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4 Best Digital Pianos Under $2,000 for Pianists

CynthiaV
best digital piano under 2000

The top digital pianos in a range of pricing ranges have been tested and reviewed by us over the last several months. The best portable digital piano for expert players, the crème de la crème, is now available for you to enjoy playing.

The best digital piano under $2000 I will be discussing is the greatest there is. If a digital piano is labeled as “Digital Piano,” it signifies that it is not a stage piano or a workstation. In a subsequent post, we’ll cover this topic in detail.

Pro-Grade Digital Pianos: Quick Overview

Since there are fewer options in the high-end portable digital piano market, it’s not as crowded as the lower end. The three major players in this market are Kawai, Yamaha, and Roland.

It requires a significant investment in both time and money to develop a digital piano of high quality that offers expert players an option to more traditional learning instruments like upright or grands.

Companies such as Kawai and Yamaha who have been making acoustic pianos for decades, are industry leaders in this market area of the digital pianos.

When comparing the cost of a portable digital piano to a comparable console instrument, you’ll always discover that the console model is around 25 percent more costly.

Because of this, a high-end portable digital piano provides excellent sound and a pleasant feel at no additional expense. Does it sound right? Let’s get started, shall we? Here are the best digital pianos under $2000 to meet your musical needs.

Best Digital Pianos Under $2000

1. Kawai ES8

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One of the first options you should look at is the Kawai ES8 if you want to get a feel for playing a genuine piano. For its rich, colorless piano sounds and natural key motions, the ES8 is lauded by many seasoned and professional pianists.

The ES520 and ES920, two new models from Kawai, were recently unveiled. The ES8 is being phased out in favor of the newer model. Many retailers in the United States are out of stock of both new versions and the ES8. The Roland FP90 digital piano could be the next best thing if you’re in the market for one right now.

This best digital piano under $2000 is still popular, despite the fact that there are new digital pianos on the market that compete with it. It is one of my all-time favorite digital pianos to take on the go. You’ll like it as well and to further understand why, let’s take a closer look at the Kawai ES8.

Touch

The Kawai ES8 is equipped with a keyboard mechanism called Responsive Hammer III. In Kawai’s arsenal, this plastic key mechanism is the finest. The lack of a wooden key mechanism in RHIII does not lessen its realism.

If you like Kawai’s hardwood “seesaw” mechanisms with lengthy wooden keys including hidden components, good pivot length, and mechanical movements like the Grand Feel Compact and Grand Feel II, then there’s none of that around in this  best digital piano under $2000.

These crucial tasks however need extra weight and space, which dramatically reduces the piano’s mobility. High humidity does not pose a problem for the RHIII keyboard’s 88 progressively weighted keys, which imitate an ivory top surface.

An embedded metal counterweight in each key helps the hammer to rest more comfortably on the key, preventing it from slipping out of place. Especially while playing pianissimo, this increases both playability and control.

Simulating constraint (luxury) with the small “notches” you may feel while softly pressing a key helps RHIII resemble reality. The RHIII is a lot of fun to play, and because it’s heavily reliant on the ES8, there’s not much that can be done to better it save for a keyspring back that not everyone will find acceptable.

Sound

One of the most significant aspects of conveying a message is how it sounds. It’s critical that you find the tones you’re looking for and that they’re realistic enough. For a variety of reasons, the ES8 does a fantastic job at emulating the sound of a grand piano.

The Harmonic Imaging XL sound engine provides 34 tones, including Kawai’s greatest grand pianos at the core of the instrument. Among the three Kawai grand pianos heard here are the Concert Grand, Shigeru Kawai SK5 Chamber Grand, Kawai EX Concert Grand, and Shigeru Kawai SKEX 9ft.

This is an incredibly expressive and detailed tone that flows so beautifully and smoothly that you can feel the instrument under your fingers. Here are a few classical pieces played on this best digital piano under $2000 using different grand piano tones.

There are a multitude of piano tones to choose from, and each one has its own distinct qualities. My favorite piano sound on ES8 is the SKEX one.

