Buying the cheapest possible keyboard with light-weighted keys is not be the best idea even if you’re a complete beginner.
If your main goal is to learn the piano, then you’ll definitely want an instrument with fully weighted keys.
You might be wondering what the heck is fully weighted keys. Don’t worry, we’ll get there in just a second!
This article will guide you through all the necessary information to make sure you know all the ins and outs of choosing your first digital piano.
We’ll also take a close look at the market and select the best digital pianos for beginners that cost less than $500 or so, which will make your research that much easier.
Enough small talk, let’s dive right in!
With the advent of digital pianos, it has become easier than ever to start learning the piano.
You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on an acoustic upright (that’s like a heavy piece of furniture) and all the maintenance costs that come with it.
Nowadays, digital pianos come pretty close to recreating the real thing and offer a number of unique features that are not available on an acoustic instrument.
And while the advantages of acoustic pianos are still valid today, more and more people are opting for a digital alternative.
There’s a huge variety of instruments to fit any space, budget, and skill level.
But what makes a good keyboard for those who are just starting out?
I do believe that one can learn on any keyboard (cheap or expensive, with 61 or 88 keys), provided you want it bad enough.
Regarding the budget market for keyboards priced below $500, I’d divide it into two segments:
Portable Keyboards Under $300
Keyboards/Digital Pianos Under $500 (focus of this article)
This segment consists of relatively cheap portable keyboards, which often have lots of built-in sounds, songs, rhythms and other so-called “bells and whistles” but not very realistic piano sound and touch.
Such keyboards most commonly have 49, 61, 73 or 76 non-weighted or semi-weighted keys which don’t feel anything like a real piano. So it isn’t a good choice for those who want to develop proper finger strength and technique.
The quality of the piano tones is usually average; the dynamic range is very limited, partly due to the unweighted action, and short, compressed samples.
At the same time, these portable keyboards are perfect for anyone on a tight budget who doesn’t know if they’re going to stick with the piano for many years.
In other words, you’ll be able to get a taste of what it’s like to play the keyboard without breaking the bank.
This makes it a very popular choice for kids and young adults.
The main difference from the 300$ segment is that for $350-500 you can actually get a keyboard with a full range of 88 fully weighted keys, which tries to replicate the action of an acoustic piano.
Therefore, these keyboards are much more suitable for learning and playing piano.
Apart from hammer-action keys, they usually have better quality samples with better dynamic range, which results in a much more realistic piano sound.
From this point on, a keyboard can rightly be called a digital piano.
These entry-level digital pianos are perfect for beginning piano students who mainly need an instrument for playing piano rather than for making music, entertainment, etc.
So don’t expect these keyboards to have hundreds of built-in sounds, rhythms and fancy features like a 17-track MIDI-recorder or on-screen score/lyrics display feature.
Some digital pianos offer both authentic piano playing experience and lots of features for learning and music production, but they are a little bit pricier and usually cost well over $500 (Yamaha DGX-660, Casio CGP-700, Casio PX-S3000, etc.)
Today we’re going to talk about the second segment (under $500) of entry-level keyboards.
Not all keyboards in this price range have fully weighted keys. In fact, there are keyboards that cost $400-500 and have semi-weighted or even non-weighted keys.
But I purposely didn’t include those keyboards on this list.
You may ask:
The answer is simple:
If you want to get a realistic piano playing experience, you’ll definitely want a keyboard with fully weighted keys.
As I previously mentioned, this type of keyboard resembles the action found in a real acoustic piano, and it feels much more natural and realistic than all the other types of keyboard actions (semi-weighted and unweighted).
Weighted keys will help you build proper finger strength and technique, making it much easier to transition to an acoustic in the future.
Now let’s take a look at what we think are the best beginner digital pianos under $500 you can get:
- Casio Privia PX-160 – Best Value Keyboard in Its Price Range
- Roland FP-10 – No-frills, Yet Arguably the Best Piano Playing Experience
- Yamaha P-45 – Yamaha’s Best-Selling Beginner Digital Piano
- Korg B2/B2SP – Powerful Sound, Minimal Features
- Casio CDP-S100 – Slim and Affordable Alternative to the PX series
I know, I know, you can’t wait to tickle the keys of that shiny beckoning keyboard that you’ve read all about. But don’t click that “Order Now” button just yet.
Before moving on to reviews of our selected models, make sure you familiarize yourself with the most common terms and features you’ll run into when shopping for a digital piano.
It’s important to know them so you understand exactly what you’re getting (or not getting) with your instrument.
Modern acoustic pianos have 88 keys. Most keyboards and digital pianos have 88, 76, 73 or 61 keys.
73 keys are enough to play most (99%) modern pieces. Some advanced (classical) pieces require a full set of 88 keys.
There are 3 most common types of actions:
1) Non-weighted – most organs, synths and entry-level keyboards are not weighted.
2) Semi-weighted – common action for budget portable keyboards (usually cost <300$). Spring-loaded mechanism adds more resistance to the keys compared to the non-weighted action.
3) Fully weighted (hammer action) is designed to replicate the action of a real piano. It uses small hammers (rather than springs) attached to each key to recreate the mechanical movements found inside a real piano.
If your main goal is to play piano that you’ll definitely want a keyboard with hammer action keys.
It’s the key action that feels close to the real piano keys and will help you build proper finger strength and technique, making it much easier to transition to an acoustic in the future (if you decide to).
Touch sensitivity (a.k.a velocity sensitivity or touch response) is a very important feature of any keyboard or digital piano, which ensures that the volume produced by the instrument will change depending on how hard or soft you play the keys.
It’s not a big deal nowadays as almost any $150+ keyboard have touch-sensitive keys regardless of its action type.
Much more important is whether the keyboard is weighted or not. Keyboards with fully weighted action often have adjustable touch-sensitivity so you can adjust it to your playing style.
Polyphony is the number of notes a digital piano can produce at the same time.
These days, most digital pianos are equipped with 64, 128, 192 or 256-note polyphony.
You may wonder how it is possible to have 32, 64, or even 128 notes playing at the same time, if there are only 88 keys and we never play them all together.
First of all, many of today’s digital pianos use stereo samples, which sometimes require two notes for each key played.
Furthermore, using the sustain pedal, sound effects (Reverb, Chorus), dual-mode (layering), and even the metronome ticking sound takes up additional notes of polyphony.
For example, when you depress the sustain pedal, the earliest played notes continue to sound while you’re adding new ones and the piano needs more memory to keep all the notes sounding.
Another example of polyphony consumption is when you’re playing along with a song playback (can also be your own recorded performance) or auto-accompaniment.
In this case, the piano will need polyphony not only for the notes you’re playing but also for the backing track.
You’ll rarely need all 192 or 256 voices of polyphony at once, but there are cases when you can reach 64 or even 128 note limits, especially if you like to layer several sounds and create multi-track recordings.
For an intermediate player it’s desirable to have 128 notes of polyphony or more.
Along with the standard “Single” keyboard mode, digital pianos often offer additional modes that allow you to use two instrument sounds at the same time or playing four hands.
Here are the most popular modes that digital pianos have:
1) Split Mode – divides the keyboard into two parts, allowing you to play a different instrument sound in each of them. For example, you can play guitar with your left hand and piano with your right hand at the same time.
2) Dual Mode (Layering) – allows you to layer two different sounds so that they sound simultaneously whenever you press a key. For example, you can layer strings with the piano sound or combine whatever sounds you like to get some new interesting combinations.
