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UPDATED REVIEW - April 3, 2013- BEST CABINET DIGITAL PIANOS Between $1000to $2000 - There are many new digital pianos being offered by the top piano manufacturers and sometimes it can be
very confusing as to what the best digital piano is for a particular price range. So I have written this blog article to help out people looking for good
cabinet digital pianos between $1000 - $2000. I also have done a review comparison of new digital pianos under $1000 which you can also read about on my blog if you use the search bar to the right side for pianos under $1000.
I consider the top (and better) digital piano manufacturers for the US market that make a wide selection of digital pianos to include
Kawai, Casio, Yamaha, Roland, and Samick. The Korg keyboard company used to be a very good digital piano brand with full size furniture style cabinets, but they only have one home cabinet model remaining and it's about 8 years old in technology now. The Kurzweil keyboard company has made furniture style digital pianos for many years but lately are not (in my opinion) competitive in the under $2000 price range, although that may hopefully change in the future. Almost all other brands of digital pianos (with a couple of exceptions) that may be available in some piano stores, on-line web sites, or consumer store web sites (like Costco) are what I consider to be "off brands." I would not recommend these brands by such names as Suzuki, Williams, Adams, Adagio, and a few others. I can only say stay away from them regardless of how inexpensive the price may be. I have written reviews on many of these brands and models so if you want more info, take a look at some of my other blog reviews.
In this blog article I will be referring only to furniture "cabinet style" models (no portable piano/keyboard type) and only those that have an internet or regular store discount price for under $2000 which is where most consumers want to be when looking for a new digital piano.
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Roland digital pianos are generally fine instruments and that company has three furniture cabinet models that sell for under $2000 and they're called the RP301R ($1999 store discount price), RP301 ($1699 internet price), and F120 ($1299 internet price). All three pianos are the same as far a s key action, piano sound, and speaker system, and all three pianos have 128-notes of polyphony. The key action is nicely weighted but unfortunately the noise that that the keys make when they are played is quite loud and distracting when the keys go down and touch bottom, especially when playing in a harder more dynamic manner. Most of the other Roland cabinet model pianos (they're all well over $2000) have a key action touch that is much more realistic than the RP301 and also much quieter. I do like the piano tone overall although it's a bit thin and tinney in the middle to higher octaves. The RP301 and 301R piano have buttons across the front panel so it's easy to operate and has a nice selection of realistic instrument and percussion tones which is good, but it's stereo amplifier speaker system puts out a total of only 24 watts which is relatively small for a piano like this. The RP301 & F120 do not have a USB output connector (just old style MIDI connectors), which in this day and age it should at that price, especially because it's a 2012 model (the RP301R doe have the USB output).
Overall I think these Roland pianos are somewhat overpriced for what its offering. I have a detailed blog reviews of these Roland models here on my blogsite if you want to read more.![]() |
| Samick SG110 |
The
Samick Piano Company is a well known South Korean piano & musical instrument manufacturer which has been making acoustic grand and upright pianos for over 50 years. Their line of acoustic piano products include the Samick brand as well as Kohler & Campbell, Seiler, Pramberger, Knabe, and others. Samick is offering a 3 foot deep mini baby grand style piano with quiet action movement and good dynamic response called the SG110 offered in a an attractive high gloss polished ebony. The normal store discount pricing of this model is about $3000 but but it's possible to purchase one for slightly more than $2000, so that's why I am including it here in this review. Although this model has only 64 notes of polyphony which is sufficient for many situations (128 would have been better), it does include some very cool interactive educational features for piano lessons using a USB flashdrive along with a vast array of fun instrument sounds. It also has a strong sounding built-in speaker system along with a record-playback function and LCD display screen. This model is best suited for piano students and recreational piano players, but for more advanced students or players I would recommend something else. You can certainly spend a lot more money on a piano like this and move up in sound quality & features in the more popular name brands including Yamaha, Roland, etc. But for the price right now on this Samick SG110, in my opinion it is a good choice, especially in key action movement and piano sound response than the typical low price smaller sized digital baby grands you'll find in the off-brands including Suzuki, Williams, Adagio, and many others. The key action movement and response is the heart of any digital or acoustic piano and with this Samick model using one of the better key actions in the business from the European company Fatar. Go here to read my review on this model:
