🎹Yamaha P515 Digital Piano Review & Demo - 88-Key, Portable, Piano Room🎹

Sound - 1:22
Action - 13:59
Features - 22:50
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#YamahaP515 #Yamaha #DigitalPiano
Hi there, thank you for tuning in with us for a new piano review by Stu Harrison at Merriam Pianos! In this video we’re going to look in depth at Yamaha’s flagship all-in-one portable digital piano, the Yamaha P515. This piano hit the market a couple of years ago with a big splash, and rightfully so. We’re going to try and cover everything you might want to know if you’re shopping for a digital piano of this caliber.
If this is the first time to the Merriam Pianos channel, please subscribe, we’d really appreciate the support.
Tone Engine and Sound:
The P515 is equipped with a pretty advanced sound engine, boasting 256 note polyphony, which is going to be more than adequate for virtually all playing situations. In terms of the main piano sounds loaded onto the instrument, Yamaha has sampled their 9 foot CFX concert grand, as well as the 9 foot Bosendorfer Imperial concert grand. These are both very nice samples, and sound quite distinct from one another. The CFX sounds much brighter, whereas the Bosendorfer sample is darker, with a fairly compressed dynamic experience. There’s several other less marquee piano tones which sound quite nice as well, as do the various electric piano and organ sounds.
The Yamaha P515 also has a function titled piano room, which essentially allows the user to edit certain tone related variables, such as lid position, brightness of the hammers, touch curve and reverb depth among others. This ability to customize piano sound is becoming standard on digital pianos in this quality range, and is certainly a nice add on.
Action:
The P515 digital piano uses Yamaha’s NWX piano action, which features a triple sensor, wooden white keys and plastic black keys. This action is quite interesting, and there’s a few things you should be aware of when doing your shopping. For instance, while the specs sheet indicates that the NWX features escapement, it’s very difficult to feel in the P515, to the point where we had to double check the specs sheet.
Most importantly, if you’re considering this instrument, we have to make note of the fact that this action feels very heavy. This isn’t necessarily a negative, but it needs to be mentioned as this action does feel substantially heavier than some of the other options you might be considering in this quality range.
Piano Features:
There’s a number of matching accessories that go with the P515 digital piano. It comes standard with a very solid sustain pedal capable of half pedaling and an integrated music stand. Optional add ons including a wooden designer stand and triple pedal system.
There are two independent ¼” stereo outputs which is essential for anyone considering this piano as a professional gigging instrument. There’s also a super easy to use Bluetooth radio built in, and there’s a USB connector as well, which also acts as a USB audio jack, so the P515 is very well equipped to work with external software instruments.
In addition to these connectivity options, you’ve also got all of the standard digital piano features one would expect, such as transpose, split and dual mode, not to mention a very user friendly user interface. Lastly, the Yamaha P515 digital piano is also equipped with on-board rhythm accompaniment, and the quality of this accompaniment system is good enough that there may be some professional performing situations where this feature could come in handy.
Conclusions:
All in all, this is an instrument that’s totally focused on delivering a very solid piano experience. Definitely keep in mind that the action is especially heavy so there’s no surprises there, but the P515 is definitely an instrument worth considering if you’re in the market for a professional, all-in-one portable digital piano.
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[@ginabisaillon2894]

I just purchased this piano yesterday. I'd like to add my two cents worth about the weight of the keys if you don't mind. I am 80 years old with osteoarthritis in my hands. I'm what you might call an "advanced beginner" and I've been taking lessons on a Steinway grand and to tell you the truth when I sat down and tried this piano it felt just like the one at school, which is what I had been looking for. I am delighted!

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi Gina! That is amazing! We are happy to hear that you have found a piano that you really resonate with and gives you a feeling of consistency between your at home practice and lessons. :)

[@garymwalton]

I like Stu's honesty and, as he is also an excellent keyboard player (who has also played a lot of different keyboards) it's an opinion you can respect. Thanks Stu, appreciated.

[@hv1946FLUSA]

This is the most useful review of Yamaha P515 I have seen. Excellent presenter/reviewer.

[@paulfaganpianist]

Remarkable playing. You're well practiced on your instrument which is really important for a reviewer.

[@paxwallacejazz]

Hey brother I'm a poor hard working jazz musician. If I don't have any gigs I drag my Yamaha digital piano to my neighbourhood train station here in Copenhagen (I moved) on my large bike trailer behind my cargo bike and play my tunes and standards for passing change. But I ended up somehow with all Yamaha gear most of its been dropped at least once over the many years I been doing this ; assiduously avoiding day gigs as Monk told us. The point is their shit is tough! and don't break! like one of my cracked mini P.A. speakers that still sounds great with zero distortion.

[@pawelsz95]

Yes the keys are physically heavy. But set the touch curve to Soft 1 and then the playing experience is excellent. Included FC4A pedal does NOT support half pedalling, you need to buy FC3A. I also recommend setting brightness to 7 in Piano Room for most piano tones. Great instrument. Edit: brightness to 6 is enough

[@linearjazz]

Seriously, since he's spending so much time talking about the heaviness of the action, why doesn't he know or at least talk about how you can adjust the touch!

[@scraggster]

@@linearjazz he's a Yamaha hater and Roland fanboy even though I know deep down he hates the tone But his real love is for Kawai

[@gustavopaulette3496]

@Cristian Arvizu Kawai Disciples 💪

[@pawelsz95]

@@michellemonet4358 soft 2 is softer

[@michellemonet4358]

Soft 2 is aofter than soft 1 I believe

[@robertrussellmusicministri4975]

I received my P515 in white with the matching stand and 3 pedal unit! It sounds and plays amazing! It’s tone is so beautiful, especially on the lower notes, such richness and tonal quality up and down the whole keyboard If your on the fence, buy it!

