Buying a new instrument can feel daunting at the best of times, but it can feel especially hard when you know how much you have to spend but also want to get the best model you can. Luckily this guide is here to take you through all best digital pianos for under $1000. It also will tell you some of the things to look out for when buying your piano, and a quick FAQ guide to answer some of your questions.
Buying a digital piano is a big step for anyone whether a beginner, intermediate, or professional player. It’s important you make the best decision for you so make sure that whatever you decide you keep in mind what you’re going to be using your piano for. After all the wrong piano will slow you down and keep you from making the music you want to make.
The Best Digital Piano – The Top 5 Reviewed
Now let’s get down to business and review some of the best tenor ukuleles. Please know we only considered the highest rated digital piano’s for this list:
- Yamaha P125 Digital Piano
- Yamaha YDP144R Digital Piano
- Yamaha P45 Digital Piano
- Yamaha DGX-660B Digital Piano
- Casio Privia PX-160 Digital Piano B0100RBPTC
We used consumer reviews and our own research to compile this list. These are unbiased reviews designed to help you pick the best possible digital piano for your needs.
1. Yamaha P125 Digital Piano
This is a great option from Yamaha, who is one of the most well known and trusted brands in musical instrument manufacturing. It’s a full-sized piano with 88-weighted keys. When you hit a key on an acoustic piano, a hammer strikes on strings which makes the sound when you play. The harder you press, the louder the sound, and vice versa. This piano comes with graded hammer action so it achieves a similar feel to an acoustic piano.
This piano also comes with an app you can use to change and save your settings. You can also get an accompaniment by pressing down a chord and letting the piano playing There are also 14 different instrument sounds, and this is a piano that would suit most advanced players or beginners. It’s a great option to learn or develop your skills.
This piano comes in black or white and is a great stylish option for anyone looking for something looks good as well as sounds good.
Pros
- Graded hammer standard action keys to help achieve a sound similar to an acoustic piano
- Compatible with Yamaha app, for easy controls
- Comes in black or white and looks very stylish
- Great for beginners or advanced players
- Great sounds
Cons
- The upper register is a little twangy
2. Yamaha YDP144R Digital Piano
If you want a piano that you can connect to a computer or tablet then this might be the one for you. This is a console piano, so it looks like an acoustic and has three pedals. If you have some space and you’re looking for a piano than this is a great option and a great instrument. It might take up a little more space, but it comes in dark rosewood or walnut and looks really great.
This is another option with graded hammer weighted action keys and with sound sampled from a concert grand, so if you’re looking for something with the feel of an acoustic this is the perfect choice for you. The low keys feel heavier and the high keys are lighter, which is one of the reasons why this feels so natural to play. There’s also an app you can use to change and save settings.
If you’re a player looking to take their music seriously then this is an outstanding choice. It is great for beginners, but really shines as your skills improve ad you’re willing to put in a bit more time for your music.
Pros
- This is a great option for anyone looking for something that looks and feels like an acoustic piano
- It’s got an amazing sound and a very natural feel as you play
- The graded hammer weighted keys really help you get used to the feel of an acoustic. Once you’ve mastered this, you’ll be able to play anything
- Easily controlled from a downloadable app
- Available in black walnut or dark rosewood
3. Yamaha P45 Digital Piano
If you want something a bit more basic than the above-weighted action digital piano that still delivers a great sound than the Yamaha P45 is a great option for you. This piano is sleep and slim, and if you want something easy to understand without too many controls to get to grips with than this is the one for you. If you have a limited amount of space then this piano will fir the bill.
The weighted keys help you to play with the feeling of an acoustic piano. The way you strike the keys means that the high and low notes react slightly differently, offering you a range of tones. Just like a ‘real piano’. It also has a variety of instrument sounds like the organ or strings, if you want something you can have some fun with, or for creating your own tracks.
If you’re looking for something that is just a really good digital piano without the bells and whistles than this is a great option. It’s lightweight and portable making it a great option for gigging, and you won’t find a better sound at this price.
Pros
- Sleek, and easy to move around with making it a good option while on the go
- Has a 64-note polyphony, excellent for experimenting with your sound
- Perfect for experienced players, and beginners
- Easy to use with a stripped-back console
- Great sound
Cons
- Won’t be able to do some of the fancier things other models can do. If you just want a great sound then this is a good option, but don’t expect more from it than it can give
4. Yamaha DGX-660B Digital Piano
Another great option from Yamaha, this is a good one if you love to sing while you play. The display can show your music or lyrics while you play, you can connect this one up to a computer and it has an input for a microphone. It also comes with accompaniment helper, so you can play a chord and get accompanied in different styles.
There are over 200 styles, and it can even recommend styles based on your song. It has an audio recorder and you can connect and save it through your computer, or on a USB stick if that’s what you want. The piano is also available in back or white, so you have a bit of freedom in picking the best color for you and your home.
