Are you giving serious thought to buying an expert digital piano under $1500? Then you are at the right place. Before making a decision to buy a digital piano make sure it is portable, has fully weighted 88-keys, a high-quality sound sampling system, and has higher polyphony. There are also a number of factors that are to be considered before investing in a digital piano and you can get to know all of them in detail here. We have carefully chosen the top 6 best digital pianos under $1500 here from the best brands to help you make an informed decision before the big purchase.
Quick Summary: Best Digital Pianos Under $1500
Meaning Of “Realistic Sound Experience”
The performance aspects of a recording can indicate its “realness”; if there are mistakes and hiccups, the recording wasn’t edited or altered in any way. Poor audio quality and unbalanced mixing may indicate “realness.” Keep in mind that the perception or illusion of an un-staged performance is what matters here, not the fact that one occurred. “Realistic” recordings deviate from actuality in other significant ways with or without such overt tampering. The performances, for instance, might have been chosen from a variety of takes. A live recording that hasn’t been edited is still a recording. High threshold and low ratio characterize it. removing a few harmonics without the sound being changed audibly. To clearly and inconspicuously enhance the sound, use gentle cuts and boosts. Compensating “audio Vaseline” for an overly dry recording environment. adding elements that may have been delivered live but weren’t due to technical difficulties or after the fact by the producers.
Console Pianos
A console piano is a sizable upright piano; however, unlike a grand piano, it does not have a horizontally positioned hammer on string action. The majority of console pianos are between 40- and 44-inches height, which keeps them small and space-saving yet gives them a greater sound and quality than spinets and other smaller upright pianos. Due to the vertical strings used in their construction, upright pianos are far more compact, thin, and portable than grand pianos. But more than simply the appearance has changed. Due to its size and design, upright pianos have a slightly distinct sound, yet they can still produce a very rich sound.
As an illustration, the spinet piano, the smallest among upright pianos, is often no taller than 40 inches from the floor towards the lid. The spinet’s motion, which is controlled by vertical wires connecting to the back, is situated beneath the keys.
Spinet pianos are ideal for tiny locations and can cost less because of their diminutive size. The spinet is intended for use in learning to play the piano and reacquainting oneself with the arrangement of the keys and strings. The console piano, which is the next level up from of the spinet piano that typically stands between 40 and 44 inches tall, is comparable. The spinet’s action sits on top of the keys, while the spinet’s strings and smaller hammers extend downward. The console is ideal for home pianists and individuals who perform the piano as a pastime rather than professionally because of its outstanding sound and simple simplicity. The studio piano, that is the next level up and is between 44 and 47 inches tall, resembles a console piano very closely but has a different feel. The upright piano, which resembles a typical piano, is the last option. The highest vertical piano, it has a terrific, resonant tone, is easy to play, and has amazing motion.
A console piano is an upright piano that is bigger. Like other smaller upright pianos, it is still small and saves room, but the sound quality is unaffected. The console piano has a fantastic quality of sound that is considerably greater than a spinet, but it isn’t as sonorous or rich as a grand piano, making it ideal for advanced piano players and home pianists. If you’re concerned whether a console piano is right for you, you should know that the majority of home pianists find it to be an entirely suitable instrument. The console piano has a regular action that rests on top of the keys and hammers that stand in an upright position as opposed to being dropped, unlike small vertical pianos like spinets.
Although it is not a classic upright piano, a console piano is an upright, vertical piano. The piano’s size is the fundamental distinction between the two; whilst the console is roughly 40–44 inches tall, an upright piano can be enormous, standing between 44 and 47 inches tall or even higher. Additionally, a console offers a more direct action than small vertical pianos but a sound that is not as remarkable as bigger upright pianos and grand pianos. In contrast, an upright piano will produce a richer tone, resonant, and powerful sound. A console piano is a smaller-sized vertical piano with a good, bright sound and tone appropriate for home pianists, but an upright piano will be the finest option for a very versatile and impressive house piano, suitable for beginner pianists and experienced, professional pianists.
