Yamaha Digital Piano Comparison Chart
Yamaha is a well-known brand and highly rated for producing a wide range of high-quality musical instruments. Here we will examine their top digital pianos.
THE YAMAHA DIGITAL PIANO RANGE
Yamaha digital pianos are divided into 3 categories – Clavinova, Arius, and Portables.
CLAVINOVA
The high-end Clavinova range has all the features you’d need in a digital piano. Clavinova’s are stylish, smart pianos designed for those who want a piano for life – seeing you through from beginner to advanced levels. Clavinova pianos are the “Rolls Royce” of digital pianos. (Now, of course, you could find even more exclusive, luxury digital pianos but the Clavinova range is top-notch!)
They feature exceptional sound and come with advanced connectivity – allowing you to use your smart device as a control panel and also, incorporate other music apps to allow you to almost have an orchestra in your home.
There are several pianos in the Clavinova range – some are grand pianos, some are uprights… some have a control panel full of buttons and features… some have minimal buttons and can be controlled from your smart device. See AllegroKeys Clavinova post here.
ARIUS
The Arius range is designed for those who want a compact digital piano that looks and feels like an upright acoustic. Featuring one of Yamaha’s trademark design features -buttons and knobs are kept to a minimum and functions to control the sound are built into the actual piano keys. Sound is exceptional using samples from their flagship concert grand. Take a look at the Yamaha Arius S34 below.
PORTABLES
Their portable models are excellent for those who want to purchase an affordable starter piano especially if you need a more affordable or portable option. There is a vast range – from the fully weighted P45 beginner piano to the more advanced P515 with proper wooden keys.
In this post, I will examine the most popular Yamaha digital pianos and give you the reasons why these top my list.
Image | Keyboard | Features | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Yamaha Arius YDP-S55B Weighted Action Digital Home Piano 88-note weighted GH3 action keyboard. | 9.5 | Check On Sweetwater | |
Yamaha P-125 88-key Weighted Action Digital Piano 88-key digital piano with graded hammer standard action. | 9.5 | Check On AmazonCheck On Sweetwater | |
Yamaha DGX-660 88-Key Arranger Piano With Stand 88-key arranger piano with GHS weighted action. | 9.5 | Check On AmazonCheck On Sweetwater | |
Yamaha P-45 88-key Digital Piano With Speakers 88-key digital piano with graded hammer standard keyboard and built-in speaker system. | 9.5 | Check On AmazonCheck On Sweetwater | |
Yamaha PSR-EW310 76-Key Portable Arranger 76-key portable arranger with 622 voices. | 9.5 | Check On AmazonCheck On Sweetwater |
Yamaha pianos are widely used by pianists of all levels- the company produces a huge range of digital and electric pianos ranging from basic to advanced features and sound.
It is hard to go wrong with a Yamaha but with the wide choice available, it is often difficult to make a decision on which model to opt for. Which model you need will depend on the level you’re at and the price that suits your budget.
Without a doubt, you can find excellent Yamaha pianos at a very fair price irrespective of your skill level, either you’re a professional or a beginner, there’s a Yamaha digital piano to suit your needs.
The Yamaha Digital Piano comparison chart below shows 6 popular Yamaha models. Amazon’s best selling model is the
YAMAHA P71(Note: The P71 is the Amazon exclusive version of the Yamaha P45. The features are identical- the only difference may be the price. They are both on the table below but if you buy from Amazon, consider the P71 as it may be a few dollars cheaper.)
In this post, we will examine the most popular Yamaha models and compare them on our Yamaha Digital Pianos Comparison Chart. If you like, can expand the chart/table and print this post using the orange print-friendly button at the bottom of this post. We will look at a variety of Yamaha models, ranging in price and features- from the upright piano with fully weighted hammer action keys to a basic beginner keyboard.
What is the best beginner Yamaha digital piano?
To begin with, I always recommend a Yamaha. I am often asked this question – what is the best piano for beginners? The answer to this depends on a couple of things – your budget and your intentions.
