Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Looking to buy my first DP, going for CDP-120 or P-35, tips?

Hello. A total beginner here looking to buy for my first digital piano. I've been looking for used but there don't seem to be many of them moving around here so I'll probably have to get a new one. I'm probably going for Casio CDP-120 or Yamaha P-35 because they're in a comfortable price range. I'm really interested in starting piano as a hobby, but at this point I can't tell if I'll still be playing in a year so I'd rather not invest too much money.

I went to a local music shop this week to get a feel on the pianos but as a newbie it's hard to tell anything about the action. Casio and Yamaha action seems to a thing that people have different opinions on. The salesperson helping me at the shop said that the best advice he can give me is that I should come back with headphones and try the pianos out and go for the one that I like most action and sound wise.

Something I'm slightly concerned about is the 32 note polyphony of the Yamaha, but the way I understand, if it ever becomes a problem you can deal with that by using a computer with the piano via USB/MIDI.

Here are the pianos I've been looking at:

- Casio CDP-120 385€
- Yamaha P-35 440€
- Casio CDP-220R 479€ (Apparently CDP-120 + more features)
- Casio Privia PX-135 550€ (Probably over my budget)
- Casio Privia PX-320 545€ ^

Thanks in advance, any help would be appreciated.

From what Ive been reading the CDP120-follow up to the previous CDP100-, is quite a good choice, keyboard action and tone wise. Speakers may be a weak issue but then again maybe not. Personally if I had the money I would opt for the slightly higher priced Privia range, PX320 and 350.
Good luck, Im in the same boat except at the moment I have zero budget!

Hi raikkU, welcome to Piano World!

I agree with the salesman, you need to go back with headphones and listen and play as much as you can before you decide.

What about the Yamaha P-105? This one has 128 polyphony. It might be over your budget.

Best of luck to you...

I'm happy about my Privia PX-135, that's all I can tell you. As far as I know the 350 is the same piano, just with more functions (accompaniment, recording, stuff like that).

Try the Digital Forum for tons of info.

A question, why 128 note poly? Polyphony is how many notes can be played at once. High amounts are great if youre connecting other devices via MIDI of course but for general playing?

I was just responding to the OP's concern that the P-35 had 32 polyphony. The next Yamaha model up is the P-105 with 128 polyphony (I guess the P-95 is still available with 64 polyphony); I mentioned it as an alternative.

It is important to purchase a digital piano that suits individual needs and not necessarily the greatest or biggest. However, anyone that purchases a digital piano should think about long term use and growth. It really comes down to what the user requires and can afford.

True I guess. After all if youre gonna spend a lot of money on something you want the best for the money.

P-95 does not seem to be available anymore, and the P-105 is 200€ more expensive than the P-35. As a beginner who literally can't play at all (yet) it's impossible to tell if the 200€ would be a worthwhile investment. I just went to the shop again, this time with my headphones and I think I prefer the Yamaha P-35 over the Casio alternative in that price range.

When I was shopping for a digital piano, the dealer had Yamahas and Casios at about the same price, and said that in the end it just comes down to personal preference. He put it like this: Some people love the Yamaha sound and some hate it. So choose the one you like best! But be aware that headphones can change everything on a digital. I have nice headphones that make a completely different sound from the piano's own speakers. And the sound changes a lot depending on where you put the piano! Even if it's just a digital.

Without disputing that for most people, 64 voices would suffice, it's worth noting that - depending on the complexity of the instrument - additional voices are used for overtones and stereo. So you can't just assume that if you have 88 note polyphony (e.g. one per physical piano key) you couldn't possibly get any better ...

I have never seen p35 but own a p105. thought they are amazing for the price.

Personally, I think Yamaha has better sounds, which it seems you agree based on what you've heard. The upgrade to the P105 gives you a slightly better feel (in my opinion) and another set of speakers (4 total vs. 2) giving it a broader sound if you're using the speakers. If the store you went to has both, turn up both speakers and compare them. I don't think you'll notice the difference much with headphones.

