I've never seen anyone provide a better overview/demonstration/comparison of an instrument - guitar, piano, what have you, than in the videos of yours that I've watched. Thanks. I really appreciate this.
I watched the P45 v P115 review and fell in love with the P115, immediately shopping for it online. Then I watched this and completely doubted my sanity. Thanks for putting the reviews out there to hear the sound comparisons. Context makes all the difference to judge a sound. Now shopping for a P255 :)
We might get so stressed purchasing a better model, sending one back or cancelling etc.. having to find double/triple to cash each time, i wonder if we'll want to play it in the end LOL :-) So much color, spoilt for choice
just buy the P115 and use the Garritan CFX computer software piano... it blows them both away. So you just buy the software later, and even use the P115 or whatever as a controller for the software.
Thanks you very much for your very good presentation Chris showing some of the main differences between these two very good models although I'd already made my decision last week for the P255 which arrived a couple of days ago and very pleased with my purchase even more so since watching your presentation. One thing you missed was some additional effects on the P255 and not fogetting the ease of access to all the functions on the P255 compared to the rest of the P Series. Although I am a beginner and not able to obtain its full potential just yet just watching you play it's a no brainer if you can justify and afford to extra cost
I'm an experienced piano player and I'm wanting to get a P115 for myself because I don't have the budget to pay 3 times more for the P255... Is there any other keyboard that has a closer price to the P115 but feels more like the P255?
You guys really need to direct line these pianos to a computer so we can really compare the sound. In this we are limited to hearing the difference in the speakers, and the P255 has almost double the speaker power. Please consider this. It will vastly increase the quality of these already great reviews.
+RevGrease Thanks, you make a very good point. In the future I want to have both a direct line and an external mic recording and alternate between the two. I've found that some people prefer a DL and some people prefer an external mic for hearing the performance of the speakers not just the samples. We'll keep trying to improve things for everyone, thanks for the suggestion.
Excellent comparison. Based on this, I've bought the P-255, although, alas, it's on a slow boat from Japan. Hopefully arrive next week. Can hardly wait to get this beautiful thing.
Thanks for this and for your P45 v P115 video also. Shopping around for a new all-in-one keyboard to replace my old Technics SX-P30 and even older Casio CT-770. I think for my purposes, the P115 offers a lot more over the P45 for a bit more money (around $530 CAD versus $700). However, the P255 offers a bit more over the P115 for a lot more money. As undoubtedly nice as the P255 is - I don't think it's worth the extra $800 CAD (over twice the price) over the P115. Also the weight is an issue for me - the P115 weights around 12 lbs less than the P255 which for regular gigging and taking to pubs and clubs is a big plus for the P115. But thanks for the great vids! I think I am going for the P115.
Are you kidding? Don't you hear how different they sound? I suggest you to try them yourself to feel the difference not only in touch but sound wise as well.
@@log791 Hi - I made that comment 4 years ago :) I heard how different they sound but hadn't tried it. I bought the P115 initially, but having been in the store and then tried the P255 I paid the extra and swapped it out for a P255. I had that for 3 years, then I traded it in and I now own the P515. I love the P515 - particular the Bosendorfer sampling which is divine.
Excellent job with the review. My son fell for the P255 without much comparison to other keyboards...mainly based on feel. Your review solidifies his position and is going to go off an buy one.
Is there a big difference between the quality of P255 and the clavinova 525. I know they are different series but what exactly are they? I'm down between these two.
I was foolhardy for being adamant on purchasing the P115. I gave myself a budget and I told myself to stick to it. But, heavens! This video opened my eyes. I want to buy a keyboard to improve. So, of course I wouldn't want to get something practically unplayable later on. Thank you for this! Will be saving more for the P255. I'd appreciate another comparison video if you have the time; between P255 and other similar models in the price range. Great content!
Thanks for the informative comparison videos. They really do help a lot. Would you PLEASE do a comparison between the Yamaha P255 and ROLAND FP-80. I am stuck on deciding between the 2 boards. Leaning toward the ROLAND because of the Supernatural piano sound. Thanks Much !
Ok so time for me to eat my words! After owning the P115 for around 7 weeks the P255 has been nagging at me. Listened to Chris's excellent comparison video a few more times and a tonne of other videos so decided to go into the music store I got my P115 from and try out the P255 for myself. After 30 mins testing all the features - although it's an expensive keyboard - one gets to appreciate where all the extra expense goes! The sound is DIVINE from the on-board speakers compared to the P115 and the 3-band equalizer I think is going to be exceptionally handy for customizing the piano sound for each track I play with the band. The key action is noticeably better and you just get an all-round better response from playing. I actually got my P115 replaced a few weeks after buying it because of a vibration on the left speaker, so the music shop said they'd honor the 30 day return policy from that date so I can get a full refund against the P255 - so I think I am now going to swap it for the P255! My advice to anyone trying to decide between these 2 keyboards is really try them both extensively and get an appreciation for all the extra that the P255 offers before you decide whether the extra expense is worth it to you. The only downside is the extra weight (it's around 12lbs heavier than the P115) - but then that's only about the same weight as my cat ;)
+Wayne Joyce Thanks Wayne, P255 certainly is a nice bit of kit especially when playing live with a band, hope you enjoy it. Perhaps it's time to put your cat on a diet though? ;-)
I've looking for a digital piano to buy. After I watched your video, I will definitely buy a P 255. Your review is excellent. Thank you very, very much!
Very informative...I was all set to purchase a P115 but now I am wondering if I am willing to spend the extra on the P225. Also I was a bit surprised, being a in the UK I would have expected to hear a comparison of the harpsichord sound on each, especially considering it's compulsory for each household in the UK to own at least one harpsichord...
