The NV12 is the latest model in the Novus series and the successor to the award-winning NV10S hybrid piano. This new instrument elevates the Novus concept to an entirely new level by combining a larger, grand-inspired cabinet with a revolutionary sound system—while retaining the acclaimed Millennium III Hybrid Grand Action and real damper mechanism of its predecessor.

Visually, the NV12 immediately impresses with its redesigned cabinet, which is roughly one-third deeper than that of the NV10S and features a gently curved rear section and a three-position lid to enhance both acoustic projection and visual elegance. The center column retains the signature polished silver pedal rods but now incorporates an open design, giving the instrument a lighter and more refined presence. The NV12 is also the first Novus model to feature a true grand-style music rest, allowing players to adjust the angle or position—or remove it entirely—for increased flexibility and authenticity.

At the heart of the NV12 lies the all-new PentaDrive Soundboard System—a groundbreaking acoustic design made possible by the instrument’s deeper body and openable lid. This innovative approach eliminates the need for traditional loudspeaker drivers altogether. The result is a natural, immersive sound experience that resonates throughout the instrument and closely mirrors the projection of an acoustic grand piano.

Like the NV6, the NV12 also benefits from a wide range of advanced digital enhancements. This includes the latest SK-EX Competition Grand piano sound, known for its brilliant clarity and distinctive attack. This vibrant new tone complements the warm elegance of the existing SK-EX Concert Grand, allowing pianists to explore contrasting tonal colours with remarkable authenticity. The NV12 also features an improved 5-inch touchscreen with a new anti-glare surface for enhanced visibility, as well as the option to turn off the display when inactive to minimize distractions during performance. Additional enhancements include Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio Version 5 for faster, more stable wireless connectivity, plus a USB-C port with built-in audio interface and power delivery for seamless integration with modern devices.

With its refined classic-modern design, pioneering acoustic technologies, and elevated digital performance, the Novus NV12 represents a major advancement in hybrid piano innovation—bringing Kawai’s vision of an authentic grand-piano experience closer than ever before.

Millennium III Hybrid Grand Action with Optical Hammer-Sensing System

The NOVUS NV12 is the first digital piano to incorporate Kawai’s renowned Millennium III grand piano action technology, celebrated for its extended spruce hammer shanks and innovative ABS-Carbon components—materials that are stronger, lighter, and more dimensionally stable than traditional wooden parts.

The NV12’s custom-engineered Millennium III Hybrid action replaces traditional felt hammers with newly developed ABS equivalents, individually weighted from bass to treble for true acoustic authenticity. High-precision optical sensors—rather than metal contact strips—accurately capture the nuanced movements of each hammer as it responds to the player’s touch, ensuring exceptional responsiveness, precision, and expressive control.

Grand Piano Damper Mechanism for Authentic Pedal Control

In addition to its complete acoustic-style grand piano action, the NOVUS NV12 also features a true grand piano damper mechanism. Although the NV12 contains no strings that require physical damping, this unique system faithfully replicates the real weight and resistance of a grand piano’s damper pedal, while simultaneously reducing the mechanical touch weight of the keyboard action when the pedal is depressed.

PentaDrive Soundboard System – No Traditional Speakers

At the heart of the NV12 lies the all-new PentaDrive Soundboard System—a groundbreaking acoustic design made possible by the instrument’s deeper body and openable lid. Instead of relying on traditional loudspeaker drivers, this innovative system uses five strategically positioned transducers to channel energy into a large wooden soundboard, producing a rich, full-bodied tone.

The result is a natural, immersive listening experience with a level of projection that comes remarkably close to that of an acoustic grand piano.

Shigeru Kawai SK-EX Concert Grand, Reproduced with the Latest SK-EX Rendering Sound Technology

The magnificent tone of Kawai’s flagship Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand lies at the heart of the NOVUS NV12 hybrid digital piano. Widely regarded as Japan’s premier pianos, Shigeru Kawai instruments grace the stages of concert halls and music institutions around the world, celebrated for their tonal purity and exceptional dynamic range.

To reproduce the breathtaking sound of a Shigeru grand with digital authenticity, Kawai developed SK-EX Rendering—a next-generation piano sound engine that combines multi-channel sampling of all 88 keys with the most advanced resonance modeling technology. This multi-channel approach captures the instrument’s tone from various positions around the SK-EX concert grand, allowing a broader and more nuanced spectrum of tonal character to be recreated and enabling a more vivid, expressive response across dynamic transitions.

This naturally rich and expressive sound is further enhanced by newly developed resonance algorithms that physically model the complex acoustic interactions between strings, pedals, and other components of a grand piano—giving the player the unmistakable sensation of performing on a living, breathing instrument.

Alternative Acoustic Piano Voices and a Wide Range of Additional Instrument Sounds

Alongside the latest SK-EX Rendering piano sound engine, the NOVUS NV12 hybrid digital piano also features Kawai’s highly regarded Harmonic Imaging XL technology, offering a variety of alternative acoustic piano sounds and an extensive selection of additional instrument voices. The Kawai EX concert grand has been chosen by professional pianists for prestigious events such as the Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Rubinstein international piano competitions, while the Shigeru Kawai SK-5 chamber grand and the Kawai K-60 upright provide performers with contrasting tonal characters that reflect different piano sizes and voicing styles.

Complementing these realistic acoustic piano voices, the NOVUS NV12 delivers a rich palette of additional instrument sounds ranging from electric pianos and drawbar/church organs to strings, choirs, and atmospheric synth pads—inviting musicians to expand their creative possibilities.
Dual Mode allows two sounds—such as piano and strings—to be layered together, while Split and Four-Hands modes divide the keyboard into two independent playing zones, ideal for lessons, duets, or expressive multi-voice performances.

Personalize Your Sound with Virtual Piano Artisan

The NOVUS NV12’s Virtual Piano Artisan feature allows players to customize a wide range of characteristics of the selected acoustic piano, electric piano, or harpsichord voice directly from the instrument’s touchscreen. Adjustable parameters include voicing and regulation, string, damper, and cabinet resonances, as well as subtle hammer, damper, and key-release noises.
It is even possible to fine-tune the pitch and volume of individual notes before saving the preferred instrument configuration to memory.

Integrated Bluetooth® MIDI/Audio and USB-C Audio Connectivity

In addition to traditional MIDI ports for connecting to other instruments, the NOVUS NV12 hybrid digital piano is equipped with integrated Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio technology, enabling wireless communication with supported smart devices. Once paired with a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, NV12 owners can enjoy a wide range of inspiring music apps that enhance practice and performance, or wirelessly stream audio from songs and videos directly through the instrument’s speaker system—without the need for additional cables.

Furthermore, the USB-C audio interface allows for a direct digital connection to recording equipment, making it easy to capture high-quality audio and video performances with exceptional clarity.

High-Quality Audio Hardware

The NOVUS NV12 hybrid digital piano is one of Kawai’s first musical instruments to incorporate dedicated high-end audio components. Using state-of-the-art technology, the NV12’s refined power amplifiers reproduce the sound of the Shigeru Kawai grand piano with stunning clarity, richness, and authority, while the powerful headphone amplifier ensures an exceptional listening experience even during private, late-night practice.

Full-Color Touchscreen for Intuitive, Button-Free Operation

The NOVUS NV12 features a 5-inch full-color touchscreen with an anti-glare finish. Discreetly integrated into the left side of the cabinet, this high-resolution display allows players to select sounds and adjust settings through an elegant, touch-based interface.

The screen can also be configured to turn off automatically while playing, preserving the acoustic-piano appearance of the NV12 and minimizing visual distractions for the performer.