One thing that always seems to get overlooked by reviewers is to set ("calibrate") the initial settings -- AND TELL US what they are! The P125 sounds and feels distinctly different depending on whether the touch is set to hard, medium, or soft -- I would assume the same settings work the same way on the P225. So if you're playing the P225 with the touch set to hard, and the P125 with the touch set to soft, they WILL sound distinctly different -- and the comparison is basically useless. In the initial part of the video the P125 sounds more like the touch is set to soft, which gives a brighter sound. Setting the touch on the P125 to hard would warm the sound and more closely match the sound of the P225. Also the volume settings need to be set to match the touch response. The volume range affects the nuance level, which can make the sound seem more or less bright depending on whether more or less force is required to get the same level of sound. In this review, the volume levels appear to be reasonably close, but it's hard to tell just by watching how they're being played. Another thing that would have been helpful would have been to compare the exact variations of each voice one-to-one instead of going through all four variations on one voice, then going through all on the other. I have the P125; the P225 does not sound like much of a win over the P125, and I'm concerned (as another commenter mentioned) that the quality may actually be less -- especially in the GHC action. I'd like to have a closer comparison of the actions by a trained pianist (perhaps there is one somewhere) and more longevity data on the GHC action as to how well it holds up compared to the GHS. Another reviewer had this to say about the GHC: "If you’re buying on-line, please do not assume that GHC is a clone of GHS with a similar touch. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Try before buy. Do not buy a GHC-based keyboard on speculation! "
@@aBachwardsfellow Hey! That is very very smart and strategic thinking on your part. I’m replying on your comment after the fact of watching this video yesterday, along with others, so I can’t remember if this person is a dealer or if he’s a TH-cam reviewer only. However, dealers are paid to sell, and they will do what it takes to sell their new products even if it’s a small update mainly in terms of sound and functionality, not so much form.
I bought the Yamaha P225 and you have to turn on the Sound BOOST function and it gets much louder. I also softened the keys. Didn’t like it right out of the box but now I love it
@@Oryna_piano I returned it and ordered a Kawai ES120. The Yamaha sounded ok, but the action was incredibly stiff. It’s an issue with the new GHC action where they shortened the keys. So the higher up on the key you go it gets very hard to press down on. I’m a 200 pound guy and it was uncomfortable for me lol couldn’t handle it anymore my hands would get too tired after just a short amount of time playing
I think this shows, that Yamaha had taken the technology about as far as it could go with the 125 because I don’t really hear a significant generational change in the sounds. It could come down to speakers at this point. It’s time for a newer technology in their lower tier line.
exactly, and the GHC action from the new series is terrible, just terrible, a plain downgrade from the GHS in the 125. I've had the 125 for a long time, and buyed the 225 as an upgrade: It is not, returned to amazon at lightning speed.
Personally I own a P125a and love it, now I also own a Clavinova CVP-705 which I also love! The P-125a is for me to be able to go out and play with friends or whatnot. Absolutely love my Yamaha’s! No matter what you can’t go wrong with either piano! They both are phenomenal!
Can make the 125 sound the same really…. I have it and it’s the best digital I’ve ever owned. Done some weddings and giggities with it as well as church worship.
Doesn't speaker location and sound reflection between these 2 pianos make a difference on this review? As you look down on the P125 the speakers are facing upward while the P225 speakers are facing forward.
The P225's primary piano sample sounds significantly improved to me - richer, and much more organic with the virtual string resonance. Doesn't sound like many of the other patches have changed (they didn't really need to), but that new piano makes the world of difference to my ears.
Excellent comparison. Well done Jack. It's more about how much you want to spend. When I did not know which piano was playing, I preferred the sound of the P125A. Both of them are pretty decent starter pianos. The P125A has come down in price, in the UK , by £100, from £529 to about £429, compared to the price in the 1st half of 2023 - (this comment was posted in October 2023). The key differences are : 1. P225 uses a new sound engine with the CFX samples, instead of the CF3(III) piano samples via the Pure CF engine of the P125A. Some other improved sounds, but most are about the same. 2. P225 uses the new Grand Hammer Compact, instead of the GHS of the P125A. I think that Yamaha is simply manufacturing a cheaper keybed, and I really do not like the "sound" of such changes, cos until I play them in person, not sure if I'd be happy with the GHC keybed.. The GHS has been their staple keybed for a long time. The new CFX sound is like marmite, some like it, some do not. In a live stage setting, which is what most people need this for. For a beginner, definitely I think the P125A, is the sweetspot at this time, great keyboard for a not too expensive price. Or you could have a look at the P145, which is about the same price. Key advantage of either the P125A or P225 is, they come with proper line outs for connecting to speakers or mixing boards. This I think is important, and should be the minimum feature set for any keyboard. The economy of the P145 is not worth the disadvantage of this omission or proper line outs.
On more recent listening of this video, overall the newer keyboard the P225 does sound a bit better. The CFX acoustic piano samples are more realistic, with a bit more air in the sound, i.e not as close miked as the CFS piano in the P125. SO for listening on speakers the new CFX piano will sound more pleasing, if you want a true to reality sound. The CFX piano also has better variation in timbre from dark and woody when played soft, to sparkly when played with higher velocities, so it is a better sample. The older keyboard would work better in a Rock piano setting, cos its dynamics are somewhat restricted. The Clavinet on the P225 is so much better, and the strings on the P225 are better. If I had to choose, I'd suggest getting the P225., cos overall it does sound that bit better, on a proper listen. My initial listen was on laptop speakers, but now I'm listening on headphones with well adjusted crossfeed, which gives me a more accurate and intimate listen. I would add, these keyboards in real life, sound a bit better than what you hear on this video, because all TH-cam audio is compressed. Overall for a beginner piano, Yamaha is still the one to beat. I may be biased, cos almost every keyboard I own is a Yamaha, for good reasons. But please avoid the Yamaha CK series - not worth the money - that is one sad exception in the reputation of Yamaha goodness - cos its a cut down product that does not sound very good, on critical listening, but I can imagine many who are not listening critically will buy and regret it.
