Best Values in Yamaha Digital Pianos (Portable) - A Comparative Review

We baseline the pianos for comparison on these basic criteria:

• Have 88-keys,
• At-least “Graded Hammer Standard” Key Action Technology, and
• At-least 32-note polyphony.

These criteria would ensure the piano be suitable for a beginner taking piano lessons. In general, the chances of outgrowing the piano diminishes as you opt for more features, but then costs also rise proportionally. For a beginner, it is a tough call as there is always a risk– a large percentage of beginner piano learners (especially kids) drop out within the first few years.

Below is a look at the different Yamaha Portable Piano Models:

Model	Thumbnail	Features	List Price	Best Price	Comments
Yamaha P85		3-year warranty, 10 voices, demo songs and 50 preset songs. Polyphony-64, 1-track recording, 2 standard head phones.	$799.99	$449.99	Best Value!.
Yamaha P95B/95S		All features of Yamaha P85. Keyboard - GHS matte black keys, multiple voice samplings, Sustain pedal included.	$899.99	$549.99	New Model.
Yamaha YPG-625 and DGX-620		Please see detailed spreadsheet below.	$1099	$650	Good Value.
Yamaha YPG-635 and DGX-630		Features of YPG-625 (DGX-620) Plus 64-note polyphony, more voices, more accompaniment styles, more song DB + external files, more digital effects – DSP.	$1220	$699.99	Feature-rich upgrade compared to YPG-625 for a slight premium. Excellent Value!
Yamaha DGX-640		Features of DGX-630 Plus Keyboard - matte black finish, More Voices, Live! voices, More Effect, More Auto Accompaniment Styles, 30 preset songs, SMF converter, Score and Lyric Display, Arranger, tempo, transpose, tuning, pitch controls, metronome, flash memory and external storage, performance assist, Repeat & Learn, Yamaha Education support.	$1299	$799.99	New Model.
Yamaha P140		Please see detailed spreadsheet below.	$1499.99	$999.95	Excellent Full-Featured Choice. Look for Closeout deals.
Yamaha P155		All features of Yamaha P140. Polyphony-128, 4-level AWM dynamic stereo sampling, Two Track Recording, USB to device, Better Speakers (12W x 2).	$799.99	$1199.95	New Model.
Yamaha CP33		Features of Yamaha CP300 Minus 16-track sequencer, Speakers, and String Resonance. Polyphony-64, Voices – 14.	$1699	$999.99	Better overall value than the Yamaha CP300 at $1000 less.
Yamaha CP50		Features of Yamaha CP33 PLUS polyphony - 128, 24-character 2 line VFB display, Performances - Preset/User/External (10x4x3), 227 voices, 49 types, reverb 8 types, 3-band Master Compressor and Equalizer, 14 rhythm kits and 100 patterns, More Controlllers, Assignable Foot Switch, MIDI In/Out/Thru, USB to Host and Device.	$2199	$1699.99	New Model.
Yamaha CP300		Please see detailed spreadsheet below.	$2699	$1999.99	Full featured stage piano, but expensive.
Yamaha CP5		Features of the Yamaha CP300 with the following exceptions:Keyboard - Wooden Synthetic Ivory Weighted, Performances - Preset/User/External (10x4x3), 6 parts, 322 voices, Power Amplifier/Compressor Block, 3-band Master Compressor and 5-band Equalizer, 14 rhythm kits & 100 patterns, USB to Device.	$3299	$2599.99	New Model.
Yamaha CP1		Features of the Yamaha CP5 with the following exceptions: Performances - Preset/User/External (16x3 groups), 5-band equalizer, Display - 55 character 2 line VFD, 1-6 controller knobs, Modulation Effect Blocks - 10 types.	$5999	$4999.99	New Model.

• Yamaha YPG-535 (Yamaha DGX 520) and below models did not make this list because their Key Action Technology is Graded Soft Touch (GST) or below which is inferior to Graded Hammer Standard (GHS). The Yamaha NP-30 also did not make this list because it has only 76 keys.
  
• The models Yamaha P70S, Yamaha P85S, and Yamaha P-140S are the same as P70, P85, and P-140 - the 'S' stands for the silver color.

For a best value comparison, we chose four models based on the best features and price. Below is our comparison spreadsheet:

	Yamaha P85	Yamaha DGX-620 or Yamaha YPG-625*	Yamaha P-140	Yamaha CP300**
Thumbnail
List Price	$899	$1099	$1499	$2699
Best Price***	$449.99	$650	$999	$1999
Key Action Technology	Graded Hammer Standard (GHS)	Graded Hammer Standard (GHS)	Graded Hammer Effect (GHE)	Graded Hammer Effect (GHE)
Voice Architecture Technology	Stereo Sampling	NA	Stereo, Key-off, and Stereo Sustain Samples.	Stereo, Key-off, and String Resonance
Polyphony	64	32	64	128
Recording	Single Track Recording.	6 tracks, 5 songs	2 tracks, 3 songs, 11,000 notes with flash ROM storage	16-track recording and playback. 140,000 notes.
USB Audio Recorder	None	Yes	None	Yes
Computer Connectivity	MIDI-IN/OUT	MIDI-IN/OUT, USB to device	MIDI-IN/OUT, AUX Out	MIDI (IN/OUT/THRU), INPUT (L/MONO, R), OUTPUT (L/MONO, R), XLR Output (L/MONO, R), Output (L/R), USB to host, A/C inlet.
Song Storage	50 preset songs.	30 Preset Songs + 5 User Songs + 70 on CD-ROM	50 preset songs.	None.
Performance Assistant	None	Yes	None
Keys	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard
MIDI Compatibility	GM/XG	GM/XLite	GM/XG	GM/XG
Display Type	None	LCD Notation/Lyrics/Chords	7-segment 3-digit LED	24 characters X 2 lines, LCD.
Music Finder	NA	Yes – 267-song database.	NA	NA
Voices	10, Demo Songs.	500	14 with 3 tonal variations, Demo songs.	Presets: 50 voices, XG Voices: 480 + 12 drum kits.
Tuning	NA	NA	NA	NA
Transpose	NA	NA	NA	NA
Metronome	No	Yes	Yes	NA
Speakers	6W+6W	6W+6W	6W+6W	30W+30W
Miscellaneous		Yamaha Education Suite,
Accessories	FC5 Foot Pedal – Included, Keyboard Stand, Bench, Two standard headphone jacks.	Match Stand – Included.	FC3 Foot Pedal – Included, Keyboard Stand, Bench.	Sustain Pedal, Volume Controller, Stand, powered speakers – all optional.
Weight	28 lbs. 11 oz. (13 kg)	56 lb. 3 oz. (25.5 kg) with stand	39.2 lbs (17.8 kg)	71 lbs (32.5 kg)
Warranty	3-year	90-day labor, 1-year parts.	3-years	3-years

• *The only difference between these two model numbers is the color.
• **Yamaha CP300 Replaces Yamaha P-250, Yamaha CP33 replaces Yamaha P90. Yamaha P200, Yamaha P120 and Yamaha P60 are discontinued models.
• ***Best Price includes shipping & handling, if any.

Our Recommendation:

Best Overall Value: Yamaha P85.





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Last Updated: 10/2011.