Choosing a digital piano can be exciting, but also overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to balance quality and budget. If you’re looking at digital pianos around the 700 USD/EUR price point, you’re in a great spot to find instruments that offer excellent value and features for beginners and intermediate players alike. Popular brands like Yamaha and Kawai offer models in this range, and understanding their strengths and differences is key to making the right choice. This guide addresses common questions to help you navigate the selection process and find the best digital piano for your needs within a 700 USD/EUR budget.
Key Considerations for Digital Pianos Around 700 USD/EUR
When exploring digital pianos in the 700 USD/EUR range, several features and questions often arise. Let’s break down some of the most important aspects:
Speakers and Bluetooth: Are They Worth It?
When considering digital pianos, you might wonder about the value of built-in speakers and Bluetooth connectivity. Generally, digital pianos in this price range offer good quality built-in speakers that are sufficient for home practice and enjoyment. While the specifics vary by model, you can expect a sound system that adequately represents the piano’s tones.
Bluetooth functionality, often found in models around and above the 700 USD/EUR mark, adds convenience. It allows you to connect wirelessly to devices like smartphones or tablets for playing along with music, using learning apps, or simply enjoying music through the piano’s speakers. While not strictly essential for playing the piano, Bluetooth can enhance your practice and entertainment experience. For pianos in the 700 USD/EUR range, consider Bluetooth a valuable bonus feature that adds to the overall versatility of the instrument.
Audio Input: Playing Along with Your Favorite Music
Many aspiring pianists, much like guitarists, enjoy playing along with music. Understanding audio input options is crucial. Digital pianos typically offer audio input in a couple of forms. Traditional “Audio In” usually refers to a port where you can connect external devices via an analog cable (like a 3.5mm jack). This allows you to play music from your phone, MP3 player, or other devices through the piano’s speakers.
Increasingly common, especially in Yamaha models, is USB audio. This is a more modern and versatile option. USB audio allows for digital audio transfer via a USB cable. This is beneficial for two main reasons:
- Playing along with music from a computer: You can connect your laptop or desktop and play audio tracks through the piano speakers without needing separate audio cables.
- Using Virtual Instruments: USB audio also facilitates using the piano as a MIDI controller and audio interface with virtual piano software or other virtual instruments on your computer. This opens up a world of sound possibilities beyond the piano’s built-in voices.
Having some form of audio input, whether analog or USB, is highly recommended for piano players who want to play along with music or explore software-based sounds. It integrates your digital piano seamlessly with other audio sources.
Piano Learning Apps and Connectivity
Learning apps have become invaluable tools for piano education. When considering a digital piano around 700 USD/EUR, think about app compatibility. There are different types of piano learning apps:
- Non-interactive apps: These are essentially video lessons or sheet music displays. They don’t require any connection to your piano and will work with any instrument, acoustic or digital.
- Interactive MIDI apps: These apps connect to your digital piano via MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), often through USB. They can track your playing, provide feedback, and offer interactive lessons. Yamaha and Kawai pianos in the 700 USD/EUR range generally support MIDI connectivity and will work with many of these apps. Being able to route the app’s audio back through the piano’s speakers (using audio input as discussed earlier) creates a more integrated learning experience.
- Brand-specific apps: Some manufacturers, like Yamaha with their CSP series (though typically in a higher price range), offer apps designed to deeply integrate with specific piano models, unlocking unique learning features. While pianos around 700 USD/EUR might not have such dedicated apps, the general MIDI compatibility ensures you can utilize a wide range of excellent third-party learning applications.
For effective learning, especially with interactive apps, ensure the digital piano you choose offers MIDI connectivity, typically via USB, which is standard for models in this price range from both Yamaha and Kawai.
Key Action: Is Lighter or Heavier Better for Children?
