Yamaha NU1XA upright hybrid - Sand, software and sound

Yamaha’s big reveal of the week is the AvantGrand™ NU1XA with a “renewed sensor and sound system” — a substantial update to the NU1X hybrid piano.

The NU1XA combines the action of an acoustic upright piano with sensors, digital sound generation and immersive audio system. Yamaha claim improved key touch and repeatability. The updated double sensor detects movement of the keys and hammers and incorporates an “Articulation Sensor System” which is responsive to performance gestures (force and timing). The NU1XA has a GrandTouch™ pedal.

The sound system is a new design which reminds me of the CSP-295 digital piano. The sound system uses a tweeter horn structure that allows high-frequency sounds to resonate in front and behind the instrument. Woofer speakers near the player’s feet radiate upward so that sound resonates through the instrument. The goal, of course, is to create an accurate, immersive sound field similar to an acoustic grand piano.

The sound system specs out this way. Amplifiers: (40 W + 45 W) × 2. Speakers: (16 cm + 2.5 cm (dome) with Bidirectional Horn) × 2. Not tri-amplified like the CSP-295 and CLP-785, but respectable and similar to the current NU1X.

The NU1XA has the digital technology that we’ve come to expect from the Clavinova line:

Virtual Resonance Modeling (VRM)
Grand Expression Modeling
Yamaha CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial main piano tones
Binaural sampling (both CFX and Bösendorfer)
Four fortepiano tones

It has the touch-sensitive control panel from upper-end CLPs and Smart Pianist support.

Taking a quick browse through the manual, the NU1XA has all of the Clavinova’s song playback and recording features. It also has 5-pin DIN MIDI! The voice list is a little short on tones tailored for pop and jazz — just one jazz organ tone, for example. No XG or rhythms.

Newly announced Yamaha NU1XA hybrid piano

The Yamaha AvantGrand NU1XA will be available starting November 2023. Suggested retail prices (Japan):

Black mirror polished finish: 473,000 Yen (~$3,200 USD )
White mirror polished finish: 539,000 Yen (~$3,700 USD)

Of course, release and pricing depend upon region. Allowing for tariffs and such, those are reasonable prices (hopefully). I presume that the NU1XA will replace the current NU1X which sells for $7,400 (USD MAP) in polished ebony. Who knows where USA pricing will land?

The overall product form resembles a short upright (tall spinet?) and is not as big and bulky looking as the AvantGrand™ N1X. I could see having an NU1XA in our home where the more expensive N1X ($10,000 USD) would appear out of place.

Without hesitation, I’m going to give this one a try once it becomes available. I’ve already established the need for a decent practice instrument leaving orchestra instrument sounds, organs, etc. for MODX and GENOS (gen 1).