5 Best Digital Pianos Under $500
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When it comes to learning the piano on a budget, one of the most important things that you can purchase is a digital piano. Over the last few months, I’ve seen a lot of misinformed opinions on websites when it comes to the best digital piano under $500.
This is exactly why I wanted to create a guide that truly shows what you need in a digital piano and what might make it sound better than others.
With this being said, $500 is just enough to get into that range of digital pianos that will last you quite some time.
This is because most of the options are going to have weighted keys and decent speakers with a headphone jack if needed.
In this article, we will break down the best digital pianos under $500 that are still quality picks that I have also tested out over the years.
If you’re looking to spend less then $500, you can also check out the best digital pianos for beginners. While this list is similar in my top recommendations, there are some cheaper options in there as well.
When shopping near this price range, some of the options will come with piano accessories such as keyboard stands, headphones or dust covers. You will notice that I will note if anything is included with the digital pianos below.
Note: I got my first Yamaha 88 key keyboard 20 years ago. It was about $1000 and that was quite the investment at the time. What amazes me is that for $500, you can get an actual digital piano that has weighted keys and sounds like an acoustic piano.
Quick Glance At My Top Picks For Under $500
As you can see from the table below, the best digital piano under $500 is currently the Alesis Prestige. Keep reading to see the rest of our favorites under $500.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | CHECK PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Editors Choice | Alesis Prestige |
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| Runner Up | Casio CDPS160 |
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| Alternative | Korg B2 |
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| Most Popular | Yamaha P45 |
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11″ SpeakersThe Importance Of Weighted Keys
Before I list the criteria that I used to put this list together, I wanted to give a quick rundown of why your digital piano should have weighted keys.
Weighted keys are not the end all be all, however, they are something that will greatly improve your piano playing and technique over time.
For this price range, there aren’t a ton of weighted keys options, however, non-weighted key keyboards are in a similar price range.
This is ultimately what makes me urge pianists to look for weighted keys, as you will outgrow non-weighted keys.
How I Compiled This List
Here are the grading factors I used to determine my favorite digital pianos under $500.
Weighted Keys: All of these options have weighted keys. While you don’t absolutely need weighted keys, I believe that there are currently some great inexpensive options with weighted keys.
Action: The key-action is going to be very different from brand to brand on digital pianos. With this being said, most pianists will have different preferences. Key-action is how the keys play and feel when you press them.
Quality Of Sound: All of the major brands have some really great sounding pianos for around this price range. I focused more on the quality of the piano samples as opposed to the number of presets.
Polyphony: Depending on what you’re doing, the more notes of polyphony, the better. With this being said, 64 is usually plenty. This means that through stereo speakers, you could be playing 32 notes at once.
Brands: While I scouted out some brands that aren’t as well known, I found that my list consists of major brands such as Roland, Casio, Yamaha, etc.
Experience: I have over 20 years experience of playing piano and I have spent the last 7 years playing and touring in a major label band. I believe that my experience of playing on so many different keyboards over the years really helps give me an edge when giving guidance to others.
With all of this in mind, let’s get into my top picks.
Best Digital Pianos Under $500
Below is a list of the current best digital pianos under $500. All of these options are solid picks and have their own purpose.
Alesis Prestige – Editors Choice Under $500
Best Overall
Alesis Prestige
4.
5
The Alesis Prestige is a fantastic digital piano for under $500. From the key-action to the actual sound of the piano, I am beyond impressed. I currently own this model and the Prestige Pro and have nothing but positive things to say.
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The Alesis Prestige is my current top pick for beginners on the market. I personally own this and the Prestige Artist and I believe the only thing that beats them right now is $200 more money.
The key-action of the Prestige is the first thing that made me a believer in the Prestige. In terms of the sound, it’s solid as well.
Pros
- Hammer-action keys
- Impressive speakers
- Under $500
- Great learning software
Cons
- Limited pre-sets
Roland FP 10 – All-Around Favorite – Slightly over $500
Incredible Option For Beginners
Roland FP-10 Digital Piano | Sweetwater
4.
