What would you recommend to be the best DP on the market for a beginner student that is very reasonably priced? Of course, weighted keys and a pedal would be must haves I would think.

A few more questions: What's your budget? Would a stage piano (no console) be OK? How important is the action for you? Do you have access to other pianos for practicing? It's hard to advise whithout knowing a little more about your needs/wishes/boundary conditions.

I'm actually inquiring for one of my students as I told them I would check online to see what kind of "deal" I could find. I think it would be a pretty strict budget - under $1000 - maybe $500-$600 if that's available. I don't think the action would be a big deal. Portable would probably be what they have in mind.

I have a Kawai ES6 which is what she has her lessons on.

There's entry level, weighted, portable ~$500 to ~$750. Downside, looks, small speakers, maybe limited to 1 pedal.

Next are your basic consoles, ~$800 to ~$1500. Good if you don't need portability, speakers big enough to satisfy, usually more basic piano centered features. They make excellent "starter pianos."

Next group are nicer consoles ~$1500 to ~$4000+. Getting much nicer actions and piano sounds, nicest built-in speakers, wide range of features.

Other group are your slabs, ~$1000 to ~$4000+. Trading speakers and cabinet for better action and features. I don't recommend this approach for anyone younger than a teenager, but there is a lot of quality and value here.

Next group are acoustic alternatives. These are high dollar DP's usually designed as high functioning piano replacements. Probably start close to $3000 and go up. This is the controversial group because while they are amazing, a buyer is clearly has a "real piano" budget.

There are exceptions and those that cross over, but selecting from these groups will quickly get people to make suggestions and explain their favorites.

Grab yourself a Yamaha P155. It's the best value in that price range--it has the higher end (but not top end) Yamaha action that is found the better Arius models. Good piano. You can get it online with no tax and free shipping.

There's a pretty big drop off in quality when you get below that model.

Okay, so not a newbie question.

Under $1k, Yamaha has a new model of console called the YDP-135R. The P155 slab is great if they are open to a slab. Casio's PX-830 has tons of features.

Below that, I like the Korg SP-250. It's now available in black (previously red only), making it easier to put in a living room.

Below that is the usual trifecta, Casio PX-130 (no PX-135 news), Yamaha P95, and Korg SP170. These are $549 and less. You can add stands and pedals effectively making them consoles or keep them portable. Effectively, they do all the same things. Casio has the most technology of the group, Yamaha the best warranty, but treat them like instruments and pick the one you like best.

Good write up Sam.

To the OP, be aware that the P155 has a different and higher end action than the YDP-135R and the other Yamaha's mentioned. So in the way that matters I would say it's a better piano.

In the same price range roughly you could also get the Roland F120/RP301, would you consider those models? Or is the P155 the best in the price range (In your opinion)

I'm not a Roland fan, so I would take the Yamaha. There could be varying valid opinions, of course.

On the other hand don't like that the P155 does not have USB to Host, which I use all the time. But the OP may not care about that.

One thing, The P155 has a USB port, whilst the Roland models I mentioned do not. Does this affect the use of software Piano's? Would I be able to use a software piano on a Model without a USB port, and would the process be simple? Thanks

In what way do you use USB-to-host that would be different than Midi-to-USB?

USB-to-host allows you to connect to a computer through USB and transmit MIDI signals through a simple USB cable.

The P155 comes with the old-style true MIDI ports, which you then must get a separate device to convert to USB (or use a sound interface with MIDI in). Same functionality, but the P155 requires you to have a separate device, which I find annoying.

Not a huge deal, though. They both work.

The thing is that the P155 outclasses all its similarly priced competition by a good margin so I have recommended it many times. I only recently learned that it lacks USB to host, so I feel like I have to bring this up each time to atone for all the times I over-recommended it.

gvfarns, don't forget the often-overlooked Kawai EP3. It's a reduced spec. version of the ES6, but with the same AHA IV keyboard action.

Cheers,
James
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That's actually a good point. Thanks James. I have heard more than one person say they liked the EP3 better than the P155. I just have never seen or played one.

This model is sold under Kawai America's 'Professional' range (along with the MP6, MP10, and CE200/CE220), meaning that it will typically be found in the musical instrument chain stores rather than independent piano dealers.

James
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I am an adult beginner...for me, weight is also an issue. I plan on getting a slab type piano with stand for my home but eventually the piano is going to be living on my boat so I have to consider ease of setup/breakdown for when I'm underway. I've been looking at the P155 & EP3 which are both in the 40+ pound region. I haven't had a chance to see one in person yet; the one store I ventured into had neither in stock and the salesman seemed to be moonlighting from his primary job as a used car salesman.

I don't think my student is going to want to pay more than $500-$600. It sounds as if her parents are going to buy it for her. I'm going to check out some of the lower end models that were given - thanks. I had considered the P155 (Yamaha) when looking for my personal DP but ended up getting a good deal on the Kawai ES6 and liking the action a whole lot. And yes, I do like the ease of recording MIDI to my computer via simple USB cable.