Digital Pianos – Which brand Should I Buy?
Ok, you want to buy a digital piano. You have visited lots of music shops and tried lots of digital pianos out. You have been given lots of conflicting advice and don’t know what to do!
This is sadly what many shoppers experience when they want to buy a digital piano and they go to their local piano shop, armed with a few print outs from the internet, but not enough knowledge or the right advice to make an informed decision.
Go Shopping for digital pianos
You enter your local piano shop and are confronted with lots of digital pianos, different styles, colours, shapes. Some digital pianos have a few buttons, some hundreds of buttons (gimmicks) and flashing lights – HELP!!!
You visit one piano shop and they recommend the Roland digital piano – “it is the best digital piano around by far, amazing sounds and it plays and feels just like a real piano” they say.
You say “What about the Yamaha, I have heard that it is a very good piano as well?”
They say “No, the Roland digital piano is far better than the Yamaha”. They then sit down and play the Yamaha and then the Roland and convince you that the Roland digital piano is definitely far better than the Yamaha.
You trot off to another piano shop to get some more advice and to compare prices. Again you walk in and you are confronted by a similar set up. The salesman, like before, shows you the different digital pianos and advises you that the Casio is the best digital piano and not the Yamaha, and certainly not the Roland. "The Roland digital piano is way over priced!"
You explain that you have just been to another piano shop and were told that the Roland digital piano is better than the Yamaha, and the Casio is nowhere near as good. “They don’t know what they are talking about” the salesman says. Now you are utterly confused and walk out of the shop 'a little angry'.
If you have experienced the above and are at the end of your tether, I am here to help and offer you unbiased advice on which digital piano you should consider, the merits of each one and the strengths and weaknesses. Read on…
Yamaha digital pianos
The Yamaha digital piano is the most popular digital piano today. More Yamahas are sold than any other digital piano -- by a long way.
Yamaha have got where they are today by superior branding, advertising and product development.
Yamaha put in so much effort to make their digital pianos (known as Clavinova) sound and feel as close to a real piano as possible, the sound sample they use for their digital pianos is taken from their own concert grand piano.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10.
Advice: Go ahead and buy any Yamaha digital piano from the range.
Price: Basic models start from RRP £989. You should be able to buy a Yamaha digital piano on the web for around 20-25% off recommended retail price.
Link: ukpianos.co.uk/yamaha-digital-pianos.html
Roland digital pianos
The Roland digital piano is built with quality and produces nice piano tones, especially around the centre of the keyboard. The sound is a little thin and false around the middle to high treble though.
Roland has always been known to value their brand extremely highly and will not reduce their prices if it means the quality of their digital pianos would be compromised. The sound sampling for the Roland digital piano is taken from a Steinway concert grand piano.
Rating:
8 out of 10.
Advice: Go ahead and buy any Roland digital piano from the HP, F, RD or KR range (If you can afford the high price tag).
Price: Basic models start from RRP £899. Prices seem to be very high on the internet and you won’t be able to get much more than 10% off RRP. You will probably get a better deal on a Roland digital piano from your local music shop.
Link: ukpianos.co.uk/roland-digital-pianos.html
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Kawai digital pianos
I have tried and tested these digital pianos and discovered the keys have a nice weighting, but perhaps a little soft. The sound is nice, but slightly bright (the same as their upright pianos!). Kawai have improved their pianos quite a bit over the last 2-3 years. Watch out for Kawai over the next few years.
Rating: 7 out of 10.
Advice: A good alternative to the Yamaha or Roland. Some players love the Kawai sound and swear by the realistic touch -- ultimately it all comes down to individual taste.
Price: Basic model starts from RRP £999. You should be able to buy a basic Kawai digital piano on the web at around 10-20% off RRP.
Link: ukpianos.co.uk/kawai-digital-pianos.html
 Remember, if you need any help just send me an email: grahamhoward ukpianos.co.uk
Classenti digital pianos
I have to say I particularly like these pianos. They are a new brand in the UK and are already selling well. The feedback from people I have talked to that have previously bought a Classenti has been very good. Classenti pianos offer a nice, realistic piano sound, authentic touch (a little on the heavy side, but nice weighting). Not sure how reliable these pianos will be over the long term. The 5 year warranty certainly installs confidence.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
Advice: If you're buying your first piano and you want a decent sound, a realistic touch at an affordable price, the Classenti is for you.
Price: Basic models start at just under £500. These pianos are sold exclusively online, so you save BIG money. No retail mark up!
