Not long after the release of their new flagship G1 Air, Korg surprised us with another exciting release…
I’m talking about the Korg C1 Air, of course.
The C1 Air is somewhat a simplified (more affordable too) version of the G1 Air that I recently reviewed and loved!
And to be honest, I didn’t expect Korg to make such a bold step and even change the game a little bit.
Sure, Korg makes amazing high-end keyboards and workstations, but when it comes to consumer-grade home instruments, it hasn’t been as successful.
Well, until now…
Korg C1 Air Specs
- 88 fully weighted keys
- Real Weighted Hammer Action 3 (RH3)
- Touch Sensitivity: adjustable 4 types, Off
- LED screen
- Sound: Stereo PCM System
- 120-note polyphony
- 30 instrument sounds (6 pianos)
- 40 preset piano songs
- Reverb, Brilliance, Chorus (3 types each)
- Piano sound elements: Damper Resonance, Key Off Simulation
- Modes: Dual, Partner Mode, Split (3 tones)
- 2-track MIDI recorder (1 User Song)
- Metronome, Transpose, Fine-tuning
- Speakers: 2 x 10 cm (2 x 25 W)
- Connectors: MIDI In/Out, Headphone jacks (2), Line Out, Bluetooth (Audio)
- 134 x 34.7 x 92.6 cm (53” x 15.1” x 36.5”)
- 35 kg (77 lbs)
Check the availability and current price of the Korg C1 Air in your region:
Design
The elegance and simplicity of this piano’s design catch your eye immediately.
You can tell that Korg engineers have done an excellent job trying to make this digital piano look as unique and “fresh” as possible.
While you can argue that all digital pianos look very similar, I will say that it’s the details that matter.
The C1 Air has a slim modern-looking cabinet that’s very easy to fit even in the tiniest apartment or hallway.
It looks kind of similar to another popular piano in this price range (Roland F-140R). But have you seen those gorgeous front legs?
I really like this element of the C1 Air and it gives the piano a more premium and expensive look.
Until now, we could only find such design elements in $2000+ high-end digital pianos (Yamaha’s Clavinova line, Kawai’s CA series, etc.) though they’re nearly not as compact and slim as the C1 Air.
The piano is only 10.24” deep, which is hands down one of the most compact home pianos I’ve come across.
However, the anti-tipping brackets increase the footprint by about 3.6 inches, so keep in mind that you won’t be able to put it flush to the wall.
| View on Amazon | Keys | Width | Depth | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 88 | 53" | 13.6" | 36.4" | 77.1 lbs |
 | 88 | 53" | 15.1" | 38.7" | 90.4 lbs |
 | 88 | 53.5" | 13.6" | 30.7" | 79.4 lbs |
 | 88 | 53.4" | 16.6" | 32" | 83.8 lbs |
 | 88 | 54.8" | 11.7" | 31.5" | 75.6 lbs |
 | 88 | 54.3" | 16.2" | 32.1" | 83.3 lbs |
Just like an acoustic piano, the C1 Air is equipped with 3 pedals: Soft, Sustain, and Sustenuto.
They have a nice resistant feel to them similar to the real thing.
It’s also crucial that the Soft and Sustain pedals support half-pedaling, which allows for subtler control and more expressiveness.
Another important thing to mention is that the C1 Air is entirely manufactured in Japan, which is a synonym for quality in some way.
There are 3 color options available in the US, including white, black, and brown. The wood grain brown finish looks very lovely!
The lid of the C1 has a similar look to what you get on an acoustic piano. It will keep the keys away from dust and dirt and prevent them from occasional damage (spills, falls, etc.).
The nice thing is that the lid has a soft-close mechanism, so you don’t have to worry about your fingers being hit by the lid.
The control panel consists of 28 buttons and a master volume knob, which makes it very easy to navigate the instrument.
The buttons have LED indicators, which means you can see which sounds/functions are being used at the moment.
From the aesthetics standpoint, I like it when there are as few buttons/control elements on a digital piano as possible.
At the same time, it inevitably makes it much harder to navigate all the different sounds and settings within the piano.
You’ll find that some digital pianos in this price range only have 3-5 buttons, but they are usually compatible with apps that allow them to be controlled from a mobile device (Roland’s Piano Partner 2, Yamaha’s Piano Controller, etc.)
