Digital piano is an economy and alternative to pianos, before , it is important to understand what perspectives you should be looking at when shopping for a digital piano, so that you can make the smartest purchase and find the digital piano right for you.
What type of piano do you need?
There are several types and styles of digital pianos out there, and each one has its unique features and suit certain people. Below are detailed descriptions of each type that help you decide which one works best for you.
Digital console pianos
Digital console pianos sit up against the wall and some are even designed to function as an elegant piece of furniture. Although much lighter and easier to move than acoustic pianos, console pianos are intended to remain stationary in your home. These pianos will have everything you need to replace the form and function of a traditional upright piano. They usually come with built-in speakers, pedals, and base, and their realistic sound and weighted key action are intended to mimic a real piano.
Stage pianos
Stage pianos are designed for use on-the-go or with a live band. They can have many of the same features as console pianos including weighted keys and real piano sound, but they look more like keyboards or synthesizers than acoustic pianos. Portable and stage pianos do not have built-in bases or pedals so you will need to get a separate pedal unit and folding stand. They may have built-in speakers, but they are intended for use with amplifiers or PA systems.
Electronic Keyboards
They have many more sound options than typical digital pianos and can produce a wide range of electronic tones. They can be used for stage performance or studio production. However, they aren’t always designed to mimic the true piano experience. They may not have weighted keys and may not have the full 88. Even though they have many sounds to play with, the piano sampling may not be as realistic as a dedicated digital piano.
Workstation
Essentially a computer built into a keyboard, a workstation has everything: top-of-the-line sound samples, sequencing, recording and editing, and computer integration. Workstations come in 61-, 73-, and 88-key models. These babies can be quite expensive, but if you’ve got big musical dreams, you may want to try one out.
Synthesizers
You can still buy a good ol’ synthesizer and manipulate waveforms, filters, and work with both analog and digital sounds. Today’s synthesizers come with more sounds to work with than older models, letting you go to town with some good preset sounds.
MIDI Controller
MIDI controller keyboards are also geared towards musical production and control other devices using MIDI, and usually do not have speaker systems.
How to choose your digital piano
Now, understanding what type of piano you should be considering, there are many other aspects should been taken into consideration when you make the purchase decision.
- Budget – There’s a pretty broad range in cost when it comes to shopping for your own model. The higher in price you go, the more advanced features are included and most importantly, the nicer the overall piano is (in terms of build, key-make, and the like). How much cash you’re willing to spend will determine this.
- Key Count — Digital pianos come in various key counts, as in how many keys attached to the piano itself. When deciding, just keep in mind that the standard piano key count is 88. You can also go a bit lower with 76 or 61 keys if you want a small piano or perhaps don’t need the full 88. However, we don’t recommend going any lower if you’re planning on investing in a digital piano (also keep in mind, some classical pieces can only be played with 88 keys!). Especially if you’re starting to learn, we insist you start with the legitimate amount of keys. We actually mostly recommend 88-key models in here with a few exceptions.
- Key Make —The traditional acoustic piano keys are weighted, but there are numerous other makes out there including semi-weighted and synth-action. Aside from these weighted-types, you have some fancy tech words companies use to make the keys sound as realistic as possible. Touch sensors,
- Weight/Portability — Some of these are technically portable, being that they’re just the piano itself and the stand be folded and what not. However, others are strictly made for traveling. Will you be on-the-go a lot? This may be important for you.
- Accessories Included – We’re talking piano stands, headphones, speaker systems (most have one built-in, albeit not too high of quality), sheet holder, etc.
Ok, with a better understanding of the basics, lets take a look at the 10 best digital pianos we have summarized for you, hopefully, you can find the one that belongs to you.
1. Yamaha P115 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano
Key Count: 88 keys
Key Make: Weighted keys
Weight: 26lbs
Features: Pure CF sound engine; Controller App for iOS; Built-In drum rhythms; 10 types of style; 3-Year parts/labor limited Warranty
Accessories: PA150 power supply and a sustain pedal
Price Range: $$ (between $400 – $800)
2. Yamaha YPG-235 76-Key Portable Grand Piano
Key Count: 76 keys
Key Make: Graded Soft Touch (GTS) action
Weight: 18 lbs
Features: Backlit LCD; Panel lights; Pitch bend wheel; USB & Flash ROM to download new songs and styles
Accessories: Stand, Headphone, Power adapter
Price Range: $ (Under $400)
3. Casio Privia PX-870 Digital Piano
Key Count: 88 keys
Key Make: Weighted Hammer-action key
Weight: Over 50 lbs
Features: Sound Projection System, Headphone mode, Volume wync EQ, Connection to App, Lesson function; Audio recorder / playback – Max. 99 songs.
Accessories: Bench, Headphone, Manual, DVD, Polishing cloth
Price Range: $$$ ($800 – $1200)
4. Yamaha YDP163B Arius Series Console Digital Piano
Key Count: 88 keys
Key Make: Graded Hammer 3 (GH3) Weighted Action
Weight: More than 50 lbs
Features: CF sound engine; iOS Compatibility; Synthetic ivory key Tops; 2-track song recorder; Polyphony 192
Accessories: Stand, bench and song book
Price Range: $$$$ (Over $1200)
5. Yamaha P71 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano
Key Count: 88 keys
Key Make: GHS weighted
Weight: 25 lbs
Features: Amazon Exclusive Model; Dual model; 10 different voices; AWM (Advanced Wave Memory) sampling; One button operation
Accessories: Power adapter and Sustain pedal; Bundles available
Price Range: $$ ($400 – $800)
6. Alesis Recital | 88-Key Beginner Digital Piano
Key Count: 88 keys
Key Make: Semi-weighted keys
Weight: 15 lbs
Features: Built-in speakers; Built-in metronome;
Accessories: Free 3-month Skoove Premium subscription; 5 realistic built-in voices; USB-MIDI Connectivity
Price Range: $ (under $400)
7. Alesis Coda Pro 88-Key Digital Piano
Key Count: 88 keys
Key Make: Hammer-action keyboard
Weight: 27 lbs
Features: 20 built-in voices; User record mode; USB-MIDI and MIDI DIN output; Duet mode with 50 accompaniment patterns
Accessories: Sustain pedal; Power adapter; User guide
Price Range: $ (Under $400)
8. Casio CTK2400 PPK 61-Key Premium Portable Keyboard
Key Count: 61 keys
Key Make: Responsive keys
Weight: 26 lbs
Features: 400 AHL keyboard voices; Voice percussion function; 150 rhythms; Step-up learning system
Accessories: HP30 closed-cup headphones, x-style stand, and power supply
Price Range: $ (Under $400)
9. Yamaha YDP143B Arius Series Console Digital Piano
Key Count: 88 keys
Key Make: GHS weighted action
Weight: More than 50lbs
Features: Pure CF Sound Engine; 50 bulit-in classic piano songs; 2-track song recorder; iOS Compatibility; Polyphony 192
Accessories: Stand, piano bench and soundbook
Price Range: $$$ ($800 – $1200)
10. Yamaha YDP103R Arius Series Digital Console Piano
Key Count: 88 keys
Key Make: GHS weighted action
Weight: More than 50 lbs
Features: Pure CF Sound Engine; 50 bulit-in classic piano songs; 2-track song recorder; iOS Compatibility; Polyphony 64
Accessories: Stand, piano bench and sound book
Price Range: $$$ ($800 – $1200)
