Welcome to another piano review here at Merriam Music! In this article and accompanying video, we’ll be comparing two absolute titans of the entry-level market for 88-key digital pianos with weighted actions as we look at the Yamaha P45 vs Casio PX-160. We’ll be comparing the actions, sound engines, speaker systems, and peripheral features - everything you'll want to know about these instruments before making a decision.
Let’s kick off our discussion by focusing on sound engines.
Digital Piano Sound Comparison: Yamaha P45 vs Casio PX-160
Casio PX-160 Polyphony
The Yamaha P45 and Casio PX-160 are really well-matched when it comes to price, but when we take a closer look at the sound-related specs, it becomes immediately apparent that the PX-160 is delivering some exceptional value. Just look at the polyphony counts for example - there are 128 notes of polyphony over on the PX-160, whereas the P45 has half of that at 64 note polyphony.
Speakers
The same thing continues when it comes to the speakers - the P45 has dual 6-watt amps/speakers for 12 watts of power versus dual 8-watt speakers for 16 watts of amplifier power on the PX-160.
Sound Engine: AiR Sound System
For the price, it really is quite remarkable what Casio has brought to the table here in terms of sound quality with their AiR sound system. Since sound is a super personal and subjective thing, however, at this point we’d recommend checking out the video as Stu Harrison takes us through a playing comparison of both pianos’ default grand piano sounds.
In terms of the actual acoustic piano tone, both instruments are definitely bringing something satisfying to the table. If you demo both pianos with headphones (which we would recommend) you’ll notice that the PX-160 has a lot of air surrounding the sound, which maybe shouldn’t be a shock given the name of the sound engine.
This is a really great feature as it gives the player a sense of being in a larger room behind a real piano. The Yamaha P45 has a more simple tone courtesy of the Advanced Wave Memory engine (AWM stereo sampling), but it's still delivering a satisfying playing experience.
Yamaha has sampled their CFIIIS concert grand piano for the core piano sound, and while this piano has been replaced by the newer CFX concert grand, this is still a super high-end grand piano to be working from.
Additional Sounds
Beyond the core acoustic piano sounds, both pianos have some additional instrument sounds worth exploring, with 18 total sounds on the PX160, and the P45 has just over half as many with 10.
Even though there are only 10 sounds on the P45, all of the essentials are covered, such as some electric pianos, strings, organ, and harpsichord. The P-Series pianos always have nice electric piano sounds, and that holds true here.
The PX160 has all of the same types of sounds, plus several more given its larger count overall. The quality is high for the price points on both pianos in terms of the onboard voices, but the PX160 obviously gets an edge here due to the greater number of sounds. Both pianos offer some user control over the Reverb settings.
This sums up our discussion on sound. Let’s move on to action now.
Yamaha P45 vs Casio PX-160 | Piano Action Review and Comparison
We certainly had some big differences in the sound systems of both pianos, but when it comes to the action, the differences become even more obvious, even if both pianos are using full-size, weighted keys, 88-key keyboards. This is apparent right away when you first play the PX-160’s Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II due to some really dramatic textures on the white and black keys.
Yamaha P45 Graded Hammer Standard
The Yamaha P45 Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) action on the other hand doesn’t employ any type of texture on the white keys and instead features a glossy feel, with a matte finish on the black keys.
For the P45, this has been an area of criticism within the industry for a few years now, as the piano player’s fingers can slide on the keys in playing situations with higher humidity, which of course aren’t uncommon for portable digital pianos.
Casio Privia PX160 Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II
Neither action has escapement or let-off as it's sometimes known, and only the FP10 and its PHA4 action boast this particular feature in the price point. The Yamaha P45 action uses a dual-sensor which is typical for the price, but the PX160’s action features a more advanced triple sensor action meaning it has a greater capacity for touch sensitivity.
A beginner looking for an instrument for piano lessons won’t really feel a difference here, but an experienced musician looking for a good value practice or secondary instrument probably will, as will those looking for an accurate MIDI controller.
The weighting is good on both pianos, with the Yamaha feeling a little bit lighter.
As far as weighted action digital pianos go, both of these feel good overall for the price. Are you going to put either one on your wishlist if you’re looking to dive into advanced classical repertoire? No, but that’s not the point, and you’re probably not looking for a portable keyboard in that case anyway.
Yamaha P45 vs Casio PX-160 | Features/Connectivity Comparison
Both the PX-160 and the P45 have all of the basics covered when it comes to normal digital piano features. Both have a metronome, transpose, dual-mode (Layer), while the PX160 has Split mode, and the P45 has Duo mode.
USB-MIDI Connections: Yamaha P45 and Casio Privia PX-160
There’s no built-in recorder on the P45 like there is on the PX160, but thanks to USB-MIDI connections both pianos are easily connectible to computers for recording anyway. The PX160 has discreet 1/4” line outputs which is a very nice bonus for the price point, while you’ll have to use the headphone jack on the P45 which isn’t ideal.
Keyboard Stand and Pedal System: Yamaha P45 vs Casio PX-160
Both pianos include a basic footswitch sustain pedal, though we recommend upgrading to a more substantial damper pedal. Also included with each are a power supply (power adapter) and a music rest.
Both are available with optional matching keyboard stands, while Casio also gives you the option of opting for a triple pedal system as well.
Final Thoughts
At the price both of these pianos are available, there aren’t too many other compelling options out there, aside from spending a little bit more and jumping to the Roland FP10 with its superior tone and touch (no triple pedal though!.)
Between the P45 and PX160, the PX160 definitely out-specs it on paper and makes a pretty compelling case for itself. That said, there are plenty of folks who will simply prefer the tone and touch of the P45 for their own personal reasons, not to mention the comfort that comes with selecting a Yamaha product.
Tough to find in stock, even on Amazon, but if you can, both are among the best digital pianos available in the entry-level class.
Welcome to a fresh rundown of our favorite pianos and keyboards between the $500 and $1000 (USD) price range available on the market. In this article, we'll be looking at various models for the best digital piano under $1000, from Kawai’s ES110 to Yamaha’s P125, Casio’s fairly new PX-S1000, or Roland’s FP30. Every piano on the list is an 88-note instrument with a graded hammer action keyboard and touch-sensitive weighted keys.
This current year is certainly giving us plenty of reasons to find interesting and fun things to do indoors, and the piano is one of those things that checks all kinds of boxes. It's mentally stimulating, it can be social, and you can learn some of your favorite songs pretty quickly from YouTube.