[@flarfschnikelman6780]

Where did you find it? I can’t find it anywhere and I want one :(

[@d-rock5746]

@@flarfschnikelman6780 zzsounds

[@westontrimble7882]

Thank you

[@fredericfrancoischopin6280]

@@flarfschnikelman6780 on the thoman have my camrade

[@BobbySims]

@@flarfschnikelman6780 I know I'm late but I was able to get a P515 from Kraft music today

[@mikegeeguitarman8991]

I could listen to you play all night. You are a magnificent musician. tasty as hell !! respect sir!

[@MerriamPianos]

That's awesome, thanks Mike! Really appreciate the compliment. -stu

[@merlinscat]

I went from the P45 to the P515 great choice love my piano

[@MerriamPianos]

We are very happy to hear that! Thanks so much for tuning in and supporting our channel! All the best and happy playing! :)

[@MrVara411]

What I wouldn't give to be able to play like this... and I've been playing for years. :)

[@ardnicholls]

I’ve had the Yamaha P515 for just a couple of months and I absolutely love everything about it, I love using it for band gigs and I also play for solo gigs and theatre shows in an orchestra, it’s a joy to play and the piano samples in particular are outstanding,especially the CFX and Bosendorfer, also the ballad grand is such a versatile sound for more intimate settings and venues,the Rock and Bright Grand are great to cut through a pop or rock band ,all in all it’s a brilliant all round instrument with great electric piano sound,organs etc,and the rhythm accompaniment with bass backing accompaniment options to either use as split or to incorporate into solo piano style playing is great too🙂👍🎹

[@MerriamPianos]

The P515 is quite the powerhouse with a very extensive offering of features. We're happy to hear that you've been enjoying everything it has to offer. Thanks for tuning in and happy playing! :)

[@ardnicholls]

⁠@@MerriamPianos❤

[@Khordmaster]

I own and loooooooooooooove this piano. As a matter of fact I am practicing Hanon on it this very minute 😎

[@JoeLinux2000]

Forget the Hannon and start learning as much Bach and Chopin as you can.

[@paxwallacejazz]

If you just take your most challenging Hannon ex and do it in (12 keys) with a metronome increasing tempo slowly over weeks you will see big difference in 3 months.

[@Khordmaster]

@@JoeLinux2000 why not both?????

[@Khordmaster]

@@paxwallacejazz interesting!!!!! Didn't even think about doing it in all 12 keys. Thank you for the tip!!!!

[@patricj951]

I consider to get this digital piano. Did I understand it right; is it possible to play music from other sources like the mobile and CD-player through the piano?

[@Asahi380]

Simple, I tried Yamaha CLP-685 and its GrandTouch action keyboard, which is almost identical to P-515. It feels good. The action is not too heavy (lighter than GHS and GH3, much lighter than Roland's PHA4-Standard), able to play some skillful pieces and its wooden keys also better than some cheap entry-level upright pianos. Interestingly, it still cannot play tremolo too fast because the key still not bounces quick enough. But all in all, I think the latest Yamaha's piano sound and the NWX action is suitable for practicing. If you want to purchase a quality piano but don't want to bother the neighborhood, I think the P-515 or CLP series with NWX actions are good choices.

[@ferdearmas8732]

Hi friend, thanks for your helpful review, which key action is faster, more confortable and reliable between P515 and PHA4 in FP10/30, and why?.

[@ferdearmas8732]

Please tell me too, which is your first, second and third place for key action and connection between: Kawai ES8, Yamaha P515 and Roland FP90?. Thanks!.

[@meningen]

I love th way this guy reacts to his phenomenal playing! Hahahah, like it ain't no thing to play a mean honky-tonk, the's just listening to the sampling quality.

[@MerriamPianos]

Stu is quite the monster talent to say the least! Thanks so much for tuning in! :)

[@litotesone]

Thank you Stu Harrison for practicing and becoming so talented, because your doing so makes these reviews so much more enjoyable as you play so beautifully. You could sell cicklets on a 2x6 board you're so talented. Thank you!

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you for tuning in! I'll be happy to send the kind note to Stu for you. :)

[@rickmorrison4440]

Thank you for the great review. I bought this piano and I’m 75 and a rank beginner but it has everything I will ever need , best money I ever spent. So my observation. The key action is adjustable on the 515 but since I never knew what a real key action should be, I just ignored it and left it on default, or normal. I figured if I can play this piano with the heavier (normal setting/ default) action then a regular acoustic pianos key weight shouldn’t be a problem. Would you agree?

[@elizabethvhwong]

Stu, Yamaha should hire you to improve the design of their digital pianos. FYI, most of the piano players in H.K. love Yamaha because of the quality and durability. ^^

[@mikeslovak5589]

Underrated channel. this was a good showcase as i am trying to find a decent rental so i can compose music. Thank you and keep it up as I am looking forward to the next review

[@rios_5314]

There's something about the p series that always caught my attention, I own a yamaha montage 6 and I'm planning in selling it to buy the yamaha P515. Reason is having weighted keys like the ones on the P515 and the Acoustic piano presets are just on another league, i don't really need 1000 sounds funny thing is I only use acoustic piano and some DX 7 presets from the montage engine and some pads and basically thats it. I own a MacBook Aswell with komplete 10, Apollo twin mkII and Sunday Keys 2021 and I'm planning in buying Keyscape Aswell and there's some awsome FM sounds there, having the P515 as midi controller and internal sounds with aswome piano sound, awsome keybed action there's no need to spend 3000 or more for a keyboard.