Samick SG110 review ![]() |
| Yamaha YDP181 |
Yamaha offers 7 furniture cabinet digital pianos starting at $1000 and going to just under $2000 and they're called the YDP135R, YDP142, YDP162, YDPS51, YDPC71PE (left pic), YDP181 (below left pic), and YDPV240. The Yamaha Arius YDP141 & YDP161 are now discontinued and I would recommend the newer ones (YDP142 & YDP162) for just a bit more money. The Yamaha Arius YDP181 piano (left pic) has been one of the more popular Yamaha pianos under $2000 and sells at an US internet discount price for $1699. This piano is carried in many music stores and on-line internet dealers throughout the country and the piano key action is a bit more realistic than the Roland RP301 series in my opinion. When it comes to comparing any digital piano including Yamaha to real pianos, acoustic pianos are organic instruments made mostly of wood parts so that's why many acoustic piano shoppers will try out two or three of the same model acoustic piano in a store as each one can be slightly different in feel or tone. The feel and tone is different from one brand to the next, so "true piano tone" is relative, but the YDP181 does have a very good piano tone although a bit muffled and mid-rangy because of the speaker system design (the sound is much better through a good pair of headphones). The YDP181 offers 14 instruments on a nicely laid out control panel with easy access buttons, and the acoustic piano tone is fairly realistic, especially through good headphones as I mentioned (with 128 notes of polyphony). It also has a layering feature but no split or duet play, but the piano does not have a high speed USB output which is an important feature for today's music education. It does have a USB flashdrive input so basic MIDI song recordings can be saved and stored to flashdrive (it does not do General MIDI). It has a 2-track basic MIDI recorder for separate right and left hand recording and playback. As far as looks, it might be slightly better looking than the Roland, but not much better and it is only offered in the simulated dark rosewood finish as opposed to the more popular black color in other Yamaha pianos. It still needs a better back privacy panel and for it's price, it's pretty basic in features. The Yamaha pianos are very good but in my opinion just don't compete right now with what Casio or Kawai has to offer under $2000, especially the key action movement. The Yamaha Arius key actions are a bit stiff when you press down the keys, especially when playing lightly or softly and Casio & Kawai are noticeably better in that way. The internet selling prices for these Yamaha pianos, in my opinion, are still too high these days given the competition out there. ![]() |
| Kawai CE220 |
The Kawai company produces two digital furniture cabinet pianos under $2000 called the CE220 (1899US internet price) and the new CN24 ($1799US internet price) with the CE220 piano in satin black finish being (by far) the most popular because it has a real wood acoustic piano keys and key movement. This is a feature not found on any other digital piano under $3500. The keys themselves are actually made out of real wood (direct from Kawai acoustic upright pianos) and are created to emulate an acoustic piano in movement and feel. Having wood keys with a proper key movement system is a big deal and no one else is doing that in this price range. The piano tone is, in my opinion, arguably the best of all the traditional upright furniture cabinet digital pianos under $2000 and it has a large 192-notes of polyphony piano sound memory which is plenty for nearly all playing situations and skill levels, including for advanced players. The features that Kawai offers on the CE220 piano are pretty impressive as well. All of the control buttons are across the front of the piano (where they should be) and they're easy to see and use. The CE220 is capable of layering and splitting two tones and it also has some other cools things like octave shift when layering two sounds together which none of the others can do.The CE220 has duet 4-hand play which means two people can play the piano at the same time by splitting the piano keyboard into 2 equal keyboards playing in the same octaves which is very cool. It has 22 very realistic instrument tones (22 is good and better than Yamaha), has 1000 very nice drum