Hey, just wanted to express my sincere appreciation for your presentation of the p255. I recently developed an interest in learning to play piano but had absolutely no idea what piano to purchase. Familiar with the Yamaha brand, I googled it and one thing led to another and I eventually found myself here. Your in depth analysis of the p105 vs p115 and p115 vs p255 helped me frame the right type of questions to carry out a further search. Satisfied, I purchased the p255b and absolutely love it. All thanks to your presentation and sample play here in this video-so thank you again. I would like to ask; What piano cover should I get for this as I've notice dust on it already?
ivydude13 You're very welcome, hope you'll enjoy the P255 it's really a brilliant piano. Some sort of nylon dust cover with a draw string should do the job for you, v important to cover it up as it doesn't have a lid!
Your comparison videos are great. In the end, from P45, P115 or even the P255, it comes down to budget and what your aim is. For the price of P255, you can buy 3 X P45. It's obvious that the P255 will be much better since it's the top of the range with much improvements. I just ordered the P45, but don't regret my choice as I am a complete beginner. P45 is there for me to learn and hopefully be able to play piano. I decided, once I am at a sufficient level, outgrown P45, I will be upgrade. But anyhow, great video.
For the relatively small price bump, I would definitely go P-115 over P-45. The polyphony alone is worth it for me, even as a beginner. Not to mention the recording functionality.
Thank you for a very thorough review and comparison on both of these models. Wow! You also played well! I think I would go for P255. The sound is richer and it has more features that I can probably use in the near future once I learn how to do jazz improv. What an inspiration! Thanks so much!!!
by far the "useful" digital piano review I've experienced. Thank you!! My question is what other piano at a reasonable price point sounds as good as the p255? The CP 40 in particular is what I was thinking of.Thanks again, Tom
+thomas grim CP40 and CP4 are very nice with the wooden keys, but remember they do not have built in speakers like the P255, so you'd always have to use external speakers or a PA system.
Great video. Very helpful. I was debating whether to go ahead and buy the 115 or wait and save a little more to buy the 255. I will be waiting a bit to get the 255. Thank you!
Thanks for such a thorough review. I'm very interested in the P255 and I wonder how it compares with the Yamaha P515? Any ideas on that, specially in regards to the tone and action would be very much appreciated. Thank you
Second Question: I'd really like to have a synthesizer too. BUT! Can I have ALL the weight, hammer, tone, progression, (false) Ivory keys, all the sweet stuff that the P255 has and a synth added on top of it? Is there a model that follows this criteria?
Thanks for a great review, Chris. In regards to the sound quality, if you had plugged headphones in, or an external amp, would it be safe to say the difference heard in the beginning of the video goes away? Also, I'm confused about the resonant difference between them. They say the P115 sound is sampled from their concert piano. If that's true, all the real piano resonances must therefore be included. Otherwise they would've had to work to remove them. Is it just a difference in hardware capability once again? Thanks.
Hi! I am just beginning piano lessons as an adult and would like to purchase a digital piano to practice at home. I want to ask: if I can afford it, should I buy the Yamaha P-255 over the P-125? I'm asking because there are reviews comparing the 2 pianos and they mentioned that the P-255 is for intermediate to advance players whereas P-125 is more suitable for beginners. I was wondering if there are any disadvantages for beginners to learn and practice on the P-255 vs P-125?
Sir you gave a beautiful presentation on the functionalities of these two digital pianos. Explaining so well their features. My Question is do you also deal in electronic Keyboards . I mean the ones with different rhythms styles and hundreds of sounds of different musical instruments coupled with accompaniment e.g Yamaha PSR series or for that matter Korg PA series . Would love to have a similar presentation about Korg PA600 & PA900 . Thanks a lot .
p-155 had the brilliance setting which I liked, allowed me to switch from mellow bright and normal within a single voice. does p255 have it!?? if not.. then, any other model has it?? because p155 is discontinued.
How is it better to connect it to the mixing board to obtain the best quality sound in the external speakers for gigging. Do you use two separate mono audio cables?
Your reviews are fantastic, thank you for making them! I do have a question though. The YDP-S52 seems to be nearly identical to the P-255 (similar price, GH w/ ivory). Could a comparison be done between these two? People interested in the P-255 may also want to also consider the YDP-S52. I'm having a hard time determining which is better and I'm looking to purchase one.
+thisaintalex Yes, the specs are very similar, P225 probably just has the edge on quality of piano sample. However the S52 does have larger speakers which, if you're just playing at home, will make a difference. P255 is really designed as a stage piano, i.e. to be portable and taken out to gig with, S52 is more of a modern style of piano cabinet designed to stay in one place permanently. Hope this helps, I'll try and get a video up soon.
+ePianos.co.uk Thank you for the swift response and for offering to put up a video. Mine would definitely be staying at home all the time. From your reply, the S52 seems to suit me better. The main aspect for me is the feel and action of the keys and both do great here for my price range.
ePianos.co.uk Thank sir for your EXCELLENT reviews, they really have come of help on deciding my purchase ...I'm between KAWAI ES 8 or YAMAHA P255....any recommendation ?
Hi there..thanks a lot for the informative video. Really useful. I have a Yamaha S910 arranger keyboard and I plan to add a P115 to create a stack. My question is that can I connect the p115 directly to S910 and record the complete performance played on both the keyboards onto a pen drive connected to S910?Thanks again
255 has a larger enclosure so naturally the sound is deeper. Longer wavelength standing waves. It's physics 101. Hook both to an external speaker. *Then* can you tell the difference ? That's the question.
Dear all, since P series have weighted keys, in your opinion, how identical feeling is the P series vs normal piano? (in terms of physical playing ) Thanks a lot for anyone who shares.
