Yamaha NP30 Is an Affordable Option

yamaha-np30There’s so many options when buying a digital piano that you might spend a lot more money than you want to. The Yamaha NP-30 is one of the most affordable pianos, and is touch-sensitive and lightweight enough for you to take just about anywhere.

 
 
 

Yamaha NP-30: What Do You Get?

The Yamaha NP30 is unique in that it can be powered by batteries or the optional Yamaha PA-150 AC adapter. This is great for people who like to take their keyboard on the road, play in the back of a car, or even have it with them while on vacation. It has built-in speakers, but there is also a headphone jack and MIDI in and out terminals.

 
This is touch-sensitive and contains 10 demo songs, 10 voices, and a built-in metronome to help you keep time. But it is the weight of this particular keyboard that really makes it worthwhile. Weighing in at just 12 pounds, and measuring 10.2” x 49” x 4”, it is a uniquely small but still full-featured keyboard that is good enough for performing but will also fit right into your home.

 

“This does the job perfectly and this is the perfect compromise between price and function.”

-          Corinne, Amazon.com

 

Here’s a cool video of the Yamaha NP-30:

 

Yamaha NP30 Spec Chart:

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Yamaha NP30
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General
Weight11 lbs, 14 oz
Height4 in.
Depth10-1/4 in.
Width49 in.
Main Features
# of Keys76
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
6W x 2
Polyphony
Polyphony: The number of notes or sounds the piano can play simultaneously
32-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
10
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 ColorsBlack
Connections
USB Port
MIDI Connector
Headphone Jack
Line-Out Jack
Accessories
Footswitch Included
Power Supply Included
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Yamaha NP30

 

Why Is This Keyboard So Popular?

Some people don’t need a keyboard with a million functions or one that has an onboard recording studio. If you are looking for something that is much more affordable but also has 32 notes of polyphony, you will find nothing else like the Yamaha NP-30 in this price range. Also, the graded soft-touch action will make it feel like you are playing a real keyboard, which is important if you are using this for your practice instrument.

 

“Until now, there hasn’t been an affordable 76-key keyboard that only weighs 12 pounds. This is great.”

-          Brook, Amazon.com

 
The Yamaha NP30 also has sufficient built-in speakers for performing, though many people use this as a practice keyboard and therefore use the headphones. Especially if you live in an apartment complex or you need to keep the noise down for other reasons, this will give you high-quality sound either through the speakers or the headphone jacks.

 

Is This the Keyboard for You?

There is no doubt that Yamaha is known for its sound in digital keyboards, but getting such great sound in such a compact design is really new. This piano has Yamaha Advanced Wave Memory stereo sampled piano sound so that you will always be hearing the real thing.

Most importantly, though, many people choose this keyboard because it is a high-quality performance instrument that is also ideal for people who need to travel. Whether you are taking it to a gig or bringing it to a jam session across town, it is lightweight and small enough for you to comfortably carry it in a backpack.

 

Summary

While researching for this Yamaha NP30 review, I learned that, in many ways, the Yamaha NP-30 is the ideal piano keyboard for many performers, both amateur and professional, and it will allow you to enjoy years’ worth of practicing and playing on a very high-quality instrument.

For a digital piano/keyboard that is well under the $300 mark, you are getting a full-sized instrument that is lightweight and able to be powered by either electricity or batteries.

yamaha-np-30(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)