Yamaha CLP380 Reviews

“For anybody wishing to purchase a ‘Top Quality’ digital piano the CLP380 should certainly be on your list of pianos to audition”

Piano Make and Model: Yamaha CLP380PE (polished ebony)

I chose this particular make/model as I had tried several others and felt that the Yamaha was the best all rounder. OK, so some of the other makes were also very good but I felt that this one had the edge.

The sound is superb thanks to the improved amplification which features a ‘Tri-Amp System’ allowing separate amplification for the High, Mid and Low range along with the iAFC (Instrumental Active Field Control). The sound quality is the same right across the keyboard and the ‘TOUCH’, thanks to the synthetic ivory keyboard, gives the impression that you could be playing an acoustic piano as opposed to a digital one.

I also liked the idea of being able to connect the piano to the internet (IDC, internet direct conection) enabling use of the Yamaha internet services that are available though at the moment I haven’t used this facility.

There are sufficient ‘voices’ (Piano, Organ, Strings, Vibraphone, Choir etc etc) to allow for various types of playing style and they all sound superb. There is no rhythmn section but there are plenty of drum kit sounds available which can be recorded to the built in recorder to be played back whilst simultaneously playing the piano.

The only reservation I have is that there is no keyboard light to illuminate both the control panel and the keyboard itself. Of course this doesn’t pose a problem whilst playing during the day but when the Sun goes down it can be very difficult to see.

I bought the piano from Whitley Bay Home Organ Centre as their price was the most competetive by far. Although I only spoke to them over the ‘phone, they were very easy to deal with and were not ‘pushy’ in any way at all. The promised delivery time was adhered to and the piano arrived in perfect condition, was assembled and placed anywhere in my home I chose. The delivery men were also very good and nothing appeared to be too much trouble. There was one minor problem, my piano arrived minus the seat however this was swiftly rectified and the stool arrived the following morning via courier.

Well done Yamaha for making such a good solid instrument and well done Whitley Bay Home Organ Centre for your swift, non pushy and relaxed service.

For anybody wishing to purchase a ‘Top Quality’ digital piano the CLP380 should certainly be on your list of pianos to audition and for those with a slightly smaller budget, there is the CLP370 which is a very close second indeed.

Regards to all players,

Review by Philip Annand, Ashford, UK

 

“These are customer reviews from actual owners of this piano.
The most recent review is at the top of this page “, Graham Howard, Piano Advisor

Send me an email if you have any questions or need advice: grahamhoward@ukpianos.co.uk
Or call 020 8367 5107

 

2) “I was in doubt between this piano or a hybrid piano from Yamaha”

I bought a  Yamaha clavinova 380 PE digital piano. I might say it is a great digital piano. It cost me €4000. This is the only
drawback of this piano, its price. But since I am not really an amateur, it was for me an investment for my leisure and I am
enjoying it. If I didn’t have all that money for a piano, I would have chosen the clavinova 370 PE which is almost half of the price.

I was in doubt between this piano or a hybrid piano from Yamaha. I live in a flat so I wouldn’t take advantage of the sound of an
piano if I bought a hybrid piano since I play at night most of the time . With a digital piano, I can control the volume if I don’t
want to use the headphones. So, with a digital piano, I can play at anytime without disturbing anyone of the building. On the other
hand, a hybrid piano is even more expensive.

Review by Paulo Moreira, Portugal

 

3) “Was attracted to the Yamaha because it was clearly a quality instrument, lovely build and finish, but the clincher was the natural feel of the keyboard”

A new piano player, fiddling about Grade One. Got the Yamaha CLP 380 piano from Dawsons in Liverpool and originally
got a Winchester whose only fault was a wobbly feel to the keys. Otherwise a nice tone and good value.

Was attracted to the Yamaha because it had an equally pleasant tone, was clearly a quality instrument, lovely
build and finish, but the clincher was the natural feel of the keyboard – it just felt right, in my short
experience anyway, and the whole instrument is an absolute pleasure.