There are a ton of families and parents out there who are thinking about introducing piano either back into their home or possibly for the first time, but they don't necessarily want to invest substantially more in an acoustic piano and find some of the extra perks of a digital piano, such as the ability to play quietly via the headphone jacks.
Best-Selling Piano Category
The $500-$1000 class is an incredibly popular category, in fact, it’s actually the category that boasts the highest volume of units sold for each manufacturer. As such, every major manufacturer offers at least one model in this class, so it's great to see how they all stack up against one another.
While most folks revert to Amazon to do a lot of their shopping research these days, many of these models are not actually sold on Amazon so some of the models might be totally new to you. We'll split it up between portable digitals (lightweight, easily transportable options), as well as stationary, home digital pianos.
Portable Digitals | Best Digital Piano Under $1000
Kawai ES110
The first instrument on our list is the Kawai ES110. As a portable piano, in its most basic format out of the box the ES110 is designed to be picked up and taken around, and it's one of the most lightweight instruments currently on the market. Kawai pianos, generally speaking, are known for a very realistic feel, overall sound quality, and a focus on the piano experience. When it comes to other features, sometimes we call that edutainment (lots of instrument sounds and rhythms), Kawai's tends to not be as loaded up in that department. A lot of the focus is instead geared toward creating as good a piano experience as possible.
Harmonic Imaging Sound Engine
The ES110 uses the Harmonic Imaging engine, which is an additive synthesis on top of an existing sample of a Kawai EX Concert Grand Piano. Please note this is different than the SK-EX grand piano sample set that the new CN / CA pianos have. The ES110 can be connected via wireless Bluetooth to a tablet with Kawai’s Virtual Technician, which gives you microscopic control of all of the parameters. It also gives the player 192-note polyphony, which is PLENTY for great textured playing at any level of complexity.
Responsive Hammer Compact Action
It uses Kawai's Responsive Hammer Compact action. This is a very well-weighted action. that has shown itself over the years to be a very durable action as well with good touch sensitivity.
Summary
For people who are looking at feel and piano tone as their main priorities with maybe a secondary priority being either the Bluetooth or just lightweight portability, the ES110 is an excellent choice. The ES110 is also compatible with a matching designer stand and triple pedal board from Kawai if you'd like more than the standard damper/sustain pedal that's included in the box.
Roland FP30
The next piano on our list is the Roland FP-30. Roland is the first company to have built a fully electric piano and has consistently been one of the key innovators of digital pianos for decades now. The FP-30 has been around for a little while and it's been a proven performer in the marketplace.
SuperNATURAL Piano Sound Engine
The FP30’s SuperNATURAL piano sound engine combines sampling with modern modeling technology for a convincing and expressive piano tone. The electric pianos are definite standouts as well.
Its onboard speakers aren’t quite as full-bodied as the ES110 for piano sound, but of course, can always be sent through an amp to beef it up.
PHA4 Action
The biggest thing that stands out about the FP-30 is the action - Roland's PHA-4 action. You'll find this action across much of the Roland line (including some models almost triple the price), and most notably, it features a triple sensor which is actually a really big deal for people who are using this to trigger virtual instruments or potentially, or for accurate MIDI output in a studio setting. The action also comes with a very nicely textured white key, and could certainly double as a bare-bones stage piano.
Summary
The addition of the Piano Partner 2 app is almost a must with this one since it gives it the rhythm auto-accompaniment feature. Also, like the ES110, the FP30 is also very lightweight and easy to carry around, but it is available as well with the full permanent stand and a triple pedal.
Yamaha P125
Piano number three is another one that I'm sure lots of people have run into - the Yamaha P125, which is easily one of the best-selling digital pianos in this category. Yamaha is famous for its manufacturing quality control, and they have always done a great job of matching their product with the customer demands.
Pure CF Sound Engine
The P125’s Pure CF sound engine is probably the biggest highlight of this instrument. This is a quality sound engine producing excellent tone for the price point.
There’s also a really nice clear set of speakers on board with two speakers that are actually facing you, so in terms of the sonic playing experience that the player themselves gets with the P125, it's just excellent.
GHS Action
The GHS action may be a little more basic than what you’re getting on the ES110 and FP30 in that less focus has been given to creating as authentic a physical touch.
This is probably simply due to the fact that the GHS action has been out for quite a few years now, so compared to some of the newer actions coming out from other manufacturers, it is feeling a little bit dated.
That said, it’s by no means a bad action, and still more than up for the task of helping a student through piano lessons.
Summary
The other thing that we really appreciate about the P125 is the ease with which you can navigate the various sounds that it's equipped with. There's also onboard accompaniment that's really well executed and easy to navigate.
The P125 offers a really nice balance of performance and features. Just like the ES110 and FP30, you can get the P125 with a matching stand and triple pedal, though out of the box it's nice and lightweight as well.
Casio PXS1000
Fourth on the list is Casio's relatively new Privia PX-S1000 which serves as the spiritual successor to the immensely popular and groundbreaking Casio Privia PX-160. With the release of this as well as the upgraded PX-S3000, there's clearly been a much bigger emphasis by Casio on the overall look and feel of the instrument. The 1000 and 3000 models are very distinct because of the high gloss, shiny black finish.
Multi-Dimensional AiR Sound Source
Casio has paid particularly close attention to creating as much control and variety of different reverb effects and surround effects as you really could possibly expect in an instrument of this price point with their AiR Sound Source.
The AiR Sound Source is well regarded in the industry for its richness and sense of space around the notes themselves. Interestingly, all of the controls are touch-sensitive and there are no actual physical buttons, which also looks very slick.
Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard
The Smart Scaled Hammer Action features key-tops that have exaggerated textures that may be something that is a very good thing for people, or it could be something that's a little overdone. Either way, it's something you really just have to try because you never know until your fingers touch the keys.
In general, this is a solid action that most would agree outperforms Yamaha’s GHS action and is probably on par with Kawai’s GHS action.
Summary
S1000 is available with a matching stand, however, it does not have a matching pedalboard, though it is available with a floating triple pedal system, something similar to the Roland FP-60. The PX-S1000 is the most affordable digital piano on our list.
Home Digitals | Best Digital Piano Under $1000
Let's move into the home digital category. These are instruments that are not designed to be portable but are still very affordable, very easy to move around the house if need be, and come with integrated stands (sometimes a bench too). Be sure to check every individual product page, so that you know exactly whether you need to get an extra bench or whether one is included.