The instrument’s expressive and gentle tone flows beautifully and easily from your fingers. In terms of grand piano voices, the ES8 can recreate a broad spectrum of them.

Due to the fact that you have total control over the sound, it is much more adaptable. It’s possible to fine-tune your piano’s sound by using Kawai’s Virtual Technician (accessible both on the piano’s internal display and as an app).

A wide range of settings are available to customize the sound of the instrument. These include the touch curve and voice settings, as well as damper resonance, damper noise and string resonance among others.

An acoustic piano’s sound is incomplete without all of these reverberations and sounds, which contribute to the instrument’s richness and naturalness. The ES8’s 256-note polyphony ensures that you can hear every nuance of your play.

Powered by two 15W front speakers, the built-in sound system is capable of covering a medium-sized area. Intimate performances can also be done on it.

I’m not claiming that the ES8 speakers are the best in the world. Roland FP90 and Yamaha P515 both have four-speaker sound systems that include better-quality and higher-power speakers despite the fact that they are all similar.

Features

You won’t find hundreds of tones or extensive sound/effect creation options in this best digital piano under $2000, which is minimal in terms of functionality because there are no knobs or sliders to modify the sound on the go, a function that is ideal for artists on the stage.

Additionally, you receive a MIDI recorder, audio recorder, and metronome with 100 preset beats in one package.

There are various ways to customize your sound, including low octave shifts, layer octave shifts, volume balancing, and layer dynamics (speed) to make mixing and combination of two distinct sounds easier.

There are many devices and audio equipment that can be connected with ease using the ES8’s enhanced connection. USB Type B for the host, USB Type A for the device, a 1/8″ stereo line-in connection, a 5-pin MIDI input, and two headphone jacks (1/4″) round out the connectivity options.

For many years now, players have marveled at how lifelike a portable digital piano can sound. The Kawai ES8 is not the most recent professional portable digital piano, yet it never ceases to astonish.

While it lacks several features such as Bluetooth connection and live control knobs/sliders,this best digital piano under $2000 is still an option worth considering if you don’t mind the lack of sound options and a few omissions.

It’s worth considering the Kawai MP7SE, a concert piano geared for musicians who play, despite the fact that it has many features with the Kawai MP7 (sound engine, key action).

Because it lacks built-in speakers, it’s smaller than the ES8. In addition, it has more pre-programmed tones (34 versus 256), additional connection possibilities, and a well-designed control panel that allows you to alter anything immediately.

Pros

Cons

 

2. Roland FP-90

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Another serious candidate for the title of  best digital piano under $2000 is the Roland FP90. The Roland FP90 is the top-of-the-line model in the FP series. It has some of the most advanced technology found in some of Roland’s most expensive home digital pianos e.g. HP, LX series.

Touch

The premium PHA50 keyboard on the FP90 is made of wood and plastic and has a hybrid design. The pianist community has embraced this with open arms. These keys are used on the majority of high-end digital pianos. They are Roland’s finest action currently available.

The new hybrid grand keyboard, exclusive to the LX700 series, is even better. Key rotation length has been increased by around 20% (not apparent) compared to the PHA50, but mechanically this is the same work as the previous model.

PHA50 also performs well. That he feels and behaves the way he does makes me pleased. Plastic keys with wood inlays on the sides, as previously stated. I see this as more of a stylistic choice than an improvement in gameplay.

PHA50, on the other hand, seems to be a high-quality, realistic keyboard with a quiet mechanism, natural key action, and limited lateral movement.

In contrast to the lower standard PHA4 mechanisms, which have more prominent escapement simulations that consumer, may not like, this mechanism’s escapements are thinly simulated.

Due of its excellent (and perhaps finest) axle length, you can play best digital piano under $2000 backwards on the keyboard with ease. Because the keys are coated in a material that mimics ebony and  ivory, they are less slippery and more pleasant to the touch.

