#Yamaha P45 vs Roland FP-10

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Yamaha P45 vs Roland FP-10 Digital Piano Review, Comparison, & Demo

Welcome to another piano comparison at Merriam Music. Today, we are comparing the Yamaha P45 vs Roland FP-10, two absolute titans of the entry-level market, both with tons of fans and lots of potential shoppers all around the world.

This comparison has been requested many times by our readers and viewers so we're happy to cover it here, and in the accompanying video. In a part of the market that also has compelling options from Casio (Privia and CDP series) and Korg, the P45 and Roland FP-10 still manage to be among the best sellers, the P45, particularly on Amazon.

We'll be comparing the actions, sound engines, and main features to see exactly how these two oft-compared pianos stack up to one another.

Opening Thoughts

These two pianos are very similar in some respects, the most obvious being price. These are both priced in the United States for under $500, and in Canada, both are available for under $750. Visibly, they appear to be very similar in terms of their size and stature.

At a quick glance, you might think to yourself, "Well, the Yamaha P45 and the Roland FP-10 are essentially equal offerings from two different companies, and, I've always gone Yamaha before, so I'm not really missing anything by not taking a serious look at the Roland,"  This is where you would be very wrong.

Hiding under the hood of these two instruments are some remarkably different specs that ultimately result in divergent musical experiences. Let's start by checking out the sound engines.

Piano Sounds: Yamaha P-45

The piano sound consists of some different aspects when we're in the digital piano realm. The first factor is of course the computer that functions as the tone generator. The second aspect is the onboard speakers.

We'll start by checking out the sound on the Yamaha P45 88-key digital piano first. Right away it's clear, even in spite of its affordable price tag, that it's a pretty responsive piano.

P-45 Advanced Wave Memory (AWM)

The P-45 features the Advanced Wave Memory (AWM) stereo sampling sound engine here.

The grand piano sound is certainly on the brighter side, but that's fairly expected since apes the timbre of their real pianos. Yamaha tends to have a brighter, clear sound on both their acoustic pianos as well as digital pianos.

Speaker System

The speakers on this are 6 watts apiece, so it's a total of 12 watts of power. For an instrument of this price and size, that's plenty. In fact, it's hard to build an instrument that's this light with much if any more power.

The speakers on the P45 are on the bottom of the instrument, so they are downward-facing. The sound quality is good, but you do get a better playing experience when playing with headphones.

64-notes Polyphony

We're getting 64-note polyphony here on the P45 which is definitely quite dated considering what most other options in the price point are offering.

In terms of other instrument sounds, the P-45 has 10 on board. Accessing them is really easy with a very user-friendly interface. There are a couple of nice electric pianos, organs, strings, harpsichord, and vibraphone. The pipe organ is particularly nice.

Piano Sounds: Roland FP-10

Let's now move over to the FP-10. If you're a Yamaha person and have never thought of a need to look outside of the Yamaha lane for a product, this particular matchup should give you some pause. We try and be as objective as possible in these reviews, but to be honest, the FP-10 blows the P-45 away in virtually every respect.

96-notes Polyphony

The FP10 has a polyphony of 96 versus 64. This 32-note difference gives the Roland a bit of an edge, especially if you're going to be doing some layering, but it's also indicative of a more complex tone generator.

The FP10 has a polyphony of 96 versus 64. This 32-note difference gives the Roland a bit of an edge, especially if you're going to be doing some layering, but it's also indicative of a more complex tone generator.

Super Natural Piano Sound Engines

SuperNATURAL Sound Engine

The FP-10 is using Roland's SuperNATURAL Piano Sound Engine, and it's actually incorporating and allowing you to access and tweak all kinds of synthesis parameters such as damper resonance, string resonance, and others. The SuperNATURAL sound engine is available in different levels throughout the Roland lineup, but even this more basic version has a lot going on.

Objectively, you can argue that there's just more technology going on here behind the piano tone itself. But then we get into the number of tones, and instead of 10, as long as you're using the piano partner app wirelessly, you're given access to more than 30 on the FP-10, including some really nice synths. The quality is definitely higher across these other tones as well.

Speakers

In terms of onboard speakers, you're not getting much of an improvement. They're literally the same with 12 watts of power on both. Still, it's pretty hard not to come away feeling that the FP-10 is delivering a much more realistic piano tone, that also happens to offer more polyphony and more sounds.

