AvantGrand is a brand of digital piano introduced by Yamaha in 2009. The product line consists of a baby grand piano size (the N3), an upright piano version (the N2) and a cabinet version (the N1).
The AvantGrand pianos use samples taken from four locations in a Yamaha CFIIIS Concert Grand piano and attempt to emulate all aspects of conventional piano sound and play, down to the tactile response of keys and pedals.[1] In covering the piano's release, Slate editor Chris Wilson wrote that the AvantGrand piano represents a substantial functional improvement over the conventional piano, while sounding practically indistinguishable from one for 95% of the world's pianists.[1]