha CLP-885: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
88 Keys 82 kg GrandTouch-EX
Bluetooth
Advanced
In our TOP 10 Touch Reality #4
Scores
Where to Buy
MSRP
$7,899
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-EX | +0 |
| Volume Control | Yes | +1 |
| Bluetooth Audio | Yes | +0.5 |
Portability
1.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 5.0 |
| Weight | 82 kg | -3 |
| Width | 1467 mm | -0.5 |
| Battery | No | +0 |
| Foldable | No | +0 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +0 |
Touch Reality
9.8| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Key Action Quality | GrandTouch-EX (grade 10) | +6 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +1.5 |
| Polyphony | 256 notes | +1.5 |
| Sound Modeling | Yamaha CFX + Bosendorfer Imperial (VRM) | +0.5 |
| Key Surface | wood | +0.3 |
Yamaha CLP-885 review verdict
This Yamaha CLP-885 review reads the published specifications from a comparison-first point of view: touch, sound, practice fit, value, and limits.
Yamaha CLP-885 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-885 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 82 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-885 evaluation points
Yamaha CLP-885 key action and touch
Yamaha CLP-885 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-885 is for
Yamaha CLP-885 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-885 sound and speakers
Yamaha CLP-885 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-885
Before buying Yamaha CLP-885, 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-885 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:
Kraft Music Watch on YouTube ↗
Specifications
| Keys | 88 |
| Key Action | GrandTouch-EX |
| Polyphony | 256 notes |
| Sounds | 38 |
| Weight | 82 kg |
| Speakers | 200W (×8) |
| Bluetooth | Audio + MIDI |
| Key Surface | Wood |
| Sound Modeling | Yamaha CFX + Bosendorfer Imperial (VRM) |
| 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
$7,899
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-885 vs CLP-895GP
The CLP-885 and CLP-895GP score very similarly across the main review axes. The CLP-885 costs $1,800 less.
Yamaha CLP-895GP →CLP-885 vs GP-510
The CLP-885 and GP-510 score very similarly across the main review axes. The GP-510 costs $400 less.
Casio GP-510 →CLP-885 vs LX-9
The CLP-885 and LX-9 score very similarly across the main review axes. The LX-9 costs $299 less.
Roland LX-9 →Related Guides
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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 Yamaha CLP-885 is the console that sits at the top grade of the Clavinova line. Across specialist review sites and retailer reviews, the focus is on praise for the playing feel of the GrandTouch-EX wooden keys and for the sound that voices the CFX and Bösendorfer through a speaker layout placed above and below the keyboard. At the same time, reviewers repeatedly note the weight and size, the high price, and a slightly heavy key feel.
Praised most often
-
The playing feel of the GrandTouch-EX wooden keys
On the wooden keys, which fit counterweights to every key, many reviewers say that "the graded feel — heavier in the bass, lighter in the treble — is close to the real thing" and that "you can finely control everything from soft to loud." The fact that the keys sound without being pressed all the way down is also spoken of favorably.
-
Immersion when using headphones
On the binaural sampling of the CFX and the Bösendorfer Imperial, a recurring comment is that "playing with headphones, it sounds as if the sound is coming from the piano in front of you." Reviewers cite this as something that raises the quality of night practice.
-
Resonance from VRM and the above-and-below speaker layout
On VRM (which reproduces the resonance of the strings and the body) and the design that places speakers above and below the keyboard, reviewers say that "the sound spreads front to back, close to a far more expensive instrument."
-
Completeness as a high-end console
As a logical step up from the previous generation, much of the commentary credits the overall package, which brings together keyboard, sound engine and speakers at a high grade, and the standard framing is "an instrument suited to those who practice seriously."
Common cautions and criticisms
-
Large in weight and size
Said to be the largest and heaviest model in the Clavinova range, it draws comments about securing a place for it and the difficulty of moving it. The common framing is that it is not the kind of instrument you can move casually.
-
The keys are slightly heavy
Even with the newly designed keys, some comparisons note that it takes a little more effort to start a note than on other instruments in the same price range. The point is that it may not suit those who prefer a light touch.
-
The price is high and can be excessive for beginners
Because it is a high grade, it is a large outlay, and there is a measured observation that "the performance can easily be overkill for an outright beginner or a budget-focused buyer."
By source
-
Specialist review sites
Specialist sites such as MusicRadar tend to rate the close-to-acoustic playing feel and resonance highly while calmly framing the hurdles of price and placement.
-
Retailer reviews & videos
Retailer reviews such as those from ePianos, Bonners Music and Kraft Music rate the build of a top-of-the-line Clavinova and its suitability for serious practice from a practical standpoint.
-
Head-to-head comparisons (the hierarchy within Clavinova)
In side-by-side play against the lower CLP-845/875, the difference in soft-dynamic expression from GrandTouch-EX and the wooden keys is cited as the CLP-885's advantage, while whether it justifies the price gap is said to depend on how it is used.
Net take
On balance, the CLP-885 is a Clavinova that earns steady, high marks in international reviews and suits those who "want to assemble a top specification without compromise." The GrandTouch-EX wooden keys, the CFX and Bösendorfer voices, and the resonance of VRM and the above-and-below speaker layout are the central plus points, letting you obtain high-grade touch and sound regardless of your living environment. The weight, size and price are large preconditions, however, and if a light touch or affordability matter to you, a lower Clavinova or a high-end model from another maker becomes a realistic 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).
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-885