What to look for in a Digital Piano for home use

[robgd]

Does anyone know what to look for in a digital piano.  It's not for any type of performances. Just for practice at home.  Something that's a decent quality and is as wide as a traditional piano.  Don't want any of those crappy keyboards that are just meant for messing around. 

[chopin2015]

the new yamaha with stand is so nice! perfect feel, and is really fast! I recommend it if you have 1500 bucks!
note:this is not the exact one, but I like how heavy these guys are, so much better than a keyboard and a stand. I have a keyboard on a stand and it does have weighted keys but I have demolished the basic keyboard stand in about 4-5 months. Surprised it's not pregnant. (jk Im sorry for that one but I had to)

[robgd]

Thanks a lot

[chopin2015]

how much are you looking to spend? It is nice to have both an electric and an acoustic, because you cannot really replace the usefulness of an acoustic with just the practicality of an electric.

[pianoplunker]

Does anyone know what to look for in a digital piano.  It's not for any type of performances. Just for practice at home.  Something that's a decent quality and is as wide as a traditional piano.  Don't want any of those crappy keyboards that are just meant for messing around. 

Well since you know what a crappy keyboard is then possibly you could just look for the opposite ?

If you want wide as a traditional piano, then you want 88 full size keys. I dont know what is meant by quality for you but for me I want a built in speaker system with the ability to plug into an external sound system, a built in metronome that rings at the beginning of each measure , a headphone jack, volume control, and at least one decent "damper" pedal.  And of course at least one real good piano sound.  Yamaha and Roland and Kawai all make these things in different price ranges. I couldnt tell you which one but I have always thought the yamaha baby grand "clavinova" digitals were pretty cool. Cant afford though.

[slane]

IF the yamaha clavinova clp- 470 and 480s live up to the hype, I'd be thinking about one of them.
Supposedly the  tone and touch, including pedals, of the CFX concert grand. Chosen by the London Royal Academy of Music ya da ya da ya da. And all those tick tock things you expect from an electronic doo hickey.

https://au.yamaha.com/en/products/musical-instruments/keyboards/digitalpianos/clp_series/clp-480pe/?mode=model

[talby]

Very important: for practicing it is really nice to have a build in "recorder", so that you can record yourself practicing, and then listen to it for spotting where to improve!

I can recommend the Roland HP-505 (have it myself), or if you have more money then the Yamaha CLP-470. Be careful, you cannot just switch model numbers and conclude if a Yamaha (470) is better than a Roland (505 or 507), then a 430 in the lower price range would also be better than a 503 of that lower price range. The 503 in my opinion is better than a 430. A 440 would be somewhere between the quality of a 503 and 505.

To answer your question: searching in the price range starting from 1500 EUR, you can´t make much mistake, and you might just want to try them out and decide on yourself according to your personal impression and budget.
For cheaper instruments I can´t comment, but there would seriously wait for detailed recommendations of other pianist who have tried them...

[lhorwinkle]

I would help to know more about your needs.

You said "Something that's a decent quality and is as wide as a traditional piano."
That describes nearly all digital pianos.

You went on to say "Don't want any of those crappy keyboards that are just meant for messing around."
If I interpret that correctly, then you're eliminating the $200 cheapo keyboards sold at Wal Mart, etc.

This still leaves the field WAY open.

So ... what to look for.

1. Form: Do you want a keyboard or a console. From the above I'll assume console.

2. Key action: The keyboard (action) feel varies considerably. Cheap pianos have cheap keyboards. I could not tolerate the keyboard on the sub-$1000 units. But, you'll have to try them out for yourself.

3. Sound: The sound from digital pianos ranges from mediocre (for the expensive units, $4000 - $15000) to rat-terrible on the cheap ones. None of them truly sound like a piano. But you'll have to judge for yourself.

There is a solution for the sound problem: Connect the piano (any piano) to a PC/Mac via MIDI or USB cable, and run piano library software on the computer. The computer-based pianos produce sound that is MUCH better than any digital piano at any price. Feed that to an external sound system and you're all set.

With this solution you need only focus attention on criterion #2: keyboard feel.

[49410enrique]

id really consider the kawai upright digi's, super nice and they have probably the closest thing you'll get to a real acoustic action (wooden, graded hammer). their sampling i believe comes off their EX
lots of nice models to choose from , the CA series seems to be the sweet spot between the best of what they offer for general home use and value (i.e. not paying extra for features you're not likely to use a lot)
https://www.kawaius.com/main_links/digital/CA_2010/ca63.html

[chopin2015]

id really consider the kawai upright digi's, super nice and they have probably the closest thing you'll get to a real acoustin action (wooden, graded hammer). they're sampling i believe comes off their EX
lots of nice models to choose from , the CA series seems to be the sweet spot between the best of what they offer for general home use and value (i.e. not paying extra for features you're not likely to use a lot)
https://www.kawaius.com/main_links/digital/CA_2010/ca63.html

wow! I wanna check these out! I'm looking for a new electric that I want to get this summer.

[hfmadopter]

I would help to know more about your needs.

