Yamaha P71 Weighted Keyboard Review

Hello, Everyone! Here is our Yamaha P71 digital piano review. What is the difference with regard to Yamaha P71 vs P45?

Yamaha P71 and P45 are essentially the same portable digital piano. P71 is an Amazon-exclusive version with no functional difference from P45. The only difference is that P71 may be cheaper.

Whether you are a professional pianist, a beginner, or a skilled musician who loves to play the piano, you will surely be captivated by this digital piano model.

The Yamaha P71 is very portable compared to traditional pianos. Many musicians are switching to digital pianos for easier maintenance that they can always bring and use wherever they go.

Suppose you are planning to purchase a new digital piano or replace your old one, then this article is for you. Here, we will give you an in-depth understanding and experience of the digital piano model Yamaha P71.

Yamaha P71 Specifications

P45/P71 Specifications
  • Keyboard: 88 keys, Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) keyboard
  • Effects: 4 reverb types
  • Touch Sensitivity: 4 levels (hard, med, soft, fixed)
  • Sound:  Advanced Wave Memory (AWM) Stereo Sampling
  • 64-note polyphony
  • Tones: 10 preset voices
  • Dual and duo modes
  • Metronome tempo range: 32 – 280
  • Speakers: 12 cm x 2; 6W x 2 amplifiers
  • Connections: headphones, sustain pedal unit, USB-to-Host
  • Dimensions: 52.25″ x 11.5″ x 6″ (1326 mm x 295 mm x 154 mm)
  • Weight: 25.25 lbs (11.5 kg)
  • Release Date: Late 2016
  • Full specs on Yamaha’s official site (Yamaha P45 and P71 share the same spec)

Design

The Yamaha P71 digital piano is part of the Yamaha P or Portable series, which manufactures quality and caliber digital pianos in the market.

The Yamaha P71 has an identical design to the P45 model. The company produces two digital pianos that are essentially the same for different retailers. The Yamaha P45 is the generic model, while the P71 is an Amazon-exclusive model.

The Yamaha P71 is also a dynamic instrument that can provide exceptional and stellar digital piano performance.

yamaha p71 control penal

The excellent feature of the instrument is its

  • sound quality,
  • practical functionalities, and
  • ease of handling.

These features make P71 more distinctive and stand out ahead of its other competitors in the portable digital piano domain.

Sound

speaker sound

The Yamaha P71 offers enhanced audio and sound sequencing, providing a fuller, better, and broader audio quality.

This is because of the installed microphones on each side (left and right). Yamaha identifies this sound quality approach as the Advanced Wave Memory recording.

Polyphony

Polyphony is a measurement of a musical device’s capacity to produce numerous sounds and audio at the same time.

The Yamaha P71 consists of 64 polyphony, which is excellent for beginners in this instrument.

Build-in Tones

yamaha p71 voice selection

The 10 voices are stable in the sound. A beginning to the intermediate player will find these voices useful for both practice and casual performance.

  • Grand Concert Piano (it is the default voice)
  • Grand Piano
  • Two Electric Pianos
  • Two Pipe Organs
  • Two Harpsichords
  • Two Vibraphones

You also have four different reverberation effects you can layer onto these voices for your personalized tone.

Effect Settings

The Yamaha P71 has four reverberation settings to give you a different sound experience. The four effects are

  • Room
  • Hall 1
  • Hall 2
  • Off.

Keyboard

digital piano generic

Excellent keyboard quality is also one of the unique features of the Yamaha P71. This digital piano consists of 88 piano keys in an ergonomic design suitable for pianists who want to relax their fingers upon playing the instrument.

Thus, you will feel lighter keys on the upper end and firmer on the bottom end of each key.

The graded hammer action keys essentially mimic the percussion classic key motion that can replicate and resemble the sound of the acoustic keyboard piano.

You may also adjust the sensitivity of the keys. They are the following:

  • Fixed- enables the performer to make a sound similar to the caliber regardless of hitting the keys strong or light.
  • Medium- the standard settings that give the user an acoustic keyboard piano feeling
  • Hard- made for heavier reactivity that is great for practice and strengthening your fingers
  • Soft – designed for a more relaxing and calm play

It is worth mentioning that the black keys have a matte finish that prevents your fingers from slipping. However, the white keys do not have the same finish.

Modes

Yamaha P71 provides dual and duet (Duo) modes.

Dual Mode

It offers two layers of different adjustable sounds. You can play voices simultaneously across the entire range of the keyboard.

Dual Mode keyboard

Duet Mode

It splits the piano into two sections. Two different players can play the instrument over the same octave range. This is the best option for student/teacher experience.

duet mode

Connectivity of Yamaha P71

The Yamaha P71 is guaranteed to be suitable for beginners in digital piano as it has a user-friendly interface and can be connected easily. Its accessories and other connection wires are also easy to identify by anyone.

This Yamaha P71 model includes:

  • A standard 1/4″ stereo jack for headphones. The speakers are automatically shut off when a pair of headphones is connected.
  • A sustain jack for the included footswitch works in the same way as a damper pedal.
  • A USB-to-Host (Type B) jack for connecting to a computer. It enables you to leverage various music software with your computer and the instrument.
piano-and-laptop

Automated Turn-Off

To save energy, the Yamaha P71 has an automated shutting-down feature. It will automatically turn off the digital piano after not using it for a while. However, if you find this mode unnecessary, you can permanently deactivate this feature in the settings.

Metronome

A built-in metronome is a useful tool that helps the player adjust tempo and time. It produces a steady pulse (or beat) to help musicians play rhythms accurately. You should keep playing at an adjustable tempo, volume, and time signature.

Accessories

yamaha P71 music rest

Yamaha P71 comes with a few items that allow you to start playing the instrument right out of the box.

  • Owner’s Manual
  • AC Adaptor
  • Footswitch
  • Music Rest

If you do not need the portability, You have the option to purchase a wooden furniture stand.

Pros & Cons

Pros Cons
Portable design with minimalist, simple, and clean style One plug-in pedal works as a damper pedal; it does not support half-pedal control unless you buy a different pedal.
Full 88-kay keyboard with Graded Hammer Standard Action No built-in recorder and MIDI connection
High-quality sound and audio No USB-to-Device (Type A) connector for MIDI file exchanges
Dual and duet modes  Speakers have minimal power (6W x 2)
User-friendly controls, settings, and interface  
Affordable price for a high-quality instrument  

Yamaha P71 Conclusion and Our Verdict

4.2 out of 5.0

Rating: 4 out of 5.

To conclude our review, it is evident that the Yamaha P71 is one of the most promising digital pianos released by the Yamaha enterprise.

If you are a beginner, investing in this portable model is worth it. Aside from its versatile and unique features, it also has the most affordable price with a full-sized graded weighted keyboard.

One fun feature of the Yamaha P71 is its Dual Mode, where you can play two of your desired instrument voices simultaneously.

The Yamaha P71 is an affordable yet high-quality model of a digital piano. It is a wonderful instrument for a beginning or intermediate player.

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