Nowadays, more and more people are opting for digital pianos. However, there are so many digital piano brands on the market. How can people find the best one for themselves or as gifts? But don’t worry, that’s the reason I’ve written this post.
The music world is evolving rapidly with technology. Additionally, the piano is one of the most popular musical instruments in the world. Moreover, technological advancement has made digital pianos cheaper, with better sound and more functionalities.
For those on the market for a piano, the five digital piano brands covered in this post are worth your attention. Our article about how to choose a digital piano may also be interesting for you.
Table of Contents
The Five Popular Digital Piano Brands
To make things easier, we are going to break down the core characteristics of a digital piano into simple terms:
- Sound
- Key Actions
When comparing the brands, we are considering three aspects, including brand history, notable models, and brand-specific core characteristics.
In this post, the following digital piano brands (not in a particular order) are the focus.
What is a Digital Piano?
A digital piano is an electronic instrument. At its most basic, it consists of an 88-key weighted action keyboard, a tiny onboard computer, and a pair of speakers.
Essentially, digital pianos are designed to mimic the sound and key feel of the acoustic piano as closely as possible. A digital piano produces sound electronically. In contrast, a traditional piano makes sound mechanically.
See more details on digital piano vs acoustic piano.
Now, let’s delve into the specifics of these five digital piano brands.
Casio
A Value Choice
Casio Brand is the most familiar electronics brand. It is an international Japanese electronics manufacturing company. Its products range from calculators to watches and electronic musical instruments.
Casio Digital Piano History
The company was established in 1946. Casio started making electric keyboards in the 80s of the twentieth century. Ever since Casio’s lightweight and affordable keyboards got into millions of households worldwide.
Over several decades, Casio developed numerous features that were only possible using digital instrument technology. Casio’s official website provides a timeline of the Casio keyboard evolution into digital pianos.
Sound of Casio Digital Pianos
Casio is a brand that provides the best technology in the industry. Casio Privia and Celviano series digital pianos feature Casio’s signature AiR sound source.
Furthermore, the AiR technology reproduces sounds using Casio’s proprietary technique called Linear Morphing. It provides seamless dynamic transitions from pianissimo to fortissimo. AiR simulates the resonance like the sound bounces within an acoustic piano chamber.
The damper pedal replicates the damper resonance as the string vibration in an acoustic grand. Hence, it creates a dramatic musical expression in a digital piano and further enhances the grand piano experience.
Casio Key Actions
Most the Casio’s digital pianos are equipped with Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action keyboards. They use the hammer action just like grand pianos without springs.
Basically, the scaled hammer action means that the low notes play heavier and the higher notes play lighter, mimicking the real piano feel.
The Tri-Sensor System enables the keys to respond solidly and naturally. This brings the keyboard even closer to a traditional grand piano. The Tri-Sensor additionally enhances the ability to play the same note in quick succession.
Casio Notable Models
The most notable and popular Casio digital pianos are the Privia series.
These contemporary digital pianos come in home-use uprights or sleek portable designs. For instance, the Privia PX-S3000 is a very versatile portable digital piano. They feature impressive and rich sound, and many have power speaker output as well. Also, they have the feel of acoustic piano keyboards.
The Casio Privia series is at an affordable price point. Thus, it is the best value choice for enthusiastic learners, professional musicians, and occasional players. Many models are digital pianos for beginners.
Yamaha
A Great Sound Choice.
Yamaha is one of the most popular digital piano brands, and this Japanese international company provides a very broad range of products and services.
Torakusu Yamaha founded the company in 1887. Although it started with organs and pianos, Yamaha also produces motorcycles, sporting goods, semiconductors, and an array of musical instruments besides pianos. Click here for a chronological view of Yamaha products.
Yamaha Piano History
Yamaha piano-making has over a century of history. The first upright Yamaha piano was made in 1900, followed by a grand piano in 1902. Then, in the 1950s, Yamaha began researching electronic musical instruments, and the first electronic keyboard was introduced in 1959.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Yamaha produced several versions of Stage Pianos, Synthesizers, and portable keyboards. The first digital piano was the Yamaha Clavinova YP-30, which was introduced in 1983. Since then, the company has continued to evolve and innovate. Until now, Yamaha has offered many outstanding digital pianos.
Yamaha Sound
When it comes to the Yamaha piano, its flagship concert, the grand CF Series, is featured in many of the world’s most prestigious concert halls and music conservatories.
Consequently, Yamaha equipped the distinguished CF concert grand sound in many models of its digital pianos.
- The Yamaha Pure CF Sound Engine is based on the live samples of the world’s most popular CF Series concert grand piano.
- The CFX Sound Engine is from Yamaha’s flagship CFX 9-foot concert grand piano. It’s a notch up from the Pure CF Sound Engine.
Thus, with the CF Sound samplings along with the powerful onboard speakers, Yamaha offers its digital piano players an expressive acoustic piano experience.