I found Dawson’s a pleasant firm to do business with. I could have saved a couple of hundred pounds by buying
online, but as beginner I felt Roger’s advice on the Winchester was good. After only five weeks when I decided
on the Yamaha they gave me a full refund and delivered the Yamaha in two and a half weeks

Review by Greg Finn, Rainford, Merseyside, UK

 

4) “The CLP 380 was as near to a good stringed piano as I have heard”

This is my fourth digital piano in twenty years, none of the previous three had a particularly good piano sound or keyboard feel. Over that time I have come to appreciate the importance of these two criteria, particularly for a learner. I haven’t played for about three years so in an attempt re-learn all I have forgotten these were the main criteria for my current choice. All the other bells and whistles were secondary. After some weeks of an internet and paper search, my choice, for a home piano based on the above criteria, was narrowed down to a Yamaha Clavinova.

I was initially undecided between the CLP 370, and the CLP 380. They both have the same keyboard but the CLP 380 was nearly £2000 more expensive so I had to find out if the difference in price was worth it. I was fortunate to find a music shop with both models layed out at right angles to each other. By placing a stool between the two I could play a chord or note on one, and instantly play the same on the other for comparison.

The CLP 370 was good, but the CLP 380 was as near to a good stringed piano as I have heard. The sound was beyond anything I had previously heard in a digital piano. The higher paper specification certainly showed through in practice as well as the price. This comparison was using the CLPs’ own internal amplifier, the difference was not so easy to notice using headphones. The Instrument Active Field Control (iAFC) makes all the difference. I had my previous digital piano for twelve years and it was about as good as was available at the time, but in comparison to the CLP 380 it sounds awful.

The many keyboard voices on the 380 are a bonus but its the full piano sound and keyboard feel that to me, make this worth the money. It is heavy at 91Kg (15 stone) but if thought of as only the weight of two 7.5 stone females then it doesn’t seem so heavy. I bought this from Bonners of Eastbourne who delivered it within two weeks and set it up. It is brilliant to use and also looks good. There was one unexpected point in that, unlike the advice I received at a large well known music shop, (not Bonners), the CLP 380 should not be placed flush up against a wall. It needs to be at least 10 cms away from the wall to allow the internal speakers to work effectively.

Review by Robert Kitching, Epsom, Surrey, UK

 

5) “The sound is unbelievable – Also the ‘touch feeling’ is almost perfect”

I’ve got my digital piano! A Clavinova CLP380. It’s really nice. The sound is
unbelievable and it looks like a real acoustic piano. Also the ‘touch feeling’ is
almost perfect. I studied on an acoustic piano for many years in the past, so
I can recognize the difference between real and digital instruments, but this
Clavinova is really very closed to a ‘normal’ piano.

So, I’m very happy with my choise. I found it in a nice store not far from
my home (in Italy), and also the price was good. I went to the shop; they
have a lot of models you can try, I play almost all of them (they had Yamaha
and Roland models) and almost immediately my best feeling was with the
CLP380 (and I didn¹t know it was the most expensive…). So the choice was
easy, even if its price was a little bit higher than my ideal budget. So,
now I can play!

Review by Alberto, Italy

 

6) “The 2 main contenders were Yamaha and Roland but for me the Yamaha won easily”

Having not tried digital pianos for 5 years I was keen to see if technology had improved my previous conclusion that a digital piano is no substitute for an acoustic piano.

I used to play piano seriously and recently decided to try and get back some piano fingers. I needed a digital piano because of my need to play with headphones sometimes.

After trying several it seems that the 2 main contenders were Yamaha and Roland but for me the Yamaha won easily because I made an emotional connection with the music and forgot I was playing a digital piano. The feel of the keys on the fingers and the sensitivity of tone graduation is very fine but I was aware that this instrument made me sound a better pianist than I actually am!

For around £3000 including stool I think this piano is astonishingly good value and the best there is out there.
Don’t take my word for it go try one. I bought mine at Yamaha Homeworld in Ware – near M25 A10: playsomething.co.uk

Review by Roland Roberts, Enfield, North London, UK

 

>> For Yamaha CLP380 information, specifications and prices, click here