The Yamaha C1X 5’3″ Conservatoire series small grand delivers warmth and body usually un-found in grands of this size. We aren’t saying it has the bass of a 6′ example, but for sure, we’d select the new C1X over an earlier example of a C2. A very well scaled piano with enriching tenor and upper registers and of course a highly refined action.
The new C1X represents the first model in the CX series grands – which are developed for professional and institutional applications. With such popularity in the leading music schools in the World, Yamaha Conservatoire grand pianos are incredibly appealing for personal use too. Highly popular for the home, aspiring piano student/enthusiast and indeed the classroom.
As with all small grands, if accommodation and budget permit, a slightly larger example will reward you with a more balanced bass, richer tenor and wider range. In the case of the Yamaha C1X, the temptation to step up to the C2X is too hard to ignore. For just £1,000 – you can grow the 5’3″ into a more balanced 5’8″ C2X and we highly recommend it too. The improvement relative to the modest premium calls needs little thinking.
We’ll summarise this review as the C1X is our favourite mid-tier small grand, provided you can’t squeeze in the C2X!
