Choose a digital piano with a practical headphone socket and a keyboard suited to your scale practice. Headphones make the piano sound less audible to other people in your home, but they won’t eliminate the mechanical noise of the keys and pedals. Measure the full setup too, and check whether a metronome will suit your practice routine.
You want to listen to the piano through headphones, but you’re aware that the keys and pedals can still be heard. Yamaha and Roland explain that this mechanical noise may remain even when you’re using headphones.
You want to assess range, touch and tempo during repeated scale practice. Yamaha and Roland describe keyboards with 88 keys and different key actions.
You have limited or shared space and need to fit the piano, stand and playing area together. Yamaha and Roland describe portable models with different setup options.
Start by considering how much sound other people will still hear and whether the keyboard suits your practice goals. Then check whether the complete setup will fit in the space available.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| How audible it is to others at home | Check the headphone socket and bear in mind that mechanical key and pedal noise may remain; Yamaha and Roland explain this limitation. | If I practise while other people are at home, I want to listen to the piano privately and take any remaining contact noise into account. Around 36% of consumers prioritise reducing how audible it is. |
| Key range and touch | Check the number of keys and the type of keyboard. Yamaha describes the P-145BT as having 88 GHC keys, while Roland describes the FP-40 as having 88 PHA-4 Standard keys. | If you want to practise scales on a keyboard with a suitable range, touch and range may be your first selection criteria. Around 29% of consumers prioritise piano technique. |
| Space and portability | Measure the piano together with the stand, music rest and seat. A portable body doesn’t give you the dimensions of the complete playing setup. | If I share my practice space or need to clear it afterwards, I want to know in advance how much room the complete setup will take up. Around 21% of consumers start by considering the available space. |
| Tempo and practising independently | Check whether the model has a metronome and how to set the tempo. Korg describes tempo, time signature and volume settings on the B2. | If I want to repeat scales at a steady tempo, an easy-to-use metronome is important to me. Around 14% of consumers prioritise tempo practice. |
Headphones reduce the piano sound others can hear, but according to Yamaha and Roland, mechanical key presses and pedal movements can still cause noise and vibration.
Assess the piano in a similar setup, and discuss practice times with the people you live with if needed.
The stand, music rest, seat and room to move around also determine whether an instrument will fit in your shared practice space.
Measure the complete setup and check which components are included with the version you choose.
A suitable stand or upgraded pedal unit may need to be chosen separately. Yamaha describes the LP-5A console as optional, as does Korg for the PU-2 pedal unit.
The Joybuy models on this page have 61 keys. That’s a more limited range than the 88-key keyboards Yamaha and Roland describe for the models mentioned.
Before choosing, compare the full model number, key range and the requirements of your practice or lessons.
According to Yamaha, the P-145BT is a portable piano in the P series with an 88-key keyboard.
The FP-10 and FP-40 are portable models, while the RP107 is a cabinet piano. These models illustrate the different setups available in the range.
The CDP-S110BK is a portable model that may be worth considering if space is limited.
The portable ES120 is an option to compare if you’re looking for a weighted keyboard and two headphone sockets.
The portable B2 is worth considering if you want to compare features such as direct metronome settings.
These portable 61-key instruments are designed for anyone looking for a compact practice setup. Check that the key range suits your scale practice and the requirements of any lessons.
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The listed headphone socket and metronome are useful for private listening and practising to a steady tempo.
61 keys. The product name describes a weighted keyboard.
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The listed metronome and music rest are useful if you want to practise scales to a steady tempo on your own.
61 keys. The product name lists a music rest and metronome.
No. You can listen to the piano through suitable headphones, but according to Yamaha and Roland, the keys and pedals may still cause mechanical noise and vibration.
Place the piano on a stable surface and assess the sound on the floor where you’ll actually be practising. Roland suggests a vibration-damping mat and adjusting the piano’s position as possible measures, but doesn’t guarantee that they will eliminate all noise.
For an ordinary online consumer purchase, you generally have a statutory cooling-off period of up to 14 days after delivery, subject to legal exceptions. Separately from any manufacturer’s warranty, if a product doesn’t meet what you could reasonably expect under normal use, you have rights against the seller, as ACM ConsuWijzer explains.
No. Wearing headphones doesn’t give you a general exemption from rules about disturbing your neighbours. The Dutch Government points out that local rules may apply under the APV (General Local By-law) and recommends making arrangements with your neighbours first. Check the rules and any agreements that apply to your home.
