The Best Pianos in 2022 | Top Reviews by Bestcovery

We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of our links. The LA Times editorial staff was not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more

Best Pianos with Amazing Sound

  1. Yamaha Clavinova CVP-705 Piano
  2. Kurzweil KA90 Arranger Stage Piano
  3. Kurzweil Forte 88-Key Stage Piano
  4. Roland HP-504 Digital Piano
  5. Casio Celviano AP-650 Digital Piano
  6. Kurzweil Forte 88 Key Stage Piano
  7. Yamaha YDP144R Arius Series Traditional Console Digital Piano
  8. Korg, 37-Key Midi Controller Piano
  9. Casio Privia PX-770 88-Key Digital Piano
  10. KAWAI black grand piano
  11. Yamaha b1 Acoustic Upright Piano
  12. Baldwin B125 Upright Piano
  13. Boston UP-188E PE Upright Piano
  14. Steinway Model 1098 Studio Upright Piano
  15. Yamaha P22 Acoustic Piano
  16. Buyer's Guide

Digital pianos certainly aren’t a casual purchase. These instruments offer up the feel, look, sound and size as a more traditional acoustic piano, but also come with more modern features that bridge them into the 21st century. This gives buyers a best-of-both-worlds type of playing experience. These are the best pianos in 2022 available today, with each one here manufactured with a minimum of 88 keys to give you a realistic range to make your playing experience feel authentic, they're equipped with realistic, built-in effects to help color the sound of your performance, and each offers USB connectivity for linking the piano to your computer for enhanced playing and recording options.

Detailing the Best Piano of 2022

best Yamaha Clavinova CVP-705 Piano

Yamaha Clavinova CVP-705 Piano - Best Piano Overall

The Yamaha Clavinova CVP-705 provides two amazing sounding-instruments in one unit; you’re getting the company’s flagship CFX and the legendary Bosendorfer Imperial. These classic sounds have been captured key by key and offer and impeccable range of tones for all of your piano playing needs. The Clavinova also features hundreds of real-sounding instrument voices, as well as accompaniment styles that allow you to enhance your performances by adding in the sounds of virtual musicians to back you up. There's also the "Follow Lights" library teacher feature allows you to learn popular melodies by having the piano light up and show you which keys to play. Lastly, a mic input allows you to add vocals so you can be a one-man show.

Kurzweil KA90 Arranger Stage Piano - Runner Up

The Roland LX-15E is an acoustic-sounding digital piano which owes its tone to the internal Acoustic Projection Technology. A useful volume limit function allows you to prevent against unwanted loud performances which makes it ideal for parents who want to ensure their kids don’t wake the neighbors. There's also a vast number of internal songs to play with and listen to, while center track canceling allows you to play along without it sounding too cluttered or messy. You can also import your own music into the piano via the free Air Performer app and there's the option to choose between 350 tones inside the unit, including grand piano, upright piano, electric piano, and strings.

Kurzweil Forte 88-Key Stage Piano - Honorable Mention

Kurzweil’s MPG200 digital mini-grand piano pulls its sounds from the company’s flagship PC3 series performance controllers and production stations. That means that you’re getting a wide variety of topnotch piano, strings, orchestral instruments, and organs to have at your disposal. You can also alter these sounds using the dual ambience and effect processors, offering up cool features such as reverb, delay, echo, and chorus to add extra character to your compositions. The piano’s 4-speaker, digital bi-amplified sound system is designed to make you feel like you’re sitting behind a true grand piano, a sensation that's enhanced by the full-size 88 keys of the instrument. And although it sounds like a grand piano, it fortunately has a smaller 3 inch design that makes it much more accessible, making it ideal for seamless integration into tighter rooms.

best Roland HP-504 Digital Piano

Roland HP-504 Digital Piano - Consider

Roland’s HP-504 digital piano gives you a realistic feeling/sounding acoustic playing experience. The instrument’s SuperNATURAL sound engine gives you customizable tones to dial in with the instrument itself, allowing you to edit the notes to respond to your touch and dynamics. The instrument’s PHA-4 ebony and ivory simulated keyboard give you an authentic-feel the instant your fingers touch the keys. It’s also easy to learn the piano using the HP-504 thanks to a twin piano mode which splits the keys into two 44-key keyboards, making it easy for a student to sit beside their teacher. An onboard metronome also makes simplifies the process of playing along and keeping time. Notes can easily be transposed, and a three-track recorder allows you to seamlessly record your playing for either reference or composition.