Kawai KDP110
The first home digital on the list is the Kawai KDP110. This is an interesting choice and comes right in at around the $1,000 mark in the United States. Some dealers may have this for slightly more, but it's close enough that we wanted to include it in this list. All kinds of things stand out about the KDP110.
Harmonic Imaging Sound Engine With SKEX Grand Piano Sample
The main grand piano sound is the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX individually sampled engine, which is a huge plus as this is a super thick and realistic piano tone. The added SKEX sample means this version of the HI engine is an upgrade over the version featured in the ES110.
Speaker System
The speaker system is very well-equipped, with the 40 watts of power significantly outpacing the less expensive Kawai KDP70 or similarly priced Roland RP102.
The KDP110 is also Bluetooth-compatible, which means that this will connect easily with any DAW program that has Bluetooth over MIDI compatibility. It also lets you use the KDP110 with Kawai zone, Sound Museum, and any other Kawai app that is built to be compatible with the KDP110 making navigation a breeze.
Responsive Hammer Compact II Action With Triple Sensor
The KDP110 uses an upgraded action from the action on the ES110, and this one has a tri-sensor. It’s a very sensitive action that is well-liked for its responsiveness and dynamic control.
In fact, in our opinion, it’s second only to Roland’s PHA4 action overall in terms of all of the piano actions featured on this list.
Summary
It's not particularly surprising that the 110 actually happens to be one of the most popular instruments that we sell here at Merriam even with advanced players needing a practice instrument, to the point that it's been extremely difficult to get in 2020 during COVID-19. Even if you have to get on a long waiting list, the KDP110 is more than worth the wait as it's easily one of the best pianos in its class.
Yamaha YDP144
Next on our list is the Yamaha Arius YDP-144. The YDP series is their entry point into home digital pianos with full actions. They share many components with their portable counterparts the P series, as well as the DGX series, including action and sample sets.
Yamaha CFX Sound Engine
The highlight of the YDP-144’s sound engine is the default grand piano tone which is a sample of Yamaha’s flagship CFX concert grand piano. Like the Shigeru Kawai SKEX, the CFX is one of the world’s finest concert grand pianos.
It comes across very nicely here and is without question one of the best default grand piano tones on our list.
The total number of tones is light at 10, but all are high quality. The speaker power is also on the lower end for the class with 16 watts of power. Still, the YDP-144 is producing a great tone.
GHS Action
Yamaha’s go-to action in this range is the same one featured in the P125 above - the Graded Hammer Standard (GHS), a satisfying albeit more basic design than some of the others in this category (Roland and Kawai both offer triple sensors, and the Roland additionally has escapement & textured key tops)
Summary
For the price, it tends to be a nice balance for a lot of people and certainly compares very well against things like either the KDP70 or the Roland RP102.
Roland RP102
The Roland RP102 is next on our list. This is a home digital that's the baby brother of the Roland RP501, and a little bit lower priced than the Roland F140, but with a more traditional cabinet.
SuperNATURAL Piano Sound Engine
The RP102 takes advantage of Roland's legendary supernatural sound engine, which is something that they've been working on for well over a decade. This sound technology is a really interesting cutting-edge way in which to combine real samples with some synthesis on top to add all kinds of interesting nuance to the tone.
The only sound-related downside is the relatively weak speaker output at 12 watts of power, especially contrasted with the KDP110’s 40-watt speaker output for example.
PHA4 Action
Even with the increased cost of the RP102 over the FP30, the PHA4 action is still widely regarded as the best action in the class and still a great value at this price point.
The combination of triple sensor, escapement, and textured key tops has no peer in this class.
Summary
Being that it is Bluetooth-compatible, Roland has several apps that work with the RP102.
Overall, the RP102 is a great option, with the only real downside being its lower power speaker output.
Kawai KDP70
Very last on the list is the Kawai KDP70. This is the little brother of the KDP110 and takes away a few things that you would get on the 110, but also saves you a few hundred dollars. Really, you can actually think of it as the console home version of the ES110.
Harmonic Imaging Sound Engine
Like the ES110, the KDP70 has a version of the Harmonic Imaging engine that is built around the EX sample. This is still a great-sounding sample with 88-key individual sampling and 192-note polyphony, but you can hear that it’s not quite as nice as the SKEX sample on the KDP110.
The speakers come in at 16 watts which is tied with the YDP144 and actually better than the RP102, but still a step down from the KDP110.
Responsive Hammer Compact Action
This is the same dual-sensor version of this action that is also found in the ES110. A solid, reliable action, if not as sensitive as the RHCII or PHA4.
Summary
The other big difference from the KDP110 is that the Bluetooth functionality is not present on the KDP70.
That being said, all in all, this is still a well-built, high-value unit. In many ways, it's an excellent comparison to the Roland RP102. It looks fantastic in the home and slightly different sound than you would get from the Roland.
Conclusions
This year more than any in living memory has given us lots of reasons to find fun, engaging things to do indoors. What better to do than get a piano and start to explore some of those musical preferences and tastes that we all have and love with young piano players? If you've been thinking of buying a piano for the first time and plan on spending up to about $1,000 USD, you've got a lot of great options. Shop Here for more digital pianos. We hope you've found this article helpful!
Today, we're reviewing one of the most popular home digital pianos on the market as we look at Yamaha Arius YDP-144. This is an extremely popular and affordable digital piano - it's not an overstatement to say that there are many thousands of these units across the world in people's homes, teaching studios and music schools.
Let's get into our Yamaha YDP-144 review.
Yamaha YDP-144 - Opening Thoughts
The Yamaha Arius home piano series has been immensely popular for years now. The YDP-144b is the second model in the lineup of console pianos, with the more basic YDP-103 serving as the entry point. It's of course an 88-key digital piano, as all of the Arius models are.
But when it comes to popularity, nothing even comes close to the YDP-144 as it occupies that sweet spot in the mid-range where the price isn't too high, but you're still able to get a quality instrument that represents a meaningful upgrade for the aspiring pianist from entry-level models like the YDP-103.
The YDP-144 is the most popular of the bunch, but we're going to try and determine if that's truly deserved, or the result of some savvy marketing and brand recognition. Let's start by checking out the sound engine.