[@happinessbythekillowatt]

I think you're right when you say Yamaha's users may just be accustomed to a heavier action. I bought the P515 in December after reading several reviews and watching a few videos. It's my first "real" digital piano, only owning cheap non-weighted arrangers, synths, etc. I have been playing acoustics my whole life and wanted to match that action as much as possible so when I heard "heavy graded action" I thought - perfect! Right away my first impression was "WOW - this is WAY too heavy". Now almost into August, I've spent a considerable amount of time with it - maybe 2-3 hours a day, every day. Even now, my forearm and wrist is just not strong enough to match the action. Small, light, slow pieces sure. But there are some I almost can't get through to the end (not to mention playing for many minutes/hours straight). At first I didn't even think it was the keyboard - I researched wrist injuries, tension relieving exercises, revisited finger positioning, etc because it seemed that no one was complaining about this in the forums. But after sitting down on an old upright and playing the same pieces without fatigue I realized - the P515 is just too heavy. Given you are the only one that seems to notice this, do you think something like a Kawai ES8 could bring the action/play-ability back into a more comfortable range while still maintaining the nuances of a traditional acoustic? I would almost give up everything I like about the Yamaha (Sounds, features, etc - which are likely all customizable in other keyboards anyways) to get a more satisfying action.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi there Old Moustachio!! ES8 is going to be definitely better in this regard although Kawai is in the middle of replacing it with an upgraded model. Roland's PHA-50 is a nice in-between, slightly heavier than the RH3 action that the ES8 has...and unfortunately I don't have any info on whether the RH3 is being enhanced or changed for the ES8 replacement. If you're looking for portable and DON'T need internal speakers, I think most would agree the MP-11se from Kawai is just ridiculous in terms of how good it sounds and feels...like I've said on camera - if it were 10 pounds lighter, I'd be using that to gig with...as it is, the RD2000 Roland is a better all-round unit for what I need on stage...but for piano alone, pretty hard to beat. Anyways, I hope these thoughts help a bit! -stu

[@LivingGuy484]

@@MerriamPianos Hello Mr. Stu, After stumbling across this comment, I was wondering if you knew where I could find more information on the next version of the ES-8, as I am thinking about purchasing a piano within the next few months. Is there an estimated time on the kawaii website?

[@ArthurGervasio]

You can just turn the action to soft on the menu, and then problem solved.

[@ThePianoMan1953]

I am wondering, after two years, where you are, keyboard-wise? Do you still play the P-515 or did you sell it and change for another? I am thinking of buying my sister (who plays a "well-used" spinet) a digital. She likes it's light touch and I wonder if the P-125 wouldn't be a great choice as the 515 sounds too heavy for her. Your thoughts would be great.

[@michellemonet4358]

I agree.my arms are physically worn out from this. Its a relief when I switch to my Roland Gopiano.

[@yakmaharg]

Hi Stu I bought this from a friend about a month ago coz it wasn't 100% what he was looking for. I just wanted to learn a bit of piano. I absolutely love the sound, the feel and the overall ease of using this piano. I'm a 64 year old guitarist (took up guitar in 2015) who really just loves all musical instruments. This piano and my trans-acoustic guitar will keep me happy for the remaining years. I love the fact that I can pick a piano sound, put some strings under it, pick a rhythm, set the tempo and just play using my guitar song-sheets. Great fun 👍😎🎹

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Congrats on picking up your friend's P515! It is a super solid instrument with a lot of fun features as you've discovered. It is great to hear you are enjoying many facets of musicmaking. Thanks for tuning in and happy playing! :)

[@nrstj]

Love my white P515 with stand, pedal kit and matching bench!! Great addition to my piano studio!

[@MerriamPianos]

That's awesome! Glad to hear you're enjoying it! :)

[@JosephAkins]

Would like to see you do a comparison Kawaii ES 920.

[@Mysterious.phanto]

this keyboard ifeel like its more for classical piano players and i love that

[@محمدالخلفي-ط1ل]

@@karenlee29 not really 🤥

[@paulineflanders5061]

Thank you very much, Stu. I subscribed in appreciation of your thorough and balanced review of the P515 which we’re considering purchasing. (I also appreciate and envy your piano skills and ability to improvise!) My husband and I are decidedly amateur but serious piano players, and currently own a Yamaha C2 grand and want a second, more portable keyboard that can be used when both of us want to play piano at the same time, for 2 piano duets, and for playing outdoors. The key weight is something I’ll definitely check out, and I hope one of the commenters is correct in saying that Yamaha has made its P515 keys lighter now. I did see other online comments about the key weight, so this is definitely an important consideration, and something I will definitely check out on a demo P515. The P515 may not be your favorite piano, but it sounds like you agree the piano sound is excellent which is something we really care about since we play mostly classical music and have the Yamaha grand. Thanks again for your great review.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thank you so much for subscribing and supporting our channel! We sincerely appreciate it. I will be sure to pass along your kind words and compliments to Stu on your behalf. Thanks again and happy playing! :)

[@jamessauve2419]

The only thing missing is some facility for saving a configuration of settings. This piano resets to factory defaults when you power on, so if you like working with several personalized settings, or you're just in the process of experimenting, you're going to have to reset them every time you turn it on. Also, it would be nice for cases where multiple people (in a family, for example) practice on the same P-515 and they could each save their own favorite settings and just switch between profiles with the selection in a menu.

[@MerriamPianos]

Having easily accessible stored settings is quite convenient and important for certain players. From this perspective, the Roland pianos are excellent options. Their tone engines allow for impressive adjustability and customization and storing/recalling settings is very easy and accessible. :)

[@BDrones]

You have to understand coming from using a concert grand piano to the P515 it was a benefit for me the weight of the keys. I would recommend definitely work on your stamina if you are having fatigue issues playing the instrument. It is about as close as you can come to a concert grand piano as far as weighted keys they are perfect.

