Who is this guide for?

Players who accompany others

You practise bass notes, chords and timing with your left hand, and want a keyboard and practice features that suit the way you play.

Loft dwellers who want to practise quietly

You’re mindful of other residents and want to decide in advance how you’ll listen and how much space your piano setup will take up. Headphones are a listening option, not a guarantee that playing will be inaudible.

Players who also rehearse

You practise at home, but may also want to use your piano at rehearsals or performances. In that case, controls, sounds and connections may all be important.

What should you consider when choosing?

Stage piano with built-in speakers

A good fit if: you want to play at home and also use stage features or connections for rehearsals.

Bear in mind: stage features add little if you only practise piano; check the connections and space requirements for the version you’re considering.

Stage piano without speakers

A good fit if: you usually play with headphones or already have a suitable audio system.

Bear in mind: you’ll need external audio equipment to play through speakers without headphones.

Portable digital piano for home use

A good fit if: practice, left-hand technique and finding a suitable place for it matter more than extensive stage controls.

Bear in mind: measure the whole playing area. With a stand and accessories, a portable model takes up more space than the piano alone.

Use the table to match your main priorities to your practice routine, listening setup, available space and whether you’ll use the piano outside your loft.

What to consider What should you check? Who should give this more weight?
Keyboard and timing Try the key action with your own accompaniment pattern; check the metronome, pedal connection and pedal included with the exact version. If I’m practising bass notes and chord changes, I want a keyboard that suits the way I play and lets me work on my timing. Around 36% of consumers put the emphasis on left-hand technique.
Listening in your loft Check the headphone socket and whether you’ll need built-in speakers or external audio to play without headphones. If I practise in a building with other residents, I want to know in advance how I’ll listen and whether my setup suits the environment. Around 29% of consumers prioritise practising quietly.
Space and setup Measure the available space, including the stand and music rest; Yamaha lists the P-225 as 1.326 mm wide. If space is limited, I want to know whether the full keyboard and playing area will fit. Around 21% of consumers prioritise a suitable place for their piano.
Use outside the loft Decide whether you need splits, layers or line outputs, and check the connections on the version you’re considering; Roland lists three zones for the RD-88 EX. If I also want to use the piano at rehearsals or performances, stage controls and connections matter to me. Around 14% of consumers prioritise using their piano outside the loft.

What to watch out for when buying

  • Assuming every stage piano has built-in speakers

    The Korg D1 has no built-in speakers, while Roland lists them for the RD-08. So check the listening options for the exact model.

    Before you buy, decide whether you want to practise with headphones, built-in speakers or an existing audio system.

  • Measuring only the depth of the piano

    Even a piano with a shallow casing needs space for the keyboard and playing setup. Yamaha lists the P-225 as 1.326 mm wide.

    Measure the space for the piano, stand, bench, pedal and music rest.

  • Assuming headphones will prevent noise from disturbing the neighbours

    Headphones affect how you hear the instrument, but can’t guarantee that key action or contact noise will be inaudible in every loft.

    Consider your building and, if necessary, agree arrangements with other residents.

Brands worth considering

Roland

The RD-08 and RD-88 EX are stage pianos worth comparing if you practise at home and also want to use stage features.

  • According to Roland, both models have 88 weighted keys and built-in speakers.
  • Roland says the RD-88 EX has three zones for splits and layers.
  • These specifications describe the features, not whether the playing feel will suit you.

Korg

The D1 is a stage-focused keyboard to consider if you play with headphones or an external audio system.

  • Korg specifies that the D1 has 88 RH3 keys, a headphone socket and line outputs.
  • The D1 has no built-in speakers; you’ll need external audio equipment to play through speakers without headphones.

Yamaha

The portable P-225 is a useful home-use comparison if piano practice matters more than stage controls.

  • Yamaha specifies that the P-225 has 88 keys and a split function.
  • Its listed width is 1.326 mm; check that this version will fit in your playing space.

Kawai

The portable ES120 is worth considering if you want to use a metronome or built-in rhythms while practising.

  • Kawai lists 88 weighted keys, headphone sockets, a metronome and 100 rhythm patterns.
  • These features alone don’t determine whether the model is right for every player.

Casio

The Privia PX-S1100 is a useful home-use comparison if the depth of the space available is important.

  • Casio specifies a casing depth of 232 mm and 88 hammer-action keys for this model.
  • Remember to allow space for the keyboard and your complete playing setup too.

Joybuy products to help you choose

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a split function for left-hand accompaniment?

No, not if you want to use a single piano sound across the whole keyboard. If you want different sounds for your left and right hands, check whether the exact model has a split or zone function. Yamaha lists a split function for the P-225, while Roland lists three zones for the RD-88 EX.

Can I use a stage piano without speakers without extra audio equipment?

According to Korg, you can listen to the D1 through headphones. To play through speakers, you’ll need external audio equipment for this model.

What rules apply if my piano playing disturbs the neighbours?

The Dutch government recommends talking things through with your neighbours first if noise is causing a problem. It also suggests contacting your landlord, local council or residents’ association. This doesn’t set a fixed practice time for every home, so check the arrangements and rules that apply to your loft.

What cooling-off period applies to an online purchase?

For eligible distance purchases, the Dutch government says a 14-day cooling-off period applies in many cases. Some situations don’t count as distance purchases, and there are exceptions. Check the seller’s information before ordering.

What can I do if the instrument is faulty when it’s delivered?

For eligible consumer purchases in Europe, the Dutch government describes rights to a repair or replacement if a fault was present when the item was delivered. Keep your proof of purchase and report the fault to the seller.