Yamaha P-515 Review

[@golden-63]

*I tried it at my local piano store and was impressed by the sounds, action, etc. I was going to buy it that day, but decided to sleep on it. The next day I read your online review and realized I hadn't listened to the XG voices. You were absolutely right. They sounded like they were from a keyboard made 30 years ago! You saved me from buying it and having to then return it. Thank you!*

[@PianoTone]

Glad you found the review helpful! I think most manufacturers do that (include a pile of old voice samples) so they can say “lots of voices” - my dgx 670 also has amazing main voices like the 515 and then a ton of ancient stuff, but that’s ok, I never use any of the “fluff” anyways. Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

[@williamlandry5652]

What did you buy finally

[@catzrulez5233]

So what did you buy in the end?

[@mfurman]

This is an excellent review. I initially believed reviews (including Stu Harrison’s) that claimed that action is heavy and tiring and got FP-90X instead of P-515. I rented P-515 and returned FP-90X for this Yamaha digital piano. Yes, the static weight to move middle C in 85g but the action is very responsive and pleasure to use. I have been using it for almost a year and I still cannot find a better digital piano to replace it. Ps. I had (in chronological order): FP-10, M-Audio Hammer 88, A-88 mkII, FP-90X, Yamaha P-125, Kawai ES110, FP-90X and finally P-515.

[@PianoTone]

Thanks so much! Yeah I didn’t get a true sense of the action until I played it for a few days. Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

[@PavlenkoM]

Thank you very much for the review. this is very interesting and educational. Your engineering approach to comparing data is very convenient. Thanks for the text on the left side of the screen. This helps non-native English speakers watch your reviews. I wish you success! 👏

[@PianoTone]

Thanks so much! And thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

[@valterfcarvalho]

Can't wait for the review on the P525!

[@PianoTone]

I’ll definitely rent one once they’re available in my area! Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

[@JoeLinux2000]

Very nice demo. Your piano playing is coming along very nicely. Your touch is excellent.

[@PianoTone]

Hey thanks a bunch that's much appreciated! Even at my level, I have to say I noticed the extra detail I could find in dynamics with the NWX action. Thanks again!

[@michellemonet4358]

I agree! Tony..youre improving immmensely!

[@gustavogo2915]

Very nice. I have a Kawai GL10 baby grand piano as well as this Yamaha P515. Got this one around thanksgiving 2021 but haven’t been using it since I got the Kawai grand February 2022. This video makes me want to use it again as I only play the Kawai GL10 for the most part. This Yamaha P515 indeed is great for the price

[@PianoTone]

Wow that's a nice combo you have! Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

[@TheMg49]

Another well presented and thorough review. Because of what you (and other reviewers) have said about the action of the P-515, then if I was in the market for an 88-key, weighted hammer action digital piano to mostly just play piano stuff, then I would probably get this one. Most of the reviews I've viewed like this key action the most in this price range. Nice work Tony!

[@PianoTone]

Thanks (as always) Thomas!

[@Pegasus4213]

This is the very best most comprehensive review of a keyboard I've seen! Explaining much more of the features than others I watched. While this keyboard has some outstanding features, it has some real letdowns for me. The string sound is very ordinary. Compared to a PSR 400 Yamaha keyboard I had in the 90s. That had a better string sound than here. Which is quite an indictment. The expanse of options for grand piano is excellent by comparison. For me, strings are an essential feature, but the P-515 does not offer more than a nod towards such a key sound. And some of the other voices like organ are pretty useless too. Why bother with their inclusion if they are not absolutely usable. Just focus - like with the grand piano sounds, on excellent voices, rather than attempting organ or guitar sounds that are unlikely to be used. Give us excellence of voices to be included.

