Good digital piano for begineer at $1,000 - $2,000?

[gorz_117]

Hello,

I'm a newbie looking for advice on which digital piano to buy while I save enough for an acoustic one.

I'm not interested in one that's portable, or anything with bells and whistles; I just want the closest one possible to an acoustic one within my budget.

Two models that looked interesting were the Yamaha P255 and the Yamaha YDP 163R Arius Series.  Are these any good?  Any other model or general suggestions? 

Another thing, while searching for equipment I've gotten the impression that some digital pianos try to look aesthetic by imitating a wood look and that might drive the up unnecessarily.  Like, I would get a better piano function to $ wise by sticking to ones that look like more like keyboards.  Is this correct?

Any help would be appreciated.

[pianoplunker]

Hello,

I'm a newbie looking for advice on which digital piano to buy while I save enough for an acoustic one.

I'm not interested in one that's portable, or anything with bells and whistles; I just want the closest one possible to an acoustic one within my budget.

Two models that looked interesting were the Yamaha P255 and the Yamaha YDP 163R Arius Series.  Are these any good?  Any other model or general suggestions? 

Another thing, while searching for equipment I've gotten the impression that some digital pianos try to look aesthetic by imitating a wood look and that might drive the up unnecessarily.  Like, I would get a better piano function to $ wise by sticking to ones that look like more like keyboards.  Is this correct?

Any help would be appreciated.

what is wrong with portable ?   Plenty of great digital keyboards that are portable. Does not mean you have to carry them someplace though.

[gorz_117]

Nothing wrong with them, just meant that if it's fine if it's a portable piano or a stationary one.

Like, being portable is a bonus but, not a requirement.

[hfmadopter]

Nothing wrong with them, just meant that if it's fine if it's a portable piano or a stationary one.

Like, being portable is a bonus but, not a requirement.

Your budget puts you in line with some keyboard controllers  but especially the Kawai VPC1, which will get you into grand action and wooden key cores and decent leverage distance for the key pivots. The MP11 would be even better on the action but the price might derail that idea and it has many bells and whistles you don't care about.. With a controller the sound is generated via computer, it's a simple usb connection these days connecting to VST software. This is true of the MP11 and MP7 as well ( MIDI via USB connection but they also have on board sounds). And all the upper end keyboards will need speakers unless you are only using headphones.. Well that's part of the compromise to getting good action.

I don't care for any Yamaha keyboard action that I have tried thus far and even to a lesser degree Casio.. The Roland RD800 is quite realistic on key action but not their lower end units IMO.

just sayin.

You could also try a Kawai MP7.