5
The FP-10 is one of the most popular digital pianos for beginners. From a solid key-bed, to incredible key-action, the FP-10 offers everything you need.
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The Roland FP 10 is currently the best option for digital pianos under $500. I’ve always really enjoyed Roland’s key-beds and I was surprised when I sat down to play this keyboard.
It feels like it should be a lot more than it is. The sounds are also top-notch, although there aren’t a ton. To me, the sound and feel of the keyboard is the most important thing. I would rather have fewer sounds that are quality, rather than a bunch of bad sounds.
Roland excels with their key-action and their sleek design with the FP 10.
While this doesn’t have the highest polyphony of the digital pianos on this list, it still has 96, which is far more than enough for pretty much anything you would want to do on a digital piano.
The FP 10 works great as an option for touring as it only weighs 27.1 pounds. You could also use it as a MIDI controller if need be.
Pros
- Hammer action keys
- 96 notes of polyphony
- Built-in metronome
- Bluetooth capability
- Included software
- Lightweight (27.1 pounds)
- Headphones jack
Cons
- Right at the $500 price point
- Speakers aren’t the biggest, however still completely suitable
Yamaha P45
Best Yamaha Option For Price
Yamaha P-45
4.0
The Yamaha P-45 is one of the main keyboards I recommend for kids. It has 88 fully-weighted keys and a solid piano sound. This not only gets your foot in the door, but also gives you an option that you won’t outgrow for years.
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The Yamaha P45 was up until recently, the king of digital pianos under $500.
With this being said, it’s still a very good option and you can now find them used for pretty cheap as well.
A few years ago, there weren’t a ton of digital pianos that you could find under $500 that had weighted keys. This is what made the P45 such a powerhouse when it first came out.
We have recently finished a guide that covers every single price point of digital pianos. You can read about the best digital pianos for all prices here.
I actually own the P45 and have tracked a lot of songs with it. It plays nice and the keys also feel great for this price. With this being said, I would take the FP 10 and the Korg B2 over it.
Pros
- Lightweight (25.5 lbs)
- Weighted Graded Hammer Action keys
- Effects: Reverb
- Headphones Jack
- USB type B
- MIDI VIA USB
Cons
- Limited Pre-sets
Korg B2 Digital Piano – Best Speakers
Great Choice Near $500
Korg B-2
4.
0
The Korg B-2 is Korg’s option for the $500 price point. It’s not loaded with a ton of features, but provides a solid play for beginners.
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The Korg B2 is a rather new option from Korg and it is the successor to the Korg B2. There are a lot of things that I like about the B2.
One of the things that is really nice about the B2 is its key-bed. I like the way it feels far more than the Yamaha P-45. I think it also plays much better than most options below $500.
If you’re looking for an option that is lightweight, the B2 only weighs 25.13 pounds, which is rather light for a digital piano.
While this is not Korg’s best key-bed, it definitely beats out all other options that don’t have weighted keys. I think this is personally why finding an option for under $500 is so difficult.
The B2 has 120 notes of polyphony, meaning it has 24 more notes of polyphony than the FP 10.
As far as sounds go, there 12 total sounds that include pianos and organs.
Software is a place where a lot of Korg keyboards have greatly been winning. The B2 offers you Skoove, KORG Module Le, & KORG Gadget 2 Le.
The speakers on this digital piano are the best speakers for digital pianos under $500 currently.
Pros
- 120 notes of polyphony
- Great bundled software
- Naturally weighted hammer-action key-bed
- Quality speakers
- MIDI capability
- Headphones jack
- Great speakers
Cons
- Could have more pre-set sounds
Casio PX160
The Casio PX-160 is the most expensive option that I am going to mention. With this being said, it is definitely one of the top options for the price range.
Casio has completely stepped their game up on digital pianos in the last few years in my opinion.
The PX-160 is a great example of this, especially with its action.
One of the reasons why I think Casio has gotten better is that their lower price-point keyboards have improved. Casio beginner keyboards are cheap, yet now have some high-quality sounds.