When it comes to folding keys, I think the PHA50 is the best. Due to the sound generating technique we shall cover in the next part, the RH4 has a little longer key rotation time and more expressiveness than the RH3.

Sound

The Roland FP90’s tone is unrivaled in the world of synthesizers. Why? The majority of digital pianos play back recordings of actual acoustic pianos every time a key is pushed, as you’ve undoubtedly heard.

Depending on the notes you play and the force with which you strike the keys, different samples are activated. What’s this? When it comes to piano sound, this best digital piano under $2000 takes a different approach.

When it comes to the piano, they used a physical model of the instrument to simulate its motion in a mathematical way. This included the strings, dampers and hammers.

The FP90 and SuperNATURAL piano modeling sound engines include this. In the instrument, you will hear the sound of the piano built from scratch every time you play the keys, rather than an acoustic piano recording.

A wide range of factors are taken into consideration in this method, such as the notes you play, the way you play the keys, the power of your application, and more. All of this aids in the replication of the physical motions of a piano.

In addition to smooth, a fluid transition between velocity layers, employing modeling instead of sampling has a number of advantages.

The modeled sound’s dynamic and expression control are much improved over samples because each of the keys is recorded for a few times.

Because modeling does not need storing GBs of sampled audio data, this best digital piano under $2000 is able to accommodate an infinite number of polyphonic piano sounds like ballads, concerts, bright and mellows.

You may fine-tune the sound to your heart’s content using modeling, which allows you to change every aspect of the sound. Full Scale String Resonance, Damper Resonance, Key Resonance, Body Resonance, Deck Type, Hammer Noise, Key Noise, Hammer and Lead Noise may all be customized in the Piano Sound area by the Piano Designer.

Because of the modeling technique, you may alter the tune, loudness, and even the properties of each note. However, there are certain negatives to it. It is very difficult to replicate the sound of an acoustic piano while preserving the piano’s unique timbre.

Simulated piano sounds have a tendency to sound lifeless and dry, which is a concern. As a result, you may generate “perfect” piano tones with no distortion, wear, or other environmental variables due to simulations.

Sound is more than just precisely replicated frequencies, and we don’t live in an ideal environment. The Roland FP90 piano voice may not be for everyone, in my view, despite the fact that Roland excelled at generating authentic, realistic sounds. There is no middle ground here. There isn’t any room for compromise either.

Consider that both sampling and modeling have advantages and disadvantages, so it’s up to you to decide which method is best for your project. Additional device sounds are available in addition to the standard piano sounds, such as organs, strings, and synthesizer pads (350 sounds in total: ninety four most important tones and 256 extra GM2 tones, which can be barely much less practical however offer quite a few variety).

The keyboard’s speaker machine is very impressive. Additionally, it has the most powerful speaker machine on this list, with a total output of 60W. Without external amplification, you might perform in front of a large group of people in a tiny restaurant or a large living room.

Features

Despite its size and weight, the Roland FP90 is an excellent concert piano. Some of the coolest features are geared for musicians and entertainers. The eight sliders on the front panel, in particular, let you alter the sound as you play.

Each sound may be adjusted in level by utilizing the overdub feature with the use of sliders for volume, EQ (treble, bass, and mid), and two sliders for altering the microphone volume and playing a song.

The FP90’s lack of multi-track recording startled me. Only one song may be recorded at a time using the built-in MIDI recorder. The ability to record at least two tracks per song in a DAW is something that most professional musicians already do.

Your performance may be saved to a USB flash drive using the built-in voice recorder (.mp3 or .wav). The FP90 has the greatest connection out of any of these options.

Other connectors include one for a microphone and two for USB (Type A and Type B) as well as MIDI, line out (R, L/mono), and line in (mini stereo). A microphone may be connected directly to other digital pianos on the list, but not this one.

In addition to the USB Type B connector and line input, this best digital piano under $2000 has a Bluetooth connection that enables MIDI and audio data. The Roland FP90 has a convincing sound, full of delicacy and expression, and excellent control that can be utilized flawlessly on stage, and for that reason, I highly suggest it.

