Hello all, Im new to these forms and this is my first post so here goes. After 3 years of trying guitar (6 months on 6 months off, repeatedly) I have finally decided that it is not my instrument. I can just never get comfortable with it, always worrying more about holding it properly, etc. than playing it. I am now gonna give piano a try. I love music and want to play an instrument and love piano as much as guitar and am thinking that it is my instrument. Im always taping things with my fingers, etc. and love how piano is a string/percussive mix. So here is my question, im looking for a digital piano. At first the Yamaha YPG-635 caught my eye but since browsing your forums I've had my eyes opened to a couple more options. I really jsut want good piano sound, don't care too much about all the other voices and the built in learning and the background music. I would love to just get a grand piano but don't have 1000's of dollars at my disposal. So im looking for a good sounding digital piano. The onboard speakers don't have to be great as I could play with headphones or hook to computer speakers. I'm looking at the Yamaha P85 or P155 or P95(althoguh cant find a price on it, seems close to the P85 in features though) now because I dont really need all of the extra stuff that the YPG-635 comes with. my question, finally, lol, is this. With being a complete novice is the P155 worth the extra $600 over the P85? Or will somebody of my level not bennefit from the extra 64 poly, etc.. Thank you in advance for any insight you can give, and sorry for the long post .


***EDIT*** Also as a beginner is the GH system worth $600 over the GHS system the P85 has.

The real difference between the P155 and the P85 is the key action. The P85 is "GHS" while the P155 is "GH". The sound on the P155 is more realistic then on the P85, but the P85 is very good for being only a single layer.

Multi-layer samples try to capture the effect there the sounds gets brighter as it gets louder andnot just louder. This effect is greatest just at the point where the note starts. The P155 tries to do this but even with 4 layers the effect is not perfect. The Roland FP7 or RD700GX I think does this better but at double the price.

The Yamaha CP50 wil be available later this year. It uses the same GH keys but they say the sould will be much improved over what you can get today about $1,500

Personally I like the GHS of the P-85. Some people find it too light for their taste, especially if they have prior experience with an acoustic piano with a relatively heavy action. But as a beginner one typically doesn't have too much finger strength to begin with, so something like GHS is a good match IMHO.

But of course it would be best to try out GH and GHS yourself and form your own opinion. You will probably strongly prefer one or the other.

Since you are starting out it might be wiser to get a cheaper piano and see if piano is what you really want to play. Casio makes a decent entry level model PX-130 and the Yamaha P-85 would also suffice. Korg appears ready to expand their offerings with some additional models. Around April Korg expects to ship the SP-170. It looks like it will go for $499 and will directly compete with the Casio PX-130. You could also look at the used market and save some money.

Do take a look at the Yamaha CP33 which would be in the pricerange between the P-85 and the P-155.
I have owned both the P-155 and the P-85, and i kind of preffered the sound from the P-85.
The CP33 which i currently own has the same sound character as the P-85 but with more detail and with the GH keys.
I personally didn't like the new CFIII sampling in the new P-155 even thou it was very detailed.
It's all about taste and what kind of music you want to play, so always try it before buying.

The CP33 is to be replace with their new CP line, therefor alot of resellers have dropped their prices on the CP33 and the CP300.
Do try the CP33 one out and see if you like it.

Good luck!

The P-85 prices should drop somewhat with the introduction of the inexplicably almost identical P-95, which is good news if you wind up with the P-85.

With the CP50 on the horizon I'd say stay away from the P-155.

I just sold my CP-300 and one of my P-85's...soon to be replaced with a P-95 and, hopefully, a CP-5 (if I like it).

I liked the old P-85 way more than the P-155, in spite of the differences in action and sample layers...it was just more playable.

A second hand, or leftover stock P-85 is a fine little piano.

Snazzy

Thank you for all of your input. I need to go and feel the difference between a p85 and a p155. Price wise the P85 seems the way to go. Only thing that I am concerned with on the P85 is the single layer of sound versus the 4 layers that the P155 has. Now being a beginner this is probably not a valid concern but it is something I am thinking of for the future. Also Dewster wrote of staying away from the P155 because the CP50 is on the horizon. I was wondering why? From what I see on the Yamaha site the CP50 does not have the 4 layers of sampling that the P155 has, although it does appear to have a brand new system that is maybe even more superior than the older multi layer systems. Also in reagrds to the P95 i am currious to see how many sampling levels it will have, the Yamaha website says that it has the AWM systems but doesnt say how many levels it will have. I will keep all that you have said in mind for sure. I really want these new modles to come out so I can see how they affect the current models pricing. I would like to start playing right now but if waiting a couple months could save me 100's then that is what ill probably do. Thanks again.

i.e.: In reagrds to the CP33 in lew of the P155 or P85, I really like the idea of the heavier keys at a price less than the P155, but I also like the furniture stand available in the P series as well as the built in speakers (although I know that external speakers or headphones will sound better)

Just dont do the misstake that i did an buy something which you haven't tried/listened to.
Even thou 4 layers dynamic sampling, it might not be a sound you like.
As i said earlier, i returned my P155 because i didn't like the sound that much.
I was more happy with my P-85 which now has been replaces by a CP33 that i just love.