Pros
- This is a great option for musicians looking to create their own tracks, or for singer/songwriters looking for an easy way to record their music
- Sheet music and lyrics on display for easy playing. You’ll never forget the words again
- Over 200 accompaniment styles available at the touch of a button
- Excellent sound and a great variety for all genres
Cons
- It’s a pretty heavy model so far more of a recording piano than a portable one for gigging or recitals
5. Casio Privia PX-160 Digital Piano
This is a sleek, classic choice available first in classic black, but also the much more exciting champagne goldish color. It’s a very portable model which makes it perfect for taking on the go, where you are sure to turn heads. With 18 different instrument sounds, and a set of speakers that will make sure you are heard this is a uniformly impressive model. It also easily connects to a tablet or computer if you’re looking to compose your own music.
You’ll also be able to easily record your music which for most new musicians is an important feature. Casio is a great brand with a lot of experience, so this is a really good model for durability as well, you want to be able to trust that the product you’re buying is going to stand up well and this is something you can trust with Casio. It’s a great piano for beginners and those with a bit more experience.
Pros
- Excellent inbuilt speakers which will make sure you are heard across the room
- Excellent sound
- Slim and lightweight making this a great portable option for all those players going from gig to gig
- 18 voices for a versatile range of options to play
- Great for players of all abilities
Cons
- Has a lot of different options which can be tough to get the hang of
Final Thoughts
There are some great options around for everyone, and now it’s time for you to pick the model that’s best for you. This buyer’s guide will take you through some of the things to consider before you make your decision. It’s also worth thinking about looking at some videos of the different options before you make your decision, so you have an idea about sound.
An 88-key piano with weighted keys and hammer action is probably a good idea because it’ll closely replicate the feeling of an acoustic piano. You’ll want to consider if hooking your piano up to your computer or iPad is something you want. If you’re planning on recording and composing your own music then this is a must. If you want to record your own lyrics than a microphone port is also something to look out for, or at least the ability to pair up a microphone with your piano.
If you want your piano to have different voices so you can try out different instruments, like strings or winds than this is something to consider. Think about what you’ll be using your piano for and what sort of music you want to make, having options is never a bad thing as a beginner so don’t rule this out if you’re just starting out. You never know what might happen on your musical journey.
A lot of digital pianos also offer a ‘duo option’ or split keyboard, where the keyboard is split into two identical parts so that two people can play along in the same octave. This is a great feature for both student and teacher, so if you’re thinking of buying something great for lessons than this is another important feature to look out for.
Look into who the piano is designed for, some pianos feature teaching software which teaches different pieces through games or play along with instructions, which can be a great way to make practice fun or supplement other lessons. If you’re an advanced player then this isn’t something you’ll be interested in, so you might as well look for something more in line with your needs as a pianist.
Looking into whether your piano is compatible with headphones is a small feature that shouldn’t be overlooked. Over-ear headphones are the most comfortable to wear, but there are a variety of options and most pianos compatible with headphones will work with the majority of brands. Playing with headphones is a great option if you have neighbors or you don’t want to disturb your family, so make sure that if being able to practice whenever you want is important to you, you check to make sure your chosen piano hast this feature.
Look at the major brands and what they can offer you. A major brand will have spent time, effort, and money on its products in all price ranges, so regardless of how much you spend you’ll end up with a great product you can trust not to break suddenly. Think about how much time you’re willing to spend practicing and improving your playing, because you want to make sure you get something that suits you. There’s no point in getting something with fancy features if you never use them. Major brands like Yamaha or Casio will have something that suits you and what you want to get out of your piano.
If you’re looking to gig, or perform somewhere other than your bedroom then you’re probably looking for a piano that can be easily carried from place to place, so weight is essential. There is a range of digital pianos but be warned that some of them will be impossible to get from place to place easily, especially if they’re console pianos. Keep an eye on what you want, and where you want to play. Look at the space you have for storage too. There’s nothing worse than getting a piano and being unable to play it because you have no room!
FAQs
Can I still get a great piano for a cheaper price?
Absolutely yes! All of these pianos are great quality and there are many more out there if you didn’t see one that suited you. Major brands want your loyalty as a musician so they spend time making their products the best they can be in all price ranges. While at some point you’ll probably want to upgrade or try something new, it’s likely to be because your skill level has reached new heights and you want something that’ll keep up with you a bit more, rather than something wrong with your instrument.
Does a digital piano sound as good as a ‘real one’?
This is a question that many people worry about. They want something to play but a ‘real piano’ is either outside of their price range, or outside of their available storage space, but they’re worried a digital piano won’t measure up to the real thing. Luckily, their worries are misplaced. Digital piano’s are 100% as good as the ‘real’ thing, most of them are sampled from outstanding pianos around the world, and if you listen to it back you probably won’t be able to tell the difference.