This is, hands-down, the best presentation I've found yet. Your presentation is unique because you've focused on the physical aspects of the man-machine interface at the keys and pointed out strong and weak points of each unit. Seeing how each reacts to each different approach you took was interesting and very useful. Also, hearing you play "apples-to-apples" bits on each unit makes it much easier to pick out the differences between them. So many other comparisons/reviews seem to focus on the menu selections available and the sounds you can get out of them - useful, but not as relevant to putting fingers to the keys - to my mind at least. Your observations on the speakers in each unit was also helpful. The sound from the Kawai speakers seem to be much richer and fuller than from those in any of the other units. (They were the individual unit speakers, weren't they? Not all fed to a common amp and speakers?) Based on your presentation, I've narrowed my choices down to either a Kawai ES-920 or a Yamaha P-525.
Thanks! Some valuable info here that you aren't going to find elsewhere, like the difference in needed pressure between the white and black keys on the P-525.
Thank you. I’ve enjoyed your reviews. I like the honest discussion of all the details. Also like the straight answers in the. comments. I was ready to pull the trigger on the p525 and am now leaning toward the es 920 after watching your videos and reading the comments.
My first Yamaha was the P140 (now the P525). Excellent for classical music. However, DGX is much more fun, versatile and easy to use. I have the DGX670 and I am satisfied and used to its system, which is the same as the Yamaha PSR. I believe that the DGX is great value for money and meets several situations. This 670 has improved a lot since the DGX660. I would like to see a DGX700 with a touch screen and 8 memory registers. Who knows, maybe it would be a portable CVP805?
Absolutely man! They need an upgraded DGX that allows the musician to have a portable Clavinova CVP range. An addition of 3 voices and LEFT would be great too. Basically I would love a PSR SX900 that is 88 keys and has a brilliant action with great speakers. That would be my dream gigging piano!
Hello Angelo. I also dream of an SX900 with a piano keyboard. Who knows, maybe the new Genos will have this version, but I think it's difficult because Yamaha is very conservative in its launches. I currently work with four instruments: DGX670, SX900, SX600 and the Casio GP510. Each instrument has a purpose and use. I'm a music teacher and I have a band in Goiania Goias Brazil. Hug@@AngeloProMusician
I have a Yamaha P-515 and I love it If you go into "Piano Room" you can adjust the resonance etc. if you have the patience The reverb is also adjustable but I bought it for the action, great build and pianos especially the Bosendorfer Just my opinion Thanks
Thanks for sharing. Your practical opinion means alot. Not a technical process when choosing the right fit. Just playing and enjoying the personality of each keyboard is the key!
I Own the kawai mp7 se, the action has narrower keys but it’s been great to play on. Most people experienced key sensor issues, but i got lucky and got a board that was brand new and it never had the issues.
Thank you for a great comparison video. It is very useful and informative. In my research of the P-525 I came across some information direct from Yamaha that may, or may not, address a couple of the comments you made in the course of the video. You mentioned that the CFX sounded different on the P-525 and the DGX 670 even though they are the same voice. Yamaha did all new sampling sessions for the sampling of the CFX voice on the P-525, and it is different then on any other previous keyboard/electric piano. Regarding the seemingly lack of resonance on the P-525, there are a number of possible explanations. In addition to the Reverb setting, there is a setting for whether the lid of the piano is closed, half-open, of fully open. You might check to see if the setting is closed and if opening the lid introduces greater resonance. Additionally ther is the GEM (Grand Expression Modilng) and VRM (Virtual Resonance Modeling) functions that allow extensive fine tuning of the resonance related parameters. There is also apparently the ability to modify the "touch curve", which might, maybe, possibly allow fine tuning of the weighting and/or grading of the keys as you move up from the bass end to the treble end. Thank you again for a well-done comparison video It has been "instrumental" (pun intended) in helping me with my decision.
Thank you very much for your passionated and deep graving reviews of this piano. You play really well! Can you tell if it’s possible to use a wireless headphone?
Yes kind of... You can put a bluetooth receiver into the output of the phones can then connect to it. But it would all be third party and not work natively.
There is a reason no (that I know of) digital pianos support this, only the other way round (receiving sound over bluetooth). It's because bluetooth audio has latency. You don't want latency when playing piano. Use wired phones.
Please make a new comparison adding numa piano x gt and upcoming nord grand 2, if this is possible. Would you say pha50 is the best portable as virtuosic classical piano keybed?
Thank you for your review. I'm not a major, but I've been playing the piano for about 25 years as a hobby and now I'm practicing to play Chopin's waltz. I have a question. I'm going to buy a new piano because the CLP440 I've used for over 10 years is not in good condition. P525 and CLP745 are being compared. Which is the better choice between the two?
Hiya, I think it would be very playable on either keybed. I would say the difference would be if you want a piano you can move about or not. The CLP will sound better with its build in speakers for sure compared to the 525. If you are only looking at an incredible action then for the price of them you could also consider the Kawai MP-11 which has one of the most realistic actions in the world. If that isn't detailed enough do let me know as I can give more info if you have specific questions.
Hi Angelo, I have never played piano and looking to get one and would appreciate your advice as you seem to really know your stuff. What would you recommend? Don't really need to be portable. Been looking at Yamaha csp275. Do you know if this is any good? Are the stream lights worth having for a beginner or just a gimmick. Also considering P525, PS500 or DGX670. Enjoy your vids, thanks 👍
It’s an easy choice. For a beginner and not needing to move it I would say the Kawai ES920 with the beautiful home pack if you would like it to look nice. If you prefer a little cheaper and A LOT more functions of styles and voices etc then the 670. I would actually pick the 670 over a p525. If you want maximum realism to a grand piano action let me know as a reply and I will tweak my answer slightly
Hi @angelo, I’m interested in learning piano and considering the DGX 670. Is it still a good piano to get for a beginner? Asking as it was produced several years ago and wondering if the software/hardware may soon be getting outdated.
@@AngeloProMusician I've spent ages (literally days) researching this so far - not had a chance to visit any stores yet - and I've come to the same conclusion and I'm leaning towards the 670, unless I decide to go for a Clavinova or something of that ilk. I'm not a complete beginner but the current keyboard I have is a 61-key diving board keyboard and I know it's inadequate: (a) my teacher told me that and (b) I've seen someone with far more skill than I have struggle in exactly the same way as I do to do dynamics well. Thanks so much for your video! I give more weight to those who are unbiased and not affiliated with any brand such as yourself!
I have a DGX-670 and there are some things I really don't like about it. For starters string voices don't sustain with the pedal. Secondly, the OS drives me completely nuts. I can spend hours trying to figure out how to change or save something that should be simple, and get nowhere I find the sound of the DGX to also be somewhat dull and lifeless. I'm surprised you like it as much as you do. I had an order placed for the Kawai es920 but cancelled it because the DGX was half the price. I've solved the tonal issues by playing the DGX in tandem with Pianoteq Pro through the DGX's speakers which are very good. Of the instruments you are playing in this demonstration, I prefer the ambiance of the Roland. It's the instrument I could listen to in a club for an extended period of time and enjoy the warmth. I was really thinking of trading up to the 525 but after this comparison, I'll just stick with the DGX combined with Pianoteq. It's extremely life like, and has a very pleasant complex tone. Trading up to a 525 wouldn't give me much improvement. As for the GHS action on the DGX, I'm more or less entirely OK with it although Scriabin's prelude for the left hand alone requires you to be careful to play to the outer edge (tips) of the black keys. Still for most pieces it's quite acceptable.