I read elsewhere that the P125a is a downgrade on the P125 because the audio interface was removed due to chip shortages. That might account for the shift down in price. A quick google brings up things like this “In 2022, Yamaha announced the P-125A; this is the EXACT same piano, only with one MAJOR difference; there is no built in audio interface on the P-125A - on the P-125A the USB to host port is MIDI only (so you cannot stream audio IN to the P-125A to listen to backing tracks, and you also cannot send audio OUT to easily record).”
The "ON" sound indicates that some option has been triggered. These work pretty well, but don't try to play while programming the instrument. On the P-125 you can even control the speakers via ON OFF and AUTO, so the use of a headphone socket doesn't have to silence the speakers.
Did you notice any difference in the weight/action of the keys?? And also, since the p125 has two sound outputs at the top and two at the bottom, the p225 lost compared to the speakers??
They do sound more different from each other when you're in the room, for sure. I'm a fan of both of these - I think they both sound good, but I'll admit to being a Yamaha fanboy.
Honestly P-125 just sounds amazing.... I love the brightness of it. I'm just not impressed with the new one at all in terms of sound. Feel though might be improved.
💯% on 125. Yamaha did such a wonderful job on the P-125. I have the original 125 and not the 125a which lacks the audio to USB. They’re gonna have a hard time knocking a new model out of the ballpark to replace the 125 in that price range.
To me the 225 sounds deeper and richer tonally. Hard to say without listening in person. Is the P125 good to play? Does it feel good? I'm debating it since it's $400 less than P225. Can get a Korg SP280 for slightly more and I know that one is really solid. Built in legs too.
@@JamieR Honestly I’d keep the 400 bucks unless you’ve personally heard them both and find a big difference. The P125 sounds and plays great. The speakers aren’t it’s weak point - the samples are, and they’re identical to the P225. Could even consider getting some small monitors instead. Or you could get Keyscape for the money you save ;) As for action, it’s one of the more natural feeling key actions I’ve felt on a digital piano, especially in that price range.
Oh, and I just wanted to add - of course the P225 is going to be better. But if you're on a budget, the P125 is more than enough. I've been meaning to upgrade for the onboard samples, not the action or the speakers.
Thanks for the review, can I suggest that the video have a label or signage that shows which Piano you're playing throughout the video, I believe that would help us the viewers whilst you're doing the comparison
I tried out the two new piano models in a shop the other day (and I already own the P121) so I'm very familiar with all of these. The GHC action is a night and day improvement over the GHS (which I actually love) and the chassis is much sleeker. Definitely worth the extra money!
How is the feel of the black keys played far up? Who is lighter? I have a keyboard and the black keys are hard to play when you need to go far up on them.
Now that some time has passed, Is the GHC an upgrade, or just a slight variation without a significant difference? Also, considering all factors, would you say the P-225 is objectively the better choice between the two? The comments comparing the P-125 and P-225 seem contradictory, so I'd appreciate your input.
It really wasn't clear from this review whether we were hearing the sound of each keyboard direct/line out the or whether we were hearing the sound of the onboard speakers mic'd up. I know at one point it says that we are now hearing the 'sound of Jack's lapel microphone', but how about before that? Like in the intro? The p225 has taken a lot of heat for it's new rear facing speakers, and I've heard other videos where they definitely compare unfavorably to the p125s top facing speakers. However, in this video there is not much of a huge difference. P125 sounds a bit brighter, p225 a bit darker but nothing major. But then again, I'm not sure what I'm listening to because it's not clear from the description.
Now that some time has passed since this video was posted, which key action do you prefer between the GHS and GHC, and why? Is the GHC an upgrade, or just a slight variation without a significant difference? Also, considering all factors, would you say the P-225 is objectively the better choice between the two? The comments comparing the P-125 and P-225 seem contradictory, so I'd appreciate your input.
Yes , im confused to chose one between them. According to merriam music, P255 is not for professional pianists. Yamaha has implemented short pivot length so the weight is not uniform as you move up the key.
Outstanding video Jack... I love my P125 but when it comes time for a new board I would probably go with the P225. My question for you is this... I use the onboard speakers when practicing, studio monitors when I need a little more, but I'm completely lost when it comes to an amp I can use when I need a lot more sound (small jazz band, rock band use). Bass amps aren't the best, I've tried several guitar amps but have to adjust a lot from patch to patch. I primarily use a powered monitor right now because it gives me better sound and power combination without having to constantly adjust. What do you recommend?
At times I preferred the 125 but I would have to say the chords were to some extent overly running into each other in ultimate sound on 125 aka almost (not quite) muddy. MOST of the time I preferred the 225 but contrary to what many say here I did not feel the reviewer was pitching the 225 hard; if anything his comments re speakers suggested the 125 came out better in some ways but only due to its slightly heavier speakers. For me the bluetooth on the 225 and the grand piano CFX sound samples built into the 225 (read/listen to other reviews they generally are in awe) make it a better choice. An earlier comment noted that if sound boost were turned on with the 225 they might clock in similar on breadth of feel and loudness. Certainly the clav was hugely better on 225 and that's when I detected the only clear "wow 225 definitely better" moment in an otherwise very open-ended, fairly (to me) neutral "review." I like Clav, like bluetooth concept & utility, the grand piano CFX is a winner and big concession to lower level digital by Yamaha, slimmer fits better in my living room, and 24 sounds beats 10 any day. Wondering if any way to boost speakers if one wanted to do so. That in my view was the only possible ace the 125 had. In digital electronics land, newer is usually better overall unless you drop down in price point. True here in music as well.
