Hello Everyone, Anne Watson here. Welcome to another piano review. Today, we are taking a look at Yamaha P125 digital piano.
The P-125 model is a lightweight, portable instrument that I have enjoyed.
The Yamaha P125 is not just an ordinary digital piano. It is the world’s most popular digital piano under a thousand-dollar price point. This price range is comfortable for a wide variety of users, from beginners and hobbyists to professional musicians.
Yamaha P125 offers some amazing features that you will surely enjoy the instrument at home or on the road yourself.
Now, let’s delve into the details.
Table of Contents
Yamaha P125a
Yamaha released an updated version of P125, the P125a, in 2022. In terms of Yamaha P125 vs Yamaha P125a, what are the differences?
No Price Difference
First of all, there is not much price difference between the P125a and the previous model P125. However, the P125 is discontinued, so you will not be able to buy the P125 when the inventory is exhausted.
A Minor Functional Difference
When you compare the specifications, the newer version, P125a, is almost identical to P125. It has great action, a simple button-driven user interface, and very good speakers. It is a terrific gigging instrument because it’s lightweight.
Unfortunately, the P125a does not have the built-in USB audio interface like the P125 anymore. This means when you connect your piano to a device like a smartphone or a laptop with a USB cable, you cannot transfer audio data anymore, only MIDI data.
Color Options
The Yamaha P125a offers two color options, black and white. Some vendors use Yamaha P125AB and Yamaha P125AWH to indicate the color, “B” for black and “WH” for white. These models are P125a and have no functional difference from P125a.
Yamaha P125 Specifications
| P 125 Specifications |
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Design
The design of the Yamaha P-125 is simple. Nevertheless, it is loaded with features to give you acoustic piano enjoyment in a portable package.
Furthermore, the dynamic and high-quality CF sound engine will assure you of a magical music experience.
With the P125, you don’t expect an overabundance of thrills. Although the piano doesn’t come with an LCD, the user interface is simple and intuitive, making changing functions or selecting tones easy.
The master volume is located on the left, so you can adjust the sound as you see fit.
The P125 comes with an ON/OFF button. You can record yourself and playback it to see what you’ve been practicing. You could also have a duet playing session, which is helpful when learning a piano.
The body is made of durable plastic but doesn’t compromise on quality. Also, the P125 model can fit in tight spaces and blends well with any decor. Best of all, it is easy to carry on the back or under your arm.
The Yamaha P-125 color has two choices: black and white.
Sound
For any instrument, the sound could be the deal-breaker or deal-maker. The P125 is loaded up with Yamaha’s CF 3 concert grand piano sound which is one of the most popular Yamaha concert grand pianos. This ensures your music experience with wonderful sound.
Polyphony
The P125 has 192-note polyphony. Polyphony on digital pianos is the maximum number of notes that a keyboard can sound simultaneously.
Even though the more polyphony notes, the better, 192-note polyphony is very high for its price point. It is enough to play complex music and gives a layer of multiple sounds.
Build-in Tones
The Yamaha P125 features 24 voices that provide more fun playing the instrument. The voices include
- grand pianos
- electric pianos
- organs
- harpsichords
- strings
- bass
At the price range, this shouldn’t be a surprise. You also get three variations of each voice to vary your training sessions.
The amazing realistic string sound is really hard to find on digital pianos. The P125 comes pretty close.
Hence, the instrument has a nice selection of very usable versatile tones that can be layered pleasantly.
Speakers
Compared to the P115 model, the speaker system of the P125 is a complete overhaul.
I really like P125’s 2-way speaker system and its speaker placement. They are, in fact, facing up and back for clear sounds.
The sound that you are getting is coming out of the four stereo speakers, two 1.5 inches (4 cm) and two 4.7″ (12 cm), along with two 7W amplifiers.
Some folks say the sound is similar to that of modern television. This is because of the Table EQ feature.
So, no matter the type of surface you place the piano on, a table or desk, you can be sure to get a well-balanced tone and the best performance.
At home or in a small ensemble situation, your audience can listen to the beautiful tones without using a microphone.
Keyboard
This instrument comes with a full 88-key standard piano keyboard.
It is equipped with Yahama’s Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) action keyboard. This means that the weighted keys are fully replicating the touch and feel of an acoustic piano. The keys are heavier on the left side (bass section) than on the right side (treble section).
If you’re used to playing an acoustic piano or owned a previous digital piano, you may feel the keys are a little heavier.
The matte finish on black keys further enhances the touch and feel. Unfortunately, the white keys have highly polished surfaces without the texture of the black keys.
Another remarkable feature is the adjustable touch sensitivity. It allows you to specify the degree to which the sound responds to your playing strength. It is also a terrific tool for strengthening your fingers.
Modes
Yamaha P125 provides dual, duet, and split modes.
Dual (Layers) Mode
It offers two layers of different adjustable sounds. You can combine the tone with a harpsichord, electric piano, or strings.
The volume balance can also be adjusted to suit your needs.
Duet (Duo) Mode
It splits the piano into two sections. This is the best option for student/teacher experience.
By employing the octave shift function, the duet mode can have two sections with two middle C and octave ranges. For instance, a teacher can play tunes on the left side of the keyboard as the student follows on the right side.
