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Best Pianos for Toddlers

If you are out there looking for the best pianos for toddlers, you have come to the right place.

This article discusses the features and benefits of some miniature pianos considering all the significant factors like specifications, warranty, durability, and safety.

This article will explore the best five pianos for your child. And, we have also highlighted the best-reviewed product in the verdict; make sure you read to find the most suitable product for your young pianist.

If You what to find out new information about other instruments, check out Aalberg Audio!

#1 Vtech Zoo Jamz Piano

The Vtech Zoo Jamz piano is an amusing musical instrument for little pianists. This is a toy with the benefits of having notes and elements of music to stimulate the young brains. This piano is definetly one of the Best Pianos for Toddlers.

Price: 

The product is available for $24.88.

Product Description

The Vtech Zoo Jamz piano is a four-in-one piano that lets your little angel choose from piano, violin, xylophone, and saxophone. It is one of the most fantastic and adorable educational tools.

Furthermore, it has a zebra character with black and white stripes that makes it quite appealing to infants.

This product is an absolute delight for kids from 18 months to 4 years.  

Pros

  • The lights and learning functions add to your child’s educational dimension.
  • A whammy bar and the scratch disc have been added to this piano which can aid in developing your angel’s fine motor skills.

Cons

  • The look of this product hardly resembles a piano.

Is Vtech Zoo Jamz piano Worth It?

Yes, it is worth it. It has incredible features to keep your child engaged for an extended period. The light sequence is what makes it the best for kids.  

In-Depth Review of Vtech Zoo Jamz piano

Benefits

  • Follow the light sequence to learn how to play.
  • Add your voice using the amplifying microphone.

Specifications

  • 4-1 device with the music of a violin, saxophone, xylophone, and piano.
  • It is pre-installed with 20 songs and melodies.
  • Voice amplifying microphone lets your child add a bit more to their creation.
  • It has a dimension of 2.95 x 17.32 x 11.14 inches and weighs 2.38 pounds.  
  • It requires 2 AA-sized batteries.

Quality

The build quality is pretty good, and it is lightweight. It is backed up with bright and cute looks. It also has some excellent songs and better sound quality compared to other toys. 

Additional Features

Make unique music – choose the instrument among the four available instruments and press the keys to compose music.

Jam with the animal band – press the star button above on the toy to join the band with zebra and pals.  

Warranty

To have the manufacturer’s warranty, you need to request a warranty from customer service.

Who Is Vtech Zoo Jamz piano Best for?

The Vtech Zoo Jamz piano is suitable for kids from 18 months to 4 years.

What Do People Say About Vtech Zoo Jamz piano?

Amazon:
#1 Very Entertaining and Sound Controllability
#2 It Has Lovely Songs, And It Has A Vibrant and Cute Look. 

#2 Korg Tiny Piano

Price

The price of the Korg Tiny Piano is very gentle on your pocket; it is available at an amount of $180.

Product Description

The Korg Tiny Piano is miniature toy piano with 25 keys with a great design and finished with a glossy touch.

The Korg piano comes with a fantastic sound quality which is way better than the other musical instruments available at this price.  

To function, it requires two AA-sized batteries.

Also, it is available in 4 different shades; red, pink, black, and white. Both the colors are classy and easy on the eyes. This piano is definetly one of the Best Pianos for Toddlers.

Pros

  • It appears precisely like a real piano.
  • Great sound quality.

Cons

  • It uses AA batteries, which are not rechargeable, and buying batteries every time it runs out can be expensive.

Is Korg Tiny Piano Worth It?

The Korg Piano looks appealing to any kid around the age of 3 – 6 years. And, this could be a superb first buy for your little angel.

In-Depth Review of Korg Tiny Piano

Benefits

  • It is smaller in size and fits into any room.
  • It offers a battery life of 6 hours with continuous use.
  • The Korg piano is available in three different shades, i.e., black, white, and red.  

Specifications

  • It has 8cm, integrated speakers.
  • The Korg tiny piano has in-built speakers.
  • It has 25 keys.
  • The Korg Tiny Piano has a dimension of 15.08 x 10.16 x 11.1 inches.
  • It weighs 10.36 pounds.

Quality

Speakers – Due to the in-built speakers, you do not need any other source or external speakers. Also, there is not much hassle of hooking it up.

Additional Features of Korg Tiny Piano

  • Accessible learning – the Korg digital piano is preinstalled with 25 songs and 50 demo songs as samples, which your Lil angel can practice and learn how to play.
  • Speakers – The built-in speakers do not look for external adjustments like other speakers and connectivity, and it has a battery-operated internal speaker system.

Who Is Korg Tiny Piano Best For?

The Korg Tiny Piano is efficiently built for kids of 3 to 6 years of age.

What Do People Say About Korg Tiny Piano?

Amazon:
#1 Good Sound and Remains in Tune. 
#2 Very Durable, And the Action Keys Produce A Good Quality Sound. 

#3 Laugh and Learn Light-up Piano by Fisher-Price

At first glance, this little piano is the cutest piano ever introduced to the world.  This piano is definetly one of the Best Pianos for Toddlers.

Price 

The laugh and learn piano by Fisher-Price get to you for an amount of $ 11.89.

Product Description of Laugh and Learn Light-up Piano by Fisher-Price

This product is an eight-key piano with preinstalled sounds and songs. Also, each key has a different light, which can be seen when the little hands come in contact with keys.  

Pros

  • The Laugh and Learn Piano by Fisher-Price showcases multi-colored keys.
  • It is no wonder it is a miniature piano, but this piano is no less than a real piano when it comes to enhancing your child’s musical knowledge.

Cons

  • The chance of outgrowing it is very high.

Is Laugh and Learn Light-up Piano by Fisher-Price Worth It?

Yes, I firmly believe that this product is worth it because it is suitable for babies for six months – 2 years and can stimulate creativity and artistic development.

In-Depth Review of Laugh and Learn Light-up Piano by Fisher-Price

Benefits

The Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn piano come with a feature called “Learning Mode.” This feature introduces your little one to various dimensions of music and tunes.

The multi-colored notes can engage the curious mind in understanding its features and boost creativity.

Furthermore, it comes with 2 AA batteries (complementing your purchase).

Specifications

  • Piano is made with durable plastic material.
  • It has a total of 8 keys in total, which activates lights, sounds, and songs.
  • Piano boasts about its Learning mode.
  • It weighs 1.25 pounds.
  • The piano has dimensions of 9.84 x 7.48 x 2.36 inches.

Quality

The build quality is relatively good; has it is made with premium quality plastic.

It is lightweight and has good sound quality backed by silly sounds. 

Additional features

  • Learning Mode helps in understanding notes, sounds, and colors (keys).
  • It comes with a handle which makes it easy to carry around.
  • It also has some silly music or sounds installed, sometimes you may hear a horn, or you may find a duck’s quack or a dog’s bark, or sometimes you may hear two voices at once, so do not be surprised.

Who Is it Best For?

The Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn piano is undoubtedly an excellent product for kids of 6 months to 2 years. This can hugely influence your little toddler and give him a direction of music and creativity.

What Do People Say About It?

Amazon:

#1 Easy to Play and Very Entertaining
#2 The Learning Mode Is Beneficial

#4 Melissa & Doug Grand Piano

Price

The Melissa & Doug piano is available in a price range of $91.49.

Product Details

Melissa & Doug have always created the product of the gold standard, as claimed by NBS news.

Styled and finished with shiny wood and glossy texture. It has 30 hand-tuned keys and features a songbook, an ideal pick for your toddler.

It is made with high-quality plastic, metal, and wood, which makes it durable and sturdy. This piano is definetly one of the Best Pianos for Toddlers.

Pros

  • Crafted with shiny and sturdy wood.
  • It is easy to play and offers a songbook to young pianists.
  • Highly Durable.

Cons

  • You may see some screws dislodged; make sure you tighten them.

Is Melissa & Doug Grand Piano Worth It?

Yes, it is worth the price. The company guarantees 100% satisfaction with this product. If you happen to be dissatisfied, you can call them up, and they will replace your product.

In-Depth Review of Melissa & Doug Grand Piano

Benefits

  • It does not contain small parts.
  • Highly durable product.  

Specifications

  • A miniature keyboard with 30 hand-tuned keys.
  • A songbook is included.
  • It has dimensions of 23 x 23.5 x 9.8 inches and weighs 21 pounds.

Quality

The build quality is excellent, made with quality materials. The sound quality is relatively good. 

Additional features of Melissa & Doug Grand Piano

Easy to Play

The Melissa and Doug has 30 tuned keys and introduces your Lil toddler to a world of music with a color-coded songbook.

Safe Design

The design of this product is very safe. It has a hinged safety lid that opens and closes safely, and it comes with a bench for comfortable use.

High-Quality Materials

It is made from high materials like wood, plastic, and metal, resulting in a durable and sturdy look.

 

Who Is Melissa & Doug Grand Piano Best For?

The Melissa and Doug piano is primarily made with a concern for toddlers.

It has been made with proper safety measures. Hence, this can be the first buy for your child.

What Do People Say About It?

Amazon:

#1 It Is Safe for Children
#2 It Is Durable

#5 Baby Einstein Magic Touch Piano

The Magic Touch establishes a connection with your child’s inquisitive need to touch kinds of stuff; for giving them a good experience of touch, baby Einstein has featured a magic touchpad. This piano is definetly one of the Best Pianos for Toddlers.

Price 

It is available at a legit budget-friendly price of $29.99.  

Product Description

The delicate touch of your child’s Lil fingers and the piano is capable of composing fine music.

It showcases excellent craftsmanship, crafted with wood, and boasts of magic touch tech. It gives your angel to compose music with classical music.

Pros

  • It has a cute appearance and can be played with ease.
  • It serves a great battery life, comparatively lasts longer than the others.
  • Has the ability to accommodate children as young as twelve months old.

Cons

  • Calling it piano can sound a bit ambitious; however, it’s a toy.

Is Baby Einstein Magic Touch Piano Worth It?

Yes, there is no other way other than accepting that this is genuinely a terrific product. It is worth every penny, as it showcases spectacular features and specs.  

In-Depth Review of Baby Einstein Magic Touch Piano

Benefits

  • The battery life lasts longer than other toys; it can serve you a total battery life of 144 hours.
  • Child safe.

Specifications

  • Fully wooden body with magic touch technology.
  • It features three sheets of music with six different songs.
  • Safe for children.
  • It features great quality speakers with a handy control system.  
  • Dimensions – 12.0 x 5.0 x 9.0 inches and weighs just 2 pounds.
  • Requires 3 AAA batteries to operate.  

Quality

The build quality is exceptionally excellent, it is made with wood, and it features magic touch technology. It is completely child-safe,

Additional Features

  • It can serve a battery life of 144 hours
  • It has excellent speakers worth the price
  • Lightweight

Who Is Baby Einstein Magic Touch Piano Best For?

It is an absolute delight for kids above six months of age. It is an excellent toy for the age group of 6 months to 4 years. Thats why this piano is definetly one of the Best Pianos for Toddlers.

What Do People Say About Baby Einstein Magic Touch Piano?

Baby Einstein Official Website:

#1 Great Craftwork, Easy to Use, And Entertaining 
#2 It Has Excellent Features and Has A Stylish and Modern Look

The Verdict

Through this article, we have discussed the top five best pianos for toddlers. Among these five products, we suggest that you pick the Baby Einstein Magic Touch Piano.

Because not only it has great features but is absolutely child safe too. It has an adequate volume control system, very lightweight, as light as cotton, and carrying it around will not be a big deal.

Baby Einstein Magic Touch is an excellent toy for kids that can be a fantastic first buy for your toddler. 

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Yamaha P115 Review

Yamaha has made enormous actions to enhance their devices to be able to successful and profitable. The Yamaha P115 has replaced the preceding model P105. It is a new product in the compact product line. A digital piano with a sleek and compact design is what all pianists look for, and the P115 is just that.

The Yamaha P115 has pre-installed samples from CFIIIS 9 Grand piano and showcases some excellent features like Tri-sensor actions with GHS. It is ideal for home usage and is great for gigs for its excellent piano sound output. 

We have researched thoroughly about the Yamaha P115, and here’s everything we have to offer. This article will help you explore its specifications, features, and every detail that this digital piano has. 

Product discription

It has a formal hammer action, and it is a full-sized digital piano with 88 weighted keys and features Tri-Sensor Hammer Action keys which means the harder you press the keys, the louder the tone becomes.

The external amplifiers and other devices get connected to the piano through an auxiliary cable. The piano as a matter of fact is not only compact but also pretty portable. You can effortlessly carry the keyboard without any additional assistance.

The Price of Yamaha P115 is $782.96. It is a beautiful and unique digital piano that is available at a pocket-friendly price.

