In the 18th century, an Italian instrument maker named Bartolomeo Cristofori wanted to create an instrument that could produce both soft and loud notes and sustain them for longer periods, which was not possible with existing instruments like the harpsichord. This drove him to invent the piano, which uses hammers to strike strings and allows for greater expression and dynamic range in music. His invention was further developed by other makers, and the piano became a staple of Western music in the 19th century. Today, musicians can choose between acoustic or digital pianos.

But what are hybrid pianos really?

Let’s explore the world of hybrid pianos, their unique features, and what makes them a great option for pianists of all levels, and get to know these wonderful best-of-both-worlds pianos from the world-leading piano makers, Kawai pianos!

In order to understand the significance of hybrid pianos, first we must understand the basics of the piano itself.

Traditionally, acoustic piano produces sound by striking strings with hammers when keys are pressed. The keys on an acoustic piano are connected to a complex mechanism that includes a set of levers called the action. When pressed, a key triggers a felt-covered hammer to strike the corresponding string(s) inside the piano's wooden soundboard, creating the instrument's distinctive tone.

Acoustic pianos have several important components, including the soundboard, which amplifies the vibrations produced by the strings, and the pedals, which allow the pianist to control various aspects of the sound, such as sustain and damping. The size and shape of an acoustic piano can vary greatly, but they are generally quite large and heavy and require regular tuning and maintenance.

There are 2 types of acoustic pianos, mainly grand piano and upright piano. The main difference between a grand piano and an upright piano is the way the strings and soundboard are oriented. In a grand piano, the strings are arranged horizontally, with the soundboard placed vertically beneath them. This orientation allows for a longer string length and larger soundboard surface area, which in turn creates a more resonant and powerful sound. The keys of a grand piano are also typically longer than an upright piano’s, which can provide a greater range of dynamics and expression.

In contrast, an upright piano has a vertical string and soundboard orientation, which takes up less space and makes it more practical for home use. Upright pianos come in different sizes, with larger models providing a richer and more powerful sound than smaller ones. Upright pianos also have a more compact action mechanism than grand pianos, which can affect the touch and feel of the keys.

In contrast, a digital piano uses electronic technology to replicate the sound and feel of an acoustic piano. Digital pianos typically feature weighted keys, which simulate the feel of a traditional piano's action, and use digital sampling to reproduce the sound of a real piano. This technology allows digital pianos to produce a wide range of sounds, including different types of pianos, as well as other instruments such as strings, horns, and drums.

Digital pianos also offer a range of features and options, such as the ability to record and playback performances, adjust the volume and tone, and even connect to other devices such as computers and audio interfaces. They are often more compact and lightweight than acoustic pianos and do not require regular tuning or maintenance.

The mechanism, or the process by which they generate sounds, is the primary distinction between an acoustic and a digital piano. Many digital pianos have trouble simulating this since acoustic pianos are the best representation of how a real piano should play, sound, and feel. A piano's keys feel, response, hammer action, and sound projection have always been essential to a 100% authentic playing experience. These acoustic piano features are also the primary criteria for any piano to be used in prestigious piano tests like Trinity, ABRSM, and many others.

Hybrid pianos represent a new breed of musical instruments created by the fusion of real acoustic elements and high-tech elements of the digital piano. This kind of piano essentially bridges the gap for players who wants the combination of a digital piano with the most authentic feel of a real acoustic piano, or vice versa.

Hybrid pianos typically feature a real wooden soundboard, dampers, and a piano key action, just like a traditional acoustic piano. However, they also include digital components such as a sound engine, Bluetooth connection, user interface, and many more.

Kawai offers a large selection of hybrid pianos – digital pianos with elements found in acoustic pianos, and acoustic pianos with digital components. Let’s dig in and get to know all the hybrid pianos by the biggest and most major piano manufacturer in the world, Kawai pianos!

When a piano key is pressed, a mechanism referred to as the “action” triggers a hammer, which strikes the strings to produce a sound. Essentially, digital hybrid pianos use the basis of a traditional digital piano, with the difference of using individually grade-weighted hammers, reproducing the genuine feeling of playing an acoustic piano. 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 of an acoustic piano and allows rapid pianissimo passages with mordents or trills to be performed with greater fluency.

They also incorporate a real grand piano damper mechanism. There are no metal strings inside the digital hybrid pianos to require physical damping, as the instrument’s sound is produced digitally. However, in order to reproduce every aspect of playing a grand piano, these kinds of pianos retain the damper mechanism behind the keyboard action, with graded weights attached to each damper lever replicating the 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 digital hybrid piano-generated sound but also feel the various mechanical interactions through their hands and feet.

In addition to conventional speakers, some digital hybrid piano also incorporates a soundboard speaker system. This unique acoustic projection technology harnesses transducer components to channel sound energy onto a real wooden soundboard, resulting in an even richer, more organic piano tone that faithfully reproduces the ambiance of an acoustic piano.

