Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Help a beginner choose a digital piano

Hey guys. I'm new to the forum and to music.

I've started my lessons a week ago and i'm looking forward to get a digital piano to practice.

After some research on the internet, i've narrowed it down to a few choices:

Casio PX 350
Yamaha P-115
Kawai ES 100
Roland F20

I'd like an opinion from you guys since i'm a beginner and i can't really differ the sound of each piano..

Keep in mind that i'm looking for something as close to an acoustic piano as possible (sound + feel of the keys).. I don't care much to the other sounds and etc since i don't plan playing on a band or something.

Well, this is interesting! Although I haven't started lessons (and perhaps never will), I'm in the same boat budget-wise and criteria-wise.

Best of luck!

Those are all decent choices. It is largely a matter of personal preference. All those brands are well represented in the prices paid thread near the top of this forum.

A beginner may not have a well informed opinion. So maybe decide based on visceral responses, perhaps a better deal on one model. The latter is how I decided. When I was shopping I narrowed the choices down to a Casio PX150 and Yamaha P105. I found a decent deal on the Casio and that made my choice for me.

I think most beginners way over think the choice. All the major brands have their fans and detractors. I tend to believe a beginner can work with any of those models and do well. Many tend to be happy or unhappy more based on their personality, not anything objective about the pianos.

If the choice doesn't work out, most new models can be sold or traded at around 70% to 75% of price paid. So it isn't that big a decision. If a person takes private lessons, the cost of lessons tends to quickly pass the price of most digital pianos.

Casio px 350 or Kawai ES100. Yamaha and Roland have awful key actions in that models. Use midi and PC software for sound.

I agree! If you want the best sound, play virtual pianos.
MP11 has the greatest action I ever experienced, but I would never pay again for those integrated sounds. Many people like the casio action - combined with a laptop.

Edit: I like the MP11 Rhodes sound a lot and I always use the built-in rythms. Nice to have a swing drummer in the back.

I agree that the casio and kawai models are likely the best choices in that price range (though the others will also have their adherents). I disagree that a software based piano is necessary. The sounds and expressiveness of either of those boards should be more than sufficient for a beginner. Of course virtual instruments and software based pianos can be added if that's desired (and it's certainly nice to have the option), but it's far from necessary.

Casio is going to be your best bet in this price range. Kawais are good, but really you get more bang for your buck with Casios in the sub-$1k price. Casio uses the same sound and action for piano in all of their models, whereas the other brands put lesser action and sound in the lower end models.

So really, you get the best sound and action that Casio has to offer.

Morodiene You're correct that casio does use the same action across its line of privia pianos (both the portable slab type and the furniture/console type), but it too has a lower end piano (The CDP line) that uses a lesser quality action. I've actually not played one so I don't know how o.k/horrible it is. But I've read that some people who have played it find it o.k./useable (unlike the competing pianos in that price range like the williams allegro, which seem to be almost universally panned as unplayable for any kind of serious music). The CDP line is super cheap now (guitar center seems to have them on sale for $299 as I type), but I have to think the step up to the lowest end privia ($499-ish) is well worth the money if one can afford it. Although I suppose that it's nice for the option to be there for those who can't.

If you can afford it, I'd opt for a better piano than the CDP range. I outgrew mine very quickly.

If you don't care about anything but piano sound and feel, there's almost no reason to buy a PX350 instead of the lower priced PX150, except that the speakers are a bit better.

My opinion is, if you're just going to play one of these using its internal sounds and internal speakers, the ES-100 is the most satisfying to play. If you might instead use the board mostly to trigger a superior software based piano in your computer, and can listen through headphones or higher quality external speakers, I'd be more inclined to look at the PX-150.

I would just keep it simple. Since you just want the piano sounds, go with the PX-150. Casio is also putting out soon the PX-160 with a new look, if you want to wait. Best bang for the buck, consist good piano key action, decent sound, the speakers are part of the piano, just need to plug it in, turn it on, and play.

I am not a beginner, but I am probably going to go with the PX-160, once it is out, for playing in jazz groups. A lot of pros are really liking the action of the Privia's. Another advantage is it is relatively light weight and easy to transport.

Don't forget that the PX350 has 250 built in tones vs only 18 for the PX150, and for some this is important. I don't have the 350 but my PX-3 has the same tone bank, and this would be a deal-breaker for me (for example, I love playing the flute part on "Can't You See"). It also has a better recorder. While again this is important to me, it may not be for the OP, but as we all recommend, he/she should do his homework and make the best choice based on his needs and his alone.

Actually, they don't have the same tone bank. I found the PX3 sound bank to be much better than the PX350. (BTW, the OP said they don't care about non-piano sounds, which is why I said what I did.)

Guys, thanks for all the feedback. I went shopping and got a good deal on a Roland F130R and ended up buying it.

Again, thanks for the replys!

I have a Casio PX-150 and a Yamaha P-35. Both are excellent low price alternatives. I even gig with the Yamaha, and it holds up well against many far more expensive stage pianos.

Andre Campana,
Congratulations on your purchase. The F130R seems like a really great choice! I hope that it gives you many years of enjoyment. It should serve you very well as you learn to play. Good Luck with your piano journey!

That does indeed seem like a great choice. COngrats!

I bought an F-130R myself a couple of months ago and I couldn't be happier. It's an excellent piano and a joy to play. Enjoy!

Thanks guys. I'm in love with it already and i don't even know how to play a single song ;D

Now, practice time =DD

Sure you do. I almost hate myself for even pointing this out, but anyone who can simply repeat one note over and over can play at least one so-called "song:" ie......

"Who let the dogs out"

(Think about it........yes it consists of exactly one note. : barf : )