"The Stream Light feature is nothing short of revolutionary - a learning tool that once felt like science fiction": Yamaha CSP-255 digital piano review

The Yamaha CSP-255 is part of the iconic Clavinova range, a staple in digital piano manufacturing since the mid-1980s. Unlike the traditional CLP series, CSP (Clavinova Smart Pianist) pianos are designed for smart learning and versatility, offering a more engaging and accessible approach to learning. Launched in 2017, the CSP series was built to integrate seamlessly with Yamaha’s Smart Pianist app. The CSP-255 launched in mid-2023 alongside the CSP-275, CSP-295, and grand piano-shaped CSP-295GP, and it’s the most compact model in the range. It offers a space-saving design without compromising on features.

Clavinovas are designed as an alternative to traditional upright pianos, with a look that mirrors the shapes and curves of an acoustic instrument. While the CSP-255 is the most compact in the range, it still retains an imposing and elegant presence, offering a contemporary aesthetic that reflects the grandeur of an acoustic instrument. The function buttons are minimal and discreet. It comes in three finishes: black, white and a shiny and elegant polished ebony.

Once connected to the app, the CSP pianos transform into powerful learning tools. Users gain access to a vast library of songs, which can be played at adjustable tempos for easier learning. The sleek top panel of the keyboard also serves as a display, featuring Yamaha's Stream Lights technology that illuminates above the keys to guide your playing. Lights gradually appear and move down, indicating which keys to press, making learning more intuitive. You can also import music from your own library, and the app will generate sheet music and guide you with the Stream Light display. The app offers practice modes like tempo control, looping, and accompaniment adjustments, enabling focused practice. With interactive learning features, the app also provides instant feedback, making learning both effective and enjoyable.

The keyboard is made out of highly absorbent synthetic ivory and ebony keys, designed to replicate real wood grain for a natural feel and lasting comfort. Built with Yamaha’s latest Grand Touch-S technology, it mimics the authentic hammer action of an acoustic piano, allowing for a greater dynamic range and an immersive playing experience. 

The engineers at Yamaha have introduced Grand Expression Modeling technology in their latest CSP range. This innovative feature simulates how the tone of an acoustic piano is influenced by the player's touch. A slow, pianissimo key press creates a warm, mellow sound, while a faster, more forceful touch, still played pianissimo, generates a deeper, more solid tone. Essentially, this technology allows players to shape the instrument’s tone based on how they interact with the keys, offering a more dynamic and expressive playing experience.

The CSP-255's two main pianos are sampled from the CFX, Yamaha’s premier concert grand piano, known for its rich, full lows and bright highs. The second is sampled from the Imperial, Bösendorfer's legendary model, renowned for its beautiful tonal colours and warmth - making it the perfect instrument for romantic and moody music. Once connected to the app, we have access to 772 different voices as well as 47 drum kits and sound effects.

The CSP-255 fully embraces its smart capabilities, wirelessly connecting to the Smart Pianist app via Bluetooth for both audio and MIDI or through USB-C for a wired connection. It supports two pairs of headphones simultaneously and allows a microphone to be connected for direct vocal input. There's even a harmoniser that adds backing vocals in real time when you sing into the microphone. Everything can be recorded in multitrack, functioning like a mini DAW with a maximum of 16 tracks.

It also features three pedals (Sustain, Sostenuto, Soft), which can be used for additional functions like Glide and Style Start/Stop. The Smart Pianist app offers extensive features, including reverb, EQ, and instrument settings like lid position, damper resonance, and string resonance for a deeply customisable sound. You can also use the classic Split keyboard function and Dual Layer options, allowing you to play two instruments simultaneously.

Features and build quality

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Designed for intuitive learning, the CSP-255 delivers an impressive performance that truly amazed us. The Stream Light feature is nothing short of revolutionary - a learning tool that once felt like science fiction. It acts as a built-in teacher, guiding you through notes in real time, allowing you to slow down or speed up as needed. This makes learning music more accessible, streamlining the process by making reading music easier and helping you see progress faster. Is this feature essential for more experienced players? Probably not. But if you're just starting your piano journey, it's a game-changer.

The CSP-255 unlocks even more features through Yamaha’s Smart Pianist app, offering a vast selection of instruments, reverbs, and sound customisation options that enhance your playing experience and spark creativity. Where the app truly excels is its vast repertoire of pieces to learn, along with the ability to import your own music, which is then transcribed into sheet music for you.

