Yamaha Clavinova CLP and CVP Buyer's Guide

By: Hiram LeCedre—November 19, 2008 05:30PM
"If you're looking for a Clavinova that will do it all, go with a CVP model. However, if you purely want a digital piano, go with a CLP model."
Yamaha Clavinova name on back of CLP and CVP models.
Clavinova CLP

Introduction

So you've decided that you want to get a Clavinova. Now what? CVP or CLP? We'll try to clearly explain the fundamental differences between a CVP and a CLP.

Clear-Cut Differences:

Price. The CVPs will almost always be priced above the Clavinova CLPs. The CVPs come with lots more bells and whistles. And you'll pay for them.

 

 

Here are some prices we dug up from a local Yamaha dealer for different CLP and CVP models:

Features. Although some of the new high-end CLPs (CLP 370/380) have slightly blurred the line between CLP and CVP features such as 16-track sequencers, iFAC, and real wood keys with synthetically coated ivory keytops, the CVP models remain at the helm for their abundance in features, high quality voices, and graphical user interface.

Recent CLPs (CLP 370/380), however, have pushed the piano realism barrier even further than the current flagship Clavinova CVP 407/409 models with 4-level (CLP 370) and 5-level (CLP 380) piano velocity samples with key-off samples and iFAC. Click here to learn more about these amazing digital pianos.

So, if you're looking for a Clavinova that will do it all, go with a CVP model. However, if you purely want a digital piano go with a CLP model.

Conclusion

Remember, deciding between a CVP and CLP largely comes down to how much you are willing to spend and which features you want in your Clavinova. Do you homework. Check out our complete collection of CLP and CVP reviews here or type the specific Clavinova model you are looking for in the search boxes on this page to find our review on it.

One last thing: If you are in the United States, The Yamaha Corporation of America only allows authorized Yamaha dealers to sell new Clavinova digital pianos. This would be the same dealer where you would purchase a Yamaha piano from (i.e. a retail storefront...not on the internet). Purchasing from eBay or the internet will void your Yamaha warranty...so be careful! Click here for more information about this.