[@MerriamPianos]

B Drones thanks for the insights and comments. I need to strongly disagree here with the comment about this being as close to concert grand as you get - concert grands are weighted at 55 grams give or take. This is 80+ grams, making it 50% heavier. We can debate the pros and cons of that change in weighting, but it is measurably heavier. Yamaha stage digitals have always weighted the keys heavier than acoustics, I remember playing the CP300 for a Second City production for 2 full years, and it still gave my hand cramps after 2 hr shows 5 days a week. It could legitimately just be me on this one, no one else seems to be bugged by it at all 🤷‍♂️

[@aaronrobinson2121]

@@MerriamPianos I think it's easy to conflate "heavy" with "authentic"; I know I tend to do that. And in this case I was thinking that having it be heavier is better for me who would use it mostly for practice. I don't really go gigging anywhere except for maybe church, where they already have an acoustic.

[@aberquackie4497]

I tried a P515 yesterday, after playing a Roland piano with the PHA50 50 actiin. The P515 felt like the keys were in sand/molasses, or like my joints were swollen. Now I know why.

[@chrisrdgymnastics]

I am using this P515 for 5 months now.. and it feels good..my only issue is thr weight of the keys it very heavy... The sounds are amazing...compared to the action keys of roland Digi piano, i prefer their action keys..but for the sound of the piano, i prefer yamaha...but may be in time i will go back to roland because i prefer the action keys of roland..my hands is aching really playing the piano on long term

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for tuning in! It is difficult finding a piano that has a touch and tone that you like. With that said, when it comes to digital pianos, I tend to prioritize the action as the sound is a variable technically. You can access a plethora of sample libraries and piano sounds via MIDI and VST plugins. :)

[@michellemonet4358]

I agree. The action is sooo heavy even when I put the action to softest.

[@herisitraka5959]

It s possible to change the velocity on this keyboard, which help a lot. Many things can be done on this keyboard, just need times to get to know the board. It is not so heavy if you are a piano pplayer.

[@valeriecarlson288]

Thank you for this outstanding review. I appreciate your thoroughness, thoughtful explanation, and reasonable reactions/response.

[@Hezron389]

My goodness. Yamaha has the best sounds man. Might have to get this over the P125

[@Darkosa1234]

Great review! I have to say that I'm actually like how Yamaha designed white key's surface on this keyboard. On other digital pianos in this price range I found key surfaces to be very slippy, so you have to be more aware of it and sometimes it causes unnecessary tension in hands. But this glossy surface on NWX is made just right - not too slippery, but not too grippy either, which allows for precise control when you need to slide your fingers up or down the keys. As for keys heaviness - you can change touch sensitivity to Soft 1, as already proposed in the comments here, and the keyboard will feel lighter. But I prefer the default Medium setting, feels right for this keyboard!

[@reneswan8692]

Stu Harrison, thanks so much for your very thorough review of the Yamaha P515. I've been a Yamaha player for years and I was so delighted to find out from you that Yamaha had purchased Bösendorfer, the best acoustic grand piano in the world with its extra register on the bottom end of the keyboard. Having that unique sound on the P515 will be amazing! And as for the key weight, that works out fine for me. Thanks again for demoing and explaining point-by-point the P515. René Swan

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi René! Thanks so much for the kind words and for supporting our channel! We're glad to hear that you have been enjoying the videos. Thanks again and all the best! :)

[@Sandra-wz8py]

I love this channel! Although my english is very bad......the best informations you can find about pianos.

[@Cyb3rAssassine]

Great Review, thanks for uploading. As a P515 owner I have to say that sometimes the weight is a bit disturbing, especially if you want to play really fast passages, but at the same time it is really easy to hit the key at the right velocity.

[@twodalec]

I find that the escapement on my p-515 more than makes up for the weight. I went from a p-125 to the p-515 and trills are easier.

[@GixrGuy]

Peace be with you😌 Absolutely Beautiful Grand Piano sounds! Thank you😊

[@robertjameson7679]

I enjoy your reviews, you tell it like it is, it's not sugar coated.

[@Martinullis]

If anyone is deciding between this and the 125, the biggest difference is the action and the ‘acousticlike’ sound which the speakers can produce. In comparison the 125 sounds more like a traditional keyboard. I’m not sure if an amp could fix the digital quality the 125 has but that’s just my observation.

[@davidrockefeller2007]

Ya this blows the 125 out of the water for sound.

[@Transterra55]

Fantastic demo...thanks for the upload!

[@davidrosen9711]

Great video Stu and killing playing - I’m a jazz drummer and jazz pianist who plays a Yamaha C3 meaty action and have been looking for a heavy key (also have a p90, very light action imho) this seems perfect for me and what really works is the onboard drum grooves - it’s been a hard call but this seems perfect - thank you

[@danproctor7678]

Thank you so much. I appreciate you talent. To me you fully demonstrated this piano. I’m a big Yamaha fan. Keep up the great reviews.

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! Thank you so much for tuning in! We appreciate it. :)

[@Mrpaladino16]

that playing wow

[@mikepyne]

Very good comparative analysis Stu!

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for tuning in! We appreciate it! :)

[@aquaticborealis4877]

Beautiful playing

[@hv1946FLUSA]

Excellent review. Thank you.

[@ChristofRoeyaert]

Love your videos. So far you've covered a pretty complete range of digital pianos from different brands. But Korg stands out as the big 'absentee'. I would love to hear your take on Korg's top end keybed, the RH3 (not to be confused with Kawai's RHIII). This keybed seems to be implemented differently from one model to the next, f.e. the Grandstage feels differently from the D1, G1 Air, the new SV2 or even the almighty Kronos 88. I would particularly be interested to hear what you think of the new SV2(S) 88. It's geared a lot more toward the piano player, much more so than it's predecessor... Edit : the P515 actually comes with the FC4A pedal, which doesn't support half-damping. The FC3A, however does, and that comes with the CP88 (which should also be on your review list ;-) )

[@worshiptogetherwt]

thank you，and very beautiful!

