5 Best Digital Pianos under $1000 [Best Buying Guide]

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If you think $1000 isn’t an adequate budget for a brand-new epic digital piano, you’re highly mistaken. $1000 is more than enough to get you an excellent digital piano that is jam-packed with sounds and effects and delivers exceptional sound. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to pick up a great keyboard that meets all your needs and sounds exceptional. We have the top 5 digital pianos on the market for you today, all of which we guarantee will perform remarkably and won’t cost you a dime over $999.

Best Digital Pianos under 1000

The sound of an acoustic piano is unmatched in the world of pianos. It’s full, natural, and rich, and its warmth and grace absolutely fill the entire room. However, sometimes you have neither the space nor the budget to purchase one. In this case, digital pianos are a great replacement. They are cheaper, lighter, require less space, and are much more versatile than an acoustic piano. There are many excellent digital pianos available on the market. Whether you’re searching for a portable or console digital piano, today we will be highlighting a mix of the best 5 digital pianos we could find.

Also Read: Best Ways to Learn Piano As a Complete Beginner

Console vs. Portable Digital Pianos

The first thing you’ll notice about console digital pianos is how much they resemble an acoustic piano in terms of size, shape, and appearance. They’re large and somewhat hefty, yet also very elegant and compact, and they make a great addition to your home. Similar to an acoustic piano, they come with a 2 or 3 pedal board but are much easier to manage and maintain than one.

Portable digital pianos, as the name suggests, are lighter and smaller, which makes them more convenient to move around if you’re looking for a digital piano that will be primarily used for live performances.

  • Console digital pianos resemble traditional pianos a lot more than portable ones.
  • Unlike portable digital pianos, you don’t have to spend extra cash on new pedals for your piano.
  • Console digital pianos might make a better aesthetic for your home, but portable digital pianos can be moved from room to room whenever you please.

5 Best Digital Pianos under $1000

  1. Yamaha P45
  2. Roland FP-30X
  3. Kawai KDP75
  4. Casio PX-S1100
  5. Alesis Prestige Artist

5 Best Digital Piano under $1000 in 2022

Digital PianoYamaha P45Roland FP-30XKawai KDP75Casio PX-S1100Alesis Prestige Artist
Keys8888888888
Fully-Weighted KeysGraded Hammer Standard (GHS)Progressive Hammer ActionGrade-weighted HammersSmart Scaled Hammer ActionGraded Hammer Action
Touch SensitivitySoft, Medium, Hard, FixedSuper Light, Light, Medium, Heavy, Super Heavy, FixedAdjustable TouchLight, Medium Light, Normal, Medium Heavy, Heavy, FixedSoft, Medium, Hard, Fixed
ModesDuo mode for partner practiceDual, Split, and Twin PianoDual and Four HandsDuetLayer, Split, Lesson, Recording
Speakers6W + 6W11W + 11W9W + 9W8W + 8W25W + 25W
Weight25.35 lbs.32.7 lbs.79.5 lbs.24.7 lbs.28.21 lbs.

1. Yamaha P45

The Yamaha P-45 tops our list as the best digital piano under $1000, and for a good reason. It is the perfect high-quality 88-key keyboard and the newer, updated version of the Yamaha P-35 that the company discontinued. It has a very slim and minimalistic design and is very portable, making it ideal for live gigs and traveling.

You can also control many of P45’s settings using one button, which is one of the reasons its simplicity is perfect for beginners.

Touch

The P-45 features a graded hammer standard (GHS) keyboard that delivers weighted touch and imitates the feel of a real acoustic piano, which feels heavier on the lower octaves and lighter on the upper octaves. The keyboard also has matte-finished black keys, giving you a more realistic playing experience similar to an acoustic piano.

Sound

What’s interesting about the sound of this keyboard is that it was captured using AWM (Advanced Wave Memory) Stereo Sampling, which creates a deeper, richer, and more spacious sound by using 2 microphones (L and R) on the source, delivering authentic and warm piano sounds.

Features:

  • The 88 Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) keys simulate the feel of an acoustic piano.
  • A rich, detailed grand piano sound is created through full-stereo AWM sampling.
  • 4 reverb effect styles.
  • Keyboard layer mode for more complex sounds.
  • Duo mode for team exercises or teaching purposes.
  • Live performance using built-in stereo speakers and two 6W amplifiers.
  • Sustain footswitch, power adapter, sustain pedal, and a music rest included.