For people who enjoy the FP90’s feel and sound but need more power and control, the Roland RD2000 is a remarkable piano if you’re willing to sacrifice the built-in speaker system. Smaller and heavier, it has the same PHA50 keyboard as the FP90.

Over 1,100 preset tones are available on the RD2000’s two sound engines (one model-based, the other sample-based), as well as the pitch bend and two modulations wheels. A tonometer is also included with the RD2000.

Musicians with hectic schedules will appreciate the FP90’s advanced technology and time-saving features, which are disguised by its understated aesthetic.

A portable piano that can be used in any room of the home looks amazing. To make it even more contemporary, it may be connected with the optional KSC90 stand and the KPD90 pedals.

If you’re searching for a high-quality best digital piano under $2000, the RD2000 is a great option.

Pros

Cons

3. Yamaha P-515

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The Yamaha P515 digital piano is a relatively recent addition to the market. It succeeded the Yamaha P255, the previous model’s immensely successful predecessor, and became the P series’ new flagship model when it was introduced in mid-2018.

The P515 is Yamaha’s top-of-the-line digital piano, offering superior sound quality, functionality, and aesthetics to players of all ability levels.

For individuals who prefer to carry their piano with them when they leave the house, the portable sleek design is a fantastic option. Use the built-in speakers in small spaces, or the 1/4″ auxiliary line output to connect to an external amplification system for larger settings.

Many new innovations are featured in the Yamaha P515 that were previously only accessible in Yamaha’s premium Clavinova series. It’s nice to hear that Yamaha is providing the greatest technology at such a low cost!

In comparison, the Clavinova CLP745 is more than twice as expensive as the Yamaha P515, but this is  a portable version of the Clavinova with identical key action, sound, and function. Just looking at the P515, you may get a sense of what to anticipate.

In this section, we’ll see what this best digital piano under $2000 has to offer and how it stands out from the crowd.

Touch

The Yamaha P-515 has Yamaha’s NWX key action, the company’s highest-level key action (Natural Wood X). Despite its name, the P-515’s white keys are built of sturdy wood and covered in an artificial ivory finish. Plastic keys with a faux ebony feel are used for the black keys.

Wood keys can be made using the simplest equipment on this list, and I was surprised to see it on a compact and reasonably cost instrument like the P-515.

In terms of performance, I wouldn’t argue that wood keys outperform their plastic or hybrid (wood/plastic) counterparts. A digital piano’s wooden keys, on the other hand, provide an added element of authenticity to the instrument since actual pianos typically feature wooden keys.

For many individuals, the difference between plastic stocks and wood stocks is minor, and it’s the action design that counts most, rather than the quality of the keys.

The NWX is somewhat heavier than the Roland PHA50 and Kawai RH3 in terms of weight.

In spite of the NWX’s appearance (static weight), it plays and reacts really well when you put it to the test (dynamic weight). The effects of the NWX’s trigger simulation (which feels a touch “notched”) are as subtle as Roland’s.

Rarely does the keys of this best digital piano under $2000 bounce as compared to the Kawai RH3 which is really prominent when releasing keys fast, it would be good to have a little bounce, like you would anticipate from a grand piano, but this isn’t always a negative thing.

Kawai RH3’s key bounce is a personal taste, although some players find the RH3’s key bounce excessive.

Sound

The P515’s sound quality is another of its advantages. The Yamaha CFX 9ft. Concert Grand and Bösendorfer Imperial Grand piano samples are the first in the P series to offer top-of-the-line Yamaha piano samples.

Each CLP6xx Clavinova series instrument has the exact same sound. The two of them seem remarkable, and I’m sure you’ll find a following for them. This instrument’s rich, round tone with a distinct growl in the lower register has always piqued my musical interest.

Yamaha CFX loudspeakers are widely employed in some of the world’s most prominent music venues because of their robust and rich tone.