Yamaha CFX Concert Grand Piano Sound
The YDP-144 is using the Yamaha CFX sample for the main acoustic piano sound. This is a very high-quality recording of the CFX Concert Grand piano, and as such, is a very high-quality sound engine.
The sound is complex, with a very lovely singing quality as well. The tonal profile is very stable and uniform, which some folks will love, though others will prefer a tone that is more varied depending on the volume level and dynamic and output.
Anybody who's been lucky enough to play a real concert grand CFX knows that that is certainly a finely crafted instrument, so it's great to see how well Yamaha has recreated the concert grand sound here.
In terms of the stereo speaker system, the YDP-144 has a pair of 8-watt speakers. That's more or less enough power for somebody playing in a relatively small room just for personal use, though it's interesting to note that both the Kawai KDP-120 and Casio PX-870 have a lot more power with 40-watt speaker systems.
It comes with 192 notes of polyphony which is plenty for personal playing. And even if you're going to layer up one or two tracks of playback from a recording or MIDI track, there's no issue with 192 notes of polyphony.
Another cool sound-related feature we need to mention is the "Piano Room,". There are two different samples that you can choose from, the "CFX Grand," or the "Pop Grand," which is probably a C7.
For each one of those samples, you can apply a different kind of environmental effect, which is really just a reverb. There's "Concert Hall", "Chamber" and "Club", each with its own distinct reverb algorithm.
You've also got a number of other options to customize the piano experience as well via the Smart Pianist App, which is great. You can edit things like Damper Resonance, individual key settings, touch curve, volume and tuning for each individual key, which is actually a fairly advanced feature for an instrument like this.
There's also an auto EQ effect, referred to as Intelligent Acoustic Control, which automatically activates, as well as the Stereophonic Optimizer.
Going through the rest of the sounds, we also start to see some really nice stuff, the electric pianos particularly. There's also Harpsichord, Vibraphone and Pipe Organ, with 10 total sounds.
Overall, the sound is producing a really authentic playing experience, even if the speakers are somewhat underpowered.
Graded Hammer Standard Piano Action
The YDP-144 features Yamaha's GHS hammer action, which is short for Graded Hammer Standard. If people have watched or read some of our other reviews, you'll know that we think the GHS keyboard action has some notable weaknesses, but that we still think it's a serviceable action.
Since this is the case, it's one of those actions that's probably best to just play yourself in person so you can make those determinations on a personal level. Piano touch preference can be quite subjective.
Let's start with the positives: it's physically very solid with little give to it, so for a lot of intricate styles of playing, it works quite well.
We also happen to really like the feel of the keybed. It's not super hard nor is it super soft and instead sits right in the middle of how Kawai and Roland's actions feel, with Kawai's having a softer keybed and Roland having a harder one.
Now to some of the drawbacks. For one, the GHS is still using a dual sensor, whereas most of the options in the class have now incorporated triple sensors for more accurate dynamic output and better touch sensitivity.
There's also no texture on the top of the white key and instead just a polished white key surface. As a result, over time, we've found that moisture builds up which ends up pulling the pads back from your fingernails. Fortunately, matte black key tops prevent this from happening on the black keys.
For beginners, hobbyists and people who are more finesse players or earlier classical players, getting into pop or Chopin will probably like this action. For people who kind of attack the keyboard with a bit more of a heavy feel with their finger technique, this is gonna maybe feel a bit too stiff, and you may actually wind up wearing the action out a bit earlier than you were hoping.
Features/Connectivity
The 144 comes with its own matching cabinet which is very nicely built, making it an attractive instrument from an aesthetic perspective. Also included is a triple pedal with a sustain pedal (capable of half pedaling), sostenuto and soft.
It comes in both a default Rosewood finish, as well as a Black Walnut.
In terms of connectivity, we've got a USB port, and two headphone jacks but no discrete quarter-inch audio out., so you will have to use one of the headphone jacks if you need more power.
Features include a 2-track song recorder, metronome, built-in music books and things like Transpose, Tuning, Layer and Duo mode.
Closing Thoughts
You can't go wrong with the YDP-144. It's a well-built, solid instrument that's going to be pretty satisfying to most people.
While we think there are several other options in the category delivering better value, the YDP-144 is still going to get the job done, and of course, the Yamaha name certainly provides a great measure of comfort, regardless of specific product.
Welcome to another piano comparison at Merriam Music. Today, we are comparing the Yamaha P45 vs Roland FP-10, two absolute titans of the entry-level market, both with tons of fans and lots of potential shoppers all around the world.
This comparison has been requested many times by our readers and viewers so we're happy to cover it here, and in the accompanying video. In a part of the market that also has compelling options from Casio (Privia and CDP series) and Korg, the P45 and Roland FP-10 still manage to be among the best sellers, the P45, particularly on Amazon.
We'll be comparing the actions, sound engines, and main features to see exactly how these two oft-compared pianos stack up to one another.
Opening Thoughts
These two pianos are very similar in some respects, the most obvious being price. These are both priced in the United States for under $500, and in Canada, both are available for under $750. Visibly, they appear to be very similar in terms of their size and stature.
At a quick glance, you might think to yourself, "Well, the Yamaha P45 and the Roland FP-10 are essentially equal offerings from two different companies, and, I've always gone Yamaha before, so I'm not really missing anything by not taking a serious look at the Roland," This is where you would be very wrong.
Hiding under the hood of these two instruments are some remarkably different specs that ultimately result in divergent musical experiences. Let's start by checking out the sound engines.
Piano Sounds: Yamaha P-45
The piano sound consists of some different aspects when we're in the digital piano realm. The first factor is of course the computer that functions as the tone generator. The second aspect is the onboard speakers.
We'll start by checking out the sound on the Yamaha P45 88-key digital piano first. Right away it's clear, even in spite of its affordable price tag, that it's a pretty responsive piano.
P-45 Advanced Wave Memory (AWM)
The P-45 features the Advanced Wave Memory (AWM) stereo sampling sound engine here.
The grand piano sound is certainly on the brighter side, but that's fairly expected since apes the timbre of their real pianos. Yamaha tends to have a brighter, clear sound on both their acoustic pianos as well as digital pianos.
Speaker System
The speakers on this are 6 watts apiece, so it's a total of 12 watts of power. For an instrument of this price and size, that's plenty. In fact, it's hard to build an instrument that's this light with much if any more power.