[@PianoTone]

Thanks so much that's very appreciated. Yes the piano sounds are by far the focus on the 515. Thanks for the kind words and for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

[@lewesgolden-ms3ro]

Hi Tony - I am still pretty much a beginner and currently own an acoustic upright piano which is great - but I want a portable digital so I can take it with me on occasional trips and also so I can practice any time with headphones without annoying others. I was shown the P-515 today by at a local piano shop (I am in Toowoomba in Qld, Australia). The bloke was very helpful and not pushy and he really likes the action and sound - so I searched and found your review. Thank you very much for this - I really liked what I saw (in my relative ignorance) and your review has been super helpful. I am not worried about the weight and so far I think this piano will be a good.

[@PianoTone]

That sounds awesome (and it's nice when salespeople aren't pushy!). The 515 is a fabulous piano I'm sure you will love it - there is a new version (525 I think) coming soon, and new Yamahas usually come out in Australia first, so might be worth a look as well (or also possibly waiting for some discounts on the 515 when the new one comes out). If you do go ahead with the 515 you will love it. Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

[@sonic2000gr]

I love my 515. One of my better purchases. This is my first weighted keyboard and having read all the stories about the heavy action, I was skeptical at first. But the longer I am playing it the more I enjoy it! The action is amazing and the sound out of it is spectacular. It also improves as time goes on, although I think this is not because of the piano :D

[@PianoTone]

Yeah the action is heavy, but yet . . . not heavy. It's a fantastic piano glad you like yours. Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

[@RobertAllman-l5r]

Great review. I hope at some point you can review the P-525.

[@PianoTone]

Me too! I’ll hopefully get the chance to rent one once they become available in my area Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

[@W-HealthPianoExercises]

@@PianoTone I have seens some reviews on the 525, and unfortunately reportedly it is a huge step back. They removed the best feature, which was the keyboard action, argh!

[@kosomolsk]

@29:17 You make a very interesting observation that I don't think any other review has commented on - it's usually just about how the P515's accompaniment is limited compared to other pianos.

[@PianoTone]

Yeah if you're an arranger keyboard player you won't like that kind of accompaniment, but for someone playing piano it's actually fantastic. And, there are alot of arranger keyboards that have hundreds of voices, hundreds of styles . . . but no full keyboard chord detection which makes the accompaniment useless for a piano player. Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe.

[@BensMusicDojo]

I’ve played all the digital pianos now, and if I could have any setup it would be the Roland FP-90X portable digital piano, a PSRSX-900 and a set of Yamaha HS8 Studio Monitors and a KRK 10” Studio Subwoofer. The furniture style pianos, even the top of the line models like the Kawai CA-901 and NV10S, the Yamaha Clavinovas, and the like just don’t have enough sound to really hit me in the face and say that is a $6000-$10000 dollar piano. I currently have a Roland FP60X, and love it. I run it through 4 Yamaha HS8 monitors and the sub, along with my guitar amp Modeller, and an electronic drum set. My system is pricy when you add it all up, but I bought all of my monitors secondhand, and bought all of the other gear at demo prices. My setup sounds much better and fuller than even the highest end digital pianos, it’s really not even close. That said, the Kawai with the soundboard speakers can be felt, which I did like. Those pianos though are $6000 alone though at least. Right now, the FP60X is $900 on Sweetwater, and it is easily superior to the P-125. I feel the action in that is not much worse than the NWX, and combined with the casing of the FP60X is much better than the GHS. For a budget setup, I would recommend the FP-60X or DGX-670 with some second hand studio monitors. The Roland has a better action, a great piano sound, and the best Rhodes sound, but the DGX670 has better and more accessible rhythm and accompaniment features. As mainly a guitarist, those features are essential, and can really help develop someone as a musician. Plus, in a shootout, I would pick the CFX Piano sound on the Yamahas over the Roland Supernatural Piano sound. The Roland sample can sound pretty great though too, especially after tweaking it in the Piano Designer in the function menu. At any price range, the PHA50 action on the Roland is the best I have played, even when including the higher end actions on the premium furniture style pianos. I also feel that the main piano sound which is modeling based, not sample based, sounds incredible.