Another unique element of the P515 Tone is the binaural version of the CFX audio, which was captured using a microphone placed on the performer’s head.

The P515 automatically changes to CFX binaural tones when headphones are plugged in.

Using a proprietary VRM (Virtual Resonance Modeling) technology, the P515 aims to mimic the varied intricacy of the piano sound.

It has a smaller number of user-configurable settings than Roland and Kawai, but you get all the essentials: damper and string resonant frequencies as well as partial resonant frequency and simulated key-off.

A four-speaker sound system on the Yamaha P515 is outstanding for a compact instrument like the P515, which has a lot of intricacies.

Features

In terms of live performance, the Roland FP90 has some intriguing features, but the P515 has a strong arrangement engine. 18 drum/SFX kits, 480 XG tones, and 40 primary tones are included. So don’t expect everything to be of the highest quality.

In Layer and split modes, you may have a lot of fun while still getting a good sound from the core tonality. Among the P515’s best features is a 16-track MIDI recorder that isn’t often seen on digital pianos.

It is possible to compose multi-instrument arrangements using the recorder, which are subsequently converted to audio files that may be played back live. WAV files are recorded by the built-in 44.1 kHz, 16-bit, and stereo audio recorder.

The Yamaha P515’s USB audio interface is another standout feature. This means that the USB connection on the P515 can transfer both sound and MIDI data.

To save the cost and complexity of a separate audio interface, you may record the P515’s sound straight into your computer’s DAW instead of converting it from digital to analog. The instrument’s built-in speakers (or headphones, if you’re using headphones) may likewise provide audio data to the instrument.

The ES8 and FP90’s connection options carry over to the FP90 as well. I’d want to see Bluetooth MIDI implemented properly in the future. You can’t use the P515 remotely with MIDI compatible applications unless you buy a Bluetooth MIDI adaptor, since it can only accept audio data through Bluetooth.

It’s also odd that personalized settings can’t be saved to registration memory for easy retrieval later on. Since the sound changes every time you need to perform, this makes switching between various performances settings on stage difficult.

Despite its flaws, the Yamaha P515 is expected to become one of the company’s top-selling mid-range digital pianos in the near future. Wooden keys, two great piano sounds, USB audio interfaces and a 16-track MIDI recorder are just some of the unique features that make this best digital piano under $2000.

This piano is a wonderful example of Yamaha’s ability to combine cutting-edge technology with a reasonable pricing.

Pros

Cons

·        There is no way to save your settings in the registration memory.

·        Wireless MIDI is not supported by Bluetooth.

·        The design of this best digital piano under $2000

4. Casio PX-560

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Is it a shock that Casio made the cut? This is, of course, for good cause. With its distinctive sound design and arrangement options, the PX560 is an excellent piano-playing instrument for the price, but it doesn’t quite equal the other keyboards on our list in terms of piano-playing experience.

The Casio PX560, on the other hand, is significantly more compact and affordable than its well-known competitors. The unrivaled stage piano is now available as the Privia Pro PX560 digital piano. You can tell it’s distinctive just by looking at its brilliant blue body.

It’s a simple-to-use instrument with the best sound technology from Casio. PX560 pianos are designed for pianists who are looking for a more advanced piano.

Touch

The PX560, in my opinion, falls far short of Yamaha, Roland, and Kawai in this regard. As a light and compact digital piano, there isn’t enough area for longer and more sophisticated keystrokes to be performed.

Although the PX560 is rather light, it has the highly regarded Casio TriSensor Scaled Hammer Action II keyboard, which authentically reproduces the feel and responsiveness of a concert grand. The keyboard has a lot of bass and a little treble, much like a genuine concert grand piano.

To play, you only need to press the ebony and ivory-textured keys on the keyboard. This keyboard not only has a more realistic feel to it, but it also has a tight hold in your hand to keep your playing in place.

No one disputes the fact that it’s a solid starting point for critical actions. Tactile and simple to play with 88 fully-weighted keys and a triple touch sensor mechanism.