best Casio Celviano AP-650 Digital Piano

Casio Celviano AP-650 Digital Piano - Best Digital Piano

The Casio Celviano AP-650 is a digital piano with 88-note scaled hammer action on its keyboard, providing a real and expressive feel that works perfectly in conjunction with the instrument’s 250 tones that emanate from the AiR sound engine. The instrument’s acoustic resonance modeling simulates the sound of open strings when the dampers are raised, and the ebony and ivory textured keys will have you thinking you’re playing a real acoustic piano if you close your eyes. Beyond the feel, the AP-650 also offers cool features whichallow you to practice and learn as you go, including a 16-track recorder that makes it easy to reference your performance or take notes while you’re composing. Lastly, the pianos dual headphone outputs enable you to practice at all hours of the day and night without making any noise.

Kurzweil Forte 88 Key Stage Piano - Best Budget Digital Piano

The Kurzweil MPS20 features 24 piano sounds for you to play with, but that’s not where the fun stops with this digital piano. It also features 100 rhythms and 10 drum kits that allow you to create compelling rhythms to play along with, whether you’re rehearsing or performing. Beyond the piano sounds, there are also more than 200 library sounds drawn from Kurzeil’s PC3 keyboards, including electric pianos, pipe organs, strings, synthesizers, and more. A 30-watt, four-speaker sound system allows you to amplify your performance, and you can also plug headphones into the 1/4 inch output. The MPS20 also comes with a switch-type sustain pedal to help enhance your performance.

Yamaha YDP144R Arius Series Traditional Console Digital Piano - Best Budget Digital Piano

The Yamaha Arius YDP-142 digital piano features graded hammer-standard action keys that offer a heavier touch in the low end a lighter touch in the high end. This delivers a realistic-feeling performance that will instantly make this pick feel like a natural fit for those who've been playing on pianos all of their life. The instrument’s PureCF sound engine offers great-sounding piano tones sampled from the company’s CFIIIS 9 foot grand piano while a full set of pedals provide players with nuanced, detailed control over their performance. The piano offers a duo mode and dual headphone jacks that make it great for playing alongside a teacher or to play duets with a partner. There's also an onboard two-track song recorder which allows you to capture performances for future listening in addition to 50 built-in songs to get started with.

Korg, 37-Key Midi Controller Piano - Best Budget Digital Piano

The Korg LP-180 digital piano succeeds in sounding and feeling like the real-deal acoustic version of the instrument. 88 keys feature natural hammer-weighted action, while a three pedal system provides control and a realistic playability. The piano comes equipped with 10 sounds and a 120-note polyphony to give you the type of flexibility needed to handle all of the "voices" you want to coax from your new piano. If you want different sounds, simply hook the piano up to your computer or external sound module via MIDI cable and you're good to go. The inclusion of dual headphone outputs allow you to practice in silence using headphones or amplify your signal by plugging the instrument into a speaker.

Casio Privia PX-770 88-Key Digital Piano - Best Budget Digital Piano

The Casio Privia PX-760 digital piano takes its sounds from 18 AiR (Acoustic & Intelligent Resonator) tones that utilize grand piano samples recorded at multiple dynamic levels of sampling. Combined with the unit’s 88 weighted, scaled hammer-action keys with ivory touch, you’re getting an instrument that sounds as real as it feels. The PX-760 also features onboard effects like reverb and chorus to help color and shape your sounds. A built-in metronome makes it easy to practice and keep time while you can plug headphones into one of the dual outputs. This digital piano also includes a two-track recorder to record ideas on the fly or save performances for future reference.

