Are you in the market for a new upright piano? You’ll need to be knowledgeable of the features to look for to make the right purchase.
The wrong upright piano could result in years of dissatisfaction and frustration. The right upright piano can be a dream to play, significantly rewarding, and not have major differences to a grand piano with regard to tone.
But how do you choose the best sounding upright pianos? We’ve done the legwork and compiled all the information you need to have about upright pianos. We’ve also listed the best upright models currently available.
Top 5 Best Sounding Upright Pianos on the Market of 2021
1. Best Overall – Suzuki MDG-4000ts Piano with Touch Screen and Wheels
2. Best Sale – Yamaha Arius YDP-144 Acoustic Upright Piano
3. Best Bundle – Yamaha DGX-660 88-Key Upright Sounding Stage Piano
4. Best for Beginner – Donner DDP-100 Weighted Digital Piano
5. High End – Casio Privia PX-870 Sounding Upright Piano Kit
What Is a Sounding Upright Piano?
A sounding upright piano has strings that lie, just as the name suggests, upright. As a result, the instrument is more compact, allowing you to play it in a limited space. The measurements of upright pianos vary a bit from one model to another, but they’re most often 155cm wide, 110 to 135cm high, and 60cm deep.
The hammers of upright pianos rely on springs than gravity alone to return to a resting position.
The pedals of an upright piano have the following functions:
- Soft pedal – When you press this left pedal, all the hammers move closer to the strings, which reduces the sound volume.
- Muffler pedal – This middle pedal is also referred to as the practice pedal. It drops a thin felt piece between the strings and hammers, muting the sound greatly.
- Sustain pedal – This is the right pedal, also known as the damper pedal. When pressed, the dampers remain lifted, thus sustaining all the played notes when you take your fingers off the keys.
Why Do You Need to Buy the Sounding Upright Piano?
Several factors can make the upright piano ideal for you. These include:
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Limited Space
Do you have a small home or a small to medium-sized room where you want to fit a piano? Or maybe you want to have a piano but leave the room feeling spacious. An upright piano is a great option.
Sounding upright pianos are designed to be compact and can fit anywhere in a room. They provide strong tones, a dynamic range, and impressive leverage in their keys and action without consuming meters upon meters of your precious floor space.
They can feel as loud and full as grand pianos in small to mid-sized rooms.
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Budget-Friendliness
Sounding upright pianos take less time to build and use fewer materials than grand pianos. It’s no wonder that they’re usually available at a lower price point.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly piano that won’t sacrifice the required performance, then an upright model will suit you.
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Ease of Maintenance
Upright pianos are easy to maintain. With some decent maintenance, your upright piano can last you a lifetime.
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Transport
The compactness of a sounding upright piano makes it easy to move. They’re also less expensive to transport. If you’re moving house frequently, an upright piano will be a cost-effective option.
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Grand Piano Alternatives
Are you saving up for a top-quality grand piano that you’ll use in the future or when you move to a bigger home?
You may be better off buying a sounding upright piano rather than spending a small fortune on a cheaper or smaller grand to use in the short term. Many high-quality upright pianos can produce a better feel and tone than cheaper or smaller grand pianos.
And don’t forget, a piano is a sizable investment. That’s the reason behind many up-and-coming pianists opting for a sounding upright piano as a form of stepping stone to a quality grand.
Instead of spending a considerable amount of cash on a smaller and lower level grand piano, you can purchase a sounding upright piano that will give you a good playing experience as you save up for a “forever” high-quality grand in the future.
Reviews of the 5 Best Sounding Upright Pianos
Now let’s explore five units that are highly rated and have most or all of the features you’d expect to find in the best sounding upright pianos:
1. Best Overall – Suzuki MDG-4000ts Piano with Touch Screen and Wheels
Brilliant features
- It has a high-resolution touchscreen
- Delivers intense clarity even for complex pieces
- Over 1000 preprogrammed styles and sounds
- Adjustable weight of keys
- Unique and high-intensity stereo system and speakers
Watch out for
- It’s on the pricey side
If you want a versatile and high-tech piano, then this is the instrument for you. You can create a hassle-free studio by easily connecting this fully equipped piano to your laptop, phone, and tablet.
The 7-inch color touchscreen gives you easy access to the piano’s features. Such a high-resolution screen isn’t easy to find among comparable pianos, making this piano unique and ideal for meeting the needs of today’s digital world.
You can adjust the weight of the keys to increase or decrease touch sensitivity. The internal six-speaker system outputs 250 watts of power. It’s no wonder the piano produces amazing sounds.