[@LoneTiger]

Now if Yamaha put the NWX from the 515 keys on the DGX-670 I would be a happier customer. 😁

[@lelouch2676]

I enjoy the video thank you very much I love tha video I very much appreciate your review

[@twodalec]

I just bought my p-515. And the action seems very close to my tutors acoustic upright piano. The escapement combined with setting the touch curve as “light 2” seems to overcome the weight issues. I saw another KZbin video where the reviewer noted that the touch on newer manufactured models of the p-515 has evolved to be somewhat lighter and more responsive.

[@tedunguent156]

I read where the touch was designed to be heavier on the bottom "strings" and then lighter and lighter as you move up the register.

[@twodalec]

@@tedunguent156 it is.. exactly like a real acoustic piano

[@jpxh123]

Are the keys actually lighter in new manufactured p515? Where did you see a reference for it?

[@twodalec]

@@jpxh123 from one of the videos by pavel shawcross PianoForever channell.. he tried one at namm, and purchased one i think 8 months later, and found the action to be lighter than the one at namm.. so basically subjective. honestly I like the action. At first, my hands got tired, but over 18 months my hands/fingers have developed the strength and ability.. and the touch is definitely heaver at the low end and lighter at the top end.. exactly like a real acoustic

[@akse0435]

Try pressing the others button while holding down the function button. Then you'll get in to the XG sound set. There're almost 500 sounds in there.

[@Khordmaster]

Aksel Leo Christoffersen yessssss a ton of extra sounds. So nice 😁

[@AggiePhil]

Wow, Stu is the MASTER!

[@MerriamPianos]

I certainly agree! We are very lucky to have his immense talent! :)

[@calikokat100]

ballad grand is definitely realllllly nice

[@Josifer4GAppFire]

My biggest complaint with my CP300 is the weight of the keys too! After a bit my fingers are cramping and i don't feel like playing anymore. Sad to see its the same with the 515. I am probably going to upgrade to the es920 when they come available.

[@gustavogo2915]

Did you get the ES920?

[@R.Tafolla]

Stop being a wussy. Quit playing piano.

[@jere471]

Please Merriam Music, make a review for the CP88, love the demos and reviews from this channel .😃

[@martinli88guitars]

What a pianist!

[@whoahdudeman]

Stu, after having tried the Casio PX-1000, I tried out the P515 and I took it back after a week. The action just isn't for me. I couldn't justify it for the price. Some people seem to like it. The store was happy to get it back because demand remains high and supply tight for the P515s. After having gone through a Casio PX-1000 (I sent it back after a week) and the P515 (also sent it back after a week), I can confirm that your analyses are spot-on. I shoulda listened to you to start off with. I ended up going for a radical solution: I bought a used Casio PX 160 with stand and pedals for 360 euros. It's good enough for what I'm looking for. Your analysis on the PX 160's key action was also spot-on. The keys have that side-to-side movement. I actually find the action of the PX 160 reminiscent of an old Spaeth upright piano I recently tried out at a piano store. This action does have some advantages versus the PX-1000.

[@paxwallacejazz]

At the now defunct Rainbow concert Venue in Seattle I got to talk with Mugrew Miller on tour with Tony Williams. He was playing a rented grand piano for that gig (it was not necessarily a jazz venue so no house piano) in response to my unconditional praise he told me he was frustrated with the heavy piano action and that it made the gig a bit of a struggle, not that I could notice. The point is you want a heavy action!! Especially on your practice instrument because someday you're gonna have to play a real bear. Maybe in the Studio so just saying. Digital pianos are not the same as Grand Pianos

[@benjaminsmith2287]

It's weird how Yamahas sound. People often use the term "bright" to describe them but I don't like that description because it's not complete. Technically, it's right but, the piano gives a different aural sensation to me. This one is based on the CFX, so CF, CX, SX, even though there are different levels of refinement they all have a similar type of tone. There's actually less brightness in the treble than some makes but more in the midrange and tenor then lower bass is quite deep but not boomy. There's also an interesting balance and clarity between the ranges--balanced yet separate. Yamaha can blend but they don't go for saturation as much as other pianos. So, they sound thinner but not thinner in a bad way, in my opinion. In this respect, I think it's expression is in articulation. Even the digital ones excel at that. (This is concerning the main voice, the CFX.) Kawai and Roland are totally different beasts. Kawai has a deep and darker tone with moderate overtones and saturates. Roland has fullness and pronounced overtones. Nice presentation.

[@MrVara411]

Agree with your characterizations of the different brands, especially when listening to the direct line sound. In person though, it's a very mixed bag: I own a Yamaha N3X and the sampled CFX sound through the 12 speakers is breathtakingly realistic. Sounds totally different than the CFX on the P125 or P515. Cheers!

[@niklas2heat79]

i think yamahas new sx line, doesnt fall in the same "tonal family" as the other lines tho. It appears to have a rather warm and rumbly tone, not reminiscent of the sound profile, that the other lines indeed share (imo ofc). the weird sensation of yamahas sounding bright yet not bright or at least not bright in a annoying/unpleasant way is something i noticed myself and its something very hard to put in words indeed ^^.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

@@niklas2heat79 Yes, the SX is the darker tone of the family. I really like it and in some ways prefer it. The S7X is an amazing sounding piano.

