YAMAHA NP-12 Piaggero - Slimline Home Keyboard for Hobbyists and Beginners, in Black

Product Information

The NP-32 is also quite bare-bones when it comes to connectivity options, but all the essentials are here. The speakers on the NP-32 are another highlight, as they’re of a high wattage compared to the competition. Adding a stand, stool and sustain pedal will firmly see you set for many years without the need to spend any more. And don’t forget that you would still get a reasonable amount of money for this piano when trading it in if you choose to go for a higher model further down the line. But the 61-keys are a good bit fewer than a full range keyboard of 88-keys, so classical players probably want to stay clear.

This seems trivial, but the company’s own YDP-series tends to use button-key combos that are less user-friendly than the alternative. So if you are on a budget (and aren’t we all!), and you want to see how fun it is to learn the piano before you decide to spend some serious money, then the Yamaha NP12 Piaggero may just be for you. The default piano sound will probably be your mainstay. At first glance, the piano sound is nearly identical to that featured on the PSR-E363, but playing it shows there’s a lot more variation to be had. After one touch, that illusion breaks down. The keys are unweighted, but their piano-style shape means there’s a slight bit of added heft, which can make the keys feel slightly more sluggish than similarly unweighted flatbed keys on other keyboards (like the PSR-E363).

Manuals

In terms of looks, Yamaha has done well with the NP-32. It’s unfortunate that the controls feel flimsy. This keyboard comes with a standard 12V power adapter, but can also run on 6 AA batteries. I always prefer to plug pianos and keyboards into the wall, but the battery option is always a nice bonus.

To close this section, I’ll give props to Yamaha for including dedicated controls for most commonly used features. Although there are less functions for beginners, it’s still a great keyboard to learn on (as long as you understand what you’re not getting with this keyboard—namely weighted keys). Aesthetically, I prefer the look of the NP-12 over the PSR-E353. The CT-S1 is the latest offering from Casio. This 61 note beginners keyboard delivers fantastic sounds at a great price. With 76 graded soft-touch keys, the NP-32 is the perfect option if you are looking for a larger keyboard with an improved key action. The Strings sound is very balanced. It’s a large chamber orchestra sound, and while it sounds very digital, the velocity sensitive keys can be played in a way that convinces the listener that the dynamics of a real orchestra are there.As a digital piano for a beginner, you cannot go wrong with the sound that you get. You are also able to connect a sustain pedal, so the sound is even more realistic when compared with an acoustic piano. While the PSR-E363 is reactive to dynamic changes (say, fortissimo to pianissimo), you can clearly hear that the same audio file is being played for most ranges, with volume being the only thing changing.