Piano Action: Graded Hammer Standard vs PHA-4

Now let's talk about action because if you are a parent enrolling your child in piano lessons, the action is probably going to be the most important thing to get right to ensure that the new student is building good habits right away.

Fortunately, we're dealing with two weighted action digital pianos here with full-size graded hammer actions, which is crucially important if you actually intend to learn piano.

Yamaha's Graded Hammer Standard (GHS)

The action on the P-45 is Yamaha's Graded Hammer Standard or GHS for short. This is an action that Yamaha has been using on their instruments for quite some time. There are things that are likable about it, and others that are undoubtedly drawbacks at this point in time.

The GHS action has polished white keytops, so that gives it a good grip in some situations, but it also makes it a little less comfortable to play in more humid situations. Fortunately, there's a matte finish on the black key which feels nice.

It's missing escapement, but for somebody who has never played piano before, this will be a non-factor. But if you are using this as a practice instrument and going back and forth between it and an acoustic, it would be a little more helpful to have both instruments with escapement for familiarity.

The other thing about the action which is a bit of a knock against it is the presence double sensor. If you had any intention of using this as a MIDI controller, and you were wanting to trigger some really high-quality samples on a DAW, the double sensor does not really deliver a particularly accurate MIDI output for professional use. For beginners, it shouldn't really matter, but of course, it will be less sensitive than a triple sensor action.

Some positives are the weighting which feels good, as is the repetition speed. They also use this action in the Yamaha P125.

Roland's PHA-4 Standard Keyboard Action

Over to the FP-10. If there's one thing that set's the FP-10 apart from everything else in the class, it would be the action. The PHA-4 Standard Keyboard Action that the FP-10 has is the same action that Roland puts on their RP-501, F-140, FP-60, and FP-30, which in the case of the RP-501, is an instrument that's 3x the price of the FP-10.

That's an incredible value that you're receiving on the FP-10 for this price because it's not some stripped-down version of the PHA-4. You are getting a triple sensor for better touch sensitivity, escapement and nice ivory feel on the keys.

On paper and in practice, despite both being weighted key actions, the PHA-4 simply outguns the GHS action as a borderline high-end action available at an entry-level price.

Yamaha P45 vs Roland FP-10 | Features & Connectivity

There's quite a bit of overlap between these two when it comes to features and optional accessories.

They both come with an included music rest, footswitch style sustains pedals, and power adapters for the power supply.

Both are available with a matching keyboard stand for an additional cost, though neither one has an option for a 3 pedal unit.

Bluetooth MIDI vs USB to host port

Now, a big difference between the two is that the FP-10 has built-in Bluetooth MIDI connectivity. The Yamaha P45 does have a USB to host port, so you can hook this up to a computer and output MIDI to it, but it's really nice being able to do things wirelessly.

Headphone Jacks

Neither one of these instruments has official audio line-outs. They both are equipped with headphone jacks though,  so you can use the headphone output to connect to an amplifier.

Both pianos have all the basics covered like a metronome, dual mode, duo mode, and transpose.

Closing Thoughts

Here are some closing thoughts and general takeaways on the comparison here. First of all, you may just have a subjective preference between the tone P-45 or the tone of the FP-10. There's nothing invalid about that.

But beyond that, the FP-10 really does pack an objectively superior piano sound, both in terms of specs and how it works in practice, and the same can be said about the piano action. The Bluetooth Connectivity for connecting to Apple and Android devices might be a big deal too.

That said, the P-45 is a tried and true instrument, and the fact that it's almost impossible to find in stock really says something.

Thanks for reading and be sure to check out the accompanying video to hear these 2 in action! Visit Merriam Music for more piano reviews and article.

The post Yamaha P45 vs Roland FP-10 Digital Piano Review, Comparison, & Demo first appeared on Merriam Pianos

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Casio PX-160 vs Roland FP-10 | Digital Piano Comparison

Hi and welcome to another piano comparison article. In this piece, we'll be comparing Casio PX-160 vs Roland FP-10. These are two darlings of the entry-level 88-key digital piano space, and certainly two instruments that our customers love.

The PX-160 really elevated the entry price range when it came out and caused other companies to play catch up. Roland's FP-10 was in many ways Roland's direct response to the PX-160.

Yamaha (particularly the Yamaha P45 and Yamaha P-125, huge sellers on Amazon), Kawai, and Korg also had their own musical instrument responses, but we're focusing on this comparison in our piano review today.