Thank you for the really informative comment. It was a real pleasure to read. I would definitely you need to have it looked at because both the DGXs that I own sustain the strings with the pedal. It could also be a sustain setting within the menu. Fortunately, I’ve come from the Clavinova CVP series so love the operating system 🫣. I’m not saying that to annoy you. I actually love how quick it is to use on the fly and set up different banks and also make effects changes etc when gigging with it. My main grip is the outputs. It would have been great to include a proper L and R out on it in addition to the phones output. I think you are right in sticking with the DGX-670. The sounds on the P525 are not advanced enough to warrant the additional money Yamaha are asking people to spend. (At this point in time - I am aware updates can do a lot nowadays!)
@@AngeloProMusician It's interesting to learn your DGX sustains the strings with the pedal. Mine definitely does not. I've contacted Yamaha US support many times and they are no help whatsoever. As far as I know and I have been told by Yamaha that there is no way to upgrade the OS. I don't know anything about the Clavinova OS, but at least the OS version on my DGX is extremely clumsy to the point of being completely frustrating, wasting hours of time getting nowhere. All that said, the end result when combined with Pianoteq Pro is as good as any digital piano on the showroom floor. As for the action, it's Yamha's entry level, but still quite adequate. I own two Chickering grands and know how to regulate them. How a piano sounds affects your impression of the action. Just for your information, I pipe the Pianoteq output through the MIDI cable into the DGX speaker system with gives good results. I then additionally pipe the audio output from the DGX (cimbined with Pianoteq) to a small Logitec computer speaker system with a 4" woofer in a 10" cube box. I run Pianoteq because it run s natively on Linux which I have used exclusively for around the past 20 years.
@@MichaelLewandowski-xu1nk Honestly I would look for something different from the DGX, but I'm just not sure what. The only portable digital piano people consistently speak highly of is the the 515. Some people like the DGX, but there are also a significant number of complaints. the es920 seems to have come and gone. No one talks much about the es920 any longer. People have bought them and then sell them a short time later. It's an expensive piano with the proper stand and pedals.
It could be Yamaha updated the firmware after mine was produced. Also I'm in the US and you are in the UK. You are the only person I know of who says the strings sustain with the pedal. Mine sustain with a key press, but not the pedal.
I think everyone here are talking about different context of "sustain" In all Yamaha's I've tried (DGX660, DGX640, PSRS775, EW410), here's how the strings behave: 1. Pedal not pressed - when you release the key, the string sound stops. 2. Pedal is pressed - when you release the key, the string sustains a bit longer but it still "decays". This is true for all String sound on panel . I did find a work around if you want a string sound that does not decay as long the pedal is pressed: you will have to use the String sound found on the "GM/XG" section. It's not as high quality as the live strings on the panel buttons but it sustains indefinitely with the pedal.
Hiya, I always use platform keyboard stands. Just cheap ones do well as they take up to 50kg. They don’t wobble at all!! Which is why I love using them.
Great video - do you own or have experience with the MP7-SE or the ES920? I'm looking to replace my ES8, and supposedly those have the same action which I reasonably enjoy however the keys are a bit 'bouncy' and there is an aspect of sluggishness to it that I don't find on acoustic pianos - but the sound of the ES8 is so good.
I own both of them. You have been mislead about the action. The ES920 has an action with the EXACT same name… but it is vastly upgraded over the one that was used in the ES8. (It’s a bit like having the same MacBook but an update keeps your device the same but the internals are much better.) Kawai stupidly didn’t rename the action and LOADS of people think it’s the same. The ES920’s action is greatly improved over that of the ES8. To be honest, the ES920 is significantly superior to the ES8 in every aspect… except looks, in my opinion. I have a video coming in a few days comparing my ES8 and ES920 before I sell my ES8. Easy choice for me. I would say sell your ES8 and upgrade it to the ES920. There is no way you would be disappointed.
@@AngeloProMusician Thank you, I'm so happy to hear this because this is exactly the decision I made. That said I need to look into getting my ES8 serviced somehow (living in sorta nowhere in Sweden, I'm not sure where to look) because the sensors for the keys need cleaning (D4 key likes to hit max velocity consistently when not supposed to) and maybe some other things after which I can hopefully sell it at a reasonable price. Also I agree the ES920 is not nearly as good looking as the ES8, hahah, but oh well that's a very minor issue to have with it I'd say!
from the owner's manual of DGX-670 (and other DPs) "Do not press the pedals while turning the power on. Doing this changes the recognized polarity of the pedals, resulting in reversed operation"
Oh yes... The Roland fantom 8. The full arranger 88 key version. Its touch is on par with the Kawai MP-11. I would say the Roland fantom is THE MOST realistic piano keybed I have ever played. It apparently has the same on as the Roland fp-90 X but it really doesn't feel the same. The fantom deserves A LOT of praise for its realism.
Ah yes the Kawai CN-29 has the upgraded RHIII action which is a direct competitor to the action in the Yamaha P-525. They will be very close in feel and then it will depend on the pianist which they prefer. I like the revamped Kawai RHIII action better than the GrandTouch S in the Yamaha.
@@AngeloProMusician Again interesting to learn. The saleslady said it's the same as the es920 in a cabinet. I think it probably sounds better than es920, at least through the onboard speakers.
But is‘nt the Grandtouch S, in comparison to an acoustic piano, more realistic than the RH3? In heared that the action is much heavier and the keys are longer to replicate the acoustic hammers better:) In an other comment you wrote that the Grandtouch S was superb
I’m almost always involved in live performances. My grand piano sound comes from one place. When I do concerts and you reach a certain distance stereo becomes mono too. When you gig in theatres ONLY mono is used. In your house you only hear mono. I’m not sure when in a love setting anyone is going to be using stereo for a piano? Please remember I am a live performer and not using these to make recordings that people will listen to with ear pods or something. I almost solely work in live settings where mono currently rules supreme.
@@AngeloProMusician Yes, fully understand your position. It's just that through headphones mono has no soundstage, depth, dimensionality or 'air' around the instrument. Mono is quite the leveller so everything sounds extremely similar. For true comparison purposes stereo is the only effective context in my opinion. Live is a different matter because the room provides reflections and reverberations that are, in effect, 'stereo' (different reflections reaching each ear at different times etc). Thanks for your videos anyway, much appreciated.
The Yamaha DGX 670 in Canada is about CAD 1,200 (EUR 800), and the P525 is about CAD 2,250 (EUR 1,634)... 😭. I prefer the P525 but because of the price I am leaning towards the Yamaha DGX 670 or the Roland FP-e50 (CAD 1,400 = EUR 933). Thank you for this video.
Action I love on the 525 and not so much on the 515. Sound I liked better on the 515 by A LONG WAYYYY. But neither as much as either the Kawai es920 or es8 for sound. Action on the Yamaha 525 was superb.
Thank you I got the P525 (before you responded to the post) and was a bit underwhelmed by the sound. I felt like my P255 Yamaha in 2018 sounded better. The headphone audio also is very low output that even on max volume it doesn't sound loud. I agree the P525 action is good, but I just may return it. I'd love a great sound and action that is not heavy. Do you think the Kawai es920 would be the way to go over the 515? I thought the 525 would at least have the same sound as 515.
Actually, the FP 90 X has a different piano engine than the VPiano in the phantom and the regular FP90. The X uses what they call pure acoustic modeling a brand new engine. It does still also have what they call their supernatural engine, which is most mostly samples with some sort of modeling 2 a degree.
