• Casio Electric Piano Keyboard
• Casio Vs Roland Keyboard
• Casio Piano Keyboard

Digital Piano Comparison: Yamaha VS Roland VS Kawai VS Casio: Which Brand Is Best? By Richard Blenkinsop / February 16th, 2020 / There are currently 2 comments With so many different digital piano models available from various brands, it’s easy to get lost and wonder what the difference is between them all. In the Yamaha Casio debate, it is a very close call. The Casio keyboards are very well constructed and they truly show it. However, the same goes for Yamaha too! These two companies simply do not let their digital pianos to break down easily. Whether you choose a Yamaha or Casio keyboard, it will be the right decision. Aesthetics And Design.

A piano student or player has a lot of options when choosing a keyboard. You can find different models with all kinds of features. But all the brands and models aim to achieve the same goal: resemblance with the acoustic piano in the sound and design.

The concept of a keyboard with weighted keys comes from this common aim.

Maybe you’re a student with no acoustic piano and no budget to afford one, or maybe you are a professional player that needs to travel with your instrument to gigs and concerts. In all the cases, you’re going to need the instrument you choose to feel and sound as the acoustic piano.

These necessities were the creators of weighted-keys digital keyboards.

But, what are these keyboards? How do they work? Are they really the closest I can get to an acoustic piano?

WHAT ARE WEIGHTED KEYBOARDS?

These are a type of digital keyboards that try to emulate the feeling of an acoustic piano tile when being pressed.

An acoustic piano works with hammers attached to the back of the tiles that are moved when they’re pressed. That hammer strikes a string inside the piano and that’s what produce the note we hear. The hammer movement makes a little resistance when pressing the tile and that reflects on how playing an acoustic piano feels under our fingers.

This is a feeling we can’t obtain when we play a regular digital keyboard. In those instruments the tiles have no resistance and are softer to play. This creates a whole different playing technique that some students, teachers and players do not like.

The weighted keyboard is the closest attempt to emulate this feeling in order to reduce the difference between digital and acoustic piano techniques. They have weights inside the keys that emulates the response and feeling of an acoustic piano tile.

The main focus of weighted-keys digital pianos is to offer a realistic acoustic piano playing experience. It is almost like they have actual hammers and strings inside. For example, if you press a tile very slowly in an acoustic piano no sound is produced, because the hammer doesn’t hit the string with enough strength. That effect is commonly well reproduced in these weighted keyboards. Another characteristic of acoustic pianos is that when you press a tile really hard, the hammer strikes the string with enough strength to make it vibrate and crash against the body of the piano, producing a particular sound that these digital keyboards can emulate too.

DOES IT REALLY IMPROVES THE TECHNIQUE?

Due to the weighted feeling, playing in one of these keyboards really help you keeping the strength in your fingers that an acoustic piano demands. And it really improves velocity and agility.

Once you master a fast piece in a weighted keyboard, playing it in a non-weighted one is going to be way more easier. Unfortunately, that doesn’t work the other way around. Many students have problems facing acoustic pianos when their techniques were practiced in non-weighted keyboards. It is common for piano teachers to recommend that their students use keyboards with weighted keys.

Some would say that having a weighted keyboard is even better than having an acoustic one. Primarily because of the other features it brings. We are talking about an instrument that is half the size – or less – of an acoustic piano and it has a really close sound and feeling. This means you can have it in a small apartment or in a single room of a house. They commonly have headphones ports too, which allows you to practice without disturbing your neighbors or your family. Also, you can move them easier and some of them can be really portables and easy-to-travel.

WHAT ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF KEYBOARDS WITH WEIGHTED KEYS?

You can find the terms “Fully weighted keys” or “Semi-weighted keys” when you go out looking for a keyboard.

A fully weighted keyboard has all the characteristics mentioned above: the keys feels like an acoustic piano. A semi-weighted keyboard still has some resistance when pressing the tiles but the feeling is closer to a non-weighted keyboard than to an acoustic piano.

You can divide them by the number of keys too. As any other digital piano, you’re going to find models with 61, 76 or 88 keys.

IS WEIGHTED KEYBOARD AND A TOUCH RESPONSE KEYBOARD THE SAME?

No, they are different.

A Touch Response or Touch Sensitive keyboard is a digital piano that increases or decreases the volume of the sound according to how hard you press the tile. It doesn’t need to have weighted keys to do so.

A Weighted Keyboard has touch response keys as well, but adding the weight effect.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST KEYBOARD WITH WEIGHTED KEYS?

• Go over your budget once again. These keyboards tend to be more expensive than others. If your budget is not large enough maybe you can consider a touch sensitive one, that works as a first step to get closer to an acoustic piano feeling.
• Ask yourself what do you really need. There are weighted keyboards with tons of other functions that reflect on their price. If you’re looking for a simple acoustic piano feeling maybe you can look for a model without so many digital sounds and connectivity features.
• Set your goals. Maybe you’re purchasing a piano because you’re studying and you need it now just to improve your technique. But try thinking ahead and look for a model that can be sufficient for your upcoming plans and goals with piano playing. There are models with big sounds libraries and MIDI features that can work if you want to do recording. There are others with simpler features that are the best if you want to focus in your piano sound only.
• Think about traveling pros and cons. This is an important thing to consider, as it will be a shame if you purchase a great sounding keyboard that’s going to stay home while you use a lower quality one in gigs and presentations. If you don’t need to move the piano around maybe it is best if you buy a non-travel one, but if your goal is to take what you learn to the stage then look deep into the traveling features like total weight, cases, connectivity on stage and the space it occupies.

