Best Intermediate Home Digital Pianos (Under $2,000)

Have thoughts or questions? Join the discussion in the forum →

We’re continuing our “Best Digital Pianos” article series, and this time, we’ll be exploring the best home (console) digital pianos under $2000.

There have been some exciting new releases lately, and several have earned a spot on this list.

Having already covered the top picks in the entry-level sub-$1300 category, it’s now time to delve into the intermediate segment of the digital piano market.

Console Digital Pianos: Crash Course

If you’re in the market for a console digital piano, you’ll notice a few common traits they tend to share:

1) Portability: Console pianos are designed primarily for home use, making them less portable and ideal for pianists who don’t need to move their instrument frequently.

2) Furniture Cabinet: They feature a cabinet that mimics the appearance of an acoustic piano, adding a touch of elegance to your home.

3) Pedal Setup: A full 3-pedal system, similar to that of an acoustic piano, is standard with these models.

4) Onboard Speaker System: They often include a built-in speaker system, usually with two or more speakers, providing an immersive, acoustic-like sound experience.

5) Color Variations: Console pianos come in various finishes to match your home’s decor.

6) Features: While they include all the essentials, they typically don’t have an extensive range of features like a wide selection of preset sounds, advanced connectivity options, or robust recording capabilities.

7) Price: Due to their larger cabinets, integrated pedals, and more powerful speaker systems, console pianos usually cost significantly more — sometimes up to twice as much — than their portable counterparts with similar key action and sound engine features.

If you’re new to this market, choosing the right digital piano from the myriad of models that look and seem similar can be overwhelming.

It’s crucial to take your time and do thorough research to ensure you make an informed decision, whether you’re buying for yourself or someone else.

To help ease the process, I’ve compiled as much helpful information as possible so that you can save time on research while navigating the digital piano landscape.

However, I always recommend trying out the instruments in person, as factors like touch and sound are highly subjective and best experienced firsthand.

Best Home Digital Pianos Under $2,000

• Model
• Keys

  Modern 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 Keys

  There are 3 most common types of key actions:
  1) Non-weighted - most organs, synths and entry-level keyboards are not weighted.
  2) Semi-weighted - often used portable keyboards and workstations. 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 and resistance similar to the acoustic piano action.
• Simulated Ivory/Ebony

  Some 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 Sensitivity

  The 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
• Polyphony

  The 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

  Often, a digital piano will have other musical instrument sounds besides pianos.
• Modes

  1) 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) - 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.
• Lesson Function

  The 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 Recorder

  Allows 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.
• Audio Recorder

  Allows you to record the audio output of the instrument 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.
• Preset Temperaments

  Ability to change the standard “Equal Temperament” tuning to other tuning systems (used in the 16th to 19th centuries), which are better suited for playing certain styles of music (Indian, Arabian, classical, etc.).
• Piano Elements

  Organic piano elements that are reproduced on the instrument, often using physical modeling. These elements are usually quite sublte but important if you want to get the fullest, and the most natural piano sound.
• Transpose,Tuning

  1) 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.
• Metronome

  A 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 B

  This port enables you to connect the keyboard to a computer/smart device and use it as a MIDI controller with VST plugins and music apps like GarageBand, Flowkey, Synthesia, FL Studio, etc.
• Bluetooth Connectivity

  Allows 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.
• Speakers
• Weight

• Yamaha YDP-165
• Check Price
  (Best No-frills Pick)
• 88
• Graded Hammer 3 (GH3)
• 3 types, Off
• Yamaha CFX
• 192 notes
• 10 (3 pianos)
• Dual, Duo
• 50 classics + 303 lesson songs
• 2-track, 1 song
• (USB Audio Interface)
• Damper/String/Key Off Resonance, Smooth Release
• MIDI and Audio support
• 20W + 20W
• 92.6 lbs (42 kg)

Jump to Review

• Roland F701
• Check Price
  (Most Features)
• 88
• Progressive Hammer Action (PHA-4 Standard)
• (Ivory only)
• 100 types, Off
• SuperNATURAL Piano Sound
• 256 notes
• 324 (12 pianos)
• Dual, Split, Duo
• 377 songs
• 3-track, 1 song
• 10 types
• Lid, Damper/String/Key Off Resonance
• Bluetooth (MIDI + Audio)
• 12W + 12W
• 79.4 lbs (36 kg)