3) Duo Mode (a.k.a. Duet Play, Partner Mode, Twin Piano) – divides the keyboard into two halves with identical pitch ranges (two middle Cs) allowing two people to play the same notes at the same time.
Duet Play is particularly useful when you use it with your teacher or tutor who will play you some tunes on one side of the keyboard, and you’ll be able to follow along on the other side, playing the exact same notes at the same time.
Some digital pianos allows you to turn off the left- or right-hand part (track) of a song (preset or downloaded from the Internet) and practice it, playing along to the playback of the other part.
Pianos that have this function usually have a multi-track MIDI recorder.
A MIDI recorder allows you to record and play back your own performances without using any additional equipment.
Multi-track recording (2 and more tracks) allows you to record several musical parts onto separate tracks and play them back as a single song. You can also experiment with your recording by turning off some of the recorded tracks.
For example, you can record the right-hand part of the song on track 1, and the left-hand part on track two (while listening to the playback of the first track).
You can also create complex, multi-instrument recordings by recording several instrument parts onto separate tracks and playing them back together afterwards.
MIDI-recording is not the recording of the actual sound of the instrument. Here, we’re recording the MIDI data (a sequence of notes, their length, velocity and other parameters).
A built-in audio recorder will allow you to record the actual sound of the instrument (native samples) and save it to a flash drive usually in WAV format (Linear PCM, 16bit, 44.1 kHz, Stereo).
You can then share your recording on social media, upload it to SoundCloud, burn to CD, etc.
Audio recordings are more universal than MIDI ones because they provide you with a CD-quality audio file playable on most modern devices, and don’t require any additional software, and sample libraries (VSTs) to render a MIDI recording to audio.
Accompaniment function will enrich your performance, providing full backing accompaniment (rhythm, bass, harmony) that will follow your playing and make you sound like full band.
The accompaniment changes depending to what notes you play with you left hand (chords or even single notes if you don’t know full cords).
In other words, you manage your “band” with your left hand (by specifying chords) and play the main melody with your right hand.
Some instruments offer several accompaniment modes, and allow you specify chords using the full range of the keyboard.
1) Transpose function allows you to shift the overall pitch of the keyboard in semitone steps. The function is particularly useful when want to play a song in a different key but don’t want to change your fingering and learn it in a new key.
So, for example, if you know how to play a song in F major, you can transpose the pitch and play it in C major without actually learning it in the new key.
You can also transpose a song written in a difficult key (e.g., many black keys) into a different key with easier chords, but still hear it as if you were playing in the original key.
2) Tuning function allows you to shift the pitch from the standard A440 tuning in 0.1Hz or 0.2Hz steps.
You can use this function to match the piano’s pitch finely to that of another instrument or music (old piano, recording).
This port is also known as USB to Device port or USB drive port. The port can be used for connecting a flash drive to the piano to exchange files quickly and easily.
For example, you can load MIDI songs into the piano’s internal memory for playback or rehearsal (if the piano offers this option).
Alternatively, you can play back WAV and MIDI files (depends on the piano model) directly from the flash drive without loading them into the piano’s internal memory.
And finally, you can save your own performances recorded with the instrument to the flash drive as well as load them back onto the instrument when needed.
This port is often referred to as USB to Host terminal or USB to Computer port. This port is used to connect your digital piano to a computer or a smart device (using a special adapter) to exchange songs/files, and MIDI data.
This port will allow you to use the piano as a MIDI controller to control various music apps such as GarageBand, FlowKey, Playground Sessions etc.
There are actually tons of other apps that can expand the functionality of your digital piano in terms of learning, composing, recording, editing music.
Some brands offer their own free apps designed for certain piano models. Such apps usually enable you to control all the settings and functions of the instrument using an intuitive graphical interface.
Best Beginner Digital Pianos Under $500
- Model
- KeysModern acoustic pianos have 88 keys. Most digital pianos and keyboards have 88, 76, 73, or 61 keys.
In reality, 73 keys are enough to play most modern pieces. Some advanced pieces require a full set of 88 keys. - Fully-Weighted KeysThere are 3 most common types of key actions:
1) Non-weighted - most organs, synths and entry-level keyboards are not weighted.
2) Semi-weighted - common action for portable keyboards and workstations. Spring-loaded mechanizm adds more resistance to the keys compared to the non-weighted action.
3) Fully weighted (hammer action) is designed to replicate the action of a real piano. It uses small hammers (rather than springs) attached to each key to recreate the mechanical movements and resistaince similar to an acoustic piano action. - Ivory/Ebony FinishSome digital pianos come with a simulated Ivory (white keys) and Ebony (black keys) key surfaces, which gives them a nice textured feel, helps absorb excessive moisture and prevents your fingers from slipping off the keys.
- Touch SensitivityThe volume produced by the instrument changes depending on how hard or soft you play the keys.
Touch Response, Velocity Sensitivity, Touch Sensitivity are the same thing .
Many digital pianos allow you to adjust touch sensitivity (make the keyboard more or less sensitive to the force of your keystrokes) to better suit your playing style. - Tone Generator
- PolyphonyThe number of notes a piano can play at once.
The more polyphony the better, especially when layering several sounds or using backing tracks, etc. When you reach the polyphony cap, the piano starts to drop the earliest played notes to free up memory for the new ones, which affects the sound and its fullness.
It’s desirable to have at least 64 notes of polyphony. - Built-in Tones
- Modes1) Split - divides the keyboard into two parts, allowing you to play a different instrument sound in each of them.
2) Dual (a.k.a. Layer Mode) - allows you to layer two different sounds so that they sound simultaneously whenever you press a key.
3) Duo (a.k.a. Duet Play, Partner Mode, Twin Piano) - devides the keyboard into two halves with identical pitch ranges (two middle Cs) allowing two people to play the same notes at the same time. - Lesson FunctionThe ability to use built-in/user songs for practice by turning off the left- or right-hand part of a song and practicing it along with the playback of the other part.
- MIDI RecorderAllows you to record and playback your own performances.
A multi-track recorder (2 and more tracks) allows you to record several musical parts on separate tracks and play them back as a single song. - Transpose, Tuning1) Transpose function allows you to shift the overall pitch of the keyboard in semitone steps.
2) Tuning function (aka Fine Tuning, Master Tuning) allows you to shift the pitch from the standard A440 tuning in 0.1Hz or 0.2Hz steps. - MetronomeA useful tool for practice that will help develop your rhythmic and timekeeping skills by providing a steady beat to play along with.
Some pianos allow you change the conventional click sound of the metronome to various drum rhythms. - USB Type BThis port enables you to connect the keyboard to your computer/smart device and use it as a MIDI controller with VST plugins and music apps like GarageBand, Synthesia, FL Studio, etc.
- Speakers
- Bluetooth MIDIAllows you to connect your piano to a smart device wirelessly and exchange MIDI data with various music apps (e.g. GarageBand, Flowkey, Simply Piano, etc.). This can be used as an alternative to a USB type B port.
Note that some pianos can only transfer Audio data via Bluetooth, others can only transfer MIDI.
