Mostly practising at home in a small room? Start with a portable digital piano that feels comfortable to play, lets you listen in the way you prefer and fits in your space with its music rest and stand. A stage piano designed for live performance is worth considering if you also want to perform or control sounds as you play. If so, check how you’ll listen at home and what extra equipment you’ll need.
You want to practise melodies, chords and dynamics without taking up space with a large, permanent piano. Look for a weighted keyboard that suits your playing style and practice features you’ll actually use. Yamaha and Roland list models with 88 keys; try the keyboard yourself if key feel matters to you.
You may practise at times when using speakers isn’t practical, so you’ll want a suitable headphone socket. Remember to allow space for the piano, stand and pedal too. Roland lists two headphone outputs for the FP-30X, and Kawai lists the same for the ES120.
You learn at home but may also want to perform or combine sounds as you play. Connections, controls and portability matter, as well as where the piano will fit at home. Nord describes the Piano 6 88 as having Piano and Synth layers; Yamaha gives the CP88’s weight as 18.6 kg.
Best for: mainly learning and practising at home, when the piano needs to fit in a small room.
Consider: check how the music rest, stand and pedal fit into your setup, and find out which parts are included with the version you’re buying.
Best for: anyone who wants to perform as well as practise at home, or control sounds directly while playing.
Consider: Yamaha lists the CP88 as measuring 1,298 × 364 mm and weighing 18.6 kg; also plan how you’ll listen to it at home.
If you’re learning at home in a small room, first decide whether daily practice or stage use is your priority. Then compare the keyboard, how you’ll listen and the complete setup.
| What to consider | What to look for when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Key feel and expression | Try the same piece of music on different weighted keyboards. Check the number of keys and any touch sensitivity settings. | If I want to practise melodies and accompaniment while controlling how softly or forcefully I play, key response comes first; around 30% of consumers give key feel top priority. |
| Quiet practice and listening together | Check the type of headphone socket and whether you can play audio from a compatible device alongside your playing. Roland lists two headphone outputs for the FP-30X. | If I practise in a shared space or want to listen along with a teacher, the connections are decisive; around 30% of consumers prioritise quiet practice and listening together. |
| Positioning and moving the piano | Measure the available width and depth, allowing for the music rest, stand, seat and pedal. Yamaha lists the P-225 as 272 mm deep without the music rest and 362 mm with it. | If my practice space is limited, the complete setup needs to fit and may need to be moved; around 20% of consumers prioritise the space it takes up. |
| Sounds and practice connections | Decide whether you’ll mainly play piano sounds or want to combine layers. Check each model for the audio or MIDI connections you need. | If I want to use different sounds or play along with audio as well as playing piano, this is the most important factor; around 10% of consumers prioritise sound variety and practice connections. |
| Complete purchase | Check whether the pedal and any other parts you need are included with the version you choose. Casio lists an SP-3 pedal with the CDP-S110BK; Yamaha describes the LP-1/FC35 three-pedal unit for the P-225 as optional. | If I want to start practising with the pedal setup I need, I check what’s included in the offer; around 10% of consumers prioritise a complete purchase. |
The space you need may change once you add a music rest. Yamaha lists the P-225 as 272 mm deep without the music rest and 362 mm with it.
Before buying, measure the complete playing setup and compare it with the space where you plan to use the piano.
You may need to move the piano to another spot or arrange a suitable stand.
Yamaha lists a headphone output and separate audio outputs for the CP88. These connections alone don’t tell you what listening equipment is included with the version you’re buying.
Before deciding how you’ll listen at home, check the speaker specifications, connections and contents of the exact model.
Depending on your setup, you may need suitable headphones or external listening equipment.
Casio lists an SP-3 pedal with the CDP-S110BK. Yamaha describes the LP-1/FC35 three-pedal unit for the P-225 as optional.
Compare what’s included in the specific offer with the pedal functions you want to practise.
A pedal unit you want may need to be purchased separately as part of your setup.
The P-225 is a portable digital piano for practising at home, while the CP88 is designed for stage use and direct sound control. These features apply to the models mentioned.
The FP-30X is a portable digital piano that’s relevant here for practising at home.
The ES120 combines features for practising at home with connections that may also be useful for other applications.
The CDP-S110BK is worth considering if a shallow case is important to you.
The Nord Piano 6 88 is designed for stage use by players who value sound layering, controls while playing and connectivity.
Not every arrangement needs the full range. If you also want to learn piano pieces with more extensive accompaniment, the 88-key models mentioned here give you that range; try the key feel for yourself too.
Measure the available width and depth, and allow space for the music rest, stand, seat and pedal. Yamaha lists the P-225 as 272 mm deep without the music rest and 362 mm with it.
The Roland FP-30X and Kawai ES120 each list two headphone sockets. Before buying, check that the connections are compatible with the headphones you want to use.
Check whether the stand, the pedal you want and the headphones are included in the offer you choose. According to the Dutch government, your statutory guarantee is separate from the manufacturer’s guarantee; if a product is faulty, contact the seller.
For distance purchases from a business, you’ll usually have 14 days to change your mind, although exceptions apply. The Dutch government advises checking the terms of the specific sale; the cooling-off period is separate from your statutory guarantee.