Pros

  • Yamaha P115 has a 192 note polyphony which is excellent compared to the other models in this section, which have about 64 notes.
  • It uses a Pure CF engine.
  • It has non-slippery full-weighted keys.
  • Built-in library with 50 songs.
  • 14 premium instrument sounds.
  • Graded Hammer Action keyboard with 88 keys.
  • It can easily simulate the grand piano sound.
  • It comes with versatile sensitivity settings.
  • The piano is great for both amateur and professional pianists.

Cons

  • Not many options for sound customization are available.
  • It has no display, but you can use the Digital Piano Controller app, formulated by Yamaha, especially for iOS devices. The app will enable the regulation of different parameters like voice, modes, etc.
  • The low ends keys are pretty heavier.
  • It does not alter the standard “Equal Temperament” to different tuning networks like Pure major.

Is The Yamaha P115 Worth It?

The Yamaha P115 is an excellent buy given the affordable price range it comes in. Although it does not have too many additional features, it is undoubtedly an excellent investment for beginner pianists.

In-Depth Reviews of The Yamaha P115

Benefits:

#1 192 Polyphonies

The Yamaha P115 has an increased number of polyphonies. Digital piano has a flexible acoustic control, and there are options for adjusting the sensitivity of the tips. It is very manageable to put away when it is not in practice.

Yamaha P115 is straightforward to change the piano positions, and there are plenty of keyboard bags that will fit the piano. The high-end keys are pretty feather-light, which makes them easy to use.

#2 Setting

The intricate setting of the keyboard allows you to play the guitar with enormous eloquence. The fixed setting of the keyboard makes it less sensitive, and the same amount of volume is generated no matter how hard or soft the piano is played. The medium setting feels like the most natural piano.

#3 Reverb

There are four types of reverb available on the keyboard of the piano. They are Recital Hall, Concert Hall, Chamber, and Club. You can adjust the profundity of the reverb from 0 to 21.

#4 Footswitch

It comes with a basic footswitch which may look like a flimsy one but is a compact footswitch.

In addition, it also comes with a case which makes it easier for you to carry it to places.

Specifications of The Yamaha P115

  • It has exceptional touch sensitivity, or four presets (Hard, Medium, Soft, Fixed)
  • Lesson Function (ability to practice each hand’s part separately)
  • Weighs 11.8 kg (26 lbs.)
  • Modes: Duo, Split, Dual. 
  • 88 full-weighted keys with matte black keytops
  • Graded Hammer Standard action
  • Sound: Pure CF Sound Engine. It also comes with an excellent Sound boost and intelligent Acoustic supervision.
  • Two-track MIDI recorder, which enables recording the performances on the

internal memory in the SMF format. The recordings are not the actual sound of the instrument but the MIDI data. 

  • Two dedicated speakers transmit full, rich low frequency, and the onboard speakers are adequate for using it casually at home.
  • A built-in library in the device already includes 50 presets that you can easily play back.
  • 14 instrument sounds: It will allow you to remake the conventional click tone of the metronome to one of the 14 built-in rhythms, including Disco, Jazz, and so on.
  • The Auto function of this piano staves off excessive power consumption by automatically shutting the piano off after 30 minutes of no use. You can disable the feature.
  • Fifty preset piano songs + 14 demo songs.

The split mode divides the keyboard into two broad parts, and it even allows to play dual instrument sound in each category. The split point can also be changed where the keyboard is divided. 

The dual mode of the keyboard enables the user to play two varied sounds in the same way across the entire expanse of the keyboard. It also allows splitting the keyboard into two halves, each having ranges that can be identified.

Quality

The Yamaha P115 has an excellent sound output and is packed with fantastic features like the GUI controlling app, sound boost, Intelligent Acoustic Control, and so on. It has a simple design, it is sleek, and it has a very impressive red lining on the top of the keys.

The most affordable hammer action mechanism is GHS action (Graded Hammer Standard), the keyboard action. GHS is a bit hard, which is suitable for building the strength of the finger and the technique required for playing the instrument smoothly. The piano keys are made up of plastics and do not have a synthetic key top.

Additional Features of The Yamaha P115

  • It is a versatile instrument that can use for a wide variety of settings.
  • In addition to the recording and other features and soundtrack styles, there are more than 13 dedicated switches.
  • The quality of the sound is compelling. It delivers an exceptionally realistic and audible sound. It makes the sound more meaningful and stimulating.
  • You can use an adapter or charger to connect the piano to an iPhone or iPad. It allows you to regulate the parameters of the piano in an automatic visible way.
  • The devices come with many accessories like Music Rest, Footswitch, AC power adapter, Owner’s manual, etc.
  • It comes with a basic Yamaha Footswitch, which is relatively compact. Yamaha also offers the optional LP – 5A 3 – pedal unit for the P115 for an even more practical playing knowledge.

The warranty of the product is more than three years.

Who Is The Yamaha P115 Best For?

It is remarkable for beginners and intermediate and advanced players, and it is easy to access.

What Do People Say About The Yamaha P115?

Amazon Reviews:

#1 Great sound and very portable

#2 Excellent key finishing and sound output

Youtube Reviews:

#1 Realistic sound notes

#2 Amazing sound

The Verdict: Is The Yamaha P115 Worth It?

The Yamaha P115 is worth a buy. It comes with some exceptional functions and features.

In terms of design, it is pretty sleek and straightforward, which makes it look somewhat out-of-the-box.

Yamaha P115 offers ten different pianist styles such as Boogie, Blues, Rag, and so on, making the piano innovative from sound and feature facets. It is exactly like a digital piano, and it does give an authentic playing experience. Digital piano has a great recording feature that analyzes and assesses the performance. It has precisely the right amount of components required and can use the piano’s keyboard for multi-track recordings and music production.

The automatic power-off system works great, which prevents the piano from getting damaged. It comes with a protective case which makes it easier to transport the keyboard and not damage the piano quickly.

Yamaha is known for its P series pianos, their exceptional sound, voice options, and technology that works great for beginners and pro pianists.

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Casio CGP-700 Review

The Casio CGP- 700 is a product of Casio’s compact line. It does not come under the Privia line due to its MiX sound source, while the Privia uses an AiR sound source.

The CGP stands for Compact Grand Piano, which focuses on piano-centric features, like Tri-Sensor Hammer and Graded Action Keys. To find out more, keep reading The Casio CGP700 review!

Check out our other posts from Aalberg Audio!

The Casio CGP 700 is available within a price range of $150 – $250.  This a great product and is available in pocket-friendly value.

Product Description

Design

Casio CGP 700 is a keyboard with a compact design that comes with a wooden stand. This keyboard has a very modern and professional look in a slim design. It is made with high-quality matte plastic and is only available in black shade. It has two prominent speakers’ built-in stand, and the other four cemented on itself.

Despite not being a product of the Privia line, it has a 5.3” color touchscreen, which is an appealing aspect to piano players. The user interface is pretty laid out and user-friendly. You can select tones, rhythms, sound effects and record your creation with just a switch.

Keyboard

The CGP 700 is a full-sized 88-key digital piano that features the most famous Tri-Sensor Hammer Action Keyboard II. It uses a springless hammer system. In other words, there is a little hammer equipped that stimulates each fundamental movement like a real piano.

Under each key, three sensors detect the velocity of the keystrokes exerted by you when playing and allow for faster note repetition when playing quick notes. Moreover, it is finished with ebony and ivory tops.

The keys are touch-sensitive, which responds differently depending on how hard or soft your press the keys.

Sound

Casio CGP 700 uses a different sound source known as MiX. It offers a variety of sounds, effects, and rhythms. It does not provide linear morphing, resonance, and other features that would make it more realistic. 

This digital piano uses the same stereo as a grand piano and offers a variety of instruments. 

Casio CGP 700 offers 28 pianos, 57 electric pianos, 38 organs, 40 guitars, 22 brass, 45 strings, and 84 synth sounds.

Moreover, you can also use special effects to bring the best out of it.   

Polyphony

It has a 128 note polyphony which is very common among the pianos in this range. 

It is sufficient, and you can play all the complex music with this keyboard.

Pros

  • Great Connectivity
  • 5.3” touchscreen.
  • Six speaker sound system.
  • Suitable for great concerts and home.
  • +550 in-built tracks.

Cons

  • Sustain pedal is included.
  • Sound is not that sophisticated and adjustable as Casio’s PX360

Is Casio CGP- 700 Worth It?

Honestly, the Casio CGP700 is genuinely a delightful and versatile instrument. At the affordable price range, it almost surprises by the number of features it has to offer.

It is excellent for live performance, home use, or even small gigs.

Who Is Casio CGP- 700 Best For?

The Casio CGP700 is an excellent buy for both beginner and professional pianists.

In-Depth Review of Casio CGP- 700:

Now without wasting any more time, let us see and understand the unique features it offers and the specifications it’s known for:

Benefits:

#1 Accessories

  • Integrated Stand with Built-In Speakers – This piano comes with a wooden stand and two in-built speakers.
  • Pedals – CGP 700 comes with a basic footswitch that can work great for most beginners. Although the pedal is a flimsy one that does not support half-pedaling, it is lightweight and easily portable, making it a perfect footswitch for gigs.  
  • Bag – This product is no different than other portable pianos when it comes to portability. The Casio CGP 700 is mainly used as a keyboard suitable for gigs. For its 88-key full-sized keyboard, Casio offers a bag for easy carrying and easy travel.
  • Headphones – Casio offers a good pair of headphones with this product. They come in handy when practicing in private and solely focusing on your music. 

Casio headphones are a better choice any day as they provide clear and detailed sounds compared to speakers on board.

 

#2 Accompaniment Functions


Features 200 accompaniment rhythms meant to accompany your performance with a full backing band react to the chords you play.

  • One-Touch Preset – Quickly finds the optimal tone and settings to sue the accompaniment pattern.
  • 305 presets – It comes packed with 305 presets, which provide one-touch tone, chord, rhythm, and settings optimized for particular genres. 
  • 17 Temperaments – These include Pure Major, Pure Minor, Mean-Tone, Kirnberger 3, etc.

Specifications of Casio CGP- 700

  • Full weighted 88-key keyboard with ivory simulation and Ebony keys.
  • Tri-Sensor Graded Scaled Hammer Action.
  • Variation in touch sensitivity.
  • The sound processor has MiX (Multi-Expressive Integration).
  • 128-Note Polyphony.
  • 550 instrument sounds out of which 28 are piano sounds.
  • Supports Split, Dual and Duet play. 
  • Fewer Functions – This allows you to practice each hand part separately. 
  • 200 Accompaniment patterns and loaded with +3 05bpresets.
  • 16 Track MIDI recorder with and punch-in recording.
  • USB audio recorder – WAV (44.1 kHz, 16-bit, stereo).
  • Showcases Metronome, Transpose, Tuning, and Octave-shift.
  • Seventeen variations in Temperament and Stretch tuning.
  • Stand built-in speakers – 2 x 20 watts (12cm x 2 + 5cm x 2 +12cm x 2).
  • Connections – USB to the Host, USB to Device, 2 Headphone jacks, Line Out, Audio In, and Sustain Pedal Jacks.
  • Dimensions: 132.2 x 29.3 x 14.1 cm (52”x 11.5” x 5.5”).
  • Weight: 11.7 kg (26lbs), withstand – 25.7 kg (56.7lbs). 

Quality

#1 Sound and Speakers

Casio CGP 700 is a 9-foot-long digital piano, producing impressive sound quality. It is like a miniature concert grand piano with a compact design that can play in stereo or even mono. This digital piano also has a damper resonance simulation.

Digital piano has a unique three-way speaker system that can fill any room with rich and detailed music.

#2 Piano Key Tops

Casio CGP 700 features the most Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II, which can recreate the touch and experience of a grand concert piano. It is 127 times the resolution of any traditional piano. 

It feels exactly like a grand piano as the keys have a greater density towards the lower case and a lower density at the top. 

The surface feels very natural, showcases the textures of ebony and ivory.

Additional Features of Casio CGP- 700:

#1 Modes

  • Dual Mode – Like the 550, the 700 also has built-in sound. However, the 700 allows you to create new and complicated sounds by layering two different instruments. 

And it allows adjusting the volume balance, which makes one of the sounds more prominent to hear.

  • Split Mode – With this mode, you will be able to divide your piano into different sections and play various sounds in each part. Also, you can adjust layered sound, which will allow you to play four instruments at once.
  • Duet Play – The duet play feature allows you to divide the piano into two equal parts with the same pitch range. In other words, two people can play the same notes on different sides of the keyboard.

This feature is handy when you use it to learn piano with your teacher. 

#2 Recording and Playback

The Casio CGP 700 features two ways of recording, one is through MIDI, and the other is Audio recording.

