The NV6 is the latest addition to the Novus series and the successor to the highly acclaimed NV5S hybrid piano. While it continues to feature Kawai’s industry-leading Millennium III Hybrid keyboard action and unique real damper mechanism, this updated model introduces significant improvements in sound, operation, and connectivity.

Building on the core technologies of Kawai’s flagship CA901 digital piano, the NV6 incorporates the new SK-EX Competition Grand piano sound, captured from the performer’s perspective to deliver a bright, clear tonal profile with an expressive, highly responsive touch. This new voice complements the warm, refined character of the existing SK-EX Concert Grand, with both instruments reproduced using Kawai’s advanced multi-channel SK-EX Rendering sound engine.

The NV6’s exceptional Shigeru Kawai SK-EX piano tones are processed through upgraded audio hardware, including a dedicated piano-sampling filter and a premium dual-DAC system. This high-resolution sound is further enhanced by an improved speaker configuration featuring newly designed upward-firing drivers, refined tweeters, and an optimized soundboard speaker. Together, these upgrades deliver greater clarity, balance, and dynamic presence across the full frequency range, creating an immersive listening experience for both players and audiences.

The NV6 also features an updated touchscreen with a new anti-glare matte finish for improved visibility, alongside various software and UI enhancements—including the option to fully darken the display after a set period to minimize distractions while playing. Connectivity has been upgraded with Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio Version 5, providing ultra-low latency, greater reliability, and improved audio quality on modern devices. Additionally, the NV6 includes a USB-C port with an integrated USB audio interface, enabling seamless high-quality digital audio transmission to and from computers and smart devices via a single cable.

Finally, the NV6’s sleek cabinet retains its timeless appearance while receiving subtle refinements, such as a more compact front control panel, improved structural rigidity, and enhancements that support long-term durability and ease of use. These updates ensure that the NV6 continues to deliver an elegant, high-performance playing experience with enduring reliability—reflecting Kawai’s unwavering commitment to excellence.

The Authentic Acoustic Piano Experience

The Novus NV6 represents the perfect harmony of tradition and innovation. This stunning hybrid instrument combines a full acoustic grand piano keyboard action and real damper mechanism with the latest advances in digital sound and amplification technology. Developed and refined in collaboration with professional pianists, the NV6 delivers the unmistakable touch and response of a premium acoustic instrument, while offering the convenience and practicality of a modern digital piano.

Novus NV6 — a hybrid piano designed to provide a truly authentic acoustic playing experience.

The Future of the Piano

The Millennium III Hybrid action represents the latest milestone in Kawai’s rich heritage of piano innovation and lies at the heart of the Novus NV6. Based on the acclaimed action design of the K Series upright pianos, the Millennium III Hybrid retains the extended wooden key sticks and advanced composite components of its acoustic counterpart, but replaces traditional felt hammers with individually weighted ABS equivalents.

As a hybrid instrument, the Novus contains no metal strings for these hammers to strike. Instead, their precise movements are captured by high-resolution optical sensors positioned above the action, ensuring exceptional accuracy and responsiveness. Millennium III Hybrid delivers all the benefits of a premium Kawai acoustic piano action within a digital instrument.

This remarkable feat of engineering allows pianists to enjoy the unmistakable touch and control of an acoustic piano—regardless of the time of day or the size of their living space.

Optimal Expressive Control

The Millennium III Hybrid keyboard action comprises more than 6,000 individual parts, each contributing to the player’s ability to translate emotion and nuance directly through their fingertips.

The precision-engineered ABS hammers of the Novus NV6 are designed for structural stability and optimal strike dynamics. Every hammer is individually weighted to replicate the heavier bass and lighter treble hammers of an acoustic piano, ensuring that the NV6 responds with the same touch and control as a finely regulated traditional instrument.

The subtle movements of each hammer are captured by high-resolution optical sensors, offering greater accuracy than conventional key-based sensing systems. This advanced approach mirrors the mechanical behaviour of an acoustic piano with remarkable fidelity, allowing rapid pianissimo passages—complete with mordents or trills—to be executed with exceptional smoothness and precision.

Unmatched Realism

The beautifully chrome-plated pedals of the Novus NV6 are crafted in the same tradition as the Millennium III keyboard action and are derived from Kawai’s esteemed “K” series of acoustic instruments. In addition to a complete acoustic piano action, the Novus NV6 also incorporates a genuine acoustic-style damper mechanism. While no strings exist inside the instrument—since its sound is produced digitally—the NV6 faithfully recreates the physical behaviour of a real piano by integrating a damper system behind the keyboard that simulates the added resistance of traditional wooden and felt components when the keys and pedals are played.