The feel of the keys, known as key action, is a crucial aspect of a digital piano. You might encounter terms like “lighter” or “heavier” action and wonder if it matters, especially for children learning to play. Within the 700 USD/EUR price bracket, and comparing models like Yamaha CLP-735/745 (though these might slightly exceed this budget depending on sales and region, their predecessors are relevant benchmarks) and Kawai CA49/59, the differences in key action are present but not dramatically significant for a beginner’s development.
Neither a slightly lighter nor slightly heavier action will inherently hinder a child’s progress. The most important factor is that the action is responsive and allows for nuanced playing. Both Yamaha and Kawai offer reputable actions in this price range. It’s generally recommended to try out different actions if possible, but for online purchases or limited access to showrooms, focusing on reputable brands like Yamaha and Kawai ensures a quality action suitable for learners of all ages. Personal preference plays a larger role than a minor difference in weight.
Realistic Key Action: Wood vs. Synthetic and “See-Saw” Mechanisms
When discussing key action realism, Kawai actions are often highlighted for their use of wooden keys and “see-saw” or “hammer-action” mechanisms, which more closely mimic the construction of acoustic piano actions. In models like the CA49/59, Kawai uses wooden keys, adding to the tactile feel and potentially a more authentic piano-like experience. Yamaha, in comparable price ranges, often uses synthetic materials but focuses on sophisticated sensor systems and graded hammer actions to simulate the touch of an acoustic piano.
Many pianists find Kawai’s wooden key actions to feel closer to an acoustic piano. The “see-saw” construction, where the key pivots on a balance point, is indeed similar to acoustic pianos. However, both Yamaha and Kawai actions in this category are designed to provide a realistic and enjoyable playing experience. Whether one is definitively “more realistic” is subjective and often depends on individual preferences and what aspects of an acoustic piano feel are prioritized. Both brands offer actions that are well-regarded for practice and performance at this price point.
Quality and Reliability: Yamaha vs. Kawai Perceptions
Concerns about quality differences between Yamaha and Kawai sometimes arise. Historically, Yamaha has had a strong reputation for consistent quality and reliability in their digital pianos. Kawai has also built a strong reputation, particularly for their key actions. Perceptions of “quality issues” can be anecdotal and vary.
It’s advisable to research specific models within your 700 USD/EUR budget and read user reviews and comparisons. Online forums and communities dedicated to digital pianos can offer valuable insights into real-world experiences with different brands and models. Generally, both Yamaha and Kawai are reputable manufacturers, and choosing models within this price range from either brand is likely to provide a reliable instrument.
Upgrade Timelines and Piano Lifespan
Considering a digital piano around 700 USD/EUR as an investment, you might wonder about its lifespan and when an upgrade might be necessary, especially for a student progressing in their piano journey. Digital pianos in this quality range are well-suited for all levels of playing, from beginner to advanced. From a purely technical standpoint, these pianos are not likely to become a limiting factor in a student’s development as long as the player enjoys practicing and playing on the instrument.
The “lifespan” of a digital piano is more about its functional longevity and your personal satisfaction. Digital pianos are generally durable, and with reasonable care, can last for many years. Technological advancements mean that a newer entry-level piano in 5-7 years might offer improved sound and features compared to a current mid-range model. However, the need to “upgrade” is often driven by personal preference – perhaps wanting a different sound, a more advanced action, or additional features – rather than the piano becoming unusable. A well-chosen digital piano in the 700 USD/EUR range can serve a student through many years of learning and enjoyment.
Conclusion: Finding Your Ideal Digital Piano Under 700 USD/EUR
Ultimately, choosing between Yamaha and Kawai, or specific models within the 700 USD/EUR budget, comes down to personal preferences regarding sound, key action feel, and desired features like Bluetooth or specific connectivity options. Both brands offer excellent choices in this price range. Focus on identifying the features most important to you, read reviews for specific models, and if possible, try out pianos in person to make the most informed decision for your musical journey. A 700 USD/EUR budget opens up access to quality digital pianos that provide a rewarding playing experience for years to come.
