You need not necessarily to dig too deep into your pocket to afford the best electric piano. Many manufacturers have produced cheaper versions that go for less than $500. We are here to help you in identifying and subsequently making do with the best electric piano under 500.
In our review-cum-buying guide here below, we shall examine the common features of these best electric pianos under $500, review a leading number of them, and finish off with the factors you ought to consider to acquire a suitable one for yourself.
The trick is to stay with us till the very end to gain the inspiration you badly need.
Best Electric Piano Under 500 – Top 6 on the Market in 2021
Common Features of the Best Electric Piano at the Price Tag of Under 500
Your typical best electric piano under $500 ought to comprise the following common features:
- Audio Playback
It is imperative that the piano concerned possess the audio playback. This is basically the ability of the said item to connect to an MP3 player via the input jacks and play the audio contents that are stored in there. The feature is important to enable you to accrue a higher utility.
- USB / MIDI
To enable you further to pair and share the audio outputs far and wide, the piano ought to possess the MIDI and the USB ports.
These two enable you to slot other like-minded gadgets and to share the necessary signals freely and smoothly. They also negate the need for you to clutter your spaces with too many electronics.
- Sequencer
This is a recorder that lets you capture the audio inputs and then play them back at a later date. You may also use the captured audio contents to blend with your musical productivity.
It is important that you prioritize this trait if your search for the right piano is dictated by the need for professional musical productivity.
- Dual Mode/ Layer
Modern sound production is a complicated undertaking indeed. To keep pace with this complicatedness, it is necessary that the piano you settle for have multiple modes of operations.
That is to enable you to shuffle back and forth and also adjust the levels of sound output as per your taste.
- Key Split
The ‘key split’ is a feature that must exist in your piano of choice. Its role is basically to apportion the sounds as need be.
It comes in handy when you are attempting to play music from two or more instruments per unit time. While at it, the item wards off any possible confusion.
- Additional Sounds
Lastly, the piano you set your hands on has to possess additional sounds embedded in its system.
These variables sound come in handy when attempting to play or produce a musical output that comprises many voices and tones. They also cheapen the process of mixing the sounds for you.
Reviews of the Best Electric Piano Under 500
Let us now review the best electric pianos under $500 for you:
#1: Best Rated – Yamaha P71 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano
If you are looking to produce deeper and enduring sound outputs, this is the piano to set your eyes on. Its keys are weighted while at the same time it comprises the sustain pedal which you step on to enhance the sound quality.
Brilliant features
- Allows for maximum connectivity for you
- Integrates many sound sources for maximum output
- Comprises 10 different voices that are built into the system
- Enables you to blend many voices at one go
- Imbues some style and elegance to your rooms
Watch out for
- The package lacks a stand
- 88 Fully-weighted Piano Style Keys
A set of 88 fully-weighted piano keys rank first among the many offerings that the piano has to offer. They are designed in such a way as to simulate the feels of the acoustic pianos and enable high quality playing experiences.
- Digitally-sampled Tones
Also contained in the system are digitally-sampled tones. They are 10 in number and also mimic the real voices of the Yamaha acoustic grand pianos. They resemble those of real humans. Their existence ensures you have a smooth time when playing the music.
- Dual Mode
This gadget also contains the legendary dual-mode that greatly facilitates the playing of the music. The dual-mode basically gives you the leeway to blend two voices altogether to generate one monolithic voice output for you.
- Yamaha Premium Piano Voices
It on the whole produces premium piano sound voices for you. The quality of the voices is so high that they are devoid of any overtones or other issues that are more likely to compromise the clarity or audibility thereof.
- Pretty Light
By virtue of weighing a paltry 25 pounds, the item is light enough to carry and transport to whichever location of use you may have to. Have it for your taking and consideration if you are a person who adores the outdoor locales.
- Space-saving
Apart from being light, the gadget also works to save on space needs and use considerably. In fact, even if you live in a condominium, you will still be in the position to easily find some space to tuck it in. Hardly does it inconvenience you as you walk around.