KAWAI black grand piano - Best Budget Digital Piano

Kawai’s KDP90 digital piano offers a detailed and impressive-sounding sampled sound of a hand-crafted Kawai concert grand piano. If that wasn’t enough, the unit also features 15 additional sounds including electric pianos, organ, vibes, harpsichord, choir, and more. The KDP90 also features a three-song recorder which allows you to document performances and recall them instantly. There's also an integrated lesson feature that covers a collection of etudes, as well as songs from popular Alfred course books. There's also dual and four-hands modes which allow you to play along with a teacher or to take on duets with a partner. A built-in stereo speaker system has also been included so that you’ll always be able to clearly hear the notes you’re playing.

best Yamaha b1 Acoustic Upright Piano

Yamaha b1 Acoustic Upright Piano - Best Upright Piano

The Yamaha b1 Acoustic Upright Piano features a scaled-down size that makes it ideal for playing in smaller rooms. Additionally, its polished finish gives it a feel of elegance that makes it a great addition to any room, whether it’s in a professional recording studio or in your home. Yamaha has been making acoustic pianos for over a century, so they certainly know what they’re doing in crafting an instrument that sounds fantastic, and the b1 is no exception as its crown-sized soundboard enhances resonance and projection from the instrument. The b1 also features brass pedals for shift, muffler, and damper.

best Baldwin B125 Upright Piano

Baldwin B125 Upright Piano - Best Upright Piano

The Baldwin B125 is an upright piano that offers many tonal qualities that put it in a comparable place to the sound of grand pianos. The instrument’s spruce soundboard is responsible for the B125’s fantastic tone. The keys of the piano are enhanced by Full Blow direction action, giving this piano a great feel and response. The cabinet finish on this piano comes in either rosewood or ebony, and that’s just one reason that makes it great for placement in most rooms. If you’re looking for the rich sound of a grand in a body that easily fits in smaller spaces thanks to the vertical upright design, look no further than the Baldwin B125.

best Boston UP-188E PE Upright Piano

Boston UP-188E PE Upright Piano - Best Upright Piano

Boston’s UP-126 PE Performance Edition upright piano has a duplex scale, which provides sonic richness and has been adapted from the well-known Steinway & Sons design. Compared to other pianos, the Boston provides less string tension and thus features a larger, tapered soundboard. This means that when you play, you can expect longer sustain and a more singing quality in the tone the instrument produces. The piano’s soundboard is made from Sitka spruce and has been tapered in a very precise fashion; this results in a sound that vibrates more freely, which also accounts for the powerful, sustained tone. The Boston UP-126 has a high polish finish, available in polyester, ebony, or mahogany.

best Steinway Model 1098 Studio Upright Piano

Steinway Model 1098 Studio Upright Piano - Best Upright Piano

From classical to jazz to pop music, musicians have been relying on Steinway to provide them with great-sounding pianos for over a century and a half. The company’s 1098 Studio Upright Piano offers the same delicate and nuanced care that they have always put into their classic pianos. Steinway makes the Model 1098 in the same factory as their grand pianos, and with it comes the same production techniques and many of the same materials. The piano’s soundboard has been created like that of a violin, giving it a free and even response throughout the entire scale. The fact its made from close-grained, quarter-sawn Sitka spruce (a wood that has great stability and vibrance under vibration) gives further evidence as to why this piano sounds so great. The pedals are made from heavy, solid brass, giving you the ability to control soft, sustaining, and full sostenuto.

best Yamaha P22 Acoustic Piano

Yamaha P22 Acoustic Piano - Best Upright Piano

Yamaha markets its P22 Acoustic Piano as being ideal for schools and rehearsal areas. Looking at some of its features and the character of the build, it’s not difficult to understand why. The instrument’s permanent crown ensures that the sonic depth and tonal quality is unparalleled by other upright pianos. There's also a solid spruce soundboard which offers harmonic detail as well as a warm, rich sustain. There's also the convenience of oversized casters make it easy to move the piano from studio to studio or from one part of a learning facility to another. The piano itself has also been seasoned for destination to prevent any wear-and-tear due to humidity and temperature fluctuations.

Buyer's Guide

A Comprehensive Guide to Buy the Best Piano

From the acoustic piano that your grandparents played on to the digital one that you play for fun — we have certainly come a long way. As the market is booming with the range of options related to intricate pianos, it’s time to get your hands on the best piano with all the features and capabilities.

Are there any specific types of Pianos?

To be a good piano player, one must have an idea about changing trends in musical instruments. Let’s unwind different types of pianos so you don’t get all confused while buying the best one for yourself.

