Nothing can compare to the sound of an authentic grand acoustic piano.
Almost every piano player I know, including myself, has a dream to own one.
A concert grand piano is quite expensive, and it can cost a fortune.
Unless you inherit one from your parents’ parents or have a couple of thousand bucks to spare, it is pretty hard to get your hands on the piano of your dreams.
Fortunately for us, we can still experience owning a grand piano by purchasing the next best thing, which is a digital grand piano.
It may not entirely be the grand piano of your dreams, but for less the price, it is still pretty close.
Digital grand pianos also possess the same feel and elegant design with more advantages, which is why some piano prefer digital over acoustic.
In this detailed buyer’s guide, I will walk you through the essential aspects to consider before buying the best digital grand piano.
I will also show you some great product reviews of digital pianos to choose from.
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Kawai CA48
No. of keys: 88
Polyphony: 128
Dimensions: 58 x 47 x 38 inches
Weight: 180 Lbs.
Suzuki MDG-4000ts
No. of keys: 88
Polyphony: 128
Dimensions: 55 x 35.5 x 28 inches
Weight: 165 lbs.
Lagrima 88
No. of Keys: 88
Polyphony: 128
Dimensions: 56.5 x 36 x 33 inches
Weight: 330 lbs.
What are Digital Grand Pianos?
Digital grand pianos are a digital representation of the classical grand acoustic pianos. They cost about 10% of a grand piano, but it does not mean that they are not necessarily good instruments.
Grand pianos have hammers and strings that vibrate when you strike the keys. They usually have weighted keys with a dynamic resistance that is controlled by how hard you hit each of the keys. It is an acoustic instrument that works without any electricity and produces sounds mechanically.
The volume and tone depending on the type of wood used to build the piano, so basically, each piano will have its own unique tone and characteristics. Acoustic pianos require maintenance and tuning after years of wear, but they do sound very natural.
Digital pianos, on the other hand, produce samples or recordings taken from a grand piano. Digital piano makers often do their best to capture the best sound and emulate the same mechanics.
Some of the best digital pianos sound highly similar to acoustic pianos, which makes it hard for an average piano player or listener to tell the difference. Some of the best digital pianos have the same key weight and response as an acoustic piano. Digital grand pianos have their advantages over the real thing, such as the price, less maintenance, and the inclusion of innovative tools.
Quality Before Price
A high price tag on a digital piano does not always ensure good quality. Some brands are much more expensive than others, but it does not mean they are superior. With that being said, do not purchase a digital grand piano based on the price alone. Even if you are on a tight budget, you should be able to find an excellent digital piano in your budget range.
When buying a digital piano, make sure you do the research thoroughly. You can watch video reviews and scour the internet for answers about a specific product. You can also go to your local music store and try what they have in stock yourself for a hands-on experience.
An excellent sounding digital piano should have a better dynamic range and the right amount of key weight that you prefer. The recordings used should be and high-quality with a good response based on how hard you strike the keys. It should capture all the nuances of your playing, giving the piano a human-like touch.
Remember that the best digital grand piano should not sound, well, “Digital.”
The Aesthetic
Well, it may not be necessary for some people, but the appearance of the piano can be vital. If owning a classical grand acoustic piano is the dream, you should consider a digital grand that has the same aesthetic.
A digital grand piano is not an instrument that you will put in storage. It is too large for storage, so you have to treat a piano as a piece of furniture as well as an instrument. A piano is too big of an instrument to go unnoticed, especially if you have guests over.
Whether you plan on buying the piano for your studio, or as a centerpiece in your living room, it should fit well with the overall interior design. Despite all this, appearance is still always second to sound quality.
If aesthetics are important to you, you should probably check out Roland and Yamaha’s line of digital piano products. They might have a hefty price tag, but they do make the best sounding pianos that are designed and constructed with high-quality materials.
Digital Piano Sizes
Digital pianos come in various shapes and sizes, so you don’t have to worry if you do not have a whole lot of space in your home. I am sure you can still find the right size piano for the area you allotted for it.
If you have a lot of space, you can choose to go for a full-sized digital grand. However, if you do not have that kind of space, you can always go for a mini or a baby grand piano.
A smaller piano can still sound really good. The only difference, in my opinion, is the volume. Companies like Yamaha have a great line of digital baby grand pianos that sound absolutely gorgeous.
Make sure that you consider the space, and that you actually have a spot in your house for the piano you want. It would be quite a waste to store the piano in a tight spot.
Related Questions
Now, let’s go over the most popular questions people buying digital grand pianos ask:
What Is The Difference Between
a Digital Grand Piano and a Digital Keyboard?
Digital grand pianos and digital keyboards are basically the same instruments. They do have the same mechanics. You strike the keys, and a recording or sampled version of a piano will play through the built-in speaker or output. Digital grand pianos, however, focus on the acoustic sound and piano feel, which is probably one of the only differences between them.
Digital grand pianos are also made with an acoustic piano player in mind, which is why the design closely resembles the grand piano. Some of the newer models of digital grand pianos will also come with better quality speakers and a higher note polyphony. (number of notes that you can play at the same time without compromising or cutting the sound)
Digital keyboards may also have acoustic piano tones. Still, they also come with other features such as different tones, sounds, accompaniment, and many more.
What are Digital Baby Grand Pianos?
Some people prefer digital baby grand pianos because they are much lighter and easier to transport from one part of the room to another. They are also more affordable than a full-sized digital grand.
The Suzuki MDG-4000ts and the Lagrima 88 are some examples of digital baby grand pianos that are both affordable but shares the same characteristics as an acoustic baby grand.
These instruments are such beauties. They both sound excellent and look great too. They are perfect examples that feature a combination of sound and looks that are perfect for your home.
Suzuki Digital Baby Grand Piano Specs:
Keys: They have 88 full-weighted and velocity-sensitive keys that accurately detect the strike velocity to produce a sound with accurate volume.
Sound: Suzuki has a revolutionary 3D sound sampling system that captures the notes in different positions, which makes the note sound more realistic and less digital.
Extra features: the Suzuki MDG-4000ts and Lagrima 88 also come with features you won’t find in any acoustic grand pianos such as MIDI and USB connectivity, 80 additional voices, a built-in headphone jack, and onboard recording and playback. Plus, it also includes Bluetooth compatibility so you can play along with your favorite songs. These extra features make digital grand pianos hard to compete with.
Conclusion
Although nothing can compare to the genuine sound of an acoustic grand piano and acoustic baby grand piano, there are a lot of advantages you can get from their digital counterparts. I still dream of owning my own acoustic grand piano someday, but for now, I can enjoy one of these majestic digital grand pianos.
I hope that this guide has helped you how to purchase the best digital grand piano for your home or studio.
Last update on 2024-05-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