Split Mode
It splits the keyboard into two segments and assigns different tones. To switch to this mode, you should select the bass lower or the low range. You’ll find it on the left side of the keyboard.
This allows you to play two different voices simultaneously; each hand plays a voice.
Recording and Playback
The P125 model allows one to record performances on board. It comes with two tracks.
In addition, you can record a one-track song and listen to the playback. Still, one can record a separate track and play both together.
Connectivity
The P125 has a few useful connectors, including a sustain pedal jack.
The default footswitch that comes with the piano purchase does not support the half-pedal function. However, you can purchase an optional model FC3A footswitch that has half-pedal support.
Standard Stereo Jacks
There are a pair of 1/4″ stereo jacks for headphones. They provide convenience for you to enjoy the music without disturbing others.
The headphone jacks are a great option for student/teacher sessions.
Playing piano with headphones is not the most natural way to get the sound in your ears. This is where the stereophonic optimizer comes in. It makes the sound feel like it’s coming from the piano rather than the speakers.
AUX OUT
The Yamaha P125 features two dedicated audio outputs. If you’re planning to use the piano for gigging, the audio output is a welcome addition.
You can use these jacks for externally powered speakers, especially in an outside large venue.
USB-to-Host Connector
This USB-to-Host port allows you to connect to a computer to exchange MIDI and Audio data. You can also connect to music apps like Yamaha’s free app Smart Pianist.
The USB Audio data exchange allows you to directly stream music from your devices and play out high-quality music through your piano’s speakers.
For details on how to connect your iOS devices to P125, refer to the Connection Manual on Yamaha’s official site.
Smart Pianist App
Yamaha P125 is compatible with the Smart Pianist app. It allows you to do cool things via your mobile device.
For instance, you can create smart chord charts and control the basic functions of a piano. In addition, you can change from one voice to the next by swiping on a smart device during your playing.
You’ll see the graphic representations on the screen.
The connection between the piano and your mobile device is also seamless. Any change on your settings app will determine the voice on your piano and vice versa.
Another amazing thing about the app is that you can play your favorite music from your mobile device. Just like other high-end models, the app will recognize the song you play on the piano and present the chords.
And with the preset voices, you can switch the voices from the app.
Metronome
The P125 model features some buttons for turning the metronome. This can be helpful for beginners who have no idea if their tempo is wrong.
On the dashboard, you’ll find the demo and rhythm buttons. The latter gives you the bass lines and drum beat.
Accessories
Yamaha P125 includes some accessories that enable you to play the instrument right out of the box.
- Owner’s Manual
- Quick Operation Guide
- AC Adaptor
- Footswitch provides a sustain-pedal function
- In order to have half-pedal support, you can purchase an optional footswitch FC3A model.
- Music Rest
You also have the option to purchase a wooden furniture stand; otherwise, a foldable X-style will work nicely for easy transportation.
However, in many cases, a piano stand does not come with your P125 purchase. You’ll have to choose the stand style and purchase it separately. Or you can buy a P125 bundle offer.
The Consol-style stand also has an optional triple pedal unit to complete the upright piano look. The three piano pedals are Sustain, Soft, and Sostenuto pedals.
Yamaha P125 vs. P115
At first glance, the P125 and P115 share many similarities. Both feature the Graded Hammer Standard Weighted Key Technology and have 88 keys.
However, there are a few differences. The speaker system for the P125 is richer and more powerful.
It’s also lightweight and compact enough to fit in a small apartment. With the P125, you can feel confident that you’re not inviting a bulky piece into your home.
Another key difference is technology. The P125 integrates the Smart Pianist app so you can play your favorite tune on the iPad, iPhone, or whatever mobile device you like. This is not the case with the P115 model.
Yamaha P125 Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 192-note polyphony | No LCD screen for function controls |
| Yamaha CFS 3 immersive sound experience | No Bluetooth wireless connectivity |
| Compact & slim design – easy to carry | One plug-in damper pedal; default footswitch without half-pedal control |
| Over 50 songs in the onboard library | A bit heavier keys |
| Smart Pianist App compatibility | |
| Dedicated audio output for externally powered speakers | |
| Budget-friendly price point |
You may interested in reading Casio vs. Yamaha Keyboards.
Conclusion and Our Verdict On Yamaha P125
4.5 out of 5.0
If you consider yourself a songwriter or a budding composer, Yamaha P125 can be a worthy choice. It comes with an improved speaker system, stereophonic optimizer, better connectivity, and more voices.
The sound is really impressive, and best of all, you can bring it with you wherever you go.
If you are a musician and mostly play classical repertoire, the control of key action may not be as you desire. It is not necessarily a deal-breaker, but it is something you should test out.
Nonetheless, the Yamaha P-125 digital piano is a very versatile instrument. It
- Provides a lot of fun for beginners to practice with various voices and record/playback the practice piece
- It is suitable for learning sessions when students and teachers can play side-by-side.
- Enables any accomplished musicians to play in different-sized venues
Related Comparison Reviews:
Related Digital Piano Reviews:
- Yamaha P125 (Yamaha P125a)