Pros
- Weighs on 24.5 lbs
- USB type B
- 3 effects: Reverb, brilliance, chorus
- 128 note polyphony
- Great key-action
- Included sustain pedal
Cons
- Most expensive on this list
Casio CDP-S100
The Casio CDP-S100 is a brand new option that has gained a ton of popularity rather fast. Casio’s mission with this digital piano was to make an option under $500 that has weighted keys, good action, and lightweight.
They succeeded at all of the above and I believe that this is a solid option currently available on the market.
The key-bed is graded hammer action with precise weighting on each key. You will notice that the keys get lighter the higher up you go in range.
When you purchase this keyboard, you also get the software, Chordana. Another big win for Casio is the fact that the keys have aftertouch. When this feature is left out on newer keyboards, it is mind-boggling since so many people want that feature.
Chordana on a tablet and an iPhone
Pros
- Lightweight: 24lbs
- Aftertouch
- MIDI capability
- 64 notes of polyphony
- Backlit LCD display
- Headphones jack
- Free software
Cons
- Piano sounds aren’t my favorite
Conclusion
These are my top 5 picks and I believe that all of these would be good options. With this being said, the one that really stands out to me is the FP 10.
I’ve played this side by side with the Yamaha P45 and you can feel a big step up in quality from the sounds to key-action with the FP 10.
When it comes to the best digital pianos under $500, these are definitely the top picks currently available.
Have you tried any of these options? What are your favorites currently available?
The 8 best 88-key weighted keyboards/digital pianos 2023
How a keyboard or piano feels is just as important (if not more) than how it sounds. The weight and action of the keys are what allow you to express your personality in your playing.
We have put together a list of what we consider to be the best 88-key weighted keyboards and digital pianos in 2023.
Yamaha’s CP-88 in our test
Our list isn’t just the best money can buy; it’s a mix of quality and value for money.
These are the best 88-key weighted keyboards and digital pianos right now:
- Roland RD-2000
- Yamaha CLP-735
- Yamaha CP88
- Kawai KDP120
- Alesis Prestige
- Roland RD-88
- Casio PX-S3000
- Korg LP-180
Roland RD-2000 4.8
The best fully-weighted keyboard for performers
The Roland RD-2000 tops many lists, and it looks like that will continue for some time.
It’s an outstanding instrument that gives extremely intuitive control of every aspect of performance. It’s the best 88-key keyboard piano for performers right now.
Image by Roland
Available at:
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The RD-2000 is an 88-key stage piano powered by two legendary sound engines: SuperNATURAL and V-Piano.
It delivers a vast and versatile range of voices, including some of Roland’s most iconic vintage keyboards. The SuperNATURAL engine has a max polyphony of 128-notes, and the V-Piano voices offer full polyphony. It comes with what Roland describes as their best progressive hammer-action keyboard to date (plastic/wood hybrid).
To top it off, the RD-2000 offers some of the best built-in effects around and unrivaled connectivity.
Check out our full Roland RD-2000 review
Yamaha Clavinova CLP-735 4.9
The most realistic piano feel
If you want a realistic piano experience, look no further. The Clavinova CLP-735 is a remarkable instrument that bridges the gap between real and digital.
It’s not priced for beginners, but if you are an advanced player with the cash to treat yourself, it’s one of the best digital pianos with weighted keys ever made.
Image by Yamaha
Available at:
Sweetwater
Two things set the Clavinova CLP-735 apart from most other digital pianos, and that’s the sound and feel.
It delivers the sound of two genuinely iconic concert pianos, the Yamaha CFX and the Bösendorfer Imperial. Whether you’re a jazzer or classical pianist, the CLP-735 offers uncanny realism, dynamic range, and expression.
Most of that realism comes from the real wooden keys and Yamaha’s Real Grand Expression Technology and Acoustic Optimizers. It blends a realistic experience with modern digital features perfectly.
Check out our full Yamaha Clavinova CLP-735 review
Yamaha CP88 4.8
Modern meets vintage
The Yamaha CP88 has been one of our favorite keyboard pianos since it was first released. It has a vintage style and vibe that won’t lend itself to everyone’s needs, but if vintage effects and excellent pianos/electric pianos are your thing, the CP88 nails it.