I also would like a furniture stand for my CP33 but found a fourlegged stage stand that look's pretty good.(This is not an X-stand)

Still i hope the sound and feeling comes before the good looks .

Hope you find the right DP for you.

/P

I appriciate your advice. The only problem I will have is sound, feel I can judge at this point. But since I cant play anything, lol, I will have a hard time judging sound. Guess I could bang on the keys though, at least Ill get an idea of the tone.

Have the sales rep play for you. That'll give you at least an idea of a comparison between the boards. Also, see if they have a good set of headphones for you to listen through. Frankly, the speakers on any slab style keyboard are there more for convenience than actual sound fidelity. Use the same headphones on each keyboard if possible. You could also play the "demo" songs on the boards, but that doesn't give you any sense of tactile response, just overall tonality.

Personally, if you're just starting out, I'd go with the P-85. The one I played was every bit capable and sounded good. Once you decide that the piano is where your interests/skills lie, then you can upgrade to a "better" board, which--three, four, or five years down the road--who knows where it'll be technologically.

Later,

K

As you walk into the store with your headphones in hand stop by the book rack and get a copy of "Teach Yourself to Play Piano" or something like that. Open the book to lesson #1 and play that on each piano Then Lesson #2 on each and so on. This is what you are buying the piano for, so test it just as you intend to use it. This gives you something to do rather then playing random notes.

Also to judge the sound ask a salesman to play the same piece on each.

I don't have a P-85 sample yet, but ChrisA sent me a sample of the P-155 yesterday and I was unimpressed with the results. Very old technology. Might as well find yourself a used P-120 or P-140 IMO.


The problem with the current offerings is you can't buy anything that is future-proof, except for perhaps the V-Piano, and I wouldn't recommend that either because a lot of serious people still aren't happy with the sound, and future software upgrades are uncertain.


Those that have played the CP1/5 have really liked it, though I don't have an analytic sample yet. Yamaha is getting very good at blending the layers, the P-155 has nice velocity blending, and apparently the CP1/5/50 do as well.


The P95 is a very minor respin of the P85, I'd be shocked if they changed anything in there other than shuffling a couple of the voices around. It's not clear to me why they even released it, though ChrisA's speculation of manufacturing cost reductions / obsolete component changes, etc. makes more sense than anything else.


I'd say wait until the CP50 comes out. If you don't like it, buy an old stock P85 or used P-120/140. If you want a very realistic piano sound (what I am waiting for) you may still have to fall back on PC samplers or modelers. *Sigh*

Both P85 and P155 has built in demo songs that might come in hand.
On P85 you only pressed the demo button and then striked a key and it would start playing.


// Philip

Well I have to say thank you for all of your advise. I ended up going with the P155 from kraft music, I got the complete home bundle, comes with a bench, the stand and some other stuff all for $1350 including shipping. I went and felt the p85 and the p155 and I liked the feel of the keys on the p155 better. I did try the CP33 and the keyboard felt good but (i know this isnt the most important factor) I did prefer the home piano look and built in speakers of the p155 better. I will probably only use the grand piano sound anyway and dont need all of the stage features. I looked into the CP50 as well but it's price was a bit high at $1699. It is a lot of money for a new player I know, but it seems yamaha's hold their value extremly well, so if I dont stick with it or if I move up to an acoustic piano it should sell well as used. Thanks again for all of your help.

Congratulations, Spitfire...you got yourself a fine piano...the P-155 is one of the best, and getting it bundled with the stand and bench was a wise move.

Happy playing,

Snazzy

can pls someone tell me wich one better is the p95 or p85??? and maybe if they know about it... (the p85 or 95 depends wich one is better) or the casio cdp100?












If the pen is mightier than the sword, and a picture is worth a thousand words, how dangerous is a fax?

p85 and p95 have the same piano sounds - the only difference I'm aware of is a few different sounds organs, harpichords - same amount though and the bottom on the stand is a little better.

The P95 also has better speakers (which may be why some people say it sounds better, despite the DPBSD tests showing that the samples appear to be the same). Also, the P95 has the matte finish black keys, which are quite nice.