Great video! Btw, how big is the gap in terms of hammer action and playability? I'll be using sounds via a DAW for grand pianos, cello, violin etc. So i dont really care that much about the sound quality. More after a close to acoustic feel to practice with!
The only issue I take with the review is the disservice done to the P125 because of the speaker placement. There's an EQ setting specifically for it being placed on a table, but even with that on, it's not going to sound as good as the P225 in this comparison due to the speaker placement. EQing only goes so far. The P125 shines when the speakers on the bottom have room to breathe, so that the sound can develop. I honestly think that the P225 gets muddied in the midrange and the highs fall off quite a bit. It has an overall thicker low-end and heftiness, but it lacks clarity compared to the bright highs and overall balanced sound of the P125. More complex pieces and heavy sustain usage are going to get garbled when using the onboard speakers of the P225. With that being said, I think that if you're using external monitors or headphones, that issue is going to be eliminated. I haven't personally played with a P225 but the shorter action doesn't seem like something I'd like. I'd still definitely love to try one out if I got the opportunity. I think both are wonderful instruments, but I think it's a shame that the P225 is replacing the P125 entirely. Thanks for the review, though, and nice skills! *comment edited to reflect actual appreciation for the review*
It's a pity you didn't do a line-out comparison, because the totally different speaker position affects the sound in the room more than anything else, so it wasn't really a like for like comparison, especially as the P-225 is designed to be played near a wall.
Thanks for the video! I only play classical music but I can't have an acoustic piano at the moment (and probably for a long time); which digital piano would you recommend? Yamaha 125b or 225? Or another type like Roland or Casio? I need to find a compromise between low budget and quality 😢 The keyboard always feels weird to me since I'm used to the acoustic piano
From what I understood, from the various videos on YT, the 515 action seems the one closer to the acoustic piano. In fact, people used to real pianos are usually very disappointed at the 525 keyboard. On the contrary, those who are not used to it find it relatively "heavy".
Watch the other comparison video by Merriam Music as well: th-cam.com/video/4UX1oxYs6kA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=4KWHf99l5c3RDGK8 Here's my personal comment on it: "What the hell! The "upgraded" model sounds kind of warm & nice at first in the mids-to-highs, BUT duller & so muddy in the lows-to-mids, and kind of synthetic from the likes of arranger KEYBOARDs. The older one has brighter clarity across the spectrum, and sounds more realistic, closer to an acoustic, does better job as a digital PIANO, though it may not offer higher dynamics/complexity etc. Is this inflation commerce playing a joke on the uninformed music fans? The difference is much more in the speaker mic compare from 9:00. Just closing this comparison with "sound is subjective" is not fair. The line out compare at 4:30 seems better on both mainly in the mids & highs. The lows are not that good on both, I guess that's what we lose for the low price. The lows are good for bass notes but not for chords, but still the bright cut-through sound of the old model helps it in the low chords. Further the longer pivot length action on the older is probably better. He softly mentioned the downsides of the newer one - compact pivot, less key travel/depth, slower spring back etc. Also I assume more force will be needed on black keys closer to the top edge on the new one."
from what I had tested myself The P125 Bass Range - Not Clear and Not Straight and over saturated Middle Range - Not Clear but straight and comfortable High Pitch Range - Too loud not clear not crispy The P225 Bass Range - Clear Sound and felt percussion Middle Range - Low Volume but stable High Pitch Range - Low Volume but Stable The trade off for the new model you get stable quality than the old model
default piano sound is not the same !! P225 has the CFX sound and P125 has the CFIIIS sound. CFX should be an upgrade but I'm not a fan of it (I owned a CLP 635 with CFX sound)
@@Elazarko I only know the P-80 and P-225. From what I've read, if it's mainly the Piano sounds/voices you want, then it's between the Yamaha (24 sounds) and Kawaii (25 sounds). If you want something with more sounds, more like a synth, then maybe the Casio (700 tones!). With that said I'm not using the Yamaha App, so there might be more voices available. I've had a Korg Triton synth for years, but once the novelty of being able to play any sound wore off, it's just been gathering dust! Unless you want to play Midnight Sonata with sampled dog barks, or Rocket Man with sampled car horns, then the novelty of having 700 tones really doesn't last long, and you'll start wondering why you didn't chose the Yamaha with its stunning CFX Grand piano samples. The main reason I chose the P-225, is because the P-80 was so good. If I could have found someone to repair my P-80's broken key, I'd still be playing it. I also have other Yamaha instruments, which are equally as good. If you can try them out at a local store, you should! If you can't, you won't be sorry with the Yamaha P-225...
@@kevinhaynes9091 Thanks 👍🏼 yeah Yamaha definitely feels like a safe bet.. I'm used to the Yamaha GHS action from our older Clavinova, which is from the year 2001, so I might lean toward Yamaha for that reason alone.
Nope, that is the one keyboard they're going to avoid, just because. Lol. You know they will & it's sure to be fantastic. I hope they compare it to the Korg Mod/ series at some point.
Very good for what are home pianos (stage pianos shouldn’t have speakers imo) - so much so that when you consider how many sounds kbd players ‘really’ use when gigging (surprisingly few despite the 100’s manufacturers boast about) you’ve got to wonder whether the Nords and other high-spec stuff of this world are worth the price differential. The p225 sounds more ‘open’ with a stronger bass register. Perhaps when Roland archaeologists finally finish carbon dating the ancient RD2000 and release its long overdue descendent (without the silly elongated mod wheel section please) they (and all the others inc Yamaha) might stop to consider how the home market is catching up fast re value for money and functions.
