Founder and Piano teacher
A good digital piano has to be expensive — right? Wrong! Searching for the perfect instrument can quickly become overwhelming, especially with a top brand like Yamaha. In our test of the new Yamaha Clavinova series, it became clear that the true winner isn’t always the most expensive model. Find out why the more affordable piano impressed us more in the end and which instrument is the real Yamaha digital piano champion for you.
In general: Yamaha digital pianos are among the world’s best. The Clavinova series stands for top‑tier sound and feel, while the Arius series offers a more affordable entry point.
Important: Core components like the sound engine and keyboard action are often identical between cheaper and pricier models within a series. Price differences usually come down to the cabinet, speaker system and additional features.
Tip: Our test shows the entry‑level Yamaha Clavinova CLP-825 offers outstanding value for money and, for most players, is the best yamaha digital piano choice.
A good instrument is the perfect foundation, but your success depends on how you learn. To stay motivated from the outset and develop the right technique, you’ll find all the key basics and exercises in our guide to learning the piano.
Yamaha has been synonymous with outstanding acoustic grand pianos and uprights for decades. This expertise feeds directly into the development of its digital pianos. The result is instruments that not only sound fantastic, but also deliver an authentic playing feel.
The samples of the world‑renowned concert grands Yamaha CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial are a hallmark of the Clavinova series and offer impressive depth and dynamic range. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player, a Yamaha digital piano is an investment that pays off.
Before we get into the details, here’s a quick overview of Yamaha’s key digital piano series, so you know where to place the tested models:
Series | Target Audience | Key Features | Price Range |
Clavinova (CLP/CVP) | Beginners to Pros | Most authentic playing feel, best sound samples (CFX/Bösendorfer), high-quality speakers, elegant design | mid‑range to high‑end |
Arius (YDP) | Beginners & Intermediate | Excellent value for money, solid sound and good keyboard, ideal for getting started | affordable to mid‑range |
Portable (P-Series) | Musicians on the go | Compact, lightweight, ideal for stage and rehearsal room, often without a fixed stand | budget to mid‑range |
Our review focuses on the popular Clavinova series, as it aims to come closest to a real acoustic piano. If you’re instead looking for a more compact and mobile instrument to start with, you’ll find our in‑depth Yamaha P-145 review here.
In our hands‑on test, we compare the two entry‑level models in the new 800 series: the Yamaha CLP-825 and the Yamaha CLP-835. The price difference is roughly €400. Is that premium worth it?
Discover the Yamaha Clavinova CLP-825 and CLP-835 available in different sets:
First things first: do the pianos sound different? The short answer: no. And that’s fantastic news for anyone watching their budget.
Both models use exactly the same sound engine. That means you get the brilliant samples of the Yamaha CFX concert grand and the warm, mellow tone of the Bösendorfer Imperial in both the CLP-825 and the CLP-835. When playing them directly, whether it’s a pop piece or a classical piece, we couldn’t hear any difference.
Sound Verdict: In the core discipline of piano tone, it’s a complete tie. Even the most affordable model gives you the full splendour of the flagship grands.
Both pianos come with the same GrandTouch-S™ keyboard with escapement simulation. The keys are weighted and deliver a realistic, piano-like feel. Even so, we did notice a subtle difference in testing:
Yamaha CLP-825: The feel is very direct. You feel very close to the sound.
Yamaha CLP-835: The feel is a touch more comfortable and slightly more cushioned. This is likely due to the larger cabinet and its resonance characteristics.
Important: There’s no “better” or “worse” here, just a different nuance in feel. Both feel high quality.
The biggest and most decisive difference lies in the built-in speaker system. This is where the CLP-835’s higher price makes sense.
Yamaha CLP-825: Fitted with a solid 2 x 20‑watt speaker system. We were surprised by how punchy and full this compact piano sounds. It’s absolutely sufficient for practising at home.
Yamaha CLP-835: With 2 x 30‑watt speaker system and a special diffuser technology, it offers more power and a more spacious sound. It fills the room a bit more and sounds wider.
Can you hear the difference? Yes. Is it worth €400? That’s for you to decide. For feel and sound over headphones, it makes no difference. But if you often play without headphones and value a room‑filling sound, the CLP-835 could have the edge.
Visually, the CLP-835 is a little more prominent thanks to its wider control panel and larger cabinet. The CLP-825 looks more compact and minimalist.
A brilliant feature of both models is compatibility with the Yamaha Smart Pianist App. Using your smartphone or tablet, you can easily select sounds, set effects or start recordings. It makes operation a breeze.
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After extensive testing, we have a clear winner — and it’s a surprise. For us, the Yamaha Clavinova CLP-825 is the real Yamaha digital piano test winner for value for money.
In the most important areas – sound and keyboard – it delivers exactly the same outstanding quality as its pricier sibling. You get the world‑class CFX and Bösendorfer sounds and an authentic piano keyboard. The punchy dual 20 Watt system absolutely convinced us and is more than enough for 95% of home use.
Our Recommendation:
Go for the Yamaha CLP-825 if you want the best Yamaha digital piano for your money. The €400 you save can be well spent on a good piano course or sheet music.
Choose the Yamaha CLP-835 if you value a particularly room‑filling sound and budget isn’t your main concern.
In the end, the best advice is always: try them yourself. Only you can decide which feel you personally prefer
The Clavinova series is Yamaha’s premium line and aims to replicate the feel and sound of an acoustic grand as closely as possible. The Arius series is the more affordable alternative, excellent for beginners, but with slightly simpler keyboard action and speaker systems.
Yes, all Yamaha digital pianos have at least one, and usually two, headphone outputs. That lets you practise at any time of day or night without disturbing family or neighbours.
Very realistic. Yamaha uses weighted, hammer‑action keyboards (such as GrandTouch-S™) that simulate the resistance and response of real grand piano keys. For beginners and intermediate players, the feel is more than sufficient to develop solid technique.
The most important app is Yamaha’s “Smart Pianist”. It’s available for iOS and Android and lets you control all your piano’s functions comfortably via a tablet or smartphone. It makes operation a breeze.
