What is the best digital piano for classical pianists?
Classical pianists are typically expecting to meet different standards, especially in terms of performance, technique, and skill. This is because classical play is a lot different from basic piano playing.
Therefore, they are usually very selective when it comes to choosing an instrument since it would greatly affect their play. Right from time, the general belief has been acoustic pianos are the singular instrument for classical pianists.
Acoustic pianos produce great sounds and have various forms for playing. However, in recent times, the mentality has begun to change as digital pianos are stepping up to the challenge.
Digital pianos are an innovation that has become a lot more popular on the market and is being greatly accepted. They provide genuine tones and the feel is very similar to that of an acoustic piano.
Pieces like Bach and Beethoven need to be played using the right instrument and digital pianos have become suitable instruments. If you wish to better your skills, then digital pianos are a great option and are great for performing too.
With amazing features like LED display, metronomes, volume control and a whole lot more, they make for the complete package. As a plus, they are very portable and do not require frequent maintenance, unlike acoustic pianos.
Now that you know just how amazing digital pianos can be, here are some of the best digital pianos for clasical pianists on the market:
- Yamaha P515
- Yamaha DGX650B
- Casio PX860 BK Privia
- Yamaha YDP184R
- Yamaha Arius YDP – 181
- Roland F-140R
- The ONE Smart Piano
- Casio CGP-700
Kindly remind that feel free to check out previous review of best digital piano under $2000, and under $1000.
1. Yamaha P515
The Yamaha P – 515 was designed to replace its predecessor, the Yamaha P- 255. According to this world-renowned brand, the P 515 has the features of the P 255 and more. To start with, it comes with an 88 hammer action that ensures you get the same feel as an actual acoustic piano.
The keys are made out of wood and they have synthetic ebony and ivory covering which gives the piano a classy appearance. This piano allows you to adjust the touch responsiveness of the keys in up to 5 different increments.
This feature is especially great for playing musical pieces that warrant a faster tempo. A feature that would impress most classical pianists is two grand piano sounds installed on the Yamaha P515.
The Yamaha CFX and the Bosendorfer Imperial are sound samples that are rated the best as far as piano sounds go. They sound very rich and are enjoyed even by the most professional classical pianists.
In addition, this piano comes with a 256-voice polyphony which is well above average and boasts of 40 different sounds. A dual-mode feature that allows for teacher-student collaboration, as well as a Split Voice Mode reverb effect, is present too.
2. Yamaha DGX650B
The Yamaha DGX650B bears a very close resemblance to other digital pianos from this brand. However, one edge that it has over the others is its exquisite sound quality. It makes use of PureCF sample audio gotten from the well known CFIIIS Concert Gran.
And 6-watt speakers ensure that you would.be hearing it in reverberating volumes. Although it is great for professionals, it is also very suitable for beginners. It comes with a Smart Chord feature that detects the right code using the notes that the left-hand presses.
This way, you would only need to bother with single notes as the Smart Chord takes care of the rest. The Yamaha DGX650B also comes with a graded hammer standard that allows it to produce the expression of an actual acoustic piano.
Therefore, you would definitely get a nuanced tone as well as refined dynamics. This 88-key piano has USB ports present so that you can record and share your music very easily.
3. Casio PX860 BK Privia
The Casio PX860 BK Privia is another one in the line of 88-key digital pianos that are well known on the market. For keyboard action alignment, it boasts of a Tri-sensor scale hammered technology which clearly indicates top quality.
The three levels of touch response that it comes with would help you to easily record and memorize your performance. In addition, it guarantees that you would do this super fast and very accurately.
Its beautiful simulated design and ivory keys give it an air of class that many digital pianos find it difficult to beat. It makes for a very elegant piece of instrument that you would be proud to place in your front room.
Furthermore, it comes with 256 polyphony notes which are really impressive. If you want to create a great sound with a personalized style of play, you have 18 tones at your disposal. Also, the 10 top-quality audio recordings that the Casio PX860 BK Privia has easily suited professional standards.
For practice purposes, this piano is suitable as it allows for a duet mode whereby two players can play simultaneously. This feature is great for training and its price is nearly unbeatable for all the features that it offers.
If you are a classical pianist on a somewhat tight budget, this piano is great for you.
4. Yamaha YDP184R
Many classical pianists love console pianos simply because it has all of the benefits of a digital piano. At the very core of this piano, you would find the Yamaha CFX Premium Grand Piano Voice – an amazing feature.
This singular feature easily sets it apart from other competitors. To effectively apply this voice to making music, the piano features Virtual Resonance Modeling. Virtual Resonance Modelling allows you to create various expressions that are a reflection of just how much you can do with the Yamaha YDP184R.
It has a 256-note polyphony that helps to boost realism on playing, as well as a pedal effect and multiple velocity samples. Furthermore, In terms of input, the Graded Hammer 3 action has got you covered. Top-quality ebony keytops and keys made with synthetic ivory makes for quite a beauty.
