Pros and Cons
The Yamaha CLP-835 is a full-featured addition to the Clavinova family, representing the entry point into the mid-range of this upright digital piano line. Compared to its predecessor, it boasts an enhanced keyboard action, sound engine, and core piano sounds.
While the CLP-825 is available at an even lower price, it requires certain compromises compared to the other Clavinovas. The CLP-835, positioned in the lower mid-range, offers all the essentials, including the full feature set found in more expensive models in the series.
With 38 sounds and generous 256-note polyphony, the Yamaha CLP-835 is in no way inferior to its more expensive siblings in the series. Remarkably, even this more affordable Clavinova includes the flagship voices of the Yamaha CFX concert grand and the Bösendorfer Imperial from the 800 series in excellent quality.
In terms of authenticity, dynamic range, natural sustain, and the ability to adjust tonal parameters to personal preference, both piano voices set a high standard, even beyond this price segment. When played with headphones, the CLP-835 automatically switches to binaural samples. These enhance the spatial realism of its two main concert grand sounds.
Yamaha’s Virtual Resonance Modeling (VRM) technology, further refined with new algorithms for the CLP-800 series, once again ensures an authentic simulation of sound nuances, such as string and damper resonance.
The A-Piano sound bank also features the excellent tone of the Yamaha SU7 upright, along with rock, pop, and jazz grand piano voices.
New additions include Chillout Piano for ambient music and Lo-Fi Piano for a vintage character. The previous model’s two popular historical fortepiano voices, Mozart Piano and Chopin Piano, are also part of the selection.
Like its predecessor, the CLP-835 features a sound system with two 16-cm speakers and a total of 60 watts of power. Despite its single-way setup, built-in diffusers provide excellent sound dispersion. With its strong volume and clean tone, this model delivers an impressive performance for its price range.
The CLP-835 features the renowned Grand Touch-S keyboard. Despite being made entirely of plastic on this model, the keys provide an impressive playing experience.
The keyboard offers balanced weighting and relatively long keys. This allows for an expressive performance, particularly with the high-resolution grand piano voices. Key repetition is smooth and satisfying. A let-off simulation and synthetic ebony/ivory key surfaces further enhance the realistic and well-rounded touch.
The remaining sound banks of the CLP-835 provide the proven selection of classic keyboard and pad voices typical of the Clavinova series. The digital piano includes unmistakable electric piano sounds such as Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, and FM piano tones. Also available are organs, strings, choirs, synth pads. Along with harpsichord and vibraphone sounds, there are nylon and steel guitar sounds. Four bass voices round out a consistently well-balanced sound palette.
You can use the split and layer functions simultaneously, giving the CLP-835 three independent keyboard zones. Up to two of these live voices can be processed with insert effects, including delay, rotary speaker, phaser, and a newly added distortion. Additionally, you can apply master reverb and chorus proportionally across all parts. Finally, a three-band EQ with seven presets and user memory allows for further tonal customization.
The lesson features remain unchanged, including 50 classical piano pieces and 303 etudes with separately playable right- and left-hand parts. The same goes for the Duo mode, which allows four-handed playing with the same sound on both halves of the keyboard.
Pianists can play standard MIDI files and audio tracks in WAV format from a USB stick or a mobile device via the app through the piano’s speakers—and, of course, play along themselves. Unlike its predecessor, the CLP-835 includes Bluetooth functionality as a standard feature, eliminating the need for an adapter.
The CLP-835 includes 20 preset drum rhythms familiar from previous Clavinovas, complete with an automated bass track. You can even record these rhythms as part of a performance. The overdub function allows simple MIDI recordings of up to 16 tracks directly on the piano. Additionally, the instrument can automatically generate an audio file from a MIDI recording.
Though the display now offers higher resolution, the control panel on the left side of the Yamaha CLP-835 is largely unchanged from its predecessor. It is sufficient for accessing the piano’s basic functions.
For greater convenience, Yamaha offers the free Smart Pianist app, which is best used on an iPhone or iPad. A few Android smartphones and tablets are also officially supported.
