Yamaha YDP-144 Review | Compact Home Digital Piano

 

 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 competes head-to-head with instruments such as the Kawai KDP75 and KDP120, the Roland RP102 and the Casio PX-870.

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.

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Kawai KDP70 Review & Demo - Affordable, High-Quality Instrument

Introduction

When it comes to affordable home-based digital pianos, few companies can compete with Kawai. Today, we're going to be looking at the Kawai KDP70 digital piano.

We have already done a comparison between the KDP70 and the upgraded KDP110, but this is a very deserving and interesting high-value digital piano that we wanted to take a longer peek at.

We'll be discussing the piano sound, touch, and important features of this KDP series model. We hope you enjoy this article and would encourage you to check out the companion video review, so you can hear this thing in action.

Opening Thoughts

As mentioned above, the KDP70 is the little sibling of the KDP110. With that, there are some similarities between the spec-sheets of these two, and of course, some differences that attempt to justify the price premium the KDP110 commands.

The biggest similarities between the two pianos are definitely their control interfaces, as they're exactly the same. The sound engines are fairly similar as well, so let's start there.

  

Piano Sound

The Kawai KDP70 has 192 notes of polyphony, which is actually the same amount that the KDP110 has. This means you'll have plenty of bandwidth to be able to play this instrument with a single layer of sound or even with two layers of sound without any fear that the tone generator will start dropping notes.

If you'd like to learn more about Polyphony, we have a video all about it on our YouTube channel.

When it comes to the wattage and the speaker system on the KDP70, we have one of the largest amplifiers of any instrument in the class with a 16-watt stereo amplifier in the KDP70. This is a surprising amount of power when you're playing it at about three-quarters volume, which is a good place to set your volume when playing a digital piano.

There's a surprising amount of attack and really strong treble here courtesy of the speakers and tone engine, which in this case, is Kawai's Harmonic Imaging sound engine with a full 88-key sampling of the expressive Kawai EX concert grand piano. 

One of the things that digital piano technology has been challenged to try and reproduce over the years is actually the imperfections that you get on an acoustic piano rather than the perfections.

Since the Harmonic Imaging engine is simply a stereo recording of each of the 88 notes of a real piano, you can hear the very subtle differences between those notes. Those imperfections, when you combine them together, really do make a difference in creating the illusion of an additional layer of realism.

Most of the other options available in the price range that the KDP70 occupies will be the instruments with a mono sample rather than a stereo sample of each note, or where only one in four notes is recorded, and the sample is stretched to fill in the non-recorded notes.

There are 15 sounds in total here, including 3 acoustic pianos in addition to the main concert grand piano sound, 2 electric pianos, 2 organs, and then things like strings, vibraphone, harpsichord, and synthesizer.

In addition to the sounds, you also have the ability to make some adjustments to the reverb. There's even damper resonance, which is pretty crazy for the price range.

Once everything gets factored in, the KDP70 makes a strong argument for offering the best all-around piano sound in its price class. Let's move on to the action.

Piano Action

Another piano the KDP70 has a lot in common with is the Kawai ES110. One would think that the KDP110 and the ES110 would have more parallels because of how they've named them. In fact, the KDP70 actually has more in common with the ES110 than the KDP110 does.

One of those commonalities is the action. The action is Kawai's authentic Responsive Hammer Compact keyboard action (RHC), which is a first-generation version of this action, and uses a dual sensor.

The upgraded second-generation version of this action, which is featured in the KDP110, has a triple sensor, meaning the KDP70's action will be less accurate from a dynamic output perspective. 

For most people who are shopping at this price point, a dual-sensor versus triple sensor is realistically not going to make a huge impact on the playing experience. But for getting into some serious classical rep, or looking to do some MIDI triggering, this might be a big deal.

In any case, let's take a closer look at this version of the RHC - what are we getting? What we do get is a very nice key surface on both the white and the black keys for a good sense of grip.

