The entry-level digital piano class has never been filled with so many great options, combining a high level of musical potential in the form of a portable keyboard. In fact, many professional musicians will even use pianos from this category for gigging in some cases.
In today’s article and video, we’re going to be comparing three of the best-selling options in the beginner category as we pit the Roland FP-10, Casio PX-S1000 and Yamaha P-125 digital pianos against one another.
All three weighted action digital pianos are popular for good reason so you can’t really go wrong with any of the three. That said, if you’re the type that likes to get into some research to help really figure out the best choice when you’re buying a product with multiple highly regarded options, this article should be helpful for you.
Yamaha P125 vs Roland FP-10 vs Casio PX-S1000 – Why These Three Models?
Let’s address the elephant in the room before we go any further; why are we including the Roland FP10 digital piano in this discussion as opposed to the FP30, which would typically be the Roland representative in this conversation?
Firstly, while the FP30 would have previously been positioned against the P125 and S1000 from a pricing standpoint, Roland’s recent price increase has made it so that the FP10 is now the closer-priced option.
The second reason is that the FP30 is on the verge of being replaced by the Roland FP30X, and based on the upgrades we’ve seen, the FP30X should probably be regarded as being in an entirely different class from the other two pianos we’re looking at today.
The FP10 clocks with probably the lowest specs overall of the three, but it also happens to be the least expensive, and due to its action (which we’ll cover below), there’s an argument to be made that it actually boasts the best overall value.
In any case, let’s start with a look at the piano sound.
Piano Sound
First Impressions
It’s immediately apparent when we check out these pianos side-by-side that we’re getting three very different sounds out of these instruments. These differences are also further amplified by the fact that we’re also dealing with three very different speaker systems in terms of design.
The FP10 actually comes off as the warmest, which is not necessarily a characteristic that people normally associate with Roland. But in this case, the FP10 has really nice lower and mid-range harmonics.
The P125 by contrast has an extremely clean, simple sound. There’s not a whole ton of mid-range harmonics and instead, it feels a little bit squashed, very much like a V-shaped EQ setting. The bass is very nice and focused, however.
The PX-S1000 is a bit lacking in the bass department, and it’s not as warm as the FP10 or as punchy as the P125. However, the mid-range is as lush as the FP10, and the high-end is as detailed as the P125, so it’s definitely occupying some middle ground here. We suspect the speaker system on the S1000 is probably shortchanging the actual audio signal a little bit because the bass and mid-range sound much warmer and fuller with a set of headphones on.
Comparing the Sound Engine Technology
Now that we have some musical first impressions out of the way, let’s get into some sound engine-related specs.
Roland’s SuperNATURAL Engine
The FP10 is using Roland’s SuperNATURAL Piano engine, which is very surprising to see given how inexpensive the FP10 is, but they have in fact downgraded some of the processing power compared to the version used in the FP30.
The algorithm is more or less the same as the FP30, but the downgraded processing power is reflected by the fact that the polyphony comes in at 96 notes. In normal playing situations, 96 should still be okay, but if you start layering notes, 96-note polyphony will likely become insufficient.
So really, the trade-off here is a complex piano tone with somewhat limited polyphony. The P125 by contrast has robust polyphony with 192 notes, but a less complex overall tone.
The best evidence for the FP10’s complexity of tone comes from your ability to edit. Simply fire up Piano Designer on an iPhone or Android device, and through the Bluetooth connection, you can edit all sorts of tone-related parameters, such as the piano lid height, string resonance, key off-resonance, master tuning, hammer resonance, Ambience and more. Compared to the P125 and S1000, there’s a lot more editability here. Roland’s Piano Partner 2 app is also worth checking out.
Casio’s Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source
Moving over to the PX-S1000, and we’re working with a version of Casio’s Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source here.
The AiR engine in various incarnations has received a lot of accolades in recent years, though it’s a little more closed box in that they don’t really reveal exactly what’s going on internally the way Roland does with the FP10.
As a result, there’s not a lot of ability to modify or edit the sound like there is with the FP10 or even a comparable Kawai product, but there are four parameters within the Acoustic Simulator that you can edit. The polyphony is very solid at 192 notes.
The core concert grand piano is the real highlight here, and there are certainly people who will prefer the S1000’s middle path approach here compared to the other two piano keyboards we’re looking at today.
Yamaha’s Pure CF Sound Engine
The P-125 has Yamaha’s Pure CF Sound Engine, which is built on a high-quality recording of Yamaha’s CFIIIS concert grand piano, which was until fairly recently their flagship concert grand piano.
In terms of the specs, the polyphony is strong at 192 notes as we previously mentioned, and there is synthetic damper resonance added onto the main sample, Intelligent Acoustic Control, and a Sound Boost Feature that can add some extra oomph to the speakers.
There is also some sound editing potential, especially with regard to reverbs, and we recommend accessing the Yamaha Smart Pianist app to do so from a smart device like an iOS iPad. The tone overall is fairly indicative of most Yamaha digital pianos in that it’s definitely on the brighter end of the tonal spectrum.
Onboard Speakers
When it comes to the speaker sound quality, the P125 has a reputation for having among the best speaker systems in the class, and out of the three pianos here, it definitely takes the cake.
Instead of a dual speakers system like the S1000 or FP10, the P125 has a 4 speaker system consisting of 2 mains and 2 tweeters, with 14 watts of power. The result is no distortion whatsoever, even if you’re pushing the speakers at max volume. The tweeters also contribute to the P125’s excellent clarity, so even if it is a less complex tone overall, the speakers are great.
