It’s fair to say that Yamaha is one of the most recognized instrument manufacturers of digital pianos and keyboards in the world. Their instruments sound great, and they are available in a wide range of prices to suit every budget. When it comes to 88 key digital pianos, you may be surprised to learn that some of these instruments are very affordable. As you progress upwards in price, even more features are available, and this is the focus of this article. Let’s take a look at four broad price ranges and our pick for the best Yamaha 88 key digital piano in each category.
- Under $500 – Yamaha P45 88 Key Digital Piano
- $500-$750 – Yamaha P125 88-Key Digital Piano
- $750-$1000 – Yamaha DGX 660 88-Key Digital Grand Piano
- $1,000-$1,500 – Yamaha Arius YDP-164
- $1500-$2000 – Yamaha Arius YDP 181
1. Under $500 – Yamaha P45 88 Key Digital Piano
The Yamaha P45 88 Key Digital Piano is pretty much the exact same instrument as the P71, which was a unique release for a single online store. This is the successor the well regarded P35, and with a cursory glance, it looks almost the same. But, appearances aside, the P45 is far more advanced digital piano than its predecessor, and it has 88 full sized keys with “Graded Hammer” or GHS action.
This is a versatile keyboard that can be located virtually anywhere in your home or even a small home studio. The footprint is very modest for the features, and if you move around or play live, it’s a portable option that only weighs 25 lbs. Yamaha market the P45 as an entry level digital piano, but that moniker is a little deceiving, and this instrument has a lot to offer. Although the keys are fully weighted, they don’t feel terrible, and they are good enough to practice fingering and spacing to improve playing.
The 88 keys have a matte finish, they are not the most realistic feeling option on this list, but they are far better than you might expect for a keyboard at this price point. The sound engine uses AWM sampling; there are not many sounds to choose from, but they are well produced, and some are quite beautiful sounding. Some users have reported that the onboard speakers are too quiet, and the built-in sustain pedal feels cheap. Again, for a digital piano under $500, these seem like minor quibbles, but players that want a higher quality instrument with more features may need to spend a little more.
Pros:
- Very affordable.
- A full sized, full weighted 88 key digital piano.
- USB connectivity.
Cons:
- Lacks a recording function.
- The keys don’t feel realistic.
- The sustain pedal feels cheap.
2. $500-$750 – Yamaha P125 88-Key Digital Piano
The Yamaha P125 88-Key Digital Piano has 88 fully weighted keys to give the player a real acoustic piano playing experience. This is great for more experienced players, but it’s also helpful for beginners to help them learn piano skills and master their technique. The sound is fantastic; a series of extremely high quality samples have been gathered from some amazing pianos around the world. The pick of the bunch is the CFIIIS Concert Grand, which is a well known and wonderful sounding piano.
The P125 sounds extremely good; the sound engine is the Pure CF system that’s used on far more expensive digital pianos in Yamaha’s stable. So, if you’re seeking a great sounding grand piano at an affordable price, the P125 is a fantastic action. However, this is not a piece of furniture, there is no cabinetry to speak of, and this instrument does not come with a stand. Essentially, this is a compact digital piano keyboard that can be fitted into any type of living space. It’s portable enough to store out of sight when not in use and get it out when you’re ready to practice and play.
The 88 fully weighted keys feel great, the keyboard action is quite realistic, and this digital piano also uses the Graded Hammer action key bed. When the player is playing this particular keyboard, the lower keys feel heavier, and the higher keys feel lighter just like a real piano. This makes the P125 a great digital piano for beginners that may want to play a real acoustic piano or a more expensive digital piano later.
Pros:
- A good digital piano for beginners and intermediate players.
- A detailed sound engine that sounds great.
- 88 full weighted keys.
- USB connectivity.
Cons:
- This keyboard is not supplied with a stand.
3. $750-$1000 – Yamaha DGX 660 88-Key Digital Grand Piano
The Yamaha DGX 660 88-Key Digital Grand Piano is an upgraded variant of the well regarded DGX-650 model. For this release, the polyphony has been improved, more effects are available, and other useful features have been added. The DGX-660 is a hybrid keyboard because it’s a cross between an arranger keyboard and a digital piano. As one would expect with this type of instrument at this price point, there are plenty of tones, demo songs, styles, and rhythms to choose from.
The DGX-660 has 554 sounds to enhance the players learning and playing experience. This makes this digital piano a great option for those that cannot afford the Yamaha Arius YDP181 (detailed below). Yamaha has plenty of keyboards with 88 keys that are portable, but this is not one of those models. This instrument weighs in at 46 lbs, and it’s not an instrument that you’re likely to move around on a regular basis.