Also check out our individual reviews for the Casio PX-S1000 & Roland FP-10 review.

Discontinued Model: The Casio PX-160 has been replaced by the PX-S1000 and the CDP-S350.

Casio PX-160 vs Roland FP-10 - Sound Engine Comparison

Let's start by comparing the sound of these two instruments, and we've really got a good match-up here as far as grand piano sound is concerned.

Casio has in the past been a brand that's somewhat associated with the very entry-level portion of the market, but when the PX-160 digital piano hit the market a few years ago, it redefined what a $600 CAD digital piano should be delivered to the marketplace.

The PX-160bk is using Casio's Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source (Acoustic and Intelligent Resonator), which is essentially a sample-based sound engine with some additive synthesis on top to add some of the extra nuances like after-touch, string resonance, and damper resonance, among others.

Overall, the PX-160 is generating a pretty authentic and satisfying concert grand piano tone, particularly when you're listening through headphones. It was the top piano sound for the category in our opinion for a few years easily.

It has 128-note polyphony and an onboard speaker system with a wattage of 8 watts per side.

When we flip over to the FP-10, it's important to remember that we're now looking at a newer instrument that actually arrived in response to the PX-160.

Roland has put their SuperNATURAL piano engine into the FP-10 and that unlocks all sorts of value to piano players who are aware of Roland's technology. It has a slightly lower polyphony of 96, but this only becomes an issue if you're doing a lot of layering. For solo piano playing, 96 notes are still fine and the SuperNATURAL Sound Engine is very nice.

The speakers on the FP-10 are a little weak at 6 watts per side, so the best way to enjoy the FP-10 is with a good quality set of headphones.

At first, listen between the two, they sound pretty close. The more you listen, you start to pick up some differences. The FP-10 in the extremities of the range delivers a slightly more authentic sound and timbre, closer to that of a real piano.

There's a certain clarity to the sound that we're hearing on the FP-10 that starts to get a bit distorted and not quite as well constructed on the PX-160.

Both pianos have a decent selection of other sounds, including some nice electric piano sounds (e.piano), as well as others like synths, harpsichord, and string ensemble.

Overall, we do have to give Roland slightly higher points as far as expressive sound quality is concerned, but this was expected since the FP-10 is the newer instrument.

Digital Piano Action Comparison

The action on these two instruments is probably the most impressive thing about each one. Both of these hammer action keyboards have triple sensors, which means that you're getting accurate MIDI output touch sensitivity that goes beyond what most digital keyboard actions were capable of, say 10 years ago when dual sensor actions were the norm.

The fact that you're getting the PHA-4 Standard Keyboard in the FP-10 for this price point is somewhat mind-blowing because the PHA-4 ivory feels key action from Roland is one of the most reliable and well-liked plastic actions out there.

Casio has put the Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II with simulated ebony and ivory keys in the PX-160, and this was definitely the best action available for the price when the PX-160 came out.

So, the match-up between these two actions is pretty subtle. It's hard to say one is objectively better, so we'd recommend trying both out yourself.

That said. one thing we noticed is that the PHA-4 has a less lateral motion on the keys, and thus less mechanical noise. This won't matter for most styles of music, but if you're tackling some more advanced classical rep, the extra motion can be problematic.

The PX-160 isn't marketed as an advanced practice instrument anyway, but it's something worth noting in our side-by-side comparison here.

Both pianos have a moisture-absorbing texture on the keys which is nice, but one other difference is that the PHA-4 keyboard has escapement. Escapement replicates the sensation you get when playing an acoustic grand piano, and it can make playing fast passages for experienced players easier.

That's it for the comparison of these high-quality actions. Let's move on to some features and connector specs.

Features & Connectivity

The first feature difference between these two we'll point out is that the PX-160 has two 1/4-inch stereo outputs that are separate from the headphone jacks. This is great if you want to connect to an amplifier or stereo for[ some sound reinforcement, or if you were actually thinking about using the PX-160 as a gigging stage piano instrument.

The FP-10 on the other hand has a single headphone output and not a discreet line out. So, for people who are considering this for some type of a gigging keyboard, having the mini jack as the only output is a bit limiting.

The PX-160 also has an optional triple pedal unit (SP-33) matching keyboard stand (CS-67 Stand). The FP-10 also has the option for a matching stand (KSCFP10 Stand), but it does not have a port for a triple pedal. They both come with a basic sustain pedal, but the PX-160 has the advantage of offering triple pedal flexibility.

