(need help) Suggestion for a good digital piano

[zingsi]

I am considering buying a digital piano. I have an upright acoustic piano already. I have passed grade 7 and my target is grade 8 exam. I prefer to buy a new digital piano as I moved to a small flat recently, so that it won't occupy much space, and that I can practice at night.

Here is my requirement:

- I mostly care about the action and key weight, it must be very close to a good acoustic piano. I need to be easy to transfer my techniques to the real piano.

- Another thing I care is the depth of the piano. I prefered its depth to be as small as possible. I don't mind the height and the width of the piano, as soon as it has 88 key notes.

- Good sound (upright piano sound is alright, grand piano sound is a plus, but not a must)

- I play classical music only, other features like mixing, synthesis or other digital recording features are not essential.

- no need to be portable, I can put it permanently at one place.

- Most of the time, I will be using headphones, so built-in speakers are not essential.

- It is mainly used for practice in weekdays night. I will get back to my acoustic piano during weekends.

- Price is not a critical concern, although I prefer under US$6000.


Would anyone please kindly suggest me some models?

Thank you so much! I really need your help!

[hfmadopter]

As with so many of these requests for info about digital pianos, don't buy without trying ! We all have a different idea about what the ideal digital should be. Maybe have a look at mid range Rolands and Kawai, as well as Yamaha. new models are coming out currently, so last years top piano is a has been in some cases already. Several people in the forum have gone out to try suggested digital pianos from messages here to find they like something all together different than what was suggested. And some give up the idea of digital all together once they try a few out and sit back down at an acoustic. Yet others only own digital and are happy.

My suggestion: Look at mid range Roland, Kawai and Yamaha. Buy the one that fits you. All of those in the mid range will have the better action. Sound doesn't matter to you since you will be using a head set and they all have fairly convincing samples that you activate by playing on the keys ( glorified stereo system with keys on it). Kawai in the CA 93 and the new CA 95 I believe has wooden keys and a grand style action ( notice I said grand style, not true grand)
David

[kippler]

The Kawai CA 93 is a very good-sounding upright digital which takes up less front-to-back floor space than an acoustic upright, excellent keyboard, and it has a sound board in it. I tried one very briefly this afternoon while at a retailer's, it sounded the best of anything I put my hand on while there, but it was over my budget, and I was looking for a portable keyboard. Price should be under US$6,000. I was in a Canadian store.

Here is a brief youtube video:

[grasoon]

According to my piano teacher (he is a very good piano player with a lot of experience playing in many countries), he always recommend Roland RD700NX, if you are looking for a decent key digital piano. He said it is the best in the market (in his opinion of course) I understand the best in the market right now is Roland V Piano. Yamaha CP1 and Nord Piano are also names that come up a lot if talking about digital piano However, Nord's key is not so good.

Good keys digital piano mostly come with a lot of weight.

[john90]

- I mostly care about the action and key weight, it must be very close to a good acoustic piano. I need to be easy to transfer my techniques to the real piano.

- Price is not a critical concern, although I prefer under US$6000.

A super expensive one could be a total waste. Looking at shop setups, prepare to be disappointed. The sound will be false, and obsolete in 6 months, and the action below par. The whole thing will rock and shake when you hit chords hard and use the pedals. They will take a lot of space as you pay more and touch improves, but not enough to be blunt. You will be disappointed.

The latest Rolland digital grands have nice feel with a nice repetition for a digital. I'm not recommending it at all, as it is expensive, much bigger than an acoustic upright, and the sound is poor compared to a $300 acoustic. Try them switched off as a base line for touch though. 10 seconds per keyboard will rule out most losers.

On the plus side, if you accept the above as a given attributes and short comings of digital, almost all digital keyboards are fantastic. The sound is good enough for what you need (perhaps not what you want, but...) you can get a high quality stand made from welded steel, heavy metal pedals that feel more real (but none seem to be velocity sensitive and properly analogue). Basically, most digitals can be upgraded to provide what you need if they fit your dimensions.

As your dimensions are tight, and you have a nice wad of cash, my advice is to go for a high end stage piano action like a Yamaha CP5. Also try a high end Roland, the CP5 though might be ideal for you. Don't bother turning them on, it will distract you from the feel. Blind, deaf test the feel.
My rationale being that a $400 laptop connected to Midi and the best software sounds better than  any 1 year old keyboard. That is it. Forget sound, go for touch and size, get a rigid stand. Practise at 2am and enjoy the best digital touch of all the 100s you test.

[rmbarbosa]

I have a Roland HP 507 and it`s very good. Without headphones, sound is not like a grand piano acoustica sound, but with headphones it is very very good. You may wish to see more informations and pictures in the site roland pianos. In Portugal, price is in your range.
Best wishes
rui

[jimbo320]

I would look into a Yamaha CP5. I have one and wouldn't trade it for anything else.
I use it as a stage piano but it would surely fit your needs...