Jump to Review

• Kawai KDP120
• Check Price
  (Our Best Choice)
• 88
• Responsive Hammer Compact II (RHCII)
• 3 types, Off
• Harmonic Imaging (HI)
• 192 notes
• 15 (4 pianos)
• Dual, Duo
• 5 Song Books (over 200 songs)
• 1-track, 3 songs
• 7 types
• Damper/Key Off Resonance, Hammer Delay, Lid Simulation
• Bluetooth (MIDI + Audio)
• 20W + 20W
• 81.5 lbs (37 kg)

Jump to Review

• Korg G1 Air
• Check Price
  (Runner-up)
• 88
• Real Weighted Hammer Action 3 (RH3)
• 4 types, Off
• Stereo PCM
• 120 notes
• 32 (12 pianos)
• Dual, Split, Duo
• 40 songs
• 2-track, 1 song
• 9 types
• Damper/String/Key Off Resonance
• Bluetooth (Audio)
• 2 x (20W + 20W)
• 90.4 lbs (41 kg)

Jump to Review

• Casio AP-470
• Check Price
  (Best Design)
• 88
• Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action II
• 3 types, Off
• Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR
• 256 notes
• 22 (9 pianos)
• Dual, Split (Bass only), Duo
• 60 Songs (+ 10 User)
• 2-track, 1 song
• WAV, 16bit, 44.1 kHz, stereo (onto a flash drive)
• 16 types
• Damper/String/Key Off Resonance, Hammer Response, Lid Simulator, Key On/Off Action Noise
• 20W + 20W (4 speakers)
• 95.7 lbs (43.4 kg)

Jump to Review

1) Yamaha YDP-165 – A tough guy from a legendary brand

In 2022, Yamaha introduced a new generation of YDP digital pianos, replacing the YDP-144, YDP-164, YDP-S34, and YDP-S54 models with the YDP-145, YDP-165, YDP-S35, and YDP-S55

In this article, we’ll focus on the YDP-165, which I find to be a stronger competitor in this price range, even though it shares many similarities with the YDP-145.

Sound

The most significant upgrade in the YDP-165 compared to its predecessor is the inclusion of Virtual Resonance Modeling Lite (VRM Lite), a feature borrowed from Yamaha’s premium Clavinova range.

This enhancement introduces organic piano elements such as String Resonance, Damper Resonance, Key Off Simulation, and Smooth Release. In the YDP-165, these elements are integrated into the tone and cannot be adjusted, unlike the full VRM version.

The piano tone is sampled from Yamaha’s flagship CFX Concert Grand, known for its distinct character.

It has a unique sound that some describe as a blend between Steinway, Bösendorfer, and Yamaha grand pianos, with a mid-range reminiscent of Steinway and a thunderous bass similar to Bösendorfer.

I find it to be a rich, well-rounded tone with excellent dynamic range and responsiveness.

In addition to piano tones, the YDP-165 offers a few other instrument sounds, including electric pianos, organs, and strings, but the selection is limited to 10 tones. The primary focus remains on delivering a realistic piano experience.

The YDP-165’s sound is powered by two 20W speakers located on both sides, providing ample volume for home use without needing external amplification.

While some competitors in this price range, like the Casio AP-470 and Korg G1 Air, feature 4 speakers for a more immersive experience, it would be great to see Yamaha adopt a similar approach in future YDP-series models.

Touch

The YDP-165 comes with Yamaha’s well-known GH3 action, which is also found in some of their other mid-range digital pianos.

This fully weighted hammer action features a 3-sensor key detection system for improved playability and note repetition, along with simulated ivory and ebony key surfaces that enhance control and absorb excess moisture.

The GH3 action offers a substantial and high-quality feel, though it may be perceived as somewhat heavy, even compared to some acoustic pianos.

While it’s heavier than Yamaha’s entry-level GHS/GHC actions, the GH3’s longer keys and the resulting extended pivot length, make it easier to control.

If you prefer a heavier touch, the GH3 will likely suit you well, whereas those seeking a lighter feel might prefer options like the Kawai KDP120 or Korg G1 Air.

