In this Yamaha P45 vs DGX-650 review, you’ll discover which portable digital piano best suits your needs.
Does more expensive mean better when it comes to digital pianos?
Well, sort of. If you invest more money in a digital piano, there’s a fair chance you’ll get to access more features. However, it won’t be worth the extra money if you don’t need those features.
A great example of this is the Yamaha P45 vs Yamaha DGX-650 comparison. The Yamaha DGX-650 is more expensive and comes with many more features, but if you’re a beginner pianist, there’s a high chance you won’t need any of these features. So, from this perspective, the Yamaha P45 may offer more value for the money.
When I compared these two pianos, there was no doubt that the DGX-650 was the superior option. With better tones and more effects, the Yamaha DGX-650 gives you full control over your sound. But if you’re a beginner that doesn’t need these extra features, then you might be better off with the P45.
Yamaha P45 vs DGX-650: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Yamaha P45 vs DGX-650: The Features
To compare these two pianos, I took a deep dive into their features. And by the end, I scored this comparison 3-2 in favor of the Yamaha DGX-650. The score was pretty close for such a wide price difference, which isn’t a knock on the DGX-650’s quality. Instead, this speaks more to the value that the P45 offers at a relatively low price.
While the DGX-650 has more premium sounds or features, the best piano for you depends on your needs. And in this section, you’ll learn more about these two pianos’ features to make it easier to find the one for you.
Tone
The winner: Yamaha DGX-650
To start this entire comparison, I did tone tests. And because of the better sound engine, the DGX-650 produced much better tones. On top of that, it has a more flexible sound library than the P45, which is why it was the clear winner. But before you get too excited about the variety of voices on the DGX-650, there is a catch that I’ll explain in this section.
+Tone Generation
The Yamaha P45 uses the AWM Stereo Sampling method to generate tones. Basically, this piano is loaded with high-quality stereo recordings of real instruments, which you can trigger whenever you press a key. And compared to other pianos in the price range that use sampling, the tones are much better.
That said, it couldn’t compete as much with the Yamaha DGX-650, which uses the Pure CF Sound Engine, which is much more advanced. This model has real Yamaha CF Grand Pianos recordings to produce a realistic and very bright tone that you’d expect from Yamaha acoustic pianos.
That said, the DGX-650 only uses the Pure CF for its piano tones and around 100+ other voices. For the other tones in this piano, it uses the XGLite sound pack, which gives you variety but not that much quality.
+Sound Library
When you get the Yamaha P45, you get 10 different voices. While this doesn’t sound like a lot, this is great for beginners. This piano has all the essential tones you need to develop your skills without loading it with too many voices that distract you.
Now, if you’re an experienced pianist, you might find the versatility of the DGX-650 more attractive than the P45. This is because the DGX-650 has over 150 tones from the Pure CF Sound Engine, 15 drums, and SFX kits, as well as 381 other voices from the XGlite sound pack. And while the non-Pure CF tones on the DGX-650 aren’t as good, you at least get tons of variety when playing this piano.
Feel & Playability
The winner: Tie
You’d usually expect the more expensive piano to come with better hammer action, but that isn’t the case with the Yamaha DGX-650 and P45. Despite the Yamaha DGX-650 costing almost twice the P45, I found that the feel on both pianos was almost identical.
+Hammer Action
The reason both of these pianos felt similar was that they use the same hammer action system. Both pianos feature the Yamaha Graded Hammer Standard or GHS. This system is designed to replicate the feel of a real piano by having the lower keys weigh slightly more than the higher keys.
This results in a very subtle but noticeable difference. Compared to other pianos with basic weighted keys, both the Yamaha P45 and the DGX-650 feel much better and more realistic to play.
Piano Features
The winner: Tie
This was yet another category wherein these two pianos were tied. While they came with different piano features, I found that the features target different types of pianists. So, I had to give the point to both pianos.
+Playing Modes
The Yamaha DGX-650 comes with split and dual modes, while the P45 comes with dual and duo modes. With split mode, you’ll be able to divide the piano into two distinct zones, each with its own voice or tone. That way, it will seem like you’re playing two instruments at once, which can come in handy when performing.
Dual mode blends two voices together. This allows for a lot of experimentation and also lets you develop a tone that’s unique to your style. This mode is available on both pianos, which is great.
One particular mode that caught my eye was duo or lesson mode. This mode is designed for beginners going through piano lessons as it divides the piano into two smaller keyboards with the same voice and tuning. That way, you and the piano teacher can use the same piano for lessons without worrying about pitch variations.
On top of that, this feature comes in handy when playing piano duets, as it allows you to seem like you have two different pianos while only playing one instrument. This is why I feel like the P45 is a great portable digital piano for beginners.
That said, even if the DGX-650 doesn’t come with lesson mode, the extra playing modes it does come with are great for live performances. So, if you’re a serious pianist starting to take the stage, bringing the DGX-650 with you would allow a lot of versatility in your playing.