#2: Best Sale – Alesis Recital Full Size Semi-Weighted Electric Keyboard
Are you a beginner in the field of pianos? If at all you are, you want to make do with this item. It contains only the bare minimum set of features and is hence simpler to make do with for a start.
Brilliant features
- Portable enough to take just anywhere
- A powerful educational tool for your choice
- Possesses a series of built-in speakers
Watch out for
- Lacks Pedals
- Adjustable Touch Response
Its keys are highly responsive to the touch and as such do not require too much expertise from you to hit and operationalize. Thus, even when you lack the necessary muscle power, it is still there for your own engagements.
- Premium Sounds 5 Voices
A set of five premium voices exist for your own leverage and ultimate engagement. These are the bass, synth, organs, electric pianos, and acoustic pianos. They lessen the efforts you would take to enjoy your time.
- ¼-inch Sustain Pedal Input
Rounding it up is the ¼-inch sustain pedal input that grants you the power to enhance the audio quality as need be. You hit the pedals to deepen the audio output chiefly by way of enhancing the bass signals.
#3: Best for Beginners – LAGRIMA 88 Key Electric Digital Piano with 3 Pedal System
Could it be that you have already mastered the basics of the pianos and now want to launch deeper? You need a machine that is moderately complicated and appropriately suited for the intermediates like this one.
Brilliant features
- Shares the audio signals freely via the USB and the MIDI terminals
- Its quiet mode lets you work without disturbing others
- Simpler enough for the starters and the less skilled
Watch out for
- The headphone is not included in your package
- Appropriate Pedal Protection
Its pedals are not left bare as is the norm with those of the alternative pianos. Instead, they have appropriately protected from all kinds of severe weather damages thanks to the cover that comes along.
- 3 Pedal System
Unlike your ordinary pianos, this one comprises three-pedal systems that offer comprehensive support to the playing of the music. This system is further subdivided into the soft, sustain, and rear sustain pedals respectively.
- Multi-functional Keyboard
Its keyboard yet again sets it farther apart from the others in the sense of being multifunctional. You may adjust its volume, select the tones, and record the sound output as per your unique specifications and need.
#4: Best Compact – Best Choice Products 61-Key Electronic Keyboard Piano Set
Just in case you are a professional musical performance recorder, you may need to tap into a comprehensive keyboard like this one. It comes about with all the trappings you need for the job like the teaching notes and the accessories.
Brilliant features
- Generates high-quality sound output for you
- Packed with a USB port for ease of audio sharing
- Its keys are lighted for easier hitting and engagement
Watch out for
- A new entrant may find it complicated to handle
- Standard Size Electronic Keyboard
Its keyboard is standard in the sense that it contains only the bare minimum sets of features that the item of this kind is supposed to have. Thus, it is not too complicated to handle and engage as others are.
- Ultimate Bundle
In its entirety, the item comprises or comes about in an ultimate bundle. It comprises the padded stool, music stand, keyboard stand, and just about many other associated extras you may need to play well.
- 3 Teaching Modes
And if you just want to start out well in the field of the musical, the item yet again has you well taken good care of. Its three teaching modes exist to usher you from scratch through to the intermediate phases of expertise.
#5: Best for Advanced Pianist – Alesis Recital Pro Digital Piano
Is your hunt for the right digital piano mainly dictated by the need for education? If you answered this question in the affirmative, you need a set of piano that comes about in all the trappings that may be necessary for that end.
Brilliant features
- Strong and powerful enough for your prolonged engagements
- Responds to the keys in a faster and more reliable manner
- Walks you through from scratch to the professional level
Watch out for
- Comes with only a keyboard
- Universal Responsive Feel
A universal responsive feel ranks first among the many offerings that the gadget has to offer. The feel basically responds appropriately to your hands and minimizes the spates of fatigue that you may encounter along the way.
- Built-in 20W Speakers
Also embedded in the item is a set of speakers that bear the 20W rating. As you may already have conjectured, the speakers do exude and put out the sound output that you generate via the piano.
- Powerful Educational Features
We already hinted out that the piano also serves the role of educating a new entrant for you. To manage the attainment of this end, the item comprises a series of education features that among others let you split, record, and play back stored contents.