We'd highly recommend if you're thinking about the FP-10, go with the DP-10 damper pedal with half-pedaling as an add-on accessory.

Both come with their own built-in music stands, though these music rests are probably only going to be able to handle a pretty light book.

One feature that favors the FP-10 is the Bluetooth MIDI connection allowing for wireless connection to apps, like Roland's Piano Partner 2 for iOS and Android. The PX-160 requires a wired connection via USB connectivity as it has no Bluetooth connectivity.

The PX-160 has a 2-Track recorder with Playback while the FP-10 has no on-board recorder. Both pianos have a Metronome, Duet Mode, and Twin Piano Mode with Transpose (shifts the pitch in semitones.)

Closing Thoughts

To sum everything up here, it's not exactly an apple-to-apple match-up that we're dealing with after all. The actions are both great, though the PHA-4 has an advantage on paper with the escapement and an advantage in practice with less lateral movement. Both would be great MIDI controllers with a DAW though.

The acoustic piano sound for the most part is quite comparable, though we do hear more detail and authenticity on the FP-10 side.

The PX-160 has a lot of practical pluses in other areas though. The addition of the triple pedal, the 1/4-inch outputs, and a better visual layout are all check marks.

So, there are some differences here that make it a little bit hard to tally up exactly which one is going to come out on top as a better option for pianists. In the end, it really is going to depend largely on your use case.

Thanks for reading and click here to shop for more digital pianos.

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Yamaha P45 vs Yamaha P125 Digital Pianos Comparison - Are They Still Worth Buying?

Introduction

Yamaha's P series digital pianos are about as popular as a line of digital pianos can get, especially apparent by Amazon sales statistics. For lots of folks, the combination of price, features, and brand comfort has them settling on a weighted action digital piano P series instrument. The question from there is, which one should go on your wishlist?

In this article and linked video, we'll discuss Yamaha P45 vs Yamaha P125 Digital Pianos Comparison, which is known as the most popular Yamaha P series pianos, to see how the entry-level Yamaha P45 88-key piano stacks up to the mid-range P125.

Both instruments are portable keyboards and feature full-size 88-note weighted key hammer actions and convincing piano sound quality. You might be wondering if you'd be satisfied with the P45 or if it would make sense to spring for the P125. Hopefully, this review and comparison video will help answer that question.

Opening Thoughts

Along with Roland's FP series, Yamaha's P-series are undoubtedly the most popular, portable 88-key keyboards on the planet. The P45 and P125 are both well under $1,000 USD in a lot of markets, with the P45 sitting right around the $500 USD mark.

Yamaha P45

Many people will wonder exactly what separates the P45 from the P125 since it's not a huge stretch of the budget to make the jump to P45.  It turns out there are some big upgrades on the P125, to the point that unless you're already maxed out budget-wise on the P45, it's hard to see why anyone would stop at the P45 and not spend a little bit extra.

For some quick context, the P45 competes in a price point that happens to feature Casio's new CDP-S350, which on paper, really outshines the P45 with many more sounds and features, plus superior speakers. You also have the FP-10 in this class, which has by far the best tone and touch out of any instrument available for the price.

Yamaha P125

The P125 competes with Kawai's ES110, which is another huge fan favorite, along with the Casio PX-S1100 and the Roland FP-30X.

With that out of the way, let's see how the tone engines on the P-45 and P-125 stack up.

Yamaha P45 vs Yamaha P125 | Piano Sound Speakers

One of the biggest differences that you'll notice right away between the two instruments has to do with the speaker configuration and location. The P45 has two downward-facing speakers, and these are each fed by 6-watt stereo amplifiers, for a total of 12 watts of power.

Anytime you have downward-facing speakers, you're always going to have a bit more warmth to the tone because your ear isn't coming in direct contact with some of the higher frequencies. This can sometimes create muddiness, but in the case of the P45, it actually sounds nicely warm.

The P125 conversely has an upward-facing four-speaker system. Although it looks like a two-speaker system, there are actually two different speaker cones inside each one of the speaker enclosures. The speaker system is being fed by dual 7-watt amps, for a total of 14 watts of power.

Yamaha P125 Digital Piano back panel

This isn't a huge difference in power, but the fact that the speakers are facing up instead of down means that you're getting a much more detailed sound. Check out the video for some side-by-side playing examples to hear for yourself.

