Korg SP170s 88-Key Digital Piano Review

Korg SP170s 88-Key Digital Piano Review

Finally we got to check out the Korg SP170s 88-Key Digital Piano.

My niece and I are having great fun playing the different digital pianos at the music store looking for the right piano under $500. So far we tested the Yamaha NP 30and the Casio PX 130. The dealer came over and asked us if we had tried the new Korg SP 170 they just got in the store? It is brand new, released last year and you can usually find it for just under $500. Check out our Korg SP 170 review.

It comes in two different colors – Silver and Black. What really surprised us with this model is that there are NO buttons at all. So you would think that the Korg SP 170 Digital Piano only plays one sound and that’s it. Not so at all…

You can change the sound by holding the 3 top keys down while selecting a corresponding key for the sound you want. I don’t think anyone has done this kind of system before but it makes for a very clean and beautiful looking electric piano. And once you get used to this way of changing the sounds, it is actually very simple to do.

On the top of the piano is the built-in speakers facing the player. Very nice layout. The volume control is on the back which can be hard to get to when playing but it makes the look very streamlined. There are also 2 separate headphones jack outputs on the back. Nice for when working with a teacher and you can not play out loud. It comes with a matching stand (optional extra) which make the piano a very beautiful instrument that would look great in any home.

How does the Korg SP 170 sound?

There are a total of 10 sounds. Two brand new grand pianos, 2 electric pianos, harpsichord, clavichord, vibraphone, two organs and finally strings. The newly recorded piano sounds are multi dynamic recordings made for this series specifically. With Korg’s great reputation in the keyboard world you would expect brilliant sounds and they don’t disappoint. The sounds are awesome. Better than the Casio PX 130 and as good or maybe even better than the Yamaha NP-30. The speakers sounded great too. A nice robust sound coming from the full-range oval speakers housed in an internal bass-reflex cabinet. Check out the sounds in this video.

Click Here For More Reviews of Korg Sp 170

Extra Features in the Korg SP 170

Even though it has no buttons the Korg SP170 still have a few tricks up in it’s sleeve.

You can tune and transpose the notes. Tuning is helpful if you are playing with other instruments that have a hard time tuning correctly. Transposing is great if you only know how to play a specific song in one key but need a different key to match a singers range. Again this is done using the 3 top keys down technique from before.

There are also beautiful selectable reverb and chorus effects. These added great depth to the sounds. Try adding chorus to the electric piano sounds and you will get a big wide professional sound or reverb to the strings to get a lush concert hall sound.

The piano is really a joy to play. Korg have created new natural weighted hammer action keys. The Korg SP 170 is weighted like a real piano, with a heavier touch in the lower ranges and becoming lighter and lighter in the higher keys. Similar to the Yamaha NP-30 but this time with real weighted keys and not simply spring back.We actually preferred playing the Korg piano over the same priced Casio PC 130 which also have weighted keys.

Conclusion – Korg SP 170

There is no doubt that we both liked the Korg SP 170 very much. It looks like a piano, it plays like a piano and it sounds like a piano. What more can you want? Well it does not have all the features as the Clavia PX 130. Features like USB input to computer or song recorder. There is no midi spilt on the keyboard to let you play two different sounds at once. And you are not able to layer two sounds either. Although it has midi out to connect to another midi instrument, it does not have midi in. That means you cannot use the computer to play back the Korg SP 170. If none of that matters to you, then this digital piano is simply made for you. Wonderful sound, playability and looks as well as a price anyone can afford. There you go, you have found your first digital piano in the Korg SP170 88-key Digital Piano.

Insider Tips

The Korg Sp 170 comes with a sustain pedal, music stand and AC adapter. Optional you can also get a matching stand for it. A good piano bench is also highly recommended. It will match the look nicely and help keeping the right posture when playing the piano. I also recommend getting a good pair of headphones. It can help keep the peace around the house when playing late a night.

If you would like to save the tax (who wouldn’t), think about getting your piano online. I always get my musical gear at Amazon. Their customer service is the best and you can easily return the piano if it does not live up to your expectations.

So CLICK HERE to check out the price at Amazon and if you end up getting the Korg SP 170, enjoy.

