A Yamaha AvantGrand looks like an upright, plays like a grand and yet never needs tuning. How can that be? The answer lies in what is missing inside: the strings.
In this spotlight we look at how the AvantGrand recreates the touch of a concert grand, what sets it apart from a silent piano, and which players it suits.
01A real grand action with digital sound
The decisive difference from a conventional digital piano is in the keyboard. The AvantGrand uses a genuine Yamaha grand-piano action made of wood, with the same wooden keys and hammers found in acoustic grands. Only the strings are missing.
Instead of striking a string, optical sensors read the motion of keys and hammers. From that data the AvantGrand generates the sound digitally. It draws on carefully recorded samples of two concert grands, the Yamaha CFX and the Bösendorfer Imperial. The feel is therefore that of a grand-piano action, while the sound comes from a multi-point speaker system that places the tone in space.
02Hybrid is not silent: the string question
Two concepts are easily confused. A silent piano is a full acoustic piano, strings and all. A stop bar catches the hammers just short of the strings so no acoustic tone is produced, while optical sensors deliver a digital sound through headphones in parallel. The instrument remains fully playable acoustically at any time.
The AvantGrand goes the other way. From the outset it has no strings and no soundboard: the action is real, the sound is always digital. Hence the practical benefit: with no strings there is nothing to tune. The AvantGrand stays perfectly stable, and the volume can be set freely or moved entirely to headphones.
To understand the full range of string-less designs, see our overview of the hybrid piano as well as the dedicated profile of the compact NU1XA.
| Feature | AvantGrand (hybrid) | Silent piano |
|---|---|---|
| Strings | none | yes, acoustic |
| Action | real wooden grand action | real piano action |
| Sound | always digital | acoustic or digital |
| Tuning needed | no | yes, like a piano |
| Volume adjustable | yes | only in digital mode |
03Who the AvantGrand is for
The AvantGrand is for anyone who wants a grand-piano touch but is wary of the space, weight or tuning costs of a real grand. In a flat where you practise at night, or a room too small for a concert grand, it plays to its strengths: a grand action, freely adjustable volume, headphone playing and no tuning appointments.
If you are still weighing up the different designs, the best comparison is with other string-less hybrids such as the Kawai Novus. Our digital pianos category gives an overview of the whole spectrum, from beginner instruments to the hybrid piano.
The Yamaha AvantGrand brings together two worlds: the honest touch of a grand-piano action and the everyday convenience of a digital instrument. For anyone seeking a grand-piano experience in a compact footprint, with no tuning, it is a mature solution.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Yamaha AvantGrand need tuning?
Is the AvantGrand a digital piano or an acoustic piano?
How does the AvantGrand differ from a silent piano?
Can you practise quietly with headphones on the AvantGrand?
Get to know the AvantGrand
Explore the Yamaha N1X and the rest of the hybrid and digital pianos in our range.
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