Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Yamaha P515 or CLP735

I'm looking for a digital piano for home use because the I live in an apartment and can't use my upright as much as I'd like. Budget is limited and around 1800 euros, the 2 options I'm looking at are the P515 from Yamaha and the Yamaha Clavinova CLP-735. price wise the CLP is 400 euros more expensive than the P515 at 1800 euros, but feature wise I'm not so sure if it's the superior instrument.

I have no concerns about the sounds since they both have the same sounds minus a couple exclusives to the CLP735 (Mozart and Chopin piano they're called, will hardly ever use them).

Look wise I will give the edge to the Clavinova since it's meant to look like a real piano and I like it very much, the P515 is just a slab piano and looks like any other. I won't be taking the piano outside for gigs anyway since I am not a pianist and piano is not my main instrument, so if the piano blends in more with the house environment it would be better.

Action wise the P515 has a wooden NWX action while the Clavinova has a plastic action. I am still unsure if the Clavinova has graded keys but I am sure the 515 does in fact have it. It would be bad if the Clavinova didn't have graded keys since at 1800 they're a given.

Speaker wise the Clavinova wins I think? Similar speakers but I think the 515 has less watts. I will be using headphones 70% of the time anyway so no problem.

Connectivity is where I am having issues. The P515 has all the features I need, like stereo line outputs, MIDI in and out, USB and even bluetooth which is a big plus for me, but I haven't found much on the CLP735. I know it has USB and 2 headphone jacks, but that's all I know. It surely doesn't have bluetooth since only from the CLP745 do you get bluetooth. Does the P735 have MIDI? Can I use Keyscape on it? Please let me know.

I am unsure which to pick. I already compared the P515 to other slab pianos and prefer it over the likes of Roland FP90 and Kawai ES8/920. For home use I think the Clavinova would be the obvious option but the P515 has more features even though it is a compact "stage piano". If anyone has experience with both keyboards can you give me some insights? Thanks.

https://europe.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/pianos/clavinova/clp-735/index.html

In "Specs" they list both 5-pin MIDI and USB, so you can either one to connect with a computer. It has audio input too. No Bluetooth, as you say.

From the specs it looks like they are based on the same piano engine but the CLP-735, being newer, has improved resonances modeling with the new "Grand Expression Modeling" feature, missing in the P515.

The P515 has binaural CFX samples. The 735 has not. But from what I read, many don't like binaural samples, and, supposing you like them, they are meant just for headphones.

On paper, the P515 has a better keyboard (hybrid wood/plastic) action. But I read the 735 has a pretty nice and lighter action, even if just plastic.

It looks like they both have plenty of connectivity options (Line-In, Line-Out, Midi, USB, etc.). The P515 adds a BT Audio feature, missing in the 735. Do you absolutely need the BT Audio feature?

The CLP-735 has powerful speakers (2x the P515).

If you like the classic look of upright pianos, the CLP-735 will look much MUCH better to you, compared to a P515 + optional stand & 3-pedals.

In conclusion: considering you don't gig and you like very much cabinet-style DP looks, IMHO, if you can allow those more 400euros, the CLP-735 is the better choice. If you can't allow them, don't worry... The P515 is a great DP too.
Whatever choice you make between the two, I think you will be satisfied with the quality of the instrument. But if you can wait for a few months to save some more money, or maybe you can get a payment plan, I think the CLP-735 will be more inspiring for you to play (yes, sometimes the looks matter!).

I'm not sure you've acquainted yourself with the specs as well as you think you have.

The CLP has a newer sound engine promising "limitless tonal variation", re-sampled CFX grand and binaurally sampled Bosendorfer for when headphones are in use and the resonance modelling has been further improved in the new Clavinova series.

Specs tell you very little of course. Playing them is far more revealing (and in fact is the only really valuable measure) but it would appear Yamaha themselves would consider the newer sound engine and re-sampled sounds a substantial upgrade.

The action on the Clavinova is indeed graded, as all Clavinovas have been for many years now. The action, whilst not wood, is probably an upgrade too.

If you don't need to move it around and you can afford it I think the Clavinova is the better thing. Emphatically the better thing.

The CLP-735 has binaural samples too and it also includes the Bösendorfer in addition to the CFX.

If I may, P-515!

No, Pete no!

The 735 pivot size is the same as 515 no ?

Great things can come from little pivots if one approaches them with respect!
But I’ve noticed that little pivots get no respect ‘round here; shame on y’all!

Oh, you are right, then that's another reason to prefer the CLP-735.

@pete14, If women were digital pianos, and you had the option between 2 identically specced women except, 1 has an engineering degree who can fix cars, That's the one you'd pick.

That engineering degree is like the Bigger Pivot.

Alternatively the analogy is more funny and offensive with reference to body parts, but I made the decision to keep it less crass.

People like it long

Here's the thing, it doesn't have to be THATTT big to feel good. 22cm is really good enough. 23cm is good but not absolutely necessary. 24-25, is more of a flex.

I really wish these manufacturers would find some other objective way to differentiate their products, because by doing it THIS way, they're UNFAIRLY delivering poor playing experience to all their pooor-er customers.

And that is dumb market sense, because looking ahead, these poorer customers will be the majority market anyway. Some more daring maker swoops in with a 25cm pivot for $500 , and it's GG. You buy that, hook it up to a $300 VST, and it'll blow away everything in the mid-range.

The cost difference to producing a larger pivot is nil'.. They should instead upsell on speakers, sample size/library,

....So can I use a VST with the CLP?

Yes.

cool cool,though I hear there are problems with stock. I may have to wait a bit

no. The P515 has the same Natural Wood X keyboard as CLP-545 and 645.
735 has GH3X. It's decent, but it's on the low-end of what you can get for this price range.
while there is no point comparing a slab piano to a cabinet, the P515 has a better keyboard than CLP-735. You need to CLP-*45 or CSP-170 and above to match it.
with that out of the way, you can discuss the pivot length all you want :p

my bad, 635 has GH3X but 735 has "GrandTouch-STM", whatever that means...

so has anybody tried this "GrandTouch-STM"?

how is it compared to the wooden NWX action on p515?