BEST WEIGHTED KEYBOARDS IN THE MARKET

Top Rated

These keyboards are the favorite choices between amateurs and professional players with a limited budget and with high needs. They gather the highest reviews and recommendations you can find in purchasing websites and stores.

Yamaha P115

Yamaha is one of the best brands to choose from when it comes to quality and output. That’s why it’s not surprising that one of the most chosen keyboards with weighted keys belongs to this company.

The P115 is definitely a great choice. It features a great hammer effect, increasing the weight of the keys depending on how low or high you play. With a piano sound that emulates the best acoustic pianos that Yamaha has. It has 88 keys and comes with 14 voices to choose from. It counts with MIDI and plug ports.

One of the most interesting things about this keyboard is that it offers an app for iOS users. With that app, you can control different settings of the keyboard from your cellphone and access learning material and info.

It’s designed to be portable – although it can be a little too heavy – and it can be perfect both for students and professional players.

It’s not a cheap keyboard, so we recommend you to have a medium budget if you want to access this product.

PROS:

• Hammer effect
• MIDI and USB ports
• IOS app
• Portable
• Great piano sound

CONS:

• Not cheap
• Plastic feel on the tiles

Yamaha DGX-660

This is the non-portable favorite of the brand. This is a keyboard designed with Yamaha’s SGH (Scaled Graded Hammer) effect, that allows the player to get really close to an acoustic piano feeling. It’s one of the top recommendation for students or players that need that feeling under their fingers for technique matters.

It offers the same high quality sounds from Yamaha acoustic pianos and some other features that make it a really interesting option.

Next to its headphone port, it has an integrated microphone input so the sound of your voice can also be amplified by the keyboard’s speakers. You can upload songs in MIDI format and the piano will create its sheet music for you to learn how to play them.

Another great feature this keyboard has is its six tracks recorder, that allows you to layer your creations and to expand your ideas without further gear.

Same as the P115, this is not a cheap keyboard. But most of the costumer’s reviews say it worth the price. Definitely, one of the home favorites.

PROS:

• Yamaha’s SGH
• Great piano sounds
• Integrated mic input
• Convert MIDI to sheet music
• Six track recorder

Casio Electric Piano Keyboard

CONS:

• Not cheap
• Plastic feel in the tiles

Korg B1

Korg is a brand mostly known for its synths. Everyone that knows about synths, knows that Korg is one of the best choices. In the keyboards case, this thought can be applied just as well.

The Korg B1 is a top designed keyboard that was made to replicate the acoustic piano feeling as best as it can be. Its keys were conceived to be felt almost the same as playing the keys on any acoustic model.

This piano is another top choice not just because of its design, but for its price. It is an affordable option that offers really high quality features. It has eight different piano sounds with effects like reverb or delay and it comes with a pedal assembly that includes the three pedals an acoustic piano always have.

However, it doesn’t have the same amount of options and sounds other keyboards have. So that makes it a good choice for simpler players that want to keep the clean piano sound. Even though you can release it from the pedal assembly, it wasn’t conceived to be portable.

PROS:

• Really good weighted keys
• Price friendly
• 8 different piano sounds
• Comes with pedal assembly

CONS

• Non portable
• Little amount of voices
• Not so many sound editing options

Casio Privia PX-160

When you hear professional players talking about gear, the Privia always pops up as a good option. Being one of Casio’s top of the line doesn’t come easily. This keyboard gather the best characteristics a player looks for.

The weight of the keys and sensitivity is one of the best in the market. It offers 18 voices with effects. Even though the piano sound is not as great as others, it’s perfect for live stage performances.

It comes with an USB port included so you can connect it to your computer and use it as a MIDI controller as well. Reverb and Chorus effects are built into the keyboard, so you won’t have to spend on extra gear.

It’s one of the most common options for professional players that need a good sound and a portable instrument. It’s light-weight and easy to connect in stage.

Not the best option to be kept in the house, though. It doesn’t come with integrated speakers, so you would need an external sound device or headphones to hear it.

It’s definitely price friendly for a keyboard of this quality and a reliable option.

PROS:

• Good for performers
• Price-friendly
• Portable
• Recommended by professionals
• Reverb and Chorus included

CONS:

• No speakers integrated
• Sensitivity of the keys get limited at high velocity playing

Kawai ES110

If you’re looking for a keyboard that emulates an acoustic piano, why not come to a brand that has a place in top markets for building them? Kawai acoustic pianos are recognized world wide and this digital keyboard is a really good option to access that same quality.

