Who is this guide for?

Pianists practising exam dynamics

You want to practise both quiet and powerful passages, and find out which keyboard and pedal suit your chosen exam route and pieces. ABRSM and Trinity set out their exam requirements separately.

Home pianists in a shared household

You want to practise with headphones and switch to a suitable speaker setup when needed. The World Health Organization identifies volume and listening time as factors in safe listening.

Pianists who also rehearse elsewhere

You want to take your instrument with you, so you’re comparing a stage piano with a portable digital piano. Dimensions, weight and the setup you need can vary by model.

What should you consider when choosing?

Start with the requirements of your exam route and how you want to listen. Then check that the keyboard, pedal and setup suit your pieces and practice space.

What to consider What should you check? Who does this matter to?
Touch and exam requirements Compare your exam route’s requirements with the range, key size, weighting and touch sensitivity of the exact model. ABRSM and Trinity set out their conditions for their own exam routes. If I want to practise quiet, powerful and repeated passages from my pieces, the touch needs to suit me. Around 36% of consumers put touch and exam requirements first.
Quiet listening Check the headphone socket and how you’ll play without headphones; also consider volume and listening time. If I want to practise quietly at home, I want to know in advance how the piano works with my headphones and any speakers. Around 29% of consumers prioritise quiet listening; the World Health Organization points out that both volume and listening time matter.
Pedal and setup Check which pedal function your pieces require and what’s included. Roland says the RD-08’s included pedal doesn’t support half-pedalling; Korg lists a separately available half-damper option for the D1. If I want to use the piano straight away in my practice space, I want to know whether the pedal and other components suit my plans. Around 21% of consumers prioritise the pedal and a complete setup.
Moving it around Compare the weight and the stand required for the exact version. Yamaha lists the P-225 at 11.5 kg; Kawai lists the ES120 at 12.5 kg. If I move between home, lessons and rehearsals, portability matters more to me than stage controls. Around 14% of consumers prioritise portability.

Common buying pitfalls

  • Assuming weighted keys guarantee suitability for every graded exam

    ABRSM and Trinity set conditions for their own exam routes. Key weighting alone doesn’t tell you whether an instrument meets all the requirements for your exam and repertoire.

    Check your exam board’s rules, then try the exact model with passages from the pieces you’ve chosen.

  • Assuming every stage piano can be heard without extra equipment

    Korg says the D1 doesn’t have built-in speakers. You’ll therefore need another way to hear it if you’re not using headphones.

    Decide in advance how you want to practise with and without headphones, and check which connections the version has.

  • Assuming an included pedal supports half-pedalling

    Roland says the pedal included with the RD-08 doesn’t support half-pedalling. For the Korg D1, Korg lists a separately available option.

    Check which pedal technique your pieces require and exactly what comes with the version you’ve chosen.

Brands to include in your comparison

Roland

The RD-08 is a stage piano for anyone who wants to practise at home and use their instrument elsewhere too.

  • Roland specifies a weighted 88-key PHA-4 keyboard and built-in speakers.
  • According to Roland, the included pedal doesn’t support half-pedalling; the brand lists separately available options for this.

Korg

The D1 is a stage piano without built-in speakers, designed for use with headphones or external audio equipment.

  • Korg specifies 88 weighted RH3 keys, a headphone socket and an included damper pedal.
  • You’ll need external audio equipment to play without headphones; the half-damper option mentioned is sold separately.

Kawai

The ES120 is a portable digital piano for home use and for situations where you need to move your instrument.

  • Kawai specifies a Responsive Hammer Compact keyboard, two headphone sockets and a weight of 12.5 kg.
  • A suitable stand and a three-pedal unit are listed as accessories; check what’s included with the version you choose.

Yamaha

The P-225 is a portable digital piano for anyone who mainly practises at home and wants to compare a different keyboard.

  • Yamaha Netherlands specifies 88 GHC keys, adjustable touch sensitivity and an instrument weight of 11.5 kg.
  • Check the pedal and stand options you want separately, and try the touch for yourself.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a digital piano for my graded exam?

It depends on the exam board and the exam format. ABRSM Practical Piano Grades 2025–2026, for example, has requirements including piano tone and full-size, weighted, touch-sensitive keys. Trinity allows digital pianos for Digital Grades if, among other things, the range, weighted touch-sensitive keyboard and, where required, sustain pedal meet its requirements. Check the rules for your exam and chosen pieces.

Can I practise quietly with headphones for as long as I like?

Even with headphones, keep volume and listening time in mind. The World Health Organization points out that volume, duration and repeated exposure to loud sound all matter. The settings and connections you need will depend on the piano and your headphones.

Is an included sustain pedal always enough?

Not if your pieces require half-pedalling and the included pedal doesn’t support that function. Roland says the pedal supplied with the RD-08 doesn’t support half-pedalling; Korg lists a separately available half-damper option for the D1. Match the pedal function to your pieces and check what comes with the exact version.

What are my rights when buying online in the Netherlands?

For online consumer purchases, you generally have up to 14 days after delivery to change your mind, subject to legal exceptions. Products must also be of satisfactory quality; according to the Dutch government, the seller must provide a solution if there’s a problem. There’s no standard fixed period for the statutory guarantee in the Netherlands.