Need something decent with weighted keys and a headphones option so I won't wake the family up. Looking to spend $1,000 maybe $1,500. Any suggestions?
Electric Piano
- Thread starter Daddio
- Start date
With actions , semi or full weighted, that is always a personal thing. The same goes with the on board piano sounds. As mentioned, the best is for you to hammer on the keys at your local music stores and feel them.
Roland, Yamaha, Korg are all good, though do try out the M-audio ProKey88. Hammer actions, very good piano and on board sounds ( at least to my ears ) and I have been eyeing that as well. About 700-800 bucks.
Roland, Yamaha, Korg are all good, though do try out the M-audio ProKey88. Hammer actions, very good piano and on board sounds ( at least to my ears ) and I have been eyeing that as well. About 700-800 bucks.
It's been nearly 10 years since I looked into it, but when I was trying out the early versions of touch-sensitive keyboards, I really liked the KORG models, both in terms of sound and the feel. The keys had a little more resistance and a less slipery satinated finish. The sound was penetrating and fairly consistent from end to end with a certain tightness simillar to a straigh-strung grand piano.
Check out the M-Audio Prokeys 88. You can buy this at Canada Computers:
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=007693&cid=SC
I have one. They sell it for $727.99. The only extras I had to get was a proper stand from a music store (didn't cost more than $50) and some good headphones.
Note that this is a stage piano... it has fully counterweighted keys. But to hear what you are playing, you either need headphones or hook it up to a boombox/stereo/amp+speakers.
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=007693&cid=SC
I have one. They sell it for $727.99. The only extras I had to get was a proper stand from a music store (didn't cost more than $50) and some good headphones.
Note that this is a stage piano... it has fully counterweighted keys. But to hear what you are playing, you either need headphones or hook it up to a boombox/stereo/amp+speakers.
To me you must spend at least $1800-$2000CDN (plus 14% taxes) new for a decent digital piano. For this price, it is going to have 88 weighted keys and approximate an acoustic piano. You can easily spend double that amount, or even triple, and you'll gain a nicer cabinet, more buttons, better built-in speakers and more volume. Not necessarily better sound.
It is very difficult to synthesize the sound of an acoustic piano, however. I own a high-end Kurzweil machine and the piano feel is quite good, but the sound is not very good, esp. in the treble.
I agree with HardIdle that the Korg models have good piano sound and feel. Check out Roland, Yamaha (Clavinova), Kawai, etc. and other brands as well if you wish.
Digital pianos have their place, and they all can be played with headphones at 3am in an apartment building, but they are not really musical instruments, imo. They pretend to be, and do a pretty good job of pretending.
Good luck.
It is very difficult to synthesize the sound of an acoustic piano, however. I own a high-end Kurzweil machine and the piano feel is quite good, but the sound is not very good, esp. in the treble.
I agree with HardIdle that the Korg models have good piano sound and feel. Check out Roland, Yamaha (Clavinova), Kawai, etc. and other brands as well if you wish.
Digital pianos have their place, and they all can be played with headphones at 3am in an apartment building, but they are not really musical instruments, imo. They pretend to be, and do a pretty good job of pretending.
Good luck.
You can't go wrong with M-Audio ProKeys 88. It has the best digital piano sound and Hammond B3 organ sound in the market IMO. Check out the sample sounds on "www.m-audio.com" and you'll be amazed. For the price of $699 (at Cosmos Music), it's a steal. It makes a $3000 Korg Triton feels like shit! Besides, it's only 40 pounds in weight which is very practicle to take it for your gigs.zekestone said:Check out the M-Audio Prokeys 88. You can buy this at Canada Computers:
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=007693&cid=SC
I have one. They sell it for $727.99. The only extras I had to get was a proper stand from a music store (didn't cost more than $50) and some good headphones.
Note that this is a stage piano... it has fully counterweighted keys. But to hear what you are playing, you either need headphones or hook it up to a boombox/stereo/amp+speakers.
I've got a Technics sx-PX662 which I picked up at the CNE one year. The outfit I got it from is Dean's Keyboard Centre in Hamilton. It wasn't cheap - I think it was just under $3000 including the taxes, but the thing that impressed me was the touch; it's almost like an upright piano. The sound is OK too but naturally it isn't as good as a real piano.
I like the fact that I can switch between piano, harpsichord and organ. Some pieces, particularly J.S. Bach's Well Tempered Clavier can actually be played quite nicely on all three instruments although there's a challenge in phrasing and attack between the different timbres of the instruments.
I like the fact that I can switch between piano, harpsichord and organ. Some pieces, particularly J.S. Bach's Well Tempered Clavier can actually be played quite nicely on all three instruments although there's a challenge in phrasing and attack between the different timbres of the instruments.
Word. You have to play it/hear it to believe it . Having said that, I would not include Triton for the comparison though, as it's more a good " jack of all trade" work synth .playw/respect said:You can't go wrong with M-Audio ProKeys 88. It has the best digital piano sound and Hammond B3 organ sound in the market IMO. Check out the sample sounds on "www.m-audio.com" and you'll be amazed. For the price of $699 (at Cosmos Music), it's a steal. It makes a $3000 Korg Triton feels like shit! Besides, it's only 40 pounds in weight which is very practicle to take it for your gigs.
