Digital Pianos

digital-piano

I’ve done my homework on lots of digital pianos and you will find their reviews on the right side of this page. I’ve separated them into low-end, mid-tier, and high-end to make it easier to find what you need. After you’ve gone through them, you’ll have a better idea of just what kind of digital keyboard you should get.

There are many different types of electric pianos on the market now. This can make it difficult to come to a decision on one. To make it even more simpler, I’ve written about some features below that you might want to look for prior to making that final choice. I’m also presenting you with spec comparison charts, as well as different vendors you can purchase from and compare prices, so you can make sure you’re getting the best deal.

Here’s a Comparison of Digital Pianos Currently On the Market:

(refresh this page to see other models)

General
	#1	#2	#3	#4	#5	#6
	Korg SV-1	Casio PX 130	Casio PX-330	Korg SP250	Yamaha CP33	Yamaha CP5
Read Review
Compare Prices
Weight	73-key = 38.5 lbs 88-key = 45.3 lbs	24.7 lbs	36.2 lbs	41.9 lbs	39 lbs, 11 oz	55 lbs, 9oz
Height	6.1 in.	5-5/16 in.	5-5/16 in.	5.5 in.	5-15/16 in.	6.9 in.
Depth	13.66 in.	11-1/4 in.	11-1/4 in.	15 in.	13 in.	15.9 in.
Width	73-key = 45 in. 88-key = 53.3 in.	52-1/16 in.	52-1/16 in.	51 in.	51-2/3 in.	54.3 in.
Main Features
# of Keys	73 or 88	88	88	88	88	88
Weighted Keys Weighted Keys: Weighted keys mimic the keys of an acoustic piano. They will be lighter on the lower notes, heavier on the higher ones
Touch Sensitivity Touch Sensitivity: Touch sensitivity means the harder or softer a key is pressed, the louder or softer the sound will be. Conversely, a piano with no sensitivity will have the same degree of loudness no matter how hard the keys are pressed.
Built-In Speakers Built-In Speakers: For pianos without speakers, either a pair of headphones must be used, or amplified speakers must be connected via the line-out jack	No	8W x 2	8W x 2	11W x 2	No	No
Polyphony Polyphony: The number of notes or sounds the piano can play simultaneously	80-notes	128-notes	128-notes	60-notes	64-notes	128-notes
# of Voices # of Voices: Voices are the different types of pianos or other musical instruments (such as harp, organ, etc) that the piano can play	36	16	250	30	28	17 piano, 305 additional sounds and effects
Reverb Effects Reverb Effects: Echo effects that can simulate playing the piano in different venues, such as a hall or an auditorium
Built-in Songs
Built-in Recorder Built-in Recorder: Does the device have built-in storage to save songs? If not, the piano can still save songs to a computer using either a MIDI or USB port
Metronome
Available Colors	Black with red/brown trim	Black or Red	Black	Black or White	Black	Black
Connections
USB Port
MIDI Connector
Headphone Jack
Line-Out Jack
Accessories
Footswitch Included
Power Supply Included
.
	Korg SV-1	Casio PX 130	Casio PX-330	Korg SP250	Yamaha CP33	Yamaha CP5

How Is a Digital Piano Better Than A Traditional Piano?

There are some chief ways in which a digital piano bests an acoustic, and there’s no denying these:

Be prepared to pay mucho dinero if you’re looking to get a grand piano – we’re talking $20,000 plus in some cases. Some of the best digital ones can be had for well under $1,000

Grand pianos require tuning a minimum of twice per year, meaning you’ll be shelling out a couple hundred bucks annually. A digital never needs to be tuned

An acoustic piano takes up large amount of space in a room, and once it’s there, it’s staying put. A keyboard can fit anywhere and be put away when finished playing

You’d never be able to move a grand piano anyway, as they can weigh up to 600 pounds or more. The average weight of a digital is under 40 pounds, meaning that you can take it and play it wherever

Here’s a short video that showcases a digital piano, the Casio PX-130:

How Do the Keys Feel?

Keys on a digital piano are usually weighted. This mimics the feel of an actual grand piano by making keys heavier on the low-end and less heavy as you move up the registers.

A good deal of digitals also have what they term “touch sensitivity”. Put simply, you can customize the amount of pressure you need to put on a key in order to get a response, and the amount of response.

Teach Yourself to Play

Some of the nicer electric pianos will be able to help you learn how to play piano. The piano can play back songs in its memory and, while doing so, show you which keys to press as the song is played out. You can set your own tempo and go as fast or slow as you wish. You’ll come to recognize the different key signatures as you play more often. More money saved by not signing up for piano lessons.

Join Together With the Band

You’ll be able to play other instruments or ‘voices’ on most digital pianos. Just push a button and you can be playing as a trumpet, saxophone, or flute for example. You can then layer these other instruments together while playing the piano to give you a backdrop for your performance.

Where Do You Want to Play Today?

Even if you live in a one-bedroom apartment, you can simulate playing in a music hall or arena for instance. This is accomplished via sound effects such as echo and reverb. Most pianos offer some form of this. You can even brighten or soften the tone of the piano itself to match your mood.

Your Very Own Recording Studio At Your Fingertips

Some of the better digital systems out there will let you record your own music. Not only record, but add layers and arrangements to as well. This is where the ‘voices’ talked about earlier really come into their own as you can use them to add multiple tracks of other instruments to your piano session. How professional does that sound? And not only that – once you’ve got it the way you want it, you’re able to save what you’ve composed to your PC, where you can further edit it and then share it with your friends.

Anything Else It Should Have?

One thing you’ll want to make sure of is that there is a headphone jack, though I haven’t come across one yet that didn’t have one. You’d be surprised how handy this can be late at night, for instance, when you’re wide awake and wanting to play but don’t want to disturb others in your household.

Another nice thing to have is a line-out jack. This will let you hook up external speakers or an amplifier to the piano so that everyone can hear your music if you’re playing in a large hall for real, and not just simulating it

What Brands Are Best?

The big three in the industry are Yamaha, Casio, and Korg. You’ll find most of the features I’ve talked about in many of their models. Not all pianos will possess every feature, which is why you should take your time to determine which keyboard best accommodates your needs.

What Do the Owners Say?

Here are some comment highlights from owners of digital pianos that I’ve come across in my review writing:

“I was truly surprised by the touch and the sound. It is great overall.”

“When I play, I feel like I am sitting at a grand.”

“You won’t get a better deal for the money.”

“…I can’t tell the difference between this and a real piano.”

Where Does It Fall Short?

The obvious place – it isn’t a REAL piano. A digital piano will never be able to completely sound and feel like a grand piano.

But that doesn’t mean that they don’t come exceptionally close. The large majority of people won’t notice a difference in either sound or feel. It takes a very experienced ear to pick up on the slight nuances between the two. Considering the benefits overall of an electric piano versus a grand, and just how near the digital comes to the real deal, most people find it more than an acceptable alternative.

I hope you now feel more informed regarding what digital pianos offer and how you can get the most out of them. Thanks again for visiting!

(some links here are sponsored affiliate links. The owner makes commission if you buy after clicking these links. The owner is not a bona fide user of this product, but has thoroughly researched it and provided his personal opinion only)

Digital Piano Critic