Yamaha Key Actions
Yamaha’s term for its 88-key graded weighted keyboard is the Graded Hammer Standard (GHS). This action is mostly available on Yamaha’s portable P-Series pianos. Thus, it is excellent for beginners and not difficult to transition to acoustic pianos.
The Graded Hammer 3 (GH3) action is found on more expensive Yamaha digital pianos, for instance, the ARIUS Series. Notably, the GH3 has a three-sensor configuration. As a result, the keys give a quick response and realistic feel when used.
The graded action represents the heavy keys for lower octave controls while the light keys for higher octave controls. Therefore, it provides a more realistic and authentic feel, like a grand concert piano.
Yamaha Notable Models
The Yamaha P-Series digital piano is the world’s most popular lineup because it comes with the world-renowned CF concert grand sound and sophisticated keyboard action.
Several models are under a thousand dollars, hence it makes them very competitive. One example is the mid-range portable piano Yamaha P125.
The ARIUS digital pianos are also known as the YDP-Series. Yamaha’s state-of-the-art recording technology replicates the iconic CFX sound in them.
It provides wonderful opportunities for millions to bring home the world-renowned CF concert grand sound. This makes the Yamaha brand a great sound choice.
You may also interested in our dedicated article, Casio vs. Yamaha Keyboards.
Roland
A Performance Choice
Roland is a Japanese company that manufactures electronic musical instruments exclusively. Due to its exclusivity, Roland has been an impactful player in the digital instrument realm.
The company was created in 1972. In the half-century of history, Roland is the most innovative brand.
Early highlights included developing
- Japan’s first all-electronic combo piano,
- the world’s first touch-sensitive keyboard,
- and even co-developing the MIDI language that allows all electronic musical instruments to talk to each other.
In addition, Roland strives to design pianos that look as good as they sound.
Sound of Roland Digital Pianos
While most digital pianos offer a variety of different sounds, the signature sound of a digital piano is the acoustic piano sound. Moreover, a digital piano will usually feature several acoustic piano sounds that are suitable for classical, jazz, and pop music.
The SuperNATURAL sound engine is Roland’s signature found in its digital pianos. In order to capture the more realistic sound of a piano, a violin, etc., the SuperNATURAL technology creates models of the natural sound characteristics and expressiveness of each instrument.
This allows the SuperNATURAL sound engine to react to performance dynamics and nuances from the key actions, just as it would in the original instrument. Hence, the sound provides a more realistic play experience.
Further, the use of a piano pedal or footswitch will invoke the damper resonance.
Roland Key Actions
Roland furnishes its digital pianos with a Progressive Hammer Action (PHA) system. In other words, the PHA keyboard has fully graded weighted keys that closely mimic the feel of an acoustic piano.
Many mid-range Roland digital pianos come with the PHA-4 system, for instance, the RP102. In particular, the PHA-4 provides an artificial escapement and ivory feel that enhances finger controls.
Furthermore, the 3-sensor detection system allows you to play fast key movements smoothly. It ultimately gives you a responsive playing experience.
Notable Models of Roland
The popular FP-Series digital pianos are appreciated by players at all levels, from beginner to professional. The stylish compact digital pianos pack unbeatable performance, a great sound engine, and superb key actions.
Roland RD-Series digital pianos have been widely used on live stages for decades. These digital pianos offer not only the SuperNATURAL acoustic sound but also the Synth type of sound engine. Besides, the easy on-the-fly controls and the external MIDI device connections make the RD-Series great for stage and recording.
Kawai
A Deluxe Choice
Kawai is a musical instrument manufacturing company that was founded in 1927. Nowadays, it is a multinational musical instrument company. Koichi Kawai was once Torakusu Yamaha’s (Yamaha’s founder) apprentice. This might give us a hint as to why Kawai is the only piano builder that can indeed rival Yamaha’s domination.
In nearly a hundred years of history, Kawai pianos have evolved steadily. Its Shigeru Kawai grand piano series (SK-Series) earned the reputation as one of the best grand pianos in the world.
In the 1960s, Kawai started producing electronic organs. However, Kawai digital pianos were launched in 1986. Since then, Kawai has designed and manufactured several award-winning digital piano series.
Kawai Sound
Kawai brings the magnificent Shigeru Kawai SK-EX 9-foot concert grand piano sound into its digital pianos.
In order to produce the most realistic replication of Kaway’s signature SK-EX sound, Kawai has developed the acclaimed sound technology Hamonic Imaging (HI) which is a blend of technology and techniques. Thus, Kawai puts forward tremendous realism and expressive sound in its digital pianos.
Kawai Key Actions
Kawai continues its effort to provide exceptional digital piano actions. The new Responsive Hammer Compact (RHC) keyboard action has been developed to replicate the distinctive touch of an acoustic grand piano. Furthermore, the RHC II enhances the keys with some sort of cushion material that makes the play even more pleasant.
The Kawai KDP series and ES series are furnished with RHC II and RHC action, respectively.
Kawai Notable Models
Kawai is one of the best digital piano brands. Even though the KDP series is entry-level Kawai digital pianos, they present the renowned Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano and Harmonic Imaging (HI) 88-key individual note sampling.
