Digital pianos are quickly becoming popular because they allow pianists to record their performance. Also, they are compact and lightweight meaning that they can be easily carried and do not consume a lot of space. However, choosing the best digital piano for classical pianists is not a walk in the park. This is because there is a wide variety of options on the market that suit different types of pianists.
While looking for a digital piano, you should make sure that it correlates with your specific needs. In this article, we will show you the top 5 best digital piano for a classical pianist that you can choose today.
Top 5 Best Digital Piano for Classical Pianist List
Top 5 Best Digital Piano for Classical Pianist Reviews
1. Best Overall – Yamaha YDP184R Digital Piano
Brilliant features
- 88 piano style weighted keys
- Comes with 24 sampled sounds that are decent
- It has a vivid and strong bass
- Features excellent sound and design
- Has a half-pedal capability
- Fifty preloaded songs that let you listen before you play
- USB audio support
Watch out for
- A bit expensive
Why we choose it
Our top pick for the best digital piano for classical pianists is the Yamaha YDP 184R Digital Piano. This digital piano is made from the best Yamaha technology that produces a gorgeous and realistic sound. It has virtual resonance modeling (VRM) which creates a realistic soundboard.
Also, the YDP 184R has 24 instrument sounds which you can choose from and GH3 hammer action which is suitable for players of all skill levels. Thanks to its upright design, you can use this digital piano for the classroom, living room, and recital halls.
This digital piano also has a full dot LCD that allows for smooth navigation of the piano’s functions and features. The YDP-184R is very flexible and has connectivity features such as AUX in (stereo) AUX out (L + R), MIDI, USB port and AC adapter.
2. Runner Up – Casio AP – 700 Celviano Digital Piano for Classical Pianist
Brilliant features
- Hammer-action keys with ivory and ebony key surfaces
- Stunning flagship piano voices
- Berlin Grand sound
- Realistic sound with 6 speaker system
- USB and MIDI connectivity
- Comes with everything you need
- 26 built-in songs
Watch out for
- It’s heavy so difficult to move upstairs and downstairs
Why we choose it
The second on this list is Casio AP – 700 Celviano Digital Piano. The Casio AP – 700 is the flagship piano model of the Celviano line of digital pianos. It comes with a beautiful upright style cabinet, 2-way sound system, 6 speaker and advanced sound generator.
The AP – 700 has 88 scaled hammer action keys with incredible ebony and ivory feel. Compared to Casio digital pianos in the PX range, this digital piano has completely mechanical hammer action. The USB MIDI allows you to use the Casio AP – 700 Celviano Digital Piano with Windows or Mac computers without downloading drivers. Additionally, you can use the USB to connect to any Android or iOS devices so that you can display PDF scores and play MIDI songs.
What makes this digital piano stand out from its rivals is the education features. The AP-700 comes with 26 built-in songs as well as 60 songs in the library that can be practiced using the 20W speaker system or the dual headphone outputs.
3. Best Professional -Suzuki MDG – 300 Home Digital Piano
Brilliant features
- An authentic look as well as baby grand feel
- Comes with pre-programmed music
- Powerful sound effects
- Great sound quality
- Recording function
- Easy to set up and use
- Bluetooth streaming with iPad connectivity
Watch out for
- The pedals are a bit noisy
Why we choose it
Suzuki MDG-300 Home Digital Piano is a wonderful combination of stunning appearance and performance features. This digital piano allows Bluetooth connectivity and access to lessons, music, and demonstrations from the internet. You can connect Suzuki MDG 300 to your iPad and turn it into a recording studio. The benefit of this is that it makes playing and practice time fun for classical pianists.
Additionally, the MDG 300 has a powerful 6-speaker sound delivery system that delivers great dynamic sound which is rich with power and presence. This digital piano has a USB port that opens a world of fascinating add-ons as well as extra functionality. All you have to do is plug and play directly to your desktop computer or laptop.
Other features of Suzuki MDG-300 Home Digital Piano include 88 graded hammer action keys, 55 preset songs, sustain pedal and sound engine with a wonderful grand piano.