Wow... you certainly have delivered, mate! Thanks a bunch! I'm now leaning heavily towards the DGX670. The P525 still looks like an amazing choice and one I might even make down the track but I have to be realistic. I'm just a beginner and any of these would be overkill for me. I would REALLY like to learn on the P-525 given how realistic the action seems to be but it's hard to justify the price difference (around $650aud/400euro) at my level. Hell, I can't even justify the DGX-670 but oh well... no one said I was a just man anyway.
@@JoeLinux2000 I can still find the P 515 but it's still about $350 more than the DGX 670. The P-525 is another $300 on top of that! Plus I'm getting all my gear from zero... so headphones, stand, etc. I could do with saving a bit here and there and maybe throw the extra in more lessons, I guess. The weight won't bother as it will be on its stand 99.99999% of the time. I honestly can't see myself moving whatever I end buying much.
The Yamaha DGX is plenty easy to move. I see people gigging with it often. If you let me know if you want just a good piano sound and action or if you want a piano that does loads of other sounds too I can recommend one that would suit you in a cheaper price bracket and may also be better for you needs without making any compromises.
I'm a beginner too, I'm happy I bought my P-515 before and haven't waited for the successor. I like especially its action. Suprisingly, I like also the action of the P-525, even when it's much lighter. But I wouldn't be able to justify its cost for me, the P-515 was my limit and I've been enjoying it for some time instead of waiting. I also like a lot the old samples of the Bosendorfer, especially after turning up the resonance a bit. I just press some notes with a pedal and it makes so beautiful harmony. It's not that I need the quality as a beginner, but to me it helps to motivate me when it sounds beautiful. Also the dynamic range can't be compared with a low end digital. It's incredible how great it sounds also when playing very softly. It should be demoed more in reviews IMO.
@@AngeloProMusician Thanks mate! The narrowed down my choices to those 2 is because in one hand, I'm a beginner so I believe I would benefit from practicing on a piano with good action and piano sound. In the other hand, despite liking piano more, I'm also interested in other musical instruments so the DGX appealed to me and I also felt it would help to keep me motivated and entertained as I come to crashing reality of not being a savant haha I'm happy to hear any suggestions you guys might have! I haven't pulled the trigger on anything as I was hoping for some Black Friday deals.
@@lumpichu absolutely... I heard a P515 being played and couldn't agree more on the Bosendorfer and being motivated by a great sounding piano!!! In fact, it was this short demo that got me searching for a P515 but then I learned about the soon to be released P-525... the price difference is not that small, you're right. But I feel like the lighter action might actually help me at the beginning.
Yes but I was careful only to do it after I demoed it flat and I did also mention that when I added it on the Yamaha P525 was not able to replicate that amount of Reverb in the current unit. That's all software so potentially Yamaha can update that in the new unit which would be cool.
Would you compare the Yamaha P-525 with Kawai CA49? They are about the same price here in Canada, and I'm having a hard time deciding which one to get.
Even though I’m a die hard Kawai fan the CA49 doesn’t tend to have a very nice sound because of its case. I very much dislike the Yamaha P-525 too. I wouldn’t pick either. I would purchase a Kawai ES920 with the home stand and pedal board. It will cost less in total than both the ones you mention and also sound and feel better than both too. Roland FP-90 sound and feels great too, as does the older Kawai ES8 that is phenomenal in sound and touch.
@@AngeloProMusician Based on your opinion I did not get the p525 because I respect you a lot seeing how good you play and you dislike the yamaha. I got the rolandfp90x and it DOES feel really like the old used-up Bluthner grand piano down at the conservatory.Quite heavy action which is not bad by itself but its got low repetition speed. The response is sluggish or at least that's my initial take on it.Its like a 1977 Caddilac Eldorado its luxurious for sure , but you turn the wheel and expect to START making the turn in about 2 seconds. The piano is stylish , looks great , sounds great , but the repetition speed is the same as the GHS(yamaha most basic action) An action that costs 6+ times more than the GHS should have a better repetition speed but oh well I already got it so gotta get uesd to it I guess. Maybe in time I will learn and adjust my technique and like it. Thrills on the black key(or 1 black and 1 white) are absolute nightmare for me currently
c est un piano numérique . je l ai essayé l autre jour en magasin , je crois l avoir préféré à tous les autres yamaha, pour la beauté du son, et la clavier est léger, ce que j ai aimé, mais attention ça reste un toucher de piano, pas de synthé... Si c'est pour jouer au piano, franchement pour le prix , c est top. Après, je ne sais pas comment il dure dans le temps
I am really unsure of what to buy. I am not a good piano player. I am a song writer who wants to record his songs with a realistic sounding piano. Without having to adjust a bunch of things to dial in the sound. I also want a keyboard that inspires me to play and write songs. Right now i have a really old Yamaha that stopped working. And i want to replace it with something top end like the 525. Or something simlar but different. Something with very realistic piano sounds. I will not be giging with it. I will be recording into a daw. And playing it in my home. How much different is the 225. Or the Yamaha CK88. Or Roland 90x or Kawai 920 i think it is. I agree that the sound of the 670 seems more alive. Maybe i like the reverb sound. Is there only one really good piano sound in each keyboard ? I wish you had a video that just talked about there differences and Similarities. With just honest opinions. Most videos talking about keyboards are from stores. Or sponsers. And they will never give you honest opinions on what they think is better or worse about something. And where i live i cant just drive to a store to compare them.
Personally I would pick the Kawai ES920 or Roland FP90 over both. They have better action and more realistic sounds and a better feel. If I have to pick I would say P525 as the Casio action does feel very unrealistic. But trying them out for yourself is always best if you have the opportunity to. Thank you for watching
Hi, that was interesting. Many thanks for that! You are a great player. From what I heard - as an engineer - via youtube, I would never buy 3 of these because: the Casio has awful sound samples, the Kawai is weird with its fully compressed sound samples without good enough dynamics, and the Roland has low fidelity conversion because it doesn't include transients in its sound samples. And it was wondered me. Best for all!
Hi Angelo - just came across your channel - great stuff. After teaching for 30+ years I’m now getting an Elton John tribute act together. Have previously used a Nord Piano 4 - great action (despite what the kbd snobs say about the modified TP40) and close to my Yamaha C2 Grand. Have sold it because it’s overkill for Elton material. Now going to use a VST of Elton’s preferred MKS20/ Motif Power Grand set up. So, now looking at a simpler model like the Kawai 920 (will they ever bring out new stage kbds😊 which don’t induce a hernia) with minimum of onboard sounds ‘but’ a fast action for this kind of stuff (from 6.04 onwards): ruclips.net/video/6gLFkdvayII/видео.htmlsi=95hd01_k1XLhwN45 Any other suggestions? The stage keyboard/home digital piano, imo, is beginning to converge. BTW, surprised by your comment on the Fantom action - I always got the impression from the majority of reviewers that the kbd (also in the ancient RD2000?) is heavy. Perhaps I’m wrong in that assumption. Anyway, interested in your thoughts.
Hiya, Thanks for the comments . I actually used to be the Musical Director for The Elton John Experience so you are definitely asking the right person regarding Elton stuff. I used the Yamaha MOX 8 as our main piano for everything on the shows. Easily replicated the precise Elton sounds needed and a huge choice of pianos. The keybed in it does feel a little lighter than a full stage piano BUT it is weighted and I was able to easily play it alongside my grand. For ONLY Elton piano sounds I used the Kawai ES8. One thing you could consider is the Casio SX3100. I have one for gigs I need an ultra lightweight keyboard for. It has the most advanced case with straps etc and excellent build quality. I don't think the piano sounds great as it has small speakers BUT to use as a midi controller for VST keyboard sounds is exactly what I use it for when I work in theatre pits. It will easily cover the speed of playing needed for Elton stuff and it is good value for money. It also had bluetooth midi with zero latency. It has never let me down since owning from when they came out. Maybe a possibility for you to consider?