The speakers on the P45 are on the bottom of the instrument, so they are downward-facing. The sound quality is good, but you do get a better playing experience when playing with headphones.
64-notes Polyphony
We're getting 64-note polyphony here on the P45 which is definitely quite dated considering what most other options in the price point are offering.
In terms of other instrument sounds, the P-45 has 10 on board. Accessing them is really easy with a very user-friendly interface. There are a couple of nice electric pianos, organs, strings, harpsichord, and vibraphone. The pipe organ is particularly nice.
Piano Sounds: Roland FP-10
Let's now move over to the FP-10. If you're a Yamaha person and have never thought of a need to look outside of the Yamaha lane for a product, this particular matchup should give you some pause. We try and be as objective as possible in these reviews, but to be honest, the FP-10 blows the P-45 away in virtually every respect.
96-notes Polyphony
The FP10 has a polyphony of 96 versus 64. This 32-note difference gives the Rolan
d a bit of an edge, especially if you're going to be doing some layering, but it's also indicative of a more complex tone generator.
The FP10 has a polyphony of 96 versus 64. This 32-note difference gives the Roland a bit of an edge, especially if you're going to be doing some layering, but it's also indicative of a more complex tone generator.
Super Natural Piano Sound Engines
The FP-10 is using Roland's SuperNATURAL Piano Sound Engine, and it's actually incorporating and allowing you to access and tweak all kinds of synthesis parameters such as damper resonance, string resonance, and others. The SuperNATURAL sound engine is available in different levels throughout the Roland lineup, but even this more basic version has a lot going on.
Objectively, you can argue that there's just more technology going on here behind the piano tone itself. But then we get into the number of tones, and instead of 10, as long as you're using the piano partner app wirelessly, you're given access to more than 30 on the FP-10, including some really nice synths. The quality is definitely higher across these other tones as well.
Speakers
In terms of onboard speakers, you're not getting much of an improvement. They're literally the same with 12 watts of power on both. Still, it's pretty hard not to come away feeling that the FP-10 is delivering a much more realistic piano tone, that also happens to offer more polyphony and more sounds.
Piano Action: Graded Hammer Standard vs PHA-4
Now let's talk about action because if you are a parent enrolling your child in piano lessons, the action is probably going to be the most important thing to get right to ensure that the new student is building good habits right away.
Fortunately, we're dealing with two weighted action digital pianos here with full-size graded hammer actions, which is crucially important if you actually intend to learn piano.
Yamaha's Graded Hammer Standard (GHS)
The action on the P-45 is Yamaha's Graded Hammer Standard or GHS for short. This is an action that Yamaha has been using on their instruments for quite some time. There are things that are likable about it, and others that are undoubtedly drawbacks at this point in time.
The GHS action has polished white keytops, so that gives it a good grip in some situations, but it also makes it a little less comfortable to play in more humid situations. Fortunately, there's a matte finish on the black key which feels nice.
It's missing escapement, but for somebody who has never played piano before, this will be a non-factor. But if you are using this as a practice instrument and going back and forth between it and an acoustic, it would be a little more helpful to have both instruments with escapement for familiarity.
The other thing about the action which is a bit of a knock against it is the presence double sensor. If you had any intention of using this as a MIDI controller, and you were wanting to trigger some really high-quality samples on a DAW, the double sensor does not really deliver a particularly accurate MIDI output for professional use. For beginners, it shouldn't really matter, but of course, it will be less sensitive than a triple sensor action.
Some positives are the weighting which feels good, as is the repetition speed. They also use this action in the Yamaha P125.
Roland's PHA-4 Standard Keyboard Action
Over to the FP-10. If there's one thing that set's the FP-10 apart from everything else in the class, it would be the action. The PHA-4 Standard Keyboard Action that the FP-10 has is the same action that Roland puts on their RP-501, F-140, FP-60, and FP-30, which in the case of the RP-501, is an instrument that's 3x the price of the FP-10.
That's an incredible value that you're receiving on the FP-10 for this price because it's not some stripped-down version of the PHA-4. You are getting a triple sensor for better touch sensitivity, escapement and nice ivory feel on the keys.
On paper and in practice, despite both being weighted key actions, the PHA-4 simply outguns the GHS action as a borderline high-end action available at an entry-level price.
Yamaha P45 vs Roland FP-10 | Features & Connectivity
There's quite a bit of overlap between these two when it comes to features and optional accessories.
They both come with an included music rest, footswitch style sustains pedals, and power adapters for the power supply.
Both are available with a matching keyboard stand for an additional cost, though neither one has an option for a 3 pedal unit.
Bluetooth MIDI vs USB to host port
Now, a big difference between the two is that the FP-10 has built-in Bluetooth MIDI connectivity. The Yamaha P45 does have a USB to host port, so you can hook this up to a computer and output MIDI to it, but it's really nice being able to do things wirelessly.
Headphone Jacks
Neither one of these instruments has official audio line-outs. They both are equipped with headphone jacks though, so you can use the headphone output to connect to an amplifier.
Both pianos have all the basics covered like a metronome, dual mode, duo mode, and transpose.
Closing Thoughts
Here are some closing thoughts and general takeaways on the comparison here. First of all, you may just have a subjective preference between the tone P-45 or the tone of the FP-10. There's nothing invalid about that.
But beyond that, the FP-10 really does pack an objectively superior piano sound, both in terms of specs and how it works in practice, and the same can be said about the piano action. The Bluetooth Connectivity for connecting to Apple and Android devices might be a big deal too.
That said, the P-45 is a tried and true instrument, and the fact that it's almost impossible to find in stock really says something.
In this review, we'll be taking a look at one of the most popular 88-key digital pianos in existence as we review the Yamaha P125. The P125 is the middle sibling of the Yamaha P Series and is inevitably the piano all others in the category get compared to, namely the sub $1,000 CAD portable digital piano category.
We'll cover the usual core features, like tone engine and action, as well as other features and connectivity. We'll also give our opinion on whether or not the status as best seller this instrument receives is truly warranted or not.
With that out of the way, let's get into our Yamaha P125 review.
Piano Background
As we said above, the Yamaha P125 is not just any ordinary digital piano. We are looking at literally the world's most popular digital piano in the $1,000 CAD range. That doesn't mean it's the best, but by judging by statistics from Amazon, it's sheer popularity is not in question.