It does not have any escapement/let-off. If you're thinking about buying a practice instrument with a good carry-over to an acoustic grand piano, you may want to spend the extra money on the action with escapement to better approximate the feel of an acoustic piano, as the transition between instruments will be easier.

Another positive thing about this action, and this is true of Kawai's actions in general, is that the key bed is very well-cushioned. As a result, this is one of the quieter actions out there, which can actually be a big deal to some people.

The repetition speed is quite decent, though the black keys move laterally a little more than is ideal when you start pushing the action. This isn't the case with Kawai's more expensive actions.

For the audience that this piano is intended for, this is one of the best actions available out there. We would still put Roland's PHA4 action ahead, and of course the newer RHCII, but overall, for the price, this is a very solid action. Onto features and connectivity.

  

Piano Features & Connectivity

The Kawai KDP70 comes with an integrated stand, a triple pedal system with half-pedal support, and a matching bench, and is available in an Embossed Black finish that really compliments the cabinet design.

It's not designed to look like a black wood finish, but almost a black egg shell-like finish - super slick.

In terms of connectivity, the KDP70 is definitely missing some functionality. It does have traditional 5-pin MIDI out ports and dual headphone jacks, but there are unfortunately no USB ports, output jacks, or Bluetooth.

You can still connect to devices for apps and computers via the 5-pin MIDI, but you will need to invest in an adapter.

The Kawai KDP70 has some popular lesson songbooks built-in, such as Alfred, Burgmuller, and Czerny, along with a lesson function.

There are of course also staple features like a metronome, dual-mode, four-hands mode, and Concert Magic, which can actually help beginners develop their sense of rhythm.

Closing Thoughts

For the price, the KDP70 offers beginners, students, and even more advanced players looking for a solid practice instrument an affordable entry point to the world of Kawai pianos.

The sound engine is probably the biggest highlight along with the 16-watt speakers, but the action is solid, as is the cabinet. It's also a nice bonus that Kawai ships it with a stand and free matching bench.

Yamaha does this too with their comparable models, but Casio interestingly does not.

If you're in the Toronto area, pop into one of our showrooms to try the KDP70 out for yourself, and definitely check out our video review of the KDP70! Shop More Digital Pianos Here

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Roland DP603 Digital Piano Review & Demo - Bluetooth, PHA-50, SuperNATURAL Piano

Introduction

The Roland DP603 digital piano is an unassuming powerhouse, built for the discerning player in need of a compact instrument with a contemporary design. This instrument is in a category unto itself within the Roland line.  It uses one of their top actions, the top sound processor, and the top speaker quality available from ANY product within the Roland lineup. And yet, available for a surprisingly affordable rate, with a stylish cabinet design that keeps embellishments to a minimum.

Product Overview

Roland has been one of the lead innovators in electronic and digital pianos from the 1980’s onward. Many of the approaches to manufacturing and synthesis technology that Roland developed in their early years have become industry-wide practices. They were one of the first companies to bring MIDI recording to people’s homes, and also one of the first to develop a truly life-like piano tone. Roland’s embrace of the entire range of instruments led to the development of the V-Series of instruments, encompassing everything from Accordions to Drums, to Pianos.
Undoubtedly one of Roland’s best value offerings is the sleek, contemporary, and powerhouse DP603 digital piano. The DP series have been around since 2003, and have been highly regarded since their release. It makes use of their latest SuperNATURAL piano modeling engine for detailed grand piano sounds as well as their Progressive Hammer Action Keyboard (PHA-50) for authentic grand piano touch. There's a ton of onboard tech including hundreds of sounds as well as pre-loaded classical scores for playback as well as play-along, and Bluetooth MIDI wireless technology for popular integrations of popular DAW software and apps. Basically, the DP603 boasts the exact same core features as the more expensive HP models, and many of the same features as Roland's flagship LX series, but with a much more minimalist look.
For any modern piano player in need of the conveniences of a new digital piano housed in modern cabinet design for modern living spaces, the DP603 is a perfect match from any angle.
This stylish piano is also available in three stunning finishes sure to complement any modern home – Contemporary Black (matte, dp603-cb), Classic Polished Ebony (dp603-ep), and Polished White (dp603-pw). The Polishes are of extremely high quality – entirely in line with acoustic piano finishes and sure to stand up very well over time.