  • MIDI Recording – When you are recording through the MIDI, you are not registering the tracks but performance. Due to this, it is possible to edit the notes and modify tones and alter other parameters after the recording. The CGP 700 can store 100 MIDI songs. 

Also, you can listen to a previously recorded song while recording the next music. Another useful feature here is the ‘Punch-In Recording,’ which allows re-recording a part of the song you want to correct or improve.

  • Audio Recording – The Casio CGP 700 showcases its Audio WAV Recording, which records the sound from the piano. Comparing these MIDI files, we cannot edit the recordings after the completion of the recording. 

It records the audio file in WAV format and saves it on a USB Flash drive only. It is one of the most common procedures than MIDI and can be played on most smart devices and allows sharing the music through applications, or you can burn it on a CD for your family and pals.

#3 Transpose, Octave Shift, and Tuning

The Casio CGP 700 has three primary functions for adjusting the pitch of the piano. 

  • The transpose feature allows you to adjust the pitch of the entire keyboard in semitone steps.
  • The Octave Shift allows for shifting the pitch into octaves. This function can be used while playing in Duet Mode.  
  • Tuning adjusts the tuning of the piano from standard A440 in 0.1 Hz.

Warranty:

The Casio CGP700 comes with a 3-year manufacturer warranty.

Who Is Casio CGP- 700 Best For?

Summing it up, it is the ideal product for people who are not looking for a piano with authentic piano sound and experience but for a great music partner who is interested in music composing and a source of entertainment.

The Casio CGP 700 can keep you interested in this for a prolonged period and help you discover its core features, styles, and different instruments.

What Do People Say About Casio CGP- 700?

Amazon:

#1 In-Built recorder, editing, and user friendly

#2 Great sound quality with great presets

YouTube:

#1 Worth every penny

#2 Advanced tech and way more improved than standard line products

Verdict:

The Casio CGP- 700 is undoubtedly an excellent delight for pianists. It features a durable and robust stand equipped with 40-watt speakers which can produce a high-quality sound. Casio CGP is a good pick for piano players because it balances the assembled features and fundamental piano-centric features. 

It has many accompaniment styles which can help you with your techniques and effects. It belongs to the compact line of pianos but still has features of Privia pianos.

The piano produces excellent quality sound and is pretty user-friendly and can be listed as the best product for beginners and intermediates. It has incredible features starting from GHS action keys to a touchscreen display. The recording has been made easy with MIDI recording. 

And, it has a sleek design and very lightweight. A product with great features and sound quality is always a must-pick. 

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5 Best Digital Pianos Under $1000

Looking for a good digital piano on a budget can be a pretty daunting task. Not in the wrong way, but because there are so many fantastic products in the market. Finding the 5 best Digital pianos under $1000 will need extensive market research so you can finally make an informed buy. 

But the good thing is, we have covered you on that end. It does not matter if you are a professional or amateur; we have shortlisted some of the best digital pianos currently dominating the market. Keep reading to know their stand-out features, pros, specs, and possible drawbacks. 

Tip: Regardless if you are a pro or beginner pianist, always pick a product based on your requirements, its pros, and cons. Ideally, a piano with 88 keys and graded hammer standard is a good one for all.

#1 Yamaha P115

Yamaha P115 is a full-size digital piano with 88 weighted keys and standard hammer action, thus feels nice to play and is one of the 5 Best Digital Pianos Under $1000

When you tap on a key, the graded hammer strikes the string inside the piano. The harder you press the keys, the louder the sound or vibration gets. Digital piano has an auxiliary cable that connects the external amplifiers or other devices. 

It is built on rhythms from bare rock to swing metals. The piano weighs only 37.5 pounds and has dimensions of 58.2 x 16.1 x 11.8 inches. 

Yamaha P115 is priced at $782.96, which fits well onto category 5 Best Digital Pianos Under $1000

Pros

  • This Yamaha P115 has an application that allows you to save and configure your settings. 
  • It has fourteen different sound presets.

Cons

  • You will only get the warranty if you purchase it from amazon.com. 

Is It Worth It?

Yes, this is one of the top models ever produced by Yamaha. It has a sound quality that is superior to all the models in the P series. 

In-depth Reviews:

Benefits:

  • Highly Portable.
  • USB host port. 
  • It also has an option for adjusting the sensitivity of the keys. 

Specifications:

  • Graded Hammer standard weighted full-sized keyboard.
  • Sampled sound from Yamaha’s great CF III. 
  • Controller App – Has GUI for quick navigation and configuration.
  • PA 150 power supply and sustain pedal.

Quality:

The quality of the product is believed to be great. The quality of sound produces hard to get in a price range within $1000. It has excellent features like GHS keys and GUI controlling app. 

Additional Features of Yamaha P115:

  • CF Sample – The CF sound engine is sampled from Yamaha CF III grand piano, which is heard by the world; the same CF Engine is used by this P115 which allows incredible dynamics to the quality of the sound. Higher touch on the lower end and lower touch on the higher end. 
  • Authentic Touch – The P115 boasts about its graded hammer standard technology, giving an authentic piano touch.
  • Enhanced Sound – Melody and treble passages are pretty excellent and expressive. It comes with two amplifiers of 7 watts each.  

You will get to have a 3-year extended warranty on this product.

Who is Yamaha P115 best for?

With the premium features and additional benefits, the Yamaha P115 is an excellent pick for pro pianists. It is also one of the best 5 Best Digital Pianos Under $1000

What Do People Say About Yamaha P115?

YouTube Reviews:
#1 Warm sound and tone

The user is overwhelmed by the warm sound and tone of the piano.

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#2 The best choice ever

The P115 has several pros over its predecessor models and is one of the best in the budget. 

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Amazon Reviews:

#1 Fun and valuable for classical pianists

The user is pleased with the product and suggests it’s best for classical pianists.

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#2 Amazing reverb

The piano has a great reverb that stands out great at events and parties. 

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#2 Casio PX-770 BK Privia

Casio PX-770 is a grand piano combined with excellent key action. It comes with a compact cabinet style that has an integrated three-pedal system and it is one of the 5 Best Digital Pianos Under $1000

It has a 128-note polyphony, allowing you to play music without missing out on a tone. Casio PX-770 is a furniture-type piano that goes beyond the expectations of any electric piano. For a better experience, some primary function buttons have been relocated on the keyboard’s left-hand side. 

It has many improved prospects for surpassing the standard models of Casio. It comes in three color shades black, white and brown. 

Casio PX-770 BK Privia is priced at $749,25. It is one of the Best Digital Pianos Under $1000

Pros

  • Damper resonance and hammer response.
  • It is capable of recording two tracks that can overlap to play simultaneously

Cons

  • It does not have a screen display

Is Casio PX-770 Worth It?

In case you are looking for a good quality digital piano, primarily for home usage, it is a great product.

Benefits: 

  • Lightweight and portable.
  • Compact and does eat much space.

Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 54.53″ x 11.77″ x 31.42″ / Weight: 69.4 lbs.
  • Keyboard: 88 fully weighted keys with artificial ebony & ivory tops.
  • 3 level touch sensitivity.
  • Key action: tri-sensor scaled hammer action II.
  • Sound engine: Air Sound Source multi-dimensional morphing.
  • Instrument sounds: 19 in total (5 pianos).
  • 60 preset songs.
  • Modes: duo, split, dual.
  • Lesson function.
  • MIDI recorder: 2 tracks.
  • Octave shift, transpose, fine-tuning, metronome.
  • Concert play feature: 10 songs.
  • Temperament: 17 types.
  • USB to Host, sustain jack, two headphone jacks.
  • Two 8Watt speakers.

Quality:

The air sound engine that this piano uses is called Air Sound Source. It has a superior capacity which provides good order to hold better samples and produces a better sound. 

The speaker system can be the most impressive aspect of this piano and is equipped with two 8-watt speakers, which do more than enough for home-usage.

Additional Features of Casio PX-770:

  • Dual Mode: Enables you to mix two sounds offered by the instrument. When you select two sounds, the device will mix them and thus create complex and harmonic music.
  • Split Mode: It allows you to fold the piano into two parts. Also, you can allocate different sounds for each part. 
  • Duet Mode: If you happen to be a beginner, this mode will help you a lot. You can split the keyboard into two halves and practice specific notes at the same time. 
  • Keyboard: A full-sized keyboard with 88 keys having ivory and ebony touch. Tri-sensor scaled hammer actin 11 serves you the advantage of replicating the functioning process of acoustic keyboards.  

Generally, all musical instruments have a warranty period of 1 year. And sometimes it depends on the distributors you are buying from. 

Who Is Casio PX-770 Best For?

It is the best digital piano for beginners and intermediates. Very helpful in learning piano. Also from the price side, it is one of the 5 Best Digital Pianos Under $1000

What Do People Say About Casio PX-770?

YouTube Reviews:

#1 Incredible Sound output

The sound output of the piano is incredible.

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#2 Great Design

Users also like the built design of the piano.

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Amazon Reviews:

#1 Sleek and modern design

The piano is excellently designed with crisp sound output.

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#2 Feels like an acoustic piano

An excellent electronic piano that almost feels like an acoustic one.

#3 Yamaha P45

It is the latest model in the P series, the successor of P35. 

It is an 88 weighted key digital keyboard that highlights Advance Wave Management which creates rich music. Enhanced quality, and it boasts of its 64-note polyphony for a rich and classy quality of music. 

It has a contemporary design, has better portability and storage. Digital piano weighs 36 pounds, and it has got dimensions of 52.25 x 11.5 x 6 inches.

It has a price range of $500 – $1000. 

Pros

  • It does not have many buttons and unnecessary placements, making it the best for beginners.
  • The low and high notes act differently as a grand piano. 

Cons

  • The position of the headphone input may cause discomfort.

Is Yamaha P45 Worth It?

Yes, of course, this is the latest model of Yamaha’s contemporary series. It has enhanced features. It is the lowest-cost 88 key digital keyboard with AWM technology and GHS.  

In-Depth Reviews

Benefits

  • Portable.
  • Lightweight and compact. 

Specifications

  • Ten different voices or sample tones from real acoustic pianos. 
  • Single-button operation. 
  • Graded hammer standard action keys. 
  • Advanced Wave Memory. 

Quality

A product with a single button operation and GHS is incredible. Also, having the AWM makes it even more classy. 

This product showcases two modes and is entirely user-friendly. It produces a sound that is exactly like an acoustic piano.

Additional Features of Yamaha P45

  • AWM Tech – It uses digital technology to record the most authentic sounds of grand acoustic pianos, and AWM sampling creates a deep and rich tone by combining pairs of waveforms. 
  • Dual/Split Mode – The dual-mode allows you to mix up two of the ten preset voices for rich sound, while the split mode allows you to play two different sounds in the higher and lower end. 
  • USB Host – The USB Host Port allows you to connect your devices like computers and mobiles to the device. This is the same input and output of MIDI and supports 1/4″ headphone output, which lets your practice be silent.  
  • Reverb & Chorus Effects – Another fantabulous feature of chorus and reverb effects that allows for excellent sound quality and enhanced sound effects.  
  • Furthermore, it also boasts of its metronome and ECO operation, which automatically shuts off the piano after a period of inactivity. 

It has a year of manufacturer’s warranty.

Who Is Yamaha P45 Best For?

It is an ideal instrument for both beginners and intermediates, which gives you the best experience of a real acoustic piano. It is compact and lightweight and has better portability.  

What Do People Say About Yamaha P45?

YouTube Reviews

#1 Better than a lot of other products on the market

The piano is super-smooth and is capable of producing incredible music.

#2 Great reverb 

The piano has great reverb effects and comes in premium quality.

Amazon Reviews

#1 Great quality at a great price

Given the premium features the piano comes with, it is pretty decently priced.

#2 Looks and sounds great

The keys are way faster of this piano than other similar products. It is well-designed, and the sound output is exceptional.

#4 Alesis Recital

It is a full-sized digital piano with semi-weighted 88 keys, with an adjustable response of the keys. If you are a beginner, you can take advantage of its split mode.

The Alesis recital has a modern or futuristic look. It’s slim and lightweight, and the keys are decorated with LED lights which will give you a great experience. 

It boasts its premium sound quality. It has five voices, including acoustic piano, electric piano, synth, bass, and organ. 

This semi-weighted 88 key keyboard has adjustable touch sensitivity. Technology is at its best. It is equipped with two 20-watt speakers, which makes the sound fill up the room. There is also a lesson mode that beginners can use for easy learning. 

It has a price range between $500 to $1000.

Pros

  • Sleek design, which takes up minimal space. 
  • It comes with a premium subscription to Skoove, which has 60 lessons to master your skills. 

Cons

  • Made only for beginners.

Is Alesis Recital Worth It?