The ES110 is a keyboard with a great portability, light-weighted and with features that cover the needs of beginners and professionals.

It offers 19 sounds with a plenty of piano options to choose. Comes with integrated piano lessons for you to improve your technique and a Setting Memory so you can customize your sound and save it.

One of the most important details of this keyboards is that it comes with a three years guaranty. This is a key element for a piano that was made to be moved from stage to stage.

Even though the weighted system and the touch response are not the best you can find for this price, this keyboards can become a great and simple partner in learning or performing.

PROS:

• Portable
• Price-friendly
• A lot of piano sounds
• Three years guaranty
• Setting Memory
• Bluetooth and MIDI connection

CONS:

• Not the best weighted keys
• Functions are not very user-friendly

Best keyboards with weighted keys for the Professional’s Choice

The next keyboards are the best there is in the market today. They were made for players with the highest needs, being perfect for big scenarios or recording scopes. If you can add some extra numbers to your budget, then don’t think twice in getting one of these.

Roland RD-64

With the backup story of one of the top brands in keyboards design, the RD-64 is a digital piano that knows how to keep it simple. It offers the best sounds and features in the market without loosing the design of a regular and accessible keyboard.

It comes with great piano sounds and offers a library of high quality synths. You can use its interface to channel the sound of legendary Roland synths such as the Jupiter. It has reverb built in and offers a rare feature between keyboards: adjustable EQ.

The only complains you can have about it are, primarily, that it doesn’t have 88 keys. It’s actually small sized because it’s thought to be transportable and easy to be used on stage (you can see great players using it next to grand pianos or other synths).

The other complain that one can have about this professional keyboards is that they doesn’t come with speakers, so you need to have an external sound system to actually listen to its sound.

PROS:

• Top of the market
• Great sounds
• Reverb and EQ included
• You can channel Roland emblematic sounds
• Portable

CONS:

• No speakers incorporated
• Not 88 keys
• Expensive

Nord Stage 3

A real beauty, without a doubt. This keyboard is one of the trending choices between the best players in the world, offering all that a keyboard player can desire: great weighted keys, great piano, synth and organ sounds, a big library, connectivity options and – as we can see – a stunning design.

Nord was quite shy between the other keyboards brands, but with the Stage series they raised their faces into the top of the mountain. A lot of critics define this keyboard to be “the best in the market”.

It comes with three analogical sound engines you can edit by pushing buttons and moving faders. These engines cover the piano sounds – with different models to choose, equalization and dynamics -, the synth sounds – with all kinds of wave shifters and effects – and the organ sounds – with a big amount of models and harmonics selectors.

And in the digital scope, it offers no less than 2GB of sounds uploaded into the keyboard, with the option of expanding it with Nord’s actualizations. It can be used as a MIDI controller and as a commander to other keyboards.

This is a keyboard designed for the stage and the recording studio. It’s portable – even tough a little heavy. A great choice if you want to have a keyboard for your entire life, covering all the scope of work you can choose as a piano player.

PROS:

• The best there is in the market
• Separated engines for piano, synth and organ
• Vast amount of sounds
• Mostly analogical settings
• All the connectivity features

CONS:

• A little heavy
• No speakers incorporated
• Really non price-friendly

Korg SV-1

SV-1 is a stage favorite option without a doubt. It offers one of the best piano playing feeling you will find on the market.

The key feature this keyboard has is that you can personalize your sound. It doesn’t have a LED screen, so most of what you’re going to edit is going to be through analogical gear included in the keyboard. It counts with reverb and chorus effects built in.

This is not a cheap option and it’s aiming be among the top range.Also, you won’t have speakers in it. The lack of the LED screen can be a little bit uncomfortable for players who have been playing in other digital pianos before. But, those little details are not significant when you face a keyboard that was built to be reliable, loyal and a tour companion.

PROS:

• Perfect for stage
• All analogical
• Customize sound
• One of the best piano playing feels

CONS:

• Expensive
• No LED screen
• No speakers

Other options you can consider

The next keyboards are not top rated or the top of the market, but costumers and reviewers have been giving them certain acknowledgement. If you’re in low budget and looking for a keyboard that does its work with a good sound and functionality, these may be the options for you:

Yamaha Arius YDP-163

This is a great choice for someone looking for a quality and price-friendly home piano. The Arius give a fully acoustic piano experience from the sound to the design, being one of the best looking models of the Yamaha scope. It has a great piano sounding, since it features the sounds of the best pianos of the brand.

It comes with the elements that are taking Yamaha to the next era on keyboards. Same as the P115, it offers an iOS app that allows you to control some aspects of the piano and it gives you access to learning material. The system built in the keyboard offers a music book for you to learn too.

One of the main features you can enjoy playing this in your house, is the 2-tracks recorder included in the Arius. You can make accompaniment and then soloing, or creating new sounds and full compositions with just your two hands.

The Arius is designed to the stay at home. Is a non portable keyboard that doesn’t offers much connectivity options. Is perfect for the living room or the home studio.

