�e true acoustic �iano expe�ence

The Novus NV5 is the perfect blend of tradition and innovation. A stunning hybrid
instrument that combines a full acoustic piano keyboard action and damper mechanism, with the latest digital sound and amplification technologies.
Designed for and tested by professional pianists, the NV5 provides the unmistakable
feeling of playing a premium quality acoustic instrument, with all the practicality andconvenience of a modern digital.
Introducing the Novus NV5 – a hybrid piano that delivers the true acoustic experience.

�e touch o� an acoustic �ianoA quest for perfection
Koichi Kawai designed and built the first complete acoustic piano action in Japanin the early 1900s. In the decades that have followed, Kawai engineers continue topursue the company founder’s quest for perfection, pioneering the use of state-ofthe-art materials and designs that advance the piano art form.
The Millennium III upright piano action found in today’s Kawai ‘K’ series instruments exemplifies Koichi’s philosophy. This highly-coveted action incorporates
components produced using ABS Carbon, an extremely sturdy and rigid composite
material that allows these action parts to be stronger, lighter, and faster than theirconventional wooden counterparts. In addition, Kawai ‘K’ series upright pianos
also utilise extended length key sticks, providing greater control and a more evenresponse from the front to the back of the playing surface.

The future of the piano
The Millennium III Hybrid action represents the latest milestone in Kawai’s richlegacy of piano innovation, and serves as the centrepiece of the Novus NV5.
Based on the ‘K’ series’ proven action design, Millennium III Hybrid retains thecomposite parts and extended key sticks of its acoustic cousin, while replacing
the traditional felt hammers with individually-weighted ABS equivalents. As ahybrid piano, there are no metal strings inside the Novus for these hammers tophysically strike when the keys are played, therefore their precise movements are
instead captured using high-resolution optical sensors mounted over the action.
Millennium III Hybrid delivers all of the benefits of a premium Kawai upright
piano action within a digital instrument. This feat of modern engineering allows
pianists to enjoy the unmatched feeling of playing an acoustic piano, regardlessof the time of day, or the size of their home.

Optimal expression
The Millennium III Hybrid keyboard action comprises over 6,000 individual
parts, each playing a crucial role in allowing the performer’s fingertips to express
feeling and emotion through music.
The Novus NV5’s precision-engineered ABS hammers have been designed forstructural stability and optimum keyboard touch-response. Each individual
hammer is grade-weighted to mirror the heavier bass and lighter treble hammersof an acoustic piano, ensuring that the NV5’s key touch-weight feels the same asa well-regulated acoustic instrument.
The precise movements of each hammer are measured using high-resolution
optical sensors, providing greater accuracy than conventional key-based sensor
systems. This more advanced approach closely reproduces the mechanical flow ofan acoustic piano, and allows rapid pianissimo passages with mordents or trills
to be performed with greater fluency.

Unprecedented realism
The Novus NV5’s beautiful chrome plated pedals are sourced from the same ‘K’series instruments as the premium Millennium III keyboard action. Moreover,in addition to featuring a full acoustic piano action, the Novus NV5 also incorporates a real acoustic piano damper mechanism.
Again, there are no metal strings inside the Novus to require physical damping,as the instrument’s sound is produced digitally. However, in order to reproduce
every aspect of playing an acoustic piano, the NV5 retains the damper mechanism
behind the keyboard action, replicating the extra load of traditional wood and felt
parts, as the keys and pedal are pressed.
This innovation allows pianists to not only hear how the damper pedal affects
the Novus’ generated sound, but also feel the various mechanical interactions
through their hands and feet. Such attention to detail is unprecedented in a digital instrument, and further reinforces the NV5’s objective of delivering a true
acoustic piano playing experience that is indistinguishable from the real thing.

�e �oun� o� an acoustic �iano

The premier piano of JapanThe spirit of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano is at the heart of
the Novus NV5. Each world-class instrument is hand-crafted by Master Piano
Artisans (MPAs), utilising the finest available materials to ensure optimum
touch, tone, and artistic expression. Widely regarded as ‘the premier piano ofJapan,’ the SK-EX graces the stages of concert halls and musical institutions
around the globe, receiving universal acclaim for its magnificent tonal clarityand exceptional dynamic range.
Shigeru Kawai is also frequently provided for official selection at some of theworld’s most prestigious music competitions, including the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition in Japan. At the 10th edition held in November 2018,
three of the six grand finalists selected the SK-EX throughout the competition,including 1st prize winner Can Cakmur.

Naturally expressive soundIn order to reproduce the stunning tonal qualities of the Shigeru Kawai concert
grand piano digitally, the Novus NV5 incorporates Kawai’s latest SK-EX Rendering
technology. This advanced piano sound engine combines the well- establishedprocess of sampling with the modern approach of physical modelling, to produce
a piano sound that is both rich in natural acoustic character, and dynamically
responsive to the player’s musical desires.

High performance delivery
Developed in collaboration with Onkyo, one of Japan’s leading premium audio
equipment manufacturers, the NV5 features specialist filtering and amplification
components designed for high-resolution sound reproduction. These technologies improve tonal clarity throughout the dynamic range, while helping to preserve the unique harmonic characteristics of the Shigeru Kawai piano.
Finally, this high-fidelity sound is delivered through the NV5’s powerful speakersystem, which combines Kawai’s exclusive TwinDrive soundboard technology
with six premium quality Onkyo speaker drivers. The result is a remarkably
authentic playing experience that immerses the performer, and faithfully reproduces the tonal ambience of an acoustic piano.

