My limit:$1200; but what would $2K more get me?

[skierdude]

Hi everyone. Although I’ve been shopping for a digital piano in the $1000 - $1200 range (tops), for ha-has I read up on some more expensive pianos. I had played the Yamaha CLP 430 and 440. They sounded and felt good, albeit the keys seemed a little heavier than what I’m used to (quick to get used to, for sure). (I actually liked the Arius 181 better).

The Casio I’m looking at (PX850, possibly the AP620 if I can get a good price) feels and sounds pretty good too. Is there a difference? Sure. Is it a $2000 difference? I don’t know.

So, I’m just curious of your thoughts: if a digital piano with a decent (i.e., acceptable) touch and sound, with weighted keys and pressure sensitive pedals can be found in the $1000-$1500 range, what’s the extra $2+ Grand offering? What, exactly, will I be missing out on?

Is it similar to the difference, for example, between a Toyota and a Lexus? Both get you where you’re going, can be fun to drive, have working stereos, etc.; just the Lexus gets you a better looking exterior, a smoother, quieter, more comfortable ride (I’m guessing, never owned or ridden in one; so I may be a victim of marketing), more electronic bells/whistles, and maybe (likely) more prestige. The Toyota’s not missing anything, the Lexus is just nicer and fancier.

Back to pianos: The Casio AP620 and CLP440 certainly look better than the PX850. As does the Roland HP-307 (and 507) I just read about that got me wondering this (that is a beautiful piano, at least in pictures). But I’m not sure what else $2K really gives me.

Thanks.

[iansinclair]

A little hard to say, since there are a variety of possibilities.  You may get a better action -- frequently a much better action.  You may also get a better sound sysem built in, and decent sound systems are expensive.  On the other hand, you may just be getting a variety of bells and whistles which have nothing to do with pianos (but look great in the advertising, particularly for non-musician types) or you may just be getting a better case.  You have to consider specific models and makers to see what combination of the above you are getting.

[hfmadopter]

Sometimes when you dig into the specs of the Console style digital pianos you will find that you need to spend close to the 2 grand to get the same action as the less expensive stage piano has. Also to get into a decently built case. For instance, many Yamaha stage pianos have GH action, that's their middle grade action. But low end console style pianos, same brand name have the GHS action which is their lower end action. Also, most low end consoles do not have hard wood cases but press board with laminate over it. In fact surprisingly it may even be the same for some higher end digital console pianos for the main panels. It's also the same for aftermarket so called wood stands for stage pianos.

For that reason above and because I own a grand piano already, I tend to look at stage pianos vs console style digitals. The nicer Kawai and Rolands in a console will cost in the area of $4000. You can buy a nice working stage piano ( may have more bells than you want) for $1400 and on sale for less.

Besides that, the best sound will always be after the signal from any digital piano goes through virtual grand piano software of some type and into a good sound system. This is all my personal assessment of the digital piano front that I've been sorting for myself now actually for several months.