REVIEW - Yamaha P105 Digital Piano - Very Impressive

Yamaha P105 Review

UPDATED REVIEW - July 2, 2013 - I recommend the 2013 model Yamaha P105 portable digital piano ($599US internet discount price) which is the updated replacement for the Yamaha P95 in this price range. The lightweight P105 which weighs only 27lbs is available now and is a huge improvement over the former P95 (now $499 internet discount price)...and it's about time Yamaha made that happen:) I have personally played and carefully listened to the P105 and the deficiencies that I have talked about in the past on the P95 have almost all been taken care of on the P105. There is now a much better piano sound in this new model along with 128 notes of polyphony instead of 64 for smoother playability. Essentially (with a few exceptions) the P105 uses the higher priced P155 ($999 internet discount price) sound and polyphony technology and puts it into this lower priced model...and that's a very good thing.

The Yamaha company (left pic - beautiful building) has been making musical instruments for over 100 years (beginning with acoustic pianos) so they do know what they're doing. Yamaha produces many different types of quality musical instruments including flutes, violins, guitars, drums, and a variety of other things. Yamaha instruments are played on stage, in schools, studios, churches, and other venues where music is played and heard. I personally own Yamaha equipment (as well as other brands) and have for years. I have even been to the Yamaha music instrument & piano headquarters in Japan and was able to meet some of it's top people and designers. So I have seen this company up close & personal not only in Japan, but in the US at its headquarters in Calif.

Compared to the P95, the P105 (left pic) just runs all over it as far as piano tone goes and that was obvious to me since I have personally played that instrument many times. Beyond the improved piano sound, this low price model now has a USB to computer/iPad output (love it), stereo 1/4" audio line level outputs (very nice to put through an external sound system), assignable split of two sounds or layering of two sounds, a better, fuller sounding internal speaker system with 4 speakers and 14 watts of total audio power, a duet mode for two people playing the keys at the same time, 10 very nice drum rhythm patterns for rhythm training and fun play along, 10 piano style patterns for backing tracks while you play which is very cool (makes you sound better than you are), and the piano cabinet itself has been redesigned to make it look & sound better including the music rack color. The control panel is basically the same as the P95 with buttons across the top which makes it easy to access the various instrument sounds inside along with various editing functions using buttons and keys pressed at the same time to access those editing effects. You can also record a song using up to two independent recording parts for left & right hand in the standard MIDI format. A 3-pedal unit and matching furniture style stand (which are very nice) are an option and an extra cost. Bench is not included. As with all Yamaha piano products, they are generally very reliable and a factory warranty is included. So basically there is little or no reason to purchase a P95 (left pic) at this point even though it's a bit less money (not much less) and you can still buy one now.

As for the key action in the P105, Yamaha decided to keep the same basic GHS action in the P105 that is in the P95. This GHS key action is good overall compared to some other digital piano brands but it is a lightweight piano key movement in comparison to its better GH action and not as good, and is also bit noisy (plasticky) in its attempt to recreate the acoustic piano feel. This basic GHS key action movement is used in a number of lower priced Yamaha digital pianos including the P95, DGX640, YDPS31, YDP135R, YDP141, YDP142 and YDPV240. So the weak point of this piano is the key action (relative to other brands), and if Yamaha had come out with something new that was a bit more realistic in the way the keys moved and felt, this P105 would have been an even better competitor and likely ahead of its competition in this price range. If you are not as concerned with the key action movement, key weight, and response as far as getting as close as possible to an acoustic upright piano, then the P105 may be the perfect piano for you with all of these very nice upgrades which the P95 and older P85 did not have.

However, if you would like to get a more realistic piano sound and piano key action and are willing to give up a few of the new fun features of the P105 in it's price range, then there is an option. Casio has new Privia PX150 (left pic) & PX350 (lower left pic) portable digital pianos. The Casio PX150 is priced at $599US internet discount price just like the Yamaha P105, and the upgraded Casio PX350 is priced at $799US internet discount price. The slightly higher priced Casio PX350 has all of the features of the Yamaha P105 plus many, many more and allows you to do wav file audio recording too on USB flashdrive...extreme cool. The key tops on both Casio's use a new synthetic ivory & ebony material (typically reserved for much higher priced digital pianos) for a superior key surface as your fingers play on the keys, as well as a much more realistic piano key action with 3-key sensors for faster piano sound repetition & dynamics which the Yamaha P105 does not have. I have played the keys on the new Casio's and they look & feel good and move quite realistically like a real acoustic piano, in my opinion. The Yamaha's don't have the synthetic ivory & ebony keytops on any of their current digital pianos under $3000. The more basic Casio PX150 (as compared to the Casio PX350) has the same new key action and all new piano sound (with 3-sensor key action) of the PX350 which is noticeably better than the Yamaha P105 in my opinion, although the Yamaha P105 internal speaker system sounds fuller and richer than the internal speaker system on the Casio PX150. The Casio PX150 has a USB to iPad/computer output, split, layer, duet, etc, etc. It does not have the drum rhythms or piano styles of the Yamaha P105, but...when you connect to a laptop computer or iPad/tablet you can use all kinds of very helpful music/piano apps & programs that allows you to interface and interact with very exciting music technology that will far exceed the technology in the Yamaha P105 or Casio PX150...and your kids will love that too.

Based on the latest technology, piano sound & key action, the only real choices now in the lower price range for portable 88-key digital pianos with graduated weighted keyboards, is the new Casio's or the Yamaha's including the current Yamaha DGX640 ($699 internet discount price). It is a subjective choice and one that needs to be made based on your musical goals and needs. But if you want the better piano key action and sound for $599 (in my opinion), I would choose the Casio based on my impressions of it after having played it live, although you can certainly be quite happy with the Yamaha. However, Casio has upped their game by creating much better piano sound realism than ever (much more computer sound memory to produce subtle changes in tone, resonance, pedaling, and dynamics), improved key action movement with acoustic upright graduated piano weighting, and key touch. It's fun to see these two great Japanese companies battling it out. You should compare the Yamaha P105 to the new Casio models in person at a store if you get the opportunity because that's one of the best ways to make a good buying. For more info on these new Casio Privia pianos go to my blog review of them here: Casio PX350/150 Review

Casio PX750

One more note of interest: Casio also has a new compact furniture model which is called the PX750 (left pic). It has everything the Casio PX150 has but it includes the furniture stand & 3-pedal unit (unlike the Yamaha P105 or Casio PX150), has a traditional sliding key cover (no cover on the Yamaha or Casio portables), has front facing panel controls, and it sounds better through its upgrade speaker system than either the Casio PX150 or Yamaha P105. It is compact in size, lightweight, but is not meant to be portable as far as taking it around with you (although the top does separate from the stand). It is designed as a nice acoustic piano replacement (for a more permanent place) in a small size at a small price at $799 internet price. This model is unique to Casio and unfortunately Yamaha has nothing to compete with it at the moment. I would suggest you look at that one too before making any decisions. Go to my PX750 blog review here for more info: Casio PX750 Review

With all these new models out in the lower price range, it may seem a difficult task to pick one out, but I can help you with that and give you the right advice.

If you want more info on these and other pianos and lower prices than internet or store discounts, please email me at tim@azpianowholesale.com or call me direct at 602-571-1864.