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Last updated: 14 Feb 2022

Recreate the Concert Grand with The Best Digital Pianos

Best Overall
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Nord Stage 3 Digital Piano
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Best 61-key Digital Piano
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Casio Casiotone CT-S300 Keyboard
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Best Portable 88-Key Digital Piano
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Korg D1 Stage Piano
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Best Grand Piano Imitation
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Yamaha P-515B Digital Piano
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Camilla Haywood
By Camilla Haywood
Published 6:45 pm
Show contents
  • 1 Nord Stage 3 Digital Piano
  • 2 Casio Casiotone CT-S300 Keyboard
  • 3 Korg D1 Stage Piano
  • 4 Yamaha P-515B Digital Piano
  • 5 Kawai ES110 Digital Piano
  • 6 Casio Privia PX-S1000 Digital Piano
  • 7 Yamaha P-125 Keyboard

It's questionable whether something digital can truly replicate the depth, emotion, and pure brilliance of a grand piano. Acoustic pianos are composed of numerous intricate hammers, strings, and fine-tuned components that work in harmony at the strike of each key. Replicating this beautifully designed mechanism in a digital form is no small feat. A digital piano is an electronic keyboard instrument designed as an alternative to the traditional piano, not only in the sound it produces but also in how it feels to the pianist. Although a digital version may not be quite as grandiose in stature, it certainly allows for a host of additional technologically advanced features allowing you to learn faster and essentially have a whole orchestra accompany your playing at a touch of a button. With so many features available on digital pianos choosing the one that best suits your needs and budget can be overwhelming. We’ve narrowed down the best digital pianos in 2021 to help you make the most melodic decision.

What is the Best Digital Piano of 2021?

1

Nord Stage 3 Digital Piano

– Best Overall
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THE SCOOP

The Nord Stage 3 features a fully weighted hammer action keybed for the authentic feel of playing a real piano. This 88-key stage piano features a wide range of dedicated function controls, making it easy to adjust sounds to perfection. Create complex layered sounds with two independent instrument slots. This allows you to sync two pianos, two synths, two organs, and effects simultaneously. Additionally, load 2GB of sounds from the Nord Piano Library collection including acoustic and electric pianos, clavinets, and harpsichords.

Pros
  • The piano features Song Mode with setlist functionality which makes it easy to manage your performances
  • 2GB of memory to add sounds from the Nord Piano Library
  • 2 OLED displays provide clear navigation and operation
  • Features MIDI connectivity
Cons
  • The digital piano weighs 41.8 lbs. and could be a little bulky for some to transport
  • The external footswitch which supports program changes is not included
2

Casio Casiotone CT-S300 Keyboard

– Best 61-key Digital Piano
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THE SCOOP

This 61-key digital piano by Casio can be used both as a piano with touch response keys and a MIDI controller. The touch response keys have two sensitivity settings. In addition, you can add some attitude to your playing with the featured pitch blending wheel. Experiment with an incredible choice of 400 unique tones, 77 rhythms, and 10 reverb settings. The Casio Casiotone has a sustain pedal input, LCD display, and AC wall adapter.

Pros
  • MIDI connectivity is valuable for studio applications
  • The Dance Music Mode features 50 additional rhythms
  • There is an optional battery operation allowing you to play anywhere
  • The built-in carry handle is very handy for easy transportation
Cons
  • The speakers do not offer excellent sound quality at high volumes
3

Korg D1 Stage Piano

– Best Portable 88-Key Digital Piano
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THE SCOOP

This 88-key weighted hammer-action digital piano is the ideal fuss-free companion to take from home to rehearsals to the stage. The Korg D1 features a high-quality RH3 keybed with richly expressive sounds for jazz, classical, or rock genres. The stage piano features an onboard organ, vibraphone, acoustic guitar, clavinet, and string sounds. With cutting-edge technology, the sound produced echoes that of a grand piano. The addition of studio-grade properties includes 3 levels each of brilliance, reverb, and chorus effects.

Pros
  • There are 5 types of touch control and 30 high-quality onboard sounds
  • Includes metronome, accent, sound, and volume controls
  • 1/4″ Line Out jacks and MIDI connectors provided
  • Music rest and a compact damper pedal is included as well as a DC 9V AC adapter power supply
Cons
  • The Korg D1 digital piano does not feature onboard speakers
4

Yamaha P-515B Digital Piano

– Best Grand Piano Imitation
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THE SCOOP

This remarkable 88-key digital piano is the flagship of Yamaha’s portable P series designed around world-class imperial concert grand pianos. The ebony and ivory keytops, with keys made from carefully dried wood, are created to provide the same playing response as a grand piano keyboard. Its advanced features include audio recording to a USB device, audio playback via a Bluetooth or USB device, and a master EQ which allows you to customize the output for optimal sound in different settings.