Korg SP170s 88-Key Digital Piano Review

Yamaha NP30 76-Key Portable Grand Piano Review

Yamaha NP30 76-Key Portable Grand Piano Review

[caption id="attachment_128" align="alignleft" width="300"] Click on the image to see Yamaha NP30 76-Key Portable Grand Piano best price

As my niece is looking to buy a digital piano for under $500 we headed to our local music store to look at the Yamaha NP 30 Portable Grand Piano. It offers a really good sound and a solid yet lightweight feel. A really nice feature in the Yamaha NP30 is that the keys have a graded touch where the higher keys gets easier to press down, just like a real acoustic piano. For less than$300 with the adapter it is a bargain and a great option for my niece. For that price you won’t get real hammer action keys, it is spring action, but Yamaha really did a great job imitating hammer action with their graded touch. They feel much more real than what you would get in previous budget models and are a pleasure to play.

76 keys is what you get with the Yamaha NP30. Some purist would say that anything less than a full size 88 keys is going to be a problem. I beg to differ! At least for my niece and most beginners needs. None of the classical compositions and pop songs she likes to play make use of the few extra notes in the top and bottom end. So that is not really a big problem.

How does the Yamaha NP30 sound?

We both loved the sound of the Yamaha NP30. It comes with 10 different keyboard sounds like 2 acoustic grand pianos, electric piano, Rhodes, a couple of organs, vibraphone, strings and harpsichord. The Rhodes sound was really nice but most importantly for my niece, the acoustic piano sounds were wonderful. Grand 1 is a little darker than grand 2 and both sounds beautiful. If you have heard any of Yamaha’s more expensive pianos and keyboards, it is basically the same stereo AWM piano sound they have used here. The stereo sound really makes a difference. It used to only be mono samples, even in pretty expensive models. Glad to see manufactures are starting to use stereo sounds now also on their low-budget models. After all we do have two ears.

A nice feature on the Yamaha NP30 is that you are able to combine 2 sounds simply by holding down a button while pressing the corresponding 2 keys for the sounds you would like to combine. For example when we combined strings and Acoustic Grand 1, we got a beautiful David Foster sound for those Celine Dion type ballads. You can even transpose and adjust the level of the individual sounds when combining. Also try combining vibraphone and stings for a smooth Latin jazz sound.

[/caption]

The built-in speakers on the Yamaha NP30 Portable Grand Piano sounds really nice for regular playing at home. It seems like the sweet spot of the speakers is perfectly balanced towards the player. It can play pretty loud too and compete with acoustic guitar on a small gig, but if you are taking it to a larger gig you will need more amplification. The Yamaha is very light, only about 12 pounds. Makes it a breeze to carry around for gigs or traveling.

Yamaha NP30 Super Cool Features

A great feature we liked is that it is also battery powered. You can take it outside and play. We have a small lake at the end of our house. On a nice summer day, why not bring the piano out and practice with the sound of the ducks. I am sure they will appreciate it. Or why should the guitarist have all the fun at bonfires. Now she can join them.

Another feature is the built-in metronome. No need to buy a separate metronome here. It is easy to adjust the tempo to match the song you are playing. A great way to make sure you are learning the song in the correct tempo.

Finally it also has midi in and out. That means you can use the Yamaha NP30 as a controller for any synthesizer module you might have or even connect it to a midi-interface for a computer. If you have garageband or a similar program, you can use the keyboard to play the built in sounds in garageband and make your own full orchestrated compositions and productions. You do need a midi interface for the computer to be able to do so.

Conclusion:

My niece and I both agreed that for the money the Yamaha NP30 is a true bang for the bucks. The sound of the acoustic pianos is awesome. Better than most digital pianos costing twice as much. The speakers are great too. Loud and proud! And the portability is beyond anything I have seen before. Only 12 pounds and battery powered if needed. Perfect for a bonfire playoff! It’s not as playable as a piano with weighted keys, and only 76 keys will be a letdown for some people, yet it is still a very nice piano for the beginner. This electric piano will be a bestseller for years to come. And rightly so.

Yamaha NP30 76-Key Portable Grand Piano Review

Digital Piano Reviews 2014 : What actually is a digital piano?