Yes, you can count on this product. It has features with advanced tech, and the price of this Alesis Recital is pretty reasonable. 

In-Depth Reviews:

Benefits:

  • Highly Portable. 

Specifications:

  • It weighs 16.2 pounds and has dimensions of 3.6 x 11.52 x 50.52 inches. 
  • RCA or Aux inputs.
  • USB connectivity. 
  • User-friendly. 
  • 5Pre-installed voices. 
  • 128 note polyphony.

Quality:

You would not expect such features from a piano under $500. The sound out is excellent. It has reverb and chorus effects which produces a sound of high quality. 

Additional Features of Alesis Recital:

  • Sound – The sound quality is incredible compared to that of other highly-priced digital pianos. 
  • Three months Premium Subscription – It comes with a free 3-month premium subscription to Skoove, which will help you with your learning process and several advancements.
  • Modes – It has a split mode that allows you to get your piano into two halves and lets you play two different notes simultaneously. 
  • Speakers & Connectivity – It has two 20-watt speakers which produce an excellent quality sound, and it supports USB and AUX cables which allow you to connect with your phone and record your music. 
  • Virtual Class – Gives you 60 virtual classes absolutely free.

It comes with a year of manufacturer’s warranty, though sometimes it depends on the distributors you are buying it from. 

Who Is Alesis Recital Best For?

It is manufactured thinking about the beginners or school or college-goers.

What Do People Say About Alesis Recital?

YouTube Reviews

#1 Worth the buy

Extremely easy to use with touch-sensitive keys.

#2 Great for beginners

This piano is a great beginner one that can also be used for lighter gigs for pros.

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Amazon Reviews

#1 Great one for both beginners and pros

It is packed with features and makes for a great buy in the budget.

#5 Casio PX-860 BK Privia 

Casio PX 860 is a combination of action and sound engine power, which showcases class and quality. It is a full-sized digital piano with 88 keys with ivory finishing. Digital piano has 88 full-sized weighted scaled hammer action tri-sensor keys. It has 256-note polyphony. This digital piano on one of the 5 Best Digital Pianos Under $1000

It also provides USB inputs that connect to your iOS or Android and records your music. Digital piano has more realistic acoustic sounds. It has a new feature called Hall Simulation. It has outstanding features surpassing all its predecessors. Weighing 90 pounds and has the dimensions of 58 x 15 x 16 inches. 

Casio PX-860 BK Privia is available in the market with a price range of around $1000.

Pros

  • Screen display.
  • It has a USB and headphone interface. 
  • Portable

Cons

  • A bit heavy to carry than the other models.

Is Casio PX-860 BK Privia Worth It?

It would be great to buy, because it has so many advanced features like tri-sensor keys, hall simulation, etc. Px-860 has retained all the features from its predecessors and is way more upgraded than the previous models, and still has a price of around $1000. It is one of the 5 Best Digital Pianos Under $1000 ever introduced

In-Depth Reviews:

Benefits:

  • Ten live orchestra performances are installed.   
  • It also has additional accessories like a headphone and a seat for the player.

Specifications:

  • Audio Recording (44.1 kHz WAV Format / up to approximately 25 min. per song)
  • 18 high-quality tones, including stereo-sampled grand piano tones
  • Digital effects: reverb and chorus (4 types), brilliance, DSP (preset for some tones)
  • Lesson feature using60 Music Library song, also ten user loaded songs
  • Two Grand Piano buttons and an Electronic Piano button for instant access
  • Recorder: 2 tracks x 1 song, approximately 5,000 notes
  • USB flash drive port
  • Line OUT jacks (L/MONO, R)
  • Shuts off automatically after a period of inactivity.

Quality:

Showcasing classic features, the PX-860 is a fantastic product. With 256 polyphony notes, this product generates a sound precisely like grand pianos. 

Additional Features of Casio PX-860 BK Privia:

  • Keyboard – It has 88 keys, with tri-sensors and grand piano sound timing. It also has ebony and ivory keys for optimal fingertip fitting. 
  • Lid-Simulator – Reproduces same sounding effects as an acoustic piano. 
  • Hall Simulator – Grants the piano with the ability which produces music as it would sound exactly in a large hall.
  • Damper Resonance – Achieves more beautiful resonance by using a pedal by a stereo resonance simulator installed on the keys. 

It has a 3-year extended warranty. 

Who Is Casio PX-860 BK Privia Best For?

It is the best product for intermediates and aspiring pianists available in the market. 

What Do People Say About Casio PX-860 BK Privia?

YouTube Reviews

#1 Impeccable sound

The piano has an unmatched sound and makes one of the best pianos under $1000.

#2 Great piano in this budget

The piano is impeccable in terms of sound and design and is very affordably priced.

Amazon Reviews

#1 Weighted keys and easy to store

With a sturdy and compact built, this piano is grand for storing almost anywhere.

#2 Excellent sound quality

The piano is excellent with excellent sound output and takes minimal space.

Verdict:

When it comes to musical instruments, we do have our favorites. And, trust me, this is the question that each one of us answers differently. All of our options fits onto the category 5 Best Digital Pianos Under $1000

But we believe that it is better to invest more when you buy a musical instrument.

We feel pleased with the products mentioned on this list where we have managed to get some of the best pianos available on that market.

And, our selected product is Casio PX-860.

It is a console piano with three pedals and produces an excellent sound quality, like an acoustic piano. It is a better choice for beginners and a great delight for advanced pianists too.

Furthermore, it seems to have almost everything you need. Like, you can connect it to your mobile or laptop with a standard USB cable, Casio also has microphone inputs. It has a 256-note polyphony and allows you to play composition without dropping a tone. It provides authenticity and suitable tones to aspiring pianists. 

If You liked this article, check out our other ones at Aalberg Audio.

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Best Digital Pianos Under $500

Whether it is a standard piano or a digital one, if you are an experienced pianist, you will never consider the factor price in the first place. You are aware of the factors that will make a piano perfect for your requirement. But this may not be the case if you are a beginner and if you wish to learn to play the piano. Also the price is important, we will show You 5 Digital Pianos Under $500.

If you are a novice, you will first try to get a piano that suits your budget. Moreover, buying an extremely cheap piano can be wrong as you may not learn appropriately in it. It is indispensable to check some important factors such as the keys’ weight while buying a piano, apart from the price. Ideally, it would help if you got a decent piano under the budget of $500.

Do you wish to know the best digital pianos under $500 and the features you can get in them? So, go ahead with the article to know everything in detail.

#1 Roland FP 10

Roland always manufactured high-end digital pianos before this one. But somehow, it realized that the population of beginners who wish to learn to play the piano is on the rise and came up with a beginner’s digital piano soon. Moreover, if you know a bit about the piano Roland FP 30, you will understand immediately that Roland FP 10 is something that has been designed by reducing some features of FP 30; otherwise, the quality has been kept the same. FP 10 is a great Digital Pianos Under $500 to consider.

Roland FP 10 is available even under the price range of $300 and is a perfect match if you are looking for a digital piano as a beginner.

Pros

  • The compact design is very user-friendly.
  • The keyboard has an ivory feel.
  • The sound is very much natural with features such as string resonance.
  • It comes with Bluetooth connectivity.
  • You can install the application to get more sound and features

Cons

  • It does not have the option of a 3-pedal unit.
  • It does not have the feature of a MIDI recorder.
  • Also, it does not have the split mode feature.

Is Roland FP 10 worth it?

When you talk about this piano’s worth, do not forget that it comes from one of the best piano brands. This digital piano may not have some features that other competitive pianos may have. But when you talk about sound quality, this is one of the best options in this price range. This Digital Piano is Under $500

Benefits of Roland FP 10

One of the significant benefits of Roland FP 10 is that they have maintained their standards. Even though the features from FP 30 have been cut down to create FP 10, they have not compromised on the standard of features that they have provided. Not only is the piano compact and easy to handle, but also it is user-friendly to offer a great experience. Whether it is a beginner or even someone who plays the piano just for hobby, this piece is a perfect choice for them. Also the budget side, this Digital Piano is Under $500

Specifications

It offers a rich tone that is a specialty of Roland.The weighted keys offer full expression.The Bluetooth feature offers wireless connectivity.The application Partner 2 offers several functions to offer convenience.USB for connection to computers.It comes with several accessories such as a pedal, stand, and others to offer an enhanced experience.

Quality

While designed Roland FP 10, quality has not been compromised at all. Though this piano is under the price range of $500, the quality is maintained to offer the users the best experience.

Additional feathures

  • It has a twin-piano mode to offer ease of learning.
  • It also comes with an optional matching stand.

Roland FP 10 comes with a warranty of 1 year.

Who is Roland FP 10 best for?

Roland FP 10 is an entry-level digital piano. Hence, it is best for beginners or those who are learning to play a digital piano.

What do people say about Roland FP 10?

YouTube Reviews:

#1 The user is very proud to gift this product.

#2 The user loved the sensitive and real touch

Amazon Reviews:

#The user loves the sound even though it is available at this budget.

#2 The user talks about the ease of controlling this piano

Verdict

Roland FP 10 comes with the quality assurance of Roland and features that are perfect for beginners. Overall, it is an excellent digital piano under this range.

#2 Yamaha P-45

This digital piano comes from the famous brand Yamaha and yet it is quite simple to play. P-45 introduced to the market almost a few years ago, but its popularity still exists. Due to its brand reputation, excellent quality, and affordable price, this digital piano still manages to be one of the best options under this price range. This Digital Piano is Under $500

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-88-Key-Weighted-Digital-P45B/dp/B00UJ9LNDK

This is another digital piano under the range of $500. You should get it at $499 or even lesser.

Pros

  • This piano is not just compact but also relatively light in weight.You will not get any frills.
  • It has hammer standard keys.
  • With the signature sound from Yamaha, it is perfect for beginners.

Cons

  • The speakers of this piano are not very loud.I
  • t is not featured with a MIDI recorder.
  • It also does not have a split mode.

Is it worth it?

Yamaha P-45 is an overall perfect digital piano with great sound and touch at this affordable price range. Moreover, it is an excellent option for beginners and even hobbyists

Benefits of Yamaha P-45

What else do you need when you are getting a digital piano from the famous brand Yamaha under the price range of $500? Digital Pianos Under $500 is not everyday thing for Yamaha. Apart from this, the digital piano also offers several other benefits, one of which is lightweight.

Specifications

  • The digital piano comes featured with fully-weighted keys to offer you the acoustic feel
  • Dual-mode feature for learning or dual performances
  • GHS action is similar to the acoustic piano
  • It is featured with sustain pedal and power adapter
https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-88-Key-Weighted-Digital-P45B/dp/B00UJ9LNDK

Additional feathures of Yamaha P-45

  • The piano comes with ten different voices for a better experience.
  • It also has digital tone samples exclusively from the brand Yamaha.

Yamaha P-45 comes with a warranty of 1 year, and also, the brand offers a money-back guarantee of 14 days.

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-88-Key-Weighted-Digital-P45B/dp/B00UJ9LNDK

Who is Yamaha P-45 best for?

This is best for beginners. However, if you are searching for a budget-friendly digital piano for dual performances, this is the option for you

What do People Say About It?

YouTube Reviews:

#The user mentions how Yamaha P45 is still in the market even after so many years.

#The user talks about the acoustic feel that this piano offers.

Amazon Reviews:

#A great electric piano for the price

#The user is happy as it is worth the price.

Verdict

Yamaha P-45 is a reliable product that has been in use for many years. While this piano is not a great choice for professionals, it can be perfect for entry-level pianists. Also this Digital Piano is Under $500

#3 Casio CDP S-100 and S-350

Casio has recently replaced its two digital pianos with the brand new avatars Casio CDP S-100 and Casio CDP S-350. The brand has focused more on designing the pianos and has offered them a much slimmer look. The new pianos are loaded with several features without hurting your budget much. These are Digital Pianos Under $500

Here come two Digital Pianos Under $500 from another trusted brand Casio. Yes, you can get them also very much comfortable with $480 to $500

Pros

  • Even if the piano is slim, it has fully-weighted keys with an ivory feel.
  • It offers a superior sound effect.
  • It comes featured with an audio-in jack and is battery-operated.
  • You can also enjoy many other features via the application Chordana.

Cons:

  • The sound of the piano is not quite sophisticated.
  • It does not have the feature of a MIDI recorder.

Is It Worth It?

If you are buying Casio CDP S-100 somehow, it will offer you a great function that is well-backed with Casio’s reliability. But if you wish to enjoy the experience to the ultimate, you should go for the Casio CDP S-350 that may be slightly higher in price than the S-100 but offers an extended range of features too.

Benefits:

Though the piano is slim in design, it offers full-weight keys for a superior quality sound. The best part of this piano is that it is battery-operated. You can get a vast number of features through the application Chordana.

