Start by deciding whether you mainly want to practise with headphones, sing along to audible piano accompaniment, or play a recording alongside your own performance and listen back to sections. Then compare the space needed for the complete setup, the right audio connection, and the pedals and stand included. An 88-key model is not automatically the most practical choice for a spare room.
You want to practise piano passages quietly or with headphones, but also hear how they sound when you sing along. Headphones won't block out your own singing or the mechanical sound of the keys. Roland lists two headphone outputs for the FP-30X.
You’re learning the accompaniment alongside an existing recording and want to listen to sections again or play along. Distinguish between playing audio, recording your keyboard performance and recording your voice. Roland describes Bluetooth audio and recording your own keyboard performance, while Kawai lists Bluetooth audio for the ES120.
You want a piano in a room that has another purpose too, so you need to be able to fit or store the complete setup. The cabinet, music rest, stand, pedal setup and seating all take up space. For example, Yamaha gives different depth measurements for the P-145 with and without the music rest.
First, decide how you want to practise. Then choose a piano with connections, dimensions and included accessories to suit the way you play.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet practice and singing | Check the headphone socket, volume control and whether you can also hear the piano through the speakers. | If I want to practise quietly but also sing along to audible piano accompaniment, I need to be able to set up both ways of listening. Around 33% of customers give quiet practice their highest priority. |
| Playing along with a recording | Decide whether you want to play audio through a cable or Bluetooth. Check separately how you can record your performance or voice, if needed. | I want to hear a song from a musical alongside my playing and know whether I can also record my keyboard performance or voice. Around 25% of customers give playing along with a recording their highest priority. |
| Space in the spare room | Measure the space for the piano, music rest, any stand, pedals and seating. Casio lists a cabinet depth of 232 mm for the CDP-S110BK; this is not the space needed for the complete setup. | If the spare room has another purpose too, I want to know in advance whether the complete piano setup will fit. Around 25% of customers give available space their highest priority. |
| Touch and pedals | Check which keyboard and pedal setup suits your arrangement, and exactly what is included in the bundle you choose. Yamaha specifies 88 GHC keys for the P-145; the PU-2 pedal unit for the Korg B2+ is sold separately. | I want to practise the accompaniment with a touch response and sustain suited to my playing goals, without adding unnecessary pedals. Around 17% of customers give piano technique their highest priority. |
Playing Bluetooth audio, MIDI and recording your keyboard performance are different functions. None of them means that your piano can also record your singing.
Write down in advance which audio you want to hear and what you want to record. Then check the signal path for each model and what recording equipment you might need.
The music rest, stand, pedals and seating all affect how much space you really need. So, a piano measurement that excludes the music rest may not show the full space required.
Measure the setup you actually plan to use and check what is included in the exact bundle.
Casio states that the melody-cancelling feature in its app does not work with all music.
Treat this feature as a potential practice aid, not as a requirement for using a particular recording.
The P-145 is a portable entry-level piano to consider if you mainly want to practise piano parts on your own.
The FP-30X is worth considering if you want to play audio from a phone and listen back to your keyboard performance.
The CDP-S110BK is worth comparing if a shallow cabinet and a simple sustain setup are important to you.
The B2+ is worth considering if you want to play a recording through a wired audio input.
The ES120 is a portable piano to compare if you want to use Bluetooth audio to play along.
No. Headphones are designed to let you listen to the piano privately; they won’t muffle your voice. The Dutch government advises neighbours to discuss noise and agree arrangements, such as when music can be played. It does not set a generally permitted practice time for your home.
No, Bluetooth audio does not mean your singing will be recorded. Roland and Kawai describe playing audio from a smartphone; Roland also describes recording your keyboard performance. Check separately what equipment and connections you need to record your voice as well.
Measure the space with the music rest and any stand in place, not just the bare piano cabinet. Check which power adapter and pedals are included with each version. Unlike an acoustic piano, a digital piano does not need tuning.
According to the Dutch government, you have 14 days to change your mind for many distance purchases. You are also entitled to a product that meets the terms of the agreement. The Netherlands has no fixed statutory guarantee period; if something is wrong with the product, the seller must provide a solution. Check the terms for the specific seller and order.
No. For products covered by applicable harmonised EU rules, the CE mark is the manufacturer's declaration that the product meets those rules. The European Commission does not issue a central certificate; the mark is not an assessment of the sound.
