I'm looking for a master keyboard that has a good hammer action, without caring too much about the sounds on board.
The budget is around 500€ and I'm between the Yamaha P-145 B, the Kawai ES-120 B and the Roland FP-10.
Any suggestions?

 

Yes. Use AI to compare them first. Then dig further into the details and specs, prices.

You: compare Yamaha P-145 B, Kawai ES-120 B, Roland FP-10

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When comparing digital pianos like the Yamaha P-145, Kawai ES-120, and Roland FP-10, several factors come into play, including key action, sound quality, features, and overall build quality. Here’s a breakdown based on common criteria:

Yamaha P-145
Key Features:

• Keyboard: Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) action with 88 weighted keys.
• Sound: AWM Stereo Sampling technology for realistic piano sound.
• Polyphony: 64 notes.
• Pedals: Comes with a sustain pedal.
• Weight: Around 11.8 kg.

Pros:

• Yamaha's reputation for quality and reliability.
• GHS action provides a realistic feel for piano players.
• AWM sampling technology delivers good piano sound.

Cons:

• Lower polyphony compared to some newer models.
• Limited additional features compared to more recent models.

Kawai ES-120
Key Features:

• Keyboard: Responsive Hammer Compact (RHC) action with 88 weighted keys.
• Sound: Harmonic Imaging sound technology with 192-note polyphony.
• Pedals: Sustain pedal included; supports optional three-pedal unit.
• Weight: Approximately 15 kg.

Pros:

• Excellent key action with RHC technology.
• High polyphony allows for more complex musical passages without dropouts.
• Compact and portable design.

Cons:

• Slightly heavier compared to some other models in its class.
• May have fewer built-in sounds and features compared to newer models.

Roland FP-10
Key Features:

• Keyboard: PHA-4 Standard action with 88 weighted keys.
• Sound: SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine.
• Polyphony: 96 notes.
• Pedals: Sustain pedal included; supports optional three-pedal unit.
• Weight: Around 12.3 kg.

Pros:

• Roland's PHA-4 key action is highly regarded for its responsiveness.
• SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine provides realistic piano tones.
• Decent polyphony count for complex musical pieces.

Cons:

• Some users may prefer a higher polyphony count.
• May lack some advanced features found in higher-end Roland models.

Comparison Summary

• Key Action: All three models feature weighted keys suitable for piano playing, with Yamaha using GHS, Kawai using RHC, and Roland using PHA-4 Standard. Key feel is subjective, so trying them out is recommended.
  
  
• Sound Quality: Each model uses its respective sound technology (AWM, Harmonic Imaging, SuperNATURAL) to deliver realistic piano tones. Roland FP-10 and Kawai ES-120 generally have higher polyphony counts (96 and 192 respectively) compared to Yamaha P-145 (64), which affects the ability to sustain multiple notes.
  
  
• Additional Features: The Yamaha P-145 tends to be more basic in terms of additional features, while the Kawai ES-120 and Roland FP-10 offer more advanced options such as additional sounds, connectivity options, and support for three-pedal units.
  
  
• Portability: The weight varies slightly, with the Kawai ES-120 being the heaviest at around 15 kg, compared to Yamaha P-145 (11.8 kg) and Roland FP-10 (12.3 kg). This could be a consideration if portability is important.
  

Conclusion
Choosing between these models depends largely on personal preference regarding key action, sound quality, additional features, and budget. Each brand (Yamaha, Kawai, Roland) has its strengths, and it's advisable to try them out in person if possible to determine which one feels and sounds best to you.

 

Right, don't care about sounds, they mostly suck on that range of price, but weighted keyboard can be nice.
I personally decided to buy CASIO CDP-130 (piano), six years ago it was an offer at 300 euros.

Pretty heavy keys, more than Yamaha P series (too light for my taste), but most af all, very linear and precise dynamic response: I went on the shop with my laptop and tested the keyboard with MIDI OX (there are keyboards that literally skip ranges of dynamics!), so I suggest to try before buy and if you can, test them with MIDI OX or similar.

See here below the downweight table for many keyboards/master keyboards/pianos, I would suggest Studiologic 88 Studio (about 400 euros), that has also 3 joysticks (very useful to control 2 params at once) and very heavy keys.
See reviews on yt to check.

 

Last edited: Jul 12, 2024

Could you sort this table by price?

 

I had the Roland FP-10, and I can recommend it. However, I suggest you visit a store and test these pianos yourself. Everyone has specific tastes that may differ from yours. You'll get a better feel and understanding of them when you try them out in person.

It's then you will find out which ones suit you the best, compared to all the reviews and our opinions. They are great to narrow down some options, but test and find your flavor

 

No.
And the list is outdated, it gives just hints on an overlooked but very important parameter of a weighted keyboard, the key downweight, especially if you want to study/play classical piano.

 

Last edited: Jul 12, 2024

!00%, ideally, and especially if you can test them out side-by-side. But most people no longer have this as a viable option to them. Even if you do, you will still only be able to check whatever they have in inventory. They usually will only carry a few models in the same price ranges, and they are not all the ones you want to test. Especially Studiologic. Most stores will not even carry their stuff, for whatever reason. I've never seen a Sledge new in stock at a brick and mortar store. Just as an example. If you are hoping to buy second-hand, forget it. Based on personal experience with all three manufacturers, I'd get the Kawai, but that is just opinion.

If you are testing out new stuff, via online like Sweetwater, Guitar Center, etc; you need to make sure about the details of their return policies.
You are buying new, so in all likelihood; anything you return to them will be non-defective product you just don't want. They will always charge you the shipping and just tack it on to whatever you order as replacement. They may even charge re-stock fees, and sometimes that can be about 10%. Just check that stuff out in advance, because it can vary from company to company.