[@PianoTone]

The 60X is awesome - assuming it’s on sale in the US because the new FP-E50 (Roland’s answer to the DGX) has put the 60X at an awkward price; it’s more $$$ with less features. I keep checking in Canada to see if the 60X is getting discounted but it’s not here. Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

[@rafaelgomez1989]

FANTASTIC & DETAILED REVIEW ... IN YOUR OPINION ¿ Is it an UPGRADE to the new P525 ta worthwhile consideration ?

[@PianoTone]

Thanks! To be honest I don't know much about the new version yet, I haven't seen one! But it is definitely worth a look (and if not a huge upgrade, maybe worth looking for discounted 515's!) Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

[@rafaelgomez1989]

@@PianoTone Thank you for the quick response...keep up the great content !!!!

[@alexgoriatchenkov]

Returning Roland FP-60X, very much trying to like it, but several keys always played not correctly similar ALL OTHERS tone. Maybe just get a lemon, but don't want to experiments anymore. Was between this Yamaha and (again) Roland FP-90X. Yes, ordered this Yamaha P515, should be delivered in one day. Thank you for detailed review and subjective opinions.

[@PianoTone]

Sorry to hear about your issues with the FP-60X! You will love the 515 hope it arrives soon. Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

[@solojim]

Thanks for you review. Interesting product, having top tier acoustic piano with an arranger feature. It doesn't appear to have fills, breaks, etc, so the basic beat might be mundane? Also, no mic input is not good when you have a recording aspiration, outside the studio. But for me, a die hard arranger player (Korg PA4X), it would be nice to practice in piano mode for a change. I would hope chord recognition would go beyond the maj/min/dim and to b5/#9/etc. Nice playing too!

[@PianoTone]

Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

[@TheDevnul]

Thanks for the review. For me I liked the audio without the binaural.🤷‍♂️ The amount of piano selection is lovely. You need to learn The Logical Song for those Wurlitzer sounds😁

[@PianoTone]

Thanks a bunch! And yes that's an awesome idea! A very "logical" way to demo wurlies! ;) Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

[@PianoTone]

Thanks a bunch! And yes that's an awesome idea! A very "logical" way to demo wurlys! ;) Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

[@fernfaraday6122]

Thank you for the clear and comprehensive demo. I am in the market for a new piano and am looking at several options. This one is at the top of the lists both for the quality of the sound and the 16-track recorder, which is a rather exceptional feature in digital pianos nowadays. I have a question and I wonder if you could give me an insight: it's pretty clear that the piano can be connected via midi to external hardware or vst sound modules and you could, say, play an ipad synth with the keyboard. What is not clear to me is whether you can do multitrack midi recording of external sounds using the P-515's midi recorder. In practice I guess you would assign every external synth to a different midi channel and every track of the sequencer would correspond to a different midi channel...does that make sense and do you think that is possible?

[@PianoTone]

Thanks so much glad you liked the review! To be honest I'm a MIDI beginner so I can't say for sure whether the onboards MIDI recorder could do that or not; I've never owned a keyboard with MIDI DIN ports so I've never tried anything like that (also never once messed with MIDI channels etc). Sorry I'm not much help! I'd recommend looking on some of the Yamaha keyboard forums - I've seen lots of that kind of MIDI chats going on. Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

[@fernfaraday6122]

@@PianoTone Oh no worries... I'll go and check those Yamaha forums then. Cheers!

[@georgestein8211]

I have a P-125 and love it, it got me back into playing piano, including some gigs and studio work. I think the P-515 would be a great upgrade ... one thing, though ... the TRANSPOSE function is buried in the Function menu. I use the transpose function ALL the time, especially when singers are looking for a comfortable key. On the P-125, it's easy ... press two buttons simultaneously, and use the keyboard to select what key you need. On the P-515, why have they buried the Transpose function in a menu? Why? Why?? This is honestly about the only thing that keeps me from saying, yeah, I'm gonna upgrade. For me, this is not a small item. I am therefore also looking at other manufacturers.