Link: ukpianos.co.uk/classenti-digital-pianos.html
Casio digital pianos
Casio offer two ranges: The Celviano modes and the Privia.
Celviano
Excellent value for money! Keys are on the heavy side (which is a good thing by the way) and the sound is really good considering the price you pay.
Privia
The privia pianos are a bit of a let down compared with the Celviano range. The sound is weak, the touch feels akward and they look a bit plasticy.
The keys are also rattly and have too much side to side movement. I know they are quite a bit cheaper than most digital pianos but it is far better to spend a little bit more on a Celviano. A couple of years on you'll be glad you did.
The Casio digital piano has improved vastly over the previous few years. The Casio digital pianos were considered mediocre a few years ago, but now their improvements have been so great they are considered to be one of the best digital pianos on the market today.
Casio digital pianos are, and have always been, the best value for money. The Casio digital pianos are not quite as good as the Roland or the Yamaha but they are generally cheap digital pianos desgined for beginners - between half and two thirds the price of the Yamaha and Roland digital pianos.
Rating: 6 out of 10.
Advice: Fantastic value for money! Go ahead and buy any Casio digital piano from the Celviano range (Casio AP). You might want to consider the Casio Privia digital piano range if you are short of space.
Price: Basic models start from RRP £799.99. You should be able to find some great deals on the web.
Casio digital pianos generally sell for around 28-30% off RRP.
Link: ukpianos.co.uk/casio-digital-pianos.html
Remember, if you need any help just send me an email: grahamhowardukpianos.co.uk
Ketron digital pianos
Ketron make very good digital pianos but they are incredibly expensive, especially the digital grand pianos.
If you have money to burn then consider these pianos, otherwise go for one of the big three – Yamaha, Roland or Kawai.
Rating: 6 out of 10.
Advice: Probably wouldn’t consider a Ketron digital piano unless I had lots of money to throw away, but if you really like the sound - some people do - then go ahead!
Price: Basic models stars from RRP £1299. You probably won’t be able to get much of a discount on a Ketron digital piano, as these pianos are not very popular and there is not much competition online.
Link: ukpianos.co.uk/ketron-digital-pianos.html
Korg digital pianos
Korg are perhaps better known for their high end keyboards and stage pianos. They do produce a limited range of digital pianos that offer functions similar to the Casio digital piano.
Korg digital pianos are quite reasonably priced but their performance falls short of the Yamaha, Roland, Kawai and Casio digital pianos.
Rating: 4 out of 10.
Advice: Wouldn’t really consider a Korg digital piano, but some people like their sound.
Price: Basic models start from RRP £999. You should be able to buy a Korg digital piano on the web at around 30-35% off.
Link: ukpianos.co.uk/korg-digital-pianos.html
Gem digital pianos
Gem digital pianos look very nice indeed and have a great name behind them. They do lack in quality though, the sound is very poor and they offer a limited range of digital pianos. The piano's has been known to make a squeaking sound (maybe this has been rectified now?) and the keys are quite noisy. They proclaim to use ‘Drake Technology’ in their pianos. Personally I don't think this improves the sound quality at all.
Rating: 3.5 out of 10.
Advice: Probably wouldn’t consider a Gem digital piano, but if you like the polished ebony look, it is the cheapest digital piano in that particular colour on the market.
Price: Basic models start from RRP £999. You probably won’t be able to get much of a discount on Gem digital pianos, as these pianos are not very popular and there is not much competition online. Very few shops sell Gem pianos. You can find them in Selfridges in London though (But at what price??)
Link: ukpianos.co.uk/gem-digital-pianos.html
Suzuki digital pianos
Suzuki make fantastic motorbikes, but digital pianos??
Yes Suzuki is very famous for their motorbikes but also Suzuki is hugely famous in the world of musical instruments. They are famous for the ‘Suzuki teaching method, they make great violins and bows, recorders, harmonicas, guitars and reasonable acoustic pianos.
Suzuki digital pianos, however, unfortunately don’t quite make the grade.
Rating: 2 out of 10.
Advice: Buy the Suzuki digital piano only if you are on a really tight budget.
Price: Basic model starts from RRP £799. You can pick up generous discounts on Suzuki digital pianos (20-25%).
Link: ukpianos.co.uk/suzuki-digital-pianos.html
Kurzweil digital pianos
Kurzweil are well known for their keyboards and pro audio products but not so much for their digital pianos. Kurzweil digital pianos have been around for a long time, they have been mainly distributed in America up until recently. The Kurzweil digital piano is very robust and produces a good sound.