Beginner Keyboards vs. Advanced Keyboards
When starting their musical study, pupils should use a good starter keyboard. The best keyboard models teach learners skills they can transfer to grand pianos and are portable. Action refers to how quickly a keyboard or piano responds to key pressure. The stiffness and resistance of the keystrokes differ amongst keyboard models. Weighted keys respond like a traditional piano while unweighted keys are simpler to press down, making a keyboard with weighted keys an useful keyboard for beginners. The top keyboard manufacturers provide computer connectivity. Even though playing is not required, students who intend to use music composition software to make their own music should consider having access to a computer.
One of the most crucial factors to take into account when selecting a decent beginner keyboard is keyboard sound. The top keyboard manufacturers provide tones that are comparable to those of a real piano. The finest keyboard for adults learning piano may be one with full-size, weighted piano keys. But the sound possibilities on these keyboards are typically limited. A decent starting keyboard includes smaller, unweighted keys but much more sound functions for pupils interested in electronic music.
The typical number of keys used for a digital piano when it pertains to advanced keyboards is 88, and the majority of producers stick with the well-known layout. Key performance and design, however, can differ greatly. Always look for businesses who guarantee to offer weighted keys. You’ll be one step closer to enjoying the sensation of playing an acoustic piano as a result of that. When you play, you want to feel like you are playing a real instrument; you don’t want the experience to be fake. The keyboard must therefore have a variety of sensitivity settings. The design of the piano is the next thing you need to know about for sophisticated pianos. You must enjoy the piano’s appearance as the owner. However, performance can be impacted by design. If you intend to carry your piano around regularly, the weight is a crucial consideration.
On the other hand, more weight might result in more stability. You will often be given a specific stand and sometimes even an appropriate bench. The instrument is less portable as a result, but it is more durable.
Size, in addition to weight, also has an impact on portability. It seems to make sense that moving a larger piano would be more difficult. The design of the piano is the next thing you need to know about for sophisticated pianos. You must enjoy the piano’s appearance as the owner. However, performance can be impacted by design. If you intend to carry your piano around regularly, the weight is a crucial consideration.
On the other hand, more weight might result in more stability. You will often be given a specific stand and sometimes even an appropriate bench. The instrument is less portable as a result, but it is more durable. Size, in addition to weight, also has an impact on portability. It seems to make sense that moving a larger piano would be more difficult. The ability to play different instrument voices on a digital piano is advantageous. Although proficient pianists tend to concentrate on pianos, having access to additional instrument sounds can’t harm.
Use Of A Sensor On Keyboards
The mechanical sensation is delivered to the finger by a digital’s motions. To convert that mechanical movement into information that can be used as instructions for producing sound, the digital piano needs to use it in some way. Most clients are unaware of this, which makes it a frequently HIGHLY neglected aspect of digital piano design. Typically, the only thing that can be discussed about this aspect of design is whether or not they are present at all—a feature that is typically referred to as “touch sensitive.” But as a buyer ascertains whether a piano is actually “touch sensitive,” they rapidly understand that not all pianos were created equal.
Manufacturers often use four configurations in order to provide the greatest number of precise data points based on the velocity (pressure) of the key when played.
- Most inexpensive digital keyboards and pianos use a single, extremely inaccurate sensor for each key, and they transmit over the 128-point MIDI language. The majority of these sensors can reliably produce 3-5 levels of velocity, barely making them touch sensitive. It becomes clear how restrictive this can be once the first one to two years of piano instruction are over when one discovers that an acoustic piano has theoretically an endless number of dynamic levels. The more well known young pianists can properly play at a variety of volume levels and correctly detect even more with their ear once the muscles have developed to the point where fine motor coordination is refined.