Pros:

  • Affordable.
  • Easy to use.
  • Minimalistic design.
  • Lightweight and portable.
  • Comes with built-in speakers.

Cons:

  • Not-so-great build quality.
  • No built-in recording function.
  • Headphone jack is in the back.

Also Read: 5 Best Small Pianos for Apartments

2. Roland FP-30X

The Roland FP-30X is FP-30’s big, stronger brother. It is also one of Roland’s most popular beginner digital pianos and a part of the company’s latest award-winning FP generation. It is one of Roland’s most popular and affordable digital pianos that offers supreme sound and features to give you a fantastic performance and help you develop your skills as a player.

The FP-30X features a simple and elegant design, available in black and white to match your house décor and space.

Touch

The PHA-4 Standard keyboard from Roland with Ivory Feel and Progressive Hammer Action provides the best playing experience and the ultimate realistic feel and touch when playing.

Sound

The Roland FP-30X is powered by Roland’s enhanced SuperNATURAL sound engine that gives your keyboard the natural sound of an acoustic piano and premium-sounding electric pianos. It also offers a selection of Roland’s best and high-quality acoustic and electronic sounds.

On your keyboard, you can also customize each note to your desired tone and shape it to respond to your personal touch.

Features:

  • Super NATURAL Piano sound engine with 256-note polyphony.
  • PHA-4 Standard keyboard with Progressive Hammer Action and Escapement.
  • Sleek and minimalistic design.
  • 12 pianos, 20 electric pianos, and 24 other sounds.
  • Built-in 11W speakers.
  • Dedicated mode that optimizes the sound when the FP-30X is placed on a desktop.
  • Audio and MIDI connectivity via USB AND Bluetooth.
  • Built-in 3-band EQ.
  • Dual headphone outputs and quiet keyboard action.
  • DP-2 damper pedal.

Pros:

  • Affordable.
  • Easy to use.
  • Minimalistic and sleek design.
  • Wide selection of sounds.
  • Comes with built-in speakers.
  • Natural and realistic feel to the keyboard.

Cons:

  • Limited number of effects.
  • Limited recording capabilities.

3. Kawai KDP75

This impressive digital piano is one of Kawai’s superstars that is packed with features. It sounds absolutely phenomenal, offering you the tone of one of the best grand pianos in the world, the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano. It has 88 fully-weighted keys that give you an authentic playing action comparable to that of an acoustic piano. The Kawai KDP75 made it on our list because of its affordable price and the abundance of features that are highly beneficial to players of all skill levels.

Touch

The Responsive Hammer Compact (RHC) keyboard action on the KDP75 was created to simulate the unique feel of an acoustic grand piano. It has a spring-less mechanism and solid construction that deliver continuous upward and downward motion and enhanced cushioning material that aids in minimizing keyboard noise, creating an authentic and beautiful performance.

Sound

The Kawai KDP75 samples the sound of the great Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano, a superior piano that has gained a reputation as the “premier piano of Japan.” It is a genuinely exceptional instrument that can be seen in competitions all over the world and used by some of the best pianists of all time.

Each key was individually recorded using advanced Harmonic Imaging technology, preserving the SK-EX concert grand piano’s rich harmonic nature, giving you an authentic experience.

Features

  • Improved Responsive Hammer Compact keyboard action.
  • Harmonic Imaging sound technology.
  • USB-MIDI connectivity.
  • Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano samples.
  • Low Volume Balance feature.
  • Piano sounds: Mellow Grand, Concert Grand, Modern Piano, and Studio Grand.
  • Onboard Metronome.
  • 2 Headphone outputs.
  • Built-in Burgmüller, Czerny, Beyer etudes, and Alfred lesson songs.
  • Damper Resonance simulation.
  • 192-note polyphony.
  • Dual and Four Hands modes.
  • 5 Headphone EQ types.
  • Improved SHS headphone sound with headphone type settings.
  • Kawai’s Triple Pedal System (damper, soft, and sostenuto.)
  • Support for PianoRemote and PiaBookPlayer apps for iOS/Android.

Pros:

  • Easy to use.
  • Minimalistic and elegant design.
  • Incredible and realistic sound.
  • Comes with built-in speakers.
  • Natural and realistic feel to the keyboard, similar to an acoustic piano.

