Yamaha Clavinova CVP 701 Review

We rated the Yamaha Clavinova CVP 701 an 8.5/10 because of its versatility, as well as how well it serves its wide target audience. My favorite aspects of the piano were the grand piano samples, textured wooden ivory keys, the large sound bank, and the built-in educational features. Sometimes, piano makers do away with the learning tools once the instruments get above a certain price threshold, but not this one. While I wish that the black keys were textured for the price and that the speakers were a bit bigger…however, I still believe the CVP line is for everyone, and that this instrument, in particular, has more than earned the descriptor: crowd-pleasing.

Overview

First released in the fall of 2019, the Yamaha CVP 701 is an interactive digital home piano with learning tools, grand piano samples, Bluetooth, and a built-in speaker system. 

The CVP line of Yamaha’s are versatile instruments geared towards and advertised for…everyone! CVP stands for Clavinova Versitle Piano. This line has quite a few of the features from the makers’ CLP line, including high-quality backing tracks, to name one similarity. 

Let’s see what makes the CVP-701 such an ideal home piano for a wide range of players by delving into the features and specs below.    

Features

GH3X Keyboard 

GH3X stands for graded hammer 3 and is Yamaha’s newest GH action keyboard. Unlike entry-level digital piano models before it, this instrument has a damper sensor, which allows pianists to play repeated notes without the response of the instrument slowing down. 

Yamaha’s GH actions are known to be lighter than other competing keyboard makers. For example, Roland tends to feel much heavier. 

This keyboard also has textured (synthetic) ivory keys. Both the black and white keys are made of natural wood, which makes this GH3X a bit of an exception to the general idea that GH actions are lighter. This type of keyboard is known as the ‘Natural Wood X’ keyboard in Yamaha’s terms. 

The way the keys are weighted successfully captures the essence of an acoustic piano. Having such a sensitive keyboard is beneficial to pianists of all skill levels- it’s never too soon to get used to a weighted keyboard!  I always recommend getting graded hammer action whenever possible, and the GH3X keyboard with natural wood really takes things to the next level. 

2 Grand Piano Samples Inside a Huge Sound Bank 

The CVP 701 offers two lovely grand piano samples. The inclusion of these pianos ups the value a lot in my opinion. 

• Imperial Bosendorfer
• Yamaha CFX

If you love the sound of acoustic Yamaha, then you’ll really enjoy a piano like this. There’s nothing quite like the dynamic CFX, but who better to recapture the timbre and harmonics than the original maker? The result is a resonant sound with depth and clarity.

Despite being so impressed with the two samples, the extensive sound library that is inside the CVP-701 is also remarkable.  

A Maximalist Interface

In some ways, the onboard controls look much more like that of a synthesizer than a piano! There are 100+ buttons on the instrument. I personally love pianos that have what I call a ‘maximalist’ interface, meaning that there are loads of buttons to push. Onboard you can access all of the other features, like guide light, all 777 tones, a handful of high-quality effects, and more. 

Mic Input and 16-track MIDI Sequencer

Another facet of this piano that I’d like to highlight is the ¼ inch mic input, which also adds a lot of production value to the instrument. The addition of a microphone input makes the piano even more ideal for composers and singer-songwriters as you not just jot down your ideas, but rather record with a more high-def sound. 

Like some of the other mid to upper Yamaha’s I’ve reviewed, the CVP 701 has a 16-track MIDI sequencer inside. The instrument also allows you to record one real-time performance if you have a USB flash drive plugged into the instrument. 

Color Touch Screen

You’d be surprised how many mid-range digital pianos still have that orange-ish greyscale screen without touchscreen compatibility. I enjoyed the response of the screen and the look!

Follow Lights

Did you think follow lights were just for beginner keyboards? Think again! 

The recordings are advertised as following the player, rather than the player following them. Lighted keys are really handy for hobbyists who don’t read sheet music yet and for those looking to sit down at the piano and have fun! But this isn’t where the learning features end. 

Learning Features: Accompaniment Styles/Styles

Accompaniment styles allow you to play with ‘virtual musicians’ and choose your genre, style, and more. Some examples of the styles available include jazz combos and string orchestras. Unlike entry-level pianos (which have tracks that just stream-roll on ahead) the CVP-707’s smart accompaniment allows you to add in transitions for the beginning and end of your tune.  There are 40 styles in total inside the instrument. Styles allow you to either play A. Full chords or B. 1-finger chords. It’s up to you!

Other Features:

• Escapement
• Demos
• Bluetooth compatibility 
• Split, layer

Don’t overlook the basics! You’d be surprised how many high-end digital grand pianos don’t connect to Bluetooth. Having Bluetooth means that you can get seamless integration with smart devices. Without it, you miss out on educational apps, sheet music, and more. Plus, I always like to stream music on my digital instruments- Utilize all the speakers you have, I say!  Other basics, like demos, split, and layer are must-haves in my book.

Yamaha CVP 701 Specifications

• Weight: 130 pounds
• Dimensions: 
• Height: 26 inches
• Width: 53 inches
• Depth: 24 inches
• Effects: Yes: 6

Who is it suitable for?

The CVP 701 is best suited for a family of musicians- those who have multiple people of multiple skill levels in the house! This instrument will serve young students who are just started out, as well as more seasoned musicians. 