You said "Something that's a decent quality and is as wide as a traditional piano."
That describes nearly all digital pianos.

You went on to say "Don't want any of those crappy keyboards that are just meant for messing around."
If I interpret that correctly, then you're eliminating the $200 cheapo keyboards sold at Walmart, etc.

This still leaves the field WAY open.

So ... what to look for.

1. Form: Do you want a keyboard or a console. From the above I'll assume console.

2. Key action: The keyboard (action) feel varies considerably. Cheap pianos have cheap keyboards. I could not tolerate the keyboard on the sub-$1000 units. But, you'll have to try them out for yourself.

3. Sound: The sound from digital pianos ranges from mediocre (for the expensive units, $4000 - $15000) to rat-terrible on the cheap ones. None of them truly sound like a piano. But you'll have to judge for yourself.

There is a solution for the sound problem: Connect the piano (any piano) to a PC/Mac via MIDI or USB cable, and run piano library software on the computer. The computer-based pianos produce sound that is MUCH better than any digital piano at any price. Feed that to an external sound system and you're all set.

With this solution you need only focus attention on criterion #2: keyboard feel.

This is mostly correct or it agrees with my findings as well at least. I would go on to add that there are a few keyboards out there with good action or decent feeling action in the $1400 range that often go on sale or may already be on sale and then go on fire sale now and then. It is conceivable to get one for under $1000 in this case but knowing it was nearly a $1500 keyboard to begin with. And seeing that virtual piano sound software works well it doesn't matter much what the piano itself sounds like ( as mentioned the piano is played through the software, all the software uses is the pianos key signals not it's sound).

However, you do need to watch the virtual software you buy into, especially using older  computers as some slower computers can bog out with the larger programs. I believe but don't quote me, that Pianissimo is not a computer hog for instance but it's also less versatile than some other softwares can be..

If you know someone handy in doing wood work you could have a sturdy stand built vs buying a flimsy stand for a keyboard. Even most of the console looking digital pianos are not made with a solid wood case. They look nice but under the surface is that press board crap. Again don't quote me on that, there may be some solid wood versions out there as well.

So there are options for the serious digital piano home based person who just doesn't want an acoustic. Still won't sound exactly like an acoustic but it will record very well and sound nice over the sound system. It actually can sound better than some good acoustics do in recordings. But it is tough to get that acoustic resonance feel from a digital, live strings if you will, aren't there. None of that matters to me I have an acoustic grand piano anyway and just would like to write through midi and maybe would like to do a little recording through midi..

[john90]

2. Key action: The keyboard (action) feel varies considerably. Cheap pianos have cheap keyboards. I could not tolerate the keyboard on the sub-$1000 units. But, you'll have to try them out for yourself.

3. Sound: The sound from digital pianos ranges from mediocre (for the expensive units, $4000 - $15000) to rat-terrible on the cheap ones. None of them truly sound like a piano. But you'll have to judge for yourself.

There is a solution for the sound problem: Connect the piano (any piano) to a PC/Mac via MIDI or USB cable, and run piano library software on the computer. The computer-based pianos produce sound that is MUCH better than any digital piano at any price. Feed that to an external sound system and you're all set.

With this solution you need only focus attention on criterion #2: keyboard feel.

Couldn't agree more on the sound front, using a Mac/PC when it is not good enough. Buying a secondhand Yamaha or Roland stage piano (or any other make after trying the feel), or second best a console, for $300, try it for six months. Then you will know if it is good enough, and what you actually want if you haven't got it. For me I like, at least the illusion of portability. compact size, possibility of analysis using software, if I don't have the luxury of a real instrument. 3k$ can get a nice baby grand, which for me would beat any digital, until it comes to portability, analysis software and playing at night through headphones. 1000s I want to save for a nice acoustic. The only exception would be a high end stage piano with wooden keys.

[thesixthsensemusic]

I currently have a Yamaha CLP-430 at home, it really offers all I could ask for in a digital piano. The 470 and 480 mentioned above have the same action but a slightly better sound and mock-ivory coated keys, which are not a major difference but can be an edge over the 430 for people who tend to get sweaty palms quickly.

I'd say that by far the single most important aspect when looking for one is the touch and how much you feel 'in control' while playing it.

[bronnestam]

I just bought myself a Yamaha CLP465GP, that is, a digital baby grand. I love it.  It is a good piano and it is also a beautiful piece of furniture. Did not think this would matter but - it sure did. At least it did to me, and therefore I say: go find a piano that looks good. After all, you are supposed to spend a lot of time there (aren't you?) My old little digital piano served me well during many years, but finally I had to admit that it was ugly, I did not enjoy sitting there, I got no real "piano feeling" even though it sounded rather good in my headphones. So I did not practice very much. Now I play all day ...   

There is a good feeling in the keys, but of course everyone have to test the models out thoroughly in order to find their favorite. Some prefer Roland, but I stick to Yamaha, they simply suit me well.
To me, it was also important to have the loudspeakers directed upwards and not downwards, and to have a sufficient bass range.