Thanks to this innovation, pianists can not only hear how the damper pedal influences the NV6’s sound, but also feel the nuanced mechanical interactions through their hands and feet. This level of detail is unprecedented in a digital instrument and reinforces the NV6’s mission to deliver an authentic acoustic piano experience that is virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.

Japan’s Premier Piano

The spirit of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand lies at the heart of the Novus NV6. Each of these world-class instruments is handcrafted by Master Piano Artisans using only the finest materials, ensuring exceptional touch, tonal beauty, and artistic expression. Widely regarded as Japan’s premier piano, the SK-EX graces the stages of concert halls and leading music institutions around the globe, celebrated for its remarkable clarity and expansive dynamic range.

Shigeru Kawai instruments are also frequently selected for some of the world’s most prestigious international piano competitions.

Naturally Expressive Sound

To faithfully reproduce the breathtaking tonal qualities of the Shigeru Kawai concert grand, the Novus NV6 employs Kawai’s latest SK-EX Rendering technology. This advanced piano sound engine blends proven multi-channel sampling techniques with contemporary physical modelling, resulting in a piano tone rich in natural acoustic detail and responsive to the finest musical intentions of the performer.

High-Performance Sound Reproduction

The Novus NV6 incorporates dedicated filtering and amplification components engineered for high-resolution audio playback. These advanced technologies enhance tonal clarity across the entire dynamic range while preserving the unique harmonic character of the Shigeru Kawai piano. This refined, high-definition sound is then projected through the NV6’s powerful speaker system, which works in harmony with Kawai’s exclusive soundboard resonance technology.
The result is an exceptionally authentic playing experience—immersive, expressive, and remarkably true to the richness of an acoustic grand piano.

A Modern Acoustic Aesthetic

The stunning ebony-polished cabinet of the Novus NV6 is crafted in the same piano factory as Kawai’s renowned “K” series acoustic instruments, ensuring exceptional build quality and a flawless, mirror-like finish. Its exterior design is unmistakably inspired by the classical piano form, reflected in the refined fallboard and wide music rest that provide a sense of stability and confidence when seated at the instrument.

Yet this traditional character is elevated by gently sculpted edge lines, elegantly tapered legs—without the heavy base blocks found on acoustic models—and a variety of contemporary refinements that modernize and enhance the instrument’s overall presence.

Despite incorporating a full acoustic-style keyboard action and damper mechanism, the NV6 remains remarkably compact at just 46 cm deep—significantly slimmer than a traditional upright piano. This streamlined profile allows pianists to enjoy an authentic acoustic playing experience in spaces that would previously have accommodated only a standard digital piano.

Premium Design Details

The upward-facing topboard speakers of the Novus NV6 project mid-range frequencies outward, closely recreating the natural sound field of an acoustic piano.

The NV6’s speaker grille is crafted from a bespoke material produced by the renowned Danish textile manufacturer Kvadrat, tailored specifically to Kawai’s acoustic requirements. Its woven mesh structure is optimized for musical clarity and refined sound projection.

The soft, dark-grey yarn with subtle pearlescent highlights contrasts beautifully with the NV6’s polished ebony cabinet, elevating the instrument to the level of fine furniture—designed to become a striking centrepiece in any room it inhabits.

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

In addition to standard MIDI terminals for connecting to other instruments, the Novus NV6 hybrid digital piano features integrated Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio technology, enabling seamless wireless communication with supported smart devices. Once paired with a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, NV6 owners can enjoy a wide range of engaging music apps that enhance learning and performance, or wirelessly stream audio from songs and videos directly through the instrument’s speakers—without the need for additional cables.

Furthermore, the USB-C audio interface allows for a direct digital connection to recording devices, making it easy to capture high-quality audio or video performances with a single cable.

Digital Piano Convenience

While the core functionalities of the Novus NV6 are undeniably rooted in acoustic piano tradition, the instrument incorporates a wide range of modern technologies that deliver the convenience of a premium digital piano. These features are primarily accessed through the NV6’s touchscreen LCD, discreetly embedded into the left cheekblock. This high-resolution display allows players to select sounds and adjust settings through an elegant user interface with simple taps or swipes. For piano purists, the screen can be set to turn off automatically during performance, preserving the classic appearance of the Novus and eliminating visual distractions.

Unlike an acoustic piano, the Novus NV6 also offers extensive connectivity options, including audio outputs for amplification in halls or larger venues, and USB and MIDI ports for transferring music data to and from a computer.