For playing film themes in a shared flat, choose a digital piano with a headphone socket and a key action that suits your arrangement. Check the sheet music to see whether you need 88 keys. Then compare the complete playing set-up, not just the piano itself: Yamaha, Kawai and Korg list certain stands or extended pedal units as optional extras. Using headphones doesn’t automatically stop housemates from hearing the keys or pedals.
You want to listen to the piano through headphones, but bear in mind that the keys and pedals may still be audible. Casio lists a PHONES/OUTPUT socket for the CDP-S110BK, while Kawai lists two headphone sockets for the ES120. The Dutch government advises people to try agreeing arrangements first when noise is a problem.
You want to practise melody, accompaniment, dynamics and sustain. The key range and pedal you need will depend on your arrangement. Yamaha describes the P-145BT as having 88 weighted GHC keys, while Korg lists 88 NH keys for the B2.
You share your living space or need to move the instrument regularly. Remember to measure for the stand, music rest and space to sit, too. Casio lists a cabinet depth of 232 mm for the CDP-S110BK, but that measurement doesn’t cover the complete playing set-up.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Noise for housemates | Check the headphone socket and test the sound of the keys and pedals where you plan to practise. | If my housemates are at home, I want to listen through headphones without assuming the keys will be silent; around 36% of consumers put minimising disruption first. |
| Key action and range | Check the range of your sheet music and, if possible, try playing both softly and with more force. | I want to practise melody and accompaniment with a suitable key action and match the range to my arrangement; around 29% of consumers give key action and playing range top priority. |
| Space for the set-up | Measure the available space, including the stand, music rest and room to sit. Check whether the stated measurements refer to the cabinet alone. | In a small living space, I want to know in advance how much room the piano and my playing position will take up; around 21% of consumers make saving space their top buying priority. |
| Pedals and upgrades | Check which pedals are included with the exact listing and whether optional accessories are compatible. | I want to know whether the included pedal suits my arrangement and what I’ll need to add later; around 14% of consumers prioritise a complete set-up that can be upgraded. |
Headphones let you listen to the piano’s electronic sound privately, but they don’t tell you how much noise the keys, pedal or contact with the floor will make in your home.
Test the set-up where you plan to use it and, if necessary, agree practice times with your housemates.
The cabinet measurements don’t tell you how much room you’ll need for the stand, music rest and seat.
Measure the complete set-up and check which accessories are included with the exact listing.
You may need to buy a suitable stand or other parts separately, and they’ll take up extra space.
Korg lists an included damper pedal for the B2. For half-pedalling, you’ll need the PU-2 pedal unit, which is sold separately.
Compare the pedal function you want to practise with the specifications and package contents of the exact model on offer.
The Korg B2 needs a separate pedal unit for the half-pedalling function described.
The features listed come from the manufacturers and apply to the specific models; they are not based on independent playing tests.
The P-145BT is a portable option for anyone looking for 88 weighted keys, with the possibility of adding a three-pedal unit later.
The CDP-S110BK is worth considering if a slim piano cabinet and a basic sustain pedal are important to you.
The ES120 is a portable option to compare if two headphone sockets or the option to add a stand and three pedals later matter to you.
The B2 is worth considering if 88 weighted keys and a specified half-pedalling option are important to you.
The FP-10 is a portable 88-key option to compare with other keyboard actions.
This Joybuy selection includes two digital pianos and 61-key keyboards for practising at home. Check that the range suits your arrangement. The Dutch government states that electronic devices sold in the EU must carry a CE mark; check this on the exact version.
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The listed headphone socket may be useful if you want to listen to the piano privately; check whether 61 keys cover the range of your arrangement.
Before buying, check the CE mark and product information for the exact version.
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The listed metronome and recording functions may be useful for practising on your own; if you’ll be using it around housemates, check whether the exact version has a headphone socket.
Before buying, check the CE mark and product information for the exact version.
No. A headphone socket lets you listen to the piano’s electronic sound privately, but it doesn’t mean the keys, pedal or contact with the floor will be inaudible. Test the set-up where you plan to use it and agree arrangements with your housemates if needed.
Not necessarily: first check the range and pedal markings in your arrangement. Korg lists half-pedalling for the B2 with the separate PU-2, while Yamaha lists an optional three-pedal unit for the P-145BT.
Measure the space for the complete playing set-up, including the stand, music rest and room to sit. The stated cabinet measurements won’t necessarily give you the dimensions of the complete set-up.
The Dutch government states that electronic devices sold in the EU must carry a CE mark. Check the mark and product information for the exact version on offer.
According to the Dutch government, if there’s a problem with a product you’ve bought, the seller—not the manufacturer—must provide a solution. An additional commercial guarantee doesn’t replace your statutory rights.