Specifications:

  • It is an ultra-slim piano that is also light in weight at 10.5 kgs.
  • It is featured with fully-weighted keys.
  • The piano also is equipped with a new sound engine.
  • The audio input is useful for connecting to other sources too.

Quality:

A digital piano coming from the brand Casio is already a quality assurance. But when talked about the features, it comes loaded with the best features to offer you the best experience.

Additional Features:

  • This piano has 64 notes of polyphony.
  • Also, it is featured with ten different sample sounds.

Warranty:

Casio CDP S-100 and S-350 come with a warranty of 3 years.

Who is it Best For?

If you are not a professional but have a digital piano hobby, this can be a perfect option.

What do People Say About It?

YouTube Reviews:

#The user is amazed by the sound of the piano.

#The user mentions the piano sounds better in real than in videos.

Amazon Reviews:

#The user mentions the piano to be a decent one, if not outstanding.

#The user is satisfied with the MiDi controller of the piano.

#4 Korg B2SP

Korg introduced the B2 range as a successor of Korg B1. Under this range, there are three pianos, among which the Korg B2Sp is the most efficient one. It is available in both black and white colors. Also, it is loaded with several features to make it perfect for beginners.

Korg B2 is easily available Digital Pianos Under $500.

Pros:

  • This piano comes in superb design and is equipped with hammer action keys.
  • It comes with a superb speaker system of 30W.
  • Digital piano has features like USB audio and samples.
  • It is quite easy to use with the pedal feature.

Cons:

  • It does not have a layer or split mode.
  • Digital piano is not as slim as many other piano options available.
  • It does not come with a recording system.
  • Digital piano has a limited option of sound selection.

Is Korg B2SP Worth It?

Korg B2SP is a perfect option for those who wish to have a simple digital piano to learn it. Though it has minimalistic features, they are enough for a beginner to learn and enjoy good music.

Benefits of Korg B2SP:

The most beneficial part of this piano is its speaker system. With a speaker system of 30W, it offers a great sound quality. Also, when you talk about Korg B2SP, you can admire its superb design.

Specifications:

  • It comes with a perfect design to flaunt.
  • The fully-weighted keys are perfect for your performance.
  • It has got built-in speakers in it.

Quality:

Though this is a good-looking digital piano, it is not as slim as many other digital pianos available today. It is featured with some unique features such as a sound system and higher sound samples.

Additional Features of Korg B2SP:

  • The sound system is 30W which is not there in other pianos on this list.
  • It has as many as 12 different sound samples available.

Korg B2SP comes along with a warranty of 3 years.

Who is Korg B2SP Best For?

It is mainly for hobbyists as it comes with amazing sound quality. The lack of some features makes it imperfect for professionals as well as for learners.

What do People Say About Korg B2SP?

YouTube Reviews:

#The user mentions this piano is a great piece for every grade.

#The user says that at this price range, this piano is great for advanced players too.

Amazon Reviews:

#The user talked about its simple design and beautiful sound.

#The user loves the sound as well as the feel of the keys.

 

Verdict

If you are not someone professional, this can be a perfect Digital Piano Under $500 for you. The sound system is great, and you can enjoy connecting it with other outer sources too. Though the professionals may lack a few features in this piano, this piano still can offer a soothing sound to all.

#5 Alesis Coda Pro

Alesis Coda Pro is one such digital piano in this price range that comes with all those features that someone between an entry-level and a professional may enjoy. It is loaded with features of different sounds and also some extra buttons for learners too.

Digital Piano Under $500, this is one such digital piano that many professionals also love to have.

Pros:

  • The piano features fully-weighted keys for supreme performance.
  • It comes with 20 different voices for diversity.
  • Piano is featured well with layer as well as split mode.
  • It also comes with the USB-MIDI option.

Cons:

  • The only con that this piano has is that it is the most expensive one among other options on this list.

Is Alesis Coda Pro Worth It?

This piano’s price is slightly towards the higher side or maybe at the border of $500, but it is truly worthy of it. It still fits at Digital Pianos Under $500 category. It offers all the features that can help you get a perfect experience at playing a digital piano.

Benefits:

One of the major benefits of this piano is its sound options. You can make use of the split and other modes to get the feel of the acoustic piano. Also, the different teaching mode features will help learners learn in an even convenient way.

Specifications:

  • It is featured with fully-weighted keys to offer a great experience.
  • Piano has a power supply along with a sustain pedal.
  • It comes featured with the Record Mode as well as the Duet Mode for a better experience.

Quality:

At this price, the piano offers a great quality of sound as well as features. This is a perfect piece for learners and the intermediate ones with many features and functions.

Additional Features of Alesis Coda Pro:

  • The piano comes along with 20 different voices for diversity.
  • Also, it has 60 preset songs.
  • It comes with the teaching mode for making your learning method much easier.

Alesis Coda Pro comes with a warranty of 3 years and a money return option guarantee of 30 days

Who is Alesis Coda Pro Best For?

Alesis Coda Pro is a perfect digital piano for those who wish it is a bit towards the professional side but wish to get a digital piano under the price range of $500.

What do People Say About Alesis Coda Pro?

YouTube Reviews:

#The user is happy with so many features at such a price range.

#The user is quite happy after using this for a month.

Amazon Reviews:

#The user shares that the piano is great for performing at places like churches too.

#The user mentions this piano to be a great option at this price.

If you talk about the pricing, this might be a bit on the higher side, but it is one of the best on the list when you talk about its features. The features of layering and split sound can defeat some of the best high-end digital pianos too. It also comes with a teaching model that makes it even more reliable and convenient for candidates who wish to learn to play the digital piano. Also these Digital Pianos are Under $500

Verdict:

Digital pianos are now in trend and are more popular compared to acoustic piano options. While the expert pianists will look out for advanced features, there have to be some specific standard features for beginners. Apart from the features and the style, budget plays a major role in a beginner buying a digital piano. The above is a list of some of the best digital pianos under the range of $500. If the best among these has to be considered, Roland FP 10 will surely be the race winner. 

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Moog Sub Phatty VS Moog Sub 37

In this article, we will be taking a closer look at the two Moog synthesizers that have been neck to neck for the past couple of years. First, we will be talking about Moog Sub Phatty and then Sub 37. If you’re interested to know more about the Sub Phatty VS Sub 37 review, keep reading.

Moog Sub Phatty

Moog Sub Phatty is a bass and leads machine in the Moog family. It is a traditional analog synthesizer with a 25 note keyboard, standard pitch-blend, and modulation wheels.  Its small but capacious panel consists of 31 knobs. The features are easily accessible from the front board. The Sub Phatty is the first analog synth to feature Moog’s transformative new Multidrive section.

https://www.amazon.com/Moog-Phatty-25-Key-Analog-Synthesizer/dp/B00C4XTK7U/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

The Sub Phatty is on the pricier side, but Moog is known for their top-quality synthesizers so you will be definitely getting your money’s worth. The cost of the instrument varies, depending on the seller, but most commonly stays around the 1000$ mark.

Pros

  • Its size has no impact on the sound quality, and thus you will not find any difference in sound between this instrument and the traditional sized ones. 
  • Sub Phatty is extremely easy to carry around. If you are on a constant move investing in this synthesizer would be a great decision. Additionally, it needs close to no warm-up time. Just plug it in and you are ready to go.
  • It offers 51 parameters that can help you change up the sound of your music.

Cons

  • Sub Phatty does not have a big capacity and therefore offers just 16 memories.
  • More than half of its 51 parameters are buried in Shift Mode and Hidden Functions (this design choice was made to keep the panel as uncluttered as possible) 
  • This synthesizer would appeal more to people who will not be using this as a solo instrument.
  • Lack of digital display, which may annoy some.

Benefits of Moog Sub Phatty

The mixer section offers innovations of its own, including a sub oscillator that outputs a square wave one octave below Oscillator 1. Also in the mixer section is a noise generator voiced to deliver low-frequency content, rich with body and punch

Specifications of Moog Sub Phatty

Analog sound engineYes
Semi-weighted keysYes
PolyphonyMonophonic
Sound sources2 variable waveshape oscillators, 1 square wave sub-oscillator, 1 noise generator
Oscillator calibration range22Hz-6.8KHz. Guaranteed note range at 8′ of Note 18 to 116
Mod SourcesTriangle, Square, Saw, Ramp, SH, Filter Envelope
Mod DestinationsPitch, Osc 2 Pitch Only, Filter, Waveshape
FilterMoog Ladder Filter 20Hz-20Khz
Audio Input1xTS
Audio Output1xTS, 1xTRS Headphone
Presets4 Banks, 4 Patches Per Bank
MIDI I/ODIN In, Out, and MIDI over USB
CV/Gate InputsFilter CV, Pitch CV, Volume CV, KB Gate
Transposition+/- 2 Octaves
LFO0.1Hz-100Hz

The design of the instrument is reassuringly high quality. It feels heavy and solid. The knobs do not wobble. The design is chunky and sleek at the same time, featuring a curved back and retro-looking front panel.

Whom is Moog Sub Phatty best for?

If you have limited space this is definitely the smartest choice for a synthesizer. Sub Phatty is the smallest synth made by Moog Music yet. It is great for beginners and experts.

What do people say about Moog Sub Phatty?

  • Youtuber Miles Away said in his video “Moog Sub Phatty review: should you buy the Sub Phatty in 2020” accordingly: “In conclusion, I think that seven years later, yes, the Moog Sub Phatty still is a great value. .. If you are looking for a quick, easy-to-use synth for that basis, you can not go wrong.”
  • Another YouTuber, going by the name Sonicstays, finished his review with these words: “On a synth with so many routing possibilities I would like to have seen aftertouch because that is what you are getting in a lot of other synths that have these kinds of facilities. .. But on the whole, I think for that Moog sound if you can not stretch to one at the top of the range this is going to get you an awful lot Moog for that money.” 
  • Adrian D., on the website www.reverb.com, commented on the synthesizer: “Wow awesome synth. Moog gets an A for this. Analog snarl all day long, the multi-drive feature is so great creates even more grit! Puts all mono synth plugins I have to shame. Add compression in your DAW and it will tame it for your recordings better, after all, it has to sit in a mix properly and it’s very unbridled but I say that in a good way. Huge sounding. Nice. Loved it so much I bought the Minitaur as well for more Bass voiced sounds.”
  • Ed L., on the same website as mentioned before, said so: “We are having some fun with this little wonder. Great intro synth for kids, as well as all the dials, are there and you can just twiddle around and learn synthesis as you play. Sonically, it is very much an “instrument” and not just a metal and plastic box.”

Sub 37

The Moog Sub 37 is a monophonic analog three-octave keyboard. Compared to the Sub Phatty, Sub 37 has more keys, coming to a whopping 37. It has an analog signal path and digital modulators.

https://www.amazon.com/Moog-Subsequent-37-Analog-Synthesizer/dp/B074KCBLQ8

The Sub is not for those with a small budget. It retails for 1499 USD

Pros

  • All of its features are shown on the front panel with no need for Shift Mode.
  • Duo mode
  • The synthesizer sports a screen.
  • You can tune the portamento and legato to your exact liking with its Glide section.
  • Richer low end and greater sonic dimension

Cons

  • It can be a bit of a hassle navigating the menu with just three buttons.
  • There are a couple of facilities and bugs to be tidied up.
  • There are no analog CV/Gate outputs

Benefits

Benefits make the synth fall in place with whatever tempo you currently want you can use the rate knob and companion Tap button. There’s also 64-step sequencer included

Specifications of Moog Sub 37

Sound sourceswo oscillators, one square-wave sub-oscillator, one noise generator, one external/feedback input
FilterLow-pass, resonant, 6-, 12-, 18- and 24dB/Oct, with overdrive
Contour generatorsTwo DAHDSR with sync-able looping, reset, latch and sync
Number of modulators2
Modulation sourcesSync’able 0.1Hz to 1kHz LFO (triangle, square, sawtooth, ramp, S&H) plus 10 programmable sources
Modulation destinationsOsc1 & Osc2 pitch, Osc1 & Osc2 waveshape, noise level, filter cutoff frequency, VCA level, rate of other LFO, plus 83 programmable destinations
ArpeggiatorUp/Down/Up-Down/Ordered/Random, sync’able
Sequencer64-step, programmable per patch, sync’able
ScreenBacklit 128 x 64 pixel LCD
Audio OutputQuarter-inch mono out, TRS mono headphone output
CV & Gate inputsFilter CV, pitch CV, volume CV, Gate
MIDI I/OIn & Out over five-pin DIN and USB
Memories256
Weight10kg

The synthezisor is good quality, as expected from Moog. It is solid, does not wobble on the table and the sound is as good as it gets.

