When it comes to the best digital piano for classical pianists, we are very careful in choosing them. Classical pianists have their styles and techniques and they are a completely different breed. Most of them were trained to strictly stick to the standard and even to stick an acoustic piano.
However, in this modern-day and age, with the demand to be portable and flexible, you should explore other options for yourself.
This article introduces 10 digital pianos that have features critical to classical pianists’ performance. So, if you want to be ahead of your game, you must check out these digital pianos.
Contents
10 Best Digital Piano for Classical Pianists
- Yamaha YDP184R Arius Series
- Roland F-140R
- Kawai CE220
- Korg Grandstage
- Casio Privia PX-870
- Yamaha DGX650B
- Kawai KDP110
- Yamaha P115
- The ONE Smart Piano
- Casio CGP-700BK
Also Great | Editor's Choice | Budget Pick |
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Yamaha YDP184R Arius Series
Yamaha, as one of the most popular piano makers in the market, provides a digital piano with the convenience of an electric piano along with the voice and playability of an acoustic piano. The Yamaha YDP184R Arius Series helps you grow as a classical pianist with its 24 instrument voices and access to the world-class CFX concert grand piano. The keyboard has Graded Hammer 3 action (GH3) and synthetic ivory keytops for a natural response like a real piano.
Aside from the feel, you’ll also enjoy the authentic sampled sounds on this piano using the Virtual Resonance Modeling (VRM) technology. With the Full Dot LCD, you can easily navigate through the features and functions. It has 128-note polyphony with the stereophonic optimizer that helps you achieve that surround sound in live performances.
- With preloaded sounds you can listen or play along with
- You can record and replay your performance
- Has more realistic feel with flexible dynamics
- Pedals are hard to work at first, need to break in
- The back panel is narrow
- It’s better if a real screen is included
Roland F-140R
Since classical pianists need a real acoustic piano to give all the nuances of classical music, we give you Roland F-140R. It comes with a SuperNatural sound engine and inherits the Progressive Hammer Action (PHA-4) and ivory feel texture of high-end models. This only means one thing — realistic touch and feel, plus authentic acoustic sounds.
This compact premium piano doesn’t only emulate what an acoustic piano can do, it offers more. The onboard rhythm function allows you to play and practice with a beautiful ensemble backing up. A perfect piano for modern living, not only that it’s sleek and compact, it has Bluetooth connectivity that gives you access to over 70,000 classical music scores using iOS apps like PiaScore.
- Realistic action with ivory feel keys
- Rich and resonant digital piano
- Has onboard rhythm function with 72 styles available
- Display is very basic
- Inputs are not the standard ¼-inch jack sockets
- Limited sound customization options
Kawai CE220
Made from one of the most respected brands, the Kawai CE220 is best for classical pianists. This digital piano has exciting features and upgrades not found in its predecessors. The Progressive Harmonic Imaging sound technology and the AWA PROII wooden-key action are two vital features to ensure a realistic playing experience.
It features convenient USB to Device capability allowing you to record a song or practice using a USB stick. With this, you can play it on your computer or connect other devices through the MIDI, Line In/Out ports. With Dual/Split functionalities, plus two headphone jacks, this digital piano is also perfect for beginners with piano teachers.
- Has a USB flash drive for recording and playback
- Three-pedal system (soft, sostenuto, and sustain), plus half-damper function
- Comes with Transpose, Tuning, Virtual Voicing features, etc.
- No built-in rhythm or synthesizer
- Not portable because it’s large, though it’s not that heavy
- Complicated time signatures are not allowed by the metronome
Korg Grandstage
Offered at the same price as the Yamaha YDP184R, the Korg Grandstage is equipped with seven powerful sound engines. The SGX-2 acoustic piano sound engine makes this digital piano the best for classical pianists because of the high-capacity unlooped stereo samples for every key. Furthermore, all these grand piano sounds are captured from Germany/Heidelberg, Germany/Berlin, Austria, Japan, and Italian grand piano.
You can see a Dynamics knob that helps you control the crispness of the sound, plus 3-band EQ for shaping the sound. You can use up to 12 velocity levels to convey the most expressive performance you’ll ever have. It also has monaural piano sounds for all acoustic piano programs that shine clearly through a band’s mix.