Do you want a basic digital piano that will give a beginner a chance to practice and dip their toe into the waters? For this, I would consider the Yamaha P45. They all have the most basic features you will need as a beginner and you can attach a sustain pedal if it is not included.
Or do you want something a little higher quality- still a beginner portable piano but one that will see them through from beginner and beyond… For this, I would consider the Yamaha P125.
Or (last one lol) do you want something that will serve as both a good piano to learn on AND be a beautiful piece of furniture in your home? For that, I would consider an Arius or even, if budget is not an issue- a Clavinova.
What to look for in a Yamaha Digital Piano?
Depending on your skill level and budget, the most important features to look out for are:
Polyphony – the higher the number the better the sound (See our post here)
Connections– Do you want to connect your smart device? Have you got a learning app that you want to use with your instrument? Check that the correct connections are on the piano to connect your device.
Keyboard Action– The weight of the keys is important for the piano student. A good piano teacher will always recommend that you buy an instrument with weighted keys. You will see GHS as a feature mentioned for many Yamaha digital pianos. GHS stands for graded hammer action and this is a high-quality feature that will give the feel of a good acoustic model.
If you want to build up good habits and have the touch of the keys feel like an acoustic piano, you need weighted keys. However, entry-level digital pianos will not always have fully weighted keys. Instead, they may feature touch-sensitive keys. Getting a good digital piano with weighted keys will be more expensive. So just remember, that your basic digital keyboard will not meet this requirement. You can start with a basic model and then later if you or your child decides to keep it up, upgrade to a better model.
Foot Pedals – If there are no pedals built into the piano, you will need a separate sustain pedal. If you need a keyboard for beginners, you will not need a pedal to start out. But later on, it will become a necessity when the lessons advance.
Tones/ voices – Remember, for the piano student, the most important tone is the piano voice. All models will come with a variety of tones and rhythms. You really won’t need an abundance of instrument voices to learn piano- so don’t let the number of voices or tones determine your decision.
Sound Engine – High-end Yamaha digital pianos feature their renownd ‘pure cf sound engine’. This samples the sound of a Yamaha grand piano and produces authentic rich piano tones. You will feel and hear the difference with a high-end model.
Rhythms – This is similar to voices – you will really only use rhythms to ‘play with’ and demonstrate some songs/ tunes with an enhancing rhythm sound – which is lovely – but do you need it to learn piano? You don’t particularly need it. It can be useful if you want to use it to keep time – instead of the constant tick-tock sound of the metronome, you can vary the stimulus by using an onboard rhythm that matches the tempo of the piece you’re playing. The best piano players practice rhythm with a metronome- but there is absolutely no harm in having fun while you learn!
Smart pianist app– All these models can be connected to learning apps through your smart device.
What Yamaha digital piano is closest to a real acoustic piano?
If you’re looking for a Yamaha piano that is closest to an acoustic real piano, consider an Arius. This piano is suitable for all skill levels – from experienced players and beginners – if you really want a quality piano that closely matches the acoustic instrument that will last your musical journey!
Yamaha has a good range of Arius pianos that aim to re-create the feel and sound of acoustic traditional pianos. In this post, we examine the Arius YDP-S54. The sound engine in the Arius re-creates that of a Yamaha grand piano.
The Yamaha Arius YDP-S54 | One of the best 88 key Yamaha digital piano models
The Yamaha Arius YDP-S54 piano is a finely crafted top-of-the-range digital piano. This piano is effortlessly designed into a compact and modern style piano which makes it the perfect addition to any room in the house.
It would be suitable for a beginner, intermediate or advanced player. If you’re serious about learning piano, this model will make sure the pianist builds good technique with its weighted keys, while giving them an expressive and authentic piano experience.
The Arius series are among the best Yamaha digital pianos with weighted keys.
Yamaha Arius YDP-S54 features an intelligent acoustic control (IAC) which enables players to automatically adjust the sound to any level of volume. The stereophonic optimizer enables users to enjoy the spacious and natural piano sound when using the internal speakers or while wearing headphones.
