Yamaha is a leading brand in the production of musical instruments. Yamaha YDP 103 Digital Piano is one of the latest digital pianos in the Yamaha Arius Series. The Yamaha YDP103 is designed in a new model and housed in a cabinet made of dark rosewood, for an elegant look in your living room.
It is the most affordable Yamaha Digital Pianos, and one of the console pianos with the cheapest price tags on the market today.
Get a traditional look piano experience with the Yamaha YDP 103 Digital Piano at a cheap and affordable price under $1000. It is also a popular digital piano, with its bigger brothers being the YDP-164 and YDP-144, which are the most popular models in this series.
The YDP-103 provides a rich, superb sound and voice using the high-quality inbuilt speakers.
An Overview of Yamaha YDP103 Digital Piano
Yamaha YDP103 Specs
- Color: Dark Rosewood
- Type: Graded Hammer Standard keyboard with matte black key tops
- Dimensions: 53-7/16” wide x 32-1/16” high x 16-5/8” deep
- Weight: 82 lbs
- Number of Pedals: 3
- Polyphony: 64 notes
- Number of Voices: 10
- Headphones: 2
- Touch Sensitivity: Hard/Medium/Soft/Fixed
- Sound: AWM Stereo Sampling
- Modes: Dual
- Connections: USB to Host
General Review of Yamaha YDP103 Arius Traditional Console Digital Piano with Bench
Generally, Yamaha YDP103 has a design embracing simplicity and a touch of style. With a full weighted keyboard containing 88 keys, with the black keys boasting a matte finish which makes them less slippery.
It is made up of the starter edition of Graded Hammer Standard (GHS), with heavier left keys and lighter right keys. The introduction of GHS in the piano enhances the feel and the sound quality of the Yamaha Series.
Besides, practicing piano playing using GHS actions helps in building proper finger technique for those playing an acoustic piano, therefore a good choice for aspiring pianists.
With standard dimensions of 53.44 by 32.06 by 16.63 inches without the cabinet and a product weighs 82 lb. The size of this piano is similar to that of a digital piano, but it has a traditional design.
It comes with 3 pedal inputs that support half-pedal operation; this enables you to slowly adjust the sustain amount you want to apply.
Yamaha YDP 103 Digital Piano is built of quality, with the bench made of dark rosewood which feels nice and looks attractive. Also, the build of sliding key cover enables it not to accumulate dust and dirt.
The digital piano also consists of two 6W amplifiers, two inbuilt speakers, and two headphone outputs.
- Your purchase includes One Yamaha Arius Series, YDP103 model | Bench, Owner’s manual & Quick Operation Guide
- Piano dimensions – 53-7/16” W x 32-1/16” H x 16-5/8” | Weight – 82 lbs. | Number of pedals – 3 | Max polyphony – 64 | Number of voices – 10 | Headphones – (2) Standard Stereo phone jack | No recording nor playback capabilities
- GHS weighted action is heavier in the low keys and lighter in the high keys, just like an acoustic piano
- The special matte black key tops are designed to absorb moisture and remain tactile after extended use without becoming slippery
- The controller app for iOS devices adds a rich graphical user interface, allowing for quick and easy navigation and configuration
- Advanced wave memory stereo sampling recreates natural instrument sound in stereo | Dual mode lets you combine two voices together, like piano and strings, for an inspiring new playing experience
Important Features of Yamaha YDP 103 Digital Piano
1. Design
Yamaha YDP 103 Digital Piano product package comes as one large heavy box with all parts packed inside: including the base, pedals, keyboard, and the BC-100DR bench.
Just like any other standard digital piano, the YDP-103 also requires some basic assembling, that lasts for less than 30 minutes. Yamaha YDP-103 features a quality build construction with a dark rosewood finish, giving it a stylish look.
This digital piano is designed for the pianist who loves the traditional piano experience. For protection from dust and dirt, the piano features a sliding key cover.
2. AWM Stereo Sampling technology
Sound is one of the most crucial features to consider in a digital piano. Yamaha YDP-103 Digital Piano features AWM Stereo Sampling technology, which is a feature in most budget-friendly Yamaha keyboards and digital pianos.
The AWM Stereo Sampling is the most primary tone generator in Yamaha, while the other tone generators include the CFX Sampling and the Pure CF Sound Engine.
The AWM uses the grand piano actual sound recorded at various velocity levels to provide a broad dynamic range of the acoustic piano.
3. Graded Hammer Standard
The piano consists of a weighted hammer action that uses the action little hammers to enhance the production of sound and action of a real piano. The weighted action of GHS has heavier keys on the left and lighter keys on the right.
Yamaha YDP -103 features a touch-sensitive keyboard that responds instantly, based on the striking force: depending on how you strike the keys, either hard or soft, the volume will change accordingly.
For additional customization, the YDP-103 Digital Piano boasts four touch sensitivity settings that include soft, medium, hard, and fixed. The medium setting is the default setting.
The settings allow you to change the touch sensitivity in relation to your playing style. With the fixed setting, the volume is always fixed regardless of the striking force.
4. Max polyphony
The instrument can produce 64 different notes at the same time. As a player the more polyphony you have the better for a great experience.
A maximum of 64 polyphony is a great amount for this digital piano, especially considering its price.
5. 3 pedals
The presence of pedals provides an added level of realism, this is because it permits the continuity of increasing levels of sustained notes from modest to full while the sustain pedal is depressed.
6. Sound outputs
Yamaha YDP-103 Digital Piano features two sound outputs, speakers and headphones. The piano has 2 inbuilt speakers, with a dimension of 12 cm x 6 cm.
The piano is loud enough in a room that does not need extra amplification. The speakers are located within the cabinet hence making the sound resonate even to richer depths.
Headphones are very crucial when practicing privately. Headphones help you to focus solely on how you are playing, as well as creating a conducive environment for other people near you without disturbing them.
The YDP-103 has two standard phone jacks to plug in your headphones.
7. Ten voices
The piano has 10 sounds that are available at your fingertips, 2 different grand piano times, and 8 instruments sounds. These sounds include 2 electric pianos, 2 pipe organs, strings, a vibraphone, 2 harpsichords, and 2 grand piano.
8. Connectivity
This standard digital piano features various connectivities. The piano consists of a USB to Host port and two 1/4-inch standard stereo headphone jacks, which are easy to see just underneath the piano.
The USB to Host port allows you to connect the keyboard with a computer, IOS device, iPhone, or iPad. However, these devices are connected using different cables that are sold separately.
Yamaha YDP103 Review
Overall Score: 8.9/10
Brilliant features
- It is cheap and affordable.
- 10 Preset piano songs.
- 4 Preset touch sensitivity settings.
- Traditional piano design with a stylish feel and look.
- It comes with a stylish piano bench.
- Great build quality.
- 88 graded hammer action keys.
Watch out for
- It has no recording function.
- It does not have playback capability.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Yamaha YDP-103 Digital Piano is a great accessory to enhance your music playing experience. It has amazing sound quality enhanced by the AMW technology, which is very effective and amazing.
With the special design of the sliding key cover, you are rest assured that it will be protected from dust, dirt, and prevention from moisture that would interrupt your piano playing experience.