Some pianos support both MIDI and Audio data via Bluetooth. - Weight
- Casio PX-160
- 88
- Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action II
- 3 types, Off
- Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR
- 128 notes
- 18 (5 pianos)
- Dual, Split (Bass only), Duo
- 60 songs
- 2-track
- 8W + 8W
- 24.5 lbs
- Roland FP-10
- 88
- PHA-4 Standard with Escapement and Ivory Feel
- (Ivory only)
- 5 types, Off
- SuperNATURAL Piano Sound
- 96 notes
- 15 (4 pianos)
- Dual, Duo
- (via the app)
- 6W + 6W
- 27.1 lbs
- Yamaha P-45
- 88
- Graded Hammer Standard (GHS)
- 3 types, Off
- AWM Stereo Sampling
- 64 notes
- 10 (2 pianos)
- Dual, Duo
- 6W + 6W
- 25.3 lbs
- Korg B2
- 88
- Natural Weighted Hammer Action (NH)
- 3 types, Off
- PCM Stereo Sampling
- 120 notes
- 12 (5 pianos)
- Duo (Partner Mode)
- 15W + 15W
- 25.1 lbs
- Casio CDP-S100
- 88
- Scaled Hammer Action II
- 3 types, Off
- Dual-element AHL II
- 64 notes
- 10 (3 pianos)
- Dual
- 8W + 8W
- 24.9 lbs
When making this list, we were using the following criteria:
1) Casio Privia PX-160 – Best value keyboard in its price range
The Casio PX-160 is probably the most expensive keyboard on this list, but for good reason.
The piano offers an amazing value for the price. In fact, this keyboard can even compete with higher-priced keyboards like the Yamaha P-125 and Roland FP-30.
So what makes this piano so good?
First, the PX-160 is equipped with Casio’s famous Tri-sensor Hammer Action keyboard II.
Before the introduction of the Roland FP-10, it was the only keyboard in this price range that utilized 3-sensor detection system and had simulated Ebony & Ivory key surfaces.
The triple sensor detection technology allows for faster note repetition and more accurate recognition of your key presses, while the synthetic Ivory & Ebony keytops provide a good grip on the keys and absorb excessive moisture when your fingers become a bit sweaty.
Sound is another area where the PX-160 shines.
Its Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source delivers a full natural sound sampled from a 9-foot concert grand piano. The improved 16W speaker system and 128-note polyphony also contribute to the quality of the sound.
Along with 5 piano tones, there are 13 other instrument sounds, which I really enjoyed playing. You’ll hardly be able to find such high-quality sounds in this price range.
Everything from electric pianos to strings and organs sounded very decent, which is quite surprising to see on a budget-friendly instrument such as the PX-160.
When it comes to features, the PX-160 doesn’t disappoint either.
The PX-160 is the only piano on the list that has a 2-track MIDI recorder, which will allow you to record your right- and left-hand part onto separate tracks and then play them back as one song.
The keyboard also offers standard features such as metronome, transpose and tuning function as well as dual mode (layering) and duet play function.
The PX-160’s Split Mode only works with the Bass sound selected for the low-range of the keyboard, while you can select any other sound for the right-hand section.
There are 60 built-in songs that you can use to practice right- and left-hand parts individually by turning off one of the parts. On top of that, the piano allows you to load up to 10 User Songs into the internal memory and use them in the same way.
- Realistic Hammer Action II Keyboard with Ivory & Ebony Simulation
- 5 beautiful piano tones + 13 other high-quality sounds
- 128-note polyphony
- 2-track MIDI recorder
- 60 built-in songs for playback and practice
- Improved 16W speakers
- No display
- The key action tends to be a bit noisier compared to its competitors (Yamaha’s GHS, Roland’s PHA-4)
- The Split Mode is limited to the Bass sound for the left-hand section
2) Roland FP-10 – No-frills, yet arguably the best piano playing experience
Up until recently, Roland didn’t offer any entry-level digital pianos. You would have to spend at least $700 to get their most affordable model (Roland FP-30).
Yet, the company realized that this segment of the market is incredibly popular and all of its competitors already had some excellent offerings in this price range.
What was Roland’s move?
Well, they basically took their intermediate model (FP-30), cut down some of the features, made it a bit more compact, and introduced their new affordable FP-10.
What’s interesting is that they kept the same key action and sound engine as used its older brother, which makes the FP-10 one of the most realistic digital pianos under $500.
The instrument features Roland’s PHA-4 Standard keyboard with escapement mechanism, and synthetic ivory key surfaces.
It’s the only piano in this price range that simulates escapement sensation found on an acoustic piano.
Along with the Casio keyboards, it’s also the only piano under $500 that uses 3-sensor detection system (as opposed to 2-sensor), and has ivory feel keys.
The PHA-4 Standard is found in many beginner digital pianos from Roland, including the much more expensive FP-60, RP-102, F-140R.
The keyboard feels very high-quality and nice to the touch, you can feel the actual mechanical movement going on under the fallboard.
The sound of the FP-10 is generated by Roland’s famous SuperNATURAL sound engine, which combines sampling with physical modeling algorithms to provide a full, natural sound with incredible details.
The FP-10 is the only piano on the list that simulates organic piano elements such as string resonance, damper resonance (the PX-160 also simulates it), and key off response.
While the FP-10 is somewhat low of features, for example, it doesn’t have a MIDI-recorder, or lesson mode, you can easily expand its capabilities by connecting the FP-10 to Roland’s free Piano Partner 2 app via Bluetooth.
This will not only unlock some of the rhythms, and features like MIDI-recorder, but it will also allow you to control many parameters and settings of the FP-10 using an intuitive, graphical interface (goodbye “key/button” combinations).
- Very compact and gig-friendly
- Excellent keyboard with Ivory feel keys and Escapement
- Rich natural piano sound with simulated key-off and string resonance
- Bluetooth MIDI connectivity
- Extra sounds and features available via the app
- No optional 3-pedal unit
- No Split Mode
- No MIDI recorder
3) Yamaha P-45 – Yamaha’s best-selling beginner digital piano
The Yamaha P-45 is the most simple yet very popular model in Yamaha’s P (Portable) line of digital pianos. It’s also the only digital piano in Yamaha’s arsenal that you can get for under $500.
Even though the P-45 was introduced quite a while ago, it hasn’t lost its appeal ever since. In fact, it’s one of the best-selling Yamaha digital pianos in the world. And I’m not surprised.
Yamaha is a well-known brand with an excellent reputation which has been making high-quality digital musical instruments for decades, add an affordable price to the package, and the P-45 becomes one of the leaders in its class.
But of course, the famous name and attractive price aren’t the only things the P-45 has to offer.
The piano features a full set of 88 Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) keys, also found on the P-125 (next model up).
While to me the GHS action feels less realistic compared to the Casio and Roland key actions, it does provide a fully weighted feel, and has proven to be a decent and reliable entry-level action.
The GHS doesn’t have any textured material on top of the keys, and it uses 2-sensor key detection system.
While I didn’t have any problems quickly repeating notes on the P-45, I found it more difficult to play further up the keys due to the shorter action, especially compared to the Roland’s PHA-4.
At the heart of the P-45 is the AWM stereo sampling technology that ensures you get a rich, natural piano sound as well as 8 other beautiful tones including electric pianos, organs, strings, and a few other sounds.
It’s hard to compare the sound to the competition as it’s a very personal and subjective aspect, but I would say it’s on the same level as the FP-10 and PX-160 as far as realism is concerned.
Nevertheless, all of these sounds have a different character so listen for yourself and decide which one is the most pleasing to your ears.
The P-45 features 64-note polyphony, which is not something to be excited about but is enough in most situations.
The lack of a Split Mode and Line Out jacks doesn’t seem to be a big downside for a beginner either.
But if you’re planning to use your keyboard as a performing instrument, dedicated Line Out jacks would be a nice feature to have (on this list only the PX-160 has them).
The lack of a built-in MIDI recorder is another thing to consider. Unfortunately, in this price range, only the Casio PX-160 and the Alesis Recital Pro have that feature.
