If you mainly practise on your own in a shared home, a portable digital piano with a headphone socket may be all you need. Look for a keyboard and pedal that suit the way you accompany songs, too. If you rehearse with a singer or in different locations, check the built-in speakers, audio outputs and controls. A model without speakers will need external audio equipment for group rehearsals. Headphones won’t make the sound of the keys, pedal or singing inaudible to housemates.
You’re learning piano parts while housemates are nearby, and want to listen to the piano sound through headphones. Headphones won’t silence every sound you make while playing; the Dutch government recommends agreeing on music and practice times.
You want to work through songs together, so you’ll need a way for the singer to hear the piano. Check whether each model can do this through built-in speakers or a suitable external audio set-up.
You sometimes take your instrument with you, so you’ll need to weigh portability and connections against any extra equipment a stage set-up might require. Check the connections and dimensions of the exact version; Korg, for example, describes the D1 as a compact model with line outputs.
A good fit if: you mainly practise on your own but sometimes want to play with others without extra equipment.
The trade-off: built-in speakers make the piano audible to others, but they don’t replace agreeing on volume and practice times.
A good fit if: you play at home and in different rehearsal set-ups, and will use the extra controls or connections.
The trade-off: extra features aren’t automatically necessary for simple piano accompaniment; check that they suit your rehearsals.
A good fit if: you usually play with headphones or already have suitable external audio equipment.
The trade-off: you’ll need external audio equipment if a singer needs to hear the piano.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Being considerate of housemates | Check the headphone socket and what happens to the built-in speakers when you plug in headphones. | When I practise at home with housemates nearby, I want to listen to the piano privately while being mindful that the keys will still make some noise. Around 29% of consumers prioritise quiet solo practice. |
| Piano playing and song accompaniment | Try the keyboard and check that the pedal connection and features you want suit the way you play. | When learning melodies and chords, I want a keyboard and pedal that suit my playing. Around 29% of consumers prioritise piano playing and song accompaniment. |
| Rehearsing together and connections | Check the speakers, audio outputs, headphone output and the cables your set-up requires. | When I rehearse with a singer, they need to hear the piano accompaniment, and I want to know which connections are needed. Around 24% of consumers put rehearsing together and making connections first. |
| Space and complete playing set-up | Measure the space for the instrument, music rest and stand; also check which accessories are included. | In a shared home, I want to know whether the instrument and the space I need to play will fit, and which extra items I’ll need. Around 18% of consumers prioritise space and a complete set-up. |
You can listen to the electronic piano sound through headphones, but the physical sound of playing or singing along may still be audible to housemates.
Agree on practice times and assess the set-up in the room where you’ll be playing.
According to Korg, the D1 has no built-in speakers. For a group rehearsal where others need to hear the piano, you’ll need external audio equipment.
Before you buy, check how you and the other musicians will hear the piano during rehearsals.
You’ll also need space for the player, music rest and stand. Accessories supplied can vary between models and offers.
Measure the whole playing area and check what’s included with the version you’ve chosen.
A stand or the pedal upgrade you want may need to be bought separately; check what’s included in your chosen bundle.
The P-225 is a portable digital piano for practising piano parts at home. Yamaha specifies 88 GHC keys for this model.
The ES120 is a portable piano for solo practice or connection to external audio equipment.
The RD-88 EX is aimed at players who want to use different sounds and connections in a range of rehearsal settings.
According to Korg, the D1 is a slimline stage piano with an RH3 keyboard, headphone socket and line outputs.
The Privia PX-S1100 is a portable digital piano with built-in speakers.
These Joybuy products are 61-key digital pianos for solo practice and working through songs; bear in mind their more limited range of keys.
No image available
The headphone socket and built-in speakers make it a good option if you want to switch between solo and group practice.
Weighted, touch-sensitive keys; 300 sounds; 300 rhythms; LCD screen; USB-MIDI; music stand.
This instrument has 61 keys; check that its range suits the piano parts you want to learn.
No image available
The headphone socket and built-in speakers offer options for solo practice and playing accompaniment aloud.
USB-MIDI; metronome; recording function; music stand.
This instrument has 61 keys; check that its range suits the songs you want to accompany.
You can listen to the electronic piano sound through a suitable connection, but the sound of the keys, pedal or singing along may still be audible. According to the Kawai manual, the ES120’s speakers switch off when you plug in headphones; check this separately for other models.
Not through built-in speakers on the Korg D1, as Korg states that this model doesn’t have any. Use headphones or connect the instrument to external audio equipment; check which connections and cables will work for your rehearsal.
Measure more than just the instrument: allow room for the player, music rest and stand, too. Yamaha specifies a depth of 272 mm for the P-225 without the music rest and 362 mm with it; check the dimensions of the model you’re considering.
According to ACM ConsuWijzer, you have a statutory guarantee in addition to any retailer’s or manufacturer’s guarantee. If the product doesn’t perform as you could reasonably expect during normal use, the retailer is responsible for providing a suitable free remedy; this doesn’t mean every piano has the same fixed guarantee period.
Keep the volume low and take breaks. The World Health Organization links the risk to hearing to both sound level and listening time; its example of 80 dB for a maximum of 40 hours a week is general guidance, not a measured safe setting for a specific piano and pair of headphones.