The three sensors and escapement techniques help to create a touch and feel that is the “grand piano” level. The YDP-184 offers various connectivity features like AUX in (stereo), AUX out (L+R), MIDI, USB port and AC adapter.
For a more realistic experience, this piano has two standard stereo jack for headphones. The Yamaha YDP184R also boasts of featuring 24 different instruments including guitar, acoustic piano sounds, symphony strings, electric pianos, and organs.
5. Yamaha Arius YDP – 181
One of the first things that you should note about this piano is that it offers the best value for its price. It is a mix of both the electric and acoustic which makes it suitable for various styles of play including classical.
Similarly, the keys easily catch the eye because they are made from synthetic ivory which gives it a traditional look. The Yamaha Arius YDP – 181 features 88 weighted keys that have Graded Hammer effects.
This effect ensures that when playing, it feels a lot more like an acoustic piano. Its 128-note polyphony is designed to mimic an actual piano, this is why multiple notes can still be audible without getting cut off when sustained.
The Yamaha Arius YDP – 181 boasts of three damper pedals that come with half-damper effects to enable enhanced control. Basically, it is fitted with their touch sensitivity levels to suit various techniques and playing styles.
Using AMW or Advance Wave Movement stereo sampling, it provides a sound that is every shade of an acoustic instrument. Also, this piano comes with preset songs present on it as well as a track recording function.
These functions help players to learn songs fast and track their progress while they are at it. This version of the Yamaha Arius produces excellent sound thanks to a high-class CF sound engine.
It also comes with a stereophonic optimizer headphone and USB cable port that aids compatibility with other devices.
6. Roland F-140R
The Roland F-140R is a masterpiece – a nice piano if you take a closer look. It comes in a very slim package that aims at appearing very low profile while saving you space. Despite the very compact package, the traditional features that classical players look out for are all available.
It features a great console, an 88-key fully weighted keyboard with Ivory simulation, and up to three pedals to start with. Also, you would find Roland’s special sound engine – the SuperNATURAL which they used in their flagship models here.
This action, which is a PHA-4 is renowned especially when it comes to velocity tracking. In spite of its seemingly simple appearance, this piano packs a punch. It also features touch sensitivity as well as a 128-note polyphony and up to 189 built-in songs which make for great practice.
It has various modes including “twin mode” which allows for easy learning and practicing with a tutor. The Roland boasts of 316 instrument sound of which 11 are piano sounds as well as the accompaniment of up to 72 rhythms. In addition, it comes with a 3-pedal unit.
These three pedals are found on any standard acoustic piano – Soft, Sustain and Sostenuto. Soft and Sustain allow for a half-pedal operation which gives way for subtler control over the effect and consequently, expressiveness.
It also comes with two headphone jacks, a USB Type-A port for flash drives and a number of other ports for connectivity.
7. The ONE Smart Piano
The ONE Smart Piano has a classical look but comes with some really unconventional features. However, these unconventional features are really great and help to set this piano apart. It is aimed at beginners or players who intend to better their playing and it makes learning super easy.
Although it may seem like it was made for beginners, it is an actual piano. It comes with a full-scale keyboard and the three pedals that are characteristic of acoustic pianos. However, you would find an obvious LED light on the top of every key that is designed to improve practice.
This piano also comes with learning software that guarantees great practice. In addition to all of these, you still get sufficient weighted action as well as a great sound engine. A large number of piano samples to work with are not left out of this mix and it’s easy to conclude that The ONE Smart Piano is a complete package.
8. Casio CGP-700
In terms of affordability, the Casio CGP-700 is one of the best bets and it guarantees value for your money too. This piano’s original design was to make it a portable unit, and it is one of the more streamlined models.
However, in terms of configuration, it appears as an instrument that can be used by classical pianists to a great extent. It basically features the same software samples that you would find on more expensive pianos made by this brand.
It also features the Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II that Casio pianos are known for. Casio SP33 set of pedals and a high-quality console, as well as amazing grand piano samples voicing, makes for a great package.
A 5.3″ color screen helps you stay in control and adjust functions very easily. It also makes going through tones and rhythms super easy. The CGP-700 digital keyboard comes with size but in speakers with four on the top panel and two present in the included stand.
This 3-way speaker makes playing and listening, an amazing experience indeed. Similarly, it has a class-compliant USB port that can be connected directly to a PC, Mac or other devices. It also comes with MIDI and USB audio recorders that allow you to record your performance and track your progress.
Conclusion
Classical pianists require some of the best instruments on the market in order to produce great pieces. However, Grand pianos can be pretty expensive and way out of reach which brings in the alternative of digital pianos.
There is a whole range of digital pianos on the market and making a choice could become quite hectic. This is why we have compiled some of the best pianos for classical pianists on the market. Provided you follow this guide, you can stay rest assured that you are getting the best.