rhythm patterns for rhythm & timing practice (neither Yamaha or Roland has that), a layer relative volume balance slider control (the only piano to have that), and a 2-track recorder for separate right and left hand recording and playback. The CE220 also has a USB output to connect to computer for interfacing with music software and a USB flashdrive input for storing recorded songs as well as loading in basic MIDI piano song files (it does not have General MIDI format for recording & playing songs). And as far as looks, I think Kawai is quite attractive and looks more substantial and more like a piano. I would definitely recommend this piano as a winner for what it offers. The new CN24 has a all plastic key action but is weighted very nicely with the "let-off" function which simulates a grand piano key movement along with 192-note polyphony, ivory touch keys, and great piano sound along with some other good instrument tones. In my opinion both of these Kawai pianos outperform anything that Yamaha, Roland, or Samick offers under $2000![Casio PX850 digital piano]( "Casio PX850 digital piano")
My 1st choice in this digital piano comparison for overall winner in versatility, quality, and lower price would be the new Casio PX850 (left pic) at $1099 discount internet price. With the realistic graduated weighted key movement and very resonate acoustic piano tone (has better tonal dynamics & color with a 3-sensor key electronics - Yamaha Arius does not have this) along with its many other useful educational features, this one is definitely worth the money in the lower price range. My 2nd choice, which is in the higher price range, would be the Kawai CE220 at $1899 discount internet price. It's key action is better than the Casio PX850 as well as its acoustic piano sound, but it is obviously quite a bit more money and if you can afford the extra expense, then the CE220 may be a better option. My 3rd choice would be the Yamaha YDP162 because it is just under $1500 and has some nice updated features over the previous model and is a good piano from Yamaha. The Yamaha YDPC71 polished ebony cabinet and the piano is also a good choice because of its polished ebony finish, but in my opinion it is overpriced (as I mentioned earlier) for what it can actually do as compared to some of these other models for around the same price or less.
I always recommend that you do your homework before you buy because ultimately any of these pianos may be a good choice for you. However there are definitely some models that offer more for the money and if you would like my help in making your decision, please contact me as I do not charge for my advice:)
If you want more info on these pianos and lower prices than internet or store discounts, please email me attim@azpianowholesale.com or call direct at 602-571-1864
UPDATED REVIEW - April 3, 2013- BEST CABINET DIGITAL PIANOS Between $1000to $2000 - There are many new digital pianos being offered by the top piano manufacturers and sometimes it can be very confusing as to what the best digital piano is for a particular price range. So I have written this blog article to help out people looking for good cabinet digital pianos between $1000 - $2000. I also have done a review comparison of new digital pianos under $1000 which you can also read about on my blog if you use the search bar to the right side for pianos under $1000. 
Roland digital pianos are generally fine instruments and that company has three furniture cabinet models that sell for under $2000 and they're called the RP301R ($1999 store discount price), RP301 ($1699 internet price), and F120 ($1299 internet price). All three pianos are the same as far a s key action, piano sound, and speaker system, and all three pianos have 128-notes of polyphony. The key action is nicely weighted but unfortunately the noise that that the keys make when they are played is quite loud and distracting when the keys go down and touch bottom, especially when playing in a harder more dynamic manner. Most of the other Roland cabinet model pianos (they're all well over $2000) have a key action touch that is much more realistic than the RP301 and also much quieter. I do like the piano tone overall although it's a bit thin and tinney in the middle to higher octaves. The RP301 and 301R piano have buttons across the front panel so it's easy to operate and has a nice selection of realistic instrument and percussion tones which is good, but it's stereo amplifier speaker system puts out a total of only 24 watts which is relatively small for a piano like this. The RP301 & F120 do not have a USB output connector (just old style MIDI connectors), which in this day and age it should at that price, especially because it's a 2012 model (the RP301R doe have the USB output). Overall I think these Roland pianos are somewhat overpriced for what its offering. I have a detailed blog reviews of these Roland models here on my blogsite if you want to read more.