Additional features of Moog Sub 37

  • Contrary to its predecessor, Sub 37 has been given additional performance-enhancing features such as Aftertouch
  • The synthesizer offers 256 memories.
  • Duo Mode allows you to play Oscillator 1 and Oscillator 2 independently.

Warranty: All Moog instruments come with a 1 year warranty, but you can can extend that warranty 3 years to reach a total of 4 years, ensuring that your investment is protected

Who is Moog Sub 37 best for?

Since the instrument is rather complicated to use and it is expensive, I would say that it is directed at a more experienced player. 

What do people say about Moog Sub 37?

  • A popular music instrument review channel called Sonicstate said so in his Sub 37 review: “I quite like the fact that this synthesizer can get out of control which for a sort of front panel keyboard bass synthesizer is quite a rarity actually, and it is a testament to the depth of the amount of routing and the possibilities that you get in what is essentially quite a small package.”
  • “Not a lot of negatives with the Moog Sub 37, the Oscillators were very stable while we were using it, although the synth did freeze up a couple of times when I switched patches while latched arpeggiated parts were playing, that is understandable,” said youtube creator B&H Photo Video on his video called “Hands-On Review: Moog | Sub 37 Analog Synthesizer
  • On the website called www.thomann.de, user AndreiPetru said the following: “I will never sell this synth, you buy it and you just know it’s a great piece of gear with true analog power. If you’re looking for some powerful analog synth with some greatness from the Moog sound, this is it, go for it!”
  • User Ted SingdahlsenI’s comment on the synth: “I have owned (and played) so many synthesizers, analog, modular, digital… I have lost count. This one is the best I’ve played. The added headroom for the mixer may seem like an arcane technical detail, but it makes a big difference. With a delay or reverb, the Subsequent 37 comes to life in a deeply satisfying way. FWIW, I am a big fan of Harmonia and Krautrock in general. The integration with the editor app is excellent, almost flawless.”

Conclusion

The Moog Sub Phatty and Sub 37 are similar in various ways, often sporting the same features. Sub 37 does have extra patch memory, which could be deciding factor for some. The Sub Phatty is less expensive but offers almost the same features as Sub 37. Moog did make improvements with the Sub 37, but at the end of the day, both synthesizers are of great quality and amazing tools for creating new music. Moog is known for its top-quality instruments and whichever one you choose it will be guaranteed that you are not going to be disappointed.

If you like this article, you might want to check out our other reviews at AalbergAudio.com

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Yamaha DGX- 66O Review

A lot of times, when we are wanting to buy a digital piano, the biggest hurdle is in trying to determine what kind of piano they need. It is human nature to keep wanting more from everything. That is probably why there is a huge variety of products in every field that keeps competing for providing more and more features to its customers, but Yamaha DGX- 66O is the answer. 

Today we’re reviewing a Yamaha DGX- 660 which is an advanced and premium model of Yamaha. The Yamaha DGX-660 is a great example of delighting a customer with much more than they thought they needed. An upgrade to the Yamaha DGX-650, this model aims to be a flagship of Yamaha’s “Portable Grand” line.

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-DGX660B-Weighted-Digital-Furniture/dp/B01CFOAIJG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

This carefully designed piece becomes more of a hybrid model, giving its users the best of both worlds – the feel of a grand piano and the flexibility of an arranger keyboard. Yamaha DGX- 660 is a very multiskilled keyboard and suits everyone- from a beginner to an experienced player

There are so many options to explore and enjoy that surely even those already having their digital piano would give upgrading a serious thought. 

Yamaha DGX- 66O Builth and design

As the popular saying goes, “The first impression is the last impression”. This digital piano impresses with its first look, without even getting into the specifics of using it. The keyboard with an impressive LCD screen, a host of controls, and perched atop a stylish stand make for a grand picture by itself. The synthetic wooden grain on the stand gives it the feel of an authentic wooden stand on a grand piano.

Although the DGX-660 is a part of the Portable Grand line, we wouldn’t call it very easily carried. The keyboard is pretty big and heavy compared to other models in the line and digital pianos from the P-series. Weighing close to 46lbs (20.8 kg) without the stand and nearly 61.7lbs (28 kgs) with it, it is not very convenient to move around.  However, the latter doesn’t come anywhere close to the DGX-660 in terms of sounds, features, and connectivity options.

The Yamaha DGX-660 is in keeping with its features. Without the stand, the digital piano comes to 55 X 17.5 X 5.7 inch without the stand and 55 X 17.5 X 29.9 inch with the stand, which is pretty standard for 88-key keyboards.

The DGX-660 has a contemporary-looking design with nice wooden elements (side panels, stand). The keyboard comes in two standard colors – black and white. The white keys have a glossy finish, while the black ones are matte, which will prevent fingers from slipping when they become moist.

The Yamaha DGX-660 also comes with a matching stand. It’s well-built and sturdy enough to hold this rather large keyboard.

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-DGX660B-Weighted-Digital-Furniture/dp/B01CFOAIJG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Yamaha DGX- 66O keys

The keys are what make up the keyboard – the sound, the feel, and the ease of use are what make a user make up their mind about buying or not buying a particular keyboard. Yamaha hence in this model they have gone full out with what they could provide with their keys.

The DGX-660 features a touch-responsive keyboard with 88 fully weighted keys.

The Yamaha DGX- 660 has an action called the Graded Hammer Standard (GHS), and it’s the same keyboard action that will be found in the Yamaha P-45 and P-125 digital pianos. GHS refers to the fact that the keys in the lower range have a higher weight that gradually goes on decreasing as it moves towards the higher range. This makes the keys in the higher range much lighter, quite similar to an acoustic piano. This will help you develop a good technique needed for performing on an acoustic piano.

The keyboard of this premium model has volume sensitivity, meaning the force and speed with which you play the keys has an impact on the volume of the keys. There are 4 settings to achieve this- Soft, Medium, Hard and Fixed. Let us take a look at each of these settings.

The keys of the DGX-660 are made of plastic, which is true for all the keyboards in this price range.

The white keys have a glossy finish, while the black ones are matte, which will prevent fingers from slipping when they become moist.

Yamaha DGX- 66O Sound quality

For a digital piano that promises its users the best of both worlds – that of an acoustic piano as well as an arranger keyboard, the Yamaha DGX-660 has a lot to live up to regarding the varieties of sounds, sound quality, and mixing options that it offers. At the heart of the DGX-660 is Yamaha’s proprietary Pure CF sound engine. It’s the same sound source as used in the Yamaha P-125, the P-255, and some Arius (YDP) models.

For an enthusiast, the sheer variation in the sounds it offers is astonishing – 554 different voices:

  • Ten piano sounds
  • 12 electric piano sounds
  • 14 guitar sounds
  • Nine bass guitar sounds
  • 14 organ sounds
  • Five accordion sounds
  • 16 string sounds
  • Nine trumpet sounds
  • 14 saxophone sounds
  • Other sounds including flute, synths, drum kits etc.

The DGX-660 has an impressive library of sound effects that you can use to make them sound more interesting and unique. The Yamaha DGX-660 is equipped with a Pitch Bend wheel, which allows reproducing some interesting effects (e.g. guitar vibrato, choking) by bending notes up and down while playing the keyboard.

Master equalizer (EQ) will allow you to tailor the sound to your taste. There are 5 Master EQ types you can choose from: normal (default setting), piano, soft, bright, powerful.

Speakers

he Yamaha DGX-660 comes with four different built-in speakers – two 12cm and two 5cm ones with 6W amplifiers. These together provide a well- balanced experience for the listeners. The speakers are open-faced, so the sound is directed toward your face. The quality of the sound is further improved by the Intelligent Acoustic Control (IAC) function, which intelligently adjusts bass and treble frequencies to make the sound clearer and more balanced at low volume levels.

Yamaha DGX- 66O Feathures

Not only does the DGX-660 have all the essential qualities to provide a realistic piano experience but it’s a digital piano with a variety of features that would usually be seen on an arranger keyboard.

When dealing with music and sound, there is no doubt about the major role acoustics play in the outcome. The model comes with an innovative new feature titled the Piano Room, which adjusts the settings to apply the optimum piano settings with the correct acoustics. In this default, the setting pianist may choose from another four different types of piano settings. Also, there are a few settings that can be adjusted in the Piano Room mode itself to experiment with your music.

Yamaha DGX- 660 has a metronome, which is always incredibly helpful for a pianist. Using the metronome, pianists can adjust time signatures and tempo, which will help learn better how to play a piece accurately and in a rhythm.

The DGX-660 offers split and layering features for playing two instrument sounds simultaneous. The Split Mode divides the keyboard into two sections, to which is possible to assign a different instrument sound.

For beginner pianists, Yamaha DGX-660 can take advantage of the onboard lesson feature called Yamaha Education Suite (Y.E.S.). The Y.E.S. allows users to use MIDI songs (100 internal songs or downloaded from the Internet) for a left-hand, right-hand, or both-hand lesson.

Like a true partner of a professional musician, the Yamaha DGX-660 allows a user to record as well. The playback previously created music in two formats: midi (SMF) and audio (WAV). The data can also be transferred to a laptop or desktop to practice and improvise.

Connectivity options

The Yamaha DGX-660 has extensive connectivity options, which is quite rare for many digital pianos. All ports and jacks are located on the rear panel of the keyboard, except for the USB to Device terminal, which is on the front.

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-DGX660B-Weighted-Digital-Furniture/dp/B01CFOAIJG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Downsides of the Yamaha DGX- 660

Although the DGX-660 is a part of the Portable Grand line, we wouldn’t call it very easily carried. The keyboard is pretty big and heavy compared to other models in the line and digital pianos from the P-series. Weighing close to 46lbs (20.8 kg) without the stand and nearly 61.7lbs (28 kgs) with it, it is not very convenient to move around.

The DGX-660 comes with a basic Yamaha footswitch.  is made of plastic and it is box-shaped. The problem with the footswitch is that it doesn’t look or feel like a professional acoustic piano pedal. The included pedal would be okay for most beginners but more experienced pianists would probably want a more realistic pedal.

What do people say about Yamaha DGX- 66O?

Image: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtgRriPZUOA

Image: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xHNEYs4NSM

Image: https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-DGX-660-88-Note-Digital-Piano/product-reviews/B01CFOAIJG

Image: https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-DGX-660-88-Note-Digital-Piano/product-reviews/B01CFOAIJG

Verdict

“The first impression is the last impression”. Yamaha DGX- 660 is a very multiskilled keyboard and suits everyone- from a beginner to an experienced player. 

The keyboard with an impressive LCD screen, a host of controls, and perched atop a stylish stand make for a grand picture by itself. Not only does the DGX-660 have all the essential qualities to provide a realistic piano experience but it’s a digital piano with a variety of features. It would usually be seen on an arranger keyboard. For example Piano room, Split mode, Yamaha education suite, etc. Yamaha DGX- 660 promises sound quality that is used the best of both worlds – an acoustic piano as well as an arranger keyboard piano world. Digital piano also has great recording capabilities.

Although the DGX-660 is a part of the Portable Grand line, we wouldn’t call it very easily carried. The keyboard is pretty big and heavy compared to other models in the line and digital pianos from the P-series.

If you like this article and found the provided information useful, you might want to check out our other reviews at AalbergAudio.com

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Casio CDP- 135 Review

A lot of times, when we are wanting to buy a digital piano, the biggest hurdle is in trying to determine what kind of piano they need. In this article, we will show You, what Casio CDP- 135 has to offer.

For a beginner player, with no experience, the piano should have enough features to help people learn without the process feeling too difficult, advanced, or expensive. For someone that known how to play, but just wants to keep their skills sharp, they want a digital piano that meets their specific needs as well.

In this Casio CDP-135 review, I’m going to show you why I think Casio CDP-135 is a great digital piano to fit a variety of different needs pianists might have- especially if they’re on a relatively tight budget. 

Product description of Casio CDP- 135

When pianists are playing on a digital piano, they ideally want it to simulate the feel of a grand piano. No one is going to forget that they are playing on a genuine grand piano while using their $300 portable instrument, but the technology built inside the CDP-135 is quite good at making you feel that is indeed the case. 

Casio CDP-135 is a solid choice for a beginner as far as the price-quality ratio goes, especially if buyers have a limited budget. CDP-135 costs $300 which is an incredible price for a quality piano that has plenty to offer. Casio CDP 135 is quite compact and lightweight despite having big speakers and full size 88 keys.

Layout and design

As Casio CDP- 135 is an entry level keyboard, Casio has done a wonderful job in keeping the layout to minimum and only focuses on what is required to be focused upon. Minimal layout doesn’t mean less functions for this digital piano, on the contrary. Minimal layout creates less uncertainty, which is really beneficial for beginners. 