PROS:

• Really good acoustic piano experience
• Great piano sound
• Built in music book
• IOS app
• 2 track recorder
• House-made

CONS:

• Non portable
• Not so many connectivity features

Yamaha P71

Yamaha is definitely one of the most integral brands you’ll find in the market. As you can see, it offers keyboards both for the professional and amateur scopes with great reviews on both sides. It should always be a tempting option on the table if it fits in your budget.

The P71 is a great option for beginners who need a reliable piano with a good design for their practice and to find their own piano sound. It’s a model that offers a good piano sound and a variety of voices for you to experiment.

It’s portable and definitely price-friendly. One of the great pros of this keyboards is that it comes with its sustain pedal. This is actually very surprising for models in this price range and make this model a really integral option for the player who need all the tools on their places to get started.

This advantage gets complemented by the fact that it comes with a lot of connectivity features, including headphones and line-out ports.

However, if you’re a more advanced player, this is not the keyboard for you. Its design and feel may leave you wanting a better keyboard, and its library of sound is not as big as others.

PROS:

• Price-friendly
• Portable
• Comes with sustain pedal

CONS:

• Details in the manufacturing
• Not so big sound library
• Mostly for beginners

Yamaha YPG-535

This is another great option for beginners who doesn’t want to leave the Yamaha scope. The YPG-535 offers what an amateur player always need: portability, great keys design, big amount of sounds and speakers incorporated.

This is a very light-weighted keyboard that can be transported in your car, the bus or to carry on your back. It has a good weight on its keys, perfect for players that needs to keep their technique sharp.

The system offers a big amount of voices you can choose and combine, with a decent piano sound – yet not as good as other models – and speakers are incorporated so you can sound in your house or friend’s places.

It has and incorporated USB connection that allows you to use it as a MIDI controller and to access to several learning softwares.

This is the weighted-keys keyboard choice that a beginner player may want without the complications and sometimes useless extra features you pay for and never get to use.

PROS:

• Price-friendly
• Portable
• Great keys weight
• Big amount of sounds
• USB connection

CONS:

• Not the best piano sound
• Mostly for beginners
• Currently not on Amazon

Roland RD800

This is the low-priced option of Roland. With this model they’re looking to offer a keyboard that fills the expectations of middle players and, at the same time, leaves them curious about the features of their other models.

This is the perfect option for the stage players with low budgets and big expectations. We are talking about an easy-portable keyboard with a big library of high quality sounds beyond piano.

The only think to criticize is that it doesn’t comes with incorporated speakers. Roland is trying to send the message that even though it has a good price range, it’s not designed for beginner players who wants to stay home.

So, if you need a reliable keyboard that makes a good company for your gigs, without occupying a lot of spaces and with great sounds, this should be one of your tempting options.

PROS:

• Great library of sounds
• Options beyond piano
• Portable
• Designed for stage

CONS:

• No speakers incorporated

Roland FP-30

This is Roland’s fighting horse in the market. This model is designed to be a really tempting option for the beginner/medium players. The FP-30 is a digital keyboard with the high quality semi-weighted keys of Roland’s designs.

With the really great sounding voices of the brand – and some stunning system features – this model becomes a good option for stage and home studios. It comes with bluetooth connectivity which give you access to learning and sound editing softwares. The keys comes with adjustable sensitivity depending on how hard or soft you play them.

It is design for traveling, occupying little space for a gear this integral-made. The model comes with great offers including its own sustain pedal, bench, headphones and iPad holder.

This should definitely be one of the options in a stage player’s mind when it comes to connectivity, reliable system features and traveling options. It is not a model to keep in your living room, this keyboard was made to fill the gigs.

PROS:

• Designed for traveling
• Great sounds
• Adjustable sensitivity
• Bluetooth
• Comes with headphones and iPad holder

CONS:

• No speakers
• Not the best choice for home

Korg LP380

Taking some distance from stages and keyboards designed for traveling, this is Korg’s offer for your house. This model is a home keyboard that is ready to immerse you in the piano playing world without leaving your living room.

The LP380 has a smooth design, with nothing to envy to an upright piano. It has a really great playing experience, that offers a good weighted-keys system, and a great piano sound that is faithfully reproduced by its built-in speakers.

This is a keyboard that is not designed to travel and it has little connectivity options, but it compensates that with a design that is not going to leave you wanting anything else.

Definitely a good option for those players that needs a beautiful piano in their homes to play, without loosing care on technique.

PROS:

Casio Vs Roland Keyboard

• Great playing experience
• Great piano sound
• Good option for home
• Smooth design

CONS:

• Not for traveling
• Little connectivity features
• Currently not on Amazon

Casio Privia PX770

This is the model that makes Casio to be in the top and amateur range at the same time. Its design is focused to reproduce almost precise acoustic piano playing experience and to offer a made-for-home instrument that fills up all the expectation a home player can have.

The playing feeling of the PX770 is one of the best. It uses actual hammers in the back of its keys to perfectly emulate the acoustic piano system. It features the Casio’s tri-sensor system, that consists three sensors under each key that can tell more precisely to the system how hard or soft you’re playing, allowing you to have all the playing dynamics you could have in an acoustic maiden.