Features

When it comes to features, the YDP-165 keeps things simple. It includes all the essentials, such as a metronome, transpose function, and a 2-track MIDI recorder.

In addition to playing back 50 piano masterpieces with separate hand part practice, Yamaha has added 303 lesson songs for further practice.

A standout feature of the YDP-165 is its USB audio interface, which sets it apart from competitors. This allows you to transfer the raw audio signal generated by the instrument via its USB port, a functionality not commonly found on digital pianos, which typically support only MIDI over USB.

All in all, the YDP-165 is a solid mid-range digital piano that showcases Yamaha’s quality and decades of expertise.

For a more acoustic-looking digital piano, check out the Yamaha YDP-184. It’s the flagship of the Arius series, featuring an improved sound engine, additional features, and a beautiful cabinet with supportive front legs.

2) Roland F701 – Packed with Cool Features and Very Compact

The Roland F701 is a direct successor to the popular F-140R, which gained a strong following among beginners and intermediate players in the US.

Unlike many digital pianos on this list, the F701 features a slim, modern design, diverging from the traditional cabinets of brands like Yamaha and Kawai.

This sleek design makes it an excellent choice for those in smaller apartments who want a full-size digital piano without taking up too much space. The F701’s compact footprint, lighter weight, and ease of assembly further enhance its appeal.

Sound

At the core of the F701 is Roland’s renowned SuperNATURAL sound engine, which merges acoustic piano sampling with modeling algorithms to deliver realistic sound with natural decay and resonance.

The F701’s piano tones are enriched with organic elements, including Lid Position, String Resonance, Damper Resonance, and Key Off simulation. Each of these parameters can be individually adjusted for a more customized sound experience.

Roland instruments are celebrated for their rich, flavorful sound, with deep bass response and a bright character. Below, you can hear some of these beautiful tones available on the F701:

Touch

The F701 features the PHA-4 Standard (Progressive Hammer Action) with simulated ivory keytops and escapement. This action is highly regarded, and it’s one of my favorites on this list.

Compared to the YDP-165’s GH3 action, the PHA-4 feels a bit lighter, making it more accessible for beginners with less developed finger strength.

The GH3’s heavier touch and longer pivot length mean that while both actions require similar force to play, the PHA-4 is generally easier to handle.

Features

When it comes to features, the F701 stands out as the most advanced instrument on this list. It offers an impressive 324 built-in tones, which is unusual for a digital home piano.

In addition, the F701 includes over 370 preset songs, featuring classical masterpieces as well as pieces by Czerny and Hanon.

The piano also comes with a small screen that simplifies navigation through its extensive selection of sounds, songs, and rhythms.

Notably, the F701 and Kawai KDP120 are the only models on this list with Bluetooth MIDI connectivity.

This feature is particularly useful for quickly connecting the piano to an iPad or laptop and for controlling apps like Playground Sessions, flowkey, or Roland’s Piano app, which includes a remote controller function.

If you’re looking for a digital piano that offers more in terms of sounds, songs, and features, the Roland F701 is a strong choice. It provides excellent value with its extensive tone and song selection, along with a superb piano sound and feel.

If a more traditional-looking digital piano is what you prefer, consider the RP701 model. It’s essentially the same as the F701 but features a more acoustic-like cabinet design.

3) Kawai KDP-120 – Amazing piano tones, best sound-shaping capabilities

This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning a Kawai model. While most Kawai console digital pianos have a premium positioning and tend to be higher-end in pricing, the KDP120 is a rare instrument that you can find for under $2000.

Sound

The Harmonic Imaging sound engine is responsible for tone generation on the KDP120.

Although it’s the most “basic” sound engine in Kawai’s lineup, it features flagship SK-EX Concert Grand samples, which sound gorgeous.

The KDP120 arguably offers the most natural and accurate piano sound in this price range. High-quality samples are paired with simulated organic elements like damper resonance, key-off resonance, lid simulation, and hammer response. Have a listen!

It also has a few adjustable parameters not found in its competitors. For example, the KDP120 lets you toggle stretch tuning, adjust decay time, temperament, soft-pedal depth, minimum touch, and more.