[@VK-tb5vc]

Thank you for the video. Great review. I have been playing the P515 for several months now. The keyboard is great and I do not find the action that heavy. Also, the Bösendorfer piano has terrific tone. And the speakers sound quite good. Have ordered a Kawai MP11SE and looking forward to playing it and comparing. I am sure it is on a different level altogether.

[@mktsp2]

are you an idiot? Why buy a secont piano only after a few months?

[@jevaldez_]

@@mktsp2 He has money maybe

[@NuanDaa]

@@mktsp2 he’s a bird. Singing bullshit

[@MarvinRWard]

You know your stuff. Good job.. Thank you! 😁

[@mfurman]

I finally checked this piano. It needs 90 g to move middle C. Crazy 😄

[@bhh1988]

How did you weigh it? I think typically people stack nickels (5g) and pennies (2.5g) at the end of the key until it sinks.

[@mfurman]

@@bhh1988 I have small, calibrated weights. It was on middle C. The keyboard is properly weighted (more than 90g on lowest C)

[@1xstew]

Set the velocity curve to soft 2 and like magic the heaviness of the keys disapears and then its a dream to play! I always play with EQ on flat 1 and default reverb. It's a fantastic piano in every respect. The only downside is its weight it weighs nearly 50lbs so really its a 2 person lift. I've bought a sack barrow in case i need take it out my house. Recently tried out the upgraded P525 in a music shop . . the 515 is much better and nearly a £1000 cheaper!

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks so much for the insights and suggestions! I know our Yamaha P515 users here in our community will appreciate it. :)

[@evoh3578]

Will you be reviewing the Yamaha P-525? I would love to see your thoughts on it compared to the P-515.

[@MerriamPianos]

Yup! We are going to be tackling that video review very soon! :)

[@calikokat100]

by the time you add the cost of the yamaha stand.....better pedal...it comes close to the cost of new clavinova...albeit without the portability...

[@jaws10278]

I couldnt decide between this and the Kawai CA49. I went with the Kawai because of the action and the clearance price. To buy the bench, stand, and pedals for the P515, it would have cost the same amount if not a bit more than the Kawai.

[@MerriamPianos]

Congrats on your Kawai CA49! It is a fantastic choice. The all-wooden key action of the Grand Feel Compact action has a wonderfully-authentic feel and I am confident that you will enjoy it for many years to come! :)

[@jaws10278]

@@MerriamPianos we bought one for the church I play at, used it this weekend for the first time and I was sold. Im not even a pianist, Im an organist! So go figure lol.

[@tedunguent156]

It's funny how so many of the effects/voices sound absolutely mono while others were very much stereo. Some rebound from left to right and back at defined periods. I don't know if it's the mic and recording or if it's the piano. Great demo, though.

[@Zoco101]

Well a year has gone by, but I'll comment for anybody still reading this. The recording facility on the P-515 includes 16-track MIDI! This is crossing over with an arranger piano, so, bravo Yamaha! I think the action may be so firm because the previous model (the P-255) has a slightly light action - the GH. Maybe some users complained. I play a P-255 and it seldom bothers me. I find the GH much better than the GHS featured on the P-45 and the P-125, but I might like the P-515's action more, having grown up with a very firm East German upright piano, which I adored. Now I have a very firm East German girlfriend instead, whom I also adore! The partially wooden keys would be less likely to warp than plastic ones, and this seems consistent with the decision to make the P-515 rugged. Sadly, that must make it hard to lift and carry, but at least the keys won't jam too easily after a fire door closes on it as you struggle through hotel corridors. Previously, I have criticised this piano for its heavy weight and heavy price, but the former may be justified and the latter is coming down. After lockdowns are over I might even try one!

[@Sloimer]

Have you noticed any buzzing-rattling from the speakers at higher volumes?

[@Zoco101]

@@Sloimer Buzzing on my P-255? No, except that for practice I use the optional scew-on stand. This has four screws to secure the instrument. Often, I use only two because I need to undo the scews quickly when I'm preparing for a gig. While only using two the slight looseness can cause a bit of noise. Also, a couple of notes are developing harsh sounds, irrespective of which key is used to play them. So, if I use the auto transpose, the same note and harshness moves to a new key stick. I presume that this is a hardening of the speakers, but I do need to experiment more. I have played my P-255 for many thousands of hours. I guess that something must show signs of wear. I don't own a P-515. I have finally tested one briely, but I didn't notice harshness on that. I didn't like the controls much. I think the P-255 has better EQ controls for gigs.

[@AGC828]

I think for it's intended market--home/casual player it's perfect. More than "good enough". Realistically, it's so much easier for most families/couples/single people to afford a $1500-2000 digital vs an acoustic upright/grand (which you can't control the volume of and get the same out of). Making the digitials/hybrids more practical for homes. Even if you have a detached home and a family. Realistically we can't play our pianos when we want and "keep the peace"....e.g. with neighbours. They might want peace when we want to play. With a digital we can go silent and play any time. Spending so much less. $1500 to 6500 (for a hybrid). Do so much more with them. Encouraging new players to spend more time on the piano. Ultimately...what would a digital not offer over "the real thing" acoustic grand? besides what might be obvious e.g. better action, more resonance...

[@benniedervin7403]

Doesn't even come close to an acoustic piano instant no digital piano can equal my Everett baby grand

[@tomlavelle8518]

I had been considering under 500. I think I will consider this one instead.

[@tommy2nes]

Please review the Yamaha cp88

[@imnotbuddha]

Spent this past week looking for info on digital pianos and I've come to learn one thing, at least; Stu...not a fan of Yamaha.

[@ThePianoMan1953]

Yes, no question about that! He's an awesome player so I have to take his opinion very seriously. From the sound quality, I was very seriously thinking of upgrading to the 515 as I love Yamaha's CFX sample, but Stu's comments about the heavy keys was very disappointing! I would say a definite deal breaker!