This is not a keyboard for travelers, it was made for your living room or your home studio. It’s actually a great option for players who can’t afford an acoustic piano and turn their attention to the digital world.

PROS:

• Great playing feeling
• Uses actual hammers
• Tri-sensor system
• Great design

CONS:

• Not for traveling

Alesis CODA / Alesis Recital

We are grouping these two models into a single review because they are both great options coming from this brand. Alesis is an American company that manufactures a large amount of sound devices, including audio mixers, processors, interfaces, drums machines and electronic instruments like this two keyboard models.

CODA and Recital are great choices for the beginner player with a low budget and who’s looking for alternative models that provide the same quality that trending brands offer.

With a good piano sound and a semi-weighted keys system with nothing to envy from Yamaha or Roland models, the CODA and Recital becomes tempting options. They’re light-weighted, perfect to travel, but with connectivity features that allow you to keep it in-doors as well.

They offer adjustable touch response and an included recorder through which you can create full tracks without looking for a computer or other instruments.

These are keyboards that will fill all the expectations and needs a beginner player may have and a really good first step for entering the advanced models in the market.

PROS:

• Accompaniment Patterns
• You can record what you’re playing
• Light-weighted
• Price-friendly
• Adjustable Sensitivity

CONS:

• Non fully-weighted keys
• Best for beginners

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS BEFORE FINISHING

There are so many brands, so many models, so many features that you may feel a little overwhelmed. That feeling of not knowing if you’re purchasing the best you can find, if you should buy this one but that… that’s the secondary effects of reading a lot of reviews. So as the reviewers, we want to give you some advice so you can dissipate these confusing feelings.

• First of all, order your priorities. You can write in a paper what you’re exactly looking for in the keyboard you want to purchase, and then add the list the models that fit those requirements. This is going to make the primary list way shorter
• Don’t just look for system and design features. Make sure you know about offers and special discounts some brands may have and you can end up with a better keyboard than you thought possible.
• Think ahead and try picturing yourself using all the features a keyboard can have. If you really can’t imagine using a feature, you don’t really need it (even if it’s an incredible one).
• Think about the extras. Maybe you need a model that comes with its own sustain pedal, or with a bench or a pedal assembly.
• Space matters! Even more when you’re looking to purchase a keyboard for your home or studio. You don’t want to have a good keyboard that becomes a disturbance for your house. Look for the dimensions of each model and make sure they fit your available space.
• If you’re a professional player, don’t forget to think about your image. Once you have checked all the features and options, the outer design of a keyboard is important. If you’re a classical player for example, maybe you don’t need one of Roland’s all digital designed keyboards, maybe you need a sober design like a Privia or one of Yamaha’s models. But, in the other side, if you play modern music, maybe your audience will like to see a keyboard that glows in colors and screens.
• And ultimately, think about the sound you want to get. If you really like clean piano sound, don’t waste your money paying for incorporated effects and sound options, instead you can look for models with a big amount of clean sounds and equalizations. But, all the way around, if you want your own customized sound, make sure you don’t buy a model with a limited piano sound and think that the incorporated effects customized for a piano are always going to be better and cheaper than external ones.

REFERENCES

– https://www.429records.com/best-digital-piano-with-weighted-keys/

– https://acousticbridge.com/best-keyboards-with-weighted-keys/

– https://digitalpianojudge.com/best-digital-piano-with-weighted-keys-reviews/

– https://musicoomph.com/best-88-key-weighted-keyboards/

– https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075M22DCJ/?tag=1010128-20

– https://www.amazon.com/Casio-Privia-PX-770-Digital-Piano/dp/B074F3BTNZ/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=2WESRE0K4GBPM&keywords=casio+privia+px770&qid=1555949485&s=gateway&sprefix=casio+privia+px770%2Caps%2C323&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

– https://www.amazon.com/Roland-FP-30-Essential-Keyboard-Bundle/dp/B07NBL6WRF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=X2QOQD473MNF&keywords=roland+fp30&qid=1555949205&s=gateway&sprefix=roland+fp30%2Caps%2C-1&sr=8-1

– https://www.amazon.com/s?k=yamaha+ypg535+88-key+keyboard&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

– https://www.amazon.com/s?k=yamaha+p71+88-key+weighted+action+digital+piano&crid=1QQSCZBTD8O4R&sprefix=yamaha+p71%2Caps%2C342&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_10

– https://www.amazon.com/Nord-Keyboard-Sustain-Instructional-Polishing/dp/B079KT1Q78/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=nord+stage+3&qid=1555947988&s=gateway&sr=8-1

– https://www.amazon.com/Kawai-88-Key-Portable-Digital-Stylish/dp/B07MJF7WG5/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?crid=36X124MYKIK17&keywords=kawai+es110&qid=1555947684&s=gateway&sprefix=kawai+%2Caps%2C803&sr=8-2-fkmrnull