Ethelred Juliet-Spencer Hi, thanks for sharing. I asked because I saw this article and wondering if acoustic piano is a Must for grade piano learning. "Please note that I DO NOT take in students who have no instruments at home to practice. All students are required to have at least a digital piano with weighted keys, and students who are taking exams are required to have at least an acoustic upright piano at home for practice. For young beginners 6 years and below I can allow for digital keyboard but you have to upgrade to acoustic upright piano latest by 1 year after learning. Not having a piano at home for practice will only slow down your progress significantly."
Greentea lover Yes, I agree there is no substitute for a real acoustic piano. The Yamaha digital keyboards like the P115/P255 I am demonstrating in the video are a very good alternative if students can't afford the cost of a real piano, or its simply not practical to own one, because of the noise or you live in a 2nd floor apartment/flat, also there is the tuning. Yamaha do take extra care to make sure the key action is as close to the real thing as possible and they do a great job, in fact I have seen highly experienced piano teachers play a digital piano and not even realise it was not a real piano. The P115/P255 have a very good weighted key piano style action which in my experience is adequate for preparation to take grade exams, the P255 is better because the action is improved but it's more expensive. Yes, a real acoustic piano is the best option but its not always practical or affordable.
ePianos.co.uk Sir, thanks for sharing your insight with us. And also thanks for uploading useful reviews for everyone. (By the way, I am also considering Yamaha Silent Series too) Cheerz!
Is it the same in the PA? I don't really care much about the speakers, I won't use them. I need a good main piano sound and if the piano sample is the same in both, I'll just get the p115. But I really need to know. Thanks!
I was using a double braced keyboard X stand. www.epianos.co.uk/shop/adjustable-double-braced-x-stand-for-portable-stage-pianos/ Beware that using a single braced one with these models will not quite be stable enough.
hi again, sorry while your answering I'd like to also ask. The p255 has the function to record directly into a usb memory stick correct? How much should the stick have. Would 8GB of memory be enough for an hour long recording ?
Thank you for the demo first off. I wanted to take a piano class, but the instructor will only include students that have access to acoustic pianos and she says it's because she can't teach students that don't have experience or access to a "real" piano because she can't teach "weight" if the student doesn't have this to practice with. Make sense? I've only read about pianos so I get it, and I understand. Does this particular piano, P255, have a close-enough-to-real weight/progressive touch that it will get ME to what the instructor wants? Thanks.
ePianos.co.uk Thank you for that. How would you compare the P-255 to the CP4 Stage, and how would you compare the P-255 to the Montage 8 (only the comparable points not the synth portion)? I usually like to buy the best and not medal with less quality if I can help it. And thanks again.
Can you turn off the internal speakers on the P-255 as you can on the P-115 or do they cut out when you plug into an external speaker or amplifier? Great presentation! Many thanks.
should i get the dgx 660 compared to the p45 or arius ydp 143 ? tbh i rather get the p115 due to the portability, but it doesn't sell in my country, but can dgx 660 be moved around just like any portable pianos ? if it can't, i might as well buy ydp 143 because it looks better for interior in the house
Thank you for this informative review. However, some questions remain for me: How does the the Una Corda pedal sound, is ist compareable to a real grand piano? And what does the middle Pedal do? Sostenuto or just dampening like in an upright piano?
Hello. It seems as if you only sell Yamaha's, and my question relates to a comparison between a few brands. In your video above the P 255 sounds incredible. However when I tried it myself I found it sounded empty and very "fake". At least compared to the expectation I had for it. I also tried the Roland FP90 and the Kawai ES8. Between these 3 the ES8 sounded by far the most real. Do you know is this because I need to spend time tweaking the sound preferences on the other keyboards? There are so many great reviews of the FP90 but it sounds so "electronic", for lack of a a better way of describing it. Which is strange, because it can sound so great in videos, much like the P255 video above. Thank you for taking the time, if you have any insight I would very much appreciate it.
Hi, I live in the USA but in the end of this year I will be back to my country(Brazil) and I want to buy a keyboard here and take with me to Brazil. Because of the other things I will have to buy,(Case,Extra checked luggage,etc) I can't pay $1300 in a Keyboard, which is the price of the p255. I would like to know, in your opinion, what would be a good keyboard for me. I really liked the p255 but unfortunately I can't get it right now.
Vitor Lins If P255 is too much then P115 is half the price and a brilliant keyboard as you see in the video. Defiantly the best keyboard for under £500 I've seen. Good luck!
Would a Hanmond SK1 or a Nord 4D SW61 be viable for a beginner adult? Looking at these and hear amazing intense sound..will the P255 or 640B compare to those sound-wise? Trying to understand this better, would appreciate feedback!
What is this obsession with polyphony? How often do you play all 88 keys twice? Which is what you would have to do before you ran out of polyphony on the 115. Cheers
Thanks for the comparison review. How often does Yamaha come out with new models? It appears the 255 has been out since 2014, and was wanting to see if it is worth waiting to check out the next version.
P255 is wonderful in touch. One of the best action in mid-level digital pianos, and not only the touch, but the sensitivity is also very well implemented.
Are the wooden stands that make the piano look more substantial, expensive and easily transportable . We do comedy revue and used to use baby grands on stage but cost has become prohibitive and need a good portable electric piano that can also look the part on stage .
Yes they are easily transportable, it's just a case of unscrewing rather than folding them down. I have used them many times myself at gigs. You can see them here; www.epianos.co.uk/stands-27-c.asp
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Thankyou so much for this review! Just got one question, how is p255 in comparison to cp40? Whats the difference? And which one do you prefer?
+Esmee van Kampen P255 has a higher max polyphony (256) compared to CP40 (128) so P255 is better at being a piano. Also beware that CP40 does not have any speakers built in, you have to use external speakers or headphones, ok if you're gigging on stage with a band but not very convenient for home playing. Don't get me wrong, they're both great, but if it's just piano playing quality you're after then P255 has the edge in my opinion.
