Top 7 Best Digital Pianos Under $1000
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Although it is absolutely true that modern affordable digital pianos are quite impressive when it comes to their capabilities and sound, the higher end models are where things truly start to become interesting. Today we are going to show you our picks for the top 7 best digital pianos under $1000.
Needless to say, some of these are among the best digital pianos you can get right now. After we go over our picks in more detail, we will discuss what makes this segment of the market so good, what you should look for in terms of features and more.Top 7 Best Digital Pianos Under $1000
| Image | Digital Pianos / Rating | Summary | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
+ -  | Yamaha YDP143R Arius Total of 4.88/5 | One of Yamaha's most capable digital pianos in the higher mid range. | |
+ -  | Casio PX860 BK Privia Total of 4.83/5 | One of Casio's best upper mid range upright digital pianos currently available. | |
+ -  | Yamaha DGX-660 Total of 4.72/5 | A model which is all about the performance, great sound and layout. | |
+ -  | Roland FP-30 Total of 4.70/5 | An awesome compact model from Roland which features their flagship sound engine. | |
+ -  | Kawai ES110 Total of 4.63/5 | One of the lesser known, but quite awesome models in this segment. | |
+ -  | Casio Privia PX-160 Total of 4.63/5 | A more affordable but every bit as awesome Privia model from Casio. | |
+ -  | Korg B1SP Total of 4.47/5 | An awesome budget option for those who want an upright digital piano. |
Yamaha YDP143R Arius
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The first model on our list comes is slightly over our budget, but it was simply too good to not include. We're looking at Yamaha YDP143R Arius series digital piano. The reason why we couldn't resist this model and added it over the YDP103 is the fact that it brings some important flagship features. For starters you have the 192 note polyphony as well as Yamaha's well known Pure CF sound engine. Piano samples come in form of multi-layered Yamaha 9'CFIIIS concert grand piano, which says a lot about how this piano sounds. Being an upright model, it brings a full scale GHS weighted action paired with all three pedals. Overall this is a perfect choice for any traditional pianist.
Casio PX860 BK Privia
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Casio's Privia series of digital pianos is by far among the most popular out there. This family of models includes anything from lower mid range rigs to more professional pianos meant for traditional players. PX860 is arguably in the top of Privia range. It's an upright digital piano that features a full 88 key, Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II and all three pedals. The cabinet is sturdy and inspires confidence as you play. As far as sound quality goes, Casio did an awesome job with their Multi Dimensional Morphing AiR sound engine which is packed with some of the highest detailed piano samples in this segment of the market. As far as upright painos go, this one is impressive.
Yamaha DGX-660
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Even though it also comes from Yamaha, DGX-660 is quite different from our top pick.Where the YDP series appeals to the traditional pianist, DGX series and specifically 660 model appeals to those who put function over form. All things considered this piano looks like another tricked out keyboard. However, don't be fooled. This is definitely a piano. It packs that same GHS weighted action, that same Pure CF sound engine and a whole lot of awesome piano samples. This unit's main selling points are the massive built in speakers, plenty of sounds, samples and presets on top of the piano features and its user friendly layout. This piano comes with a single pedal although you can get all three.
Roland FP-30
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While Yamaha and Casio are definitely well represented on this market, Roland is a brand that kick started it all back in the day. With that said, they are still at the very edge of digital piano development. The stuff the offer in this price range includes the awesome FP-30. This piano comes with their SuperNATURAL sound engine which Roland uses across most of their digital instruments with great success. It's known for its agility and great manipulation of samples. The keyboard features full scale and an awesome weighted action. One of FP-30s best attributes is its compact size. It's super clean, extremely portable and very easy to use. At this price, it is one of the best portable models.
Kawai ES110
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Next model on our list comes from Kawai and goes under the name of ES110. This is a very streamlined model. That means that Kawai basically included only the features which are piano related. As usual, this can be a double edged sword. It is also no secret that ES110 is meant for those who need a great sound in a fairly compact package. Kawai did a great job with packing their awesome Responsive Hammer Compact Action into a chassis of this size. It offers great feedback and good performance. As far as sound goes, you are getting 192 note polyphony paired with a great sound engine and pretty impressive samples. This is a perfect choice for a performing musician.