- Nice selection of presets from Kronos
- The RH3 keyboard is very responsive
- Easy to use controls and user interface
- Has limited editing options and features
- Sound library isn’t expandable
- Comes with only one Reverb/Delay effect
Casio Privia PX-870
Casio never ceases to amaze us with its Casio Privia PX-870 digital piano. It’s a full-scale piano with weighted-action keys that have simulated ebony/ivory textures. The attempt to get a realistic touch of the keys is being complemented by new sounds with detailed resonance, plus 19 other tones.
The new Sound Projection System lets you fill the room with amazing rich sounds. Since it has a 40W 4-way speaker system, you’ll get surround sound, just like what you get from a traditional grand piano. It has 60 songs on its built-in Music Library, two-track MIDI controller, and Concert Play to play along with 10 well-known orchestral pieces.
- Has 40W sound projection system
- New and improved sound and realistic feel
- Has 19 sounds onboard, plus the 256-note polyphony
- Not very portable as it weighs around 74.08lbs
- Limited effects and sounds onboard
- Some players don’t like the noisier key action
Yamaha DGX650B
Probably the cheapest on the list, Yamaha DGX650B is great for those serious classical pianists who can’t afford expensive gears. It has an 88-key keyboard with weighted GHS action — heavier on the bass side and lighter on the treble side — just like a regular piano. With the Pure CF-sampled piano tones, including the sounds of Yamaha’s acclaimed CFIIIS concert grand, you’re going to enjoy playing this instrument.
This keyboard is loaded with features like 147 preset voices, 15 drums, and sound effects, plus the 128-note polyphony that provides drop-out free performance. You can connect to any device with its Line output. Lastly, you can record and play MIDI songs and WAV and benefit easy sharing and storing through a USB flash drive.
- Has realistic audio like all Yamaha digital pianos on the list
- High-quality weighted keys with touch sensitivity options
- Good action and has simple controls and functions
- Some players find it difficult to access the piano’s menu
- It’s large and heavy, so it’s not portable
Kawai KDP110
An entry-level digital piano with professional features, the Kawai KDP110 is another great product from the Japanese manufacturer. It’s a console-style piano, which also mimics the looks and sounds of the classic upright piano. With the Harmonic Imaging technology, you’ll get individually sampled sounds from the world-famous SK-EX acoustic concert grand piano.
This 88-note keyboard has a Responsive Hammer Compact II key action that offers a more precise and responsive feel. The keys are properly weighted like an acoustic piano — heavier to the bass side and lighter as you move to the right. Overall, it’s nice to play and comparable to famous brands like Yamaha, Casio, and Roland.
- Features a powerful 40W speaker
- With great key action and good pedal options
- Bluetooth connectivity is a plus
- Controls onboard aren’t that intuitive
- No USB to Device port that you can use for MIDI/WAV playback
- Only has 15 voices available
Yamaha P115
Yamaha continues the tradition of excellence and the Yamaha P115 inherits the qualities of the best-selling P-series. It features the Pure CF Sound Engine which gets the authentic tones from Yamaha’s acclaimed 9′ CFIIIS concert grand piano. This keyboard has GHS weighted 88-key action — heavier on the low-end and lighter towards the upper end.
With these features, the pianists can easily turn simple chords in exciting music, plus two headphone ports help you play and practice silently with a partner. It has onboard rhythms with different patterns ranging from basic rock to swing beats. With the Digital Piano Controller app on iOS, you have full control over different functions and settings.
Read: Yamaha P115 Review
- Sturdy and stable construction seems to last longer
- Can connect headphones and speakers
- Has a top-notch sound quality
- No direct MIDI functionality
- Can’t save your settings, you need to connect your iOS device
The ONE Smart Piano
Could be your ultimate choice for the best digital piano for classical pianists, The One Smart Piano has some features you don’t see in other pianos. This is not that expensive, yet, it still has 88 weighted keys with hammer action. It has around 128 instrument sounds, MIDI compatibility, three piano pedals, and a professional stereo sound system.
