Start by choosing a keyboard and pedal set-up that lets you practise the passages in your recital piece. Then consider how you want to listen in the studio and how often you’ll be transporting the instrument. Built-in speakers can make it easier to practise independently, while audio outputs are useful if suitable external equipment is available. Also check which pedals and other components are included in the specific offer, and whether the required CE marking is present.
You’re practising touch, dynamics and pedalling for a particular piece, and want to assess the keyboard and pedal set-up for yourself. Yamaha describes the P-525 as having 88 GrandTouch-S keys and supporting three pedals with a suitable pedal unit; Kawai lists an optional triple pedal unit for the ES920.
You want to be able to play as soon as you arrive, without relying on an external sound system. Built-in speakers and a headphone socket may therefore be worth considering; Roland and Kawai list built-in speakers for the RD-88 and ES920 respectively.
You regularly take your piano to the studio and weigh up the instrument’s weight, the space available and the components you’ll need against your preferred playing set-up. Yamaha lists the P-525 at 22,0 kg, while Kawai lists the ES920 at 17 kg.
Start with the passages you need to practise: work out which key and pedal functions you’ll need. Then consider how you want to listen and which components you’ll need to bring to rehearsals.
| What to consider | What to look for when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Touch and pedal control | Assess the keyboard and check whether the pedal unit you need is included and compatible. | If touch and pedalling are crucial to the passages, I want to be able to tailor the playing set-up accordingly. Around 36% of consumers prioritise touch and pedal control for their recital piece. |
| Self-contained sound | Check whether the model has built-in speakers or whether you’ll need headphones or external equipment. | If the studio doesn’t have suitable amplification, I want to be able to practise without first arranging an external sound set-up. Around 29% of consumers prioritise being able to practise and hear the piano without external equipment. |
| Transport and set-up | Compare the stated instrument weight and factor in any stand, pedals and sound equipment you’ll need to bring. | If I’m transporting the piano to rehearsals myself, its weight and the extra components I need to bring matter too. Around 21% of consumers prioritise transport and set-up. |
| Connections | Compare the audio, MIDI and headphone connections with the equipment you use in the studio. | If I want to connect to studio equipment or listen back while practising, the connections need to work with that set-up. Around 14% of consumers consider connections the most important factor when buying. |
The pedal functions you need may depend on accessories that aren’t included with every set. Yamaha says the P-525 supports three pedals when used with a suitable pedal unit; Kawai lists the F-302 unit for the ES920 as optional.
Compare the pedal requirements of your piece with the contents and compatibility of the specific offer.
If you need external sound equipment, you may also have to bring it and connect it yourself.
The Joybuy model below has 61 keys; the recital options mentioned here – the Yamaha P-525, Kawai ES920 and Nord Piano 6 88 – have 88 keys. Whether the range is sufficient depends on the notes in your score.
Check the range of your piece and assess the actual keyboard before making a choice.
The P-525 is a portable piano worth comparing if the keyboard and pedal work are central to your recital piece.
The RD-88 is a stage piano worth comparing if you want a compact rehearsal set-up with direct control over the sound.
According to Kawai, the ES920 combines a portable cabinet with a hammer-action keyboard and built-in speakers.
The Nord Piano 6 88 is an option to compare if you want to combine layered sounds and hands-on control with a planned sound set-up.
This is a portable digital piano with 61 keys and built-in speakers. Check whether its range suits your recital piece and whether the version on offer carries the required CE marking.
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The built-in speakers may suit independent practice; check whether 61 keys give you enough range for your score.
The product name lists a weighted keyboard, speakers, a headphone socket and USB-MIDI.
Check the CE marking on the specific offer before buying. The NVWA states that CE marking is compulsory for electrical consumer products.
That depends on the pedal functions your piece requires and what’s included in the set being sold. Yamaha says the P-525 supports three pedals when used with a suitable pedal unit; Kawai lists the F-302 for the ES920 as optional, while Nord lists the Triple Pedal 2 as included with the Piano 6.
Before buying, check how you want to listen. Roland and Kawai list built-in speakers for the RD-88 and ES920; Nord specifies a headphone output and audio outputs for the Piano 6 88. Also check which pedals and other components are included with the set you choose.
For a consumer purchase in the Netherlands, the seller must offer a solution if a product doesn’t meet reasonable expectations; there is no fixed duration for the statutory guarantee. For distance sales, the Dutch government says you have a 14-day cooling-off period in many cases. Check whether these rules apply to your particular purchase.
Yes. The NVWA states that CE marking is compulsory for electrical consumer products. This doesn’t confirm that a particular offer or the item supplied meets the requirement; check the marking on the specific product before deciding it’s suitable to buy.
