Yamaha CLP vs YDP | What’s the Difference Between Clavinova and Arius Series?

As the top authorized dealer for Yamaha pianos in Northern California, we’ve been asked many questions about the different digital pianos and how to find the right match for our customer’s needs. Specifically, one of our most common comparisons is the Yamaha Arius vs Clavinova CLP Series, but how do you know which is the best instrument for you?

When selecting the right piano for you, it often comes down to each player’s needs and preferences. However, there are a few factors and characteristics of each when comparing the Arius vs Clavinova CLP.

To assist in your decision, we are breaking down the differences between the CLP-700 Series and the newly released YDP Series along with the YDP-184 and who they are best for. Let’s dive right into these amazing digital pianos!

Yamaha Clavinova CLP Series

The latest Yamaha Clavinova CLP range includes 7 models:  the CLP-795GP, CLP-785, CLP-775, CLP-765GP, CLP-745, CLP-735, and CLP-725.  The Yamaha Clavinova CLP Series offers a wide range of premium digital pianos that deliver an authentic grand piano touch and sound in a sophisticated space-saving design along with a variety of easy-to-use features that beginners, intermediate, and advanced players can enjoy.

With the Yamaha Clavinova CLP-700 Series, you receive superior technology, with an instrument built to recreate the feel of a traditional piano. The Yamaha Clavinova range will impress you from the day you start playing.

Yamaha Arius YDP Series

The Arius YDP Series includes 6 models:  the YDP-184, YDP-165, YDP-S55, YDP-145, YDP-S35, and YDP-105.  This Arius Series is Yamaha’s entry-level piano series.  These pianos are ideal for those looking for a compact, budget-friendly, Yamaha digital piano with all the essentials. The Arius YDP Series provides the realistic touch of an acoustic piano and comes with intuitive features, all in a sleek and stylish design.

Yamaha Arius vs Clavinova: The Key Differences

With a basic understanding of the CLP Clavinova vs Arius YDP pianos under your belt, it’s time to dive deeper into the main differences. To help you find the piano you need, here are some of the considerations to keep in mind when comparing the Yamaha YDP vs CLP.

Piano action

When it comes to the piano action, the materials along with the design impact the touch and response of the piano and will vary depending on the model and series.  There’s a notable difference when comparing the Yamaha Clavinova vs Arius. When looking at the Arius or Clavinova CLP pianos, both come with weighted keys, but there are differences.

The Clavinova CLP-700 Series features the GrandTouch and GrandTouch-S Keyboard which deliver the authentic touch and response of a grand piano, giving the player ultimate control and the ability to experience a broader range of dynamics.  The GrandTouch keyboard has a longer length between the key front and fulcrum which provides more leverage.  This allows for more control and is the longest support length used on any digital piano.  In addition, all CLP-700 pianos come with escapement for an authentic grand piano feel and synthetic ebony and ivory keys tops that keep your fingers from slipping.  As you make your way up the CLP-700 Series, additional upgrades are included to improve the touch and response of the keys including counterweights, 88-key linear graded hammers, and real wooden white keys.

The Arius YDP Series features the Graded Hammer 3 (GH3) and Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) keyboards which reproduce the touch of an acoustic piano and offer a naturally heavier feel in the lower octaves and lighter feel in the upper octaves.  The GH3 keyboard also has a quick return allowing for rapid note repetition.

Sound

When it comes to the piano sound of the CLP vs YDP, all CLP-700 models allow you to choose between two of the world’s finest concert grand pianos, the Yamaha CFX or Bösendorfer Imperial.  On the other hand, all YDPs excluding the YDP-105 feature the sound of the Yamaha CFX.

The YDP and CLP-700 Series also offer an array of instrumental voices to choose from.  As you make your way up both series, more instrumental voices become available.  Throughout the YDP Series you’ll have anywhere between 10-24 voices and in the CLP Series, you’ll have a wider selection to choose from, anywhere between 24 and 53 voices + 14 drum / SFX kits + 480 XG voices.  In addition, the CLP-735 and up feature 20 backing rhythms for you to jam along with.  You’ll also have a selection of fortepiano voices to choose from so you can experience classical pieces as their composers heard them in the 18th and 19th centuries.