Pros
  • Presets include 40 x voices, 18 x SFX/drums, and 480 XG voices
  • Effects include 6 x reverb, 3 x chorus, as well as Virtual Resonance Modeling (VRM) which recreates the sounds inside a grand piano
  • LCD display for easy feature and function navigation
Cons
  • The keyboard action can be slightly on the high side
5

Kawai ES110 Digital Piano

– Best Value Digital Piano
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THE SCOOP

This 88-key digital piano with speakers weighs just 26.5 pounds and features 19 great sounds onboard. The responsive hammer compact action offers the feel of an acoustic piano with graded hammers. With 192-note polyphony, the grand piano sound delivery is impeccable.

The piano has dedicated line-out jacks, MIDI ports, onboard lessons, and dual and split modes. Standard MIDI jacks allow for connecting to other instruments, while integrated Bluetooth MIDI technology allows wireless communication with supported smart devices!

Pros
  • Features 8 exceptional piano sounds and 19 voices
  • Dual headphone jacks for collaborative playing
  • The purchase includes an F-10H damper pedal with half-damper support
  • Features a built-in stereo speaker system
Cons
  • The Kawai ES110 does not come with a stand
6

Casio Privia PX-S1000 Digital Piano

– Best Smart Technology Digital Piano
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THE SCOOP

Casio’s Privia PX-S1000 is a combination of smart technology and authentic sound. The touch sensor controls appear only once the power switch is on and fade when powered off. The fully-weighted scaled hammer action keyboard embodies acoustic piano characteristics of each of the 88 notes. The piano is created to work in conjunction with the Chordana Play for Piano app (iOS/Android) and features a stereo speaker system, 2 x headphone outputs, two ¼-inch outputs, and a USB port. We love it and so will you!

 
Pros
  • Features damper, string resonance, and 17 additional tones
  • Illuminated touch-sensor controls
  • Bluetooth audio to sync with your favorite songs
  • There is an optional battery operation allowing you to play anywhere
Cons
  • The purchase does not include a stand
7

Yamaha P-125 Keyboard

– Best Digital Piano with Speakers
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THE SCOOP

Last but not least, this outstanding 88-key digital piano is designed around world-class concert grand pianos. The keys are created to provide the same playing response as a grand piano keyboard with graded hammer standard action, which is lighter in the high keys and heavier in the low keys. The matte black key tops are designed to absorb moisture, preventing slipperiness after extended use. Its advanced features include damper resonance and string resonance which recreate the characteristic sounds of a grand piano and split modes which allow you to play a different voice with each hand!

Pros
  • Features Stereophonic Optimizer which adjusts the spatial distribution of sound in headphones
  • Duo mode splits the keyboard allowing 2 players to share the keyboard, each with their own middle C
  • Lightweight at less than 26 pounds
  • The purchase includes a music rest and footswitch
Cons
  • The keyboard action can be slightly on the heavy side if you are used to playing digital pianos only

Best Digital Pianos Buying Guide

With extraordinary features, excellent sound quality, and relatively low cost, digital pianos are a great alternative to acoustic pianos. Besides your budget, there are a host of things to consider when choosing a digital piano best suited to your needs. If you’re just learning the ropes, you won’t need something as elaborate as a professional performer. If you are playing at different venues you will want something that is easily portable. You also need to consider the recording capability, polyphony, amplification, and touch response. If you are not quite sure where to start, the below guide will simplify the specs for you and help you choose the best digital piano for your needs.

Key Considerations When Buying a Digital Piano

Portability and Storage

Digital pianos are lighter and more compact than acoustic pianos. Most models weigh much less and are easy to transport or store out of the way when not in use. When choosing your digital piano check the dimensions. Make sure that it fits where you intend to keep it and also ensure the keyboard height is appropriate or the stand is adjustable. If you’re planning on transporting the piano, check the weight, and how easy it is to break down as well as whether it comes with a carry bag.

Cost

Digital pianos can vary greatly in price, however, they still remain far less expensive to purchase than acoustic pianos. In addition, the maintenance on digital pianos is minimal whereas acoustic pianos require a costly tuning service. The pricing on a digital piano will depend on its size, functions, sound quality, touch response, and brand. Decide which features are most important to you before looking at options.

