Kawai Novus NV6 High Performance Millennium III Hybrid Upright Digital Piano (NV6)

Based on the ‘K’ series’ proven action design, Millennium III Hybrid retains the composite parts and extended key sticks of its acoustic cousin, while replacing the traditional felt hammers with individually-weighted ABS equivalents.

As a hybrid piano, there are no metal strings inside the Novus for these hammers to physically strike when the keys are played, therefore their precise movements are instead captured using high-resolution optical sensors mounted over the action.

Millennium III Hybrid delivers all of the benefits of a premium Kawai upright piano action within a digital instrument.  This feat of engineering allows pianists to enjoy the unmatched feeling of playing an acoustic piano, regardless of the time of day, or the size of their home.

ABS Hybrid Hammers

The Novus NV6’s precision-engineered ABS hammers have been designed for structural stability and optimum keyboard touch-response.

Each individual hammer is grade-weighted to mirror the heavier bass and lighter treble hammers of an acoustic piano, ensuring that the NV6’s key touch-weight feels the same as a well-regulated acoustic instrument.

Optical Hammer Sensors

The precise movements of each hammer are measured using high-resolution optical sensors, providing greater accuracy than conventional key-based sensor systems.

This more advanced approach closely reproduces the mechanical flow of an acoustic piano, and allows rapid pianissimo passages with mordents or trills to be performed with greater fluency.

 

Unprecedented realism

There are no metal strings inside the Novus to require physical damping, as the instrument’s sound is produced digitally.

However, in order to reproduce every aspect of playing an acoustic piano, the NV6 retains the damper mechanism behind the keyboard action, replicating the extra load of traditional wood and felt parts, as the keys and pedal are pressed.

This innovation allows pianists to not only hear how the damper pedal affects the Novus’ generated sound, but also feel the various mechanical interactions through their hands and feet.

The premier piano of Japan

The spirit of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano is at the heart of the Novus NV6. Widely regarded as ‘the premier piano of Japan,’ the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX graces the stages of concert halls and musical institutions around the globe, receiving universal acclaim for its magnificent tonal clarity and exceptional dynamic range.

Naturally expressive sound

In order to reproduce the stunning tonal qualities of the Shigeru Kawai concert grand piano digitally, the Novus NV6 incorporates Kawai’s latest SK-EX Rendering technology, and includes the new SK-EX Competition Grand piano sound, which was specifically recorded from the player’s perspective, and characterised by its bright, clear sound and distinctive attack. This new sound complements the warm tonal elegance of the existing SK-EX Concert Grand, with both piano types reproduced using Kawai’s advanced multi-channel SK-EX Rendering sound engine.

This advanced piano sound engine combines the well-established process of sampling with the modern approach of physical modelling, to produce a piano sound that is both rich in natural acoustic character, and dynamically responsive to the player’s musical desires.

Advanced speaker system

This high-fidelity sound is delivered through the NV6’s powerful speaker system, which combines Kawai’s exclusive soundboard technology with six premium quality speaker drivers. The result is a remarkably authentic playing experience that immerses the performer, and faithfully reproduces the tonal ambience of an acoustic piano.

The look of an acoustic piano

The Novus NV6’s stunning ebony polish cabinet is crafted in the same piano production facility as Kawai’s ‘K’ series upright instruments, ensuring exceptional build quality and an immaculate mirror-like finish.

Its exterior appearance is undoubtedly inspired by classic piano design, thanks in part to the handsome fallboard and wide music rest, providing a sense of stability and reassurance when sitting at the instrument.

However, this traditional character is refined and refreshed by the NV6’s gently curved edge lines, elegantly tapered legs – free of the customary, weighty toe-blocks – and various other details that lift and modernise the instrument’s presence.

5-inch touchscreen

The features are primarily controlled through the NV6’s anti-glare touchscreen LCD, which is discretely embedded within the instrument’s left cheekblock. This high resolution touchscreen allows sounds and settings to be adjusted from an attractive user interface simply by tapping or swiping the display with a finger.

For piano purists, the screen can be set to fade out automatically while playing, thus preserving the Novus’ classic appearance, and minimising any visual distraction to the performer.

Connectivity

Unlike an acoustic piano, the Novus NV6 provides a variety of options for connecting to other devices. The newly integrated USB-C port and built-in USB audio interface enables seamless, high-quality digital audio transfer to and from computers and smart devices via a single cable.

The NV6 even supports Bluetooth® MIDI and audio functionality, providing an effortless way to connect and enjoy smart devices wirelessly.

Headphone and audio jacks allow the instrument to be played in silence, or for the sound to be amplified for halls and other large settings.