309gp, kawai 205, or roland Kr17m

[Gmoney]

I am ready to buy a top of the line digital piano and I am so excited I can't stand it. I have been "watching" you all here for quite awhile and have gained much needed knowledge with regard to "digitals". I currently own a Roland RD300 (controller) and a Korg O1/Wfd (for sound and sequencing) and I have been quite happy with both (I think I'm used to them). As some of you might know- These things are old! What? maybe 16 years old?
Anyway, I test drove the cvp 309GP and the Kawai 205 (both very nice with regard to feel, sound, gadgets, etc), but I have not "driven" Rolands KR17 yet. I really am an amateur pianist. It is only a hobby of mine, but it is my passion and I want the "best"(whatever that means) digital piano I can get. I would mainly use the digital for the piano (and perhaps the rythm accompaniment (sp?)), some sequencing and like the idea of having more (gadgets) than I could ever use (Yeah, I know that sounds wierd). I know that everyone has a different opinion with regard to what is the "best" as it is purely subjective. However, I'm concerned that since I have only played my Roland RD300 (through external speakers) that I won't think it "feels and sounds" right in my house (Am I neurotic?, yes!)
This piano will be going in my living room so I would like it "furniture like" (309gp, kawai 205, KR17 style). I have not ruled out the clp 175 either. I don't think I can wait for the
cgp 1000 (if anyone was thinking that). Cost not being an issue (yes, its an issue but that is another thread), would I be crazy not to go with the cvp 309gp?

Thanks in advance for all your intelligent advice and input. This is one TERRIFIC site.

Kind regards,

Gary
Hermosa Beach, California
Roland RD 300 and Korg 01/Wfd user

[linjon]

" like the idea of having more (gadgets) than I could ever use (Yeah, I know that sounds wierd)"

weird??

sounds perfectly normal to me.

[dbjorck]

Hi!

I know the feeling and totally sympathise with you. I too am a gadget geek, but I have no experience of the Kawai or Roland; however the 309GP did not let me down. It has done everything that I wanted and more; and I don't regret the purchase at all. I don't think you can go wrong with it. (Of course there are things that could improve, like IDC, memory, and so on; but the grass is on the other hand always greener on the other side - nothing is perfect)

Brgds

Danny

[kempedkemp]

Definitely go with the CVP309 over the CLP175. The registration memory alone is worth it, not to mention the polyphony capabilities.

The 307/309 also has a very nice looking cabinet. I'm imagining that you have checked them out in real life. Can't speak for how it looks in a livingroom, but it looks impressive against white marble in a large church!

Remember, polished ebony takes a lot more maintenance. It will show a lot of dust that blends in better on mahogony. The polished ebony also scratches very easily. I once had a B. Kawaii grand and all you had to do was set music that was stapled or paperclipped together on it and it would scratch.

Ed

CLP170 Home
CVP307 Church
Pipe Organ II/22

[Gmoney]

Thanks Danny and Ed for your response I really do appreciate it.

Ed,
Yeah, I would much prefer to have a satin finish over the gloss finish but there is no such thing in the 309gp (unless you have it professionally rubbed out with steel wool to dull the finish and even then its not the same as a factory looking satin finish)

Gary
Hermosa Beach Calif
RD300 and Korg O1/Wfd user

[nickb]

I almost bought a CVP-309GP, but I think this one is a little obsolete by now. It doesn'st offer custom sample support neither Hard disk wav recorder. The piano voices are not as good as the CLP-280. So I bought a Tyro 2 to wait for the CGP-1000 or a new CVP line as cost not being an issue, but the features are!!

[Andreas]

It´s a bit like a dream come true to have your choice. A difference which might influence your decision are the Organ sounds of the three: as far as I can see only the CVP309GP has the possibility to edit drawbar sounds (called organ flutes), the Kawai and the Roland come with fixed Organsounds which the CVP also has. But if you can´t play with these editable Drawbarsounds, it might be of no importance for you. Another difference are Yamahas megavoices. The styles are much more lively through these voices. If you play with the accompaniment styles the CVP has a break function, that means, you can have dynamic interruptions in your playing.
What the Kawai has more than the CVP is a CD-Burner inside of it.
At last it´s a personal decision, hope you´ll find your instrument soon.

[Gmoney]

Nickb,
Thank you for replying. Its nice to know people will take the time to respond on this site.
With regard to "custom sampling", I don't even know what that means (remember: "I want more gadgets than I'll ever use" -this is probably one of them). Same goes for the hard disk wav recorder (don't know what that is either). Remember, I'm an experienced novice (hmmm) that enjoys tinkering.
I know that the CVP 309Gp has been around for a couple of years and I always want the newest and "bestest" but it seems like we all will be chasing that problem forever given the nature of technology. I don't want to wait for the CGP1000 ( it sounds like it has the same "guts" as the 309 but in a baby grand style).
Remember: I'm using 20 year old equipment now. Please, please
Nickb tell me its Okay to buy it (I would put the little smilie face that is winking here right now but I'm not smart enough to do that, so pretend its here. :)

Gary
Hermosa Beach, California
Roland 300 and Korg O1/Wfd user

[Gmoney]

Andreas,

Thank you as well.