I have no idea how people praise those Yamahas. The grainy textures on those black keys is overwhelming and makes the keybeds feel like a toy. Pretty ironic that a premier Piano maker like Yamaha refuses to put natural normal ivory textures on their digital pianos or can't seem to get their keys and actions right. Roland got this figured out a long time ago with their PHA-4 and PHA-50. It's really appalling.
Pity that Roland did not figure out how to quiet the clicking noise of PHA-4 action. I returned five digital pianos with this action (including recent RD-08) hoping that it would be finally fixed. The grainy structure of the black keys never bothered me. Do you think that Casio actions are better in this respect?
@@mfurman Roland claims it's a design thing and there is no way around it. I made my distributer contact them and he sent me a video of a model of that action making that exact key return noise everytime he plays it. The PHA-50 is much better in that regard but I can't stand the sponginess aspects of it. If you're playing vsts or using reasonably loud studio monitors, you can learn to live with it...but I totally get it if you can't. Notice also how not one single user review on Sweetwater or any online retailers mentions this. Maybe because it doesn't bother a lot of people? Regarding the casio actions, I would take the PHA-4 over any Casio action. But to be fair I haven't tried their high end hybrid actions in their AP series, which I hear is really good.
@@scarsstitches636 This is exactly the problem with PHA50 - it is nice but spongy and much different from the feel of acoustic grand piano. I returned my FP-90X after I started to practice on Yamaha C7 - I could not accept how different the feel of the two actions were. Thank you for your response. Michael
From a pure piano sound perspective, they all disappoint. As for the action, the PHA50 in the Roland is heavy even compared to many pianos. The older Yamaha's I played on always feel somewhat artificial to me. I had an ES8 (RM3) for a short while and really didn't like the action. Casio's action is just strange. If you're looking for a true piano feel I think the MP11SE (GFA)or the new Numa X GT (Fatar TP400W)are probably the best out there. From a sound perspective, just get a good VST.
@@JoeLinux2000 It warps? what does that even mean? Grand pianos have wooden keys and they don't warp? Do you mean bend? ? What high end piano do you play / reccomend?
I also loved the p155 and totally agree with you that the new ones don't sound nearly as good. On the flip side every time Kawai bring out a new stage piano they seem to sound better and better. Yamaha need to be careful as a lot of people, even children learning, are starting to notice that Yamaha are lagging behind.
@@AngeloProMusician seriously, i have a p155, love it. I wanted something different and had gotten a p515, and couldn't love th sound even after owning it 1-2 year, and traded it in for a Kawai ES920. Love the kawai. My favorite pianos are probably p155, Es8/Es920 , and P120. I have never loved any others as such. I don't own the p120 though.
@@AngeloProMusicianagree....I own the yamaha p515.... aswell as the kawai es 520 and the kawai mp11se.... that mp11se has its stickey key problems ... but when it works correct, its one hell of an awsome instrument..... sound and touch are just a league of its own.
It's the speakers. The modeling on the 515/525 is better, but the speakers rattle and stink... sometimes. I turn down the bass a little and that helps a lot.
Thank you so much. Yeh actions are bonkers these days. I did a whole review on how I didn’t like the FP-90 and the. I played 2 different ones and loved it. I’ve had loads of pianist come over to try these and so many say they feel different to ones they have played before. Would be good if manufacturers would actually make them all the same in real and not just on paper. Do you have a favourite action in this group? Or like a most fav in the world of stage pianos?
@@AngeloProMusician I think they got confused by the different numbering schemes between the two brands. Either that or they think the ES-520's RH-C 2 action is better than the ES-8 and 920's RH 3, which is a sentiment shared by some people because it's lighter and faster just like the Yamaha DGX's GH-S action.
@@AngeloProMusiciantrue, but the es520 is more in the price range of the yamaha dgx.... the es8 is outdated....though agree with the sound of the metal frame helping it....its a bit the little brother of the piano I own.... the mp11se.... By the way, thanks for your review! I am thinking to add the dgx to my "collection" of piano's....😉😄... because of its versatility.
Creo que comparar pianos digitales de 800 €con otros de cerca de 2000€" es injusto. Tengo Dgx670 y Pxe3100 y con auriculares El Casio es mucho mejor que el Yamaha. Con auriculares El casio no hay que ponerlo contra la pared!!! Así suena peor, hay que ponerlo hacia el vacío de u a habitación para que suene mejor
Huh?? They are all through an audio interface so it doesn’t matter where they are. Plus seeing as the Yamaha DGX670 actually sounds better than the Yamaha P-525 I think it was absolutely right of me to include it as it highlights what a great product the DGX670 is.
@@AngeloProMusician Bonjour, j ai en tête d acheter soit le Kawai es 920 soit le DGX , recherchant un très beau son de piano et clavier . Mais je ne comprends pas pourquoi le kawaii est le double de prix du DGX, pourquoi aller payer 2 fois plus cher... alors que le DGX me semble très bien. Peut-être le DGX va durer moins longtemps...
I can't believe how yamaha fuck up a keybed withe plastic lighter black keys... Ar least for critical players like me. Pha50 is still the overall best i guess
Plastic lighter black keys? I haven't played these Yamaha models yet, do you mean they feel/look similar to a black color lighter made of plastic? (Sorry, my question might look ridiculous, but I'm just questioning myself too, because my non-native-English-speakerness makes me unsure, Thank you.)
This is, hands-down, the best presentation I've found yet. Your presentation is unique because you've focused on the physical aspects of the man-machine interface at the keys and pointed out strong and weak points of each unit. Seeing how each reacts to each different approach you took was interesting and very useful. Also, hearing you play "apples-to-apples" bits on each unit makes it much easier to pick out the differences between them.
So many other comparisons/reviews seem to focus on the menu selections available and the sounds you can get out of them - useful, but not as relevant to putting fingers to the keys - to my mind at least.
Your observations on the speakers in each unit was also helpful. The sound from the Kawai speakers seem to be much richer and fuller than from those in any of the other units. (They were the individual unit speakers, weren't they? Not all fed to a common amp and speakers?)
Based on your presentation, I've narrowed my choices down to either a Kawai ES-920 or a Yamaha P-525.
@@merq_yt Would you mind letting me know which one you end up choosing and why?
Yamaha P 525 all the way - in my mind it's not even close!! (Just bought one this week).
Thanks! Some valuable info here that you aren't going to find elsewhere, like the difference in needed pressure between the white and black keys on the P-525.
Thank you for watching.
Thank you. I’ve enjoyed your reviews. I like the honest discussion of all the details. Also like the straight answers in the. comments.
I was ready to pull the trigger on the p525 and am now leaning toward the es 920 after watching your videos and reading the comments.
Be sure to play both and make sure you try the accompaniments.
Thank you SO much for the selection of instruments to compare, for your thorough review AND for sharing your beautiful passion for playing!
Best comparison video on YT I’ve seen thus far, thank you! Next level playing too… 🤓🥳🤘
My first Yamaha was the P140 (now the P525). Excellent for classical music. However, DGX is much more fun, versatile and easy to use. I have the DGX670 and I am satisfied and used to its system, which is the same as the Yamaha PSR. I believe that the DGX is great value for money and meets several situations. This 670 has improved a lot since the DGX660. I would like to see a DGX700 with a touch screen and 8 memory registers. Who knows, maybe it would be a portable CVP805?
Good suggestions. It is true that the the DGX 670 offers a lot of bang for the buck.
