When choosing a piano for practice, start with how you plan to play. For private practice, a suitable headphone connection and adjustable volume are important; if you’re working on your piano technique, you’ll also want to assess how the keys respond to soft and strong notes. If you want to play along with a recording, check separately how audio from your phone reaches the piano and whether you can hear it through your preferred listening setup. The connections and features described are manufacturer specifications, not independent playing or listening tests.
You want to practise your ballad privately, so you’ll want to consider the headphone connection, volume control and how much key noise can be heard in the room. Roland, Casio and Kawai document headphone options for specific models.
You want to learn to play the melody and accompaniment with different levels of touch, so compare the keyboards and try out soft passages for yourself. Yamaha, Roland, Casio and Kawai describe the weighted keyboards on the models mentioned.
You want to play along with a ballad from your phone, so you’ll need to check whether the connection handles audio, MIDI or both. Yamaha describes Bluetooth audio through the P-225’s speakers; Casio and Kawai list other audio options specific to their models.
Start by checking your listening setup for private practice. Then consider touch response, playing along with a recording and the setup you’ll need to decide which model is right for you.
| What to consider | What to look for when buying | Who is this especially important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Private practice | Check the headphone connection and the plug or adapter you’ll need. Also listen to how much key noise can be heard in the room. | When I practise while other people are at home, I want to hear the piano through headphones without turning the volume up unnecessarily. Around 36% of consumers say private practice is their top priority. |
| Touch response and dynamics | Try soft notes, chords and repeated keystrokes on the exact model, and check whether a suitable sustain pedal is included. | I want to practise playing a soft melody over a stronger accompaniment, so I want to feel for myself how the keyboard responds. Around 29% of consumers prioritise learning piano technique. |
| Playing along with a recording | Check specifically whether the piano has Bluetooth audio or an audio input, and how the sound reaches the speakers or headphones. | If I want to play along with a ballad from my phone, I want to know in advance whether I can hear the audio through the piano and my chosen listening setup. Around 21% of consumers say playing along with a recording is their top priority. |
| Setup and accessories | Measure the space available for the piano and stand, and compare what’s included with the compatible pedal options for the exact model. | I want to know whether the instrument will fit in my space and which accessories I’ll need to start practising. Around 14% of consumers prioritise setup and knowing which accessories are required. |
Bluetooth audio, Bluetooth MIDI and the output you hear audio through are different things. Yamaha describes playing along through the P-225’s built-in speakers; this doesn’t automatically confirm that it offers the listening setup you want.
For the exact model, check both the connection or feature you’ll use for your recording and the output you want to use for quiet practice.
A wired setup may require a suitable audio cable or a different playback arrangement.
The optional LP-5A three-pedal unit for the Yamaha P-145 is not the same as an included pedal. Casio lists an SP-3 sustain pedal as included with the CDP-S110BK.
Compare the contents of the exact model you’re considering and check whether it includes a stand, headphones or the pedal setup you want.
According to the manual, the Kawai ES120’s built-in speakers switch off when headphones are connected. This doesn’t tell you how much noise the keys themselves will make in your room. Poorly fitting headphones may also tempt you to turn up the volume.
Try the instrument in a quiet room, choose well-fitting headphones and start with the volume low.
The P series includes portable models, letting you compare a simple practice setup with a model that has a documented play-along option.
The FP-10 is a portable practice piano you can compare for its PHA-4 Standard keyboard and documented headphone option.
The European CDP-S110BK is an 88-key model with connections for external audio and headphones.
The ES120 is a portable digital piano with a Responsive Hammer Compact keyboard, plus Bluetooth audio and MIDI, as described by Kawai.
The Joybuy options below are 61-key instruments with a headphone connection. Check that the number of keys and the connections suit the way you want to practise your ballad.
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The touch-sensitive weighted keyboard and headphone connection are suited to practising with dynamics and listening privately.
The product description also lists an audio input and output. Check which connections are compatible with your phone and headphones.
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The headphone socket offers a listed listening option for private practice. Try the feel of the keys for yourself if touch response matters to you.
The product information lists an audio input and output, MIDI, a recording function and a metronome.
No. Headphones don’t necessarily block out the mechanical noise of the keys. According to the manual, the Kawai ES120’s built-in speakers switch off when headphones are connected. Check how much noise the keys make in your own space and keep the listening volume comfortably low.
No. Check specifically whether the model supports Bluetooth audio and which listening setup you’ll use to hear the recording. Yamaha describes playback through the P-225’s piano speakers; Kawai lists Bluetooth audio and Bluetooth MIDI for the ES120. A general mention of Bluetooth doesn’t confirm that you can hear the recording through your preferred output.
Measure the space for the piano and stand, and follow the power instructions for the exact model. For the ES120, Kawai specifies the required mains voltage and the supplied power adapter, among other instructions. Don’t assume these model-specific instructions apply to another piano.
According to the Dutch government, when you buy from a business online, you usually have 14 days to change your mind, although exceptions depend on the purchase. You’re also entitled to a product that meets the legal guarantee. The Dutch government states that there is no fixed statutory guarantee period in the Netherlands; if there’s a problem, contact the seller.