– https://www.amazon.com/Casio-Privia-PX-160BK-88-Key-Digital/dp/B0100RBPTC/ref=sxbs_osp18-696a8ddc_cov?ascsubtag=696a8ddc-5336-4e0c-8e51-69500f8d09aa&creativeASIN=B0100RBPTC&crid=DY3VA4L2J3PM&cv_ct_id=amzn1.osp.696a8ddc-5336-4e0c-8e51-69500f8d09aa&cv_ct_pg=search&cv_ct_wn=osp-search&keywords=casio+privia+px160&linkCode=oas&pd_rd_i=B0100RBPTC&pd_rd_r=009d73eb-0c91-48f0-be2e-f60ad74c448c&pd_rd_w=hkZeJ&pd_rd_wg=iooOE&pf_rd_p=8a46f3d2-51b6-446b-8020-99cb470b30b4&pf_rd_r=E09KY3VB1E1G0QPB3B9Y&qid=1555947613&s=gateway&sprefix=casio+privia+%2Caps%2C504&tag=thewire06oa-20

– https://www.amazon.com/Korg-Enhanced-Keyboard-Behringer-Headphones/dp/B07PB8ZYRM/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?keywords=korg+b1&qid=1555947537&s=gateway&sr=8-2-fkmrnull

– https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-Package-Headphones-Keyboard-Microphone/dp/B07NYCJ7CG/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=1LUCXBYQPGQVX&keywords=yamaha+dgx+660&qid=1555947398&s=gateway&sprefix=yamaha+dgx+%2Caps%2C383&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

– https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-88-Key-Weighted-Digital-Sustain/dp/B07BSM7PFL/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?keywords=yamaha+p115&pd_rd_i=B07BSM7PFL&pd_rd_r=7bb95d9d-3a9c-4fc8-aa2f-dd69095307f5&pd_rd_w=ukMFB&pd_rd_wg=JhQYl&pf_rd_p=5c5ea0d7-2437-4d8a-88a7-ea6f32aeac11&pf_rd_r=ZK2W7K666TZGK3BDMDJW&qid=1555947082&s=gateway

– https://www.amazon.com/Casio-Privia-PX-160BK-88-Key-Digital/dp/B0100RBPTC/ref=sxbs_osp18-696a8ddc_cov?ascsubtag=696a8ddc-5336-4e0c-8e51-69500f8d09aa&creativeASIN=B0100RBPTC&crid=1NB878RM0XQ7E&cv_ct_id=amzn1.osp.696a8ddc-5336-4e0c-8e51-69500f8d09aa&cv_ct_pg=search&cv_ct_wn=osp-search&keywords=casio+privia+px160&linkCode=oas&pd_rd_i=B0100RBPTC&pd_rd_r=df1108e4-7671-4a64-b834-5f1157d3312a&pd_rd_w=ptmpS&pd_rd_wg=GYpYS&pf_rd_p=8a46f3d2-51b6-446b-8020-99cb470b30b4&pf_rd_r=GHFGCY0DJWZRVXM8S6Y1&qid=1555946805&s=gateway&sprefix=casio+privia%2Caps%2C919&tag=thewire06oa-20

– https://www.amazon.com/Korg-Enhanced-Keyboard-Behringer-Headphones/dp/B07PB8ZYRM/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?keywords=korg+b1&qid=1555946652&s=gateway&sr=8-2-fkmrnull

– https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-Package-Headphones-Keyboard-Microphone/dp/B07NYCJ7CG/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=3CSQHSYLJW4HK&keywords=yamaha+dgx660&qid=1555946506&s=gateway&sprefix=yamaha+dgx66%2Caps%2C343&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

We are looking at the best digital pianos with weighted keys available in 2021. An upright digital piano console is an excellent place to start if you want a realistic piano experience with the added comfort of volume control and headphone port. As well as sounding and feeling great, a digital piano can look great in the home, too. With that in mind, we will focus on true digital piano consoles. Although less portable, they make for beautiful additions to your furniture, providing they sound fantastic, of course!

If you need something more portable, whether it’s for the stage or just moving around the house, make sure you check out our best weighted keyboards article; we’ve got you covered.

Here are the best digital pianos with weighted keys:

1. Kawai CA59

A true piano experience

Kawai makes some of the most beautiful pianos in the world. Whether it’s a concert grand or a digital upright for the home, they do it right. Our pick is the Kawai CA59.

Kawai’s Grand Feel Compact system means you have real wooden keys with an ivory feel. The graded hammer-action uses counterweights and let-off simulation to provide an ultra-realistic response.

It makes sense that Kawai re-create their own grand pianos for the CA59. In this case, it’s the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX and EX concert grands, along with the Shigeru Kawai SK-5 grand. The piano voices have been re-created in stunning detail, which is further enhanced by Kawai’s Harmonic Imaging XL technology. What you get is a grand piano sound that is richer than you’d expect from a digital console. It has a 256-note max polyphony. There are 44 voices in total, and 24 built-in effects, including reverb types and brilliance.

The cabinet looks more like a real modern upright piano than any other on our list. Features like the Grand Feel Pedal System that simulates real pedals’ weight and response adds to the realism. There’s even a Virtual Technician function to tweak your instrument like a real piano.