Absolutely man! They need an upgraded DGX that allows the musician to have a portable Clavinova CVP range. An addition of 3 voices and LEFT would be great too. Basically I would love a PSR SX900 that is 88 keys and has a brilliant action with great speakers. That would be my dream gigging piano!
Hello Angelo. I also dream of an SX900 with a piano keyboard. Who knows, maybe the new Genos will have this version, but I think it's difficult because Yamaha is very conservative in its launches. I currently work with four instruments: DGX670, SX900, SX600 and the Casio GP510. Each instrument has a purpose and use. I'm a music teacher and I have a band in Goiania Goias Brazil. Hug@@AngeloProMusician
I have both the P525 and the DGX670. I find I 'play around' a lot more on the DGX but use the P525 once I've gotten a piece of music memorised.
@@elhombre2711euhh... you own the 515 or the 525?
I have a Yamaha P-515 and I love it
If you go into "Piano Room" you can adjust the resonance etc. if you have the patience
The reverb is also adjustable but I bought it for the action, great build and pianos especially the Bosendorfer
Just my opinion
Thanks
Yes totally agree... and I think most, if not all, owners of it would agree too! Almost no need for the P-525 to have been made.
Thanks for sharing. Your practical opinion means alot. Not a technical process when choosing the right fit. Just playing and enjoying the personality of each keyboard is the key!
I Own the kawai mp7 se, the action has narrower keys but it’s been great to play on. Most people experienced key sensor issues, but i got lucky and got a board that was brand new and it never had the issues.
Excellent review! Thank you!
Thank you for a great comparison video. It is very useful and informative. In my research of the P-525 I came across some information direct from Yamaha that may, or may not, address a couple of the comments you made in the course of the video. You mentioned that the CFX sounded different on the P-525 and the DGX 670 even though they are the same voice. Yamaha did all new sampling sessions for the sampling of the CFX voice on the P-525, and it is different then on any other previous keyboard/electric piano. Regarding the seemingly lack of resonance on the P-525, there are a number of possible explanations. In addition to the Reverb setting, there is a setting for whether the lid of the piano is closed, half-open, of fully open. You might check to see if the setting is closed and if opening the lid introduces greater resonance. Additionally ther is the GEM (Grand Expression Modilng) and VRM (Virtual Resonance Modeling) functions that allow extensive fine tuning of the resonance related parameters. There is also apparently the ability to modify the "touch curve", which might, maybe, possibly allow fine tuning of the weighting and/or grading of the keys as you move up from the bass end to the treble end. Thank you again for a well-done comparison video It has been "instrumental" (pun intended) in helping me with my decision.
Your opinion. Is the piano worth it? And is the light procedure good and reliable?
Thank you very much for your passionated and deep graving reviews of this piano. You play really well! Can you tell if it’s possible to use a wireless headphone?
Yes kind of... You can put a bluetooth receiver into the output of the phones can then connect to it. But it would all be third party and not work natively.
@@AngeloProMusician thanks for your quick response 👌
There is a reason no (that I know of) digital pianos support this, only the other way round (receiving sound over bluetooth). It's because bluetooth audio has latency. You don't want latency when playing piano. Use wired phones.
I doubt it. Latency would be an issue.
Wondering how do you exit that pianos locked area
he is still locked up in the piano room
Please make a new comparison adding numa piano x gt and upcoming nord grand 2, if this is possible. Would you say pha50 is the best portable as virtuosic classical piano keybed?
Thank you for your review.
I'm not a major, but I've been playing the piano for about 25 years as a hobby and now I'm practicing to play Chopin's waltz.
I have a question.
I'm going to buy a new piano because the CLP440 I've used for over 10 years is not in good condition.
P525 and CLP745 are being compared.
Which is the better choice between the two?
Hiya, I think it would be very playable on either keybed. I would say the difference would be if you want a piano you can move about or not. The CLP will sound better with its build in speakers for sure compared to the 525. If you are only looking at an incredible action then for the price of them you could also consider the Kawai MP-11 which has one of the most realistic actions in the world. If that isn't detailed enough do let me know as I can give more info if you have specific questions.
Hi Angelo, I have never played piano and looking to get one and would appreciate your advice as you seem to really know your stuff. What would you recommend? Don't really need to be portable. Been looking at Yamaha csp275. Do you know if this is any good? Are the stream lights worth having for a beginner or just a gimmick. Also considering P525, PS500 or DGX670. Enjoy your vids, thanks 👍
It’s an easy choice. For a beginner and not needing to move it I would say the Kawai ES920 with the beautiful home pack if you would like it to look nice. If you prefer a little cheaper and A LOT more functions of styles and voices etc then the 670. I would actually pick the 670 over a p525. If you want maximum realism to a grand piano action let me know as a reply and I will tweak my answer slightly
Hi @angelo, I’m interested in learning piano and considering the DGX 670. Is it still a good piano to get for a beginner? Asking as it was produced several years ago and wondering if the software/hardware may soon be getting outdated.
@@AngeloProMusician I've spent ages (literally days) researching this so far - not had a chance to visit any stores yet - and I've come to the same conclusion and I'm leaning towards the 670, unless I decide to go for a Clavinova or something of that ilk. I'm not a complete beginner but the current keyboard I have is a 61-key diving board keyboard and I know it's inadequate: (a) my teacher told me that and (b) I've seen someone with far more skill than I have struggle in exactly the same way as I do to do dynamics well. Thanks so much for your video! I give more weight to those who are unbiased and not affiliated with any brand such as yourself!
I have a DGX-670 and there are some things I really don't like about it. For starters string voices don't sustain with the pedal. Secondly, the OS drives me completely nuts. I can spend hours trying to figure out how to change or save something that should be simple, and get nowhere I find the sound of the DGX to also be somewhat dull and lifeless. I'm surprised you like it as much as you do. I had an order placed for the Kawai es920 but cancelled it because the DGX was half the price. I've solved the tonal issues by playing the DGX in tandem with Pianoteq Pro through the DGX's speakers which are very good. Of the instruments you are playing in this demonstration, I prefer the ambiance of the Roland. It's the instrument I could listen to in a club for an extended period of time and enjoy the warmth. I was really thinking of trading up to the 525 but after this comparison, I'll just stick with the DGX combined with Pianoteq. It's extremely life like, and has a very pleasant complex tone. Trading up to a 525 wouldn't give me much improvement. As for the GHS action on the DGX, I'm more or less entirely OK with it although Scriabin's prelude for the left hand alone requires you to be careful to play to the outer edge (tips) of the black keys. Still for most pieces it's quite acceptable.
Thank you for the really informative comment. It was a real pleasure to read. I would definitely you need to have it looked at because both the DGXs that I own sustain the strings with the pedal. It could also be a sustain setting within the menu. Fortunately, I’ve come from the Clavinova CVP series so love the operating system 🫣. I’m not saying that to annoy you. I actually love how quick it is to use on the fly and set up different banks and also make effects changes etc when gigging with it. My main grip is the outputs. It would have been great to include a proper L and R out on it in addition to the phones output.
I think you are right in sticking with the DGX-670. The sounds on the P525 are not advanced enough to warrant the additional money Yamaha are asking people to spend. (At this point in time - I am aware updates can do a lot nowadays!)
@@AngeloProMusician It's interesting to learn your DGX sustains the strings with the pedal. Mine definitely does not. I've contacted Yamaha US support many times and they are no help whatsoever. As far as I know and I have been told by Yamaha that there is no way to upgrade the OS. I don't know anything about the Clavinova OS, but at least the OS version on my DGX is extremely clumsy to the point of being completely frustrating, wasting hours of time getting nowhere. All that said, the end result when combined with Pianoteq Pro is as good as any digital piano on the showroom floor. As for the action, it's Yamha's entry level, but still quite adequate. I own two Chickering grands and know how to regulate them. How a piano sounds affects your impression of the action.
