Choose a digital piano with enough keys for your bass notes and chords, a headphone socket and a setup that fits your room. If you use a piano-style touch and pedal technique, compare the keyboards and included pedals on the exact version you’re considering. Headphones reduce the sound from the speakers, but Roland warns that mechanical key and pedal noise may still be audible. Specifications can’t tell you which playing feel is right for you.
You share your living space and want to listen through headphones, while bearing in mind that keys and pedals can still make noise. Roland describes these mechanical sounds, while the Dutch government advises people to agree on arrangements when noise causes a nuisance.
You practise bass patterns, touch and possibly sustain. Compare the keyboard action and pedal setup of the specific model you’re considering; manufacturers such as Yamaha, Roland and Casio describe their own keyboards and accessories.
You need to fit the instrument alongside a stand, a seat and sheet music. Casio and Yamaha provide instrument dimensions; remember to measure the whole playing area too.
First decide how much mechanical noise is acceptable and how many keys you need. Then check the space available and focus only on the features you’ll actually use.
| What to consider | What to look for when buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Noise for others at home | Check for a headphone socket and bear in mind that keys and pedals can make mechanical noise. Roland explains that this physical sound won’t disappear when you turn down the volume. | If other people are at home, you’ll want to know what they can still hear while you play with headphones; around 36% of consumers prioritise practising as quietly as possible. |
| Touch and pedal | Compare the keyboard and check whether the pedal you need for your practice is included. Yamaha, Roland and Casio describe different keyboards and pedal setups. | If you practise bass notes and chords with your left hand, you’ll want a keyboard and pedal to suit the way you play; around 29% of consumers prioritise a piano-style touch and pedal control. |
| Space for your setup | Measure the space for the instrument, stand and seat. Casio lists the CDP-S110BK as measuring 1.322 × 232 × 99 mm; Yamaha lists the P-145BT as 1.326 mm wide. | If your room has little free space, you’ll want to know in advance whether the instrument and seat will fit; around 21% of consumers start by considering the space available. |
| Practice features | Choose a metronome or keyboard split only if you’ll use it. Roland lists a metronome on the FP-10; Kawai describes a Split function on the ES120. | If you want to practise left-hand patterns in time or split the keyboard, a suitable practice feature may be useful; around 14% of consumers prioritise features like these. |
Headphones stop the piano sound coming through the speakers, but the mechanical taps and vibrations from keys or pedals may still be audible.
Try the keys and pedal where you plan to practise. Talk to the people you live with about what they can hear before relying on a quiet setup.
According to Casio, the CDP-S110BK is 232 mm deep, but it is also 1.322 mm wide. So a shallow depth doesn’t necessarily mean the instrument will fit along a short wall.
Measure the available width and depth separately, and allow space for the stand, seat and sheet music too.
You may need a different place to set it up or a different stand if there isn’t room for the entire playing area.
Pedal accessories vary between versions. Casio lists an SP-3 sustain pedal with the CDP-S110; Korg states that the PU-2 for half-pedalling is sold separately.
Compare what’s included in the set on offer with the pedal function you want to practise.
For half-pedalling with the Korg version mentioned, the PU-2 is a separate accessory.
The European P-145BT is a portable option to consider if you want to compare a keyboard with 88 weighted GHC keys.
The FP-10 is worth considering if you want to compare a PHA-4 Standard keyboard with 88 keys, headphone use and a built-in metronome.
The European CDP-S110BK is worth considering if a shallow cabinet and an included sustain pedal are important to you.
The ES120 is worth considering if you want to compare two headphone sockets, Split or a separate stereo line output.
The B2 gives you a model specification to compare if you’re looking for a keyboard with 88 Natural Weighted Hammer Action keys and straightforward connections.
These Joybuy products are 61-key models for practising at home. Compare their range with the passages you want to play with your left hand.
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The product information lists a headphone socket; the title also mentions a metronome and recording function. With 61 keys, its range is shorter than that of an 88-key keyboard, so check whether it covers the bass notes and chords you want to practise.
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The product title lists weighted keys, 300 sounds and 300 rhythms; the description mentions a headphone socket. Its 61-key range is shorter than that of an 88-key keyboard, so check whether it suits the left-hand parts you want to practise.
Not entirely. The piano sound won’t need to come through the speakers, but Roland explains that keys and pedals can still cause mechanical noise or vibrations. Try the setup where you plan to practise and talk it over with the people you live with.
A metronome can help if you want to practise a pattern in time; a pedal is useful for passages where you want to use sustain. Check whether the pedal you need is included and whether the chosen combination supports the pedal function you want to practise.
Check that the plug fits the socket on the exact model and start at a moderate listening volume. VeiligheidNL says that well-fitting headphones can help you avoid turning the volume up to drown out background noise.
The Dutch government advises people to agree on arrangements when noise causes a nuisance; the rules that apply to your home will also depend on your living situation. Check your tenancy agreement and any house rules or owners’ association rules too.
For online consumer purchases, you generally have a 14-day cooling-off period, according to the European Union’s Your Europe website. Before buying, check the applicable terms, including any exceptions and return costs.
