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If you’re comparing the Yamaha Arius YDP-146 and Yamaha Arius YDP-166, you’ve probably noticed something immediately:
The YDP-166 costs noticeably more.
Depending on the finish and current promotions, you’re typically looking at a difference of around £300-£400.
That’s not a small amount of money. It’s enough to make most buyers stop and ask whether the improvements are genuinely worthwhile or whether they’re simply paying more for a model higher up the range.
Having spent years helping customers choose between Yamaha digital pianos, we’d say the answer depends less on your ability and more on how long you expect to keep the instrument.
At a glance, the two pianos appear very similar.
Both offer:
The core experience is remarkably similar.
The YDP-166 isn’t packed with dozens of extra sounds or flashy features.
Instead, Yamaha has focused the additional budget on the two things that matter most when you sit down to play: the keyboard and the sound system.
The Yamaha YDP-146 uses Yamaha’s long-established GHS keyboard action.
It’s reliable, realistic, and has helped countless beginners learn to play.
The Yamaha YDP-166 moves up to Yamaha’s GrandTouch-E keyboard action.
This isn’t simply a specification upgrade on a brochure. It’s something you feel every time you touch the keys.
The action feels more substantial, more controlled, and more piano-like, particularly when playing quietly or trying to shape a phrase with greater expression.
For a complete beginner, the difference may not feel dramatic on day one.
Three years later, however, many players are glad they invested in the better action from the start.
That’s one reason the YDP-166 often represents better long-term value, even though the initial purchase price is higher.
The second major upgrade is the speaker system.
The YDP-146 uses an 8W x 2 speaker system.
The YDP-166 uses a much more powerful 20W x 2 system.
On paper that sounds like a volume increase.
In reality, it’s more about presence.
The YDP-166 tends to fill the room more naturally and creates a more immersive experience for the player sitting at the instrument. The piano feels less like sound coming from speakers and more like sound coming from the piano itself.
It’s one of those improvements that can be difficult to appreciate from a specification sheet but easy to appreciate when you play both side by side.
Sometimes spending less is the smart decision.
The YDP-146 is an excellent choice if:
There is absolutely nothing “entry-level” about the musical experience it provides.
Many players could happily own a YDP-146 for years.
This is where the comparison becomes interesting.
If you’re already spending over £1,000 on a digital piano that you hope to own for many years, an additional £300-£400 can become easier to justify.
The YDP-166 may be worth the extra investment if:
Many customers who choose the YDP-166 aren’t necessarily better players.
They simply want to avoid wondering later whether they should have stretched slightly further.
If budget is the most important factor, we’d happily recommend the YDP-146.
It delivers everything most people need from a home digital piano and remains one of Yamaha’s strongest value-for-money instruments.
However, if the additional £300-£400 is affordable, the YDP-166 is where we’d generally encourage buyers to spend a little longer thinking.
The upgraded GrandTouch-E keyboard and more powerful speaker system aren’t gimmicks. They’re improvements you’ll experience every time you sit down to play.
For someone expecting to own their piano for the next five, ten, or even fifteen years, that extra investment can make a lot of sense.
The Yamaha Arius YDP-146 and YDP-166 share the same DNA.
Neither is a bad choice.
The YDP-146 is the sensible choice for buyers who want excellent value and a genuine piano-playing experience.
The YDP-166 is the choice for buyers who want a more refined instrument and are prepared to spend a little more upfront to enjoy those improvements for years to come.
If you’re asking whether the YDP-166 is worth the extra money, the answer is probably this:
If you’ll be playing regularly for years, yes. If you’re simply looking for a quality piano at the lowest sensible price, the YDP-146 remains a fantastic option.
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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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