This piano is also very portable, as it clocks in at only 23.8 pounds.  It’s size is more or less what you’d expect for 88 keys, as the CDP-135 is 52 inches wide, 11.25 inches deep, and 5 inches high. Casio CDP- 135 comes in 1 colour, which is black with matte finish.

Keys

The Keys of Casio CDP 135 are the best part of the entire keyboard. It has 88 keys like a standard acoustic piano feels firm and natural. I can very confidently say that Casio has done a wonderful job in mimicking the grand piano experience when it comes to keys of CDP 135. Keys are also Velocity Sensitive (Touch Response) and the pianist is allowed to control the responsiveness up to 3 levels or can completely turn it off when required. 

Casio CDP-135 uses spring less mechanism to mimic the weighted keys experience. Also, the scaled hammer action makes the keys lighter on the right-hand side (High Notes) and gradually increases towards the left (Low Notes).

Sound quality

Casio CDP series uses AHL (Acoustic & Highly-compressed Large-waveform) technology as its sound source. The sound can be categorized as standard with mellow and bright expression in the tones. Casio CDP- 135 also has a harpsichord, strings, pipe organ (perfect for wedding or traditional celebration), jazz organ and other instrumental sounds. Digital piano also has Rhodes sounds, a feeling, that I have not heard of in pianos in this price range.

Speakers

Casio CDP- 135 has 16-watt stereo speakers, which will provide you with a fairly rich tone for the cost. These speakers are solid enough for a $300 digital piano. These are not the best of the best on the market but the speakers pick up low frequencies and low octaves, so there will be noticed that the sound comes across as being a bit more clean and precise and less muddy. 

The speakers themselves are located on the top of the piano—one on the left side and one on the right. There is an ability to plug the CDP-135 into an amp if the pianist is inclined therefore there is nothing to worry about the onboard speakers, as your music will have a lot more bite to it thanks to the added amplification.

https://www.amazon.com/Casio-CDP-135-Digital-Package-Beginner/dp/B075HHYSY7/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Hall simulator effect

Casio CDP- 135 has a hall simulator effect. The Hall simulator effect is an exclusive effect that can only be found on Casio Digital Pianos and is only available on very few models. The effect comes useful when you form a solid base in understanding Acoustic and its characteristics. What Hall Simulator Effect does is that it generates special acoustic characteristics and simulates sound effects. It may feel like you are sitting in a concert hall and other venues. In short, It allows you to understand your music from an audience perspective. It comes really handy in understanding and analyzing your music from a different perspective and further refine it.

Metronome

Casio CDP- 135 has a metronome, which is always incredibly helpful for a beginner.  Using the metronome, pianists can adjust time signatures and tempo. It will help learn better how to play a piece accurately and in a rhythm.

Connectivity options

The CDP-135 comes with a USB port on the back, so you’ll be able to very easily plug the piano directly. Theres also possible to plug into your computer so you can use it as a MIDI controller. 

Downsides of the Casio DCP- 135

One of the downsides that the CDP-135 has is that it doesn’t possess an LCD screen. It means that, as while using the Casio CDP-135 to change different settings and select or deselect certain features. The pianists never fully know if they’re setting the right thing at the right time until they start playing the piano.

One downside, it should be noted, is that there’s no recording functionality on the CDP-135.

Now, to be fair, a lot of this becomes a muscle memory thing- just like playing the piano. Over time, players are getting a feeling for what they’re doing. When a player is first starting on the CDP-135, they might find it challenging to have to push down on the “Function” button to cycle through and select different features.

Also the keyboard doesn’t light up when the pianist selects certain buttons or features. And so, the fact that there’s no LCD screen along with the reality that there are no light-up features. That confirms pianist selections within the instrument, pushing the right buttons can become a pretty daunting task. Of course, this can easily be corrected, but if the pianist is a gigging musician, it could be somewhat problematic to be on stage and have to be concerned that they have selected the incorrect function in between performances.

What do people say about Casio DCP- 135?

Amazon review

Image: Amazon review Casio CDP- 135

Image: Amazon review Casio CDP- 135 pt2

Youtube review

Image: YouTube review Casio CDP- 135 pt3

Image: YouTube review Casio CDP-135 pt4

VERDICT: Casio CDP-135 is a solid choice as far as the price-quality ratio goes. Especially if buyers has a limited budget. CDP-135 is a great digital piano to fit a variety of different needs pianists might have. If you are a newbie or a hobby pianist and need a decent digital piano with natural feel, good sound in a budget. Friendly price tag than Casio CDP- 135 might be a good option to CDP- 135 is quite compact and lightweight despite having big speakers and full size 88 keys. Digital piano minimal layout creates less uncertainty, which is really beneficial for beginners. Casio CDP- 135 has a metronome, which is incredibly helpful for adjusting tempo. The CDP-135 piano also comes with a USB port on the back. Therefore it will very easily plug the piano directly into your computer or use it as a MIDI controller. 

One downside, it should be noted, is that there’s no recording functionality on the CDP-135. Also, the keyboard doesn’t light up when the pianist selects certain buttons or features. And so, the fact that there’s no LCD screen along with the reality that there are no light-up features. That confirms pianist selections within the instrument, pushing the right buttons can become a pretty daunting task.

If you like this article, check out our other reviews at AalbergAudio.com

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Cheapest weighted keyboards

If you’re looking for a keyboard that not only has weighted keys but also won’t bust the bank account, then you’re in luck since we have put together what is in our opinion a list of three keyboards that are the best at the price points of 300, 400 and 500 dollars. We’ve listed all the pros and cons of each keyboard and the overall conclusion of whether you should shortlist it, should you ignore it or should you seriously consider buying it, which are the cheapest weighted keyboards?

So without any further ado, here’s our opinion on the top 3 keyboards with weighted keys that won’t empty your wallet between 300 and 500 dollars

#1: Alesis Recital 88-Key Digital Piano

https://www.amazon.com/Alesis-Recital-Full-Size-Semi-Weighted-Exclusive/dp/B01DZXE9NC

Product description

This product is aimed at people who are just beginning playing and are looking for something to practice at home with.

With 88 premium full-sized semi-weighted keys and adjustable touch response plus 5 built-in premium voices with the ability to split or layer 2 voices simultaneously, it is quite the package for only 300 dollars. 20-watt speakers and 128 note max polyphony help make for a realistic sound and playability. Lesson Mode divides the keyboard into two areas with the same pitch and voice.

Price with a price of around 300 dollars (price right at the time of writing), this keyboard is certainly one of the cheaper options to go for.

The specs: 

  • 88 velocity-sensitive keys with adjustable sensitivity. 5 voices
  • Max polyphony 128
  • Dual 20W speakers
  • 1 270 x 292 x 86 mm
  • 7.1 kg
  • Release date: August 2016

Pros

  • A very low asking price for a full-sized keyboard
  • The keys’ sensitivity can be adjusted to your liking and a split mode allows playing different sounds, alternatively plus layer 2 sounds across the whole keyboard
  • Inbuilt effects such as reverb, chorus, and a pedal style resonant effect plus the 20-watt speakers perform better than expected whilst plating louder and more powerful sounds

Cons

  • Only semi-weighted keys
  • No hammer action feel
  • Only 5 voices
  • The body construction is more or less poor and might not be satisfactory
  • The weighs is quite a bit for its poor construction at 7.1 kg

Conclusion of Alesis Recital 88-Key Digital Piano

If you’re just looking for something to practice on at home or something along the lines of “my first keyboard” then this is arguably the best option for you. Although it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that more expensive keyboards of the same category have it is still quite a package, especially for the 300 dollars. So, as a beginning artist, you should most likely go ahead and shortlist it. “Why not just buy it?” you might ask… continue reading and find out why you should rather shortlist this piano than straight-up buy it.

Though if you feel that you’re more advanced than a beginner and an intermediate level player then you might want to look elsewhere, but it is still a piano to keep in mind if funds are a problem or if you feel that the quality of play is suitable for your needs.

#2: Yamaha P-45

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-88-Key-Weighted-Digital-P45B/dp/B00UJ9LNDK

Product description

This product is aimed at players at levels beginner to intermediate. It won’t go overlooked by someone who plays piano as their job. The 88 fully weighted piano-style keys simulate the feel of an acoustic piano and provide a quality playing experience. The GHS (Graded Hammer System) weighted action is heavier in the low end and lighter in the high end. Just like an acoustic piano. It contains 10 different voices, including digitally sampled tones from real Yamaha acoustic grand pianos. The dual-mode lets you combine 2 voices, like piano and strings, for an inspiring new playing experience.

Price with a price tag of around 400 dollars the Yamaha P45 is another cheap option to consider when buying, but is the extra 100 dollars over the Alesis worth it?

The specs of Yamaha P-45

  • 88-key fully weighted keyboard with matte black keytops
  • Graded Hammer Standard action
  • Touch Sensitivity (Hard, Medium, Soft, Fixed)
  • Sound: AWM Stereo sampling
  • 64-note polyphony
  • 10 instrument sounds (2 pianos)
  • 10 preset piano songs + 10 demo songs
  • Modes: Duo, Dual
  • Metronome, Transpose, Fine-tuning
  • Speakers: 6W + 6W (12 cm x 2)
  • Connections: USB to Host, Headphone jack, Sustain Pedal jack
  • 1 326 x 295 x 154 mm 
  • 11.5 kg 
  • Release date: April 2015

Pros

  • although being a compact design it still offers you the full 88 keys that are fully weighted and differ in feel – at the bottom end of the keyboard the keys feel the heaviest, and the further up in notes you go the lighter the keys feel
  • Yamaha’s Graded Hammer System technology
  • The sound quality is more than satisfactory and feels quite like the real thing
  • A split keyboard mode and the fact that the P in the name stands for portable makes this instrument more beginner-friendly and adaptable than some other counterparts

Cons

  • As the entry-level model only has a polyphony of 64 compared to its bigger brothers (192) higher up the price range
  • Can be bothering to navigate through all the different options since besides the volume knob and 2 other buttons everything is done through a function button and then pressing a specific key on the keyboard to get the voicing to change or to access the metronome, which can be bothersome especially with no screen.

Conclusion of Yamaha P-45

From a beginner to an intermediate level player, this piano is certainly fitting, and even those that consider themselves experts might also be interested in this product. With all its options it still weighs a moderate 11.5 kgs, which is certainly more than the Alesis, but considering the build quality of Yamaha and the extra features, the weight penalty is something to look at as one of those “first world problems” as well. Although the features are plentiful enough and the weight can be overlooked, then something worth considering whilst buying is the over-simplistic design of 3 buttons and doing everything through the keyboard itself. If you are a person who likes these sorts of designs then this won’t be an issue, but if you’re more used to the traditional layout with many buttons and knobs then this might be a key feature to consider whilst buying. Nevertheless, the Yamaha P-45 is a great value for money and worth shortlisting if not outright buying it right away.

#3: Roland FP-10

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MH391ZF/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=sl1&tag=consordini0d-20&linkId=714f09d56ba8369404cacd2198cf0f06&language=en_US

Product description of Roland FP-10

his piano is like the one mentioned beforehand in the way that it is aimed at players from beginner to intermediate level, but just like the Yamaha won’t go unnoticed by someone who is playing piano for a living. So, meet the FP-10, the latest in the acclaimed FP-Series from Roland which has defined how a digital piano should sound and feel: a rich, responsive tone from Roland’s renowned SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine and keys that feel like a real acoustic piano, with the expressive touch and ivory feel.

The headphones’ output and quiet keyboard action let you enjoy playing at any time without disturbing others.

Powerful onboard speakers reproduce your playing beautifully and the option of a built-in Bluetooth MIDI/USB MIDI interface for connecting to Garageband, computers, DAW software just add to the experience. Furthermore, Roland’s Piano Partner 2 app lets you conveniently select sounds, set metronome, and more from your smartphone

With a price of around 500 dollars, this piano is as well one of the cheaper options to go for in the world of keyboards with weighted key action.