Roland's FP30X is killer, who cares about RD-2000? (RD-88 kills it as well.) People that are better off with FP30X or P-125 and grab workstations or RD-2000 instead are generally ignorant, plus salesmen get more commission from the higher ticket items. That said, there is also the issue of MX88 and Juno-DS88 being lighter than these digital pianos with built-in speakers. That forces some to grab a workstation instead of they have bad knees/back, etc.
@@Jason75913 Who cares about the RD2000? Well I suppose the countless amounts of professional gigging musicians who take them around the world on tours with A list acts - plus loads of others not in that category. The FP30x is a home piano. The RD2000 is a stage piano. I was only making the point, as many others have, that it is long in the tooth now and overdue for replacement.
If you don't have better to compare it to the p225 is good. But, if you were to sit down and properly compare it with a professional grade digital piano the difference is night and day. My 28 year old Yamaha P150 blows the new P225 away in all respects except weight. I bought a P225, sight unseen/unplayed and it was a big mistake for me. I will be selling the P225. You are correct in that that some high end pianos are not worth the money either.
I have had a P125 for 5 years and the 225 sounds the same. The speakers are positioned in a different place which gives a very slight variation on this video
The cheapest Casio you can get your hands on. I wouldn't recommend it. Or get a used Yamaha P-45 or P-125, whatever you get a good deal on. If the sounds are too few for you, then get a Juno-DS or Juno-Di
I am very disappointed in the Yamaha P225B I bought, but maybe I was expecting too much for the money. One positive is that it is fairly lightweight. I am comparing it to my 28 year old 1996 Yamaha P150 which I will continue to keep, and I will get rid of the 2024 P225.
I don't know what to think I have real yamaha piano and I think I would chose Yamaha p125. I'm here because I practice a lot and I'm thinking about buying digital piano.
Il prezzo qui in Italia del p225 è aumentato tantissimo rispetto al p125 di ben 300,00 eur! Non mi convince pienamente il p225 in questo confronto. Il campione del pianoforte suona piu' chiuso rispetto al p125, lo attendevo ma non mi ha stupito anche in confronto con Casio px s1100 che suona meglio perfino nell' EP. Si tratta solo di una mia opinione che deve essere confermata o disattesa direttamente in negozio provandoli. Un saluto dall'Italia.
Some very good points! ///////////////////////////// The price here in Italy of the p225 has increased a lot compared to the p125 by as much as 300.00 euros! I'm not fully convinced by the p225 in this comparison. The piano sample sounds more closed than the p125, I expected it but it didn't surprise me even in comparison with the Casio px s1100 which sounds better even in the EP. This is just my opinion which must be confirmed or rejected directly in the store by trying them on. Greetings from Italy.
Im a beginner and the p-225 is my dream piano. It sounds so amazing and looks really clean
One thing that always seems to get overlooked by reviewers is to set ("calibrate") the initial settings -- AND TELL US what they are! The P125 sounds and feels distinctly different depending on whether the touch is set to hard, medium, or soft -- I would assume the same settings work the same way on the P225. So if you're playing the P225 with the touch set to hard, and the P125 with the touch set to soft, they WILL sound distinctly different -- and the comparison is basically useless.
In the initial part of the video the P125 sounds more like the touch is set to soft, which gives a brighter sound. Setting the touch on the P125 to hard would warm the sound and more closely match the sound of the P225.
Also the volume settings need to be set to match the touch response. The volume range affects the nuance level, which can make the sound seem more or less bright depending on whether more or less force is required to get the same level of sound. In this review, the volume levels appear to be reasonably close, but it's hard to tell just by watching how they're being played.
Another thing that would have been helpful would have been to compare the exact variations of each voice one-to-one instead of going through all four variations on one voice, then going through all on the other.
I have the P125; the P225 does not sound like much of a win over the P125, and I'm concerned (as another commenter mentioned) that the quality may actually be less -- especially in the GHC action. I'd like to have a closer comparison of the actions by a trained pianist (perhaps there is one somewhere) and more longevity data on the GHC action as to how well it holds up compared to the GHS. Another reviewer had this to say about the GHC:
"If you’re buying on-line, please do not assume that GHC is a clone of GHS with a similar touch. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Try before buy. Do not buy a GHC-based keyboard on speculation! "
genius
Yup.
P 125 being a lot warmer
I found another point: The compares at 7:50 are not equal. Old model = Piano Variation #3 but New = Piano basic (no variation).
@@aBachwardsfellow Hey! That is very very smart and strategic thinking on your part. I’m replying on your comment after the fact of watching this video yesterday, along with others, so I can’t remember if this person is a dealer or if he’s a TH-cam reviewer only. However, dealers are paid to sell, and they will do what it takes to sell their new products even if it’s a small update mainly in terms of sound and functionality, not so much form.
I bought the Yamaha P225 and you have to turn on the Sound BOOST function and it gets much louder. I also softened the keys. Didn’t like it right out of the box but now I love it
Congrats 🎊
Did you have any other Yamaha p series ? I’m planning to buy as well p-225
@@Oryna_piano I returned it and ordered a Kawai ES120. The Yamaha sounded ok, but the action was incredibly stiff. It’s an issue with the new GHC action where they shortened the keys. So the higher up on the key you go it gets very hard to press down on. I’m a 200 pound guy and it was uncomfortable for me lol couldn’t handle it anymore my hands would get too tired after just a short amount of time playing
@@victorcontreras5703 oh really ?
So how do you like now your new keyboard?
Is there a split bass option?
I would like the 61 and 73 key versions, thanks
I think this shows, that Yamaha had taken the technology about as far as it could go with the 125 because I don’t really hear a significant generational change in the sounds. It could come down to speakers at this point. It’s time for a newer technology in their lower tier line.
