Yamaha P-125 Review: Is It Worth It?
The Yamaha P125 is a compact digital piano that is known for being minimalist and user-friendly. It is affordable and you can easily travel with it. For the price, it is worth it if you are an intermediate piano player looking for a simple keyboard that sounds like an actual piano and has excellent dynamics.
While it may not have common keyboard features, it is sold as a digital piano, which is exactly what the Yamaha P125 is.
A Summary of The Yamaha P125
The Yamaha P125 has great features as it comes with 88 fully weighted keys, four different reverb effects, a sustain pedal, and no assembly is required. While it may be limiting with one pedal, you can set up a three-pedal set so you do not have to limit your playing.
The speakers are also immersive and give off a great sound. The compact and lightweight keyboard meet all the needs an intermediate player would have. While it does not have too many included sounds, the 24 that it has are true to their sound and sound completely like the real thing. The keyboard even includes a function to control it from your phone.
According to Yamaha, the keyboard is “easily portable and extremely accessible, the P-125 is always ready to perform whenever–or wherever–you are.”
The Yamaha P125 Pros & Cons:
Advantages
- Compact
- Lightweight and portable
- Great organic piano sound
- Immersive sound system
- USB to MIDI recording
- 2 track recording
- iOS app controls
- Different color options
- 4 different reverb effects
- 24 included sounds
- Dual mode
- Layer mode
- Split mode
Disadvantages
- You will have to upgrade to a three-set pedal if you feel that the one sustain pedal is limiting.
- Controls may be confusing if you do not use the app.
Features
- 88 fully weighted keyboard
- Only 24 pounds
- Touch sensitivity
- 192 note polyphony
- 24 included sounds
- 50 piano piece demos
- 21 other sound demos
- Four different reverb effects
- Transpose -6 to +6 semitones
- Different modes: dual, layer, split
- 2 track recording
- Headphone jack
- Metronome included
Compact and Lightweight
The Yamaha P125 is very compact and easily portable. It is very simple but also allows for many features with its minimalistic aesthetic.
It is durable and strong despite its plastic build, which allows it to last for years. It also combines a keyboard and a stage piano, which allows it to be portable with also useful piano features for live performances.
The keyboard weighs about 24 pounds. Its lightweight is due to its plastic material makes the keyboard easy to transport and travel with. You can easily move it without struggling. Since it is strong and sturdy, you will also not have to worry about damaging the keys or the piano itself.
For an 88-key keyboard, it’s lightweight, and the compact build does not sacrifice any features.
No Assembly Required
What is great about the Yamaha P125 is that there is absolutely no assembly required. You take it out of the box and plug it in.
There is no mount or stand that comes with the keyboard. So, you will not have to assemble the stand because there