Start by deciding whether you’ll practise with wired headphones or play through the speakers at a low volume. Then compare how the keyboard responds to soft, successive keystrokes. Yamaha lists a low-volume control for the P-225, while Kawai documents Low Volume Balance and key cushioning for the ES120. Headphones prevent sound from coming out of the speakers into the room, but they won’t silence the keys themselves.
You play in a shared home and want to practise without audible sound from the speakers. Look for a suitable headphone socket and consider the mechanical sound of the keys. Kawai says the ES120 has key cushioning, and its built-in speakers switch off when headphones are connected.
You want to hear the difference between soft and firmer notes at low volume, and to assess the keyboard’s response. Yamaha lists Intelligent Acoustic Control for the P-225, while Kawai documents Low Volume Balance for the ES120.
You want to practise across a piano’s full range without installing a permanent upright piano. Measure the space available and check which stand and pedals are included with the version you’re considering; Yamaha and Kawai list these as optional accessories.
First compare how you want to keep the sound down, then assess the touch, any remaining key noise and the space needed for your setup.
| What to consider | What to look for when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Practising without speaker sound | Check that the exact model has a suitable wired headphone socket, and try it out to see how much key noise you can hear in the room where you plan to play. Kawai says the ES120’s speakers switch off when headphones are connected. | If I play in a shared home, I want to keep speaker sound to a minimum for others, while remembering that the keys themselves can make noise. Around 31% of consumers are most concerned about practising without disturbing others. |
| Soft, successive notes | Play the same pattern slowly and then faster, using different levels of touch. Yamaha lists GHC keys and Intelligent Acoustic Control for the P-225; Kawai documents Low Volume Balance for the ES120. | When I practise broken chords, I want to be able to play individual notes softly and with control, and assess the keyboard’s response for myself. Around 31% of consumers say a light touch is their main consideration. |
| Space and pedal setup | Measure the space available and check which stand and pedals are included. Yamaha gives the P-225’s depth as 272 mm without the music rest protruding; Casio lists 232 mm for the PX-S1100BK. | If I’m short on space, I want to know whether the piano and the pedal setup I want will fit where I play. Around 25% of consumers are mainly looking for a setup that fits their space. |
| Complete setup and aftercare | Check what’s included in the package and the seller’s terms before placing your order. The Dutch Government explains that the Netherlands has no fixed statutory warranty period; your legal rights still apply if a product is faulty. | If I want to know in advance what I’ll need and who to contact if there’s a problem, I check what the offer includes and who the seller is. Around 13% of consumers mainly weigh up the setup and aftercare. |
Headphones reduce sound from the speakers, but they don’t remove the mechanical noise made by the keys. Kawai describes key cushioning on the ES120 as a separate feature.
Try the keyboard in a quiet room, with the speakers switched off too, to see how much key noise you can hear.
Roland says the FP-30X doesn’t support Bluetooth headphones, even though the model has other Bluetooth features.
Check how Bluetooth works on the model you’re considering, and make sure its headphone socket is suitable for your wired headphones.
Depending on what you already own, you may need suitable wired headphones or an adapter for this type of listening.
A stand or more extensive pedal unit may be an optional extra for the models discussed. Exactly what’s included varies by offer.
Before buying, check which stand, pedals and other accessories are actually included with the version you’ve chosen.
If you want a permanent setup or more extensive pedal functionality, you may need to arrange those parts separately.
The ES120 is worth considering if both a light touch and mechanical key noise matter to you.
The P-225 is a portable piano to consider if practising through the speakers at low volume is important to you.
The FP-30X is a portable option to look into if you want a PHA-4 Standard keyboard and two wired headphone outputs.
The PX-S1100BK is an 88-key option to consider if depth is a key factor.
These Joybuy options are 61-key digital pianos for private practice; they don’t offer the full piano range that some players are looking for.
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Worth considering for private practice with headphones and metronome practice; the 61-key keyboard doesn’t offer the full piano range.
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Worth considering for private practice with headphones and metronome practice. The product description mentions touch-sensitive keys, but the 61-key keyboard doesn’t offer the full piano range.
No. Kawai says the built-in speakers on the ES120 switch off when you connect headphones, but mechanical key noise is a separate factor. Check how much of it you can hear in the room where you plan to practise.
See how the keyboard responds to soft, successive keystrokes and whether you can hear enough difference at low volume. Yamaha lists Intelligent Acoustic Control for the P-225; Kawai documents Low Volume Balance for the ES120. Try the pattern yourself at different levels of touch.
No. Roland says the FP-30X doesn’t support Bluetooth headphones. Use wired headphones with a suitable headphone socket.
You’re entitled to a product that meets the terms of your purchase; there’s no fixed statutory warranty period in the Netherlands. The Dutch Government explains that the seller must provide a solution if a product is faulty. Any manufacturer’s warranty is additional to this.
For distance purchases from a business, the Dutch Government says you’ll often have a 14-day cooling-off period. Check the terms for your purchase and whether you’re buying from a business; this rule doesn’t automatically apply to purchases from a private seller.