Agree,I think he’s pushing the new one for sales, either are ok
exactly, and the GHC action from the new series is terrible, just terrible, a plain downgrade from the GHS in the 125. I've had the 125 for a long time, and buyed the 225 as an upgrade: It is not, returned to amazon at lightning speed.
Personally I own a P125a and love it, now I also own a Clavinova CVP-705 which I also love! The P-125a is for me to be able to go out and play with friends or whatnot. Absolutely love my Yamaha’s! No matter what you can’t go wrong with either piano! They both are phenomenal!
p225 sound warmer & has worship feel
Can make the 125 sound the same really…. I have it and it’s the best digital I’ve ever owned. Done some weddings and giggities with it as well as church worship.
Even through TH-cam I can tell a difference, especially when you were trying to coax out the resonance modeling. The 225 sounded richer, more complex.
the p225 sounded more deep and natural, the p125 sounded much more flat and too bright.
Doesn't speaker location and sound reflection between these 2 pianos make a difference on this review? As you look down on the P125 the speakers are facing upward while the P225 speakers are facing forward.
I like the way you investigate ☺️ I can hear small differenc of the sound
I’m planning to buy p 225
The P225's primary piano sample sounds significantly improved to me - richer, and much more organic with the virtual string resonance. Doesn't sound like many of the other patches have changed (they didn't really need to), but that new piano makes the world of difference to my ears.
String resonance? Are you sure?
P125 has the same virtual string resonance IIRC.
No it doesn't
@@didiercatz
Excellent comparison. Well done Jack.
It's more about how much you want to spend. When I did not know which piano was playing, I preferred the sound of the P125A. Both of them are pretty decent starter pianos. The P125A has come down in price, in the UK , by £100, from £529 to about £429, compared to the price in the 1st half of 2023 - (this comment was posted in October 2023).
The key differences are :
1. P225 uses a new sound engine with the CFX samples, instead of the CF3(III) piano samples via the Pure CF engine of the P125A. Some other improved sounds, but most are about the same.
2. P225 uses the new Grand Hammer Compact, instead of the GHS of the P125A.
I think that Yamaha is simply manufacturing a cheaper keybed, and I really do not like the "sound" of such changes, cos until I play them in person, not sure if I'd be happy with the GHC keybed.. The GHS has been their staple keybed for a long time.
The new CFX sound is like marmite, some like it, some do not. In a live stage setting, which is what most people need this for.
For a beginner, definitely I think the P125A, is the sweetspot at this time, great keyboard for a not too expensive price.
Or you could have a look at the P145, which is about the same price.
Key advantage of either the P125A or P225 is, they come with proper line outs for connecting to speakers or mixing boards. This I think is important, and should be the minimum feature set for any keyboard. The economy of the P145 is not worth the disadvantage of this omission or proper line outs.
On more recent listening of this video, overall the newer keyboard the P225 does sound a bit better. The CFX acoustic piano samples are more realistic, with a bit more air in the sound, i.e not as close miked as the CFS piano in the P125. SO for listening on speakers the new CFX piano will sound more pleasing, if you want a true to reality sound.
The CFX piano also has better variation in timbre from dark and woody when played soft, to sparkly when played with higher velocities, so it is a better sample. The older keyboard would work better in a Rock piano setting, cos its dynamics are somewhat restricted.
The Clavinet on the P225 is so much better, and the strings on the P225 are better. If I had to choose, I'd suggest getting the P225., cos overall it does sound that bit better, on a proper listen.
My initial listen was on laptop speakers, but now I'm listening on headphones with well adjusted crossfeed, which gives me a more accurate and intimate listen.
I would add, these keyboards in real life, sound a bit better than what you hear on this video, because all TH-cam audio is compressed.
Overall for a beginner piano, Yamaha is still the one to beat. I may be biased, cos almost every keyboard I own is a Yamaha, for good reasons.
But please avoid the Yamaha CK series - not worth the money - that is one sad exception in the reputation of Yamaha goodness - cos its a cut down product that does not sound very good, on critical listening, but I can imagine many who are not listening critically will buy and regret it.
I read elsewhere that the P125a is a downgrade on the P125 because the audio interface was removed due to chip shortages. That might account for the shift down in price. A quick google brings up things like this
“In 2022, Yamaha announced the P-125A; this is the EXACT same piano, only with one MAJOR difference; there is no built in audio interface on the P-125A - on the P-125A the USB to host port is MIDI only (so you cannot stream audio IN to the P-125A to listen to backing tracks, and you also cannot send audio OUT to easily record).”
The "ON" sound indicates that some option has been triggered. These work pretty well, but don't try to play while programming the instrument. On the P-125 you can even control the speakers via ON OFF and AUTO, so the use of a headphone socket doesn't have to silence the speakers.
Best comparison vid I've seen! Thank you sir....the p225 is the boss
Did you notice any difference in the weight/action of the keys?? And also, since the p125 has two sound outputs at the top and two at the bottom, the p225 lost compared to the speakers??
The four speakers system is much better,I think.
that lapel mic example really made the difference evident!
In my point most significant thing in p-225 is a Bluetooth
So you can play with backtrack connected to your instrument
They do sound more different from each other when you're in the room, for sure. I'm a fan of both of these - I think they both sound good, but I'll admit to being a Yamaha fanboy.
Honestly P-125 just sounds amazing.... I love the brightness of it. I'm just not impressed with the new one at all in terms of sound. Feel though might be improved.
That's due to speaker position. The review was not like-for-like, should have included a line-out to same amp comparison.
💯% on 125. Yamaha did such a wonderful job on the P-125. I have the original 125 and not the 125a which lacks the audio to USB. They’re gonna have a hard time knocking a new model out of the ballpark to replace the 125 in that price range.
