For practising at home in a shared household, a portable digital piano with built-in speakers and a headphone socket is a practical option. A stage piano is a better fit if you also use it elsewhere or need stage connections. Check whether speakers and your preferred stand are included with each model: according to Korg, the D1 has no built-in speakers. Headphones reduce the electronic sound, but they won’t silence the mechanical noise of the keys.
You’re learning a hymn in a shared household and want to disturb the people you live with as little as possible. Headphones reduce the electronic sound, but Kawai notes that the key action itself can also make percussive noise.
You want to practise a melody and, if needed, accompaniment on a piano keyboard, while still leaving room for the instrument, a stable set-up and sheet music.
You want to use the same instrument in different locations. The listening options and connections you need at each location will matter; Korg and Roland, for example, describe models with headphone and line outputs or built-in speakers.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sound at home | Check for a headphone socket and whether the mechanical sound of the keys will still be audible in the room. | If I practise while the people I live with are at home, my main priority is to limit the sound they can hear. Around 36% of consumers considering this choice give sound the highest priority. |
| Keyboard and pedal | Compare the number of keys and the type of keyboard. Check whether the sustain pedal you want is included or optional. | If I want to practise accompaniment as well as the hymn melody, I pay attention to the touch and pedal. Around 29% of consumers put piano playing first. |
| Space and set-up | Compare the stated dimensions on a like-for-like basis and check which stand and music rest come with the model. | If my room is short on space, the playing set-up needs to fit too. Around 21% of consumers make available space their top priority. |
| Use in different locations | Check how you want to listen in each location: through headphones, built-in speakers or external equipment. | If I practise at home and rehearse elsewhere, I want to be able to use the instrument in both places. Around 14% of consumers prioritise playing in different locations. |
Headphones reduce the electronic sound, but the key action may still be audible, as Kawai explains.
If possible, listen in the room where you plan to practise and agree practice times with the people you live with. The Dutch government advises people dealing with noise from neighbours to agree arrangements together first, for example about music.
According to Korg, the D1 has no built-in speakers; the Roland RD-08 does.
For each model, check how you plan to listen at home and at any rehearsal venue. You’ll need external audio equipment to play audibly through a model without speakers.
An instrument stand or a more extensive pedal set-up may be a separate accessory. Korg lists the instrument stand for the D1 separately; Yamaha says the LP-5A console with three pedals for the P-145 is optional.
Check the exact model and what’s in the box before you order.
The D1 is a stage piano without built-in speakers, suited to anyone who practises at home with headphones and also wants to use line outputs.
The RD-08 has built-in speakers and stage controls, while the FP-10 is a portable digital piano for a simple home set-up.
The P-145 is a portable digital piano for home use, rather than a model designed around stage controls.
The CDP-S110 is a compact option if a shallow cabinet and straightforward practice features are important to you.
The ES120 is a portable digital piano worth comparing if playing together or connecting to equipment elsewhere is important to you.
These Joybuy picks are digital keyboard instruments for practising at home; both product titles specify 61 keys.
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The title lists a headphone socket and built-in speakers for different listening set-ups at home.
61 weighted keys; the product title also lists 300 sounds, 300 rhythms, an LCD screen, USB-MIDI and a music rest. The range is more limited than on an 88-key piano.
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This keyboard has 61 keys and could suit you if you don’t need a full piano keyboard for practising at home.
The product title lists speakers, a metronome, a recording function, a MIDI controller and a music rest. The range is more limited than on an 88-key piano.
Not necessarily. Headphones reduce the electronic sound, but Kawai says the key action itself may still be audible. In a shared home, agree practice times with the people you live with. The Dutch government advises people dealing with noise from neighbours to agree arrangements together first, for example about music.
According to the Korg D1 manual, you can connect headphones or link the LINE OUT to audio equipment. Use the correct mains adaptor and check whether a stand is included in the set on offer.
The Korg D1 manual recommends wiping the outside with a clean, dry cloth. For other models, follow the care instructions in the relevant manual.
Check whether the stand and the pedal set-up you want are included in the set on offer. According to the Dutch government, online purchases from a business come with a 14-day cooling-off period in many cases. There is no fixed time limit for the statutory guarantee in the Netherlands; if a product is faulty, contact the seller.