The keys feel better than many other digital pianos on the market, but they are not perfect. The 88 keys have the same Yamaha matte finish as other models on this list, so they don’t have that simulated ivory or ebony feel that you might find on flagship models. However, considering the price, these keys feel very nice, and they are velocity sensitive for an authentic playing experience. The Pure CF sound engine has the same high quality sound samples found on the cheaper P125 shown above. But, the DGX-660 also has the “Intelligent Acoustic” feature that automatically adjusts sound frequencies to deliver a clear and balanced tone.
Pros:
- An extensive library of tones, styles, rhythms, and sound effects to choose from.
- The “Yamaha Education Suite” that helps beginners to learn.
- This digital piano can record audio and midi, and it has a USB connection.
Cons:
- The sustain pedal could be improved.
- This is not a very portable instrument.
4. $1,000-$1,500 – Yamaha Arius YDP-164
The Yamaha Arius YDP-164 sits at the top of our list, and it’s the latest digital piano near the top of Yamaha’s range. This is the successor to the well regarded YDP-163, it has the GH3 weighted key system, and the playing experience is very realistic. The GH3 moniker can be broken down as follows: G stands for graded, H stands for hammer, and 3 is the number of sensors that interpret the articulation and velocity of the playing. There is a great deal of expression available, and this digital piano captures subtle nuance well. The keys are synthetic, but the coating really gives them a genuine ebony and ivory feel that makes them a joy to play.
The sound engine uses the Yamaha CFX 9 concert grand piano used on other digital pianos in the Arius range. However, the instrument has been re-sampled for the Arius YDP-164 for better sound quality using the latest recording techniques and equipment. The overall result is as good as you are ever going to get because the CFX 9 is a wonderful acoustic piano with a flawless track record amongst professional musicians. Many digital pianos sound great in the middle octaves, but they can sound brittle or lifeless in the upper or lower octaves. But, the Yamaha Arius YDP-164 has a natural and clear expressive sound across the entire octave range.
Yamaha has included a dedicated Smart Pianist app that can be used with their digital pianos. This allows the user to controls some of the piano functions directly from their tablet or smartphone. The keyboard split can be adjusted, different room environments can be added, and tones can be layered to create new sounds. This app also allows the user to play along to music, which is very helpful when the player wants to learn new songs.
Pros:
- A wonderful and realistic acoustic piano experience.
- A truly outstanding sound at a fraction of the price of Yamaha CFX 9.
- A pair of high quality cabinets to choose from.
Cons:
- There are only ten preset sounds available (but they sound great).
- The Smart Pianist app tends to struggle a little with more complex pieces of music.
5. $1500-$2000 – Yamaha Arius YDP 181
The Yamaha Arius YDP 181 is part of the Arius series, which is a range of console pianos. The Arius console pianos are all well regarded for their looks and characteristics, making them a desirable home instrument. They are a larger digital piano that others on our list, and the cabinetry gives them the appearance of a genuine acoustic piano. For anyone seeking a modern family piano for players at every level of skill, the YDP181 is a great choice.
This is a substantial instrument; it’s 53” wide, 20” deep and 35” high, and it’s pretty heavy. So, if you purchase the Arius YDP181, it’s important to make sure you have the available space in your home to accommodate this instrument. It takes a little time to set up this digital piano, and it’s a good idea to find a friend to help. When the YDP181 is assembled, it has a dark wood finish with inlaid gold highlights. A 3 pedal unit helps expression when playing, and this is also highlighted with gold touches to continue the attractive aesthetic appeal.
The appeal of the Yamaha Console pianos lies in the quality of the playing experience and the included sounds. So, it may come as a surprise that this particular digital piano doesn’t come with a lot of tones, and there are only 14 sounds to choose from. However, the sound engine used on the YDP181 is the excellent AWM Dynamic Stereo Sampling System. The tones are very authentic, and the Graded Hammer action system delivers an acoustic feel for new, intermediate, and advanced players.
Pros:
- The Graded Hammer action system feels very close to a genuine acoustic piano.
- The elegant cabinet makes the Yamaha YDP181 a wonderful family piano.
- An LED screen provides plenty of feedback.
- An adaptor is not required, and the power cord can plug directly into the power outlet.
Cons:
- This is not a portable option.
In Conclusion
As you can see, Yamaha has a wide selection of digital pianos available to suit a large variety of budgets and needs. There are many models available beyond the scope of our list, but we believe that these four models are an excellent choice within these broad price ranges. Beyond the budgetary constraints, these four digital pianos offer a similar playing experience, but the included features can be quite different. Portability is also a key consideration for many people, and in this case, the P45 and P125 are a better choice. If you want a more substantial instrument and portability is not needed, the DGX660 or the Arius YDP181 offer a better option if you have the budget.