Korg took a different approach. Instead of developing an app, they decided to create a great user experience by adding more buttons and a small screen. This way you don’t even need an app since everything is pretty intuitive and well laid-out.
The only thing I didn’t like about the control panel is that its glassy surface gets smudged with fingerprints very easily (black and brown version).
Keyboard
The C1 Air features Korg’s top-of-the-range keyboard action called Real Weighted Hammer Action 3 (RH3).
You’ll find the same action in Korg’s professional keyboards/workstations such as Korg Kronos, Korg GrandStage, etc.
The C1’s big brother, the G1 Air, is equipped with this action as well (their keyboards are identical).
The RH3 is an 88-key fully weighted action that uses a graded hammer system with four weight zones, which means the keys on the lower end feel heavier and get progressively lighter as you move up the keyboard.
The RH3 is not too heavy but it’s not light either, it’s more of a medium-weight action, which makes it very versatile and enjoyable to play regardless of your playing style and technique.
It would be a great pick for classical piano players as well as those who like to play around some organs, synth sounds, and whatnot.
The action is pretty quick and very responsive, it doesn’t feel clunky or anything like that.
No wonder there are tons of fans of this action out there who aren’t ready to trade it for anything else.
The keyboard of the C1 Air is, of course, touch-sensitive, which gives you accurate dynamic control over the instrument. The harder you play the keys, the louder the sound.
You can additionally adjust the keyboard response of the C1 Air using one of the 5 preset settings (Light, Normal, Heavy, Stable, Steady).
Choose the “Steady” setting if you want the sound to stay the same regardless of how hard or soft you play.
Another good thing that I’ve noticed about the RH3 is that it’s relatively quiet and produces very small amounts of noise even at low volume levels compared to, say, Casio and Yamaha entry-level hammer actions.
Nowadays it’s getting more popular for digital pianos to have synthetic ivory keys instead of traditional acrylic ones.
While not everyone likes them, to my taste, their textured surface does feel nicer to the touch and improves a grip a little bit. Unfortunately, the C1 Air doesn’t offer any kind of textured material on the keys.
With that said, the black keys of the keyboard have a matte finish on them, which feels pretty nice, but again it’s not quite like those Ebony simulated keys we see on some higher-end models.
Either way, the key coating is mostly a matter of taste, so let’s not be too hard on the C1 Air here.
Sound
At the heart of the C1 Air is the Stereo PCM System, which delivers an authentic sound meticulously sampled from two of the world’s finest concert grand pianos.
Two different grand piano tones are also not something we often see in digital pianos in this price range.
Plus, some manufacturers (e.g., Kawai, Yamaha) only use their own grand pianos to sample the sound, which is understandable, since no one wants to “promote” the sound of the competitors, right?
But since Korg doesn’t make any acoustic pianos, it’s not a problem for them to use whatever grand pianos they want without having to worry that it may damage their reputation in some way.
Which is exactly what they did.
The first piano tone on the C1 is called “German Grand”, which is my favorite piano tone on the instrument.
I’m almost 100% confident that this tone was sampled from a Steinway Grand Piano, which doesn’t need an introduction.
It’s the most beautiful and versatile piano sound on the instrument, which is suitable for pretty much any style or genre.
You’ll immediately recognize that bold rich sound and will probably use it most of the time.
The other grand piano tone is “Japanese” grand, and I believe it was sampled from a Yamaha Grand Piano.
While Yamaha makes one of the best acoustic pianos in the world, this tone didn’t sound as full and colorful as the German Grand, though it’s only my opinion.
The C1 uses stereo multi-layered samples, which means different layers will be triggered depending on the force of your key strokes.
The piano tones are further improved by organic elements such as key off samples (difference in sound character depending on how fast the fingers leave the keys) and natural damper resonance (sympathetic string resonance when you use the sustain pedal).
Unfortunately, the C1 Air doesn’t offer String Resonance simulation found on the G1.
Anyway, you’ll be impressed with how natural and realistic the C1 Air sounds, so much so that if you close your eyes, you can trick yourself into believing that you’re sitting next to a real acoustic piano.
In addition to the two main Grand Piano tones, the C1 Air offers plenty of piano tones and other instruments to help you explore your creative self.