The primary action isn’t very strenuous, but it’s also not particularly light. In fact, it’s very adaptable, and it’s capable of playing just about any kind of sound or instrument. Because of the synthetic ebony and ivory polish, your fingertips won’t slide when they become wet.

The keyboard of this best digital piano under $2000 does not seem as realistic from a pianist’s view as the other key motions we’ve observed. If you’re playing at low or medium volume settings, you’ll notice this key behavior is a little more “noisy” than your rivals. This, however, is not a sign of poor key behavior.

It’s perfect for all kinds of piano work, including regular practice, public performances, and recording studio work. The PX560 isn’t simply a piano; it has a lot more to offer than that. It aims at appealing to pianists, synthesizers and organists, while remaining as compact as possible.

Sound

The Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR sound engine, which powers all Privia instruments, is responsible for creating the sounds in this piano and that means you won’t receive a regular 1,020-song sound collection.

For example, the PX560 offers 650 pre-loaded sounds, encompassing everything from piano to organ to synthesizer to guitar.

An unidentified concert grand perhaps a Steinway provides some of the best sounding acoustic pianos on the market. But while playing live, these little details don’t really matter. PX560 sounds fantastic even without mimicking some of these qualities.

PX560 is a four-speaker sound system that may be used with portable instruments, such as guitars. However, because of its small size, it falls short of the other keyboards on this list in terms of strength and richness.

Compared to other professional music workstations, the PX560 is a beast in terms of audio. Hundreds of pre-programmed sounds are available, but you may also use advanced sound editing tools to make whatever sound you want.

You may fine-tune the sound using a variety of adjustable parameter groups. There are many examples of pitch envelopes (start level, release time, attack time etc.), filters, amp parameters and effects (delay, reverb DSP, and chorus) that may be used to alter the sound of a guitar or bass.

Features

Take control of every tone and its combination in your performance using this app. Do you want to be able to play and record like a band? Do you want to be able to alter the sound in real time?

This is where PX560 becomes superior to the others in this list. The front panel’s 5.3-inch touch panel is the most eye-catching feature. The wide range of sounds and editing capabilities make finding your way around a breeze.

With the PX560, you’ll get everything you could possibly want from a digital piano. With the conventional layer mode, as well as the unique hex layer function, you have the option of creating a new hex layer tone by overlaying up to six different sounds.

The PX560 has 220 pre-programmed beats and five distinct grip settings. Automatic accompaniment may benefit from built-in arpeggiator and harmonizer features.

You may record up to 17 songs and save up to 100 songs in the onboard memory using the built-in MIDI recorder with punch-in or punch-out functionality. Concert artists will appreciate the excellent on-board live sound controls as well.

In addition to the three assignable knobs and a pitch-bend wheel, it also has a modulation wheel that may be used for tremolo and vibrato effects. It’s also necessary to have a connection for this. A USB port, a line output jack, and a MIDI connection are all that’s required.

Full-size R, L or Mono line inputs are also available, however they are more typically found on high-end music workstations rather than portable digital pianos. In general, this best digital piano under $2000 is a capable piano synthesizer that provides more than just realistic tones.

The PX560 has a number of characteristics that make it an excellent choice for musicians and private music students alike. A teacher and a pupil may both play the same instrument at the same time in Duet mode, which divides the keyboard into two equal pitch ranges.

The ability to transmit each side of the audio signal to a separate audio output in Classroom mode makes it compatible with the majority of popular third-party piano systems for laboratories.

The PX560’s two headphone connections on the front panel making it a perfect choice for school or work.

In spite of the fact that the keyboard’s action and built-in speakers are less advanced than the others on this list, the tiny design and inexpensive price tag of this best digital piano under $2000 justifies the trade-off. In contrast, you have access to an almost endless array of audio processing options that may keep you occupied for a long time.

Pros

Cons

DIGITAL PIANOS BY PRICE: Best Digital Piano Under $1500 | Best Digital Piano Under $2000 | Best Digital Piano Under $3000 

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