Image by Yamaha
Available at:
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The CP88 is a full-size keyboard piano inspired by Yamaha’s original 1970s Combo Piano.
It delivers high-quality sound from Yamaha’s AWM2 tone generator. It has acoustic pianos (including the Bösendorfer Imperial 290) that can match most others and electric pianos that are even better.
One of the areas that adopt the vintage vibe most is the built-in effects from Yamaha’s Virtual Circuit Modeling technology. VCM accurately replicates the inconsistencies of high-end, studio-grade processors.
Everything is packaged in a retro-styled unit with an intuitive modular layout.
Check out our full Yamaha CP88 review
Kawai KDP120 4.6
High-end feel at a mid-level price
Kawai has a habit of producing highly realistic digital pianos, and the KDP120 is just that. You could buy a digital piano with 88 weighted keys for less, but it’s unlikely it would be as good. It’s a gorgeous piano.
Image by Kawai
Available at:
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The KDP120 is a great example of a manufacturer with a background in high-end concert pianos, transferring that knowledge to the digital world.
Obviously, it doesn’t feel like a concert grand, but it delivers a sound and feel that allows you to forget you’re playing a digital instrument.
As well as the sound of Kawai’s SK-EX concert grand, you also get some cool features, like a built-in recorder and 55 internal songs. All of that comes through an impressive 20 W built-in speaker system.
Check out our full Kawai KDP120 review
Alesis Prestige 4.6
The best feeling budget keyboard piano
The Alesis Prestige and Prestige Artist are fantastic fully-weighted keyboard pianos for beginners to intermediate players. The sound and feel on offer is fantastic value for money, and that’s why the Prestige makes our list.
Image by Alesis
Available at:
Sweetwater
The Alesis Prestige is an 88-key keyboard piano with graded hammer-action keys.
It’s a step up in keyboard feel from the popular Alesis Recital Pro.
It isn’t a versatile keyboard to any great extent, but it does what most Alesis keyboards do, and that’s over-deliver.
The sound quality is surprisingly good for the price, especially the electric pianos. It’s the kind of keyboard piano that will help learners develop their skills. As a beginner keyboard piano, it’s well worth checking out.
Check out our full Alesis Prestige review
Roland RD-88 4.8
The best lightweight keyboard with fully-weighted keys
We love the Roland RD series, and we think it’s awesome that the RD-88 provides a more affordable way to own one. As far as lightweight, stage-ready keyboard pianos go, very few have the kind of realistic feel that the RD-88 offers. We love it.
Image by Roland
Available at:
SweetwaterAmazon
The Roland RD-88 is a stage-ready keyboard piano for performers who want realism in a lightweight package.
The RD-88 is straightforward to use, and performers can make use of every sound and feature on stage with no fuss. While it doesn’t have the RD-2000’s flexibility, it does share access to over 3000 sounds from Roland’s ZEN-Core engine.
We expect excellent sound quality from any RD series keyboard, but what we didn’t expect is the PHA-4 keyboard to feel so good.
Check out our full Roland RD-88 review
Casio Privia PX-S3000 4.6
The most portable keyboard piano with hammer-action keys
The Casio PX-S3000 is a fantastic full-size keyboard piano for beginners or intermediate players. It combines super-sleek looks with high-quality sound and feel.
Image by Casio
Available at:
SweetwaterAmazon
We didn’t include the PX-S3000 in our best keyboard pianos list, but we couldn’t omit it from this one.
The reason being that it’s the world’s slimmest keyboard piano, and it still has a stunning graded hammer-action keyboard.
So, if you want some incredibly portable that feels realistic, it’s the PX-S3000.
It offers a wide range of voices (700) to suit all styles, powered by Casio’s AiR Sound Source. The PX-S3000 is feature-rich and has something to offer players of most levels.
