Start with the requirements of your exam board and the pieces you play. Check the keyboard range, touch sensitivity, weighted keys and whether you need a sustain pedal. Trinity College London requires these features for its digital piano exams, with the pedal depending on the exam requirements. Then choose between built-in speakers, headphone practice or a portable digital piano for home use. Your space and preferred features will determine the best set-up.
You want to practise dynamics and pedal technique with your exam pieces. Check the requirements of your exam board and repertoire. For its digital piano exams, Trinity College London specifies touch-sensitive, weighted keys and a sustain pedal when required.
You want to practise regularly in the spare room and switch to headphones if playing aloud would disturb others. The Netherlands government advises people dealing with noise from neighbours to discuss and agree arrangements together first.
You share the space with other activities, so you’re considering the instrument’s dimensions, its stand and whether the piano can be moved. Korg and Yamaha’s specifications show that the stated depth varies by model and depending on whether a music rest is fitted.
A good fit if: you want to explore other sounds or use the instrument on stage as well as studying for your exam, and want to practise audibly without a separate amplifier. Yamaha lists built-in speakers for the CK88, as does Roland for the RD-88 EX.
Keep in mind: extra sounds don’t replace the piano settings and pedal functions required for your exam pieces. Check the feel of the exact model against your repertoire.
A good fit if: you mainly practise with headphones or already have suitable external audio equipment. Korg says the D1 has weighted keys, a headphone socket and a damper pedal included.
Keep in mind: the Korg D1 has no built-in speakers, and the stand is sold separately.
A good fit if: a compact home set-up matters more to you than stage features. The Yamaha P-225 and Roland FP-30X are alternatives for home use, rather than stage pianos.
Keep in mind: check which pedal is included with each model and version, and whether it suits your repertoire. Roland lists two headphone outputs for the FP-30X; Yamaha specifies 88 GHC keys for the P-225.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Keys and pedal for your exam | Compare your exam board’s requirements and your pieces with the model specifications. Trinity College London specifies a sufficient keyboard range, touch-sensitive weighted keys and a sustain pedal when required. | I want to practise dynamics and pedal technique with my exam pieces; around 36% of consumers prioritise playing features that are suitable for their exam. |
| Practising without audible piano sound | Check whether the model has a headphone socket and how you plan to play when you’re not using headphones. | If I want to practise without playing the piano sound through speakers, this feature matters a lot; around 29% of consumers put quiet practice first. |
| Space and complete set-up | Measure the space, including the music rest and room for your seat. Korg lists the D1’s depth as 263 mm without the music stand and 375 mm with it in place; Yamaha lists the P-225 as 272 mm deep, or 362 mm with the music rest. | In a multifunctional spare room, I want to know how much space the instrument takes up with the full set-up; around 21% of consumers give space and set-up top priority. |
| Extra sounds and stage use | Decide whether you’ll use the extra sounds, and check separately that the piano setting and pedal functions meet your exam requirements. | If I want to use the instrument on stage as well as for exam study, extra sounds and controls matter; around 14% of consumers choose stage use as their main distinguishing requirement. |
The number of keys alone says nothing about touch sensitivity, the keyboard range needed for your chosen pieces or the pedal function you’ll need.
Compare your exam board’s requirements with the full specifications of the exact model, and try out relevant passages from your repertoire.
Korg says the D1 has no built-in speakers. So without headphones, you won’t hear the electronic piano sound through the instrument itself.
Decide in advance whether you’ll practise only with headphones or also need external audio equipment.
The stated depth of the Korg D1 varies depending on whether the music stand is fitted: 263 mm without it and 375 mm with it, according to Korg.
Measure the full playing area, including the music rest, stand and space for your seat, and check what’s included with the version you’re buying.
The D1 is a stage piano without built-in speakers, designed for home practice with headphones or external audio equipment.
The CK88 is a stage keyboard for players who want to combine practice with other sounds; the P-225 is a portable alternative for home use.
The RD-88 EX is designed for home and stage use; the FP-30X is a portable digital piano for the home.
The Privia PX-S1100 is a portable digital alternative for a spare room where space is a consideration.
No, it depends on your exam board and the pieces you’ve chosen. For its digital piano exams, Trinity College London requires a sufficient range, touch-sensitive weighted keys and a sustain pedal if the repertoire calls for one. Check the other rules for your exam too.
Yes, as long as you have a way to hear the sound. According to Korg, the D1 has a headphone socket and line outputs; you’ll need external audio equipment to play without headphones.
Measure the space for the piano and the complete playing set-up, including the music rest, stand and seating area. Also check what’s included with the exact version, and follow the model’s manual for connecting, cleaning and storing it.
According to ACM ConsuWijzer, online consumer purchases often come with a cooling-off period of up to 14 days after delivery, although exceptions may apply depending on the circumstances. ACM ConsuWijzer also says that if a product doesn’t meet what you could reasonably expect when used normally, the seller must provide an appropriate remedy free of charge.