For aspiring pianists, the CVP-701 loads learning tools which can help to enhance their technical skills. The “Follow Lights” feature is especially helpful to beginners, especially those who are visually included, by playing through the included songs with the illuminated keys. This piano is engaging for young ones but coiffed enough for upper intermediates and advanced hobbyists. 

The Instrument In Action 

Check out this video demo of the CVP 701 by Alamo Music so that you can get a better feel for the instrument’s look and feel. 

Customer Reviews

The Yamaha CVP 701 was rated 4.5/5 stars on Sweetwater.com. Most of the customer reviews were raving, with comments such as:

• The perfect piano
• Top of the line
• Tons of sounds
• The perfect piano for me!

The only super critical comment I found was on Sweetwater. The 3-star review stated that the customer loved the sounds, but didn’t care for the action- at all. Luckily, they found what they wanted inside a Korg model- interestingly enough, it actually had far fewer sounds and fewer features. 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• It has a mic input which many instruments in this price range don’t have
• The white keys are textured which adds a non-slip grip, so you can feel more confident while playing
• It has escapement which helps the instrument to better replicate the subtle yet expressive response of an acoustic piano 
• Supports half-pedaling
• It has loads of tones
• The included recording options make the instrument ideal for electronic artists, singer-songwriters, composers, and other creatives with a bevy of musical ideas that need jotting down

Sweetwater advertises this model as “Your dream piano” and for good reason! From educational features to tools for songwriters and classical piano samples, there’s hardly a pianist that wouldn’t find something to play around with on this keyboard. It’s also very impressive how large the sound bank is for the price, given the fact that Yamaha is pretty much the industry leader when it comes to digital instrument tones and samples. 

Cons

• No textured black keys 
• The action isn’t for everyone
• There are tons of buttons
• Only the white keys are wooden

For the price, I had hoped that all the keys would have been textured and made of wood (the black keys are made of resin, which I find a bit odd). But for the price point, you still get a lot of features. Also (as one critical comment in the Sweetwater reviews stated) the action just isn’t the same as Korgs… If you prefer (or maybe crave) the action of another maker, I don’t plan to sway you the other way- we like what we like! 

It is also worth mentioning that if you prefer pianos that look more ‘bare bones’ then the Yamaha CVP-701 probably isn’t for you (with its over 100 buttons).

Comparable Instruments

• Yamaha CLP 645 
• Yamaha CLP 675
• Yamaha CLP 765GP
• For great action, but a lower price: try Korgs

As I mentioned earlier, the CLP line offers similar quality backing tracks and other features. The above mid-range pianos are great options if you are looking for similar rhythms and backups for a lower price.

The Yamaha CLP645 costs about $3,300 and has natural wood action as opposed to this CVP’s GH3X. The natural wood action feels a bit more smooth to me than this one, plus the CLP-645 comes at a fraction of the price. However, this model was made some time ago, so it is becoming a bit more obsolete, which brings me to the next comparable model: The Yamaha CLP-675. This model has a GrandTouch action, the same two grand piano samples, and a similar price (roughly $5,000).

The 765GP is a lovely comparable piano that I’d certainly recommend over this one. It has the old-fashioned pianoforte voices as well as the look of a grand piano for just a bit more ($6,000).

Other, lower-tier CLPs will also serve you well if you are looking for a more economical piano, as long as you aren’t married to the idea of all the accompaniments. 

If you are looking for a more economical model or one from a different maker, consider Korgs. The Krog Airs offers a much more economical price ($1,100ish) with an astounding touch. You do sacrifice some polyphony and other features- this model has a much, much smaller sound bank. 

Quick View 

CVP 701: Conclusion

Thanks for sticking around until the end of our Yamaha Clavinova CVP 701 review! In conclusion, the CVP 701 combines the best of the traditional together with state-of-the-art technology. As a result, Yamaha has created an instrument with a comfortable touch and is fit for a wide range of serious pianists. But beginners at intermediate players will feel right at home with the instrument, too. It is an all-around excellent home piano.

Music quote of the week: 

“And my experience in the music scene had shown me that there were places for places in the world where misfits were welcome.” — John Elder Robison

8.5Expert Score

We rated the Yamaha Clavinova CVP 701 an 8.5/10 because of its versatility, as well as how well it serves its wide target audience. My favorite aspects of the piano were the grand piano samples, textured wooden ivory keys, the large sound bank, and the built-in educational features. Sometimes, piano makers do away with the learning tools once the instruments get above a certain price threshold, but not this one. While I wish that the black keys were textured for the price and that the speakers were a bit bigger…however, I still believe the CVP line is for everyone, and that this instrument, in particular, has more than earned the descriptor: crowd-pleasing.

PROS

• It has a mic input which many instruments in this price range don’t have
• The white keys are textured which adds a non-slip grip, so you can feel more confident while playing
• It has escapement which helps the instrument to better replicate the subtle yet expressive response of an acoustic piano
• Supports half-pedaling
• It has loads of tones
• The included recording options make the instrument ideal for electronic artists, singer-songwriters, composers, and other creatives with a bevy of musical ideas that need jotting down

CONS

• No textured black keys
• The action isn’t for everyone
• There are tons of buttons
• Only the white keys are wooden