On the other hand, you can always use the P-45’s USB type B port to connect to a computer, which will allow you to create multi-track MIDI recordings and do many other things (learning, notation creation, music production, etc.) using various music apps.
- Compact & Lightweight
- No frills
- 88 Graded Hammer Standard action keys
- Yamaha’s signature piano sound
- Perfect for beginners
- No MIDI recorder
- Speakers are not particularly loud (enough for most situations)
- No Split Mode
4) Casio CDP-S100 / Casio CDP-S350 – Slim and very affordable
Casio have recently updated their CDP line with two new digital pianos, the CDP-S100 and CDP-S350, which replaced the CDP-135 and CDP-235 respectively.
The new CDP-S series takes focus on a slim, compact form-factor. The size of the instruments was decreased by 30% compared to the previous CDP models.
In fact, these are the most compact 88-key digital pianos I’ve ever seen.
The CDP series instruments are traditionally the most affordable digital pianos available in Casio’s arsenal, being a bit more basic compared to the Privia (PX) series as far as piano playing aspect is concerned.
Nevertheless, the new CDP-S pianos are very capable instruments that pack a lot of value and are fairly easy on the wallet.
The CDP-S100 and CDP-S350 share the same keyboard action and the same new grand piano tones (the CDP-S350 has more presets).
Let’s take a look at some of the key differences between these two models.
- 10 Built-in Sounds
- 4 Reverb Types
- AHL II Sound Engine
- Weighs 23.1 lbs
- 700 Built-in Sounds
- 10 Reverb Types
- AiX Sound Engine
- Weighs 24 lbs
- Built-in Display
- 6-track MIDI Recorder
- 152 preset songs
- 200 Built-in Rhythms
- 310 Music Presets
- 17 Temperament options
- Arpeggiator, Auto Harmonize function
- Pitch Bend Wheel
- USB type A (flash drive port)
- Registration memory (32 slots)
What’s unique about these CDP-S keyboards is that they are the only instruments on the list that can run on battery power.
Both of the pianos are equipped with the new Scaled Hammer Action II keyboard to fit into the new compact chassis.
This is the first time we see a CDP instrument with simulated Ivory & Ebony key surfaces, which do feel very nice and expensive. It’s definitely not something you find on an entry-level keyboard at this price point.
The action is mechanically very similar to the newly introduced Smart Scaled Hammer Action found in the new PX-S1000 and PX-S3000 digital pianos.
Comparing this new action to the older action used in the PX-160, there are definitely some noticeable improvements.
In particular, the action has become much quieter, less bouncy, and has a more natural feeling texture.
At the same time due to the smaller chassis, the CDP-S100’s action is a bit shorter as well, which makes it slightly more difficult to play into the keys compared to the PX-160.
When it comes to sound, the CDP-100 doesn’t disappoint either. There are 3 beautiful grand piano tones, which shine on virtually any music style.
The CDP-350 has a wider selection of sounds. I really liked the “Stage Piano” preset, which sounded remarkable and reminded me of the same present in the PX-S3000.
Casio CDP-S350
With that said, neither of these pianos use the piano-focused AiR sound engine found in Privia instruments, so the piano tones may sound not as realistic as, say, the PX-160.
I personally felt that some tones sounded a bit flat, and lacked depth; the resonance and decay could be improved as well.
However, it’s hard to complain considering their price tag and the fact that they are entry-level keyboards.
I’d definitely recommend adding these pianos to your list, if you’re looking for something very portable and budget-friendly.
It’s identical to the CDP-235 model (discontinued) and is very similar to the CDP-S350 as far as sounds and features are concerned.
The CDP-240 also offers a Step Up Lesson System that teaches you how to play the songs using a built-in LCD that shows which notes to play with which hand/finger.
At the same time, it’s bulkier than the CDP-S350 and it doesn’t have the new textured keyboard, but it’s also more affordable, so if these things aren’t that important to you, check it out.
- Very slim and compact
- Solid fully weighted keyboard with Ivory & Ebony simulation
- Good quality sounds
- Additional features available via the Chordana app
- Audio In jack
- Can operate on battery power
- Piano sound is not as sophisticated as in Privia instruments
- No MIDI recorder
We’ve talked about several instruments already, now let’s take a listen to the blind test video below to see which piano sound you prefer (Casio CDP-S100, Roland FP-10, or Yamaha P-45?).
5) Korg B2 – Stylish piano with a powerful sound and minimal features
Finally, the last piano we’re going to talk about is the Korg B2 – the successor to the popular B1 model.
In June 2019, Korg announced three new B2 models with a stylish design, excellent piano sound and some new features that were missing in the previous generation.
The B2, B2SP (same as the B2 but with a stand and pedals), and B2N have now become the most popular entry-level digital pianos in Korg’s arsenal.
Of these three models, the B2N is the only instrument that features semi-weighted keys as opposed to fully-weighted, so in this article, we’ll focus on the B2 and B2SP models.
The B2 is a more basic version of the B2SP since it doesn’t come with a stand and 3-pedal unit, but it still comes with some nice upgrades over the B1.
| B2 | B2N | B2SP | |
| Weight | 25.1 lbs (11.4 kg) | 20.5 lbs (9.3 kg) | 46.3 (21 kg) |
| Dimensions | 51.6" x 13.2" x 4.6" | 51.6" x 13.2" x 4.6" | 51.6" x 13.2" x 29.5" |
| Colors | Black and White | Black | Black and White |
| Keyboard | 88-key NH Keyboard | 88-key NT Keyboard | 88-key NH Keyboard |
| Speakers | Dual 15W speakers | Dual 9W speakers | Dual 15W Speakers |
| Included Accessories | AC adapter, music rest, damper pedal | AC adapter, music rest, damper pedal | AC adapter, music rest, dedicated stand, 3-pedal setup with half-pedaling support |
At the heart of the B2 is the Stereo PCM tone generator, which along with 120-note polyphony and dual 15W speakers delivers a deep, powerful sound with a wide dynamic range.
You get two different acoustic pianos dubbed German Grand and Italian Grand as well as their several variations and a bunch of other instrument sounds.
String resonance and damper resonance are also reproduced quite accurately here, which makes the sound even more natural and complex.
Here is a nice sound comparison between the Korg B2 and the Casio CDP-S100. Which one sounds better to your ears?
The speakers deserve a special mention using Motional Feedback (MFB) technology, which helps reproduce low frequencies more accurately.
The B2 features 88 full-sized keys that use Korg’s NH (Natural Hammer) action. It’s a good fully weighted action, which will satisfy the beginner’s needs.
It’s on a lighter side of the spectrum and feels pretty similar to Yamaha’s GHS action, so don’t expect anything groundbreaking here.
If you had a chance to try their higher-end action – the RH3, the difference is pretty significant.
However, Korg keyboards that feature the RH3 key action (D1, C1 Air, G1 Air) are also more expensive, so it’s not really a fair comparison.
If we’re talking about keyboards within the B2’s price range, I liked the action of the B1 more than that of the Alesis Recital Pro and Casio CDP-240.
At the same time, it doesn’t feel as good as the Casio PX-160’s and Roland FP-10’s action with a 3-sensor mechanism and ivory textured keys, which, in my opinion, feel closer to a real piano.
The good thing about the B2 is that it comes with a piano-style metal sustain pedal unlike the other keyboards on the list that come with one of those cheap box-like footswitches.
In terms of features, Korg has kept the B2 pretty basic. Partner Mode, metronome, transpose function, and master tuning are the only functions this keyboard has to offer.
There’s still no recording function but unlike its predecessor, the B2/B2SP finally boasts a full-fledged USB port that supports MIDI and Audio data!