Cons:

  • Heavy.
  • The most expensive digital piano on our list. ($999)

4. Casio PX-S1100

The Casio PX-S1100 is the world’s slimmest digital piano that is perfect for any space. One look at this keyboard, and you will notice that Casio really paid attention to the aesthetics. Besides being exceedingly slim, it also has a minimalistic, sleek design available in three colors, black, white, and red. To give a rich sound and maintain the emphasis on the stunning appearance, Casio has also managed to incorporate their Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard and scale it down to match their small frame.

Touch

The Casio PX-S1100 is an absolute delight to play due to its superb keyboard, which features Casio’s Smart Scaled Hammer Action that mimics the weight and feel of a grand piano. The 88-key Digital Scaling technology from Casio also dynamically regulates each key’s volume to enable maximum expressiveness when playing repeated notes, greatly enhancing your playing experience.

Sound

The beautiful sound of a grand piano was captured and faithfully recreated using Casio’s original Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source. All 88 keys’ individual strings were tuned to produce rich overtones through the speaker system. The Casio PX-S110 also has the ability to respond to key velocity and temporal variation and give you either delicate or strong sounds and match your key press.

Features:

  • 192-note polyphony and 18 built-in Tones.
  • Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard with simulated ebony/ivory keys.
  • Built-in Music Library of 60 songs.
  • Backlit touch-sensor controls.
  • Layer function that allows you to mix 2 sounds, and split function that assigns two different sounds to the bass and high zones of the keyboard.
  • One pedal jack (damper) and one pedal (SP-3.)
  • Digital effects (Sound Mode, Chorus, Brilliance, and DSP).
  • Two phone jacks allow two people to listen to the performance simultaneously.
  • Powerful stereo speaker system.
  • Class-compliant USB port.
  • Bluetooth audio.
  • Works with Chordana Play for Piano iOS/Android app.

Pros:

  • Affordable.
  • Lightweight.
  • Realistic sound.
  • Very slim and compact design.
  • Available in red, which is rarely available on other keyboards.
  • Bluetooth available.
  • Comes with built-in speakers.

Cons:

  • Limited preset sounds.
  • Glossy finish causes fingerprints.

Also Read: Best Lighted Keyboard Pianos

5. Alesis Prestige Artist

The Alesis Prestige Artist is the perfect, portable digital piano that you can bring anywhere. You can use it in your bedroom or on stage for a live performance, and it will give you a beautiful and substantial sound thanks to its two custom-voiced 25W micro-array speakers. This digital piano is packed with features and built-in sounds, along with 256 max polyphony and multi-sampling technology to give you a realistic acoustic piano experience. The Alesis Prestige Artist is the ideal digital piano for pianists of all skill levels.

Touch

This 88-key beauty has adjustable touch response graded hammer-action keys that give you a heavier touch in the lower octaves and a lighter touch in the higher octaves, precisely like you’d experience on an acoustic piano.

Sound

The Alesis Prestige Artist offers a realistic sound and 30 onboard tones for any genre of music you want to play. Its 256-voice polyphony lets you layer as many sounds as you like while adding effects like reverb to give your music additional depth and originality. What’s really impressive about this keyboard is that it has a total of 50W speakers that guarantee powerful and top-quality sound in every scenario.

Features:

  • 256-voice polyphony.
  • Adjustable touch response graded hammer-action keys.
  • Layer and split modes.
  • 4 touch sensitivity levels.
  • 30 onboard voices.
  • Top-quality arpeggiator for more creativity.
  • Two powerful 25W built-in speakers.
  • Built-in metronome to develop timing and rhythm.
  • Record Mode to record your performance.
  • OLED screen display.
  • Headphone output for private listening.
  • Sustain pedal, music rest, and power adapter.

Pros:

  • Affordable.
  • Lightweight.
  • Realistic sound.
  • Powerful built-in speakers.
  • 60 Free Interactive Lessons from Melodics.

Cons:

  • Could have more realistic key action.
  • No Bluetooth.
  • Limited effects.

Things to Consider When Buying a Digital Piano under $1000

Before making a rash decision and buying the first digital piano you see with good reviews, there are some factors you need to consider.

Keys

A full-sized acoustic piano has a total of 88 keys. It’s best to find a digital piano with the same number of keys if you’re looking for an authentic playing experience. There are keyboards with fewer keys (61, 66, 72, and 76), but if you’re going to spend your hard-earned money on a new keyboard, you might as well go after the full experience and get the 88-key digital piano and benefit from those extra octaves.

Action Types

Best Digital Pianos under 1000 - Action Types

There are 3 action types when it comes to digital pianos;

Semi-weighted keys: Semi-weighted uses a spring mechanism combined with weights attached to each key, giving the player light resistance when pressing the keys.