→ Overview of Android devices officially supported by Yamaha.
First, the app clearly displays the effective parameter settings for grand piano sounds in the Piano Room menu. Of course, it’s also more convenient to adjust all other settings via the app.
Second, it offers additional features, including registration memory slots for split layer configurations, including effect settings, and playback functions for songs, such as score display. Last but not least, Yamaha continuously improves the app.
CLP-835 vs. CLP-845: In music stores, there’s a price difference of about $500 between the CLP-835 and its next higher-end Clavinova sibling. The two models are identical in appearance, dimensions, and weight. However, the CLP-845 features an upgraded Grand Touch-S keyboard with built-in wooden elements. Most importantly, its four-speaker, two-way amplification system delivers greater richness and spatial depth. This may be reason enough to choose the more expensive model.
CLP-835 vs. CLP-735: Compared with its predecessor, the CLP-735, the new model is equipped with a revised sound chip. According to Yamaha, this reproduces the tonal nuances of the high-resolution multisamples with even greater precision. Additionally, the sound system has been redesigned to produce a more spacious sound when played through the speakers.
→ The CLP-800 series at a glance.
CLP-835 vs. CLP-825: The entry-level model in the CLP-800 series differs more noticeably in terms of features. Its cabinet design is simpler, and its sound system is more modest. Nevertheless, it is worth trying out: Yamaha has achieved excellent tonal balance even with the smaller system of the CLP-825. Pianists focused on core piano sounds will still find the Yamaha CFX and Bösendorfer grand piano voices here, playable with the same Grand Touch-S keyboard. The only limitation is that the Bösendorfer voice is not available as a binaural sample for headphone use.
Yamaha’s CLP-835 is a top recommendation in the sub-$2,000 upright digital piano category. It benefits from the outstanding concert grand sounds of the higher-end Clavinova models. The entry-level Grand Touch-S keyboard allows you to play these sounds dynamically and expressively. An essential companion, the Smart Pianist app by Yamaha further enhances ease of use.
Compared to its predecessor, the CLP-735, the CLP-835 features a slightly refined design language, with subtle curves on the side panels and other parts of the cabinet. An almost fully closed rear panel and the addition of front legs further contribute to its high-quality overall appearance.
The CLP-835 is available in five finishes. Alongside black, white, and rosewood, the new “White Birch” replaces the slightly darker “White Ash” offered with the CLP-735. For an additional charge, the CLP-835 is also available in polished ebony, which increases the weight by three kilograms. The keyboard is protected by a sliding key cover, and the music rest sits on top of the cabinet. Prices vary slightly depending on the chosen finish, with the polished ebony version being the only one priced significantly above $2,000.
The technique produces vivid, nearly three-dimensional sound, which is most effective when listening through headphones. In fact, this playback method is designed exclusively for headphone use and delivers an astonishingly realistic impression.
Even players using closed-back headphones, who would normally expect a more confined sound, will experience an open, spacious tone that highlights the beauty of the two grand piano voices.
Yes, the keyboard’s touch response can be customized with five selectable dynamic curves. Compared to the previous model, Yamaha has refined the algorithms that govern the interaction between sensors 1 and 3. This subtle yet noticeable fine-tuning results in slightly improved precision.
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Pros and Cons
Henrik Bruns
Yamaha's CLP-835 is a top recommendation in the sub-$2,000 upright digital piano category. It benefits from the outstanding concert grand sounds of the higher-end Clavinova models.
CLP-835 B : 1.679,00 €
TO THE OFFERCLP-835 WH : 1.690,00 €
TO THE OFFERCLP-835 PE : 2.111,00 €
TO THE OFFERCLP-835 R : 1.690,00 €
TO THE OFFERCLP-835 WB : 1.711,00 €
TO THE OFFER
CLP-835 B : 1.679,00 €
TO THE OFFERCLP-835 WH : 1.690,00 €
TO THE OFFERCLP-835 PE : 2.111,00 €
TO THE OFFERCLP-835 R : 1.690,00 €
TO THE OFFERCLP-835 WB : 1.711,00 €
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