There are 10 sound sections with 3 tone variations in each of them. In total, you get 30 different sounds under your fingerprints.
The only sound settings/effects available on the C1 are brilliance, reverb, and chorus, which you can each adjust within 3 levels.
There are no options for choosing a particular reverb type (Hall, Room, etc.), and overall it would be nice to have more control over those parameters.
In addition to the default “Equal Temperament”, the C1 Air provides you with two other tuning systems that you can choose for your performance (Werckmeister III, Kirnberger III).
Polyphony
The Korg C1 Air has 120-note polyphony, which is nothing exceptional but gets the job done.
I wouldn’t recommend getting too hyped up about this characteristic because more polyphony doesn’t automatically mean better sound, it just allows the sound to be produced smoothly and fully.
Anyway, 120 notes are enough for playing solo, layering two tones, and playing along with some accompaniment, so you don’t have to worry about voice stealing or note cutoffs.
Speakers
Speakers on the C1 Air are definitely something to talk about.
There are two 10 cm (2 x 25W) true-round speakers located on either side of the piano, and I must say they are pretty impressive.
Korg has really raised the bar with their latest releases since most digital pianos in this price range don’t offer more than 12-18 W of output power.
Now again more powerful speakers don’t automatically make the sound better.
There are lots of factors that play a role in the ultimate sound you hear including the quality of the samples, the quality and the size of the speakers, their location, etc.
At the same time, you do need powerful speakers to be able to get that big resonant sound that we get on acoustic pianos.
Luckily, the C1 Air doesn’t disappoint.
Not only the speakers are powerful on the paper (I mean 50W), but they also deliver a very convincing sound.
The video below pretty accurately shows off the capabilities of the C1’s speaker system:
The full-range speakers are housed in a specially designed speaker box, which faces the player and allows for a deep, resonant sound that comes through the cabinet and makes the playing experience more immersive and realistic.
Features
Those times, when Korg home digital pianos were very straightforward and light on features, are gone.
I’m glad that Korg has finally implemented an onboard MIDI recording, Lesson mode, and some other new features that weren’t available on Korg’s older models such as B1, LP-380, etc.
Modes
Besides the regular “Single” keyboard mode, the C1 has other modes that allow you to use the keyboard more effectively.
Layer Mode (aka Dual) can be used to layer two tones so that they sound at the same time.
With this mode, you can achieve some really beautiful sound combinations including some atmospheric Piano + Strings, Organ + Choir sounds, etc.
The C1 Air allows you to layer any sounds as long as they belong to different sound sections.
So you can’t layer the Japanese Piano tone with the Pop Piano because they’re accessed via the same Piano2 button.
You can additionally configure your performance parameters by adjusting the volume balance and shifting the octave for each sound.
The conventional Split Mode where you can split two tones between two keyboard zones is not available on the C1 Air.
However, the 10th sound section, which is called Bass & Piano, includes 3 tone combinations that will allow you to play a Bass sound with your left hand and a piano sound with your right hand (A. Bass/Piano, E. Bass/E. Piano, Bass & Cym/Piano).
Another useful function available on the C1 Air is called Partner Mode, which you can use to play duets or practice with your tutor or teacher.
What the mode does is divides the keyboard into two equal parts (44 keys each) with identical pitch ranges (each zone has its own middle C) so that two people can sit side by side and play the same notes simultaneously.
Recording & Playback
The built-in MIDI recorder allows you to record one user song that can contain up to two tracks.
You can record each track separately and then play them back as one song.
While you’re recording the second track, you can choose to play back the first part that you’ve already recorded.
The C1 Air also supports punch-in recording, which means you can record a new part to an already recorded song.
There is a good selection of classical pieces on the C1 Air that you can use for listening pleasure and practice.
The C1 Air offers 40 piano masterpieces from famous composers including Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Debussy, etc.
For each song, you can mute the left or right-hand part to practice it while listening to the playback of the other part.
You can also adjust the tempo of a song to practice a certain part more thoroughly.
Other Features
Metronome is another useful tool to practice your rhythm and time-keeping skills.
Depending on your needs you can specify the beat, tempo, and volume of the metronome.