Rating: 5 out of 10.
Advice: Might be worth trying one out if you can find a Kurzweil digital piano stockist. I have seen these pianos on Ebay.
Price: Check Ebay, as this is probably the only place you will find them on the web.
Remember, if you need any help just send me an email: grahamhowardukpianos.co.uk
More digital pianos
Alesis, Bohemia, Bohm, Classenti, Daewoo, Digiano, Diginova, Dynatone, Ensonio, Farfisa, Galileo, Gear4Music, Hammond, Orla, Pianonova, Robertson, Samick, Sejung, Solton, Technics, Thomann, Viscount Allegro, Wersi, Winchester.
These digital pianos vary in quality and have not been reviewed yet.
I hope that - armed with the above information - you can now go out and buy a digital piano. Don’t take too much notice if you feel you are being pushed towards any particular digital piano.
Ask the piano salesman to demonstrate a few different piano brands and then make the decision yourself based on the above information and what you feel is right for your needs.
If you're thinking of buying a digital piano or an upright piano, I recommend Thomann. They are a 100% trustworthy company. You can be sure of getting some of the best deals on the internet. You also get an extra year's warranty on all digital pianos.
Check them out here: http://www.emixo.co.uk/4A8
Best of luck and I hope you enjoy your new digital piano!
Remember, if you need any help just send me an email: grahamhowardukpianos.co.uk
About The Author
My name is Graham Howard. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and passion for music and hope you find this article useful. I am currently the chief writer for http://www.ukpianos.co.uk Sign up to my free newsletter and receive free monthly piano tips. You can get my newsletter by visiting this page: http://ukpianos.co.uk/uk-pianos-newsletter.html If you want some free piano lessons, I have written a beginner's course
here: http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/free-online-piano-lessons.html
[Do as you please with this article but keep my links in tact]
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Questions, reviews and comments on this article
Dear Graham,
I went through your article on "which brand should I buy". Indeed I want to buy a digial piano to learn the piano (I have never practised so far), so I'm far from a specialist in pianos sounds...
I went into a first shop & listened to Yamaha clavinovas & Casios and I definitely preferred the Yamahas. Then I went into another shop & listened to the Kawai digital pianos and I then preferred the Yamahas. The salesmen in both shops were very nice & didn't try to influence me, they just let me listened.. I'm hesitating between the Clavinova CLP230 & the Kawai CN31 both on the same prices... I listened to both of them and I preferred the Kawai sounds... however since I don't know pianos I was confused by your ratings with Clavinova ranging firsts... Have you any advice on the new kawai CN31 ?
What do you think I should choose?
Many thanks in advance for your help !
Stéphanie
Reply/ Hi Stephanie
I have heard a lot of good comments lately about Kawai digital pianos.
I did this comparison and review a while ago and having played
the latest Kawai models - I have to say they are definitely improving!
Still I would go for the Yamaha though. The touch is superb (close
your eyes and you are playing an acoustic piano). The sound on
the Yamaha has the edge over every digital piano on the market.
How long this will continue... who knows?
Stephanie, can I post your question and my answer along with your
name on the ukpianos.co.uk website? It is a good question and
other users would really appreciate the advice given in my reply.
Of course I won't publish your email address on the site.
Regards,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos
Further comments/
Hi graham,
Many thanks for your answer; I bought the Yamaha CLP 230 mostly based on your recommandations & on the fact they were at the same price. If the Kawai had been cheaper, I would have gone for it because it has more piano sounds & more features... however I had the opportunity to listen to both in the same shop this morning and I finally went for the yamaha..
There's no pb for publishing my answer & your question since your site has been of much help to me &I would be pleased if it could help someone else.. (sorry for my english, I am a french expatriate living in Australia, so...)
Kind regards,
Stéphanie
Dear Sir,
Many thanks for your article 'digital pianos - which brand should I buy?'. I have carefully read the article and it was really useful to get an insight of the quality and prices of different brand of digital pianos.
I do have a Casio PS3000 digital piano and I can say I am satisfied with the quality of the sound produced and it was really good value for money, although I do not have it with me right now and I do really miss playing the piano as I am an international student at the University of Birmingham and finding a piano to play is not an easy job at all.
