Reviews

There’s a version of this review that spends a lot of time on specs. I’d rather skip to the part that matters: I’ve had students practice on the CDP-S160 (and its predecessor) for over six years now, and the results speak for themselves. These students transition to acoustic pianos without the awkward adjustment period I … Read more

The Casio PX-S3100 doesn’t try to be the best piano at its price point. It tries to be the most capable instrument, and it succeeds by a wide margin. I started recommending the PX-S3100 to students who kept asking the same question: “Can I get a piano that also does other stuff?” Singer-songwriters who wanted … Read more

I’ve recommended the Casio PX-S1100 to more apartment-dwelling students than I can count. When someone tells me “I want to learn piano, but I don’t have space for a piano,” this is the instrument that changes their mind. At 9.1 inches deep – roughly the width of a laptop – the PX-S1100 sits on a … Read more

I wanted to love the Kawai ES120. Kawai makes some of the finest acoustic pianos in the world, and the idea of getting their SK-EX concert grand sound in a portable package for under $1,000 was exciting. But after spending real time with this instrument and comparing it directly against the competition, I have to … Read more

I used to recommend the Roland FP-30X more than any other digital piano. It had everything: great features, reliable build, the highest polyphony in its class. But after putting more students in front of it over the past year and watching them move between this piano and acoustic instruments, I’ve had to revise my assessment. … Read more

The Yamaha P-225 represents a genuine milestone for the P-series. For the first time, Yamaha’s premium CFX concert grand sampling – the sound that won the International Chopin Competition – is available in a sub-$800 instrument. That’s a big deal. I’ve been recommending Yamaha P-series pianos to students for over a decade. The P-45, the … Read more