Digital pianos offer a great alternative to acoustic pianos because of their price tag, great sound, and their size. However, choosing which the best digital piano is can be a difficult task. There are many different brands with various features and price tags. The good news is that it is possible to find excellent digital pianos for under $500.
With advances in technologies, even digital pianos under $500 do a very good job of sounding just like acoustic pianos. What should you look for in a digital piano?
Picture | Model | Keys | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Yamaha P45B Digital Piano | 88 | 35.4 lbs |
 | Casio Privia PX160 | 88 | 24.5 lbs |
 | Williams Legato 88-Key | 88 | 19 lbs |
 | Williams Allegro 2 88-Key | 88 | 29.8 lbs |
 | Korg SP170s Piano | 88 | 35 lbs |
Table of Contents
Choosing a Digital Piano
When looking to buy a digital piano, it’s important to look for one that sound and feels as close as possible to an acoustic one. Fortunately, there are many digital pianos that cost less than $500 which tick all the boxes. Here are some factors that you should consider when buying a digital piano:
- Weighted keys with hammer action to mimic the feel of playing an acoustic piano.
- High polyphony. Polyphony is the number of notes that can be played at the same time. The higher the better.
- Connections via USB and / or MIDI to record and save your music.
The Best Digital Pianos for Under $500
This review looks at the best digital pianos that you can buy for under $500. The review has looked at many digital pianos and has chosen the best 3 that are currently available.
Yamaha P-45
Yamaha always makes high-quality digital pianos and you always get value for money. The P-45 is no exception because it comes with a very reasonable price tag and lots of features.
The keyboard features Yamaha’s Graded Hammer Standard keys which give the look and feel of an acoustic piano. The graded action on the keyboard means that the keys at the low end have a heavier touch and gradually get lighter as you move up the piano. Many will like the split keyboard function, which makes this the perfect digital piano to learn on.
The sound sample of the P-45 uses Yamaha’s Advanced Wave Memory sampling and does an acceptable job of reproducing the sounds of an acoustic piano. Although this isn’t as good as Yamaha’s Pure CF Sound Engine, it is still a high-quality sample. The 64-note polyphony is good enough for most people who enjoy playing the piano.
Product features
What are the main features of the Yamaha P-45 digital piano? Here is a brief overview.
- 88-key Graded Hammer Standard keyboard
- Touch sensitivity soft, medium, hard, and fixed.
- 64-note polyphony
- 10 voices
- 4 reverb types
- Built-in metronome
- USB to host connection
- Headphone connection
- 2 x 6W speakers
- Weight: 25 lbs (11.5kg)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-4fs9DXWzc
Benefits of the Yamaha P-45
The Yamaha P-45 is digital piano which has a number of excellent features and it backed up by Yamaha’s quality and attention to detail. The P-45 is also very light, and one excellent feature is that the quality of the keyboard hasn’t been compromised for weight.
The ability to connect to external devices and MIDI controllers via the USB connection is a definite advantage.
Verdict
The Yamaha P-45 is among the top 3 digital pianos for under $500 because it is an excellent choice for any piano player who needs a portable, high-quality digital piano. The P-45 model has enough features to keep new and young pianists happy and it doesn’t have many distractions on it.
Purchase This Product On Amazon
Casio PX-160
The PX-160 from Casio is a marked improvement from the previous PX-150. With the PX-160 you get a range of features that are usually only found in digital pianos over $500. Casio has improved the keyboard, sound system, and general look of the PX-160.
The PX-160 digital piano has a well-designed keyboard which has Casio’s famous Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action keyboard. Casio has also made sure that playing the PX-160 is as close as you can get to the original, even down to the ebony and ivory feel on the keys. The keyboard has a dual mode feature, allowing you to play duets or play along with a teacher.
The Casio PX-160 features improved sound samples, and the string ensemble sounds are a great improvement over previous models. You also get Casio’s AiR Sound Source, which is fast becoming the industry standard for piano sound samples.
Product features
If you buy the Casio PX-160, what are some of the nice features you get with it? Here are some of the best.
- 88-keys with weighted graded hammer action
- Touch sensitivity soft, medium, hard, and fixed.
- 128-note polyphony
- 18 voices
- 4 reverb types
- 60 pre-recorded songs
- Built-in metronome
- USB MIDI connection
- Built-in 2-track recorder
- Line out
- 1 damper pedal
- 2 Headphone connections
- 2 x 8W speakers
- Weight: 25 lbs (11.5kg)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpglRY1cgF8
Benefits of the Casio PX-160
The Casio PX-160 represents real value for money. The 128-note polyphony is enough for even professional musicians and will let you play any chord imaginable. Although the Casio PX-160 sells for under $500, it is as good as many digital pianos which cost more.
A nice feature is the speaker system and with speaker openings to the front and back, you can experience multi-dimensional sounds.
Verdict
The Casio PX-160 is a great choice for anyone looking for a solid, yet portable digital piano for under $500. Although this is an entry-level digital piano, the PX-160 will suit beginners as wel as more experienced musicians.
Purchase This Product On Amazon
Williams Legato
The Williams Legato digital piano is ranked in the top 3 best digital pianos under $500 because of its low price tag and great features. The Legato is definitely marketed more for beginners and will give an adequate experience for new piano players.
Even though the Williams Legato has a low price tag, the keyboard is surprisingly good with its full-size semi-weighted keys.
For beginners, there are very few distractions on the digital piano which is a definite plus and the fact it works off batteries and is very light means that you can take it anywhere you want. Although it doesn’t have a built-in recorder, you can connect to an external device via the USB/MIDI connection.
Product features
What are some of the features of the Williams Legato that make this among the top 3 digital pianos for under $500? Here is a short overview.
- 88-key keyboard with semi-weighted keys
- Split mode keyboard
- 32-note polyphony
- Reverb and chorus
- 5 rich voices
- USB to host connection
- Headphone connection
- 4 speakers
- Weight: 19 lbs (8.6 kg)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su_FTZDNfZk
Benefits of the Williams Legato
One of the best features of the Williams Legato is its low price tag. Even though the keyboard only features semi-weighted keys, it is good to remember that some electronic keyboards cost more than the Legato and are not as goo quality.
Although the polyphony is not high, it should be enough for beginners who are just learning to play the piano.
Verdict
The Williams Legato is a very affordable digital piano and has the feel of playing an acoustic piano. If you are a beginner, or a music teacher and you need a digital piano that is portable and can work off batteries, then this is an excellent choice.
Purchase This Product On Amazon