As the pandemic slowly loosens its grip, more and more people are thinking about traveling. For many of our customers at SoCal Pianos in Ontario and Palm Desert, CA (appointment only at both locations) that means they are wondering about the best choice for a travel piano. Clearly, what we are talking about here is an electric piano as opposed to an upright or grand piano.
PRESENTED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
Based on reviews for 2021, here are some of the top models to consider if you’re planning on hitting the road:
- YAMAHA P45 88-KEY DIGITAL PIANO
- At 25 pounds, this is one of the lightest electric pianos available. Its weighted keys are a great feature that give this model high marks for playability. This model does fall short in volume quality. The high keys are too quiet and can be drowned out by the low keys. The volume with the built-in speakers is disappointing, meaning you will likely have to travel with an amplifier which takes away from the portability.
- YAMAHA DGX-660 DIGITAL GRAND PIANO
- This is the opposite of the first entry. Weighing more than 80 pounds, it does stretch the definition of being truly portable. The weight means it includes more features and produces very high-quality sound.
- KAWAI ES100 DIGITAL PIANO
- The highlight of this electric piano is the keys. They are smooth as silk, well-weighted, and simply put they feel real. All in a piano that weighs just 33 pounds. The shortcoming of this model is the sound. The built-in speakers are barely adequate, and this piano will sound much better when played through headphones.
- YAMAHA P115 DIGITAL PIANO
- In the words of one reviewer, this piano has all the necessary features, but none stand out as being superior. The sound is above average, but the feel is below average. It also requires external speakers if anyone besides the player is trying to listen.
- YAMAHA P255 DIGITAL PIANO
- This is another all-around solid instrument. At nearly 40 pounds, it is a little on the heavy side. The features are simple, but the sound is authentic. Once again, the built-in speakers are no more than adequate. Headphones or an external amplifier would be a better choice for quality sound.
- CASIO PRIVIA PX-160BK DIGITAL PIANO
- This model puts the ‘P’ in portable. Weighing just 25 pounds, it’s one of the lightest of the recommended electric pianos. The features are intuitive and easy to access. This makes the Casio comfortable to use for someone new to electric pianos. On the downside the material quality isn’t very good. For example, the keys have a very synthetic feel to them. One area where it does stand out is the built-in speakers. Unlike many travel pianos this model sounds better through the speakers than listening on headphones.
THE BOTTOM LINE
A decision on an electric piano for travel is obviously subjective. All the models sacrifice something to make them smaller and lighter. SoCal Pianos will be happy to show you our choices for buying or piano rental. Just come to our showrooms in Ontario and Palm Desert, CA (appointment only at both locations) and soon you will be packing your bags AND your travel piano for that first post-pandemic road trip.
