I still have my 515 as well as the 525. There were a couple of concerning videos that came out shortly after it’s release and I wasn’t sure it was worth the upgrade, but I took a chance anyway, and I am so glad I did! Don’t know if I’m going to keep the 515, but there is enough of an improvement that I am quite happy with it. Had my 515 since it was released, and was so dependable, and got me thru COVID, and all that crap, but I think it would be hard to go back to it, now that I am used to the 525…
Interesting comment as I own the 515 and can't see ANY reason whatsoever to 'upgrade' to the 525. Which aspects of the 525 do you feel are significantly better?
@@njdenney69 For me, it is the sound, much better in my opinion. The while other things are minor, they all contribute to an overall better instrument.
@@mazica_art2630 Yep! I get at least an hour on it daily… I’m no technology expert, but what ever they did sound wise, was worth the cost to me… The feel of the keys is a bit lighter, and now that I am out of that “Beginner” stage, I appreciate the slightly lighter action. I had my 515 since I think the 2nd day the model came out. It served me well and was still going strong after 5yrs, but I was due for a “Renewal” Used 515’s at least around my region seem to be fetching a decent price, so if I decide to sell it, I think I would still make out. There are both convincing pro’s and con’s videos on TH-cam and I think I’ve watched them all, but I just decided to take a chance, and for me, it was a good decision.There is a Musical Instrument Company in England that puts out some pretty decent reviews, and that is what it finally boiled down to, and what I based my decision on… I’ll have to go find the link.
Was going to upgade from the P515 to the P525, because of being able to save registrations. But seeing you still have to menu dive for a lot of the other parts, I think they need to do more upgrades. If they world have put a volume control for the upper and lower parts like the Roland Fp 90 has I would have upgraded. I am also looking at the Yamaha CK 88, which has much more on it. But I don't think it will have the key action, which I really like on the P515 or the speakers which sound great on the P515. I have decided to wait and see what comes out in 2025. I love Yamaha keyboards and own 3 of them. Having had Rolands in the past, and having them in the shop a lot, I don't want to change brands.
Thanks, Ted. Great review. Thinking on buying a new board, and this one is looking really good ( or rather sounding really good). Judging from how long my ydp 223 lasted, yamaha seems like a good choice. I can relate to the Fender Rhodes thing. I used to gig with a korg SG 1D. My GOD, only the young. 👍
Thanks for the review. Do you find there is a difference in key weighting between the white (wooden) keys and the black (plastic) keys? Some other reviewers say there is an inbalance and some don't seem to find a problem, so it is unclear. Also, the keys are not linear weighted but weighted based on 3 sections only (ie. bass 1/3 with one unique heavier weighting, middle 1/3 with one unique slighly lighter weighting, etc., not per individual key as you would find in an (even cheaper) Roland or Kawai). Is that noticeable when you go from a key in one section to the next? Thanks in advance for the response.
@markheathcote3440 I'm very surprised to hear that every note is individually graded in weight on the cheaper Kawais and Rolands. I had heard that precious few DPs have that feature. And the zone aspect doesn't bother me. Also, I can say that I find Kawai keys too light on all the models I have tried. I haven't tried the NV5s or NV10s. Well, actions are a personal thing, but Yamaha gets my vote on that, I mean as a home piano. My issue with the P-515 & P-525 is the carry weight. The beautiful actions come at too high a price, carry-wise. So the P-515 & P-525 are simply not portable pianos in my book. I believe that a modern portable piano should be designed for the typical owner to carry short distances, unassisted, without pain. These two models followed on from the P-255, which is/was much more portable. I'm hanging on to mine! Actually, I have another issue - I find the P-515/525 screen and controls unfriendly for performing. Ergo, it's a nice home piano masquerading as a gigging instrument. Just lacks the furniture.
Hallo, two questions….: I would be in interested also in pipe organ sounds - I hear some a bit strange organ at 10:03, followed by really nice ‘Chapel organ’ (cca as I know it from Tyroses for example), but I missed really big church plenum organ…? ---- Also: how does it all sound when amplified via the audio outputs….? Thank you🌞…
Pardon my in English because my language is spanish but I would like to ask someone that knows about digital keyboards,..... which keyboard has a heavier action, Yamaha p 525 or Kawai es 920? I own and I'm accustomed to play on a upright piano. If somebody can help me to discern, I will appreciate it. I bought a Yamaha p125@ and I find it to soft for my hands. I just want a good digital keyboard so I can practice at nighttime without making noise.