[@PianoTone]

The P125 has always been one of my absolute favorite pianos ever, especially for its straight forward user interface - I love the P515 too, but personally I wouldn't gig with it because of the massive weight (50 lbs). If you gig alot, you should look at the CK88 stage piano; I have one and it is spectacular for playing on stage it has the best user interface I've ever used, and it has the CFX Grand voice (not to mention a whole organ section with drawbars & rotary speaker controls). And there is also an upgrade to the P-125 on the way (FINALLY) the P-225. Got some links to my reviews below: CK88 Review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXXbepSPoc2gm9E P-225 Preview: kzbin.info/www/bejne/goXSgoqvnttri5o Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

[@georgestein8211]

@@PianoTone THANK YOU for the response, the updates, and the links!! Yes, weight / portability is also a consideration ... and I have also been looking into, and considering the CK88! And I am now subscribed! 👍 Please keep up the great work!! 🎹

[@brickmissing8295]

Just be thankful you don’t have a Kawai NV10. There is literally no transpose function in pianist mode!! You have to switch to the inferior ‘sound’ engine to transpose. Absolutely crazy on a 7000GBP piano - esp considering it takes about 2 lines of firmware code to implement transpose.

[@georgestein8211]

@@brickmissing8295 And ... having to (learn to) play all those black keys, completely unnecessarily!! The horror!! 😂😂

[@michellemonet4358]

​@@georgestein8211what.did you end up with?

[@brickmissing8295]

One annoyance with the action on my P515 - there’s a sharp corner on the underside tip of the white keys. This can sometimes scratch your thumb when you’re stretching for a really long chord or arpeggio. IMHO all corners should be rounded off for comfort.

[@PianoTone]

Ouch! I didn't notice that when I rented one, but only had it a few days. Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

[@Youtube_deleted_my_favourites]

listening on headphones, the binaural was stunning

[@PianoTone]

Totally agree it was pretty impressive!

[@mazica_art2630]

Hi. I have a question. Why do most pianists prefer portable pianos, even for home use? Why don't you prefer wooden digital pianos? And what do you think of the 515 piano after the 525? The light keyboard is similar to the 745? Help me please

[@PianoTone]

I think lots of people do like the wooden furniture style ones; they tend to have much better speakers;for me there is no point (I live in an apartment so headphones almost all the time), and I play in a band so I need portability. I haven’t tested the 525 yet so not sure how it is compared to the 515 (I hope to rent one this year to check it out) Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

[@davidcruz1971-DC]

The best explanation

[@PianoTone]

Thanks so much! And thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

[@bobeberts7473]

Really enjoyed the review, as I do all of yours. I’m having a problem with the volume in rhythms. It’s too loud and I can’t reduce it. I use function button and arrive at volume, but there’s no response when I push up down buttons. Any suggestions?

[@PianoTone]

Thanks so much! I've already returned the rental so I can't test it, but I remember some settings you had to press the right arrow first to get INTO the setting; when you're on Rhythm Volume in the menu, if you see a ">" to the right it means you have to press the right arrow button to access the volume setting. Hope that helps!

[@markE946]

I'm undecided if I should spend more and purchase a P515 with a heavier key action or just run with either a privia pxs1100 or a 3100. Personally I prefer the sounds out of the Yamaha, what I find with casio is the default pianos, the eq isn't right, it sounds almost hollow in the mid section, like and eq setting with a v shape, don't know how you adjust a piano voice on their devices if you can at all...

[@PianoTone]

Hey there! I owned a PX-S3000 for awhile and did a review here if you want to check it out. I didn’t mess with editing my sounds at all though. Casio PX-S3000 Review (& PX-S3100) kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXzJZZiXd9WIn5I Thanks for checking out the channel feel free to subscribe

[@winterheat]