Yeah, I would never use the "editable drawbar sounds". In fact, I probably wouldn't use most of what this thing can do. I just want it to feel and sound "that" much better than my old equipment.
And yes, it is a dream come true which ever one I get. I have waited a long time for this opportunity.

Kind regards,

Gary
Hermosa Beach, Calif
Roland RD300 and Korg O1/Wfd user (soon to be former)

[Scubacpa]

Gmoney ... I had a 309-GP in my house for a few days. Everyone else has given you good advice on sound and gadgets. Let's focus on looks. The 309-GP looks REALLY nice, especially if you have the room to showcase it by not putting it against a wall. If you can make it the centerpiece of a room it will be beautiful!

As I said ... it was in my house for a few days (that's a long story in itself but you can fine it if you search my posts) and everytime I walked into the room I just had to stare and admire it.

I ended up with a 309-PE so functially it's the same. And the 309-PE doesn't look bad either. Because of having a small house it actually looks better than the GP did (the GP stuck out like a 300 lb gorilla).

Yes it does show the dust very quickly. Just keep a piece of an old flannel shirt in your bench and give a once over every few days and it's fine.

[Andreas]

The CD-Burner of the Kawai, which looks very nice also, gives you the opportunity to record your playing and your compositions to a CD and play it in your car as an audio CD!

[Gmoney]

Thanks scubacp!

Gary (Gmoney)

[Scubacpa]

That is a nice feature. But you can accomplish the same thing with the 309. I have a sony audio CD recorder hooked into the optical out of my 309. Maybe just one extra button to push from having it built it.

I have never heard the sound from the Kawai so I can't really try to steer you one way or the other. Just providing info.

[Gmoney]

Andreas,

I did really like the record to CD feature on the Kawai. It seemed very simple to use (and God knows I like simple). It is one of the very attractive features as well as the great sound and feel of this unit.

Thanks

Gary
Hermosa Beach, Calif
Roland RD300 and Korg O1/Wfd user

[Gmoney]

scubacp,

Thanks for reminding me. I already have a Phillips CD burner that would be sitting very close to the 309-GP already.
GOOD POINT! Thank you.

Gary
Hermosa Beach, Calif

[Andreas]

But if you won´t use all the bells and whistels of the CVP309GP, and prices don´t worry you, why don´t you go for a Yamaha Grantouch Disklavier Grandpiano like the DGT7A
or another possibility:
the DGC1 Playback Grandpiano by Yamaha.
With this Grand you will get a real acoustic Grand and a Digitalpiano in one instrument!
Have a look
http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/Catalog/Catalog_GSXOCX/0,,CTID%253D201600%2526CNTYP%253DPRODUCT,00.html

[Scubacpa]

If money was no object and I had the space for it ... that's what I'd be looking at.

[Gmoney]

Andreas and Scubacp,
I considered this for a time my only problem is the fact that the piano will be sitting right in front of a giant window (3 giant windows) that faces West where the sun would be beating down on it from 12:00pm till sundown. The piano will also be sitting next to a sliding glass door that is open quite a bit. I live 3 houses from the beach in California and was very concerned with
heat fluctuations in the room as well as the salt/humidity in the air. This is one of the reasons I feel the need to go digital.
Thank you very much for your thoughts and input in your replies. It is very much appreciated.

Gary
Hermosa Beach, California
Roland RD300 and Korg O1/Wfd user

[Andreas]

Considering your sunny situation in your room, the Grantouch DGT7A would surely be the right instrument for your home, it´s digital, but looks and sounds like a real Grand and you have a lot of features you have in a CVP.
Please let us know, how you have decided!;)

[Scubacpa]

I'll bet when you are into that price range the dealer would let you "test" drive it at home for a week.

[Gmoney]

Scubacp,
yeah, theymight let me test it out but I'm not sure the dealer will appreciate the crane that will be needed to hoist the piano from the street to my 3rd story deck in order to get it into my living room-so that I can test it out (hee-hee).
Thanks for your replies. I'll keep you posted.

Gary
Hermosa Beach, Calif

[nickb]

I will try to explain better why I think CVP-309GP is not good enough:

If you want to record your performance to a CD or MP3 or a wav file, using a CVP-309GP, you will have to connect it to a CD-recordable or a computer. With Tyros2(the one I think Yamaha would put inside a new Clavinova) you can record the music directly to an internal Hard disk and transfer it to a USB pen drive.
It is a great feature.

The sampling feature means that you will always be able to add new voices to the instrument, because you can make tehm. With the actual CVP line, you can't make your voice.

Another great feature is the multi pads, that you can record a phrase and call it when you want.

And one of the greatest features of the Tyros2: Super Articulation Voices!! Clavinova should have them!!!!

[Gmoney]

THanks Nickb. I would really like a baby grand (or mini) because it will be a focal point in my living room. You may be right about the tyros but it won't "look" right in my living room. Yeah, I know you have to give up something to get something else. And I think I'm willing to give up tyros cabapilities for a more "finished" look for my living room.
Thanks for you response!

GAry
Hermosa Beach, Calif
Roland RD300 and Korg O1/Wfd user

[nickb]

Gmoney,

I want a digital grand or digital mini grand too and it will be on my living room also. I just bought the Tyros 2(and it is not on my living room!!) to wait for a better Clavinova!