The P80 is one of Yamaha’s flagship keyboards and comes equipped with plenty of the company’s most useful innovations. The Graded Hammer Effect (GHE) keyboard provides a nice, solid key action that accurately mimics the feel of an acoustic piano, and thanks to the company’s cutting-edge recording technology the piano sound of the Yamaha P80 is equally accurate. In this Yamaha P80 review, we’ll look into all the innovations that went into this digital keyboard to determine why it is so well-reviewed by today’s musicians.
[amazon box=”B00UJ9LNDK” title=”The P80″ image_size=”large” rating=”4.4″]
[su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#137815″]
The GHE keyboard is one of Yamaha’s best keyboard they’ve made, providing plenty of realistic resistance to imitate the feel of an acoustic piano. Despite the fact that it has fully weighted keys, the P80 itself weighs only 37 pounds, making it one of the most realistic portable keyboards you will find. Along with this, the P80 has a great piano sound that is produced using industry-leading recording technology as well as all the dozens of extra features and settings that Yamaha digital pianos are renowned for.
[/su_box]
[su_box title=”Cons” box_color=”#891212″]
There are not many disadvantages of this keyboard, however, some reviewers have pointed out that their P80 has had a difficult time standing up to the abuse of frequent transportation. If you are a traveling musician who is looking to purchase the P80, just take the time to load and unload it with a little care. Other than this, the P80 is one of the most well-reviewed portable keyboards available.
[/su_box]
Our Ratings
[wp-review id=”786″]
Sound Quality
Yamaha is a master at making digital pianos sound just like acoustic ones, and the P80 is no exception. This keyboard produces a rich and resonating sound that has so many subtle nuances that it would take an expert pianist to point them all out.
It is important to note that the P80 does not have built-in speakers, meaning you will need either headphones or a set of external speakers. When played through a pair of good piano headphones or external speakers, however, the P80 has a great piano sound that is just as good for home practicing as it is for stage performances.
Key Action and Realism
Key Action and RealismThe GHE keyboard that the P80 comes equipped with is an absolutely excellent keyboard. The company advertises this keyboard as being virtually indistinguishable from an acoustic piano, and they are justified in claiming this. The keys have plenty of weight and resistance, and that resistance increases as the notes get lower, just like you were playing an upright acoustic.
If you are not completely satisfied with the Yamaha P80’s sensitivity right out of the box, the keyboard sensitivity can be adjusted to fit your own preferences. For a portable keyboard, the key action on the P80 is absolutely terrific. If you want to purchase a portable keyboard that does not sacrifice anything in terms of realism then the P80 is an excellent choice to consider.
Other Features and Specifications
The P80 is loaded with useful features. These include dual headphone jacks which are perfect for student/teacher playing, MIDI connectivity, a built-in metronome, a detachable music stand, a sustain pedal, record and playback ability, dozens of digital effects, 64-note polyphony, and a rolling hard carry case for easy transport.
The P80 weighs 37 pounds, which is a little heavier than some portable keyboards but not so heavy that it can’t be easily transported. Considering its fully-weighted 88-key keyboard, the P80 is actually quite light.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbRxF08LhIY
Final Thoughts
The P80 is a terrific keyboard with a key action and acoustic piano sound that you simply do not see very often in a portable piano. Yamaha has produced as much or more groundbreaking innovations as any digital piano company, and the P80 has certainly benefited from this. If you are looking for a portable keyboard that is as close to an acoustic piano as possible then you should certainly purchase the Yamaha P80.