Transpose function will allow you to shift the pitch up and down in semitone steps, which you can use for easier fingering or to better fit the vocalist’s range.
You can also use the Master Tuning (adjusts the pitch in 0.5 Hz steps) to match the C1 Air pitch to that of another instrument.
Connectivity
When it comes to connectors, the C1 Air is pretty basic.
The connector box is located underneath the left side of the keyboard where you’ll find all the ports including MIDI In/Out, Line Out and two Headphone Jacks.
I was quite disappointed that the C1 Air doesn’t have any USB ports and uses traditional MIDI In/Out ports instead.
Today almost every digital piano has a USB to Host port, which allows them to be easily connected to a computer and used as a MIDI-controller with various music apps.
While you can do the same with the MIDI ports, you’ll need to separately buy a special MIDI-USB adapter, which is not as cheap and common as USB A-to-B adapters.
On the other hand, MIDI ports make it easier to hook up the C1 Air to other keyboards and MIDI devices directly, which might be very useful for some folks.
The headphone jacks both have stereo mini (1/8”) plugs and can be used to connect two pairs of headphones at the same time (onboard speakers will automatically shut off).
The Line Out jack will allow you to connect the C1 Air to external audio devices such as an amplifier, PA system, audio interface, etc.
Have you ever wondered why “Air” is in the name of this model?
Well, Air implies that the piano supports Bluetooth technology and allows you to wirelessly transfer audio data (songs, backing tracks) from your mobile devices (e.g., iPad, iPhones, etc.) to the C1 Air and hear them through the piano’s built-in speakers.
Keep in mind though, that you won’t be able to transfer MIDI data via this connection (as some other digital pianos allow you to do), only Audio data.
Accessories
So now let’s talk about the accessories that come with the piano and what else you might need to buy separately.
Well, since the C1 Air is a cabinet style digital piano, it comes with pretty much everything you’d need to start playing it right out of the box, including the 3-pedal unit, stand (cabinet) and key cover.
The only accessories you may want to consider purchasing separately are a bench (you need to sit on something, right?) and a pair of good quality headphones.
When it comes to benches, there are a lot of good options available on the market today. Just pick the bench you like, check the reviews, see if it fits your budget and you’re all set.
It gets a little bit more complicated when it comes to choosing the right headphones for your instrument.
Headphones
Headphones come in very handy when you want to practice in private, focusing solely on your playing and not disturbing others nearby.
Moreover, a good pair of headphones will provide a clearer and more detailed sound compared to the onboard speakers.
Check out this guide to learn how to choose the best-sounding headphones for your digital piano.
Summary
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Slim, exquisite design | No USB port |
| Enjoyable RH3 hammer-action keyboard | No MIDI via Bluetooth support |
| 2 fabulous tones sampled from world's most respected Grand Pianos | Few options for sound customization (can't adjust string resonance and other parameters) |
| Key Off samples, Damper Resonance | Only 3 reverb types |
| 2-track MIDI recorder | |
| Powerful speaker system (50W) | |
| Wireless Bluetooth Audio connectivity | |
| Japan Quality |
There are currently lots of great digital pianos available in the sub-1000 price range, and the C1 is definitely one of them.
As you can see the Korg C1 Air is somewhat a “light” version of the G1 Air flagship model.
The pianos have a lot in common including the elegant eye-catching design, RH3 keyboard action, sound engine, Bluetooth audio, etc.
If you like this Korg’s new line, but the G1 Air is beyond your budget, the C1 Air will be an excellent choice.
Below you can see the main difference between the two models.
| G1 Air | C1 Air |
|---|---|
| 9 piano tones (including German, Austrian and Japanese Grand) | 6 piano tones (including German and Japanese Grand) |
| String Resonance Simualation | No String Resonance Simulation |
| Speakers: 4 speakers, 80W | Speakers: 2 speakers, 50W |
| USB to Host port | No USB |
| Depth: 15.1" | Depth: 13.6" |
| Weight: 90 lbs | Weight: 77 lbs |
With the release of these two pianos, Korg have shown that they are serious about this segment of the market, and even more, it wants to be among the best there.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a bunch of really useful and anticipated features that Korg never offered on their previous home models, including a MIDI recorder, preset songs, lesson function, Bluetooth, and more.
