Piano Keyboard Reviews
I’ve done many piano keyboard reviews, which you can find links to on the right sidebar menu. Prior to purchasing a digital keyboard, there are some choices you will need to make regarding the features you’re looking for.
If you’re an aspiring pianist, you may want to start with an entry-level piano. If you’ve got experience and are ready to turn it up a notch, something in the mid-tier may be more to your liking. Or if you’re seasoned enough that you are creating your own music or playing gigs, a digital piano on the high-end is probably most appropriate. Whichever category you fall into, you’ll understand it all better after reading my info.
It can certainly be grueling to figure out the best keyboard for you, especially with there being so many different kinds out there. Detailed below I have given you all the specs and facts needed about the various features you can find on keyboards so that it is easier for you to pick the right one for your circumstance.
Here’s a Comparison of Some Piano Keyboards Currently On the Market:
(refresh this page to see other models)
| #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | |
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Korg SP250
 | Yamaha NP30
 | Yamaha P155
 | Yamaha S90XS
 | Korg SV-1
 | Yamaha CP5
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| General | ||||||
| Weight | 41.9 lbs | 11 lbs, 14 oz | 37 lbs, 1 oz | 49 lbs, 6 oz | 73-key = 38.5 lbs | 55 lbs, 9oz |
| Height | 5.5 in. | 4 in. | 5-1/2 in. | 6.8 in. | 6.1 in. | 6.9 in. |
| Depth | 15 in. | 10-1/4 in. | 13-13/16 in. | 15.2 in. | 13.66 in. | 15.9 in. |
| Width | 51 in. | 49 in. | 52-1/2 in. | 58 in. | 73-key = 45 in. | 54.3 in. |
| Main Features | ||||||
| # of Keys | 88 | 76 | 88 | 88 | 73 or 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 | 11W x 2 | 6W x 2 | 12W x 2 | No | No | No |
| Polyphony Polyphony: The number of notes or sounds the piano can play simultaneously | 60-notes | 32-notes | 128-notes | 128-notes | 80-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 | 30 | 10 | 17 | 128 | 36 | 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 or White | Black | Mahogany, Ebony, or Cherry | Black | Black with red/brown trim | Black |
| Connections | ||||||
| USB Port | | | | | | |
| MIDI Connector | | | | | | |
| Headphone Jack | | | | | | |
| Line-Out Jack | | | | | | |
| Accessories | ||||||
| Footswitch Included | | | | | | |
| Power Supply Included | | | | | | |
| . | ||||||
| Korg SP250
| Yamaha NP30
| Yamaha P155
| Yamaha S90XS
| Korg SV-1
| Yamaha CP5
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Piano Keyboards – Are They Better Than A Grand Piano?
A digital keyboard definitely has a leg-up on an acoustic in some areas, beyond question:
- Affordability - Most piano keyboards can be had for less than $1000. Acoustic grand pianos will put a dent in your bank account with their often $20,000 or more price tag.
- Never goes out of tune - Being digital, a piano keyboard will always be in tune. Contrast that with an acoustic which will need to be tuned at least twice a year as temperatures change and the wood expands. This will cost you a couple hundred bucks.
- Weight and size - Being lightweight and small in stature, especially when put up against a behemoth of a grand piano, a digital piano can be put anywhere and can go anywhere. Being 40 pounds or less on average, you can transport a digital piano to gigs or a friend’s house. On the flip side, a grand piano will weigh over 600 pounds in some cases and can’t be moved without professionals. Wherever you decide to put that acoustic, it’s staying where it is.
Here’s a video showing off a piano keyboard, the Yamaha CP33:
Don’t Lose the Weight
You’ll feel the heaviness of the keys if you ever play on an acoustic piano, and you’ll notice them being more heavy on the lower notes than on the high. This same ‘weighted’ key feel is apparent on most digital pianos, so you’ll learn to play like you’re on an acoustic, even though you’re not. This will pay off for you when you DO get that opportunity to play the real thing.
Another characteristic most digital pianos have is ‘touch sensitivity’. The sensitivity of the keys can be customized to give a lower or greater response depending on the velocity with which they are struck.
Have the Piano Teach You
A good keyboard will show you which keys to strike as you play. As the piano plays back a song, the piano will call your attention to the keys to press in conjunction with the notes being played.
The pace at which the song is played back can be sped up, slowed down, or even paused to make sure you’re following along ok. Over time, you’ll know which keys to strike before the piano even tells you.
Play A Collection of Instruments
Almost all keyboards will have what are referred to as ‘voices’, which are digital representations of other musical instruments. Feel like playing a saxophone? No problem. Trombone? Go for it. Push a button and you’ve got a different set of music at your fingertips.
Manipulate the Sound
As you go through my piano keyboard reviews, you’ll notice that some may offer varying degrees of reverberation and echo effects. This makes the piano sound like you’re playing in an opera house, auditorium, or concert hall for instance, even though you may only actually be playing in your apartment.
Record, Edit, and Share Your Music
One of the coolest things a keyboard can do is to capture and record your music. A digital keyboard can save the music either to internal memory or a memory card, or you can hook up your computer via either a USB or MIDI cable to the piano itself.
You can even layer other tracks of instruments alongside your piano piece. Once saved and put on your PC, you have the ability to edit and arrange the music precisely, after which you can post music for download or email it to your friends.
Headphone and Speaker Jacks
Make sure the piano has a jack for a set of headphones. Your friends and family who live in your home or apartment may not feel like hearing you play piano all the time. By utilizing a pair of headphones, you can appease the masses . Some piano players think the piano sounds better through a pair of headphones anyway, so it can be a win-win.
An auxiliary out jack can really come in handy also. If you’re taking your piano to clubs or weddings, for instance, to perform publicly, you’ll most likely need to boost the sound for the guests to get the full effect. A line-out socket will let you jack-in your amp or powered speakers in order to accomplish this.
What Are the Top Brands?
The big three when it comes to digital piano companies are Yamaha, Casio, and Korg. All three have models which will give you some of the features I’ve mentioned here as you search for the best digital piano for you.
Some Owner Opinions?
Here are some comments from owners of piano keyboards that I compiled while researching for the reviews on this site:
“…I really like this keyboard for practicing quietly at night and for connecting to a computer.”
“We bought this keyboard for our 5-year old son just starting piano lessons. So far we’ve been very pleased with it.”
“…with the added bonuses of being digital, a midi controller, with all of the bells and whistles, authentic sounds and features, it’s still better than any piano that I could afford…”
“This piano is perfect for my needs. Its programming is easy to learn, and it sounds just lovely. It’s an excellent value for the money.”
The Bottom Line
Just remember, that when all’s said and done, you’re never going to be able to completely match a grand piano’s touch and sound with a keyboard.
But they do come very close. It takes an astute ear to notice a difference, and they are perfect substitutes for most who can’t afford or have space for an acoustic. Piano keyboards have many advantages over acoustics, so the fact that they are almost the real thing, makes them the best choice for most.
Hopefully you now have a better idea of what to expect in a digital keyboard. Thanks for stopping by my piano keyboard reviews site.
(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)