As far as polyphony, it's one of the things that gets chopped at the lower price range. I all you're playing is one instrument and no MIDI hookup, the only time you'll really notice it is when you are holding the pedal and playing a bunch of notes. Once you hit the max, every new note will cancel one out (usually the first note you played). The average player won't notice it too much.

If you get into heavy arrangements on the computer later on, you can still use the keyboard, just start using virtual instruments. Then you're just using your keyboard as a controller. That would get you over the polyphony max.

The CDP120 uses the CDP200 chip and has 48 polyphony.

Which might actually be 24 because it is split into two channels.

The other day I used a PAD instrument, played a note. Stood on the sustain, switched to a piano and struck the keys one by one. The PAD instrument abruptly vanished after pressing 23 keys.

However personally I'm of the biker boss rule. I.e. only when YOU exceed the capabilities of the device you are using should you get something better....


Though of course there is always the argument that if you practice on a better instrument you'll be encouraged to keep at it longer. As evidenced by 1000s if not millions of cheap £30 go out of tune daily guitars I see in everybody's homes.

If you had asked me a week ago my plan was to get a relatively cheap 61-key MIDI keyboard and see if I retain interest in the idea of playing piano and maybe play around with some electronic music production tools. From there it went to buying a used DP, as after some research it was obvious that 61 keys wouldn't suffice and the action wouldn't be something you'd like to learn piano on.

And finally now it looks like I'll be buying a new one. It just doesn't seem like a good trade-off to save one or two hundred euros for waiting a few months to find a decent deal while you could be practicing.

That said, I seriously have no idea if I'll be playing in a year from now. Right now the idea of picking up piano as a hobby interests me a lot and I've spent probably 20 hours doing research on what I should buy and how to start practicing.

don't worry it took me ages to decide which DP I wanted too.

I still learning and can't outplay it yet.

Hi RaikKU, welcome to the forum. My ears perked up when I read bits of your story. I started with a 61-key Yamaha NP11 a year ago. For someone new to piano, I was able to learn a lot. So for those on a limited budget it isn't the worst thing. Like you, I wasn't sure I was going to stick with piano. I thought my odds were poor (for a variety of reasons), so didn't want to spend a lot. Also space is at a premium.

Anyway, long story shortened, I upgraded to a 88-key Casio PX-150 three months ago. I continue to practice about an hour a day and continue to enjoy it. I am still not near the full potential of the 61-key unit. That said, I make the analogy of the upgrade like being from an old time 3-speed bicycle to a modern bicycle with 18 to 30 gears. There is always the option to spend more, and more and more.

You might also try to find refurbished or demo units. I bought my Casio PX-150 for 25% off street price because it was a demo unit. It looked good as new when I unboxed it, so am glad for the savings.

Then, I would not agonize about it anymore.

Just go and get that one and I would also recommend getting the L-85 furniture stand with it for an extra $99. I think it makes the whole thing feel more like a real piano instead of a keyboard sitting on top of some type of metal rack.

That will be a nice start for you to see if you really wish to do this.

And, don't forget ... you get to be good at playing piano by practicing ... not by buying equipment.

Sand Tiger,

Thanks for sharing your experience. I've been going through sites of local music shops for special offers or second hand pianos without much luck. These entry level digital pianos seem to be quite rare around here, only one or two shops have had those.

But the resale value should be quite OK with these things.



I'm really tight on space so I don't think I can get a fixed stand.

This is the spot where I'm planning to fit the piano somehow, maybe on the table or on an X stand in front of it.

The fixed stand is the exact same size as the digital piano, so it takes no extra space.

I strongly suggest you rethink that decision.

On the other hand, if you believe you are going to be using the keyboard in other places than where you reside, then that would be reason to utilize a portable stand. But, otherwise I think it looks "tacky" and is less stable (moves around) while you are playing.