I bought my Casio it for $1000 and it has a really good sound similar to the yamaha which is more expensive but with no additional features compared to casio, almost the same sound quality. I even found casio better than yamaha. Hope to get more articles related to digital pianos. Wish you good luck in you work.
Regards,
Rami Al Ashi
Question/
Thank you for this very informative article. Roland sounds good. Is the feel of the keys like that of a piano, or is it as light as the keyboard? Since I am a beginner, I have been asking every one for advice. I would value yours.
Thanks, Indira
Answer/
The key weight on digital pianos is lighter than most upright pianos and much heavier than keyboards, as a general rule.
You need to make sure that the digital piano has a weighted action because there are some digitals out there that have keys weighted the same as a keyboard - for example the Roland EP760.
The exception to the rule tends to be modern uprights, especially the cheaper end of Yamaha, Kemble and Kawai pianos where the key weight is almost identical to a digital piano.
So, it really depends on which type of piano you are comparing with.
As far as the Roland goes, the touch is on the light side, but much heavier than a keyboard. I would say that the Roland's key touch is not far away from a brand new Yamaha upright piano with the exception of their Chinese model C110A which has a heavy touch.
Here is a list of the best digital pianos in order of key weight. I have listed the heaviest touch first: (Heavy doesn't always mean better!)
1) Casio
2) Suzuki
3) Yamaha
4) Kawai
5) Korg
6) Roland
7) Technics
8) Ketron
9) Gem
My recommendation is to go for either the Roland or the Yamaha.
Graham Howard
Testimonials
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"Just wanted to say thank you"
Graham,
Just wanted to say thank you. I purchased a Yamaha digital piano after reading an article you wrote re the quality of digital pianos currently on the market. In the past I've rented acoustic baby grand pianos but currently do not have the space in my home. I ended up purchasing the YDP223 for around $1500 and couldnt be happier. Thank you for the information in your article (I almost bought a suzuki).
David Leask |
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"I liked the article. I thought it was very honest"
Hi Graham,
"I liked the article. I thought it was very honest. You obviously know your stuff, so an honest approach will always be preferred by readers, controversial or not.
I don't intend to buy a digital piano at the moment, but I'm sure your article would be something I'd look at seriously if I did decide to. I'd rather go to buy one armed with a good idea of what I'm looking at than going in completely blind and having to play all the rubbish ones to find out !!
I'm sure for most people, the important factors would be the price, how realistic the sound and how it feels. For me the feel would have to be just right for me to consider a digital piano over a real one.
I only started playing a few months ago, on a pretty cheap keyboard (Yamaha PSRE303.. great beginners keyboard!!). As soon as I could play a little I bought an upright piano and now hardly ever touch the keyboard at all.
There's something wonderful about the feel of a real piano. It almost feels alive. It's something I'm not sure you could truly reproduce digitally. Playing my keyboard is now a very detached experience in comparison to playing my piano.
I have played on a Clavinova and thought it was very good indeed. I was impressed by the weight of the keys and sound quality was excellent. I didn't spend much time on it though and as a beginner don't really feel qualified to comment too deeply."
Mat H |
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Dear Graham Howard,
Many thanks for your article 'digital pianos - which brand should I buy?'. I have carefully read the article and it was really useful to get an insight of the quality and prices of different brand of digital pianos.
Rami Al Ashi |
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"Thanks once again. We need more people like you in this world."
"Hi Graham:
Thank you very much for sharing your opinion on the best piano brand to buy. I wish I knew you a long time ago before I bought mine. After looking at the different brands, I ended up choosing Casio. I thought it was better than Yamaha because it had a screen that beginners can see which finger is being placed on each note as a song is played from the song bank.
Although I have not chosen the better brand, I think that I have made a wise choice (for a beginner). However, I must assure you that if I happen to migrate I will have to buy another piano because this one is a bit too big to travel with. Then, I will choose Yamaha.
Thanks once again. We need more people like you in this world."
Patricia |
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"I studied your "which digital piano" & set my heart on a Yamaha DGX 620"
"Graham, thankyou for your piano information. I studied your "which digital piano" & set my heart on a Yamaha DGX 620, Clavinovas are out of my price range. I tried that & Casio Previa at Cookes of Norwich but when shown a Kawai CL30, which you didn't think too highly of, I fell in love with it's sound, very light touch , silent but weighted action & only 11 inches deep.
Thomann were so much cheaper but we did a deal with discount, books & lessons & am now very happy. I may try rocket piano when I get more used to playing. "
Les Reilly
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