And really, it makes sense why the P125 has this crown. For one, the price point is comfortable for a wide variety of users and customers. Including hobbyists, college students who need a practice instrument, and parents starting their kids out with piano lessons for the first time.
The P125 is light enough and high enough quality that even some high-level professional musicians use the P125 as an instrument for gigs. Its minimalistic design is unintimidating for newer players.
At the heart of all of this is of course, Yamaha's status as one of the top manufacturers of musical instruments worldwide, with one of the top marketing budgets. Everyone knows that when they go with a Yamaha digital piano or another musical instrument for that matter, they're getting a well-made, good-quality instrument.
All of these combine for a perfect storm that absolutely positions the P125 for success. Let's dive into the sound engine now.
Yamaha P125 Pure CF Sound Engine
The first thing that jumps out from the spec sheet is the polyphony count of 192 notes. 192 note polyphony is a very high polyphony count for the price range and gives us a hint that the sound engine is probably punching above its weight here.
That sound engine we're referring to is of course the Pure CF Sound Engine, which is a sample-based engine based on a recording of the Yamaha CFIIIS 9' concert grand piano. This concert grand has since been replaced by the CFX as Yamaha's flagship concert grand piano, but this is still a very high-quality instrument that's serving as for the main acoustic piano sound for the P125.
Right away we can tell that this is a high-quality sample, and extras like damper resonance and string resonance are really coming through.
We like the fact that the speakers are facing up and back, as this produces a lot of clarity. There's a total of 14 watts of power, courtesy of a 4 speaker system, which includes 2 mains and 2 tweeters.
In terms of other sounds, there are 24 built-in presets in total, including a couple of other piano patches, though the default patch is clearly the highlight as far as acoustic piano patches are concerned.
The Electric piano sounds on here are generally very nice across the board. In fact, we actually think they're a bit better than what's on the more expensive P515.
The organ sounds are highly useable and versatile if used a blended setting, though probably not quite good enough if you were laying down solo organ tracks in the studio.
There's also a very useable string patch, and those are especially hard to find on digital pianos in this price range as the attack and decay is hard to replicate. Synthesizer patches are solid.
Another cool feature is the Intelligent Acoustic Control which automatically EQ's the sound according to the type of surface the piano is on, as well as a table EQ if it's sitting on a table or desk, as well as Sound Boost which as the name suggests, adds extra punch to the sound if needed.
Lastly, we also have to mention the Stereophonic Optimizer which optimizes the sound for when playing with headphones.
Overall, we're pretty impressed with the sound of this instrument. Moving onto the action.
Yamaha P125 Graded Hammer Standard Piano Action
The P125 uses Yamaha's Graded Hammer Standard, or GHS for short, action. This is a functional 88-key action with weighted keys, but it's not the best that you'll get in this price point.
Somebody who's a really experienced pianist and used to an acoustic piano action or more advanced digital piano action will likely find this hammer action lacking.
That doesn't mean it's not a functional action that you can't learn foundational elements on if you're a student, or that it's not usable as a gigging instrument. But if your focus is really on as good a piano touch as possible for the price, you might be left wanting.
It uses a dual-sensor versus a triple-sensor, so it doesn't deliver the same dynamic accuracy and range that you would get from Roland's PHA4 action for example. There's no escapement and it tends to also feel a little bit light, though there are 3 levels of adjustable touch sensitivity.
It also has a highly polished plastic surface on the white key and it's got a bit of a textured surface on the matte black key. The lack of texture on the white keys is a bit of a drawback as your fingers can start sliding across the key if any moisture develops.
The action is probably the Achilles Heel of the P125 but it's by no means a deal-breaker. Of course, just make sure that you have a chance to try it if you can, if action is critical to you, before moving forward with the purchase.
That about sums up our discussion on the GHS action. There's no real issue when playing contemporary music, but when jumping into some classical repertoire, it really is lacking some of the control and some of the depth you'd hope for.
Roland's PHA4, Kawai's RHC, and Casio's Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II are all a step up in our mind.
Features & Connectivity
The P125 has some really nice things going for it when it comes to some of the extra features. For example, it features built-in USB audio interface functionality, as well as some great auto-accompaniment rhythms and discreet 1/4" line outputs.
The built-in USB audio interface is going to be super useful for a lot of people out there as it allows you to connect to a computer, fire up a DAW, and transmit audio information without the need for additional gear.
The user-friendly accompaniment function includes 20 built-in rhythms, the quality of which are really solid across the board. It's not very common for instruments in this price range to include any built-in accompaniment, so this is another plus for the P125.
Other typical features like metronome, duo, split mode, and transpose are all covered as well.
The discreet 1/4" AUX outs are very welcome as it allows you to connect to an amplifier or PA system if you need more juice without having to go through the headphone jack. This is why the P125 is an option for those looking for a gigging instrument.
Other connectivity includes a DC in for the power supply (AC power adapter), 2 headphone jacks, a sustain pedal port (comes with basic footswitch), a 3 pedal unit port, and USB to host.
There is no Bluetooth MIDI or Audio, so you'll need to use the USB port to connect to an iPad, iPhone, or other iOS device to use the Yamaha Smart Pianist App.
You can get a matching keyboard stand with the P125 which, for anyone who's wanting to use that in a home environment, might be worth consideration. It includes basic music rest in the box.
Closing Thoughts
We hope you've enjoyed the Yamaha P125 review - hopefully, it shed some light as to whether or not the P125 is suitable for you or not.
Ultimately, we're left with an instrument with a great sound engine, some solid features, but is lacking in the action department, and while it has huge bonuses like a built-in USB audio interface, it's lacking things like Bluetooth.
You can't go wrong with the P-125, but its status as the best-selling digital piano in the class isn't due to it being a no doubt about it superior option to other instruments in the class.
Welcome to another piano comparison here with us at Merriam Pianos. In this piece, we'll be comparing two titans of the under $1,000 portable digital piano category as we look at the Yamaha P125 vs Roland FP-30.
Thousands of these instruments wind up in homes all around the world every single year as best sellers in the beginner to intermediate category (especially on Amazon for the P125) thanks to the combination price, unintimidating user-friendly minimalistic design, and musical punch they pack.
They are very different musically, however, which is why we'll be comparing the sound engines, actions, and other important features to see what kind of musical experience each of these 88-key digital pianos has to offer.
We also have in-depth individual Roland FP-30 and Yamaha P125 reviews, as well as reviews of other similar pianos from Casio, Kawai, and Korg.