Fully-weighted keys: Similar to semi-weighted keys but with more weight or resistance, making pressing the keys a little bit more difficult. All keys from the lower to the higher octaves have the same resistance.

Fully-weighted keys with hammer action: These keyboards offer the most realistic playing experience due to the installation of hammer mechanisms along with the weight that gives more resistance in the lower octaves and less resistance in the higher octaves.

Touch sensitivity

To simply put it, touch sensitivity means that the harder you press the key, the louder it sounds. And the lighter you press the key, the quieter it sounds. This feature is crucial if you want to replicate the sound and feel of an acoustic piano as closely as possible. Without this feature, you will feel like you’re playing with a kid’s toy that has no expressiveness and feeling whatsoever.

Polyphony

Polyphony refers to how many notes you can play at once. Most digital pianos have 64, 128, 192, or 256-note polyphony, but the higher number, the better.

Although playing 256 notes at once might seem impossible, the number of polyphony can pile up very quickly. When you press down the sustain pedal while playing a note, multiple notes get layered on top of each other. The same thing happens when you use effects or patches with your notes; polyphony will keep doubling up. Even metronomes use polyphony to create their clicking sound. This is why you should always look for the highest number of polyphony possible when purchasing a brand-new digital piano.

Modes

Modes on a digital piano are very useful as they allow your creative juices to flow by providing high versatility.

The most common modes are:

Split mode: This makes it possible for the player to play the music that incorporates two instruments by assigning one sound to the lower half of the keyboard and another to the upper half.

Dual Mode/ Layer: Dual mode, or layer mode, allows the player to put one sound on top of another. For example, an organ sound over a guitar sound. Of course, you can change the volume of each sound to suit your preferences.

Duo mode: This mode is great for student/teacher practice as it divides the keyboard into two identical sections (2 middle Cs), allowing each player to play the same notes on both ends of the piano.

Lesson Function

Some digital pianos offer free built-in lessons to help new students advance and develop their piano skills. Some also provide additional lesson books or booklets.

MIDI recorder

This allows the player to record their music in MIDI format, which you can later import into your DAW and manipulate the sound to your liking using the different instruments and audio samples your DAW provides.

Also Read: 7 Best DAWs to Record Vocals

Audio Recorder

The built-in audio recorder found in most digital pianos allows you to save the audio the instrument produces as an MP3 or WAV file directly to a USB storage device. Once needed, you can simply transfer your file to your computer to further edit it or share it with friends.

Accompaniment

The Accompaniment feature lets you have a full band that uses styles and rhythms to accompany you while you play. When using this feature, you will typically have a split keyboard, with the left hand’s lower range being used to play notes or chords that trigger the accompaniment and the right hand being used to play melodies.

Some digital pianos include a full-play mode where you play the piano with two hands like you would on an acoustic piano.

Transpose

The transpose feature lets you set the desired number of semitones you want to be transposed, either up or down, and change the song’s key.

Transposing the pitch up or down is helpful, especially if the original key of the song you want to learn is slightly complicated, making it possible to shift it up and down and learn the song in a different, easier key.

Tuning

Although it seems impossible, a digital piano can occasionally be out of tune compared to the Western standard 440 Hz. The tuning will seem slightly off, and you must transpose it by just a fraction of a semitone or by tiny increments of Hz. Using the tuning feature, you can transpose your digital piano up or down by as little as 0.2 Hz at a time.

USB type A

USB type A

A USB type A, aka USB to device, lets you connect your USB flash drive to your digital piano to save your recordings quickly and then transfer them to your computer or preferred device as WAV or MP3 files. When necessary, you can also load them back into your digital piano.

USB type B

USB type B

Most modern digital pianos feature a USB Type B port that lets you connect your digital piano to an external device. Whether you want to connect it to your computer, Apple or Android device, audio interface, etc., this transforms your digital piano into a MIDI keyboard that you can use to make music on your DAW. So you don’t need any additional midi keyboard connection for that.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a great digital piano under $1000, any of the five options we’ve selected today will provide you with a fantastic playing experience and high-quality realistic sounds that are as close to an acoustic piano as possible. In addition to having a ton of functions, sounds, and effects, our top 5 picks also come with high-quality built-in speakers for your private performances and various modes to help you improve your playing skills and provide you with the best, most versatile experience ever.

We hope we were able to provide all the answers to your unanswered questions and make the process of finding your next digital piano easier and a lot more enjoyable.

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