- A more complicated tone generating algorithm is possible thanks to many sensors per key, which also increases the level of touch sensitive accuracy. With a single pressure-based sensor, you might get several digital outputs for the same physical input, but the accuracy can be improved by averaging two or three sensors.
- The more recent optical sensors on the market detect a key’s velocity rather than its impact pressure using infrared technology. These are typically found in some of the higher-end units and are usually more accurate.
- Multiple optical sensors may be used to capture the velocities of various action components in order to provide the high level of precision that the best digital actions can give.
Check out: List of Best Digital Pianos in the Market
Table of Contents
- Quick Summary: Best Digital Pianos Under $1500
- Meaning Of “Realistic Sound Experience”
- Console Pianos
- Beginner Keyboards vs. Advanced Keyboards
- Use Of A Sensor On Keyboards
- Top 6 Best Digital Pianos Under $1500
- #1. Yamaha YDP-144 Arius Series Piano – Best Overall
- #2. Yamaha P515 Action Digital Piano – Runner Up
- #3. Casio PX-870 BK Privia Digital Piano – Best Home Piano Under $1500
- #4. Yamaha YDPS54B Arius Series Digital Piano – Great Choice Under $1500
- #5. Casio PX-S3000 Digital Piano – Good Alternative Under $1500
- #6. Roland F-140R Digital Piano – Great Sound Quality
- How Should You Choose Your Digital Piano?
- Final Words
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Top 6 Best Digital Pianos Under $1500
The following are the best digital pianos that are available at a cost under $1500 from some of the best piano brands, to render a realistic sound experience for the piano players.
#1. Yamaha YDP-144 Arius Series Piano – Best Overall
| Features | Rating |
| Performance and sounds | 9.4 |
| Connectivity | 9.3 |
| Build Quality | 9.1 |
| Value for money | 9.5 |
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This is an excellent piano from the Arius series of Yamaha with bench. This is an excellent digital piano with a tremendous sound engine and built quality. There is a light matte finish over the keys to avoiding slipping and there are pedals built into the body. You can enjoy a realistic playing experience as its damper pedal supports half-pedaling. There are a limited number of controls, and thus it is mandatory that the pianist has to be proficient with a number of key combinations to access definite functions.
The YDP 144 features a full weighted 88-keys keyboard with a glide cover. The keys function with a graded hammer action. The keys are made of high-grade plastic and the black keys have a matte finish on them to avoid the fingers getting slipped off while playing. The piano also has a Mellow Grand sound that is perfect for classic tunes. Thus there are ten different sounds that this piano possesses.
The YDP 144 features a 192 note polyphony, which is good enough to play a good number of songs with all types of notes. USB to host port can be used to connect the piano with other devices. The Yamaha YDP 144 comes to play in two different modes, the layer mode, and the duo mode. The YDP 144 carries a number of functions that can also be directly monitored and controlled through the smart pianist app.
What’s Best in Yamaha YDP-144 Piano?
- Amazing looks with a sturdy body and a classic pedal system.
- The piano has excellent sounds that mimic CFX concert grand.
- Its USB audio interface connects with smart devices.
What’s Lacking in Yamaha YDP-144 Piano?
- This piano is quite heavy and thus shifting it between rooms becomes tough.
- There is no screen for any special indication, and it just has a volume knob with few controls.
Check out: Best Digital Pianos Under $2000
#2. Yamaha P515 Action Digital Piano – Runner Up
| Features | Rating |
| Performance and sounds | 9.3 |
| Connectivity | 8.9 |
| Build Quality | 9.2 |
| Value for money | 9.4 |
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The Yamaha P515 88-key weighted action digital piano brings the best from the prominent concert grand pianos of the world, namely the Yamaha CFX and the Bosendorfer Imperial Piano.
It also belongs to the portable range of pianos from Yamaha and is one of the best pianos to replicate the acoustic sound and feel. And its 16 track MIDI recorder renders the freedom for the pianist to create the best melodies right on the piano. Its sleek and contemporary design makes it easily portable though it is not very light to carry by hand.