That’s not all. There are a few more key differences and features to consider when debating the CLP Clavinova or Arius YDP.  Let’s break it down:

• Virtual Resonance Modeling:  All pianos within the CLP-700 Series and the YDP-184 are equipped with Virtual Resonance Modeling. This technology works to recreate the sympathetic resonance created by the vibration of the strings which is transmitted through the entire piano and results in a fuller and richer sound.  The YDP-165, YDP-S55, YDP-145, and YDP-S35 are equipped with Virtual Resonance Modeling Lite.
• Binaural Sampling:  By placing microphones at the position of the player’s ears, binaural sampling technology captures locational information and provides the listener with an immersive three-dimensional sound and enhances the overall listening experience.  This technology is available on the CLP-700 Series.
• Amplifiers & Speakers: As you make your way up the models within the CLP and YDP Series, you’ll gradually get more powerful amplifiers and speakers.  For instance, in the Yamaha Arius range, the YDP-105 is equipped with a 6W x 2 amplifier and 12 cm x 2 speakers.  Whereas, the top model YDP-184 is equipped with 30 W x 2 amplifiers and 16 cm x 2 speakers.  The CLP-725 is equipped with 20 W x 2 amplifiers and 12 cm x 2 speakers and the CLP-795GP and CLP-785 are equipped with a (50 W + 50 W + 50 W) x 2 amplifiers and (16 cm + 8 cm + 2.5 cm (dome) + transducer) x 2 and spruce cone speakers that deliver a natural robust sound which are strategically placed to simulate acoustic piano soundboard resonance.
• Polyphony:  Polyphony is the maximum number of notes that can be produced at the same time before other notes begin to drop out.  This is an important factor to consider when purchasing a digital piano.  Beginners may not notice or require as much polyphony as those who are playing more complex pieces with the sustain pedal or pieces with multi-part layers.  All CLP-700 pianos and the YDP-184 have a maximum polyphony of 256, the YDP-S35 up to YDP-165 have a maximum of 192, and the YDP-105 has a maximum of 64.
• Volume Limiter:  A new feature added to the YDP Series (excluding the YDP-184) is a volume limiter which allows you to set a maximum volume level to protect your hearing when using the headphones or through the speakers.

Recording

Both the YDP and CLP Series offer multi-track recording and the ability to playback music internally.  This is a wonderful tool for students learning to play and who want to track their progress with new pieces or for those who want to get creative and layer different voices on a single track. The CLP Series (excluding the CLP-725) and YDP-184 allow you to record up to 16 tracks and save up to 250 songs.  The remaining YDP Series and CLP-725 offer 2 track recordings and will only allow you to store one song at a time.  The CLP-735 and up, allows you to record with the built-in recorder or to a USB.

Connectivity

All YDPs and CLP-700s come with two stereo headphone jacks so that you and a friend or your teacher can listen at the same time.  If you’re interested in recording to a separate device, the CLP-735 and up allows you to record to a USB flash drive and also comes with AUX and MIDI outputs.  The CLP-745 and up offer Bluetooth audio and MIDI to wirelessly play along with your favorite songs and listen through the piano’s speaker system.  Both YDP and CLP-700s are compatible with the Yamaha Smart Pianist app which allows you to access your piano’s features from a smart device.

Cabinet

Whether you’re looking at the Arius or Clavinova CLP Series, you’ll have a couple of styles to choose from.  The Clavinova CLP-700 Series has 2 grand piano style models (CLP-795GP and CLP-765GP) and 5 upright style models (CLP-785, CLP-775, CLP-745, CLP-735, and CLP-725) to choose from.  These models come in a variety of polished, matte, and wood finishes that would surely make for a beautiful addition to any room or home.

The newly released Arius YDP Series has 3 standard models (YDP-165, YDP-145, and YDP-105) which are available in dark rosewood or black and 2 slim models (YDP-S55 and YDP-S35) which are available in black or white finishes.  The YDP-184 is available in premium dark rosewood.

Interface

When comparing the Yamaha CLP vs YDP, the Clavinova offers a more advanced interface. The Arius YDP Series (excluding the YDP-184) and CLP-725 have simple button controls.  The YDP-184, CLP-735, CLP-745, and CLP-765GP come with an LCD screen with buttons, and the CLP-775, CLP-785 and CLP-795GP have a LCD screen with touch sensors for a discreet smooth appearance.

Conclusion

Ultimately, when comparing the Yamaha Arius vs Clavinova CLP, it comes down to your needs and preferences.  No matter which piano you select in the Arius or Clavinova CLP line, our team at Music Exchange is here to help with your selection. To find the perfect piano for your needs or to try before you buy contact us with any questions or schedule a virtual or in-store appointment today.