The FP10 is fairly surprising in that despite a 12-watt dual speaker system, the tone is remarkably dark and warm. It’s definitely the least powerful of the 3 sets of speakers, but Roland deserves real credit for what is clearly a very good design.
The PX-S1000 has the most powerful set of speakers with a 16-watt pair, but the bass register and upper range lack the punch and clarity that the P125’s speakers are providing. Still, in terms of raw loudness, the S1000 wins.
Other Sounds
While none of these three 88-key digital pianos have a ton of onboard sounds – you’ll want to consider something like the Yamaha DGX-670 or Casio CDP-S350 if that’s what you’re after – all of the staples are represented on each piano.
The FP10 is the leanest with 15 sounds, the PX-S1000 comes in at 18 and the P125 has the most with 24 sound presets.
Aside from the quantity, things like the electric piano sounds, synths and organs are generally of equal quality across all 3 pianos, even if they sound different. But make no mistake, the acoustic piano sounds are the focus of each of these instruments, with the e-piano sounds and synthesizers in second place.
Piano Action
Roland’s PHA4 Action
Roland has equipped the FP10 with their highly regarded PHA4 Standard Keyboard action, and this happens to be the FP10’s single biggest claim to fame. In fact, the PHA4 weighted key action can be found pianos 3x the price of the FP10 and is widely held as one of the top 2 plastic key actions available.
Impressive specs speak to this, such as triple sensor key detection, escapement, and textured key tops (ivory feel, ivory touch) for both the white and black keys.
It’s definitely the heaviest of the 3 actions we’re looking at today, but the touch sensitivity is adjustable. From a purely piano-playing perspective, the PHA4 is definitely the closest to an acoustic piano action out of the 3.
Yamaha’s GHS Action
Yamaha’s Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) hammer action has been with us for quite a few years now and is also featured on other models like the P series Yamaha P45 and the YDP series.
It’s a pretty basic action in terms of the specs with a double sensor and no escapement, but it certainly has good repetition speed and is thus capable of fast playing.
There’s no texture on the white keys, which can mean that the keys feel overly grippy at times. And this isn’t simply a personal preference thing since all of Yamaha’s more advanced actions have a key texture, they’re just simply not offering it at this price point.
Casio’s Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard
Casio came up with a brand new action design for the PX-S series instruments, which they’ve called the Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard.
To accommodate the PX-S1000’s extremely slim cabinet, Casio had to design an action with a very short keystick. As a result, they actually downgraded from the triple sensor on previous versions of the action to a double sensor here, but they’re making up for that with new “Smart” technology to help with touch sensitivity.
It’s definitely the lightest of the three actions, and due to the shortened key stick, it’s the most uneven in terms of weighting when considering how the keys feel when you play them at the front versus the back.
While there is no escapement, there is a nice texture on the keytops which is a plus, and it’s definitely more responsive than the GHS action.
The Playing Experience
This probably won’t come as a surprise – the PHA4 is definitely our favorite action of the 3 as the only one that we can confidently say is a professional quality action, so if piano touch is your primary focus, the FP10 really emerges as the obvious choice.
It’s probably fair to think of the FP10 as a killer action housed in a bare-bones cabinet, with great sound but limited features. The FP10 is very popular as a MIDI controller as a result.
The GHS and Smart Scaled actions are still both solid and fine to play, though it will take a bit of compromise if you’re an experienced player pivoting over from an acoustic piano.
The GHS would sit in third place overall for us, and this is likely entirely due to the fact that it’s the oldest of the 3.
Features/Connectivity/Accessories
Accessories
When it comes to the accessories available for these 3 instruments, the included items are fairly similar, but the optional accessories are varied between them.
All of them come with very basic sustain pedals in the box, so regardless of which one you choose, we would strongly suggest upgrading to their manufacturer’s more robust damper pedal with proper weighting, substance and half-pedaling like a real piano.
All 3 also comes with a music rest and power adapter, though the PX-S1000 lets you forgo the cabled power supply for 6x AA batteries for extra portability.
There are optional keyboard stands for all 3, however, the P125 and S1000 also offer optional 3-pedal unit add-ons. If that’s something you’re looking for, the FP10 is instantly disqualified.
Connectivity
There’s quite a bit of overlap from a connectors standpoint between these 3 pianos, as well as some areas for departure.
Starting with headphone jacks, both the PX-S1000 and P125 have dual headphone outputs, while the FP10 has a single output. It’s the same with regards to an aux line out, with both the S1000 and P125 having a line out, while the FP10 does not.
Only the S1000 has a line in, but all 3 have a USB to Host port (USB Type A), while the FP10 also has USB Type B.
When it comes to Bluetooth, the P125 doesn’t offer any Bluetooth connectivity, while the S1000 offers Bluetooth Audio, whereas the FP10 offers Bluetooth MIDI, so all 3 are different in this regard.
One area where the P125 stands out however is that it features a built-in USB audio interface, which is a big plus for people seeking an instrument for working with DAW software. The S1000 or FP10 will require additional gear to send and receive audio information.
Features
When it comes to features, the P125 offers the most extensive auto-accompaniment feature, with a really well-executed assortment of rhythms, bass and lead accompaniment with adjustable tempo. That is not something that is available to you on the FP10 or on the S1000.
The S1000 and P125 offer onboard recording and playback, whereas you need to connect to Roland’s apps to do so with the FP10.
Basic features like a metronome, twin piano mode and transpose are available on all 3, and they’re each quite user-friendly and easy to operate.
Closing Thoughts
Thanks very much for joining us today for this look at these 3 popular portable digital piano models. As we said above, you can’t really go wrong with any one of them, but we hope that if you’re doing a deep dive into some research this article will help in making one of them stand out to you based on your unique needs.