Now, despite being a contemporary instrument on the inside, Yamaha has gone for a fairly traditional aesthetic. The CSP-255 has a timeless look with a sturdy build; it’s a Yamaha, so we can trust its craftsmanship. The 255 model is fairly compact and should fit in most spaces. 

We especially liked the multiple page retainers on the music stand. With their sleek design, they securely hold even the most rigid sheet music in place - an often-overlooked but highly practical detail.

Playability

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Beyond its Smart Piano features, the CSP-255 delivers an impressive playing experience with a natural feel and a beautiful dynamic range. Grand Expression Modeling technology adds to this, providing an organic touch response that allows for real tonal control - perfect for more advanced players. 

Whether you’re bringing out the warmth of romantic pieces or the expressive nuances of contemporary music, this piano lets you play them as they were meant to be played. And for jazz pianists? You’ll love the depth and responsiveness it offers! 

It’s worth noting that the other CSP pianos in the range use wooden keys as opposed to synthetic ones on the CSP-255.

Sound

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While I found the speakers to be admirable, I feel they don't fully showcase the sonic potential of the CSP-255. While the bass is rich, the mids and highs come across as somewhat limited and boxy, which slightly detracts from the piano's exceptional craftsmanship.

When you connect a pair of headphones, however, you're in for a real treat! Both the Yamaha CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial produce stunning sound, featuring rich harmonic detail and a natural response.

This is thanks to clever binaural technology that uses mic placement that mimics human ears to create the sensation of sounds coming from specific locations. This results in a more immersive and lifelike audio experience, pulling the listener into the various spaces in the Smart Pianist App. However, it's worth noting that binaural audio is only available for the two piano sounds.

Specifically, the Yamaha CFX offers a beautifully balanced tonal spectrum. Its bass notes are deep and resonant, providing a solid foundation that complements the piano's overall sound. The mids are clear and articulate, allowing for expressive melodies to shine through without being muffled. The high frequencies are bright and sparkling, adding a lively presence that captures the nuances of each note.

Thanks to this binaural sampling, the audio feels incredibly immersive - so much so that I found myself preferring to play with headphones on.

Now, as if the CSP-255 weren’t already packed with cutting-edge sound technology, it also features Yamaha’s Virtual Resonance Modeling (VRM), recreating the natural resonance and harmonic interactions of an acoustic piano.

Final verdict

If you're looking to start learning the instrument but don’t have the patience for regular lessons, or if you want a more streamlined learning experience and are ready to invest £2,200, the CSP-255 may just be the best digital piano for beginners on the market. For advanced players who want a piano the whole family can enjoy, its impressive performance won’t disappoint. However, if you’re looking for a more traditional playing experience, you might want to explore the Clavinova CLP range.

The CSP-255 is designed as a Smart Piano while staying true to Yamaha’s tradition of crafting timeless and immersive instruments - and it truly delivers. Paired with the Smart Pianist app, it reaches its full potential, offering powerful and intuitive learning tools that make playing and practicing more engaging than ever.

It's an investment, but thanks to its advanced technology, it’s a safe one - designed to meet your playing needs for years to come.
 

Hands-on demos

Yamaha Global

Yamaha Digital Piano Clavinova CSP-200 series Overview - YouTube

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Kraft Music

Yamaha Clavinova CSP-255 - Sessions from the Gallery with Scott Currier - YouTube

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Specifications

• Dimensions: Width: 1,412 mm (55-9/16"), Height: 1,041 mm (41"), Depth: 465 mm (18-5/16")
• Weight: 58 kg (127 lb, 14 oz)
• Keyboard: 88 Keys - GrandTouch-S
• Touch Response: Soft2/Soft1/Medium/Hard1/Hard2/Fixed
• Pedal: 3 -  Sustain (with half-pedal function), Sostenuto, Soft
• Key Cover Style: Sliding
• Music Rest: Yes
• Music clips: Yes
• Number of Voices: 772 Voices + 47 Drum/SFX Kits
• Polyphony (Max.): 256
• Bluetooth: Audio/MIDI (varies by country)
• Amplifiers: 40 W x 2
• Speakers: 16 cm x 2
• Power Consumption: 50 W
• Contact: Yamaha