We chose buyer lanes before model names
The old six-piano framing encouraged a tidy ranking where the real decision is architectural. A 38 kg furniture piano with a key cover and three fixed pedals solves a different home problem from an 11 kg slab that can leave the room. We mapped those jobs first, then required an exact current model, an order path in the US and Europe where possible, maker-controlled specifications, and a defensible accessory path.
Popularity is only a confidence signal that an exact model is actively stocked. Thomann showed the P-225 at stage-piano rank 9, ES120 at digital-piano rank 5, 34% exact purchase share for PX-S1100BK, and 40% for YDP-145 B. Those figures do not prove feel, sound, reliability, or suitability.
Decode “weighted keys” before comparing prices
Weighted action
Meaning: a mechanism adds resistance rather than using a light spring-only keyboard.
Why it matters: action families can differ in leverage, return and surface even at 88 keys.
Do: record the exact maker action name and try it locally when possible.
Do not assume: “weighted” means identical to an acoustic action.
Graded weighting
Meaning: lower keys are designed to feel heavier than higher keys.
Why it matters: it separates these piano actions from evenly weighted controllers.
Do: confirm the exact model says graded, scaled or progressive.
Do not assume: every brand grades keys by the same method.
Slab piano
Meaning: the keyboard body is sold without a permanent furniture base.
Why it matters: stand, bench and triple pedals may add hundreds to the total.
Do: price the exact compatible stand and pedal unit.
Do not assume: a bundle photo shows included furniture.
Furniture piano
Meaning: cabinet, pedal board and keyboard form a room-based setup.
Why it matters: weight, stairs, assembly and return freight become larger decisions.
Do: measure doorways, turning space and final bench clearance.
Do not assume: “compact” means one-person delivery.
Half-pedal support
Meaning: sustain can respond to pedal depth instead of only on/off.
Why it matters: the included switch pedal may not provide it.
Do: match the named compatible continuous or three-pedal unit.
Do not assume: any generic sustain pedal unlocks every function.
Polyphony
Meaning: the maximum simultaneous notes the sound engine can maintain.
Why it matters: layers and sustained passages consume voices.
Do: treat 192 versus 256 as capacity, not a sound-quality score.
Do not assume: the largest number is automatically the best piano.
Bluetooth audio and MIDI
Meaning: audio streams sound; MIDI transmits performance/control data.
Why it matters: they solve different app and playback jobs.
Do: use wired outputs where timing and dependable audio routing matter.
Do not assume: Bluetooth audio is a stage output.
Seller warranty
Meaning: a retailer may add coverage beyond maker terms.
Why it matters: Thomann and Sweetwater terms belong to their own sales.
Do: save the seller, serial, invoice and destination terms.
Do not assume: one seller's warranty transfers to another.
Five current choices, separated by the home they need
Portable all-rounder
Roland FP-30X BK
Choose it when a slab must cover home speakers, headphones, line outputs, Bluetooth audio/MIDI and a later furniture conversion. The exact black model is 14.8 kg with PHA-4 Standard action, 256-note polyphony and 2 x 11 W amplification.
Works for: a room-based piano that may still travel, or a buyer who needs proper line outputs.
Main drawback: it is the heaviest slab here, and KSC-70/KPD-70 furniture parts are extra.
Avoid if: shallow depth and frequent carrying outrank speaker power and connectivity.
Compare: Yamaha P-225 B for 3.3 kg less weight.
Current signal: Thomann showed EUR 666 in stock and 203 ratings; Sweetwater showed a USD 649.99 promotional price and Add to Cart.
Compact Yamaha slab
Yamaha P-225 B
The 272 mm depth and 11.5 kg body make this the cleaner portable Yamaha decision. Its GHC action, 192-note polyphony and LP-1 triple-pedal compatibility cover a home setup without committing to a 38 kg cabinet.
Works for: apartments, lesson transport and buyers already comfortable with Yamaha's P-series workflow.
Main drawback: the included footswitch is not the optional three-pedal furniture setup.
Avoid if: you need two different headphone jack sizes or stronger onboard amplification.
Compare: Kawai ES-120 B for dual headphone formats and low-volume controls.
Current signal: Thomann showed EUR 575, in stock, rank 9 and 73 ratings; Sweetwater listed USD 649.99.
Lessons and quiet shared rooms
Kawai ES-120 B
Its 3.5 mm and 6.3 mm headphone sockets reduce adapter friction for a teacher/student room, while Low Volume Balance and Speaker EQ address quiet use without making a sound-quality promise. The RHC slab is 12 kg and 280 mm deep.
Works for: households sharing headphones and buyers who want HML-2/F-351 furniture compatibility.
Main drawback: the checked US evidence is a USD 1,049 stand, pedal and bench bundle; confirm piano-only price locally.
Avoid if: USB-device recording or the thinnest possible chassis is required.
Compare: Casio PX-S1100BK for 232 mm depth and optional batteries.
Current signal: Thomann showed EUR 598 in stock, category rank 5, 73 ratings and 37% exact purchase share.
Smallest-depth room
Casio PX-S1100BK
At 1322 x 232 x 102 mm and 11.2 kg, this is the shallowest and lightest selected slab. It can use six AA batteries, includes the WU-BT10 wireless adapter and still provides two line outputs.
Works for: multipurpose rooms, storage-constrained homes and occasional power-away use.
Main drawback: touch-sensor controls and the included on/off SP-3 pedal may push some buyers toward optional hardware.
Avoid if: you want a fixed key cover or physical panel controls.
Compare: Yamaha P-225 B for a conventional compact slab interface.
Current signal: Thomann showed EUR 499 in stock and 34% exact share; Sweetwater showed USD 729.99 in stock and Add to Cart.