Is the P145 worth it, in stead of 225 as a beginner?
great comparison but you just skipped the principal clav sound in p125
Hi 👋 have you ever tried Dexibell h10 ? And did you like it? 🥂
Excellent comparison, many thanks
As a P125 owner - these sound very very similar, honestly. The sounds (especially non-piano) are exactly the same samples.
Así es, no cambia casi nada, el salto importante es solo del piano CFIIIS a CFX
Absolutely I agreed with your comment!!!👍👍👍👍👍. As voices are the same, only for highspeakers that in p225 could be more sophisticated.
To me the 225 sounds deeper and richer tonally. Hard to say without listening in person. Is the P125 good to play? Does it feel good? I'm debating it since it's $400 less than P225. Can get a Korg SP280 for slightly more and I know that one is really solid. Built in legs too.
@@JamieR Honestly I’d keep the 400 bucks unless you’ve personally heard them both and find a big difference. The P125 sounds and plays great. The speakers aren’t it’s weak point - the samples are, and they’re identical to the P225. Could even consider getting some small monitors instead. Or you could get Keyscape for the money you save ;)
As for action, it’s one of the more natural feeling key actions I’ve felt on a digital piano, especially in that price range.
Oh, and I just wanted to add - of course the P225 is going to be better. But if you're on a budget, the P125 is more than enough. I've been meaning to upgrade for the onboard samples, not the action or the speakers.
Thanks for the review, can I suggest that the video have a label or signage that shows which Piano you're playing throughout the video, I believe that would help us the viewers whilst you're doing the comparison
Honestly, perfectly clear once the bottom was identified as 225 and top 125. Easy. I think labels would look mechanical and excessive; not needed.
I tried out the two new piano models in a shop the other day (and I already own the P121) so I'm very familiar with all of these. The GHC action is a night and day improvement over the GHS (which I actually love) and the chassis is much sleeker. Definitely worth the extra money!
I also own a P121 and can't wait to try out the GHC action and see how it feels.
How is the feel of the black keys played far up? Who is lighter? I have a keyboard and the black keys are hard to play when you need to go far up on them.
Now that some time has passed, Is the GHC an upgrade, or just a slight variation without a significant difference? Also, considering all factors, would you say the P-225 is objectively the better choice between the two? The comments comparing the P-125 and P-225 seem contradictory, so I'd appreciate your input.
It really wasn't clear from this review whether we were hearing the sound of each keyboard direct/line out the or whether we were hearing the sound of the onboard speakers mic'd up. I know at one point it says that we are now hearing the 'sound of Jack's lapel microphone', but how about before that? Like in the intro? The p225 has taken a lot of heat for it's new rear facing speakers, and I've heard other videos where they definitely compare unfavorably to the p125s top facing speakers. However, in this video there is not much of a huge difference. P125 sounds a bit brighter, p225 a bit darker but nothing major. But then again, I'm not sure what I'm listening to because it's not clear from the description.
Solamente cuando sale el anuncio o las letras inferiores se ha grabado desde un micrófono externo. El resto del video se grabado en línea en estéreo
Now that some time has passed since this video was posted, which key action do you prefer between the GHS and GHC, and why? Is the GHC an upgrade, or just a slight variation without a significant difference? Also, considering all factors, would you say the P-225 is objectively the better choice between the two? The comments comparing the P-125 and P-225 seem contradictory, so I'd appreciate your input.
Yes , im confused to chose one between them. According to merriam music, P255 is not for professional pianists. Yamaha has implemented short pivot length so the weight is not uniform as you move up the key.
Outstanding video Jack... I love my P125 but when it comes time for a new board I would probably go with the P225. My question for you is this... I use the onboard speakers when practicing, studio monitors when I need a little more, but I'm completely lost when it comes to an amp I can use when I need a lot more sound (small jazz band, rock band use). Bass amps aren't the best, I've tried several guitar amps but have to adjust a lot from patch to patch. I primarily use a powered monitor right now because it gives me better sound and power combination without having to constantly adjust. What do you recommend?
Whats the intro comparison song?! Sounds so good...
What was the very first song he's playing?
I'd like to know too!
At times I preferred the 125 but I would have to say the chords were to some extent overly running into each other in ultimate sound on 125 aka almost (not quite) muddy. MOST of the time I preferred the 225 but contrary to what many say here I did not feel the reviewer was pitching the 225 hard; if anything his comments re speakers suggested the 125 came out better in some ways but only due to its slightly heavier speakers. For me the bluetooth on the 225 and the grand piano CFX sound samples built into the 225 (read/listen to other reviews they generally are in awe) make it a better choice. An earlier comment noted that if sound boost were turned on with the 225 they might clock in similar on breadth of feel and loudness. Certainly the clav was hugely better on 225 and that's when I detected the only clear "wow 225 definitely better" moment in an otherwise very open-ended, fairly (to me) neutral "review." I like Clav, like bluetooth concept & utility, the grand piano CFX is a winner and big concession to lower level digital by Yamaha, slimmer fits better in my living room, and 24 sounds beats 10 any day. Wondering if any way to boost speakers if one wanted to do so. That in my view was the only possible ace the 125 had. In digital electronics land, newer is usually better overall unless you drop down in price point. True here in music as well.
Great video! Btw, how big is the gap in terms of hammer action and playability?
I'll be using sounds via a DAW for grand pianos, cello, violin etc. So i dont really care that much about the sound quality. More after a close to acoustic feel to practice with!
Is l-125b better than P225? Im a beginner and I want to know which one is better?