HI- I just had them both in the studio for a demo. The Yamaha is faster and slightly lighter. a more favorable action IMHO. The ES920 is not as fast but still feels very good. I'm a stickler for action feel but choose the Kawai 920 because the sound is warmer and more musically presented through its speaker system. The Yamaha P525 had a mid/high ring to the sound and to my ears (60+ years of playing/24 CDs), it was not as musical. I own two 7 foot acoustic Yamaha grands as well. I know pianos and their sound/touch relationship! Good luck!
The Kawai ES920's key action is too bouncy - i.e. like a diving-board / trampoline (I've owned two of them in 2022 and 2023 - both were bouncy-bouncy!), that's why @Mike-pg4zp found the action slower than the Yamaha P-525. The Kawai ES920 is 20% cheaper than the Yamaha P-525 though - I guess you get what you pay for.
Aren’t you the same Yamaha salesman that hilariously claimed the P125a was a big upgrade from the original P125? Lol. If you had been honest (not just a salesman) and admitted the only thing Yamaha changed in the 125a was stripping out the useful audio interface the original model had, but didn’t cut the MSRP by one penny, you would have more credibility now. People, please don’t base your keyboard purchases on what biased salespeople say. The internet is chock full of them. For what it’s worth, the P525 is actually a decent update over the P515 mostly because of the improved keybed. That’s coming from a longtime owner of both, not a dishonest shill.
Yes - every P-series, CLP-series, CVP-series, and CSP-series Yamaha digital piano released since well before the P-515 includes USB Audio. For Windows you may need to install a USB driver, however on macOS it works without needing to install anything.
My church just bought a P-525. It is just great. People have come up after service to rave about the sound. It’s inspiring to play, and so easy to operate. Love the registration memory. Surprisingly (to me, as I’m a true blue Yamaha person) I prefer the Bosendorfer piano tone to the CFX in this instrument. It pairs spectacularly with the Deep Pad. The Organ Principal is also an extremely useful tone. It’s perfect for our use, and I would highly recommend it for your consideration.
If you name your Video: is upgrade needed, I would expext a comparison with predecessor P-515 and not only marketing how good the P-525 is, sorry, but do not like this video. There are better comparison videos on YT available....
@@tvbrianpiano Well the intention is clear, but I don't think the P-525 to be adressed to starters. If you look at sales, this ggroup of customers prefer uch lesser priced models like P-225, P-145 or Roland and Casio models for beginners - quite a few start on a higher priced digital piano model. By the way I bought a P-525 and sent it back after a week, then I switched to a Roland FP90X. My main reasons are a better suitable action of the Roland for some advanced pianists (ok, personal opinion), I also missed some occasionably preferred "upright piano" voices. They happen to be at the CP88 model, so I don't understand this lack at the P-525. At last the Roland FP90X offers much more additional functions as a dynamic mic-input and so on - I know, I should have compared first. To be clear, I am no Yamaha hater at all, I play a CS1X for more than two decades and really Iove my YTR-8335LA since the first stream of air blew in at my purchase ten years ago.
The name of the action on the P515 is NWX. It too did not have a fully wooden action, and the black keys were also plastic🎹🎶
I still have my 515 as well as the 525. There were a couple of concerning videos that came out shortly after it’s release and I wasn’t sure it was worth the upgrade, but I took a chance anyway, and I am so glad I did! Don’t know if I’m going to keep the 515, but there is enough of an improvement that I am quite happy with it. Had my 515 since it was released, and was so dependable, and got me thru COVID, and all that crap, but I think it would be hard to go back to it, now that I am used to the 525…
Interesting comment as I own the 515 and can't see ANY reason whatsoever to 'upgrade' to the 525. Which aspects of the 525 do you feel are significantly better?
@@njdenney69 For me, it is the sound, much better in my opinion. The while other things are minor, they all contribute to an overall better instrument.
@@airpac1873 Do you still like 525? Many people are hesitant to upgrade?