Acoustic Piano

Acoustic pianos are the old-school giant pianos that you have seen on stages and in theaters. It is like magic in a wooden box. The keys are connected with strings and hammers to produce a soothing sound. They are usually large and heavier than digital pianos. The craftsmanship and sound quality make them genuinely unforgettable and unique.

Digital Piano

Digital Pianos are the modern, updated version of acoustic pianos. They provide you with high-quality sound with the help of an electronic speaker and provide you with better playback recordings. They are similar in size to acoustic pianos but weigh less and are made of plastic instead.

Although both pianos' size and sound quality are somewhat similar, the Digital pianos have left acoustic pianos behind because of features like Bluetooth connectivity and easy-to-use recording options.

What do you need to keep in mind before buying the best piano?

While we are already on the topic of features, keep the following points in mind as they will help you choose the best piano with ease.

Weighted or non-weighted:

When it comes to weighted or non-weighted pianos, always go for weighted keys as they offer the best resistance and sound quality. Plus, it will be best for your finger strength and level of control while playing.

Therefore, make sure you invest in weighted piano as the best playing experience, and the proper technique will leave your audience amazed.

Portability

It is important to check the portability when it comes to pianos as they are bulky and heavy. If you are planning to practice on the commute or have limited space in your home, then portable pianos can be your go-to option. Digital pianos are lightweight and compact than traditional acoustic pianos.

Sound Quality

One of the most important factors to consider is the sound quality. The best pianos offer you warmer, more resonant tones. Being a pianist, it is your utmost duty to check the sound quality beforehand to articulate your expression in the form of music.

USB connectivity

The modern digital pianos are equipped with additional features like USB connectivity and LED lights. Moreover, being a budding artist, it will also enable you to record your musicals. If you plan to teach your kids to play piano, then the light feature will be attractive enough for your kid.

Key considerations

The number of keys also affects the music you want to play. A standard piano comes with 88 keys. As a beginner, opt for 66 keys as it will be enough to play any musical note. But if you are planning to begin your career as a pianist, a full 88 keys are recommended to master the keys.

Pedals

Interestingly, the pedal is the soul of the piano. There are three pedals (soft, sustain, and sostenuto), most piano keyboards come with only sustain pedal, which is enough to use for all genres of music, but in rare cases, you must buy the sustain pedal separately.

How much does a Piano usually cost?

As we all know, Pianos are relatively more expensive than other musical instruments. It is always better to consider your budget before investing in any high-end instruments. On average, an upright acoustic piano costs between $6000-$18000 whereas a high-end grand piano comes in the range of $65000-$190000.

As a beginner, look for a good quality digital keyboard so you can practice on it. On average, a digital piano costs between 500$-2000$. Move on to the high-end professional piano once you master the art of playing the piano.

Opt for foot stand or bench

Once you get a hold of the best piano, you might want to consider getting a foot stand or bench for your piano. These are the essential things you might need to factor in a while buying a piano.

An adjustable bench will be perfect for fulfilling all your needs. This way, you will be able to sit parallel to your keyboard. A mic will also be a valuable addition to your piano. With a mic, you will be able to show your magnificent music talent to everyone.

Now just hop on and start practicing your piano lessons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How to maintain a piano keyboard?

A: It is efficient to keep your piano clean and maintain it properly. To do so, you need a feather duster to wipe off the dust. You can also use a damp cloth to clean it, followed by a dry cloth. A piano should be tuned once or twice a year to keep it up to the mark.

Q: Why are your piano keys hard to press?

A: The extra friction makes it hard to press the keys. In some cases, the keys are not perfectly aligned, or the string of the keyboard is broken. You must apply some lubrication to smoothen the keys.

Q: Can you replace your piano keys if broken?

A: Yes. You can fix the broken piano keys with the help of a screwdriver and epoxy in some cases. You can always hire a professional piano technician to get the job done.

Q: Can water ruin your piano?

A: Exposure to any liquid will ruin your piano. Aside from liquids, keep your piano safe from hot temperature and humidity.

Q: Can a piano produce both high and low sound?

A: You can play fantastic music notes with a combination of keys. Use all keys to produce a range of pitches in music.

bestcovery team.jpg
Our research team searches out the best of everything so that you can confidently pick the perfect products and services for your needs.
Related Content
Go to top