This was one of the biggest turnoffs in the previous B1 model since there was no way to connect it to a smart device to exchange MIDI.
Another new port that the B2 has is a stereo mini Audio In jack that allows you to connect your phone or MP3-player and stream your favorite music directly to the B2’s onboard speakers.
- Fresh, stylish design
- 88 full-size hammer action keys
- Detailed German and Italian grand piano samples
- Powerful 30W speaker system enhanced by Motional Feedback technology
- Straightforward and easy to use
- USB Audio support
- Audio In jack
- The included pedal looks and feels nice
- No Split/Layer Mode
- Not as slim as its competitors
- Limited sound selection
- No recording function
Keyboards not included on the list (why?)
Alesis Recital Pro
Alesis is not as well-known as Yamaha, Roland or Casio, but you’ll inevitably come across a few models as you’re getting more familiar with the digital piano market.
Although the Alesis Recital has been around for a while, the Pro version, which comes with 88 fully weighted keys, was released not so long ago.
Aside from a new key action and a redesigned cabinet, the Recital Pro is equipped with a bunch of new instrument sounds as well as a small LCD which makes navigation easier.
In total, the keyboard has 12 built-in sounds and a nice set of features that any beginner will appreciate.
The instrument comes with a metronome, transpose function, Split, Layer, and Dual mode and a 1-track MIDI recorder.
The built-in sounds are decent but there’s definitely room for improvement in this department, especially those other than pianos.
The keyboard of the Recital Pro is nothing special. Yes, it’s weighted, but it’s not graded (the keys feel the same across the keyboard range), and it has a regular glossy finish on the keys.
Overall, it’s pretty basic and feels inferior to the keyboards on the list, in my opinion.
The Recital Pro also has a compartment for batteries, which means you can use the keyboard outdoors when there’s no power outlet around.
Yamaha YPG-535
This is a very popular keyboard from Yamaha’s Portable Grand line, which has been around for quite a while.
Unlike most of the keyboards on this list, the YPG-535 offers hundreds of sounds, rhythms, songs, a 6-track MIDI recorder and other so-called “bells and whistles”.
The main reason the YPG-535 is not on this list is that it has semi-weighted action, which doesn’t provide a very realistic feel and isn’t the ideal choice for playing piano.
In addition, the keyboard has 32-note polyphony, which can also be quite limiting in some cases.
You can read the full review of the Yamaha YPG-535 here.
Williams Rhapsody 2
This is another popular instrument on the market of budget digital pianos.
Williams is a privately owned brand of Guitar Center. Its instruments are produced by an unknown manufacturer in China.
The price of Williams pianos is considerably lower compared to alternative models from Yamaha, Casio, and other well-known brands.
The Williams Rhapsody is a console-style digital piano with 88 hammer action keys, 64-note polyphony, and some nice features.
It looks very good and expensive, and in this price range, you won’t be able to find another digital piano with a furniture-style cabinet.
Everything seems pretty good on paper, but unfortunately, the sound and touch of this instrument leave a lot to be desired.
The piano sound is muffled and not very realistic; the action doesn’t offer much dynamic range and expression.
Williams Allegro III
The Allegro III is a newly released Williams keyboard, which replaced the previous Allegro II model. Same brand, similar problems.
While, it’s very affordable, you get what you pay for.
The piano sound is okay(ish), but the main problem I have is with the keyboard, which feels cheap, and hard to control.
The dynamic range is very limited and doesn’t allow for much expression (soft, loud, and many layers in between).
Final Words
So there you have it, folks!
Those who dream to become a piano pro one day remember that the key is to make the first step. You made the right decision opting for a keyboard with fully weighted keys.
We hope this list has helped you pick the “right” keyboard for your needs and budget.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on any of the instruments we covered today as well as any other entry-level digital pianos you have experience with (negative or positive).
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If after reading this review you still have doubts about what instrument to choose, take a look at our Digital Piano Buying Guide and other popular articles listed below:
The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Digital Piano
Best Beginner Keyboards Under $300 (In-depth Comparison)
Best Weighted Keyboards Under $700 (for Intermediate Players)
Best Digital Pianos Under $1000 for Home Use
This is a great review. I got my best idea. Thank you so much for write this review and thanks again for sharing.
I am going to recommend it to my friend.
Thanks for your nice comment, Ashikur! I’m glad it helped.
Awesome review, thank you so much for sharing your knowlegde! Here in Brazil the CDP-135 is costing 500 dollars, and the Privia PX-160 is costing 700 dollars. With this price difference in mind, which one is better suitable for a total begginer?
Hi Gabriel,
Well, in my opinion, the CDP-135 is a solid choice for a complete beginner as far as price-quality ratio goes, especially if you have a limited budget. Investing the extra $200 into the PX-160 would give you a bunch of extra features such as MIDI-recorder, lesson function as well as a more realistic sound and feel.
So if you think that piano playing is a long-term thing for you, then you would probably be better off with the PX-160, as it will give a little bit more room to progress.
I totally agree with you, but I was wondering if isn’t better to wait for the PX-170, since Casio tends to release a new Privia every 2-3 years and has already released the PX-770 and PX-870 at Summer NAMM 2017.
Yeah, there’s a pretty good chance that Casio will release the successor to the PX-160 in the nearest future. But I wouldn’t rely on that too much, because it can happen tomorrow but it also happen in a year from now. No one really knows.
For example, the Casio PX5S was realeased in 2013 and the new model still hasn’t been introduced.
It’s such a lottery, indeed. Thanks again for your help!
Thank you Lucas! This review is awesome! How would you compare the Casio PX-160 to the Casio CDP-230R?
Hi Joe, I’m glad you liked it.
First off, if you’re looking into the CDP line, there is a newer model called the CDP-235R. In terms of piano playing, it’s identical to the CDP-135. They share the same sound engine, key action, and speakers.
The main difference is that the CDP-235 comes with a lot of extra features and sounds, including 700 built-in tones, 200 rhythms, 152 songs, 6-track recorder, various sound effects, etc. Now, if you’re into that kind of thing and need all those features, the CDP-235 would be a great choice for you.
On the other hand, if piano playing is your main focus, I’d still recommend the PX-160. It has a superior piano sound, action, and overall provide a more realistic playing experience than the CDP-135R or the CDP-235R.
Did anyone ever experience the Thomann dp-26 stage piano from Europe? I would like to know what you think about it. The one con I noticed was 60 note polyphony but the price for a weighted keyboard is a wow to me. Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks for such a detailed review… Much of my time got saved..
How would you compare casio CDP-135 with yamaha p45 considering the piano sound?
Thanks in advance
I’d go for the Yamaha, if piano is your focus.
To Lucas Welter.
This is a helpful list. Based mainly on this recommendation I purchased an Alesis Pro 88 key. Perhaps you could help with a question. I find the keyboard action quiet loud, the ‘shuffling’ sounds it makes as I play. The only way to not hear that intrusive racket is to put the volume up quiet high. That is not helpful for the other people in the house.
Is this to be expected with keyboards with weighted keys, and if i purchases some decent headphones, will this cut out the racket ?
Thank You.
Hey Michael, all digital and acoustic piano key actions produce some amount of noise. Some digital pianos tend to be “nosier” than others, but not much usually, especially within the same price range. Higher end models tend to be “quieter” than lower end keyboards, but even with them, you’ll still be able the noise of the key action mechanism. It’s totally fine as long all keys produce relatively the same amount of noise, and it’s only audible on low to medium volume levels. Headphones will definitely help block out that noise, but others around will still be able to hear that I’m afraid.