All of these adjustments can be made through the Virtual Technician settings available in Kawai’s PianoRemote app, which you can easily install on your phone or iPad and connect to the KDP120 via Bluetooth.

In total, the KDP120 offers 13 adjustable parameters that allow for nuanced control over the piano sound, making it the most advanced piano on this list in terms of sound-shaping capabilities.

Touch

The action here doesn’t disappoint either. The RHCII action in the KDP120 is an improved version of the RHC key action found in the ES120, with the most notable difference being the addition of a third sensor, which enhances playability, especially in fast trills and passages.

Overall, it’s a solid medium-light action, on par with Roland’s PHA-4 Standard and Korg’s RH3 in terms of realism and expressiveness.

The RHCII is the lightest of the three, so if you prefer a heavier action, this might not be your top choice. But with its relative lightness, which still maintains the feel of a fully weighted action similar to acoustic pianos, it offers less fatigue and better responsiveness.

This action is also quite fast, making it versatile, particularly when using non-piano sounds like electric pianos and organs, which typically have lighter keys.

Features

Another notable feature of the KDP120 is the inclusion of 5 preset music books that you can listen to and practice directly on the instrument. These books include popular beginner-friendly method books and exercises such as Alfred’s Lesson Book, Beyer 106, and Czerny 30.

Connectivity is another strong point of the Kawai KDP120. It offers two headphone jacks, a USB port, and Bluetooth connectivity that supports MIDI. However, it’s worth noting that Kawai decided to remove the traditional MIDI In/Out ports that were available on the previous model.

4) Korg G1 Air – 3 of the world’s finest grand pianos in one elegant beast

The G1 Air was introduced in 2017 and quickly made an impact as Korg’s best home digital piano to date. Traditionally known for synthesizers, stage pianos, and music workstations, Korg ventured into the home piano market with impressive results.

What sets the G1 Air apart is its unique design. It features a slim profile with stylish curves reminiscent of a grand piano, complemented by elegant front legs that add both support and a touch of sophistication.

Sound

When it comes to sound, Korg doesn’t cut corners. Unlike Yamaha or Kawai, who typically use their own grand pianos for sampling, Korg goes a different route.

They’ve sampled three distinct grand pianos for the G1 Air, giving you a variety of tones to explore.

You get samples from German, Austrian, and Japanese concert grand — probably a Steinway, Bösendorfer, and Yamaha, though Korg keeps it a bit of a mystery. Each tone offers its own character, and you’ll likely find one that really speaks to you.

The G1 Air also shines with its impressive 80W multi-channel sound system. With two 12 cm and two 5 cm speakers, it delivers a powerful and immersive sound experience that’s hard to beat in this price range.

Touch

But how does the G1 Air feel to play?

It features Korg’s flagship RH3 keyboard action, the same one found in their pro-grade stage pianos and music workstations. At this price point, it’s hard to beat.

While it lacks simulated ivory or ebony keytops, the RH3 action feels responsive and enjoyable to play.

This medium-weight action is versatile enough for classically trained pianists, learners, and those coming from lighter actions like organs or synths. It’s not as heavy as Yamaha’s GH3 action, but it feels a bit more substantial than Kawai’s RHCII.

In terms of weight and feel, it lands somewhere between Kawai’s RHCII and Roland’s PHA-4 Standard.

The RH3 has the longest key action on this list, offering the longest pivot length. This means you won’t need to apply extra force when playing further up the keys — a common issue with some lower-end actions.

Features

The G1 Air may be a bit light on features, but it covers all the essentials. You get 32 sounds, 9 temperament types, 40 preset songs, and a 2-track MIDI recorder.

While it doesn’t offer much in terms of sound-tweaking — just brilliance, reverb, and chorus with three adjustable levels — it compensates with solid connectivity options, including a USB port, MIDI In/Out, two headphone jacks, and a line-out.

The “Air” in its name highlights its Bluetooth audio capability, allowing you to wirelessly stream your favorite tracks from your phone or tablet directly to the G1’s speakers.

However, unlike the Kawai KDP120 and Roland F701, it doesn’t support Bluetooth MIDI for controlling music apps like flowkey — only audio streaming.