Thank you for all of your comparisons of the P115. I would love a P255 but it is out of my budget right now. I was wrestling with getting the dgx 650 based on your comparison of it vs the p115, but I only want to play piano and nothing more so I ended up getting a used p115 for about 300£ (I am stateside otherwise I'd have bought from you!). Do you give piano lessons to visitors?
+Miss JenniferMarguerite Sounds like you made the right choice, glad to help. Above our store just outside Oxford we have teaching studios where people learn all sorts of instruments, piano, saxophone, drums etc, so yes we give lessons and also rent instruments. Many musical visitors to this area like to rent a keyboard to keep their practice up while they're on holiday too.
I have been enjoying your reviews/demos; they are a great help in researching a purchase. I noticed something (again) that I wanted to ask you about. I noticed on the P-115, when you first demonstrated the stings, there were some clunking, clacking key sounds. I should not I was listening in headphones, but I had noticed it without the headphones in some other demos as well. Now it sounds to my broadcaster's ear that you go from mic on to mic off (or at least the mic track muted) when you play and the piano is being recorded direct by aux input or other digital input to the camera or editing software. So I'm curious, are these key clunk sounds actually part of some of the samples on the 115 or is there something else happening to explain it. You did demonstrate the key sounds without volume, but the sounds I'm referring to are not the same. Just wondering..
Thanks Don, glad the videos have helped. From memory I used a single Zoom Q3HD mic positioned just out of shot for my voice and the piano, this didn't give the best mix during editing so I often had to turn the volume up for voice and down for piano, this probably accounts for the difference you hear when switching between them. I haven't heard of any problems, or noticed any with clacking keys on either of these models, but as you've guess from the video I reckon P255 is superior in almost every regard.
Ah! The live mic suggests that it might finger/fingernail noise that I'm hearing. If you were using a direct aux out to the camera, we wouldn't hear fingering noises. You can hear what I'm referring to at 1:15 when you first play the 115. (Interesting coincidence!) Either way, I think the two are darn close from what I hear on your "live mic" recordings. I like them both. Decisions decisions.
So I am willing to buy one of these stage pianos, but cant decide which one. Thing is, I will only need to play it for three years, since this is the time I life in my current flat, where I don't have space for a real piano. Not sure if it is worth to get the more expensive P 225 for just three years...
+Fesskey The P255 is a huge jump from the p45 and p115 with far superior sound and touch. It is twice as much as the P115 so yes - i think as a player it is worth the extra and you will certainly enjoy its niceness to play, but your investment is more- so only you can make this decision
I've never seen anyone provide a better overview/demonstration/comparison of an instrument - guitar, piano, what have you, than in the videos of yours that I've watched. Thanks. I really appreciate this.
Timothy Dennis Thank you Dennis that's very nice of you to say, I think it helps that I really enjoy playing with all these new toys!
What price roland p50
ePianos.co.uk Kawai 110
I agree
I watched the P45 v P115 review and fell in love with the P115, immediately shopping for it online. Then I watched this and completely doubted my sanity. Thanks for putting the reviews out there to hear the sound comparisons. Context makes all the difference to judge a sound. Now shopping for a P255 :)
+Deder Bonner
Same here but the price difference is steep.... I think I'll personally keep buzzing around the 115 for some time.
+Deder Bonner I actually wound up finding a brand new p255 on ebay for only $950 USD, when the list price on amazon is $1300 USD
We might get so stressed purchasing a better model, sending one back or cancelling etc.. having to find double/triple to cash each time, i wonder if we'll want to play it in the end LOL :-) So much color, spoilt for choice
just buy the P115 and use the Garritan CFX computer software piano... it blows them both away. So you just buy the software later, and even use the P115 or whatever as a controller for the software.
What about the dgx 660? It's about the same price as the p115
When you said a person would not outgrow the 255 quickly, that decided it for me. Thank you so much for your reviews. They really help!
Thanks you very much for your very good presentation Chris showing some of the main differences between these two very good models although I'd already made my decision last week for the P255 which arrived a couple of days ago and very pleased with my purchase even more so since watching your presentation. One thing you missed was some additional effects on the P255 and not fogetting the ease of access to all the functions on the P255 compared to the rest of the P Series. Although I am a beginner and not able to obtain its full potential just yet just watching you play it's a no brainer if you can justify and afford to extra cost
I'm an experienced piano player and I'm wanting to get a P115 for myself because I don't have the budget to pay 3 times more for the P255... Is there any other keyboard that has a closer price to the P115 but feels more like the P255?
Thank you for a superb demonstration and explanation of the differences between the two pianos. I'm totally sold on the P255!!
wish I could play like you dude. Nice demo. I want a 255 now!
You guys really need to direct line these pianos to a computer so we can really compare the sound. In this we are limited to hearing the difference in the speakers, and the P255 has almost double the speaker power. Please consider this. It will vastly increase the quality of these already great reviews.
+RevGrease Thanks, you make a very good point. In the future I want to have both a direct line and an external mic recording and alternate between the two. I've found that some people prefer a DL and some people prefer an external mic for hearing the performance of the speakers not just the samples. We'll keep trying to improve things for everyone, thanks for the suggestion.
Excellent comparison. Based on this, I've bought the P-255, although, alas, it's on a slow boat from Japan. Hopefully arrive next week. Can hardly wait to get this beautiful thing.
Chris you play so beautifully and also have demonstrated so wonderfully...Thanks..Have a nice day
Thanks for this and for your P45 v P115 video also. Shopping around for a new all-in-one keyboard to replace my old Technics SX-P30 and even older Casio CT-770. I think for my purposes, the P115 offers a lot more over the P45 for a bit more money (around $530 CAD versus $700). However, the P255 offers a bit more over the P115 for a lot more money. As undoubtedly nice as the P255 is - I don't think it's worth the extra $800 CAD (over twice the price) over the P115. Also the weight is an issue for me - the P115 weights around 12 lbs less than the P255 which for regular gigging and taking to pubs and clubs is a big plus for the P115. But thanks for the great vids! I think I am going for the P115.