It’s a smart piano because it can be connected to iOS and Android devices for video lessons, music sheets, and piano games. The piano has LED lights that work with an app. It will light to show the key to press and won’t turn off until the right note is hit.
- Very lightweight and portable
- Can connect to the One Smart Piano app and access games, video lessons, songs, etc.
- Hammer-action with backlit keys perfect for beginning players
- Some users experience compatibility issues when connecting to mobile devices
- No touch sensitivity for the keys
- Everything is stored in the app, no onboard memory
Casio CGP-700BK
Casio CGP-700BK isn’t the least on the list. It’s one of our favorites because of the 5.3-inch color touchscreen display. This digital piano has Tri-sensor Hammer Action Keyboard II to accurately recreate the touch and feel of a real concert grand piano.
We don’t usually review the piano stand included, but since a pair of 40W speakers is installed there, it’s worth mentioning. To make up the 6-speaker system, you’ll find four speakers at the top panel, in addition to the two on the stand. Additionally, it features a total of 550 built-in instrument tones, 200 ensemble rhythms, 17-track MIDI recorder, and USB connectivity.
- Flexible and very compact structure
- Color touchscreen is an advantage
- Has tons of sound effects and music presets onboard
- Some players find some issues with the multiple speaker systems
- Keys feel cheap
- The MXi sound engine isn’t as good as the AiR
Digital Piano for Classical Pianists Buying Guide
Classical pianists have different needs than modern players. They are stricter and more disciplined, yet they are also the ones who deliver soulful and expressive performances. So, to be able to keep up with your needs, we made this simple guideline and buying guide to help you decide on your next digital piano.
Feel and Controls
More than anything else, classical pianists should have a digital piano that is closest to an acoustic piano in terms of feel and playability. You should be very careful on this is you aspire to be a classical player.
Therefore, you should get a full-scale keyboard with 88 keys, good weighted action, and all the three pedals. These three should be present in a digital piano so you will be comfortable playing your thing on modern gears.
Aside from comfort, if you’ll get a digital piano with the same feel as acoustic piano, you can be versatile. You don’t need any adjustments. So, wherever you go and found an upright piano, you can always play a song or two.
Sounds and Voices
While it’s great to have hundreds of sounds and voices onboard, you should check their authenticity. Are they nice to hear? Are the samples realistic?
Most of the models on our list record sound from world-class classics with the best sampling technology their maker has. You are assured that they have the best voices and samples.
Polyphony
This refers to the number of sounds or notes a piano can produce at once. The minimum you can get is 32-note polyphony. While the 32-note or 64-note is enough, as a classical pianist, you’ll need more. This is because, with classical music, you often have several things to do at once on each hand.
Acoustic Vs Digital Piano
Let’s make this clear. No digital piano can ever replace the good old acoustic piano. However, with advanced technology, sampled sounds of a digital piano are now close to reality.
Furthermore, with the demands of the modern era, it’s more practical to get a digital piano over an acoustic. It doesn’t need tuning, portable and has different voices ranging from an acoustic piano, drums, strings, and so on.
If you are still in doubt if you can get better sound quality from these digital piano alternatives, check out this YouTube video. This compares five different pianos, including cheap digital pianos and the expensive upright acoustic piano.
Our Top Pick
Picking a recommendation for the best digital piano for classical pianists is frightening. We are offering a digital piano to acoustic piano loyalists (most of them are). So, we carefully sift through the 10 products and end up with two — Yamaha YDP184R Arius Series vs Korg Grandstage.
Pianists will benefit realistic voices from Yamaha and the versatility of the Korg. However, there’s one thing that Korg can’t give to the classical pianists — the advantage of the three-pedal system like the regular piano. So, for a classical pianist to be able to have an acoustic playing experience on a digital piano, the Yamaha YDP184R Arius Series is best for you.
There’s no need to reiterate this, most Yamaha digital pianos have CFX Premium Grand Piano Voice, so you’ll undoubtedly get realistic sounds. Aside from the sound, you can also feel the natural acoustic response from each key which has the graded hammer action. And, because the controls are simple and straightforward, pianists can focus on building techniques and styles, rather than relying on the effects onboard.