Start by checking the lowest and highest notes in your exercises, then decide how important a piano-like touch is to you. A compact keyboard could be suitable if your pieces fit within its range. An 88-key digital piano offers a wider range and, on the models discussed here, weighted keys, but it takes up more space. Check the headphone socket, pedal and included accessories for the exact model.
You share your living space and want to practise using a suitable headphone socket, while keeping the listening volume in check and being considerate of your housemates. Korg lists a PHONES socket for the B2+; Roland says you can play the FP-10 through headphones.
You want to practise low and high passages and the touch required for piano pieces, so you compare the key range and keyboard action before letting extra sounds or accompaniment features influence your choice.
You need to be able to set up or store your instrument, and are comparing a compact keyboard with a mid-size option. Don’t assume a smaller key range will be enough for every exercise.
Suitable if: your exercises stay within 61 keys and you want an instrument that’s easy to move or store.
Trade-off: touch sensitivity isn’t the same as weighted piano action; also check the connections on the exact model.
Suitable if: 61 keys feel limiting, but you’re not ready to choose an 88-key instrument.
Trade-off: the CT-S1-76 doesn’t offer the full range of an 88-key instrument. Check the headphone and pedal options for the exact model, too.
Suitable if: a full key range and weighted, piano-style action matter more to you than a compact instrument.
Trade-off: make room for the instrument and your playing position, and check which pedal is included with each model.
| Consideration | What should you check? | Who is it most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Practising in a shared home | Check the headphone output and that you have a compatible plug. If needed, agree practice times with your housemates. | If I practise at home, I want to hear the instrument through suitable headphones and be considerate of my housemates; around 33% of consumers give peaceful cohabitation top priority. |
| Key range and touch | Compare the lowest and highest notes in your exercises with the instrument’s range; try out the action if possible. | If you want to practise piano passages, consider both the range you need and the keyboard action; around 27% of consumers prioritise key range and piano-style touch. |
| Space and storage | Measure the available space, including room to play, and compare it with the dimensions of the exact model. | If I need to set up or store my instrument in a limited space, its footprint matters; around 20% of consumers say space is their main concern. |
| Pedal and included accessories | Check which pedal connection and compatible pedal you need, and what’s included in the bundle on offer. | If you want to practise with a pedal, you’ll want to know in advance which pedal is compatible and whether it’s included; around 20% of consumers give the pedal and bundle contents top priority. |
The Yamaha PSR-E383 is described as a touch-sensitive keyboard. That’s not the same as the weighted key actions Yamaha and Korg list for the digital pianos considered here.
Choose based on what you want to practise, and try the action for yourself if possible.
Headphones are designed to send the instrument’s sound to the player. The product specifications mentioned here don’t say anything about the physical sound of keys or pedals in the home.
Consider how the set-up will work in your room, keep the headphone volume down and agree arrangements with your housemates if needed.
What’s included varies by model and version. Korg says the B2+ comes with a damper pedal; the stand and PU-2 pedal unit are sold separately. Yamaha describes the LP-5A console for the P-145 as optional.
Compare the contents of the exact bundle with the accessories your exercises require.
You may need to buy a separate accessory to get the pedal set-up you want. Check before choosing an instrument bundle.
The models considered range from a 61-key keyboard to 88-key digital pianos.
According to Casio, the CT-S1-76 is a compact, 76-key mid-size option among the models considered.
The B2+ is an 88-key digital piano among the models considered, designed for a dedicated practice space.
The FP-10 is a portable 88-key digital piano among the models considered, with PHA-4 Standard keys.
The Joybuy products below are 61-key instruments for exercises that fit within that range. Check the lowest and highest notes in your own pieces, and check which connections are available on each model.
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Its 61 keys suit exercises that stay within that range; the product name also mentions a headphone socket.
The product name mentions a weighted keyboard, USB-MIDI and built-in speakers. Check with the seller what ‘weighted’ means for this model.
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This 61-key model is suitable for exercises with notes within its range; check that your pieces fit before you buy.
The product name mentions speakers, a metronome, a recording function, a MIDI controller and a music stand. It doesn’t mention a headphone socket, so check whether it has one before planning to practise with headphones.
Compare the lowest and highest notes in your own exercises with the instrument’s range. The number of keys alone doesn’t tell you how the keyboard will feel.
Check the connections, the compatible plug and what’s included with the exact model before buying accessories. Korg lists PHONES and PEDAL connections and an included damper pedal for the B2+; Yamaha describes the LP-5A console for the P-145 as optional.
Start at a low volume and take listening breaks. The WHO advises keeping the volume down; exposure also depends on the sound level and how long you listen. This advice is about listening, not a measurement of these instruments’ output levels.
According to ACM ConsuWijzer, many online consumer purchases are covered by a statutory 14-day cooling-off period after delivery, although there are exceptions. Check which rules apply to your purchase. If a product doesn’t meet reasonable expectations when used normally, your statutory guarantee is separate from any manufacturer’s warranty.
The Dutch government information consulted doesn’t give blanket permission to practise at any time. According to the Dutch Government, tenants must not cause a nuisance; if neighbours are disturbed, it recommends agreeing arrangements together first. Also check the rules that apply to your home.
