A touch-sensitive keyboard is a good fit if you mainly want to practise your own timing and dynamics, and move the instrument regularly. Choose a digital piano with 88 weighted keys if piano technique and a wider range are your priorities. Whichever you choose, check that it fits your setup and that you can connect the headphones, pedal and power supply you need.
You play the notes of broken chords yourself and want to hear how evenly and dynamically you play. Touch sensitivity and a useful practice sound matter more than an automatic arpeggiator; Yamaha specifies touch-sensitive keys for the PSR-E383, while Casio lists touch response for the CT-S300.
You want the range and weighted feel of a piano keyboard, and can make room for it in the rehearsal room. Yamaha specifies 88 keys for the P-145; Korg lists 88 weighted hammer-action keys for the B2.
You carry the instrument to the rehearsal room or practise while others are there. Dimensions, weight and the right listening connection all matter: Casio gives the CT-S300’s weight as 3.3 kg, while Korg and Roland specify different headphone and audio connections for their digital pianos.
A good fit if: you play broken chords yourself, regularly move between rooms and your exercises fit within the keyboard’s range. Yamaha specifies 61 touch-sensitive keys for the PSR-E383; Casio lists touch response for the CT-S300.
Bear in mind: touch sensitivity is not the same as a weighted piano keyboard. Try the feel of the keys if you specifically want to practise piano technique.
A good fit if: a wider piano range and a weighted keyboard are important for your practice. Yamaha specifies 88 keys with a GHC keyboard for the P-145; Korg lists 88 weighted hammer-action keys for the B2.
Bear in mind: allow more space and check how you’ll transport the instrument and any accessories you need to the rehearsal room. Yamaha gives the P-145’s width as 1.326 mm, while Korg gives the B2’s as 1.312 mm.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Your own timing and dynamics | Check the touch response and play a chord pattern yourself; an automatic arpeggiator doesn’t play the notes using your own finger movements. | I want to hear how evenly I play the notes myself and how my touch sounds. Around 36% of consumers in this practice scenario prioritise their own timing and touch. |
| Key range and piano feel | Compare the range of your patterns with the number of keys and check whether the keyboard is touch-sensitive or weighted. | I want to play my patterns across the range I need and practise piano technique on a weighted keyboard. Around 29% of consumers prioritise piano range and weighted keys. |
| Transport and setup | Measure the available width and depth, and allow space for yourself and a music stand if needed. Also compare the stated weight. | I need to carry the instrument or fit it into a shared rehearsal room. Around 21% of consumers put transport and setup first. |
| Listening in a shared space | Check which headphone and audio connections the exact model has and which plug you need. | I want to practise without disturbing others with the speaker sound, or connect the instrument to an audio setup. Around 14% of consumers prioritise their listening setup. |
An automatic pattern won’t show whether you’re playing the notes in sequence evenly. Yamaha says the PSR-E383 has arpeggio types, but these are no substitute for playing the notes yourself.
Play the pattern yourself first, slowly, then at the tempo you want to practise. Treat automatic patterns as an extra feature.
Yamaha describes the PSR-E383 as touch-sensitive, while Yamaha specifies a piano keyboard for the P-145 and Korg does the same for the B2. These terms therefore refer to different types of keyboard.
Choose according to the playing feel you want to practise, and try different types of keyboard if possible.
Your playing space also needs room for you and any accessories. What’s included varies by model; for example, Korg lists the PU-2 pedal unit as optional for the B2.
Measure the whole playing area and check what’s included with the exact version on offer.
If you need a pedal for your practice, check whether the version you want includes one. Korg describes the PU-2 pedal unit, which supports half-pedalling, as an optional extra for the B2.
The PSR-E383 is a standalone keyboard with 61 touch-sensitive keys; the P-145 is a digital piano with 88 keys.
The CT-S300 is a keyboard option for anyone who values touch response and portability.
The B2 is a digital piano with 88 weighted keys, a metronome and a combined headphone/line output.
The FP-30X is a digital piano with an 88-key keyboard and connections for headphones or external powered speakers.
A portable 61-key digital piano to consider for practising broken chords; check that its range and keyboard suit your practice goals.
No image available
An option if your exercises fit within a 61-key range and you’re looking for a weighted keyboard.
The product name lists 61 keys, a weighted keyboard, 300 sounds, 300 rhythms, an LCD screen, USB-MIDI, built-in speakers, a headphone socket and a music stand.
If you need a wider piano range, you could also consider an 88-key option.
Not by itself: if you want to practise your own finger movements and timing, you need to play the notes yourself. Yamaha lists arpeggio types for the PSR-E383; think of automatic patterns as an extra feature.
Compare the exact instrument’s dimensions with your playing space, and check which power supply, headphone plug and pedal version you need. Yamaha specifies the correct voltage and the supplied or specified adapter for the PSR-E383; Korg lists which adapter and pedal are included with the B2.
If a product is faulty, the seller must provide a solution under guidance from the Dutch government; there is no fixed statutory warranty period in the Netherlands. Also check which parts are included with the exact version, as the Korg PU-2 pedal unit, for example, is optional.
No. For products that must carry a CE mark under the relevant harmonised EU rules, the manufacturer uses it to state that the product complies with those rules. According to the European Commission, there is no central EU body that issues prior approval or a certificate for all CE-marked products; check the product information for the item you’re buying.
According to the Dutch government, many distance purchases from a business come with a 14-day cooling-off period, but there are exceptions. Check the seller’s information for your specific purchase.