Other things that I particularly enjoyed in the C1 Air were its very responsive and nice-to-the-touch RH3 action as well as a really good speaker system that will blow most of the competitors out of the water.
In future models, though, it would be nice to see some USB ports, more internal memory for recorded/transferred songs, more options for sound control and sound effects.
Check the availability and current price of the Korg C1 Air in your region:
Alternatives
For more information about how the Korg C1 Air compares to other digital pianos in this price range, please refer to our Best Home Digital Pianos Under $1500 guide.
Great review, not only this but also other reviews. Thanks for sharing your knowledge Lucas. It’s really helpful!
Comments like this make me work even harder. Thanks, Charles!
Based on your review, I bought this piano and I’m very happy with it.
So thanks for sharing.
Just one weird thing: the damper resonance is very loud on the highest octaves of the Japanese grand piano. If I play softly, it can be a bit annoying (though I can’t compare with a real Yamaha grand).
But otherwise, it feels actually better to me than my previous casio AP 650, despite the different price range, especially key action and sound loudness.
I use it with a Yamaha bluetooth midi (MBT 01) for synthesia and it works like a charm.
Hello Luca,
Based on your reviews, I have shortlisted Korg C1 air and Roland 140R, both within my budget. How would you compare these models? Do you recommend one over the other? Although I live in Houston, a relatively large city, I could not find a store where I could try out both of them and make my decision. So, I will have to decide based on recommendations and reviews, and then order it online.
I have also found in some reviews that Roland 140R sometimes has a rattling sound made by the key cover when certain left hand notes are played. Have you noticed this too?
Hey Arko, that’s a hard one…I wouldn’t recommend one over the other, since these two pianos are on the same level and are comparable. Both have excellent key actions, though the F-140R has synthetic ivory keytops, while the C1 Air has regular glossy keys, which may or may not be to your liking.
Sound-wise, it’s hard to compare. I love how Roland pianos sound, though I might be a bit biased since I have one myself. If comparing them in a store is not an option, take a listen at demos available online to see which sound you like better.
Also check out my Top List where I talk about both of these instruments.
As for the rattling sound, I haven’t owned the F-140R, so I cannot comment on the noise. When playing it in a store, I haven’t noticed any rattling sounds, so I don’t believe it’s a widespread problem.
I think it more likely has to do with the surface the piano stands on rather than the instrument itself.
Hi Lucas,
Thank you so much for your insight and comparisons. I really learnt a lot about how to choose a digital piano from your website.
Although I have owned and played different keyboards like Casio, Roland, and Korg over several years, this is the first time I have bought a digital piano! I got Korg C1 Air and it arrived just a couple of days ago, I must say that I am wonderfully impressed by its sound and appearance. Thanks once again!
Arko, thanks for your comment! Great to hear that you learned something useful from this blog, and that you’re enjoying your Korg C1. Wish you the best of luck in your musical endeavors.
Hello Lucas!
Thanks for all this information.
I have had a Korg Concert 3000 for about 30 years, but now some keys start becoming sticky…. so it is time to replace.
I hesitate between the G1 Air and the C1 Air. With a reference for the C1. The comments from some of your reader mention the hissing noise with the G1.
Did you get any similar comment about the C1?
Or have you experienced it yourself?
By the way, it is amazing how much more I will get for less than half what I paid 30 years ago!!!
Hi Jacques! It’s amazing indeed.
No, I haven’t heard complains about the hissing noise on the C1. Just so you know the noise is usually not that audible, so I didn’t hear it when testing the piano in a store, playing at a regular sitting position. Maybe if I had paid more attention to that aspect or listened closely to the speakers I would’ve heard something, but since it’s not a common issue with digital pianos, I didn’t really focus on that.
It’s also possible that since the C1 Air has a less powerful speaker system than the G1 Air, there’s less hissing noise. As I mentioned earlier in one of my comments, any audio amplification system will produce some amount of noise, so as long as it’s not interfering with your playing experience, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Your reviews are excellent.
After trying many of the pianos I felt the Casio bechstein was my favourite, however, it is out of my price range.
I purchased the Korg C1 air in the end. I love the action and sound of the German grand.
That’s all I wanted in a digital piano
I am very pleased with it. Oh yeah, it’s oozes quality and looks so cool in the room as well.