5) Casio AP-470 – Acoustic-like design with a unique lid simulator

Casio has made a name for itself by offering great value in their entry-level and mid-range instruments, making it tough for other brands to compete, especially with Casio’s aggressive pricing.

A prime example of this is the Casio AP-470. As part of Casio’s Celviano series, which is designed to rival Yamaha’s renowned Clavinova line, the AP-470 is significantly more affordable than even the least expensive Clavinova model, the CLP-825.

While the AP-470 might fall short of the CLP-825 in certain aspects, it shares many similarities and even outshines the Yamaha in a few areas.

This design choice gives the AP-470 a more sophisticated appearance, making it stand out from most of the competition and adding a touch of elegance to any room.

Sound

The AP-470 uses Casio’s Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR sound source for generating its tones.

Although it shares the same name as the sound engine found in their lower-end models like the PX-770 and PX-870, the AP-470 delivers a more refined and natural piano sound.

A standout feature of the recent Celviano series is the new American piano tone, sampled from a Steinway concert grand, which is exclusive to these models and not available on the Privia line. This clear, beautiful tone is my personal favorite on the AP-470, adding a rich depth to its sound palette.

With 256-note polyphony and a robust 4-speaker (40W) sound system, the AP-470 delivers a satisfying and immersive sound experience that’s hard to fault.

Similar to the Kawai KDP120, Casio lets you tweak various piano characteristics to customize the sound to your preference.

You can adjust parameters like damper noise, string resonance, hammer response, lid simulation, and key on/off action noise, allowing for a more personalized and dynamic playing experience.

Touch

When it comes to the keyboard, the AP-470 doesn’t quite measure up to some of the other instruments we’ve discussed.

It features the Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action II, the same key action found in Casio’s entry-level digital pianos like the PX-770. While this action isn’t bad, it does feel a bit lacking compared to the other key actions on the list.

This keyboard employs a 3-sensor detection system, which is helpful for playing trills and fast passages.

It also comes with simulated ivory and ebony keytops, providing a pleasant tactile experience. However, some players might find the texture a bit too pronounced, preferring smoother keys instead.

Although this action works well for entry-level pianos, I expected some improvements given the AP-470’s slightly higher category. Compared to its competitors, the action on the AP-470 is a bit noisier and feels harder at the bottom.

The action is also shorter, which shortens the pivot length and makes control a bit more challenging, particularly when playing into the keys.

Overall, it’s a decent action, but for its price range, I anticipated a bit more refinement from Casio.

Features

Despite its drawbacks, Casio managed to make the AP-470 a compelling choice by packing it with features rarely found on digital pianos at this price point.

One standout feature is the onboard audio recorder, which allows you to record your performances directly in WAV format and save them to a flash drive. This means you don’t need to invest in an external audio interface to capture high-quality recordings.

Additionally, the AP-470 comes with the Casio Music Space app, which lets you control all the piano’s features and functions, view sheet music for built-in songs, and even practice MIDI files. The app displays the notes in a piano roll format, allowing you to adjust the tempo and practice each hand separately.

However, it’s worth noting that the AP-470 lacks Bluetooth connectivity, so you’ll need to use a wired connection to link it to your smart device.

Although the AP-470 has been a reliable option for a while, Casio has recently refreshed their Celviano line with some exciting new models.

Most of these updated models are priced above $2000, but the AP-S450 stands out as a promising option just under that mark.

Casio AP-S450

This model features the new Smart Hybrid Hammer Action (Celviano Edition) keyboard, which is a significant improvement over the keyboard used in the AP-470.

The AP-S450 is definitely a step up over the AP-470, addressing its weak spots and bringing the Celviano line up to date with the competition.

Things you MUST KNOW Before Choosing Your Home Digital Piano

There you have it, folks! This list is based on what we believe are the best home digital pianos under $2000 on the market today.

If you haven’t found an instrument that suits your needs in this article, I’d like to offer some additional information that might help you find the right instrument.

Here are some of the most common terms and aspects of the digital piano world that you’re likely to encounter during your research.

Have thoughts or questions? Join the discussion in the forum →

 Loading ...

You might also like:

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:

Best Portable Digital Pianos for Advanced Pianists

Best Home Digital Pianos on a Budget

Best Premium Home Digital Pianos Under $3500

The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Digital Piano