Fixed furniture piano
Yamaha YDP-145 B Arius
Choose the YDP-145 when the piano will stay assembled and the cabinet, key cover, three pedals and half-pedal support are part of the decision. It removes stand compatibility questions but replaces them with a 38 kg delivery and room-path commitment.
Works for: a dedicated practice corner where furniture stability matters more than portability.
Main drawback: no Bluetooth audio, no line outputs and substantially higher moving/return friction.
Avoid if: stairs, narrow turns, future moves or external amplification are unresolved.
Compare: FP-30X with KSC-70/KPD-70 when you need a separable setup.
Current signal: Thomann showed EUR 888 in stock and 40% exact share; Sweetwater showed USD 1,199.99 in stock with a bench.
Compare the purchase-changing boundary
Exact black variants checked July 17, 2026| Model | Body / weight | Pedal path | Dated order signal |
|---|
| Roland FP-30X BK | 1300 x 284 x 151 mm; 14.8 kg | DP-2 included; KPD-70 optional | EUR 666 stock; USD 649.99 promo |
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| Yamaha P-225 B | 1326 x 272 x 129 mm; 11.5 kg | Footswitch included; LP-1 optional | EUR 575 stock; USD 649.99 |
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| Kawai ES-120 B | 1305 x 280 x 120 mm; 12 kg | F-1SP included; F-351 optional | EUR 598 stock; US bundle USD 1,049 |
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| Casio PX-S1100BK | 1322 x 232 x 102 mm; 11.2 kg | SP-3 included; SP-34 optional | EUR 499 / USD 729.99 stock |
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| Yamaha YDP-145 B | 1357 x 422 x 815 mm; 38 kg | Three pedals integrated | EUR 888 / USD 1,199.99 stock |
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The piano-only price is rarely the home price
A slab may still need a stable stand, correctly sized bench, continuous or three-pedal unit, headphones, dust cover and delivery-safe return plan. The compatible furniture stand can also restrict which pedal board works. Price those exact parts rather than assembling a look-alike bundle from related models.
The cabinet includes more of the playing station but raises freight and room-path risk. Sweetwater's YDP-145B listing includes a bench; that does not establish the same package elsewhere. Thomann's three-year warranty and Sweetwater's seller coverage also stay with those channels.
Build a whole-piano checkout sheet
Write the fixed facts
- Exact model suffix and finish.
- Body depth, weight and packed-room path.
- Action name and headphone sockets.
- Included pedal, stand, rest, adapter and bench.
Add the missing station
- Exact compatible stand and triple pedal.
- Bench height range and headphones/adapters.
- Shipping, tax, room-of-choice and assembly.
- Return freight, restocking and seller warranty.
Use one local visit to test the unresolved part
Specifications can narrow the purchase; they cannot tell you which action your hands prefer. Bring the shortlist to a dealer or teacher. Play the same quiet repeated-note passage, a sustained chord and a soft-to-loud scale on each exact action family. Keep volume similar, avoid switching sound presets, and note key return, control access and pedal position without declaring one universally superior.
- Confirm the model label, suffix and included box contents.
- Check bench clearance and wrist position at home dimensions.
- Test both headphone sockets and required adapter.
- Confirm the continuous/three-pedal unit is the named compatible part.
- Photograph serial and packaging before assembly.
- Keep protective materials until the return decision is final.
Product details and ownership boundaries
These are exact-model ownership fields, not performance scores. Final assembly origin and full exterior material recipes were not established by the checked pages.
Exact selected variants| Product | Size and weight | Materials / action | Manufacturing origin | Brand background | Warranty and support |
|---|
| Roland FP-30X BK | 1300 x 284 x 151 mm; 14.8 kg with rest. | PHA-4 Standard with escapement and ivory-feel surface; exterior recipe not itemized. | Exact final-assembly country not verified. | Roland began in Osaka in 1972; known for electronic instruments and music technology. | Thomann lists 3 years/30-day money-back for its sale. Other sellers have separate terms. |
|---|
| Yamaha P-225 B | 1326 x 272 x 129 mm; 11.5 kg. | GHC action with matte black keytops; exterior polymer recipe not listed. | Exact final-assembly country not verified. | Yamaha roots date to an 1887 reed-organ project in Hamamatsu. | Thomann channel lists 3 years/30-day money-back; verify destination and seller. |
|---|
| Kawai ES-120 B | 1305 x 280 x 120 mm; 12 kg on checked retailer. | Responsive Hammer Compact action with matte key surfaces; cabinet recipe not listed. | Exact final-assembly country not verified. | Kawai's piano-focused roots began in Hamamatsu in 1927. | Thomann lists 3 years for its sale; the checked US bundle has seller-specific coverage. |
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| Casio PX-S1100BK | 1322 x 232 x 102 mm; 11.2 kg without batteries. | Smart Scaled Hammer Action with simulated ebony/ivory textures; exterior recipe not listed. | Exact final-assembly country not verified. | Casio roots date to 1946 in Tokyo; electronic instruments joined its wider electronics work. | Sweetwater lists 2-year seller coverage; Thomann lists 3 years for its own sale. |
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| Yamaha YDP-145 B Arius | 1357 x 422 x 815 mm; 38 kg; 969 mm with rest raised. | GHS action, matte black keytops, cabinet and key cover; wood-composite recipe not listed. | Exact final-assembly country not verified. | Yamaha was founded in 1887 and spans acoustic/digital pianos, instruments and audio. | Thomann lists 3 years/30-day money-back; bench and coverage vary by seller package. |
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Sources and current listings
All price and order signals were checked July 17, 2026. Recheck the exact finish, seller, destination, stock, accessories and freight before paying.
Found something that needs correcting? Contact the Consordini editorial team.
Market anchor: Thomann Europe current keyboard listings.