There is an LCD screen display to partner with your music gesture and the console has about 23 keys for selecting various functions. The pedal unit has an anti-slip bottom to stay in its place for good leg reach. Its keys feature a synthetic ebony and ivory matte finish and glide pretty smooth as that of an acoustic piano and are also pretty responsive throughout their length.
This piano has over 500 high-quality sounds that have been recorded from the Yamaha CFX, Bosendorfer Imperial, and other hybrid pianos. The piano encompasses nine acoustic piano sounds, all different from each other, 7 electric pianos, and other organs like the guitar, drum, saxophone, flute, and jazz. There are also beautiful sounds of the strings, choir, and vibraphone.
What’s Best in Yamaha P515 Digital Piano?
- The piano features a 256 note polyphony that is capable of mimicking many different instruments.
- There are two speakers located on either side of the piano, each with 15-watt amp drivers.
- The piano comes with 21 preset songs in different instrument notes.
What’s Lacking in Yamaha P515 Digital Piano?
- It takes a lot of effort to press these keys.
Also check: Best Digital Pianos for Classical Pianists
#3. Casio PX-870 BK Privia Digital Piano – Best Home Piano Under $1500
| Features | Rating |
| Performance and sounds | 9.1 |
| Connectivity | 8.9 |
| Build Quality | 9 |
| Value for money | 9.2 |
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The Casio PX-870 belongs to the most successful Privia series of the Casio brand. This model of the piano has been improvised tremendously and features a modern cabinet design and a three-pedal system. It is a furniture-style piano that weighs about 75 pounds with three-pedal systems. But it stays compact and takes very little space in your living room. The keys are protected from dust with the help of the pull-out keyboard cover. The piano is available in both white and black finishes.
The Casio Px-870 features the tri-sensor hammer action keyboard in a scaled fashion. The 88 full-sized keys make use of actual hammers so as to recreate the feel of the acoustic piano.
It makes use of the string resonance system that helps in simulating resonance for each of its 88 keys. The PX 870 has a 256 note polyphony, which is great for a piano of this price range.
The concert play feature of this piano helps to play along with a live orchestra with actual recordings. It sounds extremely realistic and beautiful and actually does magic with its present ten tunes.
The PX-870 is known for its unique and exceptional connectivity features compared with the other digital pianos of this price point. The Chordana app is also compatible with the PX-870 and you can make use of this app to control the different settings of the piano with the help of a virtual on-screen interface.
What’s Best in Casio PX-870 BK Digital Piano?
- The transpose function allows the pianist to alter the pitch of the tune tremendously.
- There are many built-in sounds to enhance the quality of the music produced.
- The piano features built-in audio and a MIDI recorder.
What’s Lacking in Casio PX-870 BK Digital Piano?
- This piano is not portable.
- The keys can be a little noisier.
Check out: Best Digital Pianos for Advanced Pianist
#4. Yamaha YDPS54B Arius Series Digital Piano – Great Choice Under $1500
| Features | Rating |
| Performance and sounds | 9.1 |
| Connectivity | 8.9 |
| Build Quality | 8.9 |
| Value for money | 9.2 |
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This slim 88-key weighted digital piano features a stand and a three-pedal unit for some excellent piano action. The piano features a weighted key action and is thus heavier at the lower keys and lighter at the higher keys, just like an acoustic piano. The keys of this piano feature a special matte finish at the top, that is designed to absorb moisture and remain tactile after prolonged use. The matte finish of its keys prevents it from becoming slippery, even while playing in hot and humid weather conditions.
The CFX stereo sampling of this keyboard reproduces the sound of Yamaha’s flagship model, the CFX concert grand piano. Its half-damper pedal controls help in altering the tunes and the music according to the skill level of the pianist.
Its smart pianist app not only renders complete control over the major functions of the piano but also helps to analyze one’s favorite songs, right out of the music library with the help of the chord tracker technology.
