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Are you unsure about how much you should spend on a keyboard?
Hopefully, my video below will shed some light on the basics for you and assist you in refining your optimal price bracket.
I compare two Yamaha keyboard models: the PSR-E283 and the PSR-SX700.
You’ll witness a lot of playing to hear the differences in sound, and I’ll discuss what I believe are the most crucial distinctions.
Due to various factors, including inflation, their exact prices might fluctuate slightly, but at the time of filming, the PSR-E283 is priced at around £150, and the PSR-SX700 at about £1000, making them ideal subjects for this comparison.
The most apparent difference lies in the sound.
The more costly keyboard emulates a ‘real’ piano far more closely. I demonstrate some of the primary sounds on both keyboards for you.
The disparity isn’t just about the quality of the onboard sounds but also involves the speaker and amplifier combination.
The £100 keyboard sounds notably thin and tinny compared to the £1000 model, which envelops you in a rich and deep auditory experience.
Beyond the evident fact that the pricier keyboard sounds more authentic, why should this matter to you?
If you’re selecting your first keyboard or purchasing one for a beginner, you might not discern a significant difference at first.
However, think about the musician you’ll become in six months or a year.
With consistent practice, you’ll definitely appreciate the difference between a £100 and a £1000 keyboard.
> Watch Chris compare two of Yamaha’s most popular keyboards below <
What do I mean by touch?
It’s about how the keys feel under your fingers, but it’s more profound than that.
Consider how a traditional piano produces sound: pressing a key propels a hammer towards a string, creating unlimited variations in sound based on the force and speed of your touch.
Learning to manipulate these sound variations is a fundamental part of mastering the piano.
The PSR-E283, priced at £100, poses a significant handicap in this area as its keys are not touch-sensitive.
This means the sound remains unchanged regardless of how softly or forcefully you play, limiting dynamic expression to adjusting the master volume.
In contrast, the £1000 keyboard offers fully touch-sensitive keys, providing a playing experience akin to that of a real piano.
This feature is indispensable for learning to play the piano with genuine sensitivity and expressiveness.
Ever wondered about having a band play along as you learn?
Whether you’re a fan of Coldplay, Queen, or Phil Collins, the £1000 keyboard offers accompaniment styles that significantly enhance the playing experience, unlike the basic output from a £100 keyboard.
This function is not just a practical tool for practising with both hands or for musical composition; it’s essential.
Multi-track recording allows players to focus on practicing left and right-hand parts separately, a crucial aspect of learning coordination and enhancing musical understanding.
This feature supports the gradual buildup of skills, from hand independence to complex compositions, demonstrating its value as you progress.
> Watch Chris compare two of Yamaha’s most popular advanced keyboards below <
A clear, easy-to-navigate interface can significantly affect your learning curve and enjoyment.
The £1000 keyboard boasts a large, colourful touchscreen, making it easier to manage settings and files compared to the basic, button-controlled monochrome screen of the £100 model.
This ease of use can greatly accelerate your progress and enjoyment.
The ultimate goal of any musical instrument is to inspire.
Remembering the thrill of mastering a favourite song riff and the satisfaction of playing it on your own underscores the importance of choosing a keyboard that not only meets your current skills but also inspires future growth.
Aim for a model that will continue to challenge and excite you, avoiding the frustration of outgrowing your instrument’s capabilities.
Choosing the right keyboard involves considering not just where you are now musically but where you aspire to be.
Investing in a model with features that may seem beyond your current needs can prevent hitting a progress plateau, ensuring a more enjoyable and fulfilling musical journey.
I hope you find this guide helpful in choosing the right keyboard for your musical journey.
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These items are sold on behalf of Yamaha, and are sent to us on a per-order basis, typically within 5-7 working days, unless an ETA is otherwise stated.
We'll contact you the moment your purchase arrives with us to organise delivery, based on your selected option.
Example products: Yamaha DGX670, Yamaha P-525, Yamaha YDP-S55, Yamaha Clavinova.
These items must be sent with a heavy-goods courier (typically APC or FedEx). On occasion, depending on which is fastest, we will drop-ship directly from Yamaha to your address via Dachser.
Tracking will be provided by the haulier, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
*If you have included the optional £180 "Yamaha Premium Service" home delivery & setup option offered on selected products, we will contact you regarding arrangements after purchase.
**The Yamaha CSP Series, Yamaha CVP905 & CVP909, Yamaha CLP875, 885 & 895GP, and Yamaha NU1Xa are all sold on behalf of Yamaha and arrive with us on a per-order basis. As soon as your piano has arrived, we will contact you to organise the appropriate dispatch method. ETA for stock is shown on the product page for those items.
***If you have included the optional £99 home delivery & setup option offered on selected products, we will send your details direct to the installation team, who will contact you within 48 hours to make arrangements.
Depending on which option is most appropriate, we will either contact you to discuss a bespoke ePianos delivery surcharge for goods we can’t package for a 3rd party courier, or otherwise dispatch goods via FedEx or APC.
If a courier is used, tracking will be provided by them directly, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
Example products: Yamaha PSR-SX920, Yamaha P-225, Yamaha NP-15.
These items will be sent via courier (typically APC or FedEx). On occasion, depending on which is fastest, we will drop-ship directly from Yamaha to your address via UPS or Parcelforce.
Tracking will be provided by the courier, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
Smaller items, such as books, discs, etc, will be dispatched via Royal Mail second class.
After purchase, you can download the file either from the order confirmation page or the "Downloads" tab in "My Account".
If you have selected the option to receive a pre-loaded USB stick, then this will be dispatched via Royal Mail.
We will contact you regarding any pre-ordered items, and let you know when they arrive so as to arrange delivery with you at a convenient time.
Used items can also be purchased using either of the following options (minimum loan amount of £250 after deposit):
Total amount payable: £893.32
Available finance options are displayed at checkout. Alternatively, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to discuss the options, or email a finance application to you. Find out more by clicking here
Our seasonal opening hours are as follows:
We are closed on all bank holidays, therefore the processing of sales and deliveries will be delayed.
For orders of any stock displaying a 7-10 day lead time, we will contact you as soon as the item arrives with us to schedule a delivery with you.
Occasionally, there may be availability issues with our suppliers, in which case we'll get in touch with you to see if you're happy to wait, or if you'd like to cancel the order and receive a full refund.
This is a special order "agency" item, and comes to us directly from Yamaha on a per-order basis.
It typically takes 7-10 days for this item to arrive with us, whereupon we'll contact you to discuss the arrangement of delivery.
For any pre-orders, we will contact you as soon as the item arrives with us to schedule a delivery with you, and update you with an ETA.
Occasionally, there may be availability issues with our suppliers, in which case we'll get in touch with you to see if you're happy to wait, or if you'd like to cancel the order and receive a full refund.
*Cashback amount varies product to product, as indicated.
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