Let's start with the FP-30bk. The FP-30 has a polyphony count of 128 notes and 22 watts of speaker power courtesy of the dual 11-watt speaker system.
That 128-note polyphony is certainly an improvement over what you get on the Roland FP-10 with 96 notes, but it's a spec that most people shouldn't be too concerned with since it just refers to the maximum amount of notes a sound engine can play at once.
We're drawing attention to it here because the P125 has 192 notes, and that might lead people to believe that the P125 then has a more complex piano tone made up of more sample layers.
That's actually not the case here, and when you look at the waveform that the P125 with their Pure CF Sound Engine (sample of the CFIIIs Concert Grand Piano), versus the FP-30 and its SuperNATURAL Piano Sound engine, there's actually a more nuanced, such as a more believable damper resonance and string resonance, going on with the FP-30's tone.
Speakers
Part of this is probably also due to the speakers, as the Yamaha P125 has a noticeably weaker amplifier with 14 watts of total power (though it's a 4 speaker system with 2 tweeters). The extra speaker power from the FP-30 is just adding extra warmth and presence, especially in the lower register.
Now, all of this being said, there's very seldom a right and wrong when it comes to the type of piano sound you prefer, and these
two engines do sound distinctly different.
Despite the P125 not sounding as warm or complex as the FP-30, some people will absolutely still prefer the brighter sound of the P125, which is quite representative of Yamaha digital pianos in general. Check out the video review above to hear exactly how both pianos sound.
Acoustic Piano Sounds
Moving on from the acoustic piano sounds, both of these instruments are nicely equipped with a good selection of presets Neither one has the full general MIDI 2 sounds, but you're still getting 24 sounds with the P125 and 35 on the FP30.
Electric Piano Sounds
Now, let's dive into some electric piano sounds. In some ways, for a keyboard player, the electric piano sounds can be even more revealing in terms of the level of authenticity than the acoustic piano tones.
In general, both pianos do a great job with their e-piano tones, particularly the P125. Things like organs, strings, and synthesizers are all quite nice here too.
P-125 Additional Sound Features
A couple of other things worth mentioning - the P125 has a couple of other cool sound-related features including a Table EQ, Sound Boost mode, Stereophonic Optimizer, and Intelligent Acoustic Control.
Let's move on to the action.
Roland PHA-4 vs Yamaha Graded Standard Piano Action
FP-30 PHA-4 Standard Keyboard
The FP-30 uses Roland's PHA-4 Standard Keyboard with Escapement and Ivory Feel. This is the same action with weighted keys that Roland puts in the FP-10 and more expensive FP-60, as well as some other models like the F140R and RP501R.
It's essentially Roland's staple mid-range hammer action that they deploy throughout the lineup until you get into the high-end portion of their offerings.
It's a very well-known, proven, and well-liked action out in the marketplace that also happens to be quite durable, and boasts triple sensor detection for a high degree of accuracy. There's a nice micro texture on the black keys and an ivory texture on the white keys, both of which add some extra grip by absorbing moisture.
Escapement Feature
The escapement feature is quite nice as it helps improve repetition speed - this is definitely something gigging musicians will notice and appreciate.
P-125 Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) Key Action
The P-125 is using Yamaha's Graded Hammer Standard key action, or GHS for short. This is an action that's been on the market for quite a while, and it's probably one of the least advanced parts of the P125 with a dated dual sensor, though there is some adjustable touch sensitivity to accommodate different playing styles.
The action feels solid in the sense that there's not a lot of mechanical noise, and part of that is due to the fact that it's a more simple design than the PHA-4. There's no escapement on the GHS, and while there is a matte finish on the black keys, there's nothing on the white keys, meaning your finger can get slippery when moisture develops.
But you feel really sure-footed under, this action, and it can be quite forgiving. And there's not a hands-down winner between the two, as they do feel quite different.
Generally speaking though, the GHS is probably due for a bit of an update, so we wouldn't be surprised to see Yamaha coming out with some type of an update to that action in subsequent P-series models in the near future.
Features & Connectivity
The P125 has a couple of very cool features that we like about it. First of all, it's got built-in quarter-inch stereo outputs which make it very easy for you to be plugging into amps and PAs without eating up a headphone jack - a great feature for the price range.
This is a key connector for gigging musicians that is not present on the FP-30, where you'll have to settle for one of the headphone outputs as your line out.
The P125 and the FP-30 are both available with matching keyboard stands, as well as 3 pedal units. They both also come with pretty basic sustain pedals of the footswitch style, but we would actually highly recommend upgrading them, regardless of which piano you choose. The upgraded damper pedal options from each manufacturer are just so much more substantial.
One of the things that the Yamaha is missing that the P125 has is the Bluetooth connection. The P125 does not have any Bluetooth MIDI, but it does have a USB connection, so you can connect to an iOS device (iPad, iPhone) for music apps like the Yamaha Smart Pianist App that way.
The P125 has a really well-done onboard auto-accompaniment function. There are quite a few rhythms on here to choose from.
Rhythms are accessible via Roland's Piano Partner 2 app, but they are not built-in directly on-board like the P125.
Beyond that, we've got kind of the normal complement of all of your basics, like transpose, metronome, split mode, layer mode (duo), and Twin Piano Mode. Both of them have the ability to do that quite nicely.
Closing Thoughts
Let's do a quick summary here of the comparison between these two pianos. In terms of the speakers, the FP30 wins here by virtue of its extra power, even though it's using a 2 speaker system versus a 4 speaker on the P125 which does result in some extra clarity.
In terms of the tone engines, the FP30 is using the SuperNATURAL engine with 128 polyphony, versus the Pure CF engine with 192 notes of polyphony on the P125.
Then we've got the P125's GHS action with no texture on the white keys and no escapement, versus the PHA-4 where we've got a nice texture, escapement, and a triple sensor. They both come with music rests and power adapters (power supply) and are available with matching stands and triple pedals (KPD-70 and KSC-70). The P125 has a discreet AUX out, whereas the FP30 does not, but the FP30 has Bluetooth, and the P125 does not.
We hope this comparison of the Yamaha P45 vs Roland FP-30, two immensely popular musical instruments has been helpful. Thanks for reading!
Yamaha's P series digital pianos are about as popular as a line of digital pianos can get, especially apparent by Amazon sales statistics. For lots of folks, the combination of price, features, and brand comfort has them settling on a weighted action digital piano P series instrument. The question from there is, which one should go on your wishlist?