Action

The Roland DP603, like the FP-90 and RD2000 Roland pianos amongst others, uses Roland’s new PHA-50 keyboard action with a blend of wood components, escapement and a slightly slower, heavier stroke and return to simulate a grand action more closely than the PHA-4. There is significant debate in the industry over which action is more ‘satisfying’… a wholly subjective discussion with no agreement – so our advice is to ensure you’ve tried both so that you find out which action’s mechanical nuances are better suited for your fingers and preferences.
One thing that seems certain is that the accuracy of the MIDI output is excellent and well-suited for studio work should that be relevant. The feel of wood also adds an extra level of authenticity.

Sound Engine

The DP603’s crowning feature, certainly in terms of tonal generation, is its SuperNATURAL piano modeling engine and limitless polyphony when in “Piano Mode”, or essentially it’s top-level piano patch options. This is top-notch technology that few digital pianos offer and provides players with highly realistic sound, and an insane level of detail and editing options that may be intimidating to some, while highly engaging to others. Roland has done a nice job of giving two distinct levels of control, one very basic and obvious with physical controls on the front of the instrument, while the next level of control requires deep menu editing and/or tablet connectivity.
Beyond the piano sounds, the classic sounds such as EP's and synths are also very high quality and deliver over 300 polyphony and in complex detail – all great for either personal playing or professional use as well.  The DP603 also features the Headphones 3D Ambience technology, which enhances the experience when playing with headphones.
The DP603 speaker system features a robust 60 watts of power. Where Roland’s like the F140r or RP501 have traditional downward-facing speakers, the DP603 uses a speaker box that is mounted on the lower stand, where the speakers face directly forward towards the player, rather than down and away.  We’ve found that this helps to create a sense of fullness around the instrument and improves the efficiency of the speakers.
The DP603 uses Bluetooth Midi connectivity, and through it, the Piano Designer app can be used to manipulate, customize, and save all of your personal piano settings. Tons of fun!

Connectivity

Roland really made sure to outfit the DP603 with a ton of connectivity options. First of all, both Bluetooth MIDI and Bluetooth Audio are present here so your convenient wireless connectivity options are covered. It's super easy to connect to a smartphone and access Roland's Piano Partner 2 app, among others. The Bluetooth Audio means you can stream your favorite songs right from your iPad or Android device.
A ton of other bases are covered here too; DC In jack, Input jacks: Stereo miniature phone type, Output (L/Mono, R) jacks: 1/4-inch phone type, USB Computer port: USB B type, USB Memory port: USB A type,
Phones jack x 2: Stereo miniature phone type and Stereo 1/4-inch phone type.

Notable Features

• SuperNATURAL Piano Modeling
• Limitless Polyphony solo playing using ‘Piano’ category tones, 384 note polyphony when playing using other tones
• 307 Tones
• PHA-50 Keyboard: Wood and Plastic Hybrid Structure, with Escapement and Ebony/Ivory Feel (88 keys)
• 60 Watt Speaker System
• 353 Internal Songs
• Bluetooth MIDI and Bluetooth Audio
• Metronome (adjustable Tempo/Beat/Down beat/Pattern/Volume/Tone)
• Twin piano mode, Transpose
• Graphic LCD Display
• Integrated 3 pedal system with soft, sostenuto and damper
• Safety-Conscious Soft-Fall Motion Lid

Conclusions

If you’re a student, hobbyist player, or educator looking for a robust stand-alone instrument without the associated maintenance of an acoustic piano, the Roland DP-603 is going to deliver more bang-for-your-buck than nearly any other instrument on the market. It boasts acclaimed durability,  its easy to operate, flexible with Bluetooth MIDI, has a minimalist design, and offers a wide array of high-quality studio-grade sounds.  A true heavyweight of the digital piano market.

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