@@mazica_art2630 Yep! I get at least an hour on it daily… I’m no technology expert, but what ever they did sound wise, was worth the cost to me… The feel of the keys is a bit lighter, and now that I am out of that “Beginner” stage, I appreciate the slightly lighter action. I had my 515 since I think the 2nd day the model came out. It served me well and was still going strong after 5yrs, but I was due for a “Renewal” Used 515’s at least around my region seem to be fetching a decent price, so if I decide to sell it, I think I would still make out. There are both convincing pro’s and con’s videos on TH-cam and I think I’ve watched them all, but I just decided to take a chance, and for me, it was a good decision.There is a Musical Instrument Company in England that puts out some pretty decent reviews, and that is what it finally boiled down to, and what I based my decision on… I’ll have to go find the link.
@@airpac1873do you still like it?? 👀 I’m trying to make up my mind if I should get the p515 or the p525.
Wonderful review - thanks.
This is definitely looking to be my replacement for my worn out DGX-650.
Most definitely, the dgx series only has the GHS which is out dated, way better feel and sound.
How was it? Do you have the 525 already? I’m upgrading from a DGX640 soon!
It would be helpful to display the preset names as you’re going through them.
Was going to upgade from the P515 to the P525, because of being able to save registrations. But seeing you still have to menu dive for a lot of the other parts, I think they need to do more upgrades. If they world have put a volume control for the upper and lower parts like the Roland Fp 90 has I would have upgraded. I am also looking at the Yamaha CK 88, which has much more on it. But I don't think it will have the key action, which I really like on the P515 or the speakers which sound great on the P515. I have decided to wait and see what comes out in 2025. I love Yamaha keyboards and own 3 of them. Having had Rolands in the past, and having them in the shop a lot, I don't want to change brands.
Thank you for this amazing review! 😊
Thanks, Ted. Great review. Thinking on buying a new board, and this one is looking really good ( or rather sounding really good). Judging from how long my ydp 223 lasted, yamaha seems like a good choice. I can relate to the Fender Rhodes thing. I used to gig with a korg SG 1D. My GOD, only the young. 👍
I’m very close of purchasing this one 😊
This lacks a physical EQ 4 band like we can find on the Kawai ES920. It is important to be able to shape a sound in different acoustic environment.
Thanks for the review. Do you find there is a difference in key weighting between the white (wooden) keys and the black (plastic) keys? Some other reviewers say there is an inbalance and some don't seem to find a problem, so it is unclear. Also, the keys are not linear weighted but weighted based on 3 sections only (ie. bass 1/3 with one unique heavier weighting, middle 1/3 with one unique slighly lighter weighting, etc., not per individual key as you would find in an (even cheaper) Roland or Kawai). Is that noticeable when you go from a key in one section to the next? Thanks in advance for the response.
@markheathcote3440 I'm very surprised to hear that every note is individually graded in weight on the cheaper Kawais and Rolands. I had heard that precious few DPs have that feature. And the zone aspect doesn't bother me. Also, I can say that I find Kawai keys too light on all the models I have tried. I haven't tried the NV5s or NV10s. Well, actions are a personal thing, but Yamaha gets my vote on that, I mean as a home piano.
My issue with the P-515 & P-525 is the carry weight. The beautiful actions come at too high a price, carry-wise. So the P-515 & P-525 are simply not portable pianos in my book. I believe that a modern portable piano should be designed for the typical owner to carry short distances, unassisted, without pain. These two models followed on from the P-255, which is/was much more portable. I'm hanging on to mine! Actually, I have another issue - I find the P-515/525 screen and controls unfriendly for performing. Ergo, it's a nice home piano masquerading as a gigging instrument. Just lacks the furniture.
Did you make the comparison video with the CK88 ?
Hallo, two questions….:
I would be in interested also in pipe organ sounds - I hear some a bit strange organ at 10:03, followed by really nice ‘Chapel organ’ (cca as I know it from Tyroses for example), but I missed really big church plenum organ…?
---- Also: how does it all sound when amplified via the audio outputs….? Thank you🌞…
Pardon my in English because my language is spanish but I would like to ask someone that knows about digital keyboards,..... which keyboard has a heavier action, Yamaha p 525 or Kawai es 920? I own and I'm accustomed to play on a upright piano. If somebody can help me to discern, I will appreciate it. I bought a Yamaha p125@ and I find it to soft for my hands. I just want a good digital keyboard so I can practice at nighttime without making noise.