[@lordclouds2865]

@@ThePianoMan1953 the heavy keys are kind of ok with me. Is actually not that bad. I had two uprights that were heavier

[@janetgauntt903]

@@ThePianoMan1953 The keys are heavier than my old Baldwin spinet, but feel a lot like the concert grand my tutor had when I was still taking lessons. After 4 days, I stopped noticing. And they're *so* responsive.... :)

[@nigo1787]

@@ThePianoMan1953 heavy keys are a habit of Yamaha, as he said. It's nothing new. What you consider a deal breaker is a feature for other players. Every other brands have lighter keys so you'll be ok

[@brianpetersen3429]

Excellent review.

[@sven317]

Is it worth to buy the p515 or should i get the clp-725, because the price is in the same range in my area?

[@かつかつ-d8p]

Japanese technology is amazing, isn't it? ..

[@midnight4109]

It amazes me how my music store sells the CLP735 for $2999.99 on sale and the P515 for half of that, wooden keys and all. Of course you need a cabinet which is around another $130 plus 1 or 3 pedals. And the P515 doesn't have all of the additional sounds once you exhaust the pianos. Is the sound equivalent to a CLP without the home cabinet?

[@pranavjayaprakasanut]

Sir I still don't understand how you can play all sorts of styles pretty much on the fly . Esp at 6:58 🙏. Does that sort of thing come after years of training or did you have training in specific styles of music?

[@JoeLinux2000]

Some people are just naturals. Yohan Kim and Jesus Molina are others you can find on KZbin, but there are more.

[@paxwallacejazz]

@@JoeLinux2000 If you don't think this cat played from childhood and went to music school to study jazz then I got a bridge to sell ya

[@iLiekLemonade]

Years of practice and a lot of knowledge on music theory

[@ulfnilsson5093]

Thanks for the review! You describe the NWX piano action as heavy, what about the GH3 action on the YDP series?

[@BDrones]

I would say you really need to condition and strengthen your hand muscles if you are having problems playing on this. By far the most superior and smooth piano in this price range. I have the Kawaii CE 220 and a Steinway nine and I played it twice as much as either one of those. I would definitely recommend strong finger exercises to build up your fingers right. You should have no problem playing those hours upon hours every day.

[@MerriamPianos]

Good suggestions B Drones - this action is a bit of an enigma to me...it's substantially heavier than any acoustic, but that may be to compensate for a smaller speaker output and so the brain 'computes' it all as feeling balanced. I've got no issue with muscle conditioning myself, (well, maybe right NOW with Covid it may have gotten a bit weaker), but prior, I would play two or three 3 hr shows per week on acoustics or the Roland RD2000, which has a pretty beefy action - but I get your point...a weak musculature is going to make the playing experience on the P515 particularly difficult.

[@st8kout961]

I agree 15:00 about companies trying too hard to duplicate every aspect of the 'feel' of a real acoustic piano. I imagine some stuffy old pianists trying out digital pianos, complaining that it just doesn't feel like a real piano. So never mind the advantages of a digital keyboard or the sound, let's concentrate on making it feel more mechanical, for all the old timers sake. Imagine if car companies sold only standard transmissions on cars because it would not feel like a real car if you didn't have to shift.

[@PianoScoreVids]

Thanks for a new video! You talk about the grippy surface - Stu, do you know a solution for slippery keys due to sweat? I'm having quite problems with it to a point where sometimes I have to wash my hands and clean the keys literally every 10 minutes. I would say I sweat normally though, there is no anomaly

[@Zoco101]

I guess you're not reading this now, but maybe somebody is. For me the worst gigs are the outdoor ones. The wind dries my hands and makes it hard to control the surface contact. I use a tiny amount of any dense hand cream and work it over the finger tips. That seems to ensure both a satisfactory grip and a bit of slide. Don't use too much!

[@swisswildpicsswp3095]

That's why I traded my Yamaha P-95 for a Casio CDP S350. I like "matte" keys better than glossy ones. Best feel I ever experienced was the real ivory of my teacher's vintage Steinway

[@jacktaylor1516]

I love the way he just kinda goes meh.....at a couple of the sounds. Hilarious 🤣

[@gordonmiddler1890]

Love his honesty and playing. It strikes me that he’s not a fan of Yamaha! Just a gut feeling from the way he speaks and reacts to the test!

[@schmutz67]

They don‘t sell Yamaha. That‘s why the action is nearly unplayable and the sounds suck 😆

[@ArielSchumann]

I switch this P515 for a Roland Juno DS88. I just found the Roland easier to play. Although the sound on the yamaha is far superior it doesn't make a huge difference.

[@ferdearmas8732]

Hi mate, and which is faster and more confortable to play?.

[@bryanheap3859]

Hi Stu - before I start, thank you for these videos. Just starting to learn piano and the videos have been very helpful. My question (surprise surprise) relates to the weight of the action. I’ve read that the touch curves on digital pianos can help with heavier/lighter actions. Is this really the case? And for a newbie like myself, could these be used to compensate for a heavier action whilst I’m learning the ropes. Thanks

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi Bryan, so yes the touch curves can help to compensate and/or accommodate a specific physical approach and better mate it to the sound generation on a digital. I'm all for it, provided that you aren't doing a lot of transitioning back and forth between digitals and acoustics. I've found that players who tweak the touch curve to make a key feel lighter (the P515 might be an exception here) wind up losing a lot of muscle tone and endurance when they get behind an acoustic. With regards to the P515, I think the touch curve is already on the light side to make up for the 80 gram keyweight. Of course it probably doesn't hurt to remind other readers that touch curves only simulate a change in weight, there aren't any digitals that actually change the geometry of the action. Thanks for the question and for watching! -stu

[@bryanheap3859]

Thanks Stu. Really appreciate the response and help. I couldn’t get it through my head how a touch curve could improve it given that you are still physically pushing down the key weight which won’t change.