Kawai Novus Series Hybrid Piano

The True Acoustic Piano Experience

NV10S • NV5S

Designed to answer the calls of avid pianists wishing they could play a grand or upright piano without worrying about the time of day or their living environment, the Novus NV10S and NV5S are premium quality hybrid instruments that deliver the true acoustic piano playing experience. Adopting modern, innovative designs that embrace the latest digital technologies, the stunning ebony polish Novus cabinets incorporate full acoustic piano keyboard actions complete with a real damper mechanism. These unique hybrid instruments aim to provide the most compact grand and upright piano alternatives possible, satisfying the rigorous demands and lifestyle needs of today’s professional pianists.

Uniquely Kawai, the Millennium III Piano Action serves as the centerpiece of the highly-acclaimed NOVUS NV-10S. Based on the action design of Kawai’s renowned GX Series Grand Pianos ( and “K” Series professional upright pianos for NV5S), the Millennium III Hybrid Action replaces traditional felt hammers with newly-developed composite equivalents that are individually weighted from bass to treble.

Utilizing high-precision optical sensors, the instrument can read each hammer’s subtle movements to create an exceptional tone. With the industry’s only real acoustic piano hybrid damper mechanism and premium audio components, the NV10S and NV5S offer the demanding pianist the benefits of digital technology with the responsiveness of a fine-quality hybrid piano.

Acoustic hybrid pianos are 100% the same as regular acoustic pianos, but with additional features that set them apart from normal acoustic pianos. The idea behind the creation of acoustic hybrid pianos is to tackle the existing disadvantages of regular acoustic pianos while also retaining their true essence as acoustic pianos.

While acoustic pianos are regarded as the true piano experience, one major problem with acoustic pianos is versatility and flexibility. By incorporating digital piano technologies, regular acoustic pianos can have additional features such as Bluetooth capabilities, silent play, and multiple sound options.

Kawai AnyTime / AURES Hybrid Piano

Analogue Action Digital World

ATX4 • AR2

All Kawai AURES and AnyTimeX instruments utilize hammer cushioning components that allow the piano’s acoustic sound to be muted when desired. The latest AR2 and ATX4 grand piano models incorporate Kawai’s new GP Touch Muting System, which accurately halts the action’s hammer movement immediately before striking the strings, without the need to make special adjustments to let off position or timing. This unique design allows pianists to play AR2 and ATX4 grand pianos with exactly the same level of fluency and expression as their standard acoustic counterparts in both normal and muted playing modes, while also enjoying a wide range of convenient and inspiring digital features.

The AR2 and ATX4 pianos’ precise hammer movements are measured with Kawai’s Integrated Hammer Sensing System (IHSS), which utilizes high-resolution contactless optical sensors to provide greater accuracy than conventional key-based sensor systems. This more advanced approach reproduces the mechanical flow of the upright and grand pianos’ actions more closely, allowing the full range of dynamics to be expressed by the instrument’s powerful digital piano sound engine with natural fluency.

AR2 and ATX4 instruments incorporate Kawai’s latest digital piano technologies, inherited from the flagship Concert Artist and Novus product lines. The SK-EX Rendering sound engine uses multi-channel sampling and authentic resonance algorithms to reproduce the beautiful sound of Kawai’s SK-EX full concert grand piano. This stunning sound is delivered through the AR2 and ATX4 instrument’s premium quality headphone amplifier, allowing pianists to practice in silence, and enjoy the unique touch of an acoustic piano without disturbing friends or family

Designed to meet the connectivity needs of modern pianists, AR2 and ATX4 pianos feature standard USB and MIDI jacks for connecting to computers or other instruments, as well as Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio technology that allows wireless communication with supported smart devices. Once paired to a phone or tablet, AR2 and ATX4 owners can enjoy a wide variety of exciting music-related apps that enhance their studying and playing experiences, or stream high-quality audio directly through the instruments’ headphones without the need for any cables.

Hybrid pianos offer several benefits that make them a compelling choice for many musicians. Here are some of the advantages of hybrid pianos:

• Realistic feel and response: Hybrid pianos typically have a real acoustic piano action and keyboard, which means they feel and respond like a traditional acoustic piano. This can be especially important for pianists who are used to playing on acoustic pianos and want to replicate that experience.

• Wide range of sounds: Hybrid pianos typically have digital sound samples and processing capabilities, which means they can produce a wide range of sounds beyond just a traditional piano sound. This can include different piano sounds (such as grand, upright, or vintage), as well as other instrument sounds like strings, organs, and more.

• Silent play and Volume Control: Hybrid pianos often have adjustable volume settings or just plug in a pair of headphones to play silently, which means you can practice or perform at a comfortable volume without disturbing others. This can be especially useful for pianists who live in apartments or other shared living spaces.

• Recording capabilities: Many hybrid pianos have built-in recording capabilities, which means you can easily record your performances and listen back to them later. This can be a great way to track your progress and identify areas for improvement.

• Maintenance: Hybrid pianos typically require less maintenance than acoustic pianos since they don't have strings that need to be tuned regularly. This can be a big advantage for musicians who want a high-quality instrument without the ongoing maintenance costs.