The onboard recorder allows for up to 10 songs to be saved and replayed. Surprisingly, for such a high-end piano, the CA59 has a lot of tutorial features. For teacher/student playing, you get dual headphone outputs, dual/split, and four-hand keyboard modes. It has onboard lessons for varying technique levels that allow you to practice one hand at a time or both at your own tempo.

It’s tough to say anything negative about this piano. At first sight, you can tell it’s something of real quality. From the gorgeous cabinet to the touch of the keys, and the sound of Kawai’s concert grands, it’s a thing of beauty. Yes, it’s expensive, but rightly so.

2. Yamaha CLP-735

One of Yamaha’s finest

As far as the best digital pianos with weighted keys go, it’s inevitable that Yamaha would feature on our list. We are starting with the Yamaha Clavinova CLP-735, a modern piano with classic looks.

The CLP-735 boasts Yamaha’s Real Grand Expression 2 technology. Yamaha’s technology covers the GrandTouch-S real hammer-action keyboard with escapement, along with the pedals, providing a realistic response in all areas. The keys come with a simulated ebony and ivory feel, which also help stop your fingers from slipping during performance.

The sound comes from newly enhanced versions of Yamaha’s flagship CFX and Bösendorfer gland piano samples. The newly enhanced samples offer a more authentic experience in conjunction with Virtual Resonance Modeling (VRM) that captures the slightest nuances of your playing. There are 38 voices in total, as well as onboard reverb, chorus, and brilliance effects.

Yamaha captured the sounds with 3D binaural sampling, which re-creates acoustic space through headphones. Grand Expression Modeling boosts the flagship sounds by simulating a real piano’s mechanical aspects, like hammers, etc. With max polyphony of 256-notes, there is no shortage of natural expression.

Dual, duo and split modes are available and great for learners. You can also record yourself with the built-in USB recorder (up to 80 minutes). It comes with the traditional three-pedal layout, two headphone jacks, and is compatible with the Yamaha Smart Pianist app.

The Yamaha Clavinova CLP-735 is stunning in every way; it’s our best digital piano for home use. The Clavinova sound is always high-quality, but this new enhanced version takes it to another level. We could have picked on the fact that some digital pianos offer more interactive learning functions, but as a true piano experience, that’s not the main focus. It’s relatively expensive but worth every penny.

Casio Piano Keyboard

3. Roland HP704

The best Roland home digital piano

The HP704 is our top-rated Roland digital piano, and it’s gorgeous. The HP704 features the tried-and-tested PHA-50 keyboard with escapement. PHA stands for progressive hammer action, meaning the keys get gradually lighter from bottom to top. The keys have a synthetic ebony and ivory feel. The three pedals also have a progressive action to simulate the feel of an acoustic piano.

If you are familiar with the high-end Roland products, you’ll have heard of their SuperNATURAL sound engine. This sound engine has delivered some of the most convincing piano tones in recent years, and it powers the HP704. The piano sounds are created by combining traditional sampling and computer modeling and cover any style of playing. Including the pianos, there are 324 sounds in total, with onboard brilliance and ambiance effects. Pano voices have limitless polyphony for max expression; other sounds have 384-note max polyphony.

Roland’s Piano Designer allows you to edit various parameters to create the ideal playing experience. It lets you adjust mechanical noise from the lid, pedals, and hammers, as well as tweak single note tuning.

The built-in 4-speaker system delivers crystal clear sound with the richness of a real piano. Listening through headphones doesn’t lose that richness, thanks to Roland’s 3D ambiance. If you are a learner, there are some useful features like split and dual modes, a built-in audio/MIDI recorder (70,000 note memory), and 287 lesson songs. It also has two stereo headphone outputs for student/teacher playing.

The Roland HP704 is a great piano that feels and sounds very good. It’s just difficult to place it higher due to the quality of the instruments above. It’s a very expressive digital piano, and if you are already a Roland fan, you may prefer their sound engine over others. It’s also more beginner-friendly with so many lesson songs available.

4. Casio AP-710

Bechstein history in a modern Casio

Casio’s Celviano range includes some of the manufacturer’s best digital pianos ever. We have picked out the AP-710 to add to our list. It comes with Casio’s scaled hammer-action keys with simulated ebony and ivory feel. Casio’s Acoustic Simulator technology adds realism by mimicking pedal, hammer sounds, etc.

The AP-710 offers three distinct grand piano sounds, based on legendary pianos from Berlin, Vienna, and Hamburg. The most iconic being the Berlin Grand, developed in collaboration with C. Bechstein. All sounds come from the advanced AiR Grand Sound Source, with 26 sounds in total, including a brand-new Harpsichord sound.

The keyboard has split/duet modes and dual headphone outputs that are great for teaching. There are 60 play-along songs to choose from with adjustable tempo and volume. But, the real star learner feature is the Concert Play function. Concert Play lets you play along with a full orchestra and develop your ensemble skills. As your skills progress, the onboard audio recorder allows for up to 25 minutes of recording.