Yamaha P45 vs DGX-650: The Similarities
The reason the score was so close when I compared these two pianos was because of they share a lot of similarities. This was quite a surprise to me, considering the price difference between the two. And while I still feel like the Yamaha DGX-650 is a great investment because of the sheer quality of the tones, keep in mind that it shares many features with the P45, which is available for half the price.
The first similarity is the design. These pianos seem different on the surface because the P45 doesn’t have a display, while the DGX-650 does. However, they share the same general design and weigh around the same. So, you won’t have a hard time bringing the piano to lessons or a gig.
Additionally, both pianos share the same glossy key texture. I was honestly not a fan of this as they feel slippery and unlike a real acoustic piano. This is more forgivable on the affordable P45, but it wasn’t something I expected from the DGX-650.
So, if you’re a beginner looking for a reliable piano that’s affordable, the P45 is a great pick. Even if it’s one of the cheaper Yamaha pianos, it offers a lot of features and value for the money.
But if you’re a more experienced pianist requiring more versatility, the DGX-650 is a worthwhile investment.
Quick Rundown of the Yamaha P45
- Includes the P45 Digital Piano, power adapter, sustain pedal and music rest
- 88 fully weighted piano style keys simulate the feel of an acoustic piano and provide a quality playing experience
- GHS weighted action is heavier in the low end and lighter in the high end, just like an acoustic piano
- Contains 10 different voices, including digitally sampled tones from real Yamaha acoustic grand pianos
- Dual mode lets you combine 2 voices together, like piano and strings, for an inspiring new playing experience. Tuning- 414.8 - 440.0 - 446.8 Hz
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown of the Yamaha DGX-650
- PureCF-sampled piano: Sampled from Yamaha's acclaimed CFIIIS concert grand, no other digital piano brand at this price delivers recordings from such a high-end instrument.
- AUX line input: Connect any device with a line output like mobile devices, computers, mixers or even another keyboard and hear it through the internal speakers.
- 128-note polyphony: Provides enough horsepower for a dropout-free performance while layering two Voices and playing two-handed, sustained chords.
- 88-note, weighted GHS action: Heavier touch in the low end and lighter in the highs, just like an acoustic piano.
- "You Are The Artist" Series: Professionally-arranged, play-along songs matched with song books from Hal Leonard. Learn to play songs by artists like Elton John, Taylor Swift, Adele and more.
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Product Videos
Related Articles to Yamaha P45
- Yamaha P45 vs P45B: What’s the Real Difference?
- Yamaha P-35B vs P45: Finding the Best Affordable Yamaha Piano
- Yamaha P45 Vs DGX-660: A Head-to-Head Comparison
- Yamaha P45 vs Williams Rhapsody II: A Head-to-Head Comparison
- Yamaha P45 Vs NP32: A Head-to-Head Comparison
- Yamaha P45 vs Williams Allegro III: Finding the Best Digital Piano on a Budget
- Yamaha P45 vs YPG 535: Which Is the Best Affordable Yamaha Piano?
- Yamaha P60 vs P45: Finding the Best Yamaha Portable Digital Piano
- Yamaha P45 vs P105: Should You Spend Extra for the P105?
- Alesis Recital Vs Yamaha P45: Which Offers Great Value For Money?
- Donner DEP-10 Vs Yamaha P-45: Which Digital Piano Is Better?
- Yamaha P45 Vs Korg B2: Which Digital Piano Fits Beginners Better?
- Yamaha P45 VS P115: Which P-Series Newbie Gives You More Value for Money?
- Yamaha P45 vs Casio CDP S100: Finding the Better Bet for Beginners
- Yamaha P45 vs YDP 103: Should You Get a Portable or Console Digital Piano?
- Alesis Recital Pro vs Yamaha P45: Which Should You Get As Your First Piano?
- Yamaha P45 vs Roland FP10: Which Entry Level Titan Takes the Top Spot?
- Yamaha P45 vs Donner DEP 20: Which Model Is the Better Option for Beginners?
- Yamaha P45 vs Casio PX 770: Should You Get the Portable or Console Digital Piano?
- Alesis Prestige Artist vs Yamaha P45: Can Alesis Hold Its Own Against the Popular Yamaha Model?
- Yamaha P45 vs P125: Why the Yamaha P125 Is the Better Pick for Pianists
- Yamaha P71 vs P45: Why the Amazon Exclusive P71 is the Better Digital Piano
Related Articles to Yamaha Dgx 650
References:
- Yamaha P45: https://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical_instruments/pianos/p_series/p-45/specs.html#product-tabs
- Yamaha DGX-650: https://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical_instruments/pianos/portable_grand/dgx-650/specs.html
Lulacruza is an electronic folk duo operating at the junction of the hypermodern and the ancient. Our music weaves together hypnotic female singing, South American folk instruments and electronic processing, while channeling pulsating waves from the source of creation.
Lalucruza is also a community where you can connect with other music lovers to collaborate, exchange ideas and share knowledge. A platform for who wants to learns the basics of playing piano, guitar, drum masters’ technique, etc.. is the premise of our website.