How does a Yamaha p95 compare?

[iancollett6]

I have a beautiful Yamaha acoustic and also a p95digital. Lately I've been using the p95 more often as I have become involved in a small group, just jamming, but with the hope of playing a few low key gigs in the future.
 The question I have is , is the p95 considered a serious enough keyboard for these purposes? I feel quite happy with it, perhaps it's just my western consumer driven mind telling me I need newer and better!?  Thanks

[hfmadopter]

It's a bit weak, lacking in polyphony and line out features for gigging. It's consumer grade as well, so with tons of gigging you that may show it's wear on the instrument. However, that said it does have midi out so if your group you play with is into midi control you could tie in that way.The headphone jack is weak for hooking to large amp systems though. The on board speaker system is useless for any sized venue at all and sounds lousy anyway compared with good external sound. But hey, people use them, you aren't the first to do so. It's just not ideal.

A better consumer grade option is the Yamaha P105. this has what you need for hooking to external sound, has a better sound engine to begin with but yes it's still consumer level in mechanics.

 The first pro grade option cost wise is the Yamaha CP33, much more powerful system with great feeling keys but older technology. That's Ok it's a great instrument. It does require external sound system though, no internal speakers at all ( just use headphone at home).

From there costs rise as you get into newer and or more advanced keyboards.

The P95 is a start, you will run into limitations then you will know for yourself that it's time to move up.

[iancollett6]

Thanks for the response,   I realise that this model lacks a line out, it has 2 headphone jacks. Ive asked at a few music shops about how this affects my abilty to use external speakers and I seem to get different responses.
 Would there be a problem with using a lead from the headphone jack to a self powered PA speaker? Thanks.

[hfmadopter]

Thanks for the response,   I realise that this model lacks a line out, it has 2 headphone jacks. Ive asked at a few music shops about how this affects my abilty to use external speakers and I seem to get different responses.
 Would there be a problem with using a lead from the headphone jack to a self powered PA speaker? Thanks.

Good question that I'm not sure about. However with Kawai hooked to the pa port on my sub, which I distribute from it didn't work. The sub gives me a blinking blue mismatch light. The headphone port on the Kawai works with computer speakers of the powered variety though. But the Kawai has line out. All you can do is try it but I have to tell you that trs cables are much heavier than the headphone cable even though both are stereo. When I get home later today I'll hook to a line in port on a studio monitor from the headphone jack and report back. Seems to I've done though and it was either no sound or weak. But we shall see !

Edit/update:

It works to hook the Headphone jack to the line in jack on the amp/monitor by running a TRS cable ( balanced stereo cable). To run a pair of them or to run through my sub first there would need to be a slitter put in so as to run dual lines for the second half of the system to sound. The tone is different but there is plenty of volume. On my Kawai I can alter tone accordingly. The last time I tried this I must have had plain TR cables.

The other thing is you may need an adapter if you have the small plug for a jack, you need to get up to 1/4". Will you need to be providing your own amp ?

[iancollett6]

Thanks alot for your help. The p95 comes with 1/4 phono jacks, so i wont need an adaptor.
I was googling the difference between a headphone jack and a line out, a headphone out has a mini amplifier in the circuit to drive the headphones, this going through a powered amp can sometimes reduce sound quality. A line out is a very low powered signal.
 I think it probably wont be too long beore im looking at a different keyboard. Once again, thanks.

[hfmadopter]

Thanks alot for your help. The p95 comes with 1/4 phono jacks, so i wont need an adaptor.
I was googling the difference between a headphone jack and a line out, a headphone out has a mini amplifier in the circuit to drive the headphones, this going through a powered amp can sometimes reduce sound quality. A line out is a very low powered signal.
 I think it probably wont be too long beore im looking at a different keyboard. Once again, thanks.

If you guys are using an equalizer mixer you can probably make up for a lot of that. You just need to get some of that overdrive out. My Kawai has a 4 channel equalizer built in ( EQ and Tone controls as well, which has taken the most time for me to get to understand about the instrument actually) But ya, a different keyboard is always a nice thing. If you are going to gig you could use an upgrade, that's the real solution. Lot of nice ones out there and exciting to try them all out ! Meanwhile, at least what you have will work.

[iancollett6]

Hello,
 So is that a Kawaii MP10 that you use? How does that compare to the Rolands (RD700,300)?
    ian

[hfmadopter]

Hello,
 So is that a Kawaii MP10 that you use? How does that compare to the Rolands (RD700,300)?
    ian

I own the MP6, the MP 10 was a little more than I wanted to spend and not only that but I got the MP6 with an added bonus coupon 20% off. It basically cost me $1200us with free shipping. The MP6 is what I started  looking for actually, the MP10 a consideration. In order to try out an MP10 I'd have to take a 100 mile road trip, that was the nearest place to me with one in stock. I ordered online with Musicians Friend anyway in the end but it is nice to know what you are getting into before you buy.

Of all the keyboards I tried, two others stood out ( i tried out keyboards on and of for over 6 months before I bought one). The synth keyboard from Korg, the Chrome 88 I believe was it's designation and the Roland RD700NX. The NX has the most grand piano like keys of all that I played and it has arranger capability built into it. The Korg unbelievable piano sounds and other instrument sounds, you could literally build a whole movie track on that thing, very powerful instrument if slightly less feel to the keys. But then I came back to earth when I found this deal on the MP6.

The 700NX is the top of the Roland line and it feels it even compared with the 300NX, at least to me it did..

Take your time, if you are gigging there are other meaningful things to consider, like weight and portability yet sturdy. Obviously you want hook up capability. An MP10 is very heavy for instance, as portable keyboards go anyway ( I believe it weights over 50lb or near 60lb)..