�e look o� an acoustic �iano

The modern acoustic
The Novus NV5’s stunning ebony polish cabinet is crafted in the same piano
production facility as Kawai’s ‘K’ series upright instruments, ensuring exceptionalbuild quality and an immaculate mirror-like finish.
Its exterior appearance is undoubtedly inspired by classic piano design, thanks
in part to the handsome fallboard and wide music rest, providing a sense ofstability and reassurance when sitting at the instrument. However, this traditional character is refined and refreshed by the NV5’s gently curved edge lines,
elegantly tapered legs – free of the customary, weighty toe-blocks – and various
other details that lift and modernise the instrument’s presence.
Indeed, despite housing an acoustic piano keyboard action and damper mechanism, the NV5 is a remarkably compact instrument, occupying a depth ofjust 46 cm – far smaller than a conventional upright. This slim profile allows
pianists to enjoy an authentic, acoustic piano playing experience, in confined
spaces previously limited to a standard digital piano.

Premium design detail
The Novus NV5’s upward facing topboard speakers project mid-range frequencies outward, closely reproducing the sound field of an acoustic piano. Thesespeakers are protected from dust and other foreign objects by fabric created byesteemed Danish textile house, Kvadrat.
Established in 1968, with deep roots in Scandinavia’s design tradition, Kvadrat is
Europe’s leading supplier of high-quality contemporary textiles, crafting beautifuland inspiring fabrics for some of the world’s foremost architects, designers, andpremium consumer brands.
The NV5’s topboard speaker cover features an original Kvadrat material, customised to meet Kawai’s specifications, with a woven mesh composition optimised
for musical clarity and tonal projection. Its soft, dark-grey yarn with pearl-likehighlights, contrasts with the lustrous sheen of the NV5’s ebony polish cabinet,
elevating this musical instrument to the level of a piece of fine furniture, destined
to become the centrepiece of any room it occupies.

Digital piano convenience
While the Novus NV5’s core features are unquestionably derived from an acoustic piano, the instrument neatly incorporates various additional technologies
that provide the modern conveniences of a premium digital piano.
These features are primarily controlled through the NV5’s touchscreen LCD,
which is discretely embedded within the instrument’s left cheekblock. This highresolution touchscreen allows sounds and settings to be adjusted from an attractive user interface simply by tapping or swiping the display with a finger. For
piano purists, the screen can be set to turn off automatically while playing, thus
preserving the Novus’ classic appearance, and minimising any visual distractionto the performer.
Unlike an acoustic piano, the Novus NV5 provides a variety of options forconnecting to other devices, with audio jacks that allow the instrument to be
amplified in halls and other large settings, and USB and MIDI ports for transferring music data to and from a computer. The NV5 even supports Bluetooth®,providing an effortless way to connect and enjoy smart devices wirelessly.

Speci�ications
Acoustic specifications
Keyboard action

PedalsCabinetType

Millennium III Hybrid, upright piano keyboard action

Keyboard

Extended length spruce keys, acrylic/phenol key surfaces

Hammers

ABS grade-weighted hammers

ABS Carbon parts

Yes

Sensing system

Integrated Hammer Sensing System (IHSS), contact-less optical sensors

TypeUpright piano pedals

DamperUpright piano damper mechanism

Soft/Sostenuto

Grand Feel pedal system

FinishEbony Polish

Keyboard cover

Upright piano type, Soft Fall fallboard

Music rest

Upright piano type

Dimensions

149 (W) x 46 (D) x 110 (H) cm
58 3/4" (W) x 18 1/4" (D) x 43 1/4" (H)Weight113.0 kg / 249 lbs.

Mode

Pianist mode

Sound mode

Sound engine

SK-EX Rendering

Harmonic Imaging XL

Piano source

SK-EX

SK-EX, EX, SK-5, K-60

No. of sounds

10 rendering characters

88 sounds

Polyphonymax. 256 notes (depending on selected sound)

Virtual Technician

Smart Mode: –Advanced Mode: 9 parameters

Onkyo technology

1-bit processing, Dual DAC, DIDRC filter, Premium Power amp, Premium Headphone amp

Output power

135 W (45 W x 3)

Speaker system

8 cm x 4 (top speakers), 2 cm x 2 (dome tweeters), TwinDrive Soundboard Speaker

Display

5" colour LCD touchscreen

Digital specifications
Sound

DeliveryFeatures
Connectivity

Smart Mode: 10 types
Advanced Mode: 19 parameters

Recorder10 x internal song recorder, MP3/WAV record/playback (USB), Metronome

Headphones

1 x 1/4", 1 x 1/8" Stereo jacks

Audio

LINE IN (1/8" STEREO), LINE OUT (1/8" STEREO)

MIDI/USB

MIDI (IN/OUT), USB to Host, USB to Device

Bluetooth®

Bluetooth MIDI, Bluetooth Audio

PowerAC IN (60 W power consumption)

Bluetooth® word marks and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
and any use of such marks by Kawai is under license. Other trademarks and trade names
are those of their respective owners.

Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Availability of Bluetooth function dependent on market location.

Copyright © 2019 Kawai Musical Instruments Mfg. Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.kawai-global.com/novus

CA1126E-S1907 Version 2
Printed in Japan