1:21 FP-30X is pretty heavy already and this is heavier than it... hm... you like the NWX, I wonder how you'd like the action PHA-50 on the Roland FP-90X. The salesperson of Kraft Music said that FP-90X probably is also among the best out there... I tried the Kawai MP11SE and ES920 and I think I like the FP-90X action about the same as ES920's. The Kawai CA79 action was nice, and so was the CA701 (tried that in a Kawai store). There is a KZbinr who likes to use her P515 too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bne3q5WGm66bm6s Just a couple days ago I was just thinking if I was rich or if I have passive income of say $4000 each month, then I can buy a Yamaha Montage 8, Nord Piano 5, CA701, a couple of MIDI controllers including StudioLogic Numa X Piano GT... and then if I am really rich I can buy a Steinway D and Bechstein grand too... but then this girl seems to play so well with her Roland FP-10 kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4mqoJ6wgL52eMk and kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2G6n4CEpq6Fl9U so maybe I just need to practice more... and desire or want has no limit... oh yes the reason I am interested in Montage 8 is because there is a KZbinr who plays with her MOX8 and its sound is good: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pH3Umntjpr2jrpo and kzbin.info/www/bejne/rInKoJ-ZZpWNjpI the sound for some reason sound really gentle and soft

[@zhszackimhorsfordworshipstudio]

Great Piano Review I Never Thought You Would Have A Yamaha P515 You Should Do A Video On All The Voices (The P515 Works Better With The Bösendorfer And The Darkpad And The Bösendorfer And Slow Strings)

[@PianoTone]

Thanks so much! I don't actually have one I just rented one to do the review. The Bonsendorfer is a great option to have in addition to the CFX Grand.

[@michellemonet4358]

I agree. I love the Boesendorfer with dark pad and slow strings.

[@winterheat]

I have seen somebody doing this: for a Roland piano, they simply connect the USB of the piano to an iPhone, serving as a "microphone" or a virtual microphone. And now if they record the video using the built-in camera app, only the piano sound will go in (very high fidelity and is like a line in). So they can essentially record a playing of a music piece without an audio interface box, without video editing software, and that's it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoaxgoaldseLbas I wonder if P515 can do this too... actually, I may try my P125, DGX-670, and / or FP-90X later... I have a USB-B to USB-C cable, so I suppose I can use the iPad with a USB-C connector to try it. Otherwise I need to get a USB-B to lightning connector. I think they say Android phone may work too.

[@PianoTone]

Yes it can - any piano with an audio interface built into the USB to host port can do this (and also stream audio IN to the piano as well). Examples of pianos that have this feature include Yamaha P125 (not 125A),DGX670, P515, Roland FP30x (not FP30)

[@williamlandry5652]

Hey if you had the choice between the ROLAND FP-E50 and the YAMAHA P515 which one would you choose? Im really undecided between both

[@PianoTone]

Even though I'm partial to Yamaha over Roland usually, in that choice I would take the FP-E50 because I know I would use alot of the extra features like the accompaniment & chord charts. But it totally depends on whether you would use those features. Hope that helps!

[@williamlandry5652]

@@PianoTone crap, actually i will not AT ALL be using those features, all i will use either keyboard for is learning/playing the piano and using the built in sounds to record and use the piano as a midi controller. So with that being said, thoughts?

[@PianoTone]

@@williamlandry5652 Then it comes down to which key action you prefer and that's totally personal; if it was ME I would go with the 515 (there is a new 525 out now by the way but I know nothing about it). LOTS of people love the PHA4 action on the FP series, but then lots don't (like me). My favorite action is the GHS (P-125) and I always found the 515 to feel very heavy when playing it in stores, but after renting it and getting used to it, it felt way better. If there's any way you can compare them side by side in store that's the only way to know for sure

[@jamesa375]

hi there.About the wood controversy,did you open the piano?because just pressing the key and looking you cannot tell.

[@JoeLinux2000]

I've never seen a 515, but seriously doubt wood would be used for the white key sticks and plastic for the blacks. Further more wood is not an ideal material as it swells and warps. I agree with your sentiment that an instrument would have to be disassembled to know for sure.

[@PianoTone]

I didn't take it apart (it was a rental so I'm not about to take that chance). I researched as much as I could on forums, etc and found a number of videos and pictures showing NWX keys disassembled, and they look to be wood 360 degrees all the way around - I guess if you were to saw through a key there could be a small plastic core; if I win a lottery I'll buy one and do that haha! But I can say the action is absolutely spectacular!