The specs

  • 88 fully weighted keys
  • PHA-4 Standard Keyboard: with Escapement and Ivory Feel
  • Touch Sensitivity (5 types, OFF)
  • Sound: SuperNATURAL Piano Sound
  • 96-note polyphony
  • 15 instrument sounds (expandable via the app)
  • Modes: Dual, Duo (Twin Piano), Split (via the app)
  • 17 preset songs + 15 Demos
  • Piano Simulation: String Resonance, Damper Resonance, Key Off Resonance
  • Metronome, Transpose, Fine-tuning
  • Speakers: 6W + 6W (12 cm x 2)
  • Connections: USB to Host, USB to Device, Bluetooth 4.0, a Headphone jack (3.5mm), Sustain Pedal jack
  • 1 284 x 258 x 14 mm 
  • 12.3 kg 
  • Release Date: January 2019

Pros

  • At this price point, the feeling of the keys is incredibly realistic
  • Resonant noise adds realism to the Roland, which makes it imitate acoustic piano. It means things like string, damper, and key-odd resonance
  • With the 96 note maximum polyphony
  • Metronome
  • 17 preset songs and 15 demos
  • If you get Roland’s free Piano Partner 2 app you can engage in interactive learning and an opportunity to expand on the 15 onboard voices

Cons

  • Just like the Yamaha this has a simplistic 4 button design that consists of a power button, a volume up, and a volume down button plus a function button, which means that all the voices and such are selected once again by pressing certain keys on the keyboard, but what is even more troublesome is that the Roland, just like the Yamaha, lacks a screen
  • Also like the Yamaha, the weight is up quite a bit from the Alesis, but considering that the build quality, key action, and the sound system are all arguably better (especially the first one) than the Alesis it can be overlooked just like with the Yamaha.

Conclusion of Roland FP-10

Just like the Yamaha and the Alesis this keyboard is beginner-friendly and suitable even for higher levels of players. The Roland FP-10 is a keyboard with a super realistic key feel for the price and a supernatural piano voice. The slimline body makes it quite versatile and the Piano Partner 2 app means you can even further enhance your piano playing skills even when playing alone. But, same as with the Yamaha, the way you select different voices for the keyboard, the lack of a screen, and the highest asking price out of all three might be factors to consider before buying. Nevertheless, this is a great keyboard and you should definitely shortlist it if not just outright buy it.

So, depending on your tastes and your financial situation you will choose one over the other. Here’s a little reminder of what to keep in mind when buying one of these 3 keyboards:

  • The Alesia Recital 88-Key Digital Piano is quite cheap at 300 dollars and does all the things you would like as a beginner, but might be a little too simplistic for an advanced player. Also, keep in mind the build quality and the fact that the keys are only half weighed. But at the asking price is one if not the best deal you can get, especially for a beginner.
  • The Yamaha P-45 is in the middle in terms of its price at 400 dollars and offers a variety of functions. It is suitable for beginners but also higher level players. Even to those who play piano as a job, but it has limited voices, so keep that in mind. It also lacks a screen and shuffling between the different modes and voices can be troublesome. Still, it is portable and quite reliable plus has fully weighted keys that differ in feel the higher up the notes you go. 
  • The Roland FP-10 is the most expensive of the lot at 500 dollars but offers a wider variety of options. There’s a companion app that makes learning and playing easier than with the other two. It means it is also very beginner-friendly but just like the Yamaha is also suitable for higher-level players. Also like the Yamaha, it lacks a screen and you select the voices by pressing the keys themselves. It might be annoying. Still, the Roland offers a great feel whilst playing and has a supernatural piano voice.

These are the basic things to keep in mind when choosing the right keyboard. Hopefully, this article helps you choose the right keyboard for you.

If you like this article and found the provided information useful, you might want to check out our other reviews at AalbergAudio.com

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Best of Korg – Korg Kross 2-88-MB Synthesizer

This article will provide you with all the necessary information about the Korg Kross 2-88-MB Synthesizer Workstation. If you are interested in buying the Kross 2-88-MB or you just want to know more about the synthesizer, you should keep on reading.

Product Description:

The Kross 2-88-MB has easy access to the power batteries. It has now two compartments: one to the left of the Kross’s interface, which has a large battery compartment, which houses an additional compartment for backup batteries or a USB cable, and the second compartment, that can hold anything you’d like, is on the opposite end of the interface. Those compartments allow you to store necessary cables and power supplies in a hand reach, rather than storing them completely separately.  

The Korg Kross 2-88-MB is a class-leading synthesizer, which is designed to be your main keyboard. Kross 2 features everything a performer needs. Delivering a broad range of sounds that leave even previous-generation flagship models in the dust.

The LED lights that move across the surface of the keyboard are informative and the central screen in the middle is very clear and also informative. But don’t worry, the control is not limited only to a tiny screen, luckily you can plug in your laptop, computer, or even an iPad/iPhone. 

The Kross 2-88-MB features a great-feeling rubberized finish in “super matte black” simultaneously sleek and elegant, but also durable and comfortable.

Price:

The Kross 2-88-MB is a well-made and affordable synthesizer. The prices can vary depending on the website you are buying it from, but mainly it stays between 900 and 1500 euros.

Pros:

  • It offers sound quality of a Korg workstation without a premium price. 
  • It’s a considerable improvement over the original Kross. 
  • It’s light and manageable.
  • The keybed, while not first-in-class, is much better than it seems. 
  • The keyboard has two compartments for storage. 
  • Can connect to a device for better control and editing.

Cons:

  • The synthesizer does not come with a case for transport. 
  • Might be too long for your liking.  (Might find yourself bumping into things while moving it, so be aware of scratching/damaging the exterior.)
  • Its screen is small and the onboard editing system harks back to the 1990s.
  • Its keyboard doesn’t generate aftertouch.
  • There’s no XLR mic input. 
  • It uses an external PSU.

Is it Worth it?

Kross 2 will appeal to someone who wants something they can make complete tunes with, on the road. Gigging composers will love it, to put those hours on a tour bus to good use, as will studio producers. If you’re in need of a quality workhorse composing tool, then this really is probably the most affordable and fully featured contender for your cash out there right now. A great bit of kit for the asking price.

In-Depth Review of the above articles

Benefits

  • 120 voices of polyphony eliminate note stealing.
  • Powerful sampling engine and sample trigger pads. 
  • Ideal for a broad range of musical styles.
  • Extremely lightweight (27 pounds; 12,25 kg)
  • Sound Selector makes it easy to find the sound you are looking for. 
  • Favorites function lets you register 64 sounds or audio songs for one-touch access during gigs. 
  • External input jacks let you connect a mic or external audio source.
  • Quick Layers/Split function for on-the-fly versatility.
  • A stereo audio recorder allows you to record and overdub your performance and vocals.
  • Connects to your computer via USB for plugin integration with your favorite DAW

Specifications

Dimension (WDxH) 

Width: 1,448 mm (57.01”)

Depth: 383 mm (15.08”)

Height: 136 mm (5.35”)

Weight 

12.3 kg / 27.12 lbs (excluding batteries)

Keyboard

88 keys NH (Natural weighted hammer action, no aftertouch) keyboard. Normally A0-C8 (adjustable in the range [-A-]…C7]-[A1…C9])

*The NH keyboard delivers a playing feel similar to that of an acoustic piano, with low notes feeling heavier and high notes feeling lighter.

Split ZonesYes
Modulation WheelYes
Sound EngineSample-based
MIDI interface1 x In, 1 x Out
StorageMedium USB to Host
USB-portYes (1 x Type B)
Effects Multi effect processorYes, 134 different effects
Effect TypesReverb, Compressor, Chorus
ArpeggiatorYes
Audio Outputs2 x ¼” (line out)
Audio Input1 x ¼” (mic), 1 x ⅛” (line)
Digital OutputNo
DisplayYes
Power Source9 DC power supply / 6 x AA batteries

Sound Engine of the Korg Kross 2-88-MB

The Number of Combinations/Programs/Drum Kits: 

User Combination – 896 Combinations (384 Preload)

User Programs – 1280 Programs (768 + 128 Preload)

User Drum Kits – 58 Drum Kits (42 + 5 Preload)

Preset Programs – 265 Programs (256 GM2 Programs + 9 GM2 Drum Programs)

Total number of preload programs and preset programs – 1,208 (943 preload programs, 265 preset programs

Accessories (sold separately)

Keyboard – Standard-L-SV

Soft case – SC-KROSS 2 88/KROME 88

Quality of the Korg Kross 2-88-MB

The quality is simply stunning, bolstered by PCM data that are approximately twice as large as predecessors like the X50 and the PS60. For your giggling pleasure, Korg has lavished attention on frequently-used sounds such as rock/jazz organ, strings, brass, and synth sounds. But you also get ear candy flavors like a toy piano, accordion, combo organ, church organ, and even a vintage tape sampler, along with cutting-edge dance music/electronica sounds — unique sounds you won’t find in any other synth at this price.

And with Sound Selector and a favorites function, finding and organizing your sounds for instant onstage deployment is a piece of cake.

More of quality:

A diverse array of more than 1,000 present sounds has been supplemented by additional PCM with 128 new programs that include piano and electric piano, and also fulfill your needs for cutting-edge EDM with synth and drum sounds plus 27 drum track patterns.

The Kross 2-88-MB features Krog’s Natural Weighted Hammer Action (NH) keyboard. The NH keyboard has a realistic and comfortable piano-style hammer, with a heavier feel in the lower register and a touch that becomes lighter as you move into the high register, allowing the subtle nuances of your fingerprints t show through in your performance. This keyboard is perfect for playing piano and electric piano sounds while being light and portable for bringing Kross 2 to your gigs!

Additional Features of the Korg Kross 2-88-MB:

  • 88-Key Natural Hammer Action Keybed
  • 1000+ Present Sounds, 120-Voice Polyphony
  • 128MB of Expansion PCM Memory
  • Sampler with 16 Trigger Pads 
  • The rubberized matte black finish is sleek and uniquely durable
  • Rich sounds powered by added PCM
  • An additional storage compartment on the side where you can store vires or even a foot pedal would fit in there.

Warranty

Warranty coverage is provided by the Korg distributor in the country in which the product was purchased. 

If you register your Korg keyboard, keyboard rack module, or digital piano online within 90 days of purchase, Korg will extend your Korg manufacturer’s warranty for an extra year for free if purchased from a Korg authorized dealer. A copy of the registration confirmation email and a legible copy of the product’s sales receipt from the authorized dealer are both required for extended warranty service. To register your Korg product, please click http://i.korg.com/Register

What Do People Say About Korg Kross 2-88-MB?

You can find some feedback and synthesizer reviews on Amazon and eBay. A lot of people prefer buying their synthesizers online due to the better prices rather than in stores. Overall the Korg KROSS 88 MB Synthesizer has been rated on average 2.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon Review. 

Amazon Review #1

“So far it’s is awesome. Would have given a 5 star but the box it came in look to have been in war. The box had a hole in the back big enough to put my arm in. But to my surprise and amazon’s good packaging it appears to be alright. But that’s wasn’t Amazon’s fault or Korg’s fault! It looks to be the carrier’s but who knows.

But like I said the keyboard is everything I hope for. Just hope I can live up to it! This keyboard does it all. So I’m going back and clicking the five-star instead of the four because the keyboard is a winner. Hope I can find a mic to match up to its ability of the great sound it will produce! Just remember to get studio monitors to capture all of the great frequencies it creates.”

Amazon Review #2

“Great Keyboard workstation! I tried the Roland Juno DS88. I didn’t like the drum samples as well as the Yamaha MX88 or Korg Kross 2 88. Also, I did not like the slick ivory keys on the Roland Juno DS88. I tried the Yamaha MX88. It was nice but overall the Kross 88 was the best & had more piano sounds. I thought the Yamaha MX88 & Kross88 felt about the same when you played them. But overall I felt the Korg had the best samples. I guess that’s why it cost $75.00 more than the others. Goes back to you get what you pay for.”

Thomann Review #1

“I’ve only had the Kross 2-88 MB for a week – in this respect an “entry-level rating” – I’m semi-professional – I actually wanted to buy an electric piano …! – use it at home – focus on “home recording” – even when unpacking (18kg) you can feel that you are not dealing with a “toy” – the device is elegant (rubberized!) and very user-friendly and tidy – no show! – sensational for this price range !!

The first contact with the keyboard brings joy! – it has nothing to do with a classic synthesizer keyboard like I used to know – TOP !!!! – played the first piano samples – rich, beautiful sounds – 896 – (120 voices / polyphonic !!) – very dynamic feel!

Customer service from Thomann is absolutely top level – here you still have to deal with (consistently very friendly!) People …!”

Youtube Review #1

In this video, you can see a quick presentation from Sweetwater present on the Kross 2. The video depicts the different aspects of the synthesizer and therefore some new features that make the instrument even more special.

Youtube Review #2

In this video, you can see an unboxing of the Kross 2-88-MB by Joyce Chahine. This video gives you a thorough look at what the Kross 2-88-MB has to offer and how the different settings can be adjusted.  

Is Korg Kross 2-88-MB Worth It?

The Kross 2 sounds great, even though it lacks some of the facilities of instruments costing two or three times as much, it is still a powerful instrument and its price will ensure that there’s a place for it. The additional features like extra compartments and powering the device with AA batteries will also make traveling and gigging with the Kross 2 much less of a hustle. 

Yes, if you are looking to buy a reasonably priced synthesizer, then I suggest going for it. I

If you like this article and found the provided information useful, you might want to check out our other reviews at AalbergAudio.com