Pros and Cons
As the flagship of the current Clavinova series, the Yamaha CLP-885 sits at the very top of the price range. The standard black cabinet version costs just under $7,000 (£4,300/€5,000), while the high-gloss finish even exceeds what is typically considered the upper limit of the mid-range digital piano segment. Is it worth the investment?
That’s right—this Clavinova model is classified as mid-range. The only models above it in the lineup are the two digital grand piano models in the Clavinova series. However, the Yamaha CLP-865GP is technically comparable to the CLP-845 (priced at around $6,800). At just under $8,900, only the Yamaha CLP-895GP offers a feature set equivalent to that of the Yamaha CLP-885.
No matter which cabinet finish you choose, the Yamaha CLP-885 exudes a sense of refined piano tradition. This impression is particularly striking in the high-gloss version. As previously mentioned, this premium finish comes at a higher price—and justifiably so, given the outstanding build quality.
With its upright-style cabinet, the CLP-885 could easily be mistaken for an acoustic piano. The design is not only visually elegant but also thoughtfully functional. For example, it features a music rest integrated into the fallboard. From the very first impression, it’s clear that this is a serious instrument. You can sense it immediately in the feel of the fallboard, the pedals, and, of course, the keyboard action.
The Yamaha CLP-885 immediately makes an impression with its sound. From the moment you touch the keys, you are greeted by a rich, brilliant piano tone reminiscent of the Yamaha CFX concert grand. While you may be familiar with this sound from smaller Clavinova models, it comes across as noticeably more expansive and powerful here.
The sound also has a pleasing immediacy, inviting you to play. The first chords and arpeggios seem to flow effortlessly from your fingers. This is one of the hallmark qualities of the Yamaha Clavinova series: You feel an instant connection to the sound and can start playing right away.
At the same time, the instrument allows for subtle nuances to emerge clearly. The CFX voice delivers a commanding presence, making classical, jazz, or rock pieces sound convincing from the outset. Players who prefer a warmer, more restrained tonal character may gravitate toward the Bösendorfer Imperial voice with its more muted timbre. Works by Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, or Satie unfold beautifully with this more lyrical voicing.
Players who frequently use headphones, e.g. for practicing at home, will appreciate the binaurally sampled versions of the two concert grand pianos. When listened to through headphones, they create a remarkable sense of depth. It genuinely feels as though you are seated in the same room as the instrument.
However, this is far more than a technical novelty. The real musical advantage: The balanced, comfortable headphone sound allows for extended practice sessions or simply enjoying the instrument’s tone to the fullest.
The remaining voices on the Yamaha CLP-885 are conventionally sampled. Only the two flagship piano voices, the CFX and the Bösendorfer, are available in binaural versions optimized for headphone use.
The instrument offers a total of 53 voices, including standard categories such as strings, pads, double bass, vibraphone, and various electric pianos. However, the quality of these voices does not quite match that of the two concert grand piano voices. This is particularly evident in the upright piano voice, which sounds somewhat nasal and lacks body. Players expecting a warm upright tone may be disappointed.
Given the price range, I would have expected more. Some of these sounds are similar to those of the significantly cheaper Clavinovas. Unfortunately, the CLP-885 seems to be just a rehash in this respect.
Let’s stay with the piano voices, which are undoubtedly the heart of any digital piano. On the Yamaha CLP-885, they are reproduced with impressive clarity and authority through the built-in speaker system. From the player’s position, you are seated right in the acoustic sweet spot for a thoroughly immersive experience.
At the same time, the speaker system is powerful enough to evenly project sound throughout a living room. Carefully positioned diffusers in front of the speakers enhance the instrument’s spatial dispersion, creating a broad, natural sound field. Yet, the sound remains focused at the keyboard. Even at higher volume levels, the sound stays transparent—a genuine pleasure to listen to.
In typical Yamaha fashion, the CLP-885 offers a very direct and precise touch. It is essentially the same key action found in the CLP-875, with one key difference: The Yamaha CLP-885 features additional counterweights for improved key balance. While this may seem like a minor detail on paper, the effect is clearly noticeable in practice. In direct comparison, the CLP-885 allows for slightly more refined dynamic control.
The triple-sensor system accurately captures both subtle dynamic changes and note repetition, even when restriking a key before it has fully returned to its resting position. The white keys incorporate wooden components. Together with the synthetic ebony and ivory keytops, they provide a highly authentic tactile experience.
Whether selecting voices or accessing the instrument’s numerous functions, you can adjust all parameters directly via the control panel. The built-in display is relatively compact, and at this price point one might expect a more expansive interface. However, Yamaha compensates for this with the free Smart Pianist app for Android and iOS devices.
Smart Pianist offers genuine added value: Not only does it provide a much more intuitive and visually clear user interface, it also unlocks additional features such as a recorder/player with synchronized score display, automatic PDF sheet music import, and even chord detection from audio files.
Another highly practical feature is the integrated USB audio/MIDI interface, which allows the Yamaha CLP-885 to be seamlessly connected to computers and mobile devices. External audio signals can be routed directly through the instrument’s speaker system or headphones. This makes it easy to integrate online lessons, YouTube videos, and play-along tracks into your practice routine.
Much of the time spent learning and practicing is spent playing with headphones. In this context, the binaurally sampled concert grand voices (CFX and Bösendorfer) deserve special mention once again. They provide a natural listening experience that remains pleasant even during extended practice sessions.
Beyond that, the Yamaha CLP-885 includes a substantial selection of built-in classical piano repertoire. The études can be played back using the built-in player. Moreover, it is possible to mute either the left- or right-hand part for practice purposes. The Smart Pianist app further enhances this feature by displaying the corresponding notation during playback. A very comprehensive learning package.
As the flagship model, the Yamaha CLP-885 meets the expectations of advanced pianists while also offering ambitious beginners a high-level starting point. With its two outstanding concert grand voices, CFX and Bösendorfer, it delivers expressive and characterful piano tones of impressive depth. Playing on the GrandTouch action is highly satisfying, particularly for those who appreciate Yamaha’s typically firm and direct touch.
The top model of the CLP-800 series is thoroughly convincing in the most crucial areas: piano sound, key action, and overall tonal projection. From a technical standpoint, it leaves little to be desired. The only area that falls slightly short of expectations is the additional voices, such as upright piano, strings, and pads. While these are comparable in quality to those found in the smaller CLP models, one might reasonably expect a more elevated standard at this price level.
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Pros and Cons
Janis Theurer
As the flagship model, the Yamaha CLP-885 meets the expectations of advanced pianists while also offering ambitious beginners a high-level starting point.
CLP-885 B : 4.750,00 €
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