The Yamaha YDPS54B has been crafted for some of the prestigious concert halls of the world and is capable of recreating some of the finest music from the tiny music box. These pianos feature a sleek design, intuitive features, and advanced technology. Its graceful curves and stylish design transform it to be an authentic piano that is capable of recreating some of the finest music of all times.
What’s Best in Yamaha YDPS54B Digital Piano?
- Its innovative virtual resonance modeling is capable of recreating the finest music.
- The piano works great with all the smart devices.
- It has the best keys with a matte finish.
- Compatible with headphones to make piano playing a fun-filled experience.
What’s Lacking in Yamaha YDPS54B Digital Piano?
- It takes time to assemble this piano.
#5. Casio PX-S3000 Digital Piano – Good Alternative Under $1500
| Features | Rating |
| Performance and sounds | 9.1 |
| Connectivity | 9.1 |
| Build Quality | 8.8 |
| Value for money | 9.3 |
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The Casio PX-S3000 is an extremely lightweight and portable piano that weighs just 11.4 kg. The piano features a smart scaled hammer action keyboard with 88 full-size keys and five types of touch sensitivity. It is an extremely lightweight and portable piano that weighs slightly over 11 kg. The PX-S series enjoy excellent sound quality secondary to enhanced acoustic simulation, thanks to its adaptation from the Celviano series, the best acoustic-digital hybrid for sound sampling. The S3000 features a glossy plastic finish. The control panel looks plain and simple as there are buttons only for power and volume.
The PX-S series is completely new and has updated all of the older sounds that were available with the Privia series. Its AiR sound engine has also undergone an upgradation with new sample sets. The piano is capable of creating 700 different sounds which are an excellent and tremendous upgradation over the mere 18 sounds created by the PX-S1000. The sounds of this piano are sampled from a 9-foot concert grand piano and the main attractive feature of these sounds is their versatility.
The piano has the best speaker system that sounds great with a wide stereo field. The piano has two speakers that are powered by an 8W amplifier each. The PX-S3000 comes preloaded with six demo songs, for practice and you can also record your own songs with the help of a MIDI recorder. There are two mini-stereo headphone jacks to connect with headphones. The USB flash drive port connects with flash drives to save the songs.
What’s Best in Casio PX-S3000 Digital Piano?
- This piano features a three-pedal unit jack.
- The pianist can make use of the audio recorder feature to record her own playing.
- There are two mini-stereo headphone jacks to connect with headphones
- The USB flash drive port connects with flash drives to save the songs.
What’s Lacking in Casio PX-S3000 Digital Piano?
- The keys have a decreased pivot length to fit the small chassis of the piano
- Its glossy finish is not fingerprint-proofed.
Must Check: Best Digital Pianos for Intermediate players
#6. Roland F-140R Digital Piano – Great Sound Quality
| Features | Rating |
| Performance and sounds | 9.5 |
| Connectivity | 8.8 |
| Build Quality | 8.8 |
| Value for money | 9.3 |
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This is an excellent compact digital piano with Bluetooth, MIDI, and USB features. The piano features a weighted hammer action keyboard with an ivory feel. It has an elegant key cover and features a contemporary black finish. It is indeed a stylish and affordable instrument that is ideal for small living spaces. Its supernatural piano tone helps in delivering a rich and authentic piano tune of a real acoustic piano. We can connect this piano with a tablet or smartphone for wireless remote controlling, for learning games, etc. Its digital sheet music is compatible with Roland’s Piano Partner 2 app.
The PHA-4 Standard keyboard of the Roland F-140 looks authentic and features high-resolution sensing, in an attempt to maximize the vast tone potentials of its sound engine. Apart from the acoustic piano tones, there are about 305 additional tones available in this piano, which includes the strings, organs, brass, guitars, synthesizers, and many others. The best sound effect in this piano is the headphone’s 3D-ambience effect that renders a rich sound experience while using the headphones for private music practice. We can use the pedals in the pianos to turn the sheet music pages wirelessly.