HI ! I had the PX-700 and was wondering what the big differences are with the PX-160 and also a PX-120 for example (looking to buy a new one in my area).
Thanks !
Hey, the PX-120 and the PX-700 are veryyy old models, the PX-160 will definitely be much better in terms of both feel and sound quality. Nowadays, technologies in this space evolve so quickly and the keyboards you mentioned are like 10 years old.
Thanks
You’re welcome
Informative article, exactly wht I was looking for.
I’m glad you found it helpful!
Thanks for all the info. I like the idea of the lesson function on the CDP 240/235. Follow along the LCD to learn to play songs. I am having trouble finding one of these in my area. Are there other keyboards that have the same or similar function? Thanks
There are a lot of cheaper Casio and Yamaha keyboards that have similar lesson features, but they usually have 61 semi-weighted keys and, in my opinion, are not the best choice for piano players.
The only digital piano with a lesson function + LCD that comes to my mind is the Yamaha DGX-660, which has 88 fully-weighted keys, but it’s also almost twice as expensive as Casio CDP-240.
I’m actually not surprised that you weren’t able to find the CDP-235/240 in your area, because these keyboards are mainly sold through online dealers like Costco and Amazon (somewhat exclusively).
The important thing to remember is that you don’t always need to have an onboard lesson function to be able to learn songs using a graphical interface.
Most modern keyboards and DPs have either a USB port or Bluetooth onboard, so you can connect your instrument to a computer, tablet or mobile phone and use apps like FlowKey and Synthesia to learn songs.
I think they’re much better and more versatile (modes, song selection) than the built-in lesson function.
Hi Lucas, great article. Thiking of buying Piano for my son who is Year 1 in his Piano lessons. Thinking of B1 vs CDP-230. Which is better? Also Korg LP-180 vs Korg-B1 – any recommendations?
Thank you very much for the detailed article. Please which will you suggest I buy, Casio PX 160 or the CDP 240 for my piano lessons beginner? Thank you in advance.
Hey Ola, I would say go with the PX-160 if you want a more realistic piano playing experience, and the CDP-240 would be a better choice if you want to have a lot of tons, songs, and interactive features to choose from.
Hi Lucas,
Thank you very much for such a detail and easy to follow along articles for beginners. I especially like all the little notes for the terminology. If there is one thing I would change for your future articles, it would be the grading scale/check marks. I had to keep looking up and down to see which check mark is for which categories. It got more difficult when I have to compare between 2 different ones. But all these are veryyy minor details that do not affect the superb quality of your articles. Love it!!!
One question: I know nothing about piano and want to learn it. Between the Casio PX-160, Casio CDP-S100, and the Roland FP-10, which do you recommend? I prefer the sound of the FP10, all the gadgets of the PX-160, and the weight/portability/battery use of the S100. My main concerns are the feel quality of the keys and how close they are to the real piano. I want to learn it right so those are my main points. What is your suggestion? Thank you.
Hey Loc, are you referring to the comparison table when referring to the “grading scale/check marks”. If so, are you’re using a mobile device or a tablet to visit my site? The thing is that the comparison table starts to adapt to the smaller screen size when you’re using mobile devices, which leads several columns to shift.
If you’re using a tablet, try horizontal screen orientation. If you’re using a computer the comparison table should display at full width, please let me know if it’s not the case.
As for your question, I created this article mainly to answer all these questions all at once 🙂 As I mentioned in the article, I prefer the feel of the FP-10. In terms of how close these instruments feel to a real piano, it’s hard to say since you won’t find two acoustic pianos that feel exactly the same.
There’s no strict standard, and touch is a highly subjective thing, so I cannot predict which action YOU will like better. I’ve talked to people who preferred every one of these actions over the others, so there’s no clear winner here.
From my personal experience, however, the FP-10 feels closest to the real deal as far as key movement and response is concerned.
Thanks for providing this helpful discussion space. I’m looking for a digital piano. I have a real piano my my arthritic hands hurt after playing it. I like the look of the Alesis Recital Pro. For one thing it has proper jack outs and there is a chance that I might play in public in a band. I also like the keyboard split function which isn’t common in theis price range. It has two bass sounds both sound OK on youtube demos. (Isometimes play left hand bass. )
Hey John, glad to hear you found the instrument that you feel comfortable with. It’s a decent entry-level keyboard, so I see no reason why you won’t enjoy playing it. It’s indeed one of the few digital pianos in this price range that has a full-fledged split function and a built-in display.
Good luck on your musical journey!
Hi Lucas, excellent review as usual…!, i’m looking the best, more responsive, faster, realistic, confortable, longer pivot and more reliable key action and the best finger to sound connection, for intensive jazz and classical practice, between: Korg D1, Casio PX-S1000 and Roland FP10. Thanks!…
Hi Fer, if a longer pivot point is vital, I’d cross the PX-S1000 off the list, as it has a relatively short key action.
Both the D1 and FP-10 have excellent key actions, which are currently the best ones you can get in this price range.
The D1’s RH3 keys have a slightly longer pivot point compared to the Roland (both are good though), they’re also a bit lighter and don’t have escapement simulation.
The keys on the FP-10 also have an ivory simulated finish, which the D1 doesn’t offer. You can’t really go wrong with either of these actions, but I’d definitely recommend trying them out in person to see which one suit your style best.
Excelent review, but what do you recomend most, I am considering the PRIVIA px160 or the cdp 240, what Is your recomendation?, Actually I have a PRIVIA px110, worth the upgrate to the PRIVIA px160?, Can I use the px160 with a tablet? Chordana maybe?
Regards
Hi Sergio, the PX-160 would be a better choice if your focus is playing the piano. The CDP-240, on the other hand, is superior in terms of extra sounds and features. So ultimately, the best option for you will depend on how you’re going to use the instrument.
Unfortunately, Casio’s Chordana app is not supported on the PX-160 but you can use other 3rd-party apps no problem (using an adapter).
I see the Alesis Recital got a mention but what are your thoughts, if any, on the Alesis Coda Pro?
It’s fine for a beginner, and so is the Recital Pro. Personally, I’m not a fan of the sound (especially regarding decay), the action also seemed a bit stiff, slow, and it doesn’t have graded hammer effect unlike the other keyboards on the list.
Generally, I’d stick with the major brands such as Yamaha, Casio, Roland, Kawai and Korg. They are dominating the market of digital pianos, and have been doing that for quite a long time. Over the years they gained a lot of experience and knowledge in this field, which makes it difficult for other lesser known brands to compete.
However, if you have a chance, try out Recital keyboards, who knows maybe you’ll like them more than I did.
hi, first of all congratulations for the reviews always clear.
I would like to ask your advice, what to choose between a casio px 160 and a casio cdp s150 at about the same price (with the second one would there be also the pedals and the stand included)? Thanks in advance and keep up the good work
Hi Stefano, if you’re only starting out, the CDP-S150 with the stand and the pedals should be just fine (note that there are no stand/pedals included with either of these pianos unless you’re buying a bundle). The PX-160 does have a slightly better, more detailed piano sound, but it’s not significantly better than the one on the CDP-S150. Both are good options, so you can’t really go wrong here (if the CDP-S150 with the stand/pedals costs the same as the PX-160 without those accessories, I’d go for the CDP-S150, especially if the extra features are not important to you).
Hi Lucas, first of all my best compliments for everything. every article is very well written, very professional .. thank you so much already for this ..
