Exam candidate looking to practise their playing technique
You want to work on dynamics, technique and pedalling at home, and choose your instrument based on your pieces and exam route. ABRSM and EPTA Netherlands offer different exam routes.
Who is this guide for?
Housemate who wants to practise quietly
You share your living space and mainly want to play with headphones. Whether a piano has built-in speakers affects the listening setup you’ll need.
Player with limited space
You need to fit the keyboard, stand and pedal into a small room. Compare the piano’s dimensions with the space needed for your complete playing setup.
What should you look for?
Your choice mainly depends on your exam pieces, how you’ll listen at home, the space available and what you need for a complete practice setup.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Key action and pedal | For Practical Music Grades 2025–2026, ABRSM specifies a recognisable piano sound, full-size touch-sensitive keys with weighted action and a sustain pedal. Check the requirements for your own exam route; EPTA requirements are not automatically the same. | If I’m preparing exam pieces, I want to practise technique, touch and pedalling on the instrument. Around 36% of consumers put key action and pedal at the top of their list. |
| Listening around housemates | Check whether the model has a headphone socket and built-in speakers. Using headphones doesn’t automatically stop the sound of the keys or pedal being heard around the home. | When I practise in a shared home, I want to hear the piano through headphones without assuming the setup will be completely silent. Around 29% of consumers give quiet practice their highest priority. |
| Space for your setup | Allow space for the music rest and playing position too. Casio lists a cabinet depth of 232 mm for the PX-S1100; Yamaha gives the P-225 an instrument depth of 272 mm, or 362 mm with the music rest. | If my room is short on space, I want to know how much room the piano needs with the music rest and pedal. Around 21% of consumers consider available setup space the most important factor. |
| Parts and accessories | Check what’s included with the exact version you’re buying. Korg lists a music rest and damper pedal among the accessories included with the D1; a dedicated stand and half-damper pedal are available separately. Kawai offers a stand and triple pedal unit as accessories for the ES120. | Before choosing, I want to know which parts I’ll need for a complete practice setup at home. Around 14% of consumers first check what’s included for the full setup. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming a headphone socket means silent practice
Headphones change how you hear the piano, but the product specifications listed don’t say how much mechanical key or pedal noise your housemates might hear.
Try the setup in your own home and agree practice times with your housemates. Don’t assume it will be completely silent just because the piano has a headphone socket.
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Choosing a piano without built-in speakers and no way to listen
The Korg D1 doesn’t have built-in speakers. According to the manual, you’ll need headphones or external audio equipment to hear yourself play.
Choose a model without speakers only if that listening setup suits how and where you practise.
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Measuring only the piano and forgetting the accessories
Supplied and optional accessories vary by model. A music rest can also increase the depth you’ll need.
Check what’s included with the exact offer and measure the complete practice setup, including the music rest, stand and pedal.
Brands to consider
Korg
The D1 is a stage piano without built-in speakers, aimed at players who practise with headphones or their own external audio equipment.
- Korg specifies an 88-key RH3 keyboard, a headphone socket and a supplied damper pedal for the D1.
- Without external listening equipment, you won’t hear yourself through built-in speakers. A dedicated stand is available separately. These are Korg’s model specifications, not the result of an independent playing test.
Roland
The FP-30X is a portable digital piano with headphone outputs and built-in speakers.
- Roland lists 88 PHA-4 Standard keys and two headphone outputs.
- Check which pedal version and stand are included with the offer you choose. Roland’s description of the key action is a manufacturer claim, not a comparative measurement.
Kawai
The ES120 is a portable model with headphone sockets and built-in speakers.
- Kawai lists a Responsive Hammer Compact keyboard and two headphone sockets.
- The stand and triple pedal unit are available separately as accessories. Kawai’s description of the playing feel is not an independent assessment.
Yamaha
The P-225 is a portable digital piano worth comparing if space for the instrument and music rest is important.
- Yamaha specifies 88 GHC keys and gives separate dimensions for the instrument and for the setup with the music rest.
- The depth of the piano cabinet alone doesn’t tell you how much room the complete setup needs. Also check which pedal version is included.
Casio
The Privia PX-S1100 is worth comparing if cabinet depth is a key constraint in a small room.
- Casio lists a cabinet depth of 232 mm for the PX-S1100.
- This measurement doesn’t show how much space the complete playing setup needs. Casio’s wider comparison with other pianos is based on its own research from July 2021 and isn’t a current ranking.
Joybuy product picks
The Joybuy picks below are designed for piano practice on a 61-key keyboard. Check that the keyboard’s range suits the pieces for your exam.
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MLS-931 digital piano, 61 keys, black
The headphone socket and built-in stereo speakers give you two ways to listen while practising.
The keyboard has 61 touch-sensitive, weighted keys. The product description lists a metronome and recording function.
With 61 keys, the keyboard won’t cover the full range of repertoire that includes notes outside its range.
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Electronic keyboard piano, 61 keys, black
The headphone socket lets you practise with headphones, while the built-in speakers give you the option to listen without them.
The product description lists a metronome and recording function.
With 61 keys, the keyboard won’t cover the full range of repertoire that includes notes outside its range.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my digital piano in my grade exam?
It depends on the exam board and the exam format. ABRSM Practical Music Grades have requirements for digital pianos, including a recognisable piano sound, full-size touch-sensitive weighted keys and a sustain pedal. EPTA Netherlands runs its own exam route; ABRSM’s requirements don’t confirm what’s allowed at an EPTA exam venue. Check with your own exam board.
Can I use a stage piano without speakers and no extra equipment?
You can connect headphones to the Korg D1. If you want to hear yourself play without headphones, the manual says you’ll need external audio equipment. This applies to the D1, not necessarily to every stage piano.
What can I do if my piano develops a fault after purchase?
According to the Dutch government, you’re entitled to a product that works as it should in the Netherlands, and you can contact the seller if there’s a fault. There’s no fixed statutory guarantee period; what you can reasonably expect depends, among other things, on the product and how it’s used. A manufacturer’s guarantee doesn’t replace your statutory rights.
Do I have a cooling-off period if I buy a piano online?
According to the Dutch government, online purchases from a business often come with a 14-day cooling-off period. Check the seller’s information and any applicable exceptions. The same distance-selling rules don’t apply when you buy from a private individual.