Kawai’s CN-series pianos are a step up from the KDP series. Not only do the pianos come with the SK-EX sound engine, but the sound system of CN-series pianos also features key components from audio equipment specialist Onkyo. As a result, the player will get an incredibly tight, clear, full range of colorful sound.
Kawais ES series is also one of the most sought-after portable digital pianos, for example, the Kawai ES-120. They are versatile, have the great sound of the EX concert grand sampling set, and have exceptional touch.
Korg
A Tech Sound Choice
Last but not least, Korg is another Japanese company that makes electronic musical instruments exclusively. It was founded in 1962, and the original company name was Keio Electronic, which was later renamed Korg.
Then, Korg released its first electric Rhythm machine in 1963. After that, Korg released its first synthesizer in 1973 and branched into digital pianos in the 1980s.
In the past fifty years, Korg’s synthesizers have progressed along with technological advancement. Many professional musicians and artists use them.
With its unique history of musical instrument design and audio technology, Korg produces digital pianos with excellent sound and gorgeous design.
Sound
Korg is best known for its Italian, Geman, and Japanese grand piano sound samples. Thus, many models contain a combination of these grand piano voices to suit a wide range of musical genres.
Korg leverages the latest digital recording techniques in its Stereo PCM (Pulse-Code Modulation) sound engine. Along with the high-quality, powerful speakers, Korg creates marvelous sounds in its digital pianos.
Key Actions
Many of Korg’s digital pianos are equipped with its precisely engineered Real Weighted Hammer (RH3) key action. It is the exact same action found on Korg’s flagship Kronos Music Workstation and its professional Grandstage piano.
The RH3 action 88-key full-size keyboard is progressively weighted to replicate an acoustic piano, and it is easy to express both pianissimo and fortissimo. The three velocity curves further ensure the best fit for your playing technique.
Furthermore, the RH3 key noise is well dampened, and the felt liner at the key pivots helps keep key noise to a minimum.
Notable Models of Korg
The D1 Air and C1 Air models have superb sound from Korg’s Stereo PCM sound engine. They also come with the RH3 action keyboard. Because of the outstanding sound and key action, they are desirable home pianos for avid learners and advanced players.
The Korg B2 series is suitable for beginning pianists because of its very simple design and minimum digital functions. On the other hand, it features scaled hammer action and really good sound from quality samples. Korg employs a multi-sampling technique per note, creating richer and more expressive sounds.
Korg LP380 is a mid-range digital piano. A big selling point of this piano is the RH3 key action. This model is made in Japan, and it is known for its exquisite craftsmanship.
More About Digital Pianos
Digital pianos have many functions that are not presented in acoustic pianos:
- Onboard recording feature
- Built-in metronome for tempo measurement
- Drum rhythms for accompaniment
- Headphone jacks
- Line Out and Audio In,
- Layering, duet, and split modes
- Bluetooth MIDI and Bluetooth Audio connectivities
- Music app for learning and practicing, or a compatible app to remote control the onboard settings
Lately, these functionalities have become standard features in many models across these digital piano brands.
Conclusion
Let’s summarize the unique qualities of these digital piano brands.
- Casio provides decent sound and key actions. In addition, many models feature tons of digital functionalities. When bringing cost into the equation, Casio digital pianos are value choices.
- Yamaha leverages its acoustic piano-making experiences and applies modern-day technology to its digital pianos. Therefore, you get the world-class concert grand sound in your living room without a high-end grand piano price tag.
- Roland incorporates its innovative technology into digital piano making. It produces top-rated stage pianos. Also, Roland’s midrange digital pianos come with the best key actions. Thus, we consider Roland’s digital piano brand as a performance choice.
- Kawai brings out award-winning digital pianos. It meticulously combines the latest digital sound technology with the most prestigious acoustic grand piano sound and action into luxurious products. Consequently, the Kawai brand is a deluxe choice.
- Korg is the master of electronic sound production. While Korg has some of the world’s best synthesizers and stage pianos, its digital pianos are at par with other aforementioned brands. Its innovative technology-enhanced sound samplings make it a tech sound choice.
Last Words
In the long history of piano-making, innovation has been an integral part of piano evolution. These five digital piano makers contributed immensely to the advancement of digital piano in their own unique ways. They all produce high-quality instruments.
Most importantly, we need to remember that no one brand has the best in everything. Knowing the digital piano makers and their models is a very good start.
However, finding the right instrument is a personal choice. In the end, your specific needs, priorities, objectives, and lifestyle are the ultimate determining factors.
You may also want to check out Donner Digital Pianos.
Related digital piano reviews:
| Best Digital Pianos for Home | Best Digital Pianos with Mobility |
|---|---|
| Casio Privia PX-870 Roland RP102 Yamaha YDP-184 Kawai KDP120 Donner DDP-100 | Yamaha P45 & Yamaha P71 Yamaha DGX-670 Roland FP-30X Casio Privia PX-S3000 Kawai ES110 |