This is one of the best piano instrument sets that help in transforming your piano goals into reality. The piano also offers three months of free piano lessons, and an ultimate online piano lessons experience with its partner pianote app. With the song tutorials from real piano teachers, it is possible to learn all piano lessons in the comfort of one’s home. Pianists also get access to piano lessons from gadgets like tablets, computers, or phones.
What’s Best in Roland F-140R Digital Piano?
- Owners of the piano get detailed song tutorials along with easy access to live lessons and support from real piano teachers.
- The Roland F-140R offers the best industry-leading piano technologies in a stylish instrument for smaller living spaces.
- Its supernatural piano tunes help in delivering a rich and authentic tone of real acoustic grand pianos.
- We can connect the tablet or smartphone with this piano through Bluetooth technology, to turn the sheet music pages wirelessly.
- The piano has onboard recording features as well to improve piano playing and music composition experience.
What’s Lacking in Roland F-140R Digital Piano?
- Controlling the piano using its analog buttons is complicated and excruciating.
- Assembling is tough and requires assistance.
How Should You Choose Your Digital Piano?
Before choosing to buy the best digital piano for $1500, it is crucial to give careful thought to certain aspects so as to make the best bet out of the money spent. These factors are discussed here.
Quality of the keys
If you are spending around $1500 on your keyboard, then make sure that the keys of the piano are weighted and are highly responsive for the key presses. Though it is true that no piano can mimic the resistance of an acoustic piano, there are still plenty of digital pianos that render high quality and realistic key action. The best way is to choose a piano with hammer action and a graduated piano that offer more realism and responsiveness on the keys.
Read: How to Clean Piano Keys and Keyboards?
The sound quality of the keyboard
The tone and the sound of the digital piano is the most crucial aspect to evaluate before spending a fortune on the digital piano. Amateur pianists should make sure to buy a piano with the best tone and sound texture so as to improve their music skills.
Sampling
The sounds that are produced by the digital piano have been recorded directly from the acoustic pianos. The quality of the keyboard depends on the number of samples that are taken from each of the sound effects of the digital piano. Advanced models that are available at the cost of around $1500 will have the best samples for a quality music experience.
Polyphony
This is the number of notes that the piano player can play at the same time. The best models that we have discussed here have a polyphony that ranges to more than 200. With the help of the sustain pedal, all of these notes can be given the best life and for a high-quality music experience.
Must Check: Best Digital Pianos Under $5000
Final Words
Apart from the above-mentioned features, while buying the best digital piano under $1500, make sure that it is made of the best materials and feature synthetic ivory keys so as to maintain a good grip. Buy a touch sensitivity keyboard in a lighter frame, so that you are able to port it between different stage shows.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What does hyper realistic recording mean?
Like reality, but better, is hyperrealist recording. The tape may appear to a casual listener to be a record of a live performance, but upon closer examination, many enhancements—such as effects, overdubbing, splicing, and so forth—are audibly present.
2. What does surrealist recording mean?
A surrealist recording is one that neither could have been performed live in real time nor has any relation to the sounds of an acoustic instrument.
3. How does console piano work?
As was already established, upright pianos have their strings mounted vertically on the back of the casing, with the hammers sliding horizontally to strike them. Console pianos differ from spinet pianos in that its usual action simply rests on top of the keys, with the hammers sitting upright rather than in a lowered posture. As a result, the hammer is dragged back into place when the strings are struck by the hammers and the key is released.
4. What is the average cost for an advance piano?
For experienced classical pianists, a digital piano will typically cost between $1,000 and $2,000. In this price range, you have a large selection of models.
5. What is a workstation keyboard?
One of the more costly keyboards is a workstation keyboard, which essentially has its own computer for complex program options and composition. Many hip-hop and pop artists utilize these keyboards to program rhythms and other compositional elements to play automatically.