Volume

With a traditional piano, volume is determined by how hard you strike the keys. There really is no chance that you are going to be practicing while the rest of the household is sleeping. Digital piano volume can easily be controlled with the simple slide or turn of a knob. In addition, you can use headphones on many keyboard sets allowing you to practice without disturbing anyone else.

When considering the keyboard volume you don’t only want to ensure the sound can be minimized but most importantly you want to ensure the sound quality is good at higher volumes and that there is no distortion, especially when percussion, woodwinds, or brass are added. Test the digital piano with its built-in speakers on fairly high volumes to determine the sound quality you can expect without having to purchase external amplifiers.

Recording Capability

If you are hoping to plan and create your own songs, make sure the digital piano comes with recording and sequencing features. This can also be a helpful feature when you want to review your own progress.

Connectivity

Digital pianos are often integratable with other devices. Many models have MIDI capability which allows connection to computers and recording equipment. Some models have a USB port allowing you to connect to various audio gear, memory cards, and enable music transfer. 

Learning Features

Digital pianos have become incredible learning tools for beginner players. Many specialized features allow beginner players to learn on their own. Displays can also show the chords being played with lighting schemes. Built-in metronomes can be an extremely beneficial feature to look for if you need to improve your rhythmic ability. Digital pianos with dual headphone jacks allow students and teachers to play simultaneously in the same octave with a split keyboard function.

Skill Level 

If you are completely new to playing a low-cost model that has built-in learning tools will be a good option as you won’t yet be selective about touch response and adding multiple features to enhance acoustic effects. 

Keyboard Action

If you are transitioning from an acoustic piano, the degree to which a digital piano resembles an acoustic piano’s weighted action is very noticeable and can make a difference in its playability. Weighted and semi-weighted actions are more similar to that of a traditional piano as a small hammer embedded in the keys offer a subtle thump.

Fully-weighted keyboards have graded hammer action allowing lower octave keys to present greater weight which imitates the heavier hammers in acoustic pianos.

Touch Response

Touch response or velocity sensitivity indicates the capability of sensing subtle impact differences with which keys are played. This will determine the volume of each note. Low-cost digital pianos don’t have touch response features meaning the sound will be the same regardless of how hard you strike the keys. Volume is therefore determined by the volume control button only. Higher-end digital pianos can be controlled by both touch response and volume controls.

Sound Quality

Higher-end digital pianos generally have more digital memory which allows them to store high-resolution sounds with convincing realism emulating acoustic instruments.

When considering sound quality, pay attention to the quality of the speakers, the sustain and decay of the notes, distortion, and clarity.

Polyphony

Polyphone indicates the number of individual notes a piano can produce at one time. There should be at the very least a 32-note polyphony, while 64-note is more adequate. The best quality digital pianos deliver 128- or 264-note polyphony.

Number of Sounds

Although it may seem fun to have hundreds of sound samples from various instruments to combine with your playing, the novelty wears off and you will soon find yourself seeking quality over quantity tones and effects. Most importantly, make sure the basic sample additions are realistic and of good quality and that they enhance the sound of your own playing. Being able to play with backing instrumental tracks can also be great fun.

Amplification

The speaker quality you need will depend on what you are using the piano for. If your instrument is for home use only, make sure it has a built-in speaker that produces good quality and clear sound with adequate volume. If you are using the digital piano for live performances or studio recordings, check the output options. You may need connection options for PA systems, external amplifiers, recording consoles, headphones, and USB ports.

Digital Piano Accessories

Check that your piano comes with the necessary cables and a stand if required. Additionally, you may want to consider getting a piano cover to protect it from dust and dirt as well as a protective carry bag if you intend to transport it around. Check that the size of the bags, cover, or case fits your digital piano.

Best Digital Piano FAQ

Q: How long will a digital piano last?

A: Digital pianos will last anything between 20 to 50 years depending on the care, quality, and brand of the instrument.

Q: Can you learn to play piano with 54 keys?

A: A 54 key keyboard will be helpful at the beginning of your learning journey only. As you progress you want to get a full-size piano keyboard for the best sounds and to improve your playing ability.

Q: Does a digital piano need tuning?

A: Digital pianos are maintenance-free. Since there are no hammers or strings to produce sounds, no tuning is required.

Camilla Haywood
By Camilla Haywood
Within the city limits of NOLA, you may find Camilla hammering away on her 88, playing anything from old jazz to modern country music. Camilla's goal is to one day open a piano studio in New Orleans where she can teach the black and whites and other common jazz instruments to enthusiastic students. Ms. Haywood hopes to bring instruments to old and new musicians alike, reviewing pianos, orchestral instruments, and other products that make her tap her fingers to the beats.
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