The Yamaha P-125 | An excellent beginner Yamaha digital piano
The Yamaha P-125 is well known for its simplicity and this makes it the most user-friendly and approachable digital piano in the market. Both beginner and intermediate players will find the touch and tone perfect for their repertoire. Also, its portability allows users to carry it anywhere with ease.
It also comes along with an adjustable bench, stand, and accessories to get you up and running. It features a newly improved 2-way speaker system which produces great quality sound. This gives the player a rich stereo sound.
The Yamaha P-125 digital piano has an intuitive user interface that ensures ease of use. The user can easily switch instruments or modes while staying focused.
The Yamaha DGX660
The Yamaha DGX 660 is an 88-key digital piano that can be used by players ranging from beginners to professionals.
When it comes to producing a meticulous tone that is perfect for concert-worthy sound, the Yamaha DGX660 without a doubt, is a perfect choice. It has a pure CF sound engine that enables it to produce a great tone that sounds just like an acoustic piano. Also, the score display allows pianists to put music notation on-screen.
This amazing Yamaha piano feels like a real piano, its GHS weighted action is heavier in the low register and lighter in the high. The Yamaha DGX660 digital piano is heavier compared to the Yamaha p-125 piano.
Most of these pianos come in a complete bundle that features a stand, microphone, headphones, and sustain pedal.
The Yamaha P45 | An excellent budget Yamaha digital piano
This piano has excellent sound due to its AWM stereo sampling; it features 88 hammer action keys that model the action of an acoustic piano and also provide players with 4 levels of touch sensitivity. Its keyboard has a duo teaching mode and can split into layers.
The keyboard can be used as a MIDI controller through a USB host port and it features a slim and stylish design with a 12 inches depth and not more than 25lbs. The Yamaha P45 piano features a built-in sound system which makes it easy to move around within your home and during an outside performance.
Just like the Yamaha DGX660, its graded hammer (GHS) weighted action is much heavier in the low end and much lighter in the high end. I would rate this as one of the best digital pianos for beginners.
Also note, in case you didn’t read above, this is identical to the Amazon exclusive YAMAHA P71.
Yamaha Digital Piano Comparison Chart (Table)
Below is a comparison chart to compare the top Yamaha digital pianos.
Image | Keyboard | Features | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Yamaha Arius YDP-S55B Weighted Action Digital Home Piano 88-note weighted GH3 action keyboard. | 9.5 | Check On Sweetwater | |
Yamaha P-125 88-key Weighted Action Digital Piano 88-key digital piano with graded hammer standard action. | 9.5 | Check On AmazonCheck On Sweetwater | |
Yamaha DGX-660 88-Key Arranger Piano With Stand 88-key arranger piano with GHS weighted action. | 9.5 | Check On AmazonCheck On Sweetwater | |
Yamaha P-45 88-key Digital Piano With Speakers 88-key digital piano with graded hammer standard keyboard and built-in speaker system. | 9.5 | Check On AmazonCheck On Sweetwater | |
Yamaha PSR-EW310 76-Key Portable Arranger 76-key portable arranger with 622 voices. | 9.5 | Check On AmazonCheck On Sweetwater |
Conclusion: Which Yamaha digital piano is the best?
High-end Yamaha digital pianos
The Yamaha P515 is a high-quality Yamaha digital piano with real wooden keys. My brother asked me recently, what portable piano most closely feels and sounds like a real piano? I recommended the P515. It is portable but if you want, you can attach it to an upright stand and make it part of the furniture. You can read our full post on the P515 here.
If you’re looking for the closest Yamaha digital to an acoustic piano- take a look at their Clavinova range. The Yamaha Arius range also closely mimics the acoustic piano sound and feel. This is due to the “pure cf sound engine” feature which re-creates the sound of a Yamaha grand piano. You can see/hear more about this in the video below.
Budget / Beginner Yamaha digital pianos
If you’re looking for a good fully weighted Yamaha under $500, go for the Yamaha P45.
For a cheaper Yamaha keyboard to start off with (under $300), the Yamaha PSR-EW300 is a good choice.