For an existing four-hand piece, the standard keyboard is usually the best place to start. Duo, Twin or duet mode is mainly designed to give each player their own playing area. If you both want to listen through headphones, check that the version you choose has two usable sockets. Headphones won’t silence the sound of the keys and pedals themselves.
You want to hear each other play without playing the piano through its speakers. Roland lists dual headphone outputs for the FP-30X, while Kawai specifies two headphone sockets for the ES120. Also check the connections on the exact version you’re considering.
You want to demonstrate and then play back the same passage using two playing areas. Yamaha documents Duo mode on the P-225, Roland Twin Piano on the FP-30X, and Casio a duet function on the PX-S1100. Check that the split suits the way you want to practise.
You play primo and secondo on one keyboard, while also needing room for two players, sheet music and pedals. So compare not just the instrument’s dimensions, but the space needed for the whole set-up.
Choose this when: you’re playing primo and secondo together across the range of one piano.
Bear in mind: you’ll be sharing space for your hands and pedals, and the sound of the keys and pedals will still be audible.
Choose this when: you want to demonstrate or play back the same passage side by side.
Bear in mind: two playing areas won’t necessarily match the layout of an existing four-hand piece.
Choose this when: you want to talk without headphones and are happy for the instrument to remain faintly audible.
Bear in mind: even at a low volume, the sound may be audible to housemates or neighbours. A single headphone socket won’t provide two separate listening points.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Listening together in silence | Check for two usable sockets, the plug sizes and the speaker settings. Roland lists dual outputs for the FP-30X, and Kawai lists dual sockets for the ES120. | If I want to listen with a second player using our own headphones, I need to know whether we can both connect at the same time. Around 36% of consumers prioritise listening together through headphones. |
| Keyboard range for the duet | Compare the parts with the keyboard. Use the standard playing mode for parts that share the keyboard; try a split mode for practising side by side. | If I’m learning an existing four-hand piece, I want the keyboard layout to suit the primo and secondo parts. Around 29% of consumers prioritise having the right playing arrangement. |
| Touch and pedals | Compare the keyboard and check which pedals are included with the exact version. Yamaha lists 88 keys for the P-225 and an optional LP-1/FC35 pedal unit; this doesn’t mean the unit is included as standard. | If I want to practise soft and loud passages with pedal changes, I need to know whether the touch and pedal set-up will suit our piece. Around 21% of consumers prioritise touch and pedal use. |
| Space and the complete set-up | Measure the space needed for two players and a music rest, and check what’s included in the set. Korg describes the B2+SP as a set with a stand and three-pedal unit. | If I want to set up the piano at home with a second player, the complete playing area needs to fit, and I need to know which parts are included. Around 14% of consumers start by considering the space and the complete set-up. |
Duo, Twin or duet mode splits the keyboard into playing areas. This may not match the layout of the primo and secondo parts in the piece you want to play.
Compare both parts with the keyboard and try the standard playing mode first. Test a split mode if you specifically want to practise the same passage side by side.
A socket for one pair of headphones doesn’t confirm that two players can listen separately at the same time. Korg lists one PHONES socket for the B2+; Roland lists dual outputs for the FP-30X, and Kawai lists two sockets for the ES120.
Check the number of sockets and plug sizes on the version you’re considering.
A duet also needs space for two players, sheet music and the required pedals. What’s included in a set can also vary between versions.
Measure the whole playing area and check which parts are actually included with the version you’ve chosen.
The FP-30X may suit two people who want to listen quietly, as well as players who want to compare a split playing mode.
The ES120 is worth considering if two players want to use the standard keyboard and have a pair of headphones each.
The P-225 is worth considering if a weighted keyboard and a documented Duo practice function are on your wish list.
The Privia PX-S1100BK is worth a look if a slim instrument and a duet function are important to you.
The B2+SP is worth considering if you want a permanent home set-up with a stand and pedals.
Not necessarily. Duo, Twin and duet modes split the keyboard into playing areas. First, compare the primo and secondo parts on the standard keyboard; use a split mode if you specifically want to practise passages side by side.
Check that the version you’ve chosen has two usable sockets and that the plug sizes are compatible. Roland lists dual outputs for the FP-30X, and Kawai lists two sockets for the ES120; don’t assume another model has the same connections.
No, this varies by model and version. Korg describes the B2+SP as a set with a stand and three-pedal unit; Yamaha lists the LP-1/FC35 pedal unit as optional for the P-225. Check what’s included and compatible with the version you’re buying.
If a product is faulty, the seller is responsible for the statutory guarantee. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets lists a free repair or replacement and, in some cases, a refund as possible solutions.
This also depends on the rules that apply where you live. The Dutch Government points out that many municipalities cover nuisance to neighbours in their General Municipal Bye-Laws (APV). So check your local council’s rules and any arrangements that apply to your home.