Digital Piano Reviews 2014 : What actually is a digital piano?

Digital Piano Reviews 2014: All About “True” Digital Piano Experience. There is a huge difference between the sounds of a digital piano today to what it sounded like three or five years ago. If you are certain that nothing will match the sound of an acoustic or a traditional piano then think again. New digital pianos especially high end digital piano brands offer better digital sounds, improved amplifier systems and overall better key action to mimic the action of a real piano.

A digital piano is a musical instrument that duplicates the sound of a general piano. It looks like a standard piano with all the 88 keys present as well as designs that allow the instrument to be used just like an ordinary piano. But what makes it very different from an actual piano is that it has no strings that hammers need to strike to produce sounds; instead it has amplifiers and sampled sounds that are activated when the right keys are pressed. Keys of an acoustic piano use a weighted key action that allows users to play it like the original instrument.

A digital piano has more than just the keys, modern and updated digital pianos have more features to offer like volume controls, tempo controls, tone controls, different rhythms to select, LCD displays, a recording system and headphone or ear phone jacks. Digital pianos are known to provide the closest sound to a real piano and these are mostly used to create digital tracks and accompaniment to digitally produced music. Additional features to allow your piano to connect to a computer are thus handy like SD card slots, USB and MIDI connections, larger memory storage and multiple speaker outputs.

Digital Piano Reviews 2014: Digital piano versus an acoustic piano

Nothing is better than playing a real acoustic piano according to digital piano reviews; its sound reverberates through the instrument with every strike of its keys. The sound created is pure and incomparable however there are several advantages that digital instruments have as opposed to using acoustic ones:

1. Digital instruments are portable. Updated digital piano models weigh just less than 150 to 200 pounds. Musicians and artists can bring their digital piano anywhere they want to go.



2. A digital piano does not require heavy maintenance. It does not need tuning and expert care.



3. You can store or save music with a digital piano with its own memory functions or you may connect it to a computer to save large amounts of files.



4. Sounds of digital pianos have improved over the years and are beginning to sound more like their acoustic counterparts. Digital sound from digital instruments may be readily used to mix audio samples for various uses like commercials, movie sound effects, game sounds, etc.



5. Digital pianos play more sound samples than ever before; aside from piano, some updated models can play up to 250 tones, hundreds of rhythm samples and even actual music samples

A short digital piano reviews of three popular models

• 
  
  Casio PX850 BK 88-Key Privia Digital Piano – this beautiful digital piano features tri-sensor scaled hammer action complete with ebony and ivory piano keys. Comes with 18 tone samples with split and layer capabilities, able to provided digital audio recording and connect via your computer via USB storage. Has the capabilities of a digital instrument but the body of a large upright acoustic piano.



• 
  
  Roland F – 120 –SB Digital Piano – has SuperNATURAL piano engine and comes with an Ivory Feel-G full keyboard. Has features that will provide the best digital piano experience like a digital recorder, a metronome, twin piano playing for side-by-side piano playing and auto-off functions. Considered a great piano according to digital piano reviews for a beginner with its features but its price at $1,199.99 online is a major set-back.



• 
  
  Korg SP170s 88-key Digital Piano – has a simple and portable design with features that will improve your piano playing style. It has a piano play button, 10 internal sound buttons, grand piano sounds, key touch controls, headphones and speaker jacks and with available damper pedal and stand.Considered a great piano according to digital piano reviews for a pro but the Korg SP170s is portable and has impressive features but does not come with a stand; you need to pay extra for a stand and foot pedals for a truly authentic music experience.