4. Best Portable – Kawai ES8 Digital Piano for Classical Pianist
Brilliant features
- Harmonic Imaging XL sound engine
- Powerful recording features
- Comes with a lot of connectivity options
- 256 note polyphony and 10 piano tones
- Has great build quality and robust metal case
Watch out for
- It has no Bluetooth connectivity
Why we choose it
If you are looking for a professional portable digital piano, then you should not look further than this digital piano. Kawai ES8 Digital Piano is the best portable piano on this list of best digital piano for classical pianists. It comes with an 88-key fully weighted keyboard that has Ivory Touch keytops.
The Response Hammer 3 is touch-sensitive meaning that it responds differently depending on how soft and hard you play. Kawai ES8 Digital Piano has an upgraded sound engine that is known as Harmonic Imaging XL. Also, it has 256 note polyphony, three modes, and MIDI & Audio Recorder.
Kawai ES8 comes with lots of unique features, including built-in speakers and a hammer-action keyboard. What we like about the ES8 is that it comes with a high quality realistically weighted pedal that makes it look like you are playing a real piano.
5. Best Cost-effective – Casio Privia PX – 870 Digital Piano
Brilliant features
- Elegant and compact design
- Comes with 3 piano pedals in addition to half-pedal function support
- The piano sound is quite improved
- Has a maximum polyphony of 256 notes
- MIDI and Audio recorder
- 40-watt speaker system
- Takes 45 minutes to assemble the components
- Affordable than others and great value
Watch out for
- Few built-in sound effects and sounds
Why we choose it
Casio Privia PX-870 digital piano is a fully-fledged keyboard that has 3 pedals and 88 touch-sensitive keys. It features a stylish, modern wooden cabinet with a sliding key cover. Also, the PX-870 has a graded keyboard which means that the keyboard is heavier at the base than at the treble end.
Compared to the earlier Privia series, the Casio Privia PX-870 Digital Piano has great sound and enhancement. The control panel is usually on the left side of the digital piano while the volume can be controlled with a knob. It is very easy to assemble a digital piano as you need only a screwdriver to bring the parts together. Consider the pros and cons listed and make your decision.
The Difference Between an Acoustic Piano Between a Digital Piano
Many musicians are faced with the dilemma of choosing between an acoustic piano and a digital piano. These two pianos usually vary depending on sound, versatility, pedals, touch sensitivity, maintenance, and price.
The first way an acoustic piano varies from a digital piano is the sound of the musical instrument. An acoustic piano produces sound when the hammer hits a string. On the other hand, a digital piano imitates the sound that is produced by an acoustic piano.
The second difference between an acoustic piano and a digital piano is the touch sensitivity. The touch sensitivity of a digital piano and an acoustic piano may vary depending on the weight of the keys. Compared to a digital piano, an acoustic piano is more touch-sensitive.
On the side of the price, an acoustic piano is pricier. Typically, a mid-tier acoustic piano costs around $2000 to way higher while a digital piano can cost between $500 and $1000.
Benefits of a Digital Piano for Classical Pianists
There is no doubt that digital pianos are a great resource for classical pianists. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pianist, a digital piano makes performing and learning easier for you. Digital pianos are usually available in many designs, sizes and price ranges, and they shine where acoustic pianos come short.
Also, digital pianos are much cheaper than acoustic pianos. Depending on your budget, you can buy a top-quality digital stage piano at around $1000. Over the years, digital pianos have undergone great development in the quality of sounds, keyboards, and speaker systems. Thanks to their powerful loudspeakers, sophisticated keyboard mechanisms, and elaborately sampled sounds, digital pianos offer a great sound that is different from an acoustic instrument.
One of the main benefits of digital pianos is that they are space-saving compared to acoustic pianos. Their lightweight and compact nature make them good for carrying around and setting up in your room. Digital pianos also have unique features like different instrumental sounds, recording options, and built-in accompaniments that you can play along with.
