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I have recently been shopping for a digital piano and so far have sampled quite a few brands: Yamaha, Kurzweil, Korg, Baldwin, Suzuki, Technics, Kawai and Casio. I play primarily classical music and want a piano that has an authentic feel and sound. My favorites so far have been the Yamaha YDP223 and P120, the Kawai CN290 and L-1 and the Technics PX662. The Kawai pianos seem to have a very rich bass but there is a break above middle C. The Technics has a rich sound across the board and the Yamahas seem to me to be in the middle. My budget is up to $1500 and I want to be sure I am getting the best piano for the money I'm spending. Of course, the salespeople have tried to steer me to the pianos they make the best profit from and I have come away from these encounters frustrated and confused. Any suggestions would be gratefully accepted and if there are other models I should consider please let me know. Also, any information about repair records on these pianos. Thank you.

I think you cannot really go wrong with the Yamaha and Kawai models you described above. I was only surprised that you didn't mention any Roland models. I'm not a fan of Roland's actions but that's more a personal matter. Roland's sound is very realistic and their actions are preferred by many pianists. I think some of the HP models must be within your budget too.
And don't forget Yamaha's recent CLP models like CLP 120, 130 and 150.
Kawai's CA 1000 model is a very nice instrument for it's price, though I think it exceeds your budget. If I'm not mistaking this one costs approximately 2500€, don't know the price in the USA though.

Rgds,
Michiel

Thanks so much for your feedback. I did look at the Roland RD150 and the Roland FP5. Like you I didn't care for the touch.

I recently purchased a Yamaha YDP-223. My choice was driven primarily by price and to a slightly lesser extent, features. At about $1,500 the price was right. The Yamaha has solid, weighted keys, attractive cabinet, decent sound and minor focus on gadgetry. It's a very nice instrument and should meet my needs for years to come (I'm an adult beginner). Good luck in your search, and let us know what you choose!

Just a comment that the Roland RD-150 and FP-5 do NOT have the same action. I've tried the RD-150 and didn't like it either - too mushy. However, I found the FP-5 quite acceptable; in fact, I own it! Neither is as firm as the Yamahas, however.

Thanks for all the feedback. I tried the HP series Rolands and the Clavinovas CLP 130 & 150 and the Technics PX-662 and 663. To my ear the Technics sound was a little more realistic but I preferred the firmer Yamaha touch. I spent more than I initially thought I would but I think I'll be happy with the Clavinova CLP 130. It is being delivered on Thursday!