In this article and linked video, we'll discuss Yamaha P45 vs Yamaha P125 Digital Pianos Comparison, which is known as the most popular Yamaha P series pianos, to see how the entry-level Yamaha P45 88-key piano stacks up to the mid-range P125.
Both instruments are portable keyboards and feature full-size 88-note weighted key hammer actions and convincing piano sound quality. You might be wondering if you'd be satisfied with the P45 or if it would make sense to spring for the P125. Hopefully, this review and comparison video will help answer that question.
Opening Thoughts
Along with Roland's FP series, Yamaha's P-series are undoubtedly the most popular, portable 88-key keyboards on the planet. The P45 and P125 are both well under $1,000 USD in a lot of markets, with the P45 sitting right around the $500 USD mark.
Yamaha P45
Many people will wonder exactly what separates the P45 from the P125 since it's not a huge stretch of the budget to make the jump to P45. It turns out there are some big upgrades on the P125, to the point that unless you're already maxed out budget-wise on the P45, it's hard to see why anyone would stop at the P45 and not spend a little bit extra.
For some quick context, the P45 competes in a price point that happens to feature Casio's new CDP-S350, which on paper, really outshines the P45 with many more sounds and features, plus superior speakers. You also have the FP-10 in this class, which has by far the best tone and touch out of any instrument available for the price.
With that out of the way, let's see how the tone engines on the P-45 and P-125 stack up.
Yamaha P45 vs Yamaha P125 | Piano Sound
Speakers
One of the biggest differences that you'll notice right away between the two instruments has to do with the speaker configuration and location. The P45 has two downward-facing speakers, and these are each fed by 6-watt stereo amplifiers, for a total of 12 watts of power.
Anytime you have downward-facing speakers, you're always going to have a bit more warmth to the tone because your ear isn't coming in direct contact with some of the higher frequencies. This can sometimes create muddiness, but in the case of the P45, it actually sounds nicely warm.
The P125 conversely has an upward-facing four-speaker system. Although it looks like a two-speaker system, there are actually two different speaker cones inside each one of the speaker enclosures. The speaker system is being fed by dual 7-watt amps, for a total of 14 watts of power.
This isn't a huge difference in power, but the fact that the speakers are facing up instead of down means that you're getting a much more detailed sound. Check out the video for some side-by-side playing examples to hear for yourself.
Sound Engines
The next sound-related difference is that these pianos do not use the same sound engine. The P45 is using Yamaha's Advanced Wave Memory (AWM Stereo) engine, while the P125 is using the more advanced Pure CF sound engine, with the high-end Yamaha CFIIIS concert grand piano being recreated via stereo sampling.
The extra processing power of the Pure CF engine as evidenced by the fact that the P125 has 192 notes of polyphony compared to just 64 notes of polyphony on the P45. 64-note polyphony is definitely on the low side for the price, and while it might still be fine for solo piano playing, it's definitely quite light.
In addition to the tone engine, the difference in the quantity of the instrument sounds between the 125 and the P45 is also pretty substantial. We've got 10 tones to choose from on the P45, vs 24 on the P125.
The various other patches on both pianos sound good, but there's a higher level of authenticity on the P125, especially with the electric pianos and organs, and just the extra variety of sounds as mentioned.
Wrap Up
So, it's pretty clear. The P125 definitely outmuscles the P45 in every regard when it comes to sound, and these aren't just on-paper differences either - the P125 definitely sounds noticeably better.
Yamaha P45 vs Yamaha P125 | Piano Action
Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) Action
Both pianos are actually outfitted with the same action as Yamaha's Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) action. This is a functional action, and while it's not our favorite in the price range, it's by no means a bad action.
Some common complaint about the GHS action is that it uses a dual-sensor and doesn't have any let-off/escapement. The other issue common to many people's playing experience with this action is that the white key can get very sticky when playing for extended periods of time. This isn't the case with the Black Keys fortunately due to a matte finish that feels nice on the fingers.
Touch Sensitivity
On the other hand, there are things about the action that Yamaha has done a really good job of, such as the overall weighting which is really good. The touch curve is well done too, and there are a few adjustable levels of touch sensitivity to accommodate different playing styles.
What we have then is an action that will serve its purpose - a beginner taking piano lessons can definitely develop good technique on this action - it's just not the best action available for the dollar.
Let's move on to the final section where compare piano features and connectivity.
Yamaha P45 vs Yamaha P125 | Piano Features & Connectivity
Bluetooth and USB Audio Output
Starting with connectivity, there are some key things to note. While neither instrument has any Bluetooth connectivity, the P-125 has something very cool that the P45 doesn't and that's a built-in USB Audio Interface. This is super useful if you're looking for an instrument to connect to and use with a DAW since it cuts down on extra gear.
The P45 is pretty light with connectivity, with a standard DC In for power supply, a sustain pedal port, and a USB to Host port.
The P125 has the same DC In for a power adapter, but dual headphone jacks, a sustain pedal port, a triple pedal unit port, USB to Host, and possibly most importantly, AUX line outputs if you want to connect to an amp. Neither piano has traditional 5-pin MIDI connectivity.
Keyboard Stand
Both come available with a matching keyboard stand from Yamaha, but the Yamaha P125 also has the option for a triple pedal unit, which the P45 does not.
In terms of standard feature specs, both pianos have a metronome, transpose, dual-mode, and duo mode. Both pianos come with a music rest and a basic footswitch pedal, but we'd recommend upgrading to a better pedal that more closely resembles a real piano pedal.
A final highlight worth noting with the P125 though is the built-in auto-accompaniment, wherein you're given 20 rhythms and accompaniment styles to work with.
Closing Thoughts
In conclusion, we've got two pianos here for the same series that aren't hugely separated by price, but actually quite different in their offerings.
Now, if your budget is already stretched at the price point of the P45, it's certainly a fine option, and one of the best digital pianos available at the said price point. And since it has a USB, you could use it as a MIDI controller.
If you can make the jump to the P125 without breaking the bank, it's definitely worth it. The grand piano sound is just closer to an acoustic piano courtesy of the upgraded sound engine and additional speakers, as are other sounds like a harpsichord.
You're also getting more features, connectivity, and the USB audio interface. Both might be tough to find in stock these days, so just prepare for a possible waiting period after you've made a decision.