Also, you can use a digital piano with other recording devices by simply plugging in then you play. This musical instrument has built-in exercises, lessons, music note displays, and metronomes which are useful for teachers and students.
The good thing about buying a digital piano is that they are always in tune meaning that if you turn them on, you can just turn their volume down and you are good to go.
Additionally, digital pianos require little to no maintenance. Another benefit of digital piano for the classical pianist is that they can be played with headphones in case you don’t want to disturb other people. However, some classical pianists don’t prefer using headphones when playing a digital piano because it eliminates live acoustics which you hear while playing live.
These days it is possible to connect digital pianos to portable devices. As the popularity of online music lesson systems, as well as music learning apps on iPads, continue to increase, it makes it paramount for classical pianists to choose a piano that can work with a tablet or computer.
A digital piano has USB Audio that allows classical pianists to play audio tracks via the speaker of the piano.
How to Choose the Best Digital Piano for Classical Pianists?
Digital pianos refer to electronic keyboards that are designed to mimic the feel and sound produced by acoustic pianos. Compared to traditional acoustic pianos, digital pianos are more budget-friendly and take less space. But what makes digital pianos stand out from its rivals is the fact that it has advanced features such as LED display, FX, metronomes, and other sounds or voices.
With this piano, it is possible to adjust the volume settings, and simultaneously play various sounds and style. Besides, you can connect a digital piano to external devices such as tablets, recorders, laptops, and smartphones. Choosing a digital piano can be confusing to both beginners and seasoned musicians. This is because the market is flooded with different types of digital pianos that come with unique features.
In this buying guide, we are going to look at features you should look for while choosing the best digital piano for classical pianists.
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Keyboard
A conventional digital piano has 88 keys but they may vary based on performance and design. While playing a digital keyboard, you don’t want the feeling to be fake but rather like you are playing an authentic piano.
Digital pianos come with keys that have a characteristic feel thanks to the hammer action which is available inside the piano. For example, weighted and semi-weighted actions come with a response that gives the feeling of playing a traditional piano.
On the other hand, hammer action offers a realistic feeling while playing the digital piano. Also called graded hammer action, fully weighted keys are more expensive but they function relative to the octave of the keys.
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Design
Another factor you should consider is the design of the digital stage piano. You want to choose a digital piano with a good design. However, it is important to note that the design of a piano may affect performance.
For example, how the controls are positioned can affect how well you play the instrument. This is why you should check the display position.
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Sound Quality
The final feature to consider is the sound quality of the digital piano. As already mentioned above, polyphony notes may affect the sound quality but you must consider the sound engine as well. If you buy a cheap piano, you may get the same note despite how hard the key is pressed. The good thing about sound engines is that they produce high-quality sound.
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Number of Polyphony Notes
Any musical instrument should impress listeners with their sound. That is why you should look if the digital piano many polyphony notes. The best digital piano for classical pianists should have not less than 100 note polyphony. Typically, digital pianos come with polyphony notes that range from 120 to 200.
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Weight
You must consider the weight of a digital piano if you will be carrying it around. In case you are looking for the best digital piano for classical pianists that are lightweight, then you should consider buying Kawai ES8 Digital Piano. However, you may need to choose a digital piano that is heavier for extra stability.
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Connectivity
Classical pianists should look if their digital piano can connect to your mobile devices. Digital pianos usually come fitted with a USB port or MIDI connections that allow you to connect the piano to other recording devices. It is a big advantage for pianists to be able to download and record music. This is why they should look if their piano is compatible with flash memory cards.
Conclusion
It can be quite challenging to choose the best digital piano for classical pianists. This is why you need to look at whether the digital piano suits your budget and needs. Factors you need to consider include the keyboard size, durability, hammer action, and cost.
As you have read the above article on the top 5 best digital piano for classical pianist reviews, the top-rated pianos have gained a reputation for different reasons. Some of the above digital pianos are lightweight and made for playing live.
On the other hand, there are pianos with hundred of fun sounds and are cost-effective. The crucial thing to do is to find out the features that are important for you and choose the models that are best for that.