And speaking of sounds, the piano comes with 672 selectable voices, 256 GM (General MIDI) voices, and 240 rhythm styles. Add those to the 17 professionally styled drum kits, and you’ll see why it’s easy to create great music with the MDG-4000ts. It will work perfectly for expert players.
You can store technical gear in the lacquer cabinet that comes with this instrument.
2. Best Sale – Yamaha Arius YDP-144 Acoustic Upright Piano
Brilliant features
- The keyboard is weighted and graded
- 192-note polyphony
- Exquisite CFX concert grand tone
- Features a 2-track MIDI recorder with 50 preset songs
- Excellent USB audio technology
Watch out for
- Weighing 112.8 pounds, it is difficult to move around
The YDP-144 was introduced to the market as an upgrade of the YDP-143. Yamaha improved the YDP-144 by importing their flagship CFX grand piano with its unique tone.
This piano features 3 excellent variations of the CFX grand, namely Pop, Mellow, and Normal. The 8W speakers help the sampled CFX grand sounds shine through your room.
Its built-in two-track recorder allows you to record yourself playing and check your progress later. You can combine two different voices.
It also has a built-in memory, 50 provided songs, and a music book. The USB port allows you to connect the instrument to supported devices as well as transfer MIDI and Audio data.
The YDP-144 has a 192 note maximum polyphony. This helps you avoid cutting notes off when playing songs.
Several functions of this piano require you to combine button presses. You can make carrying out these functions much easier by using the Smart Pianist app on your iOS or Android device. Most essential functions are accessible on the app.
3. Best Bundle – Yamaha DGX-660 88-Key Upright Sounding Stage Piano
Brilliant features
- Variety of piano and acoustic settings
- Top-class sound thanks to the Pure CF Engine
- Has a variety of features to aid learners
- It features an LCD screen that makes the piano more user-friendly
- Excellent recording capabilities
Watch out for
- It doesn’t come with pedals
The Yamaha DGX-660 piano is packed with features that allow you to customize your practice and performance environment. The Piano Room feature is a dedicated virtual space that lets you choose between a variety of acoustic settings and pianos.
You can sing along while you play this piano and record yourself thanks to the included microphone and USB audio recording feature.
A score display lets you view song lyrics and the musical notation of MIDI songs. Following the bouncing ball on the screen will help you learn how to play your favorite hits. The built-in speakers produce good-quality sound and volume.
Besides the piano and the microphone, this bundle includes a microphone stand, a furniture-style bench, and an instructional book and CD. The DGX-660 has a pedal unit jack, but it doesn’t come with the three pedals.
If you want them, you’ll have to purchase the optional 3-pedal unit, which connects to the jack.
4. Best for Beginner – Donner DDP-100 Weighted Digital Piano
Brilliant features
- It’s affordably priced
- The sturdy MDF frame looks good
- The 128 note polyphony it comes with is good for complex melodies
- Supports aux-in and audio outs like headphones
- AWM sampling produces good quality sounds
Watch out for
- Lacks wheels for moving around
If you want to get a piano but are on a budget, then you’ll love the Donner DDP-100. It offers some great features and a sturdy build despite being priced at under $600.
AWM sampling makes the piano replicate the sound of a grand piano. It also supports headphones through the headphone jack, allowing you to practice quietly. You can also connect it to external speakers.
The sound and touch are impressive and realistic, resulting in great playability. You’ll find the unit easy to assemble and great to look at due to its beautiful look. The weighted keys may feel a little stiff at first, but it won’t take much time for you to get used to them.
The simplicity and helpful features like the MP3 input and play function make this Donner one of the best available options for kids and beginners at its price range.
5. High End – Casio Privia PX-870 Sounding Upright Piano Kit
Brilliant features
- Compact and attractive design
- Has powerful sound projection system
- It features a variety of tones
- Impressive hammer action with the simulated ebony/ivory keytops
Watch out for
- It’s a little bulky
The PX-870 piano is the successor to the popular PX-860. This upgrade is packed with features that increase the feeling of it being a genuine acoustic instrument.
The key-off simulation reproduces the sounds associated with releasing the keys while the strong resonance feature replicates string vibrations.
Would you want to reproduce the booming sounds in concert halls? The Hall Simulator has got you covered. With the lid simulator, you can get the different sounds normally produced when adjusting an acoustic piano’s lid.
All piano sounds are magnified with the four-speaker system. You affect the volume by how soft or hard you play because the keys are sensitive to touch.