[@joeyscooter2618]

What's the best, portable digital piano with built in speakers for a professional classical pianist? It must feel as real as possible as a concert piano ( concert piano action) as I've been playing 56 years...cost is not a problem. . I need it to go out and perform as part of my ministry.

[@richardh568]

PLEASE: Do a review of the the new Yamaha P-S500, and compare it to the P515. Thanks a ton. Yo

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi there! Thank you kindly for reaching out with your suggestion! We will certainly add it to the list of possible candidates for future comparison videos and will do our best to tackle it. Thanks again and all the best! :)

[@dominirican7403]

That clicking noise of the keys is driving me crazy

[@pianiste1000]

Sound is great, indeed, but action is really a little too heavy for my ageing hands (I used to play a 1/2 Bechstein grand from the year 1939, an incredibly good instrument with outstanding sound and a much softer touch; unfortunately, it suffered a lot from heat in summer a few years ago. I had to sell it and bought a Yamaha P120 (!) and was very happy for the sound, the nocturnal use with a headphone, and the absence of tuning problems. I would recommend the fixed triple pedal system because the single pedal system is gliding on tiles or wooden floors, which is very disturbing. I would like to add that the music stand seems too low for A4 formats or higher, and that its orientation is inappropriate (i.e. too horizontal), so the scores tend to fall on the ground. I wonder if this keyboard is suited for playing the NOIRE vst set, maybe through a computer and an appropriate USB cabling? Thanks for your wonderful review and very professional and very enjoyable playing.

[@DAVID.PIANISTA.PENTECOSTAL]

I WOULDLIKE TO KNOW IF THE P515 IS BETTER THAN THE YAMAHA CP88 BECAUSE I ORDERED IT AND IF I'MNOT REALLY HAPPY I COULD RETURN IT BACK AND GET THE P515 BUT I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE CP88 ARRIVE IN APRIL 11 AND THEN TAKE MY DECISION.

[@nashsapatel116]

Great video... Which camera do you use?

[@Sarah83291]

I received my P515 but the sounds all sound pretty ‘digital’ to me, even the two primary piano sounds. Even my previous Casio PX160 sounds better. The sound in this video sounds very nice though so I’m wondering what could be the reason for the differences. Is there any setting that needs to be done here or just a line out vs speaker difference?

[@gustavopaulette3496]

Did you keep or exchange for the Kawai ES920? Casio sucks…… I have a piano performance major degree and own a Kawai grand piano I got last month because of how much I loved the Kawai ES920 digital and wanted to have a real Kawai grand.

[@gustavogo2915]

Reply

[@Sarah83291]

@@gustavopaulette3496 I ended up keeping it because ES920 is out of stock everywhere and I do want a heavy action (Yamaha is the best in that). I tried Kawaii CA49 the other day and it does sounds much better, but it is also not a fair comparison because the price is so different.

[@michellemonet4358]

I hearya but maybe it sounds better because hes a better player. Just sayin

[@whoahdudeman]

You know, I have a similar impression of the sound patches on the 515. I owned a 515 for about a week and then took it back. I just thought it was too much money. I bought a used PX160 instead for around $300. The mid-range and the octave above middle C were, in my opionion, the worst sounding. I'm tempted to try a P515 again after owning the Casio for over 2 years mainly because of the action.....

[@lanecollins8080]

I like the piano: for other sounds from an iPad: is it as easy as just putting an iPad on the piano, BT/MIDI/Audio, no cables, and the P515 controls the iPad? iPad audio is streamed to the P515 with no cables? no latency issues?

[@CreepyClayCave]

I had the p515 once. But I must say that I got very disappointed. That the action is heavy is okay, but the keys felt very stiff actually. So it felt unpossible for me to play softly and controlled. Sorry guys but that proofs for me that the newest not necessarily need to be the best.

[@JitinMisra]

I would like to see you do a cover with the Cfx patch on this piano .

[@boaz2063]

I think Yamaha is listening to their market probably not the classical music crowd. Might be for Giggers and what we like!

[@QalinaCom]

thank you for your reviews. Which piano forums would you recommend?

[@stefanlillemets6697]

maybe a silly question, but which sounds best to your ears, Roland Rd-2000 or Yamaha P-515?

[@vcupiano]

In or around this price, what would you say the most acoustic sounding/feeling keyboard on the market? I previously owned a cp300 and to my everlasting shame, sold it.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! At the end of the day, the musical experience a piano provides is highly subjective. Around the $2000 CAD price point, I am personally a fan of the Kawai ES520 and (if budget permits) ES920. The SKEX samples are extremely warm and nuanced. They are some of the most authentic sounding samples available at this price point. The RHIII action of the ES920 is also a fantastic touch. I'm sure Stu and other players from our community here will have their own preferences, but those are my personal favourites around this price point. :)

[@vcupiano]

@@MerriamPianos thank you for the suggestions

[@paxwallacejazz]

Stu is (it seems) the only keyboard demonstrater I can stand to listen to inspite of the fact that he's a bit of a Yamaha hater.

[@germanshepherdlover2613]

This has XG sound banks as well, shame my ES8 doesn't have many sounds, even GM would have been ok.

[@wtpwtp]

I'm very curious to know what the weight of the key action is in the various soft to hard settings.

[@MerriamPianos]

The best bet would be to test out the piano in person to get a sense of the various touch sensitivity settings. Keep in mind that the physical weight of the key action does not change when adjusting touch sensitivities. Instead, the sound is altered to simulate a softer or heavier touch.