Casio Privia PX-160
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Next comes another awesome Privia model that's definitely bringing that bang for the buck value this entire series is known for. Privia PX160 belongs to the basic side of the family. However, that doesn't mean that you aren't getting a great deal. This package offers the PX160 with an upright stand which makes it more appealing to the traditional crowd. It also means that you are getting Casio's SP-33 triple pedal system. The piano features their AiR sound engine as well as their acclaimed Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II keyboard. The sound samples are impressive, giving this piano a very massive presence, especially when you push it through a PA system. It's by far one of the best value options.
Korg B1SP
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Last but not the least we want to show you an upright digital piano that comes from Korg. Korg B1SP features just about everything you would expect from a higher mid range model, in a lower mid range package. On top of that, it comes with a feew awesome accessories such as a chair and more. The piano itself is fitted with their full scale weighted hammer action, awesome keys and a triple pedal setup. As far as feedback during use goes, you are looking at a pretty pleasant experience. Korg's sound engine is great considering the price of this model. At 120 note polyphony, B1SP comes across as quite a capable option. It's a great choice for budget users.
What To Expect From a $1000 Digital Piano?
Investing in a higher end digital piano can be quite intimidating. There are all those features to choose from while the fact that some of them are available in digital pianos that cost $500 definitely doesn't help the situation. However, there is a good reason why these pianos are still a good option even for beginners. They merge the best of both hardware and software in a package that simply delivers the necessary performance. Today we will talk about these features and try to address the benefit of each in detail.
With that said, there is one thing you need to figure out before you even start looking at these pianos. Higher mid range pianos make perfect sense in all but one scenario. It is quite simple. If you aren't committed to playing piano in the long run, don't invest in an expensive piano. You won't be able to recuperate your investment and you will find that cheaper models are more than good enough. Many consider this range to be full of digital pianos designed for advanced players. With that out of the way, lets look at some of the features which make these pianos so special.
Diversity of Design
One of the most apparent benefits of investing in these pianos is the diversity of design. If you need a compact, portable package, you can find plenty of models. Same goes if you want a more traditional upright setup. The important thing to remember is that no matter which format you choose, all of them come packed with great features, options and will offer good performance.
Now, it is worth mentioning that this kind of diversity is present in more affordable segments of the market. While that is definitely true, there are differences. For instance, most upright models from this particular segment come with all three pedals. That alone makes the whole investment worth it to traditional pianists as well as those who want the full functionality from their pianos.
Top Tier Weighted Actions
One of the most important features on any digital piano is always going to be the keyboard. At this point, weighted actions are the norm no matter what. What separates this segment from the cheaper ones is the fact that you are getting the best combination of actions and keys which is often times the same or very similar to those found in various flagship models. That means that as far input and feedback goes, you are pretty much getting the best or near best deal.
If you glance over our picks, you will find that each brand offers an action that represents their own take on this piece of hardware. At the end of the day there isn't a better or worse action as they are all fairly impressive. However, different piano player swill definitely feel more comfortable with different actions. It is a matter of taste for the most part.
Sound Engines and Piano Samples
Another very important aspect of this segment of the market are sound engines and piano samples. This is also one of the main reasons why people upgrade. It all has to do with the fact that most brands pack these pianos with their flagship sound engines. In a way, you are getting the performance of a much more expensive piano for not a lot of money relatively speaking. Sure, the samples may not be the same, but you are still getting that polyphony count, that same ability to control given samples and other things which define a good sound engine.
Additionally, you will notice that most of he models we have included on this list don't offer much else aside from the piano presets. When you go this high up on the market, things tend to become very streamlined and specialized. Naturally, that's a good thing because most of that hardware is focused on delivering the best possible piano sound you can get.
Conclusion
Overall, higher mid range pianos are a great way to get yourself that refined piano sound at reasonable prices. The pianos we have included on our list are definitely some of the best you can get. Naturally, we couldn't squeeze every model into a list of this size, but the ones we found represent a great cross section of the segment. We did our best to put together a diverse list, so that you can find something no matter how niche your needs are. As far as performance goes, all of these will offer you a great and consistent experience.
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