Are you kidding? Don't you hear how different they sound? I suggest you to try them yourself to feel the difference not only in touch but sound wise as well.
@@log791 Hi - I made that comment 4 years ago :) I heard how different they sound but hadn't tried it. I bought the P115 initially, but having been in the store and then tried the P255 I paid the extra and swapped it out for a P255. I had that for 3 years, then I traded it in and I now own the P515. I love the P515 - particular the Bosendorfer sampling which is divine.
Excellent job with the review. My son fell for the P255 without much comparison to other keyboards...mainly based on feel. Your review solidifies his position and is going to go off an buy one.
These review videos are terrific, thank you so much.
+Laura Wallace Thanks, glad to help.
Is there a big difference between the quality of P255 and the clavinova 525. I know they are different series but what exactly are they? I'm down between these two.
Your reviews are simply perfect!!
Thank you so much for this review. Very helpful and just what I was looking for in a comparison of the two keyboards.
I was foolhardy for being adamant on purchasing the P115. I gave myself a budget and I told myself to stick to it. But, heavens! This video opened my eyes. I want to buy a keyboard to improve. So, of course I wouldn't want to get something practically unplayable later on. Thank you for this! Will be saving more for the P255.
I'd appreciate another comparison video if you have the time; between P255 and other similar models in the price range. Great content!
Great review. Can you compare the P255 to the new Yamaha ydp 163? Thanks.
THANK U!!!!! Excellent review comparison and so helpful...made my decision and value is there.
Thanks for the informative comparison videos. They really do help a lot. Would you PLEASE do a comparison between the Yamaha P255 and ROLAND FP-80. I am stuck on deciding between the 2 boards. Leaning toward the ROLAND because of the Supernatural piano sound. Thanks Much !
Thank you so much, it helped me. I choosed the P 255 and I am very pleased with it.
Ok so time for me to eat my words! After owning the P115 for around 7 weeks the P255 has been nagging at me. Listened to Chris's excellent comparison video a few more times and a tonne of other videos so decided to go into the music store I got my P115 from and try out the P255 for myself. After 30 mins testing all the features - although it's an expensive keyboard - one gets to appreciate where all the extra expense goes! The sound is DIVINE from the on-board speakers compared to the P115 and the 3-band equalizer I think is going to be exceptionally handy for customizing the piano sound for each track I play with the band. The key action is noticeably better and you just get an all-round better response from playing. I actually got my P115 replaced a few weeks after buying it because of a vibration on the left speaker, so the music shop said they'd honor the 30 day return policy from that date so I can get a full refund against the P255 - so I think I am now going to swap it for the P255! My advice to anyone trying to decide between these 2 keyboards is really try them both extensively and get an appreciation for all the extra that the P255 offers before you decide whether the extra expense is worth it to you. The only downside is the extra weight (it's around 12lbs heavier than the P115) - but then that's only about the same weight as my cat ;)
+Wayne Joyce Thanks Wayne, P255 certainly is a nice bit of kit especially when playing live with a band, hope you enjoy it. Perhaps it's time to put your cat on a diet though? ;-)
very well done review Mr. No Name. Keep up the great comparisons, you helped me greatly in my decision.
Just got mine, amazing piece of technology. Great review!
I just want to thank you for your fantastic reviews. Very knowledgeable, very specific, thorough and you are quite pleasant in your presentation.
BUGSNBOOKS TV Thank you.
Your videos have helped me a lot so far...keep up the good work.
I've looking for a digital piano to buy. After I watched your video, I will definitely buy a P 255. Your review is excellent. Thank you very, very much!
You're welcome, P255 is awesome.
Thank you very much for your job, and especially for helping in choice. Good wishes!
summary: you pay more money, you get a better piano :o
Very informative...I was all set to purchase a P115 but now I am wondering if I am willing to spend the extra on the P225. Also I was a bit surprised, being a in the UK I would have expected to hear a comparison of the harpsichord sound on each, especially considering it's compulsory for each household in the UK to own at least one harpsichord...
I almost cried listening to the choir sound. I’m sold on the p255. Thanks for a great review.
Hey, just wanted to express my sincere appreciation for your presentation of the p255. I recently developed an interest in learning to play piano but had absolutely no idea what piano to purchase. Familiar with the Yamaha brand, I googled it and one thing led to another and I eventually found myself here.
Your in depth analysis of the p105 vs p115 and p115 vs p255 helped me frame the right type of questions to carry out a further search. Satisfied, I purchased the p255b and absolutely love it. All thanks to your presentation and sample play here in this video-so thank you again. I would like to ask; What piano cover should I get for this as I've notice dust on it already?
ivydude13 You're very welcome, hope you'll enjoy the P255 it's really a brilliant piano. Some sort of nylon dust cover with a draw string should do the job for you, v important to cover it up as it doesn't have a lid!
Your comparison videos are great. In the end, from P45, P115 or even the P255, it comes down to budget and what your aim is. For the price of P255, you can buy 3 X P45. It's obvious that the P255 will be much better since it's the top of the range with much improvements. I just ordered the P45, but don't regret my choice as I am a complete beginner. P45 is there for me to learn and hopefully be able to play piano. I decided, once I am at a sufficient level, outgrown P45, I will be upgrade. But anyhow, great video.
For the relatively small price bump, I would definitely go P-115 over P-45. The polyphony alone is worth it for me, even as a beginner. Not to mention the recording functionality.
by the time you will upgrade to a better piano there will be more improvements on the p255 or other piano...you
made a good choice.
mumihp The P45 is $200 dollars cheaper than the P115.