[iancollett6]

So what do you do to amplify the kawaii, I've been reading a lot of bad things about keyboard amps.
 People say that you can't get a decent sound out of them, that a PA speaker is the way to do it. Do you have any thoughts on this matter .
 I've been reading a lot of great stuff about the MP6, too bad the price over here in Australia is about twice the American price!

[hfmadopter]

So what do you do to amplify the kawaii, I've been reading a lot of bad things about keyboard amps.
 People say that you can't get a decent sound out of them, that a PA speaker is the way to do it. Do you have any thoughts on this matter .
 I've been reading a lot of great stuff about the MP6, too bad the price over here in Australia is about twice the American price!

I've tried only one amp ( Roland KC60), the sound was great a ways away from the amp, beautiful actually. You heard every nuance. However that was after tweaking the 4 zone EQ and playing with tone control. You heard every nuance but loud. I found that amp to only be good at mid and upper volume , it was no good in a tight situation where it needed to be turned down below half volume or better yet 2/3, as such. I now run with two monitors. I wired through an M-Audio 10inch sub woofer with TRS cable and out to the Monitors with XLR. And wear headphones. Nothing is as realistic as the headphones though.. Yes, getting sound from speakers is different from acoustic ! I really want to try either the new Three way that M-Audio is slow to bring out (for mid range tonal value) or the Roland CM 30 in a pair. I think the tone from either of  these will be really good in an affordable package. The bass and treble are great on my MP6, if I have a complaint about realism through speakers it tends to be mid range. And again, if you get out away from the speakers it sounds better than up close and at a bit of an odd angle.

It's a great keyboard, if you end up with one there is a bit of a learning curve that goes with it, as it's adjustable very deep. There are more modern options now, that model is starting to age. I bought it mostly based on it's keys and I imagine the MP10 is even better. People complain about digital pianos and dynamic range, I got to tell you, set up the Mp 6 right and it's very dynamic and a master at volume control from the keys. I express more easily on it than my grand in some ways ( the pedal is a bit less dynamic with MP6).

[hfmadopter]

So what do you do to amplify the kawaii, I've been reading a lot of bad things about keyboard amps.
 People say that you can't get a decent sound out of them, that a PA speaker is the way to do it. Do you have any thoughts on this matter .
 I've been reading a lot of great stuff about the MP6, too bad the price over here in Australia is about twice the American price!

I should add that if you really dig into keyboard sound systems, that unanimously you will find that those in the trade will come up with room dynamics. If you get realistic speakers ( amp or otherwise) the sound can still be altered greatly and to the negative by lousy acoustics, how close to the walls etc. If you end up with a keyboard with no EQ then make sure the amp has it or run through a separate equalizer so you can tweak the sound to your taste accordingly. EQ and Tone adjustment even better.

Some folks try to play through a single amp. Most pianos today play in stereo and while a single amp will deliver music you are missing quality by not panning over two speakers IMO. Most systems have dual or more in and out ports, use them. My 10" woofer has PA capablility FWIW or mic capability, I run two TRS cables to it and two XLR out to dual monitors as already mentioned. Use one monitor out and it sounds lousy quite frankly. I use very little of the subs power in the bass but that little really adds to the mix. Everything else including the rest of the bass is running through. The sub adds fullness, if overdone it adds ridiculous thump to the room. Set just right I can get that nice vibrating feeling that I get out of my grand. But it's my splitter to the rest of the sound at the same time if that makes any sense. I was lucky, I found that sub used with a warranty for half the cost of a new one.

How is the pricing on a Yamaha CP33 over there ? It's an older model now for sure but it still has great potential for what you want to do. It's professional grade and still widely used. Also, don't forget virtual pianos but keep it simple, not a computer hogging program. I don't use one myself, so others could help you better than I could on that.

[briansaddleback]

but with the hope of playing a few low key gigs in the future.
 The question I have is , is the p95 considered a serious enough keyboard for these purposes? I feel quite happy with it, perhaps it's just my western consumer driven mind telling me I need newer and better!?  Thanks

You should be just fine with the p95. the yamahas P line are pretty robust.

[falala]

I was googling the difference between a headphone jack and a line out, a headphone out has a mini amplifier in the circuit to drive the headphones, this going through a powered amp can sometimes reduce sound quality. A line out is a very low powered signal.
 I think it probably wont be too long beore im looking at a different keyboard. Once again, thanks.

Just bear in mind, as mentioned upthread, the possibilities of the MIDI out.

If you're happy with the feel of the keyboard, you could get a decent sound module to hook it up to that would have all the high quality sounds you require, for less than the price of a new keyboard. If you're only looking for piano and maybe a few keyboard sounds, you could get something excellent very cheap indeed on ebay.

[digitalpianocompare]

Hi Ian,

We're not sure if this is entirely helpful but here's the review of the Yamaha P-95 we wrote at digitalpianocompare.  We're a fan of both the P-95 and the upgraded P-105:

https://www.digitalpianocompare.co.uk/yamaha-p-95-digital-piano-review
https://www.digitalpianocompare.co.uk/yamaha-p-105-digital-piano-review

Anyway, not sure if they're useful but thought we'd share anyway.

Regards
digitalpianocompare
https://www.digitalpianocompare.co.uk

[jimbo320]

If you REALLY want to be serious I suggest a CP4 Stage Piano.
When I switched to one my band was very impressed by the full quality of sound that it gave to our music. I used to play a P5 but fell in love with the CP's action and sound.
Good luck with your chioce...