Just for your information, I pipe the Pianoteq output through the MIDI cable into the DGX speaker system with gives good results. I then additionally pipe the audio output from the DGX (cimbined with Pianoteq) to a small Logitec computer speaker system with a 4" woofer in a 10" cube box. I run Pianoteq because it run s natively on Linux which I have used exclusively for around the past 20 years.
@@MichaelLewandowski-xu1nk Honestly I would look for something different from the DGX, but I'm just not sure what. The only portable digital piano people consistently speak highly of is the the 515. Some people like the DGX, but there are also a significant number of complaints. the es920 seems to have come and gone. No one talks much about the es920 any longer. People have bought them and then sell them a short time later. It's an expensive piano with the proper stand and pedals.
It could be Yamaha updated the firmware after mine was produced. Also I'm in the US and you are in the UK. You are the only person I know of who says the strings sustain with the pedal. Mine sustain with a key press, but not the pedal.
I think everyone here are talking about different context of "sustain"
In all Yamaha's I've tried (DGX660, DGX640, PSRS775, EW410), here's how the strings behave:
1. Pedal not pressed - when you release the key, the string sound stops.
2. Pedal is pressed - when you release the key, the string sustains a bit longer but it still "decays".
This is true for all String sound on panel .
I did find a work around if you want a string sound that does not decay as long the pedal is pressed: you will have to use the String sound found on the "GM/XG" section. It's not as high quality as the live strings on the panel buttons but it sustains indefinitely with the pedal.
Great review. What is your favorite stand for the DGX 670? It’s a very heavy instrument.
Hiya, I always use platform keyboard stands. Just cheap ones do well as they take up to 50kg. They don’t wobble at all!! Which is why I love using them.
Great video - do you own or have experience with the MP7-SE or the ES920? I'm looking to replace my ES8, and supposedly those have the same action which I reasonably enjoy however the keys are a bit 'bouncy' and there is an aspect of sluggishness to it that I don't find on acoustic pianos - but the sound of the ES8 is so good.
I own both of them. You have been mislead about the action. The ES920 has an action with the EXACT same name… but it is vastly upgraded over the one that was used in the ES8. (It’s a bit like having the same MacBook but an update keeps your device the same but the internals are much better.) Kawai stupidly didn’t rename the action and LOADS of people think it’s the same. The ES920’s action is greatly improved over that of the ES8. To be honest, the ES920 is significantly superior to the ES8 in every aspect… except looks, in my opinion. I have a video coming in a few days comparing my ES8 and ES920 before I sell my ES8. Easy choice for me. I would say sell your ES8 and upgrade it to the ES920. There is no way you would be disappointed.
@@AngeloProMusician Thank you, I'm so happy to hear this because this is exactly the decision I made.
That said I need to look into getting my ES8 serviced somehow (living in sorta nowhere in Sweden, I'm not sure where to look) because the sensors for the keys need cleaning (D4 key likes to hit max velocity consistently when not supposed to) and maybe some other things after which I can hopefully sell it at a reasonable price.
Also I agree the ES920 is not nearly as good looking as the ES8, hahah, but oh well that's a very minor issue to have with it I'd say!
@@AngeloProMusician that's hilarious cause you say the complete opposite in your comparison video
from the owner's manual of DGX-670 (and other DPs)
"Do not press the pedals while turning the power on. Doing this changes the recognized polarity of the pedals, resulting in reversed operation"
Yes spot on! You can do that when working with sound tech guys and have a lot of fun because they have no idea how they broke your piano, lol.
Is there a good Roland piano you recommend? In sound and touch? It doesn't matter if it is portable or not.
Oh yes... The Roland fantom 8. The full arranger 88 key version. Its touch is on par with the Kawai MP-11. I would say the Roland fantom is THE MOST realistic piano keybed I have ever played. It apparently has the same on as the Roland fp-90 X but it really doesn't feel the same. The fantom deserves A LOT of praise for its realism.
I played a Kawai CN-29 that was on closeout that I thought was quite good. It's a small upright in a pressboard cabinet.
Ah yes the Kawai CN-29 has the upgraded RHIII action which is a direct competitor to the action in the Yamaha P-525. They will be very close in feel and then it will depend on the pianist which they prefer. I like the revamped Kawai RHIII action better than the GrandTouch S in the Yamaha.
@@AngeloProMusician Again interesting to learn. The saleslady said it's the same as the es920 in a cabinet. I think it probably sounds better than es920, at least through the onboard speakers.
But is‘nt the Grandtouch S, in comparison to an acoustic piano, more realistic than the RH3? In heared that the action is much heavier and the keys are longer to replicate the acoustic hammers better:)
In an other comment you wrote that the Grandtouch S was superb
Great comparison but such a shame the audio is in mono - very difficult to form opinions because of that.
I’m almost always involved in live performances. My grand piano sound comes from one place. When I do concerts and you reach a certain distance stereo becomes mono too. When you gig in theatres ONLY mono is used. In your house you only hear mono. I’m not sure when in a love setting anyone is going to be using stereo for a piano? Please remember I am a live performer and not using these to make recordings that people will listen to with ear pods or something. I almost solely work in live settings where mono currently rules supreme.
@@AngeloProMusician Yes, fully understand your position. It's just that through headphones mono has no soundstage, depth, dimensionality or 'air' around the instrument. Mono is quite the leveller so everything sounds extremely similar. For true comparison purposes stereo is the only effective context in my opinion. Live is a different matter because the room provides reflections and reverberations that are, in effect, 'stereo' (different reflections reaching each ear at different times etc). Thanks for your videos anyway, much appreciated.
Halo, thanks for your sharing!
May I know do you think p525 is better compare with p 515 as a whole plx? Thanks alot
The Yamaha DGX 670 in Canada is about CAD 1,200 (EUR 800), and the P525 is about CAD 2,250 (EUR 1,634)... 😭.
I prefer the P525 but because of the price I am leaning towards the Yamaha DGX 670 or the Roland FP-e50 (CAD 1,400 = EUR 933).
Thank you for this video.
nice ! wich action prefer ? and why???
What are you thoughts on the P515 vs the P525? Namely sound wise, but also action
Action I love on the 525 and not so much on the 515. Sound I liked better on the 515 by A LONG WAYYYY. But neither as much as either the Kawai es920 or es8 for sound. Action on the Yamaha 525 was superb.
Thank you I got the P525 (before you responded to the post) and was a bit underwhelmed by the sound. I felt like my P255 Yamaha in 2018 sounded better. The headphone audio also is very low output that even on max volume it doesn't sound loud. I agree the P525 action is good, but I just may return it. I'd love a great sound and action that is not heavy. Do you think the Kawai es920 would be the way to go over the 515? I thought the 525 would at least have the same sound as 515.
Well I guess you kind of answered it in other post i've seen, the ES920 is the way to go!
Actually, the FP 90 X has a different piano engine than the VPiano in the phantom and the regular FP90. The X uses what they call pure acoustic modeling a brand new engine. It does still also have what they call their supernatural engine, which is most mostly samples with some sort of modeling 2 a degree.
Wow... you certainly have delivered, mate! Thanks a bunch!
I'm now leaning heavily towards the DGX670. The P525 still looks like an amazing choice and one I might even make down the track but I have to be realistic. I'm just a beginner and any of these would be overkill for me. I would REALLY like to learn on the P-525 given how realistic the action seems to be but it's hard to justify the price difference (around $650aud/400euro) at my level. Hell, I can't even justify the DGX-670 but oh well... no one said I was a just man anyway.