Could you please compare the Yamaha p225 vs the Casio px3100 and Kawai es120 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
The only issue I take with the review is the disservice done to the P125 because of the speaker placement. There's an EQ setting specifically for it being placed on a table, but even with that on, it's not going to sound as good as the P225 in this comparison due to the speaker placement. EQing only goes so far. The P125 shines when the speakers on the bottom have room to breathe, so that the sound can develop. I honestly think that the P225 gets muddied in the midrange and the highs fall off quite a bit. It has an overall thicker low-end and heftiness, but it lacks clarity compared to the bright highs and overall balanced sound of the P125. More complex pieces and heavy sustain usage are going to get garbled when using the onboard speakers of the P225. With that being said, I think that if you're using external monitors or headphones, that issue is going to be eliminated. I haven't personally played with a P225 but the shorter action doesn't seem like something I'd like. I'd still definitely love to try one out if I got the opportunity. I think both are wonderful instruments, but I think it's a shame that the P225 is replacing the P125 entirely. Thanks for the review, though, and nice skills! *comment edited to reflect actual appreciation for the review*
It's a pity you didn't do a line-out comparison, because the totally different speaker position affects the sound in the room more than anything else, so it wasn't really a like for like comparison, especially as the P-225 is designed to be played near a wall.
What is the intro song? Sounds so good.
Dual or tripple sensor? How noisy are the keys. Some can be really thumpy?
Still only dual sensor and no escapement.
@mfurman Ah, that would be a no no for me on the dual sensor. They don't seem to mention it on their website, unless I missed it.
Is the split bass range adjustable?
Thanks for review 👍 great job 👏
Thanks for the video! I only play classical music but I can't have an acoustic piano at the moment (and probably for a long time); which digital piano would you recommend? Yamaha 125b or 225? Or another type like Roland or Casio? I need to find a compromise between low budget and quality 😢
The keyboard always feels weird to me since I'm used to the acoustic piano
From what I understood, from the various videos on YT, the 515 action seems the one closer to the acoustic piano. In fact, people used to real pianos are usually very disappointed at the 525 keyboard. On the contrary, those who are not used to it find it relatively "heavy".
Watch the other comparison video by Merriam Music as well:
th-cam.com/video/4UX1oxYs6kA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=4KWHf99l5c3RDGK8
Here's my personal comment on it:
"What the hell! The "upgraded" model sounds kind of warm & nice at first in the mids-to-highs, BUT duller & so muddy in the lows-to-mids, and kind of synthetic from the likes of arranger KEYBOARDs. The older one has brighter clarity across the spectrum, and sounds more realistic, closer to an acoustic, does better job as a digital PIANO, though it may not offer higher dynamics/complexity etc.
Is this inflation commerce playing a joke on the uninformed music fans? The difference is much more in the speaker mic compare from 9:00. Just closing this comparison with "sound is subjective" is not fair.
The line out compare at 4:30 seems better on both mainly in the mids & highs. The lows are not that good on both, I guess that's what we lose for the low price. The lows are good for bass notes but not for chords, but still the bright cut-through sound of the old model helps it in the low chords.
Further the longer pivot length action on the older is probably better. He softly mentioned the downsides of the newer one - compact pivot, less key travel/depth, slower spring back etc. Also I assume more force will be needed on black keys closer to the top edge on the new one."
I found another point: The compares here at 7:50 are not equal. Old model = Piano Variation #3 but New = Piano basic (no variation).
I own a kawai es100 but im thinking of buyin of Yamaha p125
Thanks Jack.. my UK keyboard guru!
Is there a split bass option?
from what I had tested myself
The P125
Bass Range - Not Clear and Not Straight and over saturated
Middle Range - Not Clear but straight and comfortable
High Pitch Range - Too loud not clear not crispy
The P225
Bass Range - Clear Sound and felt percussion
Middle Range - Low Volume but stable
High Pitch Range - Low Volume but Stable
The trade off for the new model you get stable quality than the old model
How does the p225 compare to the DGX 660?
Hey guys thanks for such great reviews. Really big question here, what's better, the new P-145 or the original P-125???
P-125
P125 por varias razones
The P145 is replacement for the P45 so yeah the P125 is definitely going to be beter🎹🎶
The 125 piano sounds much better to my ears. They brightened and thinned out the same sound for the 225 - yuck.
default piano sound is not the same !! P225 has the CFX sound and P125 has the CFIIIS sound. CFX should be an upgrade but I'm not a fan of it (I owned a CLP 635 with CFX sound)
I completely agree, the 125 sounds amazing
My 20'odd year old P-80 is finally ready for retirement. Is the P-225 a good replacement for it?
you bet !
@@timothywong4629 Thanks for the comment. I'm happy to tell you that I purchased the P-225 and am really enjoying it...
@@kevinhaynes9091 Any downsides? I'm debating between it and the Kawai es120 and Casio px3100
@@Elazarko I only know the P-80 and P-225. From what I've read, if it's mainly the Piano sounds/voices you want, then it's between the Yamaha (24 sounds) and Kawaii (25 sounds). If you want something with more sounds, more like a synth, then maybe the Casio (700 tones!). With that said I'm not using the Yamaha App, so there might be more voices available.
I've had a Korg Triton synth for years, but once the novelty of being able to play any sound wore off, it's just been gathering dust! Unless you want to play Midnight Sonata with sampled dog barks, or Rocket Man with sampled car horns, then the novelty of having 700 tones really doesn't last long, and you'll start wondering why you didn't chose the Yamaha with its stunning CFX Grand piano samples.
The main reason I chose the P-225, is because the P-80 was so good. If I could have found someone to repair my P-80's broken key, I'd still be playing it. I also have other Yamaha instruments, which are equally as good.
If you can try them out at a local store, you should! If you can't, you won't be sorry with the Yamaha P-225...
@@kevinhaynes9091 Thanks 👍🏼 yeah Yamaha definitely feels like a safe bet.. I'm used to the Yamaha GHS action from our older Clavinova, which is from the year 2001, so I might lean toward Yamaha for that reason alone.
You guys doing the Gaia 2?
You know that will be coming...