Image
Title	Casio PX850 BK 88-Key Touch Sensitive Privia Digital Piano with 4 Layer Stereo Grand Piano Samples	Roland F-120-WH Digital Piano	Korg SP170s 88-Key Digital Piano, Black
Brand	Casio	Roland	Korg
EAN	0079767361822	0151000019414	4959112080942
Feature	Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action with Ebony and Ivory Keys 18 Tones with Split / Layer capability 256 note polyphony New 4 Layer Stereo Grand Piano Samples Stereo Digital Audio Recording to USB storage	SuperNATURAL Piano engine onboard. Ivory Feel-G keyboard for true piano feel and touch Metronome, recorder, and Twin Piano features for lessons or side-by-side performance. Environment friendly; low power consumption and Auto Off function Two classy finishes: Satin Black and White	Simple in design, the portable and stylish SP-170s emphasizes the vital piano elements: a comfortable keyboard, and a satisfying sound Convenient Piano Play button instantly recalls the main piano sound The Sound button provides access to each of the ten internal sounds The two skillfully sampled concert grand piano sounds capture all the nuances of the performer"s touch A total of ten sounds are provided, including electric pianos, harpsichord, organs, strings, and more
ListPrice	$1499.99	$1799.00	$599.99
Model	PX850 BK	F-120-WH	SP170SBK
MPN	PX850 BK	F120WH	SP-170SBK
PartNumber	PX850 BK	F120WH	SP-170SBK
Title	Casio PX850 BK 88-Key Touch Sensitive Privia Digital Piano with 4 Layer Stereo Grand Piano Samples	Roland F-120-WH Digital Piano	Korg SP170s 88-Key Digital Piano, Black
UPC	079767361822	761294501559
Warranty	1 year	90 days parts, 1 year labor, five year in home service	1 year
Price	$993.00	$1299.00	$499.99
Rating
Reviews	Read Reviews	Read Reviews	Read Reviews
Link	More Info	More Info	More Info

Product prices and availability are accurate as of Apr 4 9:13:39 UTC but are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the merchant site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

 

Digital Piano Reviews 2014 : What actually is a digital piano?

Best Digital Pianos and Acoustic: A Comparison

Best Digital Pianos and Acoustic: A Comparison

The digital piano is fast taking over despite the fact that the traditional piano produces superior and natural sound that can hold everyone spellbound. And it is not without a reason because digital pianos definitely have certain advantages over traditional (acoustic) pianos. Actually some of the best digital pianos can produce music that is almost similar in quality.

Digital pianos generally cost less than acoustic pianos. While there are larger priced models as well, some basic models such as those of Yamaha digital pianos are considerably lighter and easier to carry around. They do not require tuning because there are no steel strings and no hammers to strike them. Digital pianos have features to assist in learning and the best digital pianos come with musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) implementation.

There were times when the purists talked about the superiority of the acoustic pianos and they were correct to a great extent. However, constant improvement with technological innovations has resulted in production of digital pianos with the ability of producing sound as good as traditional pianos. There are certain features of digital pianos that are typical to electronic instruments and cannot be duplicated in acoustic pianos.

Most digital piano models allow you to edit and save what you play on the instrument. You can also attach headphones to practice in private. The best digital pianos produce a variety of tone quality and other sounds as well. Best digital pianos, for example, have settings for a concert grand piano, upright piano, tack piano and various types of electric pianos.

Digital pianos may look like traditional pianos and even produce similar sound quality but they do not feel like the real thing. Traditional pianos require a weighted action of your fingers to produce the note you want to, which is not the same thing as touch sensitivity required while playing on digital pianos. Another thing that is missing in the digital piano experience is the absence of technique and inability to produce a dynamic performance in front of an audience. It is akin to a computer, a CD player or an electronic game station; all said and done the digital piano is actually an alternate and not the ‘real thing’.

However, whenever technology has met with a challenge from a traditional product it has always tried to innovate further and improve. The latest and best digital pianos are hybrid pianos that combine the features of both acoustic and digital pianos. Yamaha digital pianos, particularly models marketed under the Disklavier brand are based on real acoustic pianos with real piano actions and designed in a way that the electromagnetic elements and sensors do not interfere with normal playing. They come with MIDI implementation and if you want to, you can disconnect the digital sound anytime. These new generation digital pianos are the ultimate in piano experience and can play a wide range of pre-recorded music and can be used along with piano instruction software.

Think carefully before you buy. Basic Yamaha or Casio digital piano is fine if you are looking for an easy to carry keyboard that can be connected to a sound system, one that allows you to practice in private with headphones and can be used for recording music using software. If not, then think carefully and choose between acoustic and hybrid Yamaha digital pianos.

Best Digital Pianos and Acoustic: A Comparison