I’m 30 years old and I’ve never played, I would like to start from the piano to learn about music. I’ll probably never become an experienced player.
at the moment there are three interesting offers: Casio Px160: 400euro
Yamaha P45B: 365euro
Casio cdp s100: 340euro
I have no chance to try them live and I’m totally confused
what do i choose?
Hi Massimo, thank you for your support! It’s amazing that you want to learn the piano, it’s never too late!
You won’t become a pro overnight, but if you stick to it, you can reach a very high level, that’s for sure.
A common belief is that kids learn the piano quicker than adults and if you want to master something you need to start doing it from an early age. But many forget that when you’re a grown-up and decide to learn something, you have way more motivation and opportunities to do so compared to when you’re a kid. So don’t get discouraged just yet.
As for the instrument, all the options you mention will serve you just fine in the early stages. My personal choice would be the Casio PX-160.
In my opinion, it feels better than the Yamaha and has more sounds/features than both the CDP-S100 and P-45.
The CDP-S100 and P-45 are pretty basic compared to the PX-160. The piano sound on the CDP-S100 is not as rich and dynamic as on the P-45, at least to me. However, the action on the CDP-S100 feels nicer to my fingers than that of the P-45.
But these are just my nitpicks, and generally, I’d put them on the same level.
Hi Lucas, I trust what you say, but reading online the Px 160 has keys that become noisy or defective, this brakes me on the purchase, 400 euros for me are not few, I would like the piano to last in time. can you give me some indication about it? I ask this because I never played, thanks again!
Hi Massimo, any key action (especially in an entry-level digital piano) may become noisier over time. Casio’s Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer II action tends to be slightly noisier than the competitors, though not by a lot.
In practice, I don’t believe it’s an issue since the volume of you playing (either via headphones or onboard speakers) will not allow you to hear the noise coming from the keys. The only situation where this may become a problem is when there’s someone else with you in the room while you’re practicing, and the sound may be annoying to them. But that’s not to say that other digital pianos have silent key actions.
In fact, if you were able to play an acoustic piano muted, you would hear that its key action makes more noise than any digital piano on the market, but you don’t hear that because of the sound coming from the instrument is much louder. So, it’s normal for ANY keyboard instrument to make mechanical noises, that’s just the law of physics.
Also, if you’re looking for the best key action in terms of reliability and quietness, I recommend checking out the Roland FP-10. It has a slightly heavier and quieter action and the issues with the PHA-4 keyboard are fairly rare. The new Casio PX-S1000 also has a quieter action, if noise is a concern.
Hi Lucas,
thanks for the review.
I am a beginner and I am looking into buying a digital piano.
I was looking that in my price range I could buy a Casio CDP 240, but I found a Casio Privia PX-860 used for the same price.
What would you recommend me to do? Take the risk with the used one?
Thanks!
Hey Giovanni,
Well, the PX-860 will definitely provide a more realistic piano playing experience, but the question is what’s the condition of the instrument. How often has it been used? If the condition is ‘like new’, then go for it, but if it’s been heavily used for several years, there might be some issues with it such as a clunky/noisy key action (though not necessarily).
Great article, thank you. The Gear4 Music DP6 looks like a comparable product, but it’s not reviewed here. Why not? I’ll go for a p45 but not if the dp6 will be fine for my kids who are beginners.
Hi James, haven’t had any experience with Gear4music instruments since they are mostly known as a music retailer rather than a manufacturer. Generally, I would recommend sticking with the major brands such as Yamaha, Casio, Roland, Kawai, and Korg.
With that said, I quickly went and listened to some of the demos of the DP6 available online. The sounds are alright, especially considering its price. I can’t comment on the key action though. They mention it features fully weighted hammer-action keys, which is ideal for a beginner, but I can’t say anything about how it actually feels, though I’d imagine it’s probably comparable to other entry-level key actions on the market such as Yamaha’s GHS action, Korg’s NH, etc.
Ultimately, it’s your call. Obviously, I’d recommend trying out the DP6 in person if you get a chance.
Heya, i’m leaving a comment for 2 things :
One, thank you very much for your work, it helped me a lot for understanding what to focus on to buy my first piano, lots of information 😀 I don’t know why I can’t find more, it seemed to me the piano was a very usual hobby and I thought I’d find way more info on the web.
Secondly, I finally did go for the Korg B2 but maybe I chose wrong. The first one simply didn’t work, no power at all (it was the piano itself, not the power supply). And now after about one week, the second one starts to have some keys (5-6 across the board) that wobbles. They seem lighter too, as if the action (or hammers or I don’t know) had loosened or something. It doesn’t modify the sound and within the flow it goes rather unnoticed but when playing them alone it’s really unpleasant.
To be fair this second model was exposed in the shop (they lent it to me since they had no more stock to replace the defective one and the new batch will take a while to arrive) but they told me it was only one week old ..
Anyway I don’t know if that’s “normal”, or if that’s because it was used (maybe they lied ?) or if I’m just really unlucky, but I’m quite suspicious about this model now.
I’m not sure what to do, meanwhile I’ve also ordered the Casio CDP-S350 to compare them. I’m worried about the sound quality of the piano samples but I feel like I need to have more possibilities, I already feel the limits of the B2 (no layers/split for instance). Though its USB/Audio will be missed, and I like the details of its sound (resonance, harmonics etc)..
Hi, thanks for sharing your experience with the B2. It’s hard for me to provide any insight since the B2 is relatively new and there are still very few comments about it online, especially those from long-term users.
With that said, the B2 uses the same key action as its predecessor, the B1, which is pretty well-known. While the action is not top-notch by any means, I don’t remember having the wobbly keys problem, so this well may be a defective unit you received.
Let me know how it all goes down after you receive a replacement/your CDP-S350 arrives. I personally prefer CDP-S350’s action but let me know what your impressions are since it’s also a relatively new instrument.
I just received the Casio CDP-S350 and wanted to share my feeling.
So I also have the Korg B2 and played it for ~ 2 weeks now. I like its sound (especially the Italian pianos as you stated in your review) but I feel limited by the few different tones and not having split and layer, thats why I’m trying the Casio (700 sounds)
Disclaimer : I’m a total beginner so maybe I’m gonna say some bullshit 😮
Anyway, the direct sound from speakers is really not great, especially for the piano sounds. That’s my main issue since I don’t want to plug-in headphones or another amp everytime I play. The sound is “thin”, especially on the deep end. When I do a direct comparison with the B2 (which has quite a nice sound to me) it seems worse in every aspect. The worst part is that somes notes are sometimes drowned by the others.
It’s better on headphones but still not entirely pleasant, for me anyway. It’s like the sound is missing something
The piano sounds themselves seems kind of “basic” in comparison to the B2
It seems the S100 hasn’t the same piano sounds so I don’t know ..
Also I find the sensitivity very difficult to adjust : on normal and heavy it’s difficult to have the powerful sound when hitting hard/fast, but on the light setting I can’t manage to have the sounds from a soft touch. It’s really disturbing. I’ve got no problem on the Korg, the 3 settings works without problem.
On sounds other than the classic pianos .. that’s something else 😀
Especially the samples of orchestral instruments like brass or reed, we hear distinctly the instrument beeing actually played, it’s really pleasant.
I don’t have much references for other usual sounds like e-pianos, organs, strings etc.. can’t say much except there are tons of them
Another really good feature imo is the rhythms (200!). It instantly incentivize to improvise. The Auto Accompaniment mode allow the piano to follow what you play on your left hand, truly appealing.