Nope, that is the one keyboard they're going to avoid, just because. Lol. You know they will & it's sure to be fantastic. I hope they compare it to the Korg Mod/ series at some point.
Do these support Samsung Galaxy tablets?
Very good for what are home pianos (stage pianos shouldn’t have speakers imo) - so much so that when you consider how many sounds kbd players ‘really’ use when gigging (surprisingly few despite the 100’s manufacturers boast about) you’ve got to wonder whether the Nords and other high-spec stuff of this world are worth the price differential. The p225 sounds more ‘open’ with a stronger bass register. Perhaps when Roland archaeologists finally finish carbon dating the ancient RD2000 and release its long overdue descendent (without the silly elongated mod wheel section please) they (and all the others inc Yamaha) might stop to consider how the home market is catching up fast re value for money and functions.
Roland's FP30X is killer, who cares about RD-2000? (RD-88 kills it as well.)
People that are better off with FP30X or P-125 and grab workstations or RD-2000 instead are generally ignorant, plus salesmen get more commission from the higher ticket items.
That said, there is also the issue of MX88 and Juno-DS88 being lighter than these digital pianos with built-in speakers. That forces some to grab a workstation instead of they have bad knees/back, etc.
@@Jason75913 Who cares about the RD2000? Well I suppose the countless amounts of professional gigging musicians who take them around the world on tours with A list acts - plus loads of others not in that category. The FP30x is a home piano. The RD2000 is a stage piano. I was only making the point, as many others have, that it is long in the tooth now and overdue for replacement.
If you don't have better to compare it to the p225 is good. But, if you were to sit down and properly compare it with a professional grade digital piano the difference is night and day. My 28 year old Yamaha P150 blows the new P225 away in all respects except weight. I bought a P225, sight unseen/unplayed and it was a big mistake for me. I will be selling the P225. You are correct in that that some high end pianos are not worth the money either.
I have had a P125 for 5 years and the 225 sounds the same. The speakers are positioned in a different place which gives a very slight variation on this video
Perfect, thank you !
Hi Jake, quick question: best cheap keyboard to use on practice room and some gigs maybe?
The cheapest Casio you can get your hands on. I wouldn't recommend it.
Or get a used Yamaha P-45 or P-125, whatever you get a good deal on. If the sounds are too few for you, then get a Juno-DS or Juno-Di
Right now, the P-121 is a great deal, at least in Europe.
Compared to the Roland FP-30X?
I'm torn between the P225 and FP-30X. Decisions decisions.
Went with the P225 and don’t regret it at all. It’s excellent!
Kawai es120 wipes the floor with both
@@Sonic-BoomAre you still liking the p225? I played with both today and decided on the p225 as well.
It was bought for my wife but yes, she loves it. Great feel and sound. A huge improvement over our previous Yamaha P60.@@radlink14
These sound great!
The speakers are also placed differently: 225 is out front, 125 is straight on the top of keys.
225 sounds cleaner played them both. It just more satisfying playing 225 over all
225 has thick sound, classical feels and soften emotions while 125 sounded bright and lively for its own purpose.
P125 "the old one" sounds brighter and less boxy than P225 (based on the audio in this video)
p225 won the game absolutely
I am very disappointed in the Yamaha P225B I bought, but maybe I was expecting too much for the money. One positive is that it is fairly lightweight. I am comparing it to my 28 year old 1996 Yamaha P150 which I will continue to keep, and I will get rid of the 2024 P225.
why are you disappointed?
I don't know what to think I have real yamaha piano and I think I would chose Yamaha p125. I'm here because I practice a lot and I'm thinking about buying digital piano.
goood this piano. yamaha rlz
In the beginning: 125 is NOT brighter, its more plastically.
Constructive crit -- i wish you would refer to the keyboard names more than say "this thing".
Yamaha loves to recycling old things when it comes to sounds. Nothing new just a downgraded tinny version of CFX samples.
Yep, I bought a P225 because I got a very good price, but, the P225 is incredibly disappointing.
The 125’s weakness was always its action. It’s a shame they when for compactness rather than improving it in the new model.
True, though it's not a complete downside. There's less flex or lateral movement of the keys which is better for glissando or fast arpeggiated pieces
The P125 has 4 speakers. Combining the 2 pointing to the floor with the other 2 pointing to the roof we have a better sound,I think.
Agree
Il prezzo qui in Italia del p225 è aumentato tantissimo rispetto al p125 di ben 300,00 eur! Non mi convince pienamente il p225 in questo confronto. Il campione del pianoforte suona piu' chiuso rispetto al p125, lo attendevo ma non mi ha stupito anche in confronto con Casio px s1100 che suona meglio perfino nell' EP. Si tratta solo di una mia opinione che deve essere confermata o disattesa direttamente in negozio provandoli. Un saluto dall'Italia.
Some very good points!
/////////////////////////////
The price here in Italy of the p225 has increased a lot compared to the p125 by as much as 300.00 euros! I'm not fully convinced by the p225 in this comparison. The piano sample sounds more closed than the p125, I expected it but it didn't surprise me even in comparison with the Casio px s1100 which sounds better even in the EP. This is just my opinion which must be confirmed or rejected directly in the store by trying them on. Greetings from Italy.
P-125 sounds better to me for sound quality.
Not enough difference for the price difference.
Still happy with my p120 🙃
P120 is legendary .. way better than current yamaha lineup , p120 and p155
I thought the 125 sounded more natural
125 p una bestia
"ye newy"?
Not exactly my style of reviewing.
I agree ...
This is a sales pitch for the new P-225 ( clearly the inferior instrument to the P-125), not a review.
P125 has better speakers.
I prefer make more money and buy Yamaha P515.
The 225 sounds a bit better....you can hear it.
p225 won the game absolutely