Hi Adrian, congrats on your new instrument! Really happy you’re enjoying it.
Hi ! Thanks a LOT for your reviews, they are helping a lot, way beyond what I read elsewhere !
I bought a Roland FP-30, which seemed perfect for me : compact for my small appartment, amazing key action, minimalistic (I just want to focus on piano playing). However, I’ve VERY disappointed by its speakers. It really sounds muffled and lacking frequencies. It might be due to my room. I used to own a Roland EP-880 (granted, which had 2*2 speakers) which sounded fantastic and I really expected the FP-30 to be an upgrade over this one (it’s definitely an upgrade in all other areas)..
ANYWAY, can you confirm the speakers of the C1 Air is a significant improvement over the FP-30 ones (even though they are smaller) ? I think I can still send back my Roland. That’s too bad because the FP-30 is brilliant and looks great in its optional furniture.
Best regards
Mahen (Fr)
Hi Mahen,
Well, the speakers on the FP-30 are located underneath the keyboard and are facing downwards, while on your previous EP-880 the speakers were front-facing, which affects the sound perception quite a bit. I agree, the FP-30’s speakers sound bit muffled at times, especially when playing in the lower register. The keyboards with front-facing speakers may be better in this respect but generally portable digital pianos and most entry-level console ones don’t really have exceptional speakers.
To get the best sound quality, you may want to use a pair of good headphones or external speakers.
P.S. The speakers on the C1 Air are also below the keyboard (facing the player), so they will have similar problems. With that said, they are also more powerful than the ones on the FP-30, so there might be some quality boost due to the increased power (I didn’t compare them directly, so can’t say for sure).
But in the article you said that they “face” the player. What’s going on?
Sorry for the confusion. They do face the player, but they’re still located underneath the keyboard (integrated into that horizontal bar). You can see the picture here (the C1 has a similar setup but without the two speakers on top).
I’ve edited my original comment to avoid further confusion.
Hi, I am looking to buy my son’s first digital piano to kick start his learning, I have a plan to learn myself as well. I have shortlisted with help of your reviews and other sites the below
1. Korg C 1 air
2. Kawai kdp 110 r
3. Roland F140r.
Primary criteria for selection
1. Have features that helps beginners
2. To be used in an apartment so size is a matter
3. No plans to change in few years , so something that will last long and doesn’t feel outdated within few years of purchasing it.
4. Easy connectivity, LED
Thanks for your help.
Hi Sakthi,
These are all good choices. Please check out this article for more guidance.
Hello,
I am really stuck between the Korg C1 and G1.
Is the difference in speakers very noticeable? I live in a smaller home, so I wonder if I will benefit from the larger speakers?
I have also read some reviews speaking of a hissing from the G1 speakers, have you noticed any issues at all from these speakers? Is it possible to have a speaker too powerful for a small home?
Thanks so much!
Hi Robbie,
There’s a difference, but I wouldn’t say it’s very noticeable unless you’re comparing them side by side. You can benefit from the larger speakers even when playing at a lower volume as the sound tend to be fuller and more rounded.
As for the hissing noise, I haven’t personally noticed it during the playtest, but I’ve seen several people bringing that up. It’s definitely possible the amplifier will produce some kind of noise, especially considering the power rating of the G1 Air, but it shouldn’t affect your playing (or be audible at all) once you turn up the volume.
The C1 Air, having less powerful speakers, might produce even less hissing, though I can’t confirm that because it wasn’t really noticeable when I tested it. Maybe if you’re alone in a room sitting in complete silence, you’ll be able to hear it, but otherwise, I don’t think the hissing sound could be a problem.
Wow, really appreciate the prompt and detailed response Lucas. Thank you. I think I am leaning C1 as I think it suits my needs and is a bit cheaper in price.
All the best,
Robbie
Great to hear that, Robbie. Glad I was able to help.
After much research and pondering, I have finally bought this piano, and I must say it was a good decision.
The piano is great in all aspects, the speakers sound lovely as mentioned in the article, they sound loud and clear, thanks to the excellent samples. Thanks to the special speaker box, that’s a wooden row stretched beneath the piano covered by a special speaker fabric, the sound surrounds you and you can hear the dynamics much better than the P115 even though the latter has four speakers (two tweeters on top).