How about P255 vs P515 ? I'm wondering on both if you hear the keys clicking or making noise ?
Thank you for the excellent comparisons, you have helped me make up mt mind.. ( :
what if I add a sub-woofer or extra speakers to my P-115. Would that be a worthy upgrade?
I would strongly like to see an updated comparison using the new P125 instead of P115 against flagship P255
Thanks for your comment! We'll try our best to fulfill this. Keep your eyes peeled! :)
Well, I'm sold. Going for the 255.
Thank you so much for this detailed review, Chris. :-)
+Tommy Tott You're welcome, enjoy it!
Thank you for a very thorough review and comparison on both of these models. Wow! You also played well! I think I would go for P255. The sound is richer and it has more features that I can probably use in the near future once I learn how to do jazz improv. What an inspiration! Thanks so much!!!
***** Thanks! - P255 is fantastic, as you see I enjoyed it!
Hi, what's your impression of piano P155? Is it better than p255?
The P255 is a great piano. I've upgraded now to a Roland FP-90, but sometimes I miss the simple charm of the P255.
Thank you very much for your great explanations.
Which one you would get? Yamaha P-255 or Roland F-140R ?
nobody realize the noise in the background --about 5.34 - accident ? btw great review- i go with the p 515 -the 255 was not a good seller . ?
You mentioned the gigging musician. You should also consider the weight aspect a bit more also.
So, P255 or MX88 for a piano player?. ... I lead a seniors' group of singers and my wife is my pianist.
That was an amazing review, thank you
The difference, perhaps is mostly found in the speakers, with the 255 having a lower response and more resonance.
by far the "useful" digital piano review I've experienced. Thank you!! My question is what other piano at a reasonable price point sounds as good as the p255? The CP 40 in particular is what I was thinking of.Thanks again, Tom
+thomas grim CP40 and CP4 are very nice with the wooden keys, but remember they do not have built in speakers like the P255, so you'd always have to use external speakers or a PA system.
Could you please tell me what the differences are between p120 and p115? Thanks!
Is it still good to buy a P255 now or they already have a updated model?
Jan3zZ Can someone please answer this person!?! I have the same concerns !!
Me 2
They have a new model called the p125 but it’s to replace the P115 not the P255 which is still the top of the p series
Jan3zZ there is a P515 model ( $1,500 aprox )
P515 was released this past September.
Enjoyable to watch, sure when the difference are compared.
Great video. Very helpful. I was debating whether to go ahead and buy the 115 or wait and save a little more to buy the 255. I will be waiting a bit to get the 255. Thank you!
Russ Lightfoot Thanks, as you saw in the video I was really impressed with P255!
+ePianos.co.uk Spent about 3 hrs playing the 255 at Guitar Center. Will be purchasing this weekend! Thanks again for a really informative video.
Thanks for such a thorough review. I'm very interested in the P255 and I wonder how it compares with the Yamaha P515? Any ideas on that, specially in regards to the tone and action would be very much appreciated. Thank you
Great review there . Will both give the same quality of sound when they are connected to same type of external speakers under similar settings ?
Second Question: I'd really like to have a synthesizer too. BUT! Can I have ALL the weight, hammer, tone, progression, (false) Ivory keys, all the sweet stuff that the P255 has and a synth added on top of it? Is there a model that follows this criteria?
Kindly make a video on comparison btw yamaha P255 and Roland FP 80.... :)
Great, clear and to the point review thank you. Do you listen to Muse?
Thanks for a great review, Chris. In regards to the sound quality, if you had plugged headphones in, or an external amp, would it be safe to say the difference heard in the beginning of the video goes away? Also, I'm confused about the resonant difference between them. They say the P115 sound is sampled from their concert piano. If that's true, all the real piano resonances must therefore be included. Otherwise they would've had to work to remove them. Is it just a difference in hardware capability once again? Thanks.
Hi! I am just beginning piano lessons as an adult and would like to purchase a digital piano to practice at home. I want to ask: if I can afford it, should I buy the Yamaha P-255 over the P-125? I'm asking because there are reviews comparing the 2 pianos and they mentioned that the P-255 is for intermediate to advance players whereas P-125 is more suitable for beginners. I was wondering if there are any disadvantages for beginners to learn and practice on the P-255 vs P-125?
Im sold. Saving more and longer for my upgrade to be either a 255 or if a kawai goes on sale.
Nice review! I'm sold on the p255! Hrmm, now I need to compare with Roland's stuff!
At approx. 14:15 you say that P115 cannot split the keyboard for different sounds. Is that correct?
No, you can split the keyboard.
Sir you gave a beautiful presentation on the functionalities of these two digital pianos. Explaining so well their features. My Question is do you also deal in electronic Keyboards . I mean the ones with different rhythms styles and hundreds of sounds of different musical instruments coupled with accompaniment e.g Yamaha PSR series or for that matter Korg PA series . Would love to have a similar presentation about Korg PA600 & PA900 . Thanks a lot .
p-155 had the brilliance setting which I liked, allowed me to switch from mellow bright and normal within a single voice. does p255 have it!?? if not.. then, any other model has it?? because p155 is discontinued.
How is it better to connect it to the mixing board to obtain the best quality sound in the external speakers for gigging. Do you use two separate mono audio cables?
can you show the comparison of p125 and p255?? Confused which one to buy
Your reviews are fantastic, thank you for making them! I do have a question though.
The YDP-S52 seems to be nearly identical to the P-255 (similar price, GH w/ ivory). Could a comparison be done between these two? People interested in the P-255 may also want to also consider the YDP-S52. I'm having a hard time determining which is better and I'm looking to purchase one.