Sound Engines

The next sound-related difference is that these pianos do not use the same sound engine. The P45 is using Yamaha's Advanced Wave Memory (AWM Stereo) engine, while the P125 is using the more advanced Pure CF sound engine, with the high-end Yamaha CFIIIS concert grand piano being recreated via stereo sampling.

Polyphony

The extra processing power of the Pure CF engine as evidenced by the fact that the P125 has 192 notes of polyphony compared to just 64 notes of polyphony on the P45. 64-note polyphony is definitely on the low side for the price, and while it might still be fine for solo piano playing, it's definitely quite light.

In addition to the tone engine, the difference in the quantity of the instrument sounds between the 125 and the P45 is also pretty substantial. We've got 10 tones to choose from on the P45, vs 24 on the P125.

The various other patches on both pianos sound good, but there's a higher level of authenticity on the P125, especially with the electric pianos and organs, and just the extra variety of sounds as mentioned.

Wrap Up

So, it's pretty clear. The P125 definitely outmuscles the P45 in every regard when it comes to sound, and these aren't just on-paper differences either - the P125 definitely sounds noticeably better.

Yamaha P125 Digital Piano Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) Action

Both pianos are actually outfitted with the same action as Yamaha's Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) action. This is a functional action, and while it's not our favorite in the price range, it's by no means a bad action.

Piano action - Synth, weighted, graded hammer action (ghs) for piano keyboard

Some common complaint about the GHS action is that it uses a dual-sensor and doesn't have any let-off/escapement. The other issue common to many people's playing experience with this action is that the white key can get very sticky when playing for extended periods of time. This isn't the case with the Black Keys fortunately due to a matte finish that feels nice on the fingers.

Touch Sensitivity

On the other hand, there are things about the action that Yamaha has done a really good job of, such as the overall weighting which is really good. The touch curve is well done too, and there are a few adjustable levels of touch sensitivity to accommodate different playing styles.

What we have then is an action that will serve its purpose - a beginner taking piano lessons can definitely develop good technique on this action - it's just not the best action available for the dollar.

Let's move on to the final section where compare piano features and connectivity.

Yamaha P45 vs Yamaha P125 | Piano Features & Connectivity Digital Piano Features and Connectivity

Bluetooth and USB Audio Output

Starting with connectivity, there are some key things to note. While neither instrument has any Bluetooth connectivity, the P-125 has something very cool that the P45 doesn't and that's a built-in USB Audio Interface. This is super useful if you're looking for an instrument to connect to and use with a DAW since it cuts down on extra gear.

The P45 is pretty light with connectivity, with a standard DC In for power supply, a sustain pedal port, and a USB to Host port.

The P125 has the same DC In for a power adapter, but dual headphone jacks, a sustain pedal port, a triple pedal unit port, USB to Host, and possibly most importantly, AUX line outputs if you want to connect to an amp.  Neither piano has traditional 5-pin MIDI connectivity.

Keyboard Stand

Both come available with a matching keyboard stand from Yamaha, but the Yamaha P125 also has the option for a triple pedal unit, which the P45 does not.

In terms of standard feature specs, both pianos have a metronome, transpose, dual-mode, and duo mode. Both pianos come with a music rest and a basic footswitch pedal, but we'd recommend upgrading to a better pedal that more closely resembles a real piano pedal.

Foot Piano Pedals - stock photos

A final highlight worth noting with the P125 though is the built-in auto-accompaniment, wherein you're given 20 rhythms and accompaniment styles to work with.

Closing Thoughts

In conclusion, we've got two pianos here for the same series that aren't hugely separated by price, but actually quite different in their offerings.

Now, if your budget is already stretched at the price point of the P45, it's certainly a fine option, and one of the best digital pianos available at the said price point. And since it has a USB, you could use it as a MIDI controller.

If you can make the jump to the P125 without breaking the bank, it's definitely worth it. The grand piano sound is just closer to an acoustic piano courtesy of the upgraded sound engine and additional speakers, as are other sounds like a harpsichord.

Harpsichord keyboard close-up view with a playing tone — Photo

You're also getting more features, connectivity, and the USB audio interface. Both might be tough to find in stock these days, so just prepare for a possible waiting period after you've made a decision.

Thanks for reading. Be sure to check out the video version of the article and more of our piano reviews on YouTube!

The post Yamaha P45 vs Yamaha P125 Digital Pianos Comparison — Are They Still Worth Buying? first appeared on Merriam Pianos

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