#6: Best Sound – Donner DDP-100 88-Key Weighted Digital Piano Bundle
Looking mainly to blend many audio contents in the course of producing your outputs? You have to lay your hands on an item that is well able to accommodate many attachments and accessories like this one.
Brilliant features
- Lends support to the external headphones
- Meets the needs of many occasions
- Available in a streamlined design for easy tucking
Watch out for
- Heavy to move arround
- Furniture Stand
It does come about with a furniture stand whose role is to place the gadget smoothly in place for your easy access and subsequent engagement. The stand is firm, strong, and properly reliable for your rigorous use thereafter.
- Power Adapter
A power adapter comes in next for you. Its role is to allow you to draw the power input from the mains electricity in a manner that is smooth and seamless. Also, it guards against power surges and spikes.
- Triple Pedals
Crowning it all up is the triple pedals that you use to deepen the sound output. In particular, the pedals serve to make the bass output deeper and more fulfilling than the other kinds of sounds for you.
How to Choose the Best Electrical Piano Under $500?
To choose the best electrical piano under $500, below are the factors you have to bear in mind:
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Keyboard Action
The keyboard action should be the first and foremost consideration here. It refers to the manner in which the keys translate the hitting actions to produce the required audio output.
Your preferred piano must demonstrate a proven track record of generating quality action for your course and use.
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Touch Response
Next comes the touch response. The ‘touch response’ refers to the ease or lack of it with which the keys respond to the pounding or hitting actions of the hands.
Needless to say, the piano of choice has to be truly responsive to minimize fatigue and allow you to play the item consistently for a longer duration.
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Connectivity
Generating the sound output is one thing; sharing the same with the others is yet another thing altogether. A great gadget has to be truly connected and able to share the audio contents in ways that are diverse and seamless.
It must have a USB port, a MIDI interface, and an audio jack slot.
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Recording Capability
To greatly facilitate your musical production and output, the piano you pick for the job has to enable the recording of the audio produced. That is to cut the effort you may need to tackle your chores appropriately.
On the same breadth, the piano has to allow for smoother retrieval and playback of the stored contents.
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Volume
The ‘volume’ refers to the degree of loudness of the sound output that is generated by the item altogether. A great item has to be in the position of generating more audible sounds with minimal effort as can be.
That is to spare you of the need to hit the keys too hard or even injure your fingers.
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Versatility
You definitely want to enjoy many more benefits besides merely generating the audio outputs, don’t you? To enable this to happen, you want a machine that is able to serve you in many alternative ways.
One sure way of guaranteeing this is to settle for an item that may pair with many extras.
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Convenience/Portability
Just in case you want to play your piano in a distant or far away location, you want one that is truly portable and simpler to carry around as need be. That is only assured if the item in question is smaller, compact, and less weighty.
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Amplification and Speakers
Over and above generating the audio outputs, it is imperative that the piano you pick be able to amplify the sound outputs considerably. That is to help with the audibility and clarity of the same if and when the time for distributing the same eventually arises.
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Number of Sounds/Tones
The number of tones that the piano generates also counts. You want one that is able to generate as many tones as can be. Reason? You do not want the quality of the final output to be compromised in any shape or form. Be mindful of your expertise as you go about this though.
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Piano Sound Quality
Other than the number of sounds, the quality of that sound output in and of itself ought to be your consideration.
Needless to say, a great item has to generate sound output quality that is clear, devoid of any overtones, or other issues that may compromise your comprehension of the same.
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Teaching/Learning Tools
If your search for the right electric piano is determined by educational needs, you need to pick one that is also packed with learning and teaching tools.
Examples of these could be notes, built-in lessons, metronomes, and the note/chord displays to name but a few! They serve to usher you in the wonderful world of the pianos.
Conclusion
Our in-depth look into the best electric piano under $500 comes to an end there.
We now ask you to take over from where we have left. That definitely cannot mean anything else save for you to now purchase one such from the list above. We wish you all the best in your search and subsequent find of the same!