Check out our full Casio Privia PX-S3000 review
Korg LP-180 4.6
The best slimline digital piano with fully-weighted keys
Korg’s LP-180 isn’t the best 88-key digital piano on the market. But, it’s a reasonably budget-friendly way to get a digital piano that feels and sounds realistic. With its minimalist style, we think it looks as good as it sounds.
Image by Korg
Available at:
SweetwaterAmazon
The Korg LP-180 is a modern digital piano with a slimline design. The sleek design looks great and saves some space at home.
It has natural hammer-action keys that we have to say are amongst the best in their class. The keyboard feel, coupled with Korg’s impressive piano voices, delivers a very immersive playing experience.
The immersive playing experience is also thanks to the 22 W (2 x 11 W) speaker system that producers a powerful and articulate sound. If you want something modern, the LP-180 is one to check out.
Check out our full Korg LP-180 review
Conclusion
As always, we aim to bring you a list of outstanding keyboard/digital pianos that have something to offer everyone.
It’s important to remember that the best choice is always relative to your ability, needs, and budget. It’s not about choosing the most expensive instrument every time; it’s about choosing the right instrument.
For more great options, make sure to check out our picks of the best digital pianos on the market and the best keyboards/digital pianos for beginners.
You can also check our digital piano/keyboard reviews page to see all the instruments we’ve reviewed to date.
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Difference Between 88 and 76 Key Piano Keyboards (With Table)
By
Administrator
/ March 14, 2022
Learning to play any instrument can be difficult if the correct instrument is not used in the process.
If we consider the possibility of learning to play the piano, the situation is similar.
There are two types of piano that people generally prefer to learn. There are two types of pianos: 88-key and 76-key. Apart from the difference in keys, there are many differences between them.
88-key vs 76-key keyboard
The main difference between 88-key and 76-key keyboards is that the 88-key keyboard is a 7 1/3 octave piano. On the other hand, a 76-key keyboard is a 6 1/3 octave piano.
88-key keyboard has 88 keys, making it something like an acoustic piano. The 88-key keyboard is typically chosen by pianists who have years of experience with complex compositions. The 88 keyboards reproduce great bass and treble with an acoustic feel.
76-key keyboard consists of 76 keys per panel. This makes the 76-key keyboard ideal for learning to play the piano. The 76-key keyboard is a good choice for hobbyists who want to learn more.
In the 76-key keyboard, the number of octaves is reduced, and high frequencies are absent.
Comparison table for 88- and 76-key keyboards
| Comparison parameters | 88-key keyboards | 76-key keyboards |
| Targets | The 88-key keyboard is convenient for learning advanced piano compositions. | The keyboard with 76 keys is designed for amateurs, as it is easier for a beginner to learn to play the piano. |
| Ideal for | 88-key keyboard ideal for experienced pianists thanks to its large console. | The 76-key keyboard is ideal for the beginner as it is limited to the 76-key console. |
| Octaves present | A standard 88-key keyboard has a range of 7 1/3 octaves. | A 76-key keyboard is known to have an octave range of 6 1/3. |
| Bass and treble | Bass and treble in an 88-key keyboard are decent. This makes the keyboard great for acoustic playing. |
Bass and treble on the 76-key keyboard are either missing or not prominent compared to other keyboard options. |
| Weighting | An 88-key keyboard usually has full weighted keys, hammer action or semi-weighted keys on the console. | A 76-key keyboard usually does not have fully weighted keys. Instead, there are touch keys. |
What is an 88-key keyboard?
The numeric keypad is different from the grand piano. However, options such as the 88-key keyboard are very grand piano-like. Since the console is loading, this is enough to create complex compositions. Keyboards with 88 keys or full-sized keyboards have many uses. Professional pianists and students can take full advantage of the 88-key keyboard.
The many features of the 88-key keyboard make it the best choice. For the same reason, there are many manufacturers in the industry producing top-notch 88-key keyboards.
Keyboards with 88 keys are the best numeric keypads due to their high sound output.
What adds to the quality of the 88-key keyboard are the fully weighted keys. Different brands offer different sets of weighted keys. The 88-key keyboards also feature graduated keys for the ultimate piano feel. Another great feature of the 88-key keyboard is its height. Its compact design makes it easier to take on stage with you.
