Choosing the best digital piano with weighted keys
If youโre in the market for a digital piano with weighted keys, youโre in the right place. Here are the main features to look for and the important things you need to know to choose the right one for you.
Number of polyphony
Polyphony refers to how many notes the keyboard can play at the same time.
Consider an acoustic piano. There are 288 keys and since each operates independently of the others, you can actually play every single note at the same time. Digital pianos obviously operate differently but the higher the polyphony, the more tones you can play at the same time.
These digital pianos range a bit in polyphony. The Yamaha P125 88-Key Weighted Digital Piano is 192, the Korg Home SP170SBK2 is 60, and the Casio PX-160 is 18.
How much does this matter? Well, it depends on how youโre planning to use the piano.
The higher the polyphony, the more the keyboard mimics an acoustic keyboard but you donโt necessarily need something super high. If you plan to play duets, you should choose a polyphony thatโs high enough for four hands once but anything around 32 or higher should be enough.
Number of voices
If youโre planning to make layered recordings or if you just like playing around with different sounds, pay close attention to the number of voices. The products we included in our reviews have between 10 and 24 with one, The ONE Smart Piano, connecting to an app with more than 100 different voices available.
The more voices you have access to, the more creative you can be when recording and adding layer after layer.
It can also be fun to play certain music using different versions of pianos and instruments, like the harpsichord, church organ, or jazz piano.
Connector jacks
The kind of connector jacks you need depends on the other gadgets you plan to use your digital piano with. Some of these products use a simple USB or MIDI cord to connect to your smartphone, tablet, or accessories like recording equipment, PC or laptop, or external speakers. Note that one of our picks, the Kawai ES110, is equipped with Bluetooth.
Dimensions and weight
Dimensions and weight are important for two reasons. First, itโs important to know how much room you have in your home for your digital piano to choose one thatโs the right size. The second thing to consider is whether or not you plan to travel with your digital piano. Some of our picks are lightweight, compact, and designed for travel while others are specifically designed to stay in one place.
Warranty
Warranties are very important when it comes to something like a digital keyboard. For one thing, theyโre a pretty significant investment. Even the least expensive option costs several hundred dollars. Theyโre also made of a lot of electrical components and you never know what can happen, particularly if you plan to take your digital piano with you to gigs.
Extra features
There are some extra features that you might come across, too. Some are just a lot of fun while others can actually help you play better.
In addition to different voices, some of these digital pianos have extra beats and backgrounds you can use to create more complex recordings.
You might also consider choosing a digital keyboard with a built-metronome, like by Yamaha P125 88-Key Weighted Digital Piano. Metronomes play a steady tick of beep that helps you keep up the tempo on whatever song youโre playing. Using a metronome is a great way to push yourself to play more fluidly and to play sheet music properly by using the right time signature.
A few of these products include features that actually teach you how to play the piano. While these features are unnecessary for experienced musicians, theyโre ideal for beginners. If youโre looking for a digital piano so your kids can learn to play or if youโve never touched a keyboard before, these extra features are good to keep in mind.
Price range
Our picks range in price from around $400 up to as much as $1500. As you can see, any product you choose is a bit of an investment which is why itโs so important to do your research and choose the model thatโs the best fit for you.