The keys feel quite enjoyable to play, as mentioned in the article, they have more of a medium weight to them, heavier than the Yamaha GHS but lighter than the GH. And their surface, despite being plastic, feels much better than the GHS on P115. Also there’s a certain subtle click in the buttons similar to an escapement, but it’s not advertised as such, maybe it’s just me.
The thing is nicely designed, and all the parts are detachable for easy transfer.
Kudos to Korg! Keep up the good competition!
And special thanks for the author of this review.
Happy to hear you’re enjoying your C1. Thanks for sharing this!
Hi Lucas, what is the main difference between the LP 380 and the c1 air in terms of sound? I’m a grade 8 RSM pianist looking to get a new piano for my living room. Since the action on both is the same, if the sound is the same I could go for the cheaper LP 380. But if the sound on the c1 is significantly better, I would go for that. I’m not fussed about any other features except sound and action. Thanks for your help in advance.
Hi,
The C1 Air comes with two new piano tones – German Grand and Japanese Grand. They use more detailed multisamples (1 additional layer) and simulate damper resonance and key off resonance, which isn’t available on the LP-380. There’s also a stereo sound optimizer used in the C1 Air to improve the sound quality/realism when listening through headphones. The speakers are pretty similar, with the C1 Air having a bit more output power.
Thank you Lukas for your quick response. The verdict is clear for the C1 air then. Hope you don’t mind, but I added a few more options as I was looking at more reviews. What do you feel about Casio AP 470 and Roland FP 30/RP 102?. Would these match up to the C1 Air? Thank you for your response again and look forward to hearing from you. I’m a bit stuck as I can’t sample any of these pianos due to my location, so I’m having to order online. Thank you so much
Yeah, these are some good alternatives. However, it’s hard to beat C1’s internal speaker system. Overall, the RP102 is a pretty basic model, though if you don’t need very powerful onboard speakers, it may be a good affordable option to consider. Action-wise, Roland’s keys have a slightly heavier feel compared to the Korg, which may be a good or a bad thing depending on your preference.
Hi,
is it really necessary to install these anti-tipping stands, or can you just leave them off? If I place the piano against the wall, there is no risk of tipping over anyway.
It is kind of a bummer if there would be a large gap between the wall and the keyboard.
thanks!
… additional question: would you take the C1 over the Roland f140 (Regardless the price)? Having a hard time choosing between them.. Thanks!
Both are good and have their strengths/weaknesses, I consider them comparable when it comes to realism. The F-140R obviously comes with more sounds and features, but that might not be important for you, so…
Hey Matthias,
You can definitely choose not to attach them, but the stability of your digital piano will be reduced as well. Since you’re placing the piano right against the wall, this might work just fine without the stabilizers.
Thanks! After testing them out both in real life, decided to go for the F140 after all :). Both Comparable, but the the Roland just felt a little better while playing. But that’s just pure personal taste I guess. Thanks for the review(s)!
Congrats, Matthias! Hope you enjoy your new Roland.
Thanks for the great review Lucas. Your site is amazing, one of the only ones I’ve found which such a large number of reviews.
I had a question regarding the anti tip brackets that fit on the back. Are they necessary? If I wanted to put the unit flush to the wall would it be okay without them? Presumably it must be or the brackets would be permanent fixtures rather than being optional?
Thanks!
I’m a bit torn between the Korg C1 Air and the Yamaha YDP-S34. I’m just a hobbyist player who wants to re-start playing – will I still notice the better Keyboard in the C1 over the Yamaha? Anything else that could help me decide? Thanks for this blog, has been very useful already!
After living here for a month or so, bought myself Korg D1. I just love the design. Not the sounds though. Bought Ravenscroft 275 VST and now I don’t like preloaded piano samples even more 🙂 My problem is that I don’t play piano as much as I would like, because I don’t like it unless I connect my PC and Ravenscroft 275 (and it takes time, so…). And so my question is, are piano samples on C1 good/ much better than Korg D1? Is it worth to invest into G1 for one additional piano sample? Or maybe some other recommendations for DP with amazing piano samples preloaded? 1000-1200€ budget for DP with a cabinet or 500-750€ budget without a cabinet.