CVP 205 & External Speakers?

[moatzart]

I have been reading this great forum for a while now, but have just become a member as I am getting ready to purchase my first Clavinova.

I would like to get the CVP 207, but budget restrictions have me considering the CVP 205 instead. The main problem I have with the 205 is the power output and sound.

Comparing the 205 & 207 side by side the difference in sound (clarity and volume) is amazing.

Here's my question: Would it be possible to provide and external speaker source ie: subwoofer and speakers to provide the same type of sound quality as the 207?

Physically, I know the 205 has the outputs. This just seems like a realistic possibility, considering the $1200-1500 price difference between the two.

Has anyone tried this with any success, or have any other suggestions for this excited newbie? Thanks!

[wally]

There's certainly a lot you can do to improve the sound quality by hooking the CVP up to an external audio system, but keep in mind that the samples in the 205 and 207 are not the same--the higher models have better piano samples.

[jjm542]

I recently upgraded the sound system on my CVP900 (same electronics as the 209/210) and it made a big improvement. As Wally says, the samples on this piano are different than the 205, but I suspect that you'll get better results out of an upgraded 205 than a 207/209 with the standard sound system.

What I ended up with was a low-end stereo receiver/amplifier (100 watts per channel but you could do with less) and a pair of bookshelf speakers. I auditioned a dozen brands of speakers in the store and brought five of them home to try out. (Be sure the store has return privileges!) My choice came down to either the Bose 301 (8" woofer, two tweeters) or Cambridge Soundworks M80 (8" woofer, 4" midrange, 1" tweeter). Both are about the same price, I went with Cambridge but could have been happy with either. I tested some more expensive models but didn't like them as well. I also added a low-cost 8" subwoofer although I don't know how much that actually improves things (I had it lying around.) You hear the subwoofer more in instruments with heavy bass than in the piano sound itself.

I connected the speakers to the amplifier and plugged the amplifier into the set of audio jacks that is controlled by the piano volume control. You have to be careful not to turn the piano volume control up so high that the add-on speakers distort (or, in the limit, are damaged) because the higher you turn the volume control on the piano the hotter the signal going to the amplifier. This should not be a problem in home use. You could also connect the amplifier to the constant-level jacks, but then you have to use both volume controls (amp and piano), somewhat less convenient.

I found that speaker placement made a big difference. The ideal would have been ear-level, but that didn't work from a decorative standpoint. I wound up putting them under the piano (the 900 has a mini-grand case) with the subwoofer in the middle. I experimented with facing them in different directions, including facing the wall behind the piano (a la the CLP 150/170), but wound up with them facing forward, woofers to the bottom and tweeters on the top and raised about 3" off the floor. A horizontal placement didn't sound as good. Don't know what the best placement would be with the 205. I wanted the sound to appear to be coming from inside the piano, so close proximity was important.

Most receiver/amplifiers (Sony, Kenwood, Onkyo, Panasonic etc. etc. etc.) are now multi-channel and contain signal processors that can "enhance" the sound (add reverb, etc.) You can play with this to see if you like it better than "dry." I found I preferred the unprocessed sound, but YMMV.

I am very happy with the results. The sound is definitely "bigger" because of the additional power and number of speakers, but I also suspect part of the difference is because the amplifier and speakers are better than those in the piano itself. Altogether I spent about $600 not counting the subwoofer.

Glad to answer any questions.
jim

[moatzart]

Thanks for the great feedback! It looks like that may be the way to go.

I'm still very tempted to try and get the 207 though. I really like a few of its nicer features including the higher polyphony, not to mention the much nicer screen.

My dealer is trying to work out a deal on the 207, I suspect because he's already sitting on the even series (206 & 208) and wants to unload the older models as best he can and get the new models on the floor as soon as possible.

I'm going to make another visit this week to see what he's come up with - I'm getting pretty antsy at this point to get this thing!

I'll keep you posted - thanks again!

Dave