You can adjust this sensitivity to one of the three available levels. To make up for the lack of a display, a beep tells you when you’ve changed the settings.
This Casio unit blends well with other home furnishings due to its sturdy, attractive stand and realistic wooden texture. The keyboard’s somewhat heavy feel may make it unsuitable for some learners.
How to Choose the Best Upright Piano with Quality Sounds?
From these five quality upright pianos, everyone is sure to find one unit that suits them perfectly. But do you know what exactly you should look for to determine the right piano for your needs?
Here are the factors you should consider so that you can purchase the best sounding upright pianos.
1. Type and consistency of sound
When it comes to sound, you’ll want to pay attention to the type of sound that a piano produces. Some people like a mellower tone while others prefer a brighter tone. Trying to play the piano before buying it can help you figure out whether you like its sound or not.
A registered piano technician or your favorite music teacher can offer a professional opinion in case you need one.
Consistency of the piano sound is a critical factor. Be sure to play all a piano’s notes with equal strength before investing in the unit.
That will help you notice unwanted deviations in the piano’s loudness. Be on the lookout for notes that sounds unexpectedly brighter or mellower than the rest.
2. Where to place the sounding upright piano
You should consider the dimensions of the designated space you want to place your upright piano. While upright pianos take up the least space, they do vary in exact dimensions. Get accurate dimensions of the piano you intend to buy and ensure it will fit in the spot you want to place it.
It’s also important essential to consider the nature of the place you intend to place the piano.
Acoustic pianos are vulnerable to temperature fluctuations and moisture. For that reason, you can’t place them close to an area with a radiator or direct sunlight.
3. Keys
The quality of piano keys affects your performance. The keys of the piano you buy should have sufficient resistance as you play them.
As you strike the keys, there should be enough cushioning to lower the shock that’s transmitted to your fingers. Check that their surface is smooth and free of any damages, such as cracks.
4. Warranty
The durability of a piano determines its warranty. Top-quality pianos usually come with a warranty that covers them for several years. Ensure you check a piano’s warranty to help you make a sound investment that you won’t regret later.
Be careful if buying an upright piano from a private seller. Some brands don’t offer warranty coverage for units sold by retailers that they don’t recognize as authorized dealers.
5. Brand Reputation
There are several sounding upright piano brands in the market. It’s always advisable to compare as many of these brands as you can.
However, certain brands have proven to be more reliable and offer more features than the rest. That implies that looking at brands with a great reputation increases your chances of buying the best sounding upright pianos.
Some of the upright piano brands that are known to use superior technology in their instruments include:
- Yamaha – Yamaha is one of the most popular piano brands. Its instruments come in many varieties and are known for their craftsmanship, sound quality, versatility, and dependability.
- Suzuki – The company produces pianos in different sizes. They offer both digital and acoustic pianos that come with good warranties.
- Casio – Casio products also incorporate technology that results in great sound quality and durability.
6. Skill Level
If you’re a beginner, a simple and affordable upright piano will introduce you seamlessly to the world of music.
If you’re a more advanced player or a professional, then a professional upright piano will help you get the best performances.
What Is the Best Sounding Upright Piano?
Some of the features that the best sounding upright pianos come with include:
– Fast Reset Speed
The best upright pianos have advanced resetting mechanisms. They reset their hammers fast enough to facilitate high-level playing.
– Sound Quality
It goes without saying that the best sounding upright piano has top-notch sound production. Such units apply sound technology that enhances their quality of sound, keeping the people listening to you play better entertained. The technology used is usually clearly displayed on the units.
The soundboard of an upright piano has a significant impact on the tone. The best upright pianos come with good-quality soundboards.
The sound of the best upright pianos is round and full.
– High-Quality Key Tops
The best pianos have high-quality key tops that prevent abrasions or moisture damage. These key tops are highly responsive, helping ensure quality sound production.
– LCD Display
The best upright pianos make inputting commands effortless thanks to their LCD display. The display is clear and easy to see. With such a display, you can easily read and input commands, helping you enjoy your performance.
– Padded Bench
You need a comfortable piece of furniture to relax on when playing the piano. Some of the best upright pianos come with benches. The best benches are well padded to allow you to sit comfortably for long while performing.
Hot Sale – Yamaha YDP144 Console Piano
Conclusion
This guide should point your search for the best sounding upright piano in the right direction. Do thorough research on the piano you choose to purchase before investing your hard-earned money.
You’ll get value for your money and have an enjoyable music journey when you land on a high-quality upright piano that suits your needs.