The Casio AP-710 has one major flaw, and it’s that it doesn’t stack up to the competition in its price range. On its own, there are so many good things to say. It sounds awesome, it feels great, Concert Play is fantastic, and the Berlin Bechstein is outstanding. For me, it’s not enough to make the top three, but if anything convinces you otherwise, it will be that Bechstein voice.

5. Korg G1 Air

The most versatile home digital piano

Korg is a manufacturer that rarely go far wrong when it comes to any keyboard instrument. The Korg G1 Air is the one we have picked out to join our list of the best digital pianos with weighted keys for home use.

The G1 Air is a versatile digital piano built with Korg’s RH3 keyboard. That means it has real hammer-action keys that are counterweighted, rather than just simulating the weight. The modern cabinet comes in a few colors, including a limited edition White Ash finish. Each of these pianos is hand-built in Japan to ridiculously high standards.

The three concert-style pedals allow half-pedaling and mimic the weight and feel of a real piano fantastically. The piano sounds are modeled on iconic German, Austrian, and Japanese grand pianos. Between all three, you have tones that cover traditional classical music, modern classical, and jazz. Along with the pianos, there are a further 29 sounds, including some lovely electric pianos. The downside is that the max polyphony is 120 notes, quite low for a piano that costs almost $2000.

It has a built-in recorder (CD-quality) that will store two songs and up to 45,000 notes. There are 10 demo songs and 40 piano songs that you can learn. Although, as tutorial material goes, it’s not very in-depth. One nice feature is the Bluetooth connectivity, which means you can stream play-along songs through the built-in speakers from other devices. The powerful built-in speakers are custom-designed for this piano, with a nice wide soundstage.

The Korg G1 Air is a tough one to call. As a pure piano, it’s not near the top of our list. But, it’s not miles behind either. It comes down to the additional sounds that are better than the non-piano voices on most others; the electric pianos, etc. If you value that versatility, then the G1 Air will be perfect for you.

6. Roland RP102

The best budget home digital piano under $1000

The RP102 is the second Roland on our list, and it’s the cheapest, too. This one comes in a lighter console/cabinet and offers a fair compromise between quality and value.

It has a PHA-4 progressive hammer-action keyboard with escapement, which is a step down from Roland’s flagship pianos, but still very realistic. There RP102 has the standard (metal) three pedal layout, despite the slimline design.

The best thing about the RP102 is that it utilizes Roland’s amazing SuperNATURAL sound engine. There are 15 sounds in total, including four lovely grand pianos. The overall sound quality is very good, and onboard ambiance/brilliance control lets you tweak your tone a little. You get a max polyphony of 128 notes, again that’s a little lower than flagship pianos, but it’s enough for most beginner-intermediate players.

It comes with 200 play-along songs and a built-in metronome to get your timing on point. If you are using the piano for lessons, Twin Piano mode gives you a split with two identical zones. Adding to that, there’s plenty of tutorial material available through Roland’s Piano Partner 2 app.

The Roland RP102 is ideal for anyone who wants a digital piano console without spending a fortune. It’s one of the best cheap digital pianos with weighted keys around. Don’t be put off by the fact it falls behind the more expensive models; it’s still very good. If you are a beginner to intermediate player, the RP102 will serve you well! It’s no doubt one of the best $1000 digital pianos on the market in 2021.

Honorable Mentions

Our top 6 includes the digital pianos that we feel best represent high-quality across a range of budgets. There are so many options; if we added every piano that we love, our list would never end. But, we have a couple here that are too good not to at least mention.

Yamaha YPD-184

The reliable Arius

In other lists, the YPD-184 could be number one; it’s that good. It missed out purely because it’s not as good as the much more expensive pianos, and it’s not cheap enough to earn its spot as a budget option.

This great-looking piano showcases the sound of the flagship CFX 9 ft concert grand beautifully through Yamaha’s CFX sound engine. The graded hammer-action keys feel fantastic, and it has a range of functions for beginners via the Smart Pianist app; check it out.

Casio PX-770

A great piano on a budget

The PX-770 was close to making our top 6 as a budget option, under $800. Having just missed the cut, we wanted to give it a special mention here.

This relatively lightweight cabinet looks very slim and sleek. It comes with Casio’s scaled hammer-action keys with three levels of touch sensitivity. The sound comes from Casio’s outstanding AiR processor. The pianos are fantastic, and it offers 19 tones in total. If you want a digital piano for home use on a budget, definitely check this one out.

You might also check:

• The best 88-key weighted keyboards
• The best cheap keyboard pianos under $500
• The best digital pianos/keyboards under $1000

Conclusion

As always, there are no bad choices in our top picks for weighted-key digital pianos. Remember, this kind of instrument is a showpiece; it’s there to be seen as well as heard. Our picks cover various skill levels and budgets, and although some are better than others, all offer a fantastic piano experience. After all, that’s the most important thing, feeling like you are sat at a real piano (that your family can unplug when they’ve had enough of you).

James is a writer and musician with a passion for audio production. He is a lover of all things tech, especially the latest keyboards, synths, DAW’s, virtual instruments, and effects plugins. Musical interests include jazz, funk, hip hop, blues, and rock.