[@jamesa375]

@@PianoTone i m surpised you were able to find a photo of a disassembled NWX action,because i looked everywhere and noone ,even professional retailers have been unable to tell me for sure if the keyes are real wood. i would really appreciate if you can tell me where you found such photo of the keys.Thanks

[@JoeLinux2000]

@@PianoTone There a is person on the Merriam Music Channel who has purchased several top end digital slab pianos including the es920, and the 90x. He returned them for the 515 and finds it very satisfying. I have the DGX and don't have a problem with the action but I don't think the acoustic piano voices are particularly satisfying. When I combine them with Pianoteq Pro, the end result is extremely good. I've briefly played an es920 and a 90x and don't care for either of them. I think many of the Kawai actions may be over rated. There is a psychological aspect to digital pianos. If the sound you hear is good, you will think the action is good. The GHS on my DGX is a very smooth action much like Yamaha's oringinal KX-88 MIDI controller from years ago. From your demo, I think the 515 is a pretty nice sounding piano. If the key stick is longer overall on the 515, then the action may be more satisfying too. Most people that own it, seem to like it. I probably would not buy the DGX again for a variety of reasons, but when it comes to bang for the buck the DGX has a lot to offer and when combined with Pianoteq, there really isn't a better sounding digital on the showroom floor that I have heard. My set-up sounds very similar to the Roland LX-708. Again the GHS action is good enough for most playing. I would like to try a 515. My feeling is that it is out of date for the price, and something better is most likely just around the corner.

[@TheMg49]

@@jamesa375 According to Yamaha, the keys are wood.

[@johnschultz9023]

I'm curious if the pre programed rhythms can be recorded on a track.

[@PianoTone]

Not on a MIDI track, just on an audio recording. Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

[@johnschultz9023]

I'm new to this. How do I do this?

[@johnschultz9023]

At 36:23, you explain the answer to my question, something Yamaha tech support couldn't do. What's more, I think their user manual is written poorly, almost like it was written by the engineer that designed the piano so naturally it will be assumed the user will know what the engineer knows. By the way, it seems like you like music from my era, i.e. the 1970's.

[@PianoTone]

@@johnschultz9023 Glad it was helpful! And yes, manuals should be written by users not programmers :)

[@johnschultz9023]

Well, I subscribed to your channel. Very well done explaining in a common sense manner.

[@mazica_art2630]

When I played the 515 I noticed that the keys were smaller than the 125!! Is this as true as it seems to me?

[@PianoTone]

I didn’t notice anything when I rented a 515; smaller how?

[@mazica_art2630]

@@PianoTone When I look at dgx670. The key size appears wider than 515

[@PianoTone]

@@mazica_art2630 I'd have to measure them to make sure, but I'm pretty positive they're the same - might look different maybe . . .

[@michellemonet4358]

I bought this in black last year but the key action is way too heavy for me, unfortunately. I have.capal tunnel issues. Anyone know of the best way to sell it? Its in pristine condition but I dont have the box.

[@PianoTone]

I’m so sorry to hear that! You can try local music stores they may buy or consign it possibly, or if you wanted to trade it towards something with much lighter action they might do that as well. There’s also a popular used instrument website called reverb. com - I’ve bought and sold stuff there before. Good luck!

[@TheChianello]

What about the Studiologic NumaX GT?

[@PianoTone]

Would love to try one of those; no one where I live stocks Studiologic so I've never seen one; they do use Fatar keybeds which are pretty high end. Thanks for checking out the channel, feel free to subscribe

[@ginises83]

I bought it, but after a few months, one morning, a note had no velocity! In other words, I'd press the key gently and the note would scream! ....as the days went by, several notes were doing the same thing. Disgusted!

[@PianoTone]

That’s awful! Were you able to return it or get it repaired?

[@timjoseph887]

Super helpful review.

[@PianoTone]

Thanks so much glad you found the review helpful! Thanks for stopping by, feel free to subscribe