@@JoeLinux2000 I can still find the P 515 but it's still about $350 more than the DGX 670. The P-525 is another $300 on top of that! Plus I'm getting all my gear from zero... so headphones, stand, etc. I could do with saving a bit here and there and maybe throw the extra in more lessons, I guess.
The weight won't bother as it will be on its stand 99.99999% of the time. I honestly can't see myself moving whatever I end buying much.
The Yamaha DGX is plenty easy to move. I see people gigging with it often. If you let me know if you want just a good piano sound and action or if you want a piano that does loads of other sounds too I can recommend one that would suit you in a cheaper price bracket and may also be better for you needs without making any compromises.
I'm a beginner too, I'm happy I bought my P-515 before and haven't waited for the successor. I like especially its action. Suprisingly, I like also the action of the P-525, even when it's much lighter. But I wouldn't be able to justify its cost for me, the P-515 was my limit and I've been enjoying it for some time instead of waiting.
I also like a lot the old samples of the Bosendorfer, especially after turning up the resonance a bit. I just press some notes with a pedal and it makes so beautiful harmony.
It's not that I need the quality as a beginner, but to me it helps to motivate me when it sounds beautiful.
Also the dynamic range can't be compared with a low end digital. It's incredible how great it sounds also when playing very softly. It should be demoed more in reviews IMO.
@@AngeloProMusician Thanks mate! The narrowed down my choices to those 2 is because in one hand, I'm a beginner so I believe I would benefit from practicing on a piano with good action and piano sound. In the other hand, despite liking piano more, I'm also interested in other musical instruments so the DGX appealed to me and I also felt it would help to keep me motivated and entertained as I come to crashing reality of not being a savant haha
I'm happy to hear any suggestions you guys might have! I haven't pulled the trigger on anything as I was hoping for some Black Friday deals.
@@lumpichu absolutely... I heard a P515 being played and couldn't agree more on the Bosendorfer and being motivated by a great sounding piano!!! In fact, it was this short demo that got me searching for a P515 but then I learned about the soon to be released P-525... the price difference is not that small, you're right. But I feel like the lighter action might actually help me at the beginning.
Why are you putting the new Yamaha P515 against much older models in the ES8 and Casio 3100? Where's the latest Kawaii or the Casio 6000 or 7000?
Realised you added resonance on the dgx, you can do that to on the p525 on the piano room settings.
I was thinking that too. It took me over a year to develop the tonal quality of the system I'm playing.
Yes but I was careful only to do it after I demoed it flat and I did also mention that when I added it on the Yamaha P525 was not able to replicate that amount of Reverb in the current unit. That's all software so potentially Yamaha can update that in the new unit which would be cool.
@@AngeloProMusician I'm surprised there is no update path for the DGX.
Would you compare the Yamaha P-525 with Kawai CA49? They are about the same price here in Canada, and I'm having a hard time deciding which one to get.
Even though I’m a die hard Kawai fan the CA49 doesn’t tend to have a very nice sound because of its case. I very much dislike the Yamaha P-525 too. I wouldn’t pick either. I would purchase a Kawai ES920 with the home stand and pedal board. It will cost less in total than both the ones you mention and also sound and feel better than both too. Roland FP-90 sound and feels great too, as does the older Kawai ES8 that is phenomenal in sound and touch.
@@AngeloProMusicianThank you very much for the detailed suggestions, and they are duly noted.
@@AngeloProMusician Based on your opinion I did not get the p525 because I respect you a lot seeing how good you play and you dislike the yamaha. I got the rolandfp90x and it DOES feel really like the old used-up Bluthner grand piano down at the conservatory.Quite heavy action which is not bad by itself but its got low repetition speed. The response is sluggish or at least that's my initial take on it.Its like a 1977 Caddilac Eldorado its luxurious for sure , but you turn the wheel and expect to START making the turn in about 2 seconds. The piano is stylish , looks great , sounds great , but the repetition speed is the same as the GHS(yamaha most basic action) An action that costs 6+ times more than the GHS should have a better repetition speed but oh well I already got it so gotta get uesd to it I guess. Maybe in time I will learn and adjust my technique and like it. Thrills on the black key(or 1 black and 1 white) are absolute nightmare for me currently
Is YAHAMAHA GDX 670 a digital piano or keyboard?
c est un piano numérique . je l ai essayé l autre jour en magasin , je crois l avoir préféré à tous les autres yamaha, pour la beauté du son, et la clavier est léger, ce que j ai aimé, mais attention ça reste un toucher de piano, pas de synthé... Si c'est pour jouer au piano, franchement pour le prix , c est top. Après, je ne sais pas comment il dure dans le temps
Roland FP 90
Which is better p525 or dgx670??
That can only be answered if I know what you want to use it for as they both have quite different uses. What will you be mainly using it for?
@@AngeloProMusician I just want a nice sound and I want a lot of piano sounds
@AngeloTsocosMusic which is better (p525 or dgx 670) to play advanced concertos and boogie woogie? Thank u so much
I am really unsure of what to buy. I am not a good piano player. I am a song writer who wants to record his songs with a realistic sounding piano. Without having to adjust a bunch of things to dial in the sound. I also want a keyboard that inspires me to play and write songs. Right now i have a really old Yamaha that stopped working. And i want to replace it with something top end like the 525. Or something simlar but different. Something with very realistic piano sounds. I will not be giging with it. I will be recording into a daw. And playing it in my home. How much different is the 225. Or the Yamaha CK88. Or Roland 90x or Kawai 920 i think it is. I agree that the sound of the 670 seems more alive. Maybe i like the reverb sound. Is there only one really good piano sound in each keyboard ? I wish you had a video that just talked about there differences and Similarities. With just honest opinions. Most videos talking about keyboards are from stores. Or sponsers. And they will never give you honest opinions on what they think is better or worse about something. And where i live i cant just drive to a store to compare them.
DGX 670 provides best value for the money.
P525 vs PXS6000?
Personally I would pick the Kawai ES920 or Roland FP90 over both. They have better action and more realistic sounds and a better feel. If I have to pick I would say P525 as the Casio action does feel very unrealistic. But trying them out for yourself is always best if you have the opportunity to. Thank you for watching
Have you tried the newer Casios? They're have a much better action than the 3100 featured in this video. @@AngeloProMusician
Hi, that was interesting. Many thanks for that! You are a great player. From what I heard - as an engineer - via youtube, I would never buy 3 of these because: the Casio has awful sound samples, the Kawai is weird with its fully compressed sound samples without good enough dynamics, and the Roland has low fidelity conversion because it doesn't include transients in its sound samples. And it was wondered me. Best for all!
Hi Angelo - just came across your channel - great stuff. After teaching for 30+ years I’m now getting an Elton John tribute act together. Have previously used a Nord Piano 4 - great action (despite what the kbd snobs say about the modified TP40) and close to my Yamaha C2 Grand. Have sold it because it’s overkill for Elton material. Now going to use a VST of Elton’s preferred MKS20/ Motif Power Grand set up. So, now looking at a simpler model like the Kawai 920 (will they ever bring out new stage kbds😊 which don’t induce a hernia) with minimum of onboard sounds ‘but’ a fast action for this kind of stuff (from 6.04 onwards):
ruclips.net/video/6gLFkdvayII/видео.htmlsi=95hd01_k1XLhwN45
Any other suggestions?
