Kawai
CA-901
$5,500
Onkyo-powered concert hall in your living room
10.0 Beginner 8.5 Night Practice 1.5 Portability 9.2 Touch Reality 6.0 Value
88 82 kg
View Details Yamaha
Yamaha CVP-809 Review
A concert grand, a full band, and a karaoke machine — all in one
88 Keys 78 kg grandtouch s
Bluetooth
Intermediate
Scores
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 | 403 | +1.5 |
| Sound Variety | 1605 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 s | +0 |
| Volume Control | Yes | +1 |
| Bluetooth Audio | Yes | +0.5 |
Portability
1.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 5.0 |
| Weight | 78 kg | -3 |
| Width | 1418 mm | -0.5 |
| Battery | No | +0 |
| Foldable | No | +0 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +0 |
Touch Reality
8.8| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Key Action Quality | grandtouch s (grade 8) | +4.8 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +1.5 |
| Polyphony | 256 notes | +1.5 |
| Sound Modeling | Yamaha CFX + Bosendorfer Imperial (VRM) | +0.5 |
| Key Surface | ivory-feel | +0.5 |
Our Verdict
The CVP-809 is Yamaha's ultimate entertainment piano, combining premium GrandTouch-S action with 1,605 voices, auto-accompaniment styles, a touchscreen, and even a microphone input for singing along.
Pros
- • 1,605 voices — from concert grand to saxophone, guitar, drums, and full orchestral sounds
- • Auto-accompaniment with hundreds of styles — play a chord and a full band follows you
- • GrandTouch-S action with ivory-feel keys — serious piano touch despite the entertainment features
- • Large touchscreen display for intuitive navigation of the massive feature set
- • Microphone input with vocal effects — sing along with your own accompaniment
- • 120W six-speaker system with powerful bass response
- • 403 built-in songs and extensive lesson features
- • Bluetooth MIDI and audio connectivity
Cons
- • 78 kg and 56cm deep — needs even more space than standard Clavinovas
- • Overwhelming complexity — the sheer number of features can intimidate new users
- • Premium price at $5,000 / ¥550,000 for what is partly an arranger instrument
- • GrandTouch-S rather than full GrandTouch or GrandTouch-EX
The CVP-809 is unlike any other piano in Yamaha's lineup — it's part concert grand, part one-man-band, part entertainment center. The 1,605 voices and auto-accompaniment styles mean you're never playing alone: lay down a chord progression and drums, bass, and strings join in automatically. The microphone input lets you sing over your own arrangements. Yet beneath all those features sits a genuinely good piano with GrandTouch-S action and CFX/Bosendorfer sampling. The price is high and the learning curve is steep, but for musicians who want maximum creative possibilities in a single instrument, nothing else comes close.
Technical Deep Dive
About the Key Action
The GrandTouch-S action sits between the GH3X and the full GrandTouch in Yamaha's hierarchy. It provides excellent weight graduation and dynamic response — more expressive than what you'd find in the CLP-825/835, though not quite at the level of the CLP-845's full GrandTouch. For the CVP-809's target audience, this is an ideal balance: serious enough for genuine piano practice, yet responsive enough for the dynamic range needed when playing with accompaniment styles.
Who Is This Piano For?
You don't just want to practice scales — you want to make music, right now, today. Maybe you play chords and want a full band backing you up automatically. Maybe you want to sing along with the piano while the accompaniment handles bass and drums. Or perhaps you love exploring different instruments — one day playing jazz organ, the next day layering strings over your piano. The CVP-809 is for the music lover who sees the piano as a gateway to all of music, not just classical repertoire.
Specifications
| Keys | 88 |
| Key Action | Grandtouch S |
| Polyphony | 256 notes |
| Sounds | 1605 |
| Weight | 78 kg |
| Speakers | 120W (×6) |
| Bluetooth | Audio + MIDI |
| Key Surface | Ivory Feel |
| 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 | 403 |
| Battery | No |
| Foldable | No |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 1418×560×942 mm |
| Stand Included | Yes |
| Pedal Included | Yes |
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.
How It Compares
CVP-809 vs CA-901
The CVP-809 and CA-901 score very similarly across all axes. The CVP-809 costs $500 less.
Kawai CA-901 →CVP-809 vs GP-609
The CVP-809 and GP-609 score very similarly across all axes. The CVP-809 costs $1,500 less.
Roland GP-609 →CVP-809 vs CA-701
The CVP-809 and CA-701 score very similarly across all axes. The CA-701 costs $1,000 less.
Kawai CA-701 →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Yamaha CVP-809 good for beginners?
Yes. The Yamaha CVP-809 scores 10/10 on our Beginner scale, which means it has strong learning features like lesson modes, app connectivity, and built-in songs to help new players get started.
Does the Yamaha CVP-809 have Bluetooth?
Yes, the Yamaha CVP-809 supports both Bluetooth MIDI and Bluetooth Audio, so you can connect wirelessly to apps and stream audio.
How heavy is the Yamaha CVP-809?
The Yamaha CVP-809 weighs 78 kg (172 lbs). It scores 1.5/10 on our Portability scale. This is a stay-in-place instrument — plan its location before setup.
Can I use headphones with the Yamaha CVP-809?
Yes. The Yamaha CVP-809 has 2 headphone jacks (6.3mm, 3.5mm). It scores 8.5/10 on our Night Practice scale. It also features headphone sound optimization for a more immersive experience.
How many keys does the Yamaha CVP-809 have?
The Yamaha CVP-809 has a full 88-key keyboard, the same as an acoustic piano. This gives you the complete range for any piece of music.
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10.0 Beginner 8.5 Night Practice 1.5 Portability 9.2 Touch Reality 5.9 Value
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