+thisaintalex Yes, the specs are very similar, P225 probably just has the edge on quality of piano sample. However the S52 does have larger speakers which, if you're just playing at home, will make a difference. P255 is really designed as a stage piano, i.e. to be portable and taken out to gig with, S52 is more of a modern style of piano cabinet designed to stay in one place permanently. Hope this helps, I'll try and get a video up soon.
+ePianos.co.uk Thank you for the swift response and for offering to put up a video. Mine would definitely be staying at home all the time. From your reply, the S52 seems to suit me better. The main aspect for me is the feel and action of the keys and both do great here for my price range.
ePianos.co.uk Thank sir for your EXCELLENT reviews, they really have come of help on deciding my purchase ...I'm between KAWAI ES 8 or YAMAHA P255....any recommendation ?
Hi there..thanks a lot for the informative video. Really useful. I have a Yamaha S910 arranger keyboard and I plan to add a P115 to create a stack. My question is that can I connect the p115 directly to S910 and record the complete performance played on both the keyboards onto a pen drive connected to S910?Thanks again
255 has a larger enclosure so naturally the sound is deeper. Longer wavelength standing waves. It's physics 101. Hook both to an external speaker. *Then* can you tell the difference ? That's the question.
Great review!!..How is the sound from the speakers (p255)? is enought(in all the range) for a 20m2 room or it needs an external amplification system?
Dear all, since P series have weighted keys, in your opinion, how identical feeling is the P series vs normal piano? (in terms of physical playing )
Thanks a lot for anyone who shares.
It's pretty authentic...my home piano feels quite similar to the P115 at school (I say as I drink longjing tea)
Ethelred Juliet-Spencer
Hi, thanks for sharing. I asked because I saw this article and wondering if acoustic piano is a Must for grade piano learning.
"Please note that I DO NOT take in students who have no instruments at home to practice. All students are required to have at least a digital piano with weighted keys, and students who are taking exams are required to have at least an acoustic upright piano at home for practice. For young beginners 6 years and below I can allow for digital keyboard but you have to upgrade to acoustic upright piano latest by 1 year after learning. Not having a piano at home for practice will only slow down your progress significantly."
Greentea lover Yes, I agree there is no substitute for a real acoustic piano. The Yamaha digital keyboards like the P115/P255 I am demonstrating in the video are a very good alternative if students can't afford the cost of a real piano, or its simply not practical to own one, because of the noise or you live in a 2nd floor apartment/flat, also there is the tuning. Yamaha do take extra care to make sure the key action is as close to the real thing as possible and they do a great job, in fact I have seen highly experienced piano teachers play a digital piano and not even realise it was not a real piano. The P115/P255 have a very good weighted key piano style action which in my experience is adequate for preparation to take grade exams, the P255 is better because the action is improved but it's more expensive. Yes, a real acoustic piano is the best option but its not always practical or affordable.
ePianos.co.uk Sir, thanks for sharing your insight with us. And also thanks for uploading useful reviews for everyone. (By the way, I am also considering Yamaha Silent Series too) Cheerz!
Very good review. Thank you. P 255 will be my choice.
Hi! Wondering about P255 & DGX-660 1) what keys feels closer / better / more realistic real piano 2) Best / closer Grand piano sound? Thanks!
P255 definitely feels much more like a real piano and has a better sound too!
Thanks for advice!
Is it the same in the PA? I don't really care much about the speakers, I won't use them. I need a good main piano sound and if the piano sample is the same in both, I'll just get the p115. But I really need to know. Thanks!
Hi
Could you explain that run up the piano at 1.00 to 1.05 mins? sounds great. Ps - this video is very helpful in reviewing the p255
What stand is used on the Yamaha P115 in this video?!
I want a nice cheap double x stand and it seems stable enough
I was using a double braced keyboard X stand. www.epianos.co.uk/shop/adjustable-double-braced-x-stand-for-portable-stage-pianos/ Beware that using a single braced one with these models will not quite be stable enough.
hi again, sorry while your answering I'd like to also ask.
The p255 has the function to record directly into a usb memory stick correct? How much should the stick have. Would 8GB of memory be enough for an hour long recording ?
Yeh Kun ,
So 255 has better speakers... but going into external speakers or recording, are the sounds any different?
Thank you for the demo first off. I wanted to take a piano class, but the instructor will only include students that have access to acoustic pianos and she says it's because she can't teach students that don't have experience or access to a "real" piano because she can't teach "weight" if the student doesn't have this to practice with. Make sense? I've only read about pianos so I get it, and I understand. Does this particular piano, P255, have a close-enough-to-real weight/progressive touch that it will get ME to what the instructor wants? Thanks.
Yes, that is what these keyboards are designed to give; a genuine piano style weighted key, and they do it very authentically.
ePianos.co.uk Thank you for that. How would you compare the P-255 to the CP4 Stage, and how would you compare the P-255 to the Montage 8 (only the comparable points not the synth portion)? I usually like to buy the best and not medal with less quality if I can help it. And thanks again.
Can you turn off the internal speakers on the P-255 as you can on the P-115 or do they cut out when you plug into an external speaker or amplifier? Great presentation! Many thanks.
***** Hi Dan
You have the opportunity to turn the speakers on and off in the function mode
this gives you the option
great review, thanks a lot!
should i get the dgx 660 compared to the p45 or arius ydp 143 ? tbh i rather get the p115 due to the portability, but it doesn't sell in my country, but can dgx 660 be moved around just like any portable pianos ? if it can't, i might as well buy ydp 143 because it looks better for interior in the house
Can I delete some recordings?
Thank you for this informative review. However, some questions remain for me:
How does the the Una Corda pedal sound, is ist compareable to a real grand piano? And what does the middle Pedal do? Sostenuto or just dampening like in an upright piano?