These days, the 88-key keyboard is packed with features for hobbyists and professionals alike. Features such as LCD screens or recording devices are useful. Before finally deciding on a brand, you need to check the sound quality, build quality, sound output, and compatibility with other things like speakers and amplifiers.
What is a 76-key keyboard?
While this is a good alternative to a grand piano, the 76-key keyboard has limitations. Due to the smaller keys on the console, the octave also affects the 76-key keyboard. In general, a 76-key keyboard can provide a maximum range of 6 1/3 octaves.
The 76-key keyboard has other great features, but it still lacks the acoustic feel that the different number pad options can offer. What it lacks in keys, it makes up for with super-responsive keys that can shake up productivity. However, the 76-key keyboard is more suitable for people who are just starting out on their piano journey.
It has more features than other keyboards in this segment. Unlike the 61-key keyboard, these keyboards have features such as preset rhythms and hundreds of tones for you to experiment and compose. 76-key keyboards come with productivity enhancements.
Some 76-key keyboards also have song recording capability. This becomes useful for people who are new to creating their compositions. The 76-key keyboard is compatible with almost all extensions such as HDMI, USB or speakers.
Key differences between 88 and 76-key keyboards
- The 88-key keyboard has an octave range of 7 1/3. On the other hand, 76-key keyboards have an octave range of 6 1/3.
- The 88-key keyboard is ideal for playing and composing classical compositions. While the 76-key keyboard is suitable for playing pop, rock and other songs.
- The 88-key keyboard can be a little tricky for a beginner piano player. On the other hand, it is relatively easy for a beginner to get used to a console with a 76-key keyboard.
- Thanks to the additional keys, the bass and notes of the 88-key keyboard are of high quality. Whereas the 76-key keyboard lags a little behind in terms of bass and treble.
- Keyboard with 88 keys can produce more notes thanks to the extended console. On the other hand, a 76-key keyboard can play comparatively fewer notes due to the shorter console.
Conclusion
The 88-key and 76-key keyboards are distinguished by many features and performance. The main difference is that the 76-key console has fewer keys.
However, at the same time, a person can start with a 76-key keyboard and then play an 88-key keyboard to master the technique of creating great compositions.
Recommendations
- https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781315754932/acoustic-midi-orchestration-contemporary-composer-andrea-pejrolo-richard-derosa 9011 2
- https://search .proquest.com/openview/59adf0f903c72880fdf3f2283e32750e/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750
Alesis Prestige Artist – 88 Key Digital Piano
The 88-key Alesis Prestige Artist Digital Piano features 30 studio-quality multi-sampled tones. This video demonstrates each of these sounds. We recommend using headphones for listening.
Alesis has released the Prestige Artist Digital Piano, which features high-quality hammer action, a sound engine that supports 256 voice polyphony, and is equipped with a powerful speaker system (50 W).
The Alesis Prestige Artist is equipped with a full-size 88-key hammer action with adjustable sensitivity, a small OLED screen and a set of control buttons. The model implements multiple sampling technology, which, according to the developers, provides the most realistic gameplay. The instrument has 30 built-in timbres (Piano, Synth, Orchestra, Organ), an arpeggiator and a customizable reverb.
Other features include: recording and playback modes, a metronome, a function of splitting the keyboard into two zones, the ability to layer two timbres for simultaneous playback. For switching are provided: USB, Sustain connector, MIDI, 2 TRS outputs, AUX In, headphone output.
Characteristics:
– 88 full size hammer action keys with adjustable touch response
– 30 premium multi-sampled voices with the ability to split or layer 2 voices at the same time
– 256-voice polyphony provides an unrivaled realistic piano playing experience
– 50W (2x25W) speaker system sounds loud, clear and realistic in any environment
– OLED screen for easy parameter setting
– Lesson mode divides the keyboard into two zones with the same pitch and voice
– Recording mode allows you to record and then listen to your performance
– ¼” (6.