UPDATED REVIEW – March 9, 2014– Digital Piano Consumer Reports – Many of the popular digital piano manufacturers including Yamaha, Roland, Kawai, Casio, Kurzweil, Korg, and others have new improved models with a few price increases over the older ones. Also, Many digital piano accessories such as stands, benches, speakers, headphones, etc have also gone up in price too. If you thought by waiting around, the slower economy would have a downward effect on prices, then you bet on the “wrong horse” in my opinion. Many consumer retail items & services have also gone up recently (as we can see everyday) including food, transportation (gas), utilities, and health insurance, and pianos are no exception.
Although prices for some of the good digital piano brands have gone up a bit, there are also a few that have gone down slightly because the manufacturers believe they need to be more competitive with other brands to stay in the game (good ‘ol competition). One such piano is the Yamaha Arius YDP181 which was $1799 some time ago and went down to $1699 internet discount price. The YDP181 is a good digital piano but overpriced in my opinion as compared to the newer Kawai CE220 which is noticeably better in my opinion at just $200 more. The very popular Casio privia PX850 has some impressive features that the YDP181 does not have while still offering a realistic acoustic feel graduated hammer key action and piano sound with impressive dynamic range. The Casio PX850 sells at internet discount at just $1099 which is quite low for a good digital piano. Most new digital pianos are still a good value when you consider the much higher prices of new acoustic pianos, but you don’t want to buy the first digital piano you see or read about until you do your research.
A piano is not a commodity or a necessity like a phone, computer, food, gas, vehicle, apartment or house. A piano purchase is using your discretionary income, so you could make a choice to live without it. However, if you or someone in your family is anything like me (or my students or children) when it comes to listening to or playing music (incl piano, keyboard, guitar, etc) then it is something which can be difficult to be without, and I know many other people who feel the same way. It’s also one of the best things you or a family member can do for yourselves or your children physically, mentally, and spiritually no matter what age you are!
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| Casio PX780 |
Please take a look at my many piano consumer reports/reviews on this blog to get valuable info that will hopefully help you find the right piano. I am a professional music teacher (piano, keyboard, guitar, organ) & musician, and am an expert in this field of digital pianos, unlike many of the amateur reviewers or “pretend” reviewers out there. I do this independently and as a labor of love to help people really understand what is out there and how to recognize the differences so you can make intelligent shopping & buying decisions. Please contact me directly for specific piano advice and I can help also you get lower prices on new digital pianos than advertised internet discount prices including what you find on Amazon and in stores.
Also, take a close look at the new Casio Privia PX850 and PX780 (above left pic) which I recommend in the lower price range that can be seen at the following links on my blog reviews:
Casio PX780 Review
Casio PX850 Review
If you want more info on pianos and lower prices than internet discounts, please email me at tim@azpianowholesale.com or call me direct at 602-571-1864