How does the roland compare to the fp30 even though the yamaha is like 600$ more
Hello. It seems as if you only sell Yamaha's, and my question relates to a comparison between a few brands. In your video above the P 255 sounds incredible. However when I tried it myself I found it sounded empty and very "fake". At least compared to the expectation I had for it. I also tried the Roland FP90 and the Kawai ES8. Between these 3 the ES8 sounded by far the most real. Do you know is this because I need to spend time tweaking the sound preferences on the other keyboards? There are so many great reviews of the FP90 but it sounds so "electronic", for lack of a a better way of describing it. Which is strange, because it can sound so great in videos, much like the P255 video above. Thank you for taking the time, if you have any insight I would very much appreciate it.
I am purely a stay-at-home keyboardist/pianist. Should I even consider the P255 if I do not use some of the features?
Yes, because just as a piano it's far superior to P45/P115.
What about the p145?
Hi, I live in the USA but in the end of this year I will be back to my country(Brazil) and I want to buy a keyboard here and take with me to Brazil. Because of the other things I will have to buy,(Case,Extra checked luggage,etc) I can't pay $1300 in a Keyboard, which is the price of the p255. I would like to know, in your opinion, what would be a good keyboard for me. I really liked the p255 but unfortunately I can't get it right now.
Vitor Lins If P255 is too much then P115 is half the price and a brilliant keyboard as you see in the video. Defiantly the best keyboard for under £500 I've seen. Good luck!
Would a Hanmond SK1 or a Nord 4D SW61 be viable for a beginner adult?
Looking at these and hear amazing intense sound..will the P255 or 640B compare to those sound-wise?
Trying to understand this better, would appreciate feedback!
What is this obsession with polyphony? How often do you play all 88 keys twice? Which is what you would have to do before you ran out of polyphony on the 115. Cheers
Thanks for the comparison review. How often does Yamaha come out with new models? It appears the 255 has been out since 2014, and was wanting to see if it is worth waiting to check out the next version.
On average probably every 3-5 years. I've heard no news of a new P255 as of today.
Which has more touch sensitivity, to have more expression?
P255 is wonderful in touch. One of the best action in mid-level digital pianos, and not only the touch, but the sensitivity is also very well implemented.
Are the wooden stands that make the piano look more substantial, expensive and easily transportable . We do comedy revue and used to use baby grands on stage but cost has become prohibitive and need a good portable electric piano that can also look the part on stage .
Yes they are easily transportable, it's just a case of unscrewing rather than folding them down. I have used them many times myself at gigs. You can see them here; www.epianos.co.uk/stands-27-c.asp
Thankyou so much for this review! Just got one question, how is p255 in comparison to cp40? Whats the difference? And which one do you prefer?
+Esmee van Kampen P255 has a higher max polyphony (256) compared to CP40 (128) so P255 is better at being a piano. Also beware that CP40 does not have any speakers built in, you have to use external speakers or headphones, ok if you're gigging on stage with a band but not very convenient for home playing. Don't get me wrong, they're both great, but if it's just piano playing quality you're after then P255 has the edge in my opinion.
Bought my p115b and still seeing this review
excellent video
Thank you for all of your comparisons of the P115. I would love a P255 but it is out of my budget right now. I was wrestling with getting the dgx 650 based on your comparison of it vs the p115, but I only want to play piano and nothing more so I ended up getting a used p115 for about 300£ (I am stateside otherwise I'd have bought from you!).
Do you give piano lessons to visitors?
+Miss JenniferMarguerite Sounds like you made the right choice, glad to help. Above our store just outside Oxford we have teaching studios where people learn all sorts of instruments, piano, saxophone, drums etc, so yes we give lessons and also rent instruments. Many musical visitors to this area like to rent a keyboard to keep their practice up while they're on holiday too.
I have been enjoying your reviews/demos; they are a great help in researching a purchase. I noticed something (again) that I wanted to ask you about. I noticed on the P-115, when you first demonstrated the stings, there were some clunking, clacking key sounds. I should not I was listening in headphones, but I had noticed it without the headphones in some other demos as well. Now it sounds to my broadcaster's ear that you go from mic on to mic off (or at least the mic track muted) when you play and the piano is being recorded direct by aux input or other digital input to the camera or editing software. So I'm curious, are these key clunk sounds actually part of some of the samples on the 115 or is there something else happening to explain it. You did demonstrate the key sounds without volume, but the sounds I'm referring to are not the same. Just wondering..
Thanks Don, glad the videos have helped. From memory I used a single Zoom Q3HD mic positioned just out of shot for my voice and the piano, this didn't give the best mix during editing so I often had to turn the volume up for voice and down for piano, this probably accounts for the difference you hear when switching between them. I haven't heard of any problems, or noticed any with clacking keys on either of these models, but as you've guess from the video I reckon P255 is superior in almost every regard.
Ah! The live mic suggests that it might finger/fingernail noise that I'm hearing. If you were using a direct aux out to the camera, we wouldn't hear fingering noises. You can hear what I'm referring to at 1:15 when you first play the 115. (Interesting coincidence!) Either way, I think the two are darn close from what I hear on your "live mic" recordings. I like them both. Decisions decisions.
I'm sure the P225 sounds better on its speakers but will there also be a dramatic difference through the headphone ports?
+Seph Dark Yes, they are still miles apart through headphones.
So I am willing to buy one of these stage pianos, but cant decide which one. Thing is, I will only need to play it for three years, since this is the time I life in my current flat, where I don't have space for a real piano.
Not sure if it is worth to get the more expensive P 225 for just three years...
+Fesskey The P255 is a huge jump from the p45 and p115 with far superior sound and touch. It is twice as much as the P115 so yes - i think as a player it is worth the extra and you will certainly enjoy its niceness to play, but your investment is more- so only you can make this decision
+Fesskey I recently bought the p255 and this piano is great.
ivydude13 I've also bought it yesterday. I must admit, I do not like the sound of its speakers, but with my headphones on its perfect :)