The stage keyboard/home digital piano, imo, is beginning to converge. BTW, surprised by your comment on the Fantom action - I always got the impression from the majority of reviewers that the kbd (also in the ancient RD2000?) is heavy. Perhaps I’m wrong in that assumption. Anyway, interested in your thoughts.
Hiya, Thanks for the comments . I actually used to be the Musical Director for The Elton John Experience so you are definitely asking the right person regarding Elton stuff. I used the Yamaha MOX 8 as our main piano for everything on the shows. Easily replicated the precise Elton sounds needed and a huge choice of pianos. The keybed in it does feel a little lighter than a full stage piano BUT it is weighted and I was able to easily play it alongside my grand. For ONLY Elton piano sounds I used the Kawai ES8.
One thing you could consider is the Casio SX3100. I have one for gigs I need an ultra lightweight keyboard for. It has the most advanced case with straps etc and excellent build quality. I don't think the piano sounds great as it has small speakers BUT to use as a midi controller for VST keyboard sounds is exactly what I use it for when I work in theatre pits. It will easily cover the speed of playing needed for Elton stuff and it is good value for money. It also had bluetooth midi with zero latency. It has never let me down since owning from when they came out. Maybe a possibility for you to consider?
I have no idea how people praise those Yamahas. The grainy textures on those black keys is overwhelming and makes the keybeds feel like a toy. Pretty ironic that a premier Piano maker like Yamaha refuses to put natural normal ivory textures on their digital pianos or can't seem to get their keys and actions right. Roland got this figured out a long time ago with their PHA-4 and PHA-50. It's really appalling.
Pity that Roland did not figure out how to quiet the clicking noise of PHA-4 action. I returned five digital pianos with this action (including recent RD-08) hoping that it would be finally fixed. The grainy structure of the black keys never bothered me. Do you think that Casio actions are better in this respect?
@@mfurman Roland claims it's a design thing and there is no way around it. I made my distributer contact them and he sent me a video of a model of that action making that exact key return noise everytime he plays it. The PHA-50 is much better in that regard but I can't stand the sponginess aspects of it. If you're playing vsts or using reasonably loud studio monitors, you can learn to live with it...but I totally get it if you can't. Notice also how not one single user review on Sweetwater or any online retailers mentions this. Maybe because it doesn't bother a lot of people? Regarding the casio actions, I would take the PHA-4 over any Casio action. But to be fair I haven't tried their high end hybrid actions in their AP series, which I hear is really good.
@@scarsstitches636 This is exactly the problem with PHA50 - it is nice but spongy and much different from the feel of acoustic grand piano. I returned my FP-90X after I started to practice on Yamaha C7 - I could not accept how different the feel of the two actions were.
Thank you for your response.
Michael
No Brasil: Casio 5k, dgx 9k, p525 13k, Roland 15k
From a pure piano sound perspective, they all disappoint. As for the action, the PHA50 in the Roland is heavy even compared to many pianos. The older Yamaha's I played on always feel somewhat artificial to me. I had an ES8 (RM3) for a short while and really didn't like the action. Casio's action is just strange. If you're looking for a true piano feel I think the MP11SE (GFA)or the new Numa X GT (Fatar TP400W)are probably the best out there. From a sound perspective, just get a good VST.
I believe the Roland black keys are also plastic just like the Yamaha
I also believe so but the way they are weighted and also coated you don't get in impression of any difference. More similar to a real acoustic piano.
Personally I don't want wood. It warps.
@@JoeLinux2000 It warps? what does that even mean? Grand pianos have wooden keys and they don't warp? Do you mean bend? ? What high end piano do you play / reccomend?
The old yamaha p120 and p155 were so much better than yamaha current p515/525… the new ones don’t sound as good
Interesting
I also loved the p155 and totally agree with you that the new ones don't sound nearly as good. On the flip side every time Kawai bring out a new stage piano they seem to sound better and better. Yamaha need to be careful as a lot of people, even children learning, are starting to notice that Yamaha are lagging behind.
@@AngeloProMusician seriously, i have a p155, love it. I wanted something different and had gotten a p515, and couldn't love th sound even after owning it 1-2 year, and traded it in for a Kawai ES920. Love the kawai. My favorite pianos are probably p155, Es8/Es920 , and P120. I have never loved any others as such. I don't own the p120 though.
@@AngeloProMusicianagree....I own the yamaha p515.... aswell as the kawai es 520 and the kawai mp11se.... that mp11se has its stickey key problems ... but when it works correct, its one hell of an awsome instrument..... sound and touch are just a league of its own.
It's the speakers. The modeling on the 515/525 is better, but the speakers rattle and stink... sometimes. I turn down the bass a little and that helps a lot.
Yamaha p525 is a little better than 515, I have both
Why is 525 better? Most users prefer 515
Should i buy a 515. Or something else ? Are the keys to weighted ? Is any other keyboard you wish you got instead ?
es920 has now a 1200 dolars price ...
Where did you see that price. Is the USD?
@@rickshapiro63thomann i think , DE , 1300 euro to honest but seen cheaper
i know all the actions you play on this video and i m sure i disagree with everything you say.Thats ok,anyway thanks for your trouble to make this.
Thank you so much. Yeh actions are bonkers these days. I did a whole review on how I didn’t like the FP-90 and the. I played 2 different ones and loved it. I’ve had loads of pianist come over to try these and so many say they feel different to ones they have played before. Would be good if manufacturers would actually make them all the same in real and not just on paper.
Do you have a favourite action in this group? Or like a most fav in the world of stage pianos?
The kawai should have been the es 520...
Why? The ES8 sounds the same as my Kawai ES920 which is the model up from the ES520 and a direct competitor to the Yamaha P-525. 😄
@@AngeloProMusician
I think they got confused by the different numbering schemes between the two brands. Either that or they think the ES-520's RH-C 2 action is better than the ES-8 and 920's RH 3, which is a sentiment shared by some people because it's lighter and faster just like the Yamaha DGX's GH-S action.
@@AngeloProMusiciantrue, but the es520 is more in the price range of the yamaha dgx.... the es8 is outdated....though agree with the sound of the metal frame helping it....its a bit the little brother of the piano I own.... the mp11se....
By the way, thanks for your review! I am thinking to add the dgx to my "collection" of piano's....😉😄... because of its versatility.
Creo que comparar pianos digitales de 800 €con otros de cerca de 2000€" es injusto.
Tengo Dgx670 y Pxe3100
y con auriculares
El Casio es mucho mejor que el Yamaha. Con auriculares
El casio no hay que ponerlo contra la pared!!! Así suena peor, hay que ponerlo hacia el vacío de u a habitación para que suene mejor
Huh?? They are all through an audio interface so it doesn’t matter where they are. Plus seeing as the Yamaha DGX670 actually sounds better than the Yamaha P-525 I think it was absolutely right of me to include it as it highlights what a great product the DGX670 is.
@@AngeloProMusician gracias por responder, muy amable!
@@AngeloProMusician Bonjour, j ai en tête d acheter soit le Kawai es 920 soit le DGX , recherchant un très beau son de piano et clavier . Mais je ne comprends pas pourquoi le kawaii est le double de prix du DGX, pourquoi aller payer 2 fois plus cher... alors que le DGX me semble très bien. Peut-être le DGX va durer moins longtemps...
I can't believe how yamaha fuck up a keybed withe plastic lighter black keys... Ar least for critical players like me. Pha50 is still the overall best i guess
Plastic lighter black keys? I haven't played these Yamaha models yet, do you mean they feel/look similar to a black color lighter made of plastic?
(Sorry, my question might look ridiculous, but I'm just questioning myself too, because my non-native-English-speakerness makes me unsure, Thank you.)