About the keybed, I have no idea what to say since I never touched a real piano 😀 the ivory is nice but the action itself I dont know what to think of it but I didn’t expect it would be THAT MUCH different from the B2. The keys bounce back faster and seem lighter and less “sticky” but I don’t feel it’s particulary better (or worse). Besides they are less soft/flexible and the sides are kind of sharp so I’m not sure about fast transitions, like glissando. The space between keys is consistent unlike the B2 (I can see the electronic below the B2)
The interface : even though there are lots of buttons for recording and tempo, the navigation between some settings like reverb isn’t really convenient so it can be more tedious than combinations of keys to change things on the fly.
The volume from layering/split cannot be changed which makes some combinations unusable
And finally the build quality. Except for the speakers, the Casio seems at least one step above on every aspect. The plastic seems better, the buttons are better too. Even the cables, the pedal cable is certainly better, the proprietary cable from Korg feels like it could break at any time.
Even though its features are awesome I think I’ll return it just because I can’t stand the speakers sound and the sensitivity 🙁 Now I want to test the Roland FP-10 which seems to be a compromise between the two (main fear about its speakers) 😀
Since you’ve tested them, about the speakers, could you confirm I’m not doing a mistake with the FP-10 in comparison to the B2 and CDP-S350 please ? 😀
Hi fou, thanks for such an in-depth comment. I’m sure this will be insanely helpful for the community! Not surprised you liked the piano sounds on the B2. After all, it’s the main focus of this keyboard.
Regarding the speakers, it’s hard to expect much from such a portable instrument. The fact that the speakers are on the back doesn’t help much either. The B2 is not as compact and with its front-facing speaker grill, I can see why the sound is clearer and bolder on the Korg.
With that said, I can’t say that many portable entry-level digital piano sounds particularly impressive via speakers. That’s why I prefer listening via headphones when playing such instruments, which does make the playing experience much more enjoyable and realistic.
As for the speakers on the FP-10, I don’t think you’ll be impressed by them either, to be honest. The speakers are located on the bottom (down-facing), which makes it less than ideal if you want to place your keyboard on a desk or a table. When put on a stand, the FP-10 sounds better, but I still would use headphones 9 times out 10. Since the speakers are pointing downwards, the sound is not as clear and accurate as I would want. Though compared to the CDP-S350, it will still probably sound slightly better (let’s not forget that the tone is different as well).
With that said, I’d say the strongest feature of the FP-10 is its keybed, which is hard to beat at this price point. The piano sound is very lovely as well, especially when played through a quality pair of headphones.
Thank you for your answers.
So if I understand correctly, speaker-wise there aren’t good alternatives to the B2 in this price range, all others models are lower.
That’s a bummer, it is an important point for me, so it seems there isn’t a “fitting” model for me. Now I’ve got to decide if I prefer a good direct sound or a better keybed with nice features :p
I believe there is a FP-30 playable in a shop close to me, if I can test its sound maybe I’ll decide to buy a FP-10 anyway (I’ve got a X stand). I know it’s more powerful but I guess it’ll give me an idea.
About the Casio I’m starting to understand how its action is better, even though I still find the B2 comfortable (but I find it very slippery now that I’ve got a taste of ivory and the keys are starting to feel too “sticky” :D). I’m enjoying playing on it and when I switch back to the B2 I kind of miss the “lightness” of the Casio at first
The problem of its sensitivity is still an issue, I’m not sure if I’m the problem or if it is the piano but I can’t play as subtly as on the B2.
Also, even on headphones the notes are sometimes drowned by others, didn’t notice that on the B2
I am also pretty certain that every B2 samples are better than their closest equivalent on the Casio : harpsychord, pipe organ .. they sound more “full” or realistic from my point of view
And yes its compactness is so impressive it even seems lighter than the B2 when I move them : D
Me again :p
I’ve been able to hear the speakers of the FP-30 and I love it, could you confirm the 10 has a similar quality, even though it’s not as powerful ?
Thank you
The FP-10 and FP-30 have identical keybeds and sound engines, so the playing experience (through headphones) is virtually the same. The speakers on the FP-10 are less powerful but are similar in terms of their location and quality.
Also, I’d like to point out that the speakers may sound quite different when playing in a store and at home due to different acoustic environments.
Great comparison review!
In fact, I think that most of your reviews that I’ve read, are well written and clarifying certain features of digital pianos which cannot be easily spotted in their specifications (e.g. differences in keyboard actions).
Objective as possible reviews, could be useful not only for the customers but for the manufacturers as well, to identify features that need further improvement.
Thank you for the time spent – it is much appreciated.
Hi Kostas, thanks so much for your support! Glad you found the site useful.
Thanks for all your reviews & comparisons & they are very informative.
I looked at several digital pianos a few months ago when they were on sale for the holidays. Costco usually has a Casio bundle, probably the PX-160, but this time they had a Yamaha P45 bundle. A few weeks later they also had a Roland FP-10 bundle but it was a bit more money.
I went shopping trying to compare those three. I took lessons years ago & haven’t touched a piano in a long time so I’m not sure what a realistic keyboard should feel like. They all seemed OK to me except the Casio did have noisy keys as you mentioned. The Yamaha keys seemed a bit lighter than the Roland, but again I have no idea if that’s good or bad compared to a real piano.
Reading some online comments, some people thought the Roland had the most realistic feel just like you did. Some thought the Yamaha had the most realistic piano sound. They said the Roland used synthesized sounds or words to that affect to create a piano sound. Whereas the Yamaha used actual sampled sounds of a real piano which made it sound more realistic. Is this true, did I understand that correctly, or does it really make any difference? My ears probably can’t tell the difference, but other family members or guests might.
The Casio has their Tri-sensor Hammer Action which seems like good thing to have, but it’s got noisy keys.
The Yamaha supposedly has great sound, but only two sensors for the keys. I’m not sure if that’s really a drawback for me right now, but might be in the future.
The Roland’s keyboard has 3 sensors & might feel the most realistic, but some people didn’t like the sound. Will I notice any unpleasantness after playing for a while?
It seems to come down to having a piano that either plays good or sounds good. Is there a fourth reasonably priced piano that checks all the boxes and has the best qualities of all three of the above?
Any comments & suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again.
Hi Mike,
I wouldn’t worry too much about the number of sensors used in a keyboard. It’s not what makes a good / bad keyboard as there are more important elements.
As for the sound, no, Roland doesn’t offer fully-synthesized piano sounds on the FP-10. Just like Casio and Yamaha, Roland uses real piano recordings (samples) as the base of the sound and then adds various elements (noises, resonances, modeled decay) to make it more natural and rich.
I wouldn’t say that Roland sounds synthetic, while Yamaha sounds natural or anything like that. Yes, you’ll notice that they sound different but that’s because they use different piano samples. Plus, they most likely use different methods and sound processing.
Whether you’ll notice any unpleasantness after playing the FP-10 for a while depends on your idea of what an ideal piano should sound like. But if you’re just a beginner and don’t have much experience with acoustic pianos, I doubt that you’ll find the sound of the FP-10 (or its competitors) unpleasant, provided that you like how they sound in demos.
Demos online can give you a good approximation of what the instrument will sound like via headphones. When played via the internal speakers, the sound often loses a lot of the details and clarity, so the sound quality will depend on the quality of the speakers themselves (same applies to headphones, actually).
Regarding the compromises (either good feel or sound), I wouldn’t say it’s always the case. All pianos on this list have a decent piano sound and action, and what instrument you like best is mostly a matter of personal preference.
For example, you read that many people like the action of the Roland, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll like it as much. The same applies to sound.
Lucas –
Thank you for the reply & information. I’ll go out again & listen/feel some pianos again.
Thanks,
Mike