What I've seen from different reviews is that Kawai ES920 has lighter action than Yamaha P525 which has lighter action than Yamaha P515
Thank you.
HI- I just had them both in the studio for a demo. The Yamaha is faster and slightly lighter. a more favorable action IMHO. The ES920 is not as fast but still feels very good. I'm a stickler for action feel but choose the Kawai 920 because the sound is warmer and more musically presented through its speaker system. The Yamaha P525 had a mid/high ring to the sound and to my ears (60+ years of playing/24 CDs), it was not as musical. I own two 7 foot acoustic Yamaha grands as well. I know pianos and their sound/touch relationship! Good luck!
Thank you.
The Kawai ES920's key action is too bouncy - i.e. like a diving-board / trampoline (I've owned two of them in 2022 and 2023 - both were bouncy-bouncy!), that's why @Mike-pg4zp found the action slower than the Yamaha P-525. The Kawai ES920 is 20% cheaper than the Yamaha P-525 though - I guess you get what you pay for.
Aren’t you the same Yamaha salesman that hilariously claimed the P125a was a big upgrade from the original P125? Lol. If you had been honest (not just a salesman) and admitted the only thing Yamaha changed in the 125a was stripping out the useful audio interface the original model had, but didn’t cut the MSRP by one penny, you would have more credibility now. People, please don’t base your keyboard purchases on what biased salespeople say. The internet is chock full of them.
For what it’s worth, the P525 is actually a decent update over the P515 mostly because of the improved keybed. That’s coming from a longtime owner of both, not a dishonest shill.
I see that this has a USB port to plug in to a computer. Can a VST from a computer be passed through to the piano’s speakers like on the P515?
Yes - every P-series, CLP-series, CVP-series, and CSP-series Yamaha digital piano released since well before the P-515 includes USB Audio. For Windows you may need to install a USB driver, however on macOS it works without needing to install anything.
@@pianowhizz good deal. Are there any settings that you have to set on the piano in order for the USB audio to override the on-board patches?
My church just bought a P-525. It is just great. People have come up after service to rave about the sound. It’s inspiring to play, and so easy to operate. Love the registration memory. Surprisingly (to me, as I’m a true blue Yamaha person) I prefer the Bosendorfer piano tone to the CFX in this instrument. It pairs spectacularly with the Deep Pad. The Organ Principal is also an extremely useful tone. It’s perfect for our use, and I would highly recommend it for your consideration.
@@danielpederson1084 would you describe the keys on the P525 as being on the lighter side or heavier side?
@@ChristianCarrizalesthey’re fairly light compared with other digital pianos.
What is that song he is playing?? Just can't put my finger on it. lol
It sounds like the the piano instrumental from Christopher Cross, Sailing, although not exactly the same.
Anyone know if you can utilize Bluetooth headphones with this piano?
No. Bluetooth audio is in only.
Bluetooth headphones would make a annoying delay while playing….
No manufacture offers this. The half-second delay would may playing impossible.
@@frolferdjent good to know, thank you!
If you name your Video: is upgrade needed, I would expext a comparison with predecessor P-515 and not only marketing how good the P-525 is, sorry, but do not like this video. There are better comparison videos on YT available....
Always the same piece.Pffff
Quite embarrassing for a musician, to play the same bland mini-piece over an over and over again.
He plays the same for each selected voice so that comparison can be made, differences are more clearly heard. Not embarrassing at all.
@@tvbrianpiano Well the intention is clear, but I don't think the P-525 to be adressed to starters. If you look at sales, this ggroup of customers prefer uch lesser priced models like P-225, P-145 or Roland and Casio models for beginners - quite a few start on a higher priced digital piano model.
By the way I bought a P-525 and sent it back after a week, then I switched to a Roland FP90X. My main reasons are a better suitable action of the Roland for some advanced pianists (ok, personal opinion), I also missed some occasionably preferred "upright piano" voices. They happen to be at the CP88 model, so I don't understand this lack at the P-525. At last the Roland FP90X offers much more additional functions as a dynamic mic-input and so on - I know, I should have compared first. To be clear, I am no Yamaha hater at all, I play a CS1X for more than two decades and really Iove my YTR-8335LA since the first stream of air blew in at my purchase ten years ago.
@@Solid_Brass Do you like the modelling piano voice of the FP-90x right out of the box?