Affordable realistic digital?

[brenton]

Hi guys,

I am looking into buying a digital piano (non upright) that I can hook speakers up to.

Weighted keys/velocity sensitivity are a must.

Most importantly, I'm looking for an insanely realistic sound at an affordable price.

No more than $300 would be great.

Are there any digitals that only have a piano sound (To drastically cut down the price)?

....If it is sample based, that would be even better.

Thank you all for your time.

[iansinclair]

At some risk of sounding like a pessimist, I think you will find that the price of a digital piano is much more related to the quality of the action rather than the range of sounds.  The range -- and realism -- of the sounds is basically a software or computer hardware problem, and both of those are very inexpensive.  The action, on the other hand, is mechanical -- and to get one which feels even remotely like a real piano is going to cost real money.

[oxy60]

We have a huge number of threads already going on this very subject. The answer to your question is there!

[brenton]

At some risk of sounding like a pessimist, I think you will find that the price of a digital piano is much more related to the quality of the action rather than the range of sounds.  The range -- and realism -- of the sounds is basically a software or computer hardware problem, and both of those are very inexpensive.  The action, on the other hand, is mechanical -- and to get one which feels even remotely like a real piano is going to cost real money.

Thank you for the reply.

Define 'real money'.

[hfmadopter]

I suggest that you click on the link that I'm providing and then read extensively. I did my own research before buying a digital piano and started with sites like that one, plus went to stores and tried out many of the various options about one year ago. It took me 6 months to determine that there are absolutely no $200 or $300 digital pianos worth buying in terms of coming close to a piano experience. I also found that even at $2000 you needed to be selective because there are models in that price range that really don't try to simulate acoustic action ( this is all assuming that you are interested in acoustic piano action, which I was), many synth models fall in this price range for instance. However, in the time I researched I found a couple of nice pianos starting at about $599 and I considered pianos up to  $3000msrp which go on sale for less than that. I also found the site I'm linking you to was quite accurate. It is one guys opinion but it is also a well thought out view and seems fairly unbiased. You can listen to samples from each reviewed piano as well or many at least.

I hate to tell you but you are talking about adding external speakers ? Well sound systems is another whole topic with various points of contention ! You might just be best off buying a piano with a good heavy duty earphone port in it because just about no sound system beats a good headphone/earphone set.

Here is the site :  https://azpianonews.blogspot.com/2012/09/review-20122013-digital-pianos-under.html

[ranniks]

One side of me wishes he had bought a digital.

Another side of me is convinced that he made the right decision in getting an upright.

But the part of me that thinks of space and mobility says that digital is the way to go (in terms of your living situation of course).

[hfmadopter]

Well ranniks you're doing fine with your upright. If I had tight living spaces in terms of neighbors I'd probably just have my digital though. I practice on it more than my grand piano as it is.

[thesixthsensemusic]

Forget about a piano for that price. Just search for a decent second hand full-size MIDI keyboard, with weighted keys. They are being sold new from 400 euros and up (around 500 USD) so you might find one within your budget, second hand.

You obviously have a computer, all else you need to do is install a cracked copy of FL Studio or Cubase or any other VSTi-host, and use it to run a good piano plugin and set the audio latency to the lowest possible point.

Of course this would mean you're using cracked of software, but it's the only way I see you getting what you want for this price. At the price of slightly lower sound quality there's freeware piano plugins available. And you can also use a freeware VST host programme, just google search for them.

BTW, I forgot, you'll be needing a sustain pedal as well, as they are not included with MIDI keyboards. You only need to plug it into the designated socket on the back before hooking up the whole thing to your computer. This will drain your budget by an extra 25 quid or so, if you want to buy a pedal resembling a real piano pedal.