Choose based on the lowest and highest notes in your sheet music, as well as the space available for the instrument. A touch-sensitive keyboard with fewer keys may suit you if your pieces fit its range; a digital piano with weighted keys offers a wider piano range, but generally needs more room. Using headphones won’t necessarily prevent the keys or pedals from making audible noise.
You want to play pieces with a wide note range and may also want to practise on weighted piano keys. Compare the lowest and highest notes in your sheet music with the range of the specific instrument. Yamaha Nederland lists 61 keys for the PSR-E383 and 88 GHC keys for the P-145; Roland Nederland describes the FP-10 as having 88 keys.
You want to be able to practise while other people are at home. Headphones can limit the sound from the speakers, but the keys and pedals may still be audible. Roland notes this for digital pianos with a hammer action.
You want to be able to put the instrument away after use and still play your sheet music. Compare the dimensions of the exact model with the space available for the instrument, music stand and your seat. Casio Nederland lists the CT-S300 as 930 mm wide; Yamaha gives the P-145’s width as 1.326 mm.
First, check the range of the pieces you practise and the space available for the instrument. Then compare the feel of the keys, the sound where you’ll practise and the accessories you’ll need.
A good fit if: your pieces fit within the shorter keyboard’s range and you want to move or store the instrument regularly.
Consider: touch-sensitive keys aren’t the same as weighted piano keys. Also check the headphone socket and what’s included.
A good fit if: your sheet music calls for a wider range, or you want to practise with a piano-like touch and have enough space to set it up.
Consider: the longer keyboard takes up more space. With a hammer action, the keys and pedals may also make physical noise even when you’re using headphones.
| What to consider | What to look for | Especially relevant if |
|---|---|---|
| Key range and touch | Note the lowest and highest notes in a few pieces you practise and compare them with the exact keyboard. If possible, try the key action too. | I play sheet music with a wide range, so I don’t want notes to fall outside the keyboard’s range. Around 29% of consumers prioritise range and touch. |
| Noise for other people at home | Check the model’s socket and the plug on your headphones. See how much noise from the keys and pedals remains where you’ll practise. | I want to practise while others are at home and take account of noise that headphones won’t block. For around 29% of consumers, noise for other people at home is the top priority. |
| Space for setup and storage | Measure the available width and depth, allowing for the music stand and chair. Compare these measurements with the exact model. | I want to put the instrument away after use, so it needs to fit along with my sheet music and seating area. Around 24% of consumers prioritise size and storage. |
| Practice routine and accessories | Check whether a music stand is included, how the metronome works and which power supply or pedals come with the specific offer. | I want to position my sheet music properly and practise keeping time without discovering later that I’m missing something I need. Around 18% of consumers put an easy practice routine first. |
The number of sounds doesn’t tell you whether the keyboard covers the range of your sheet music. The models mentioned include instruments with both 61 and 88 keys.
Before choosing, compare the lowest and highest notes in pieces you actually practise with the range of the exact model.
If your pieces fall outside the range of the keyboard you choose, you may still need a different instrument.
Roland explains that a hammer-action keyboard and pedal operation can cause mechanical noise or vibrations. This noise won’t disappear just because you’re listening through headphones.
Check the physical noise where you plan to practise and talk it over with the people you live with. A sound-dampening mat can’t guarantee silence.
You may need to adjust your setup. Decide for yourself whether the remaining noise is acceptable in your home.
The Casio manual states that headphones for the CT-S300 are sold separately. For the CDP-S110BK, Casio lists an SP-3 pedal as included.
Check what’s included in the specific offer and the model’s connections, rather than relying on the product family name alone.
Depending on the model, you may still need suitable headphones or a compatible pedal.
The Yamaha models mentioned offer different keyboard lengths: a more compact keyboard option and a digital piano with 88 keys.
The CT-S300 is a compact keyboard; the CDP-S110BK is a slim digital piano with hammer action and a PHONES/OUTPUT socket.
According to Roland Nederland, the FP-10 is a digital piano with 88 keys, headphone playback and a PHA-4 keyboard.
This Joybuy selection includes two instruments with 61 keys, intended for pieces that fit within that range.
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May suit you if the notes in the pieces you practise fit within the 61-key range.
61 touch-sensitive, weighted keys; metronome and headphone socket, according to the product description.
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May suit sheet music practice if the pieces fit within the 61-key range.
61 keys; the product description lists a music stand, metronome and headphone socket.
No, headphones don’t block every sound. Roland describes mechanical noise from hammer-action keyboards and pedals. Check the setup where you plan to practise and, if necessary, agree on arrangements with the people you live with. The Government of the Netherlands recommends agreeing things together as a first step when dealing with noise nuisance from neighbours.
Check that the socket is compatible with your headphones and keep the volume down. The World Health Organization recommends limiting the volume and taking regular listening breaks. The risk also depends on how long you listen and the sound level.
For a typical online consumer purchase, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) says you generally have a statutory cooling-off period of up to 14 days after delivery, subject to legal exceptions. The ACM states that Dutch statutory warranty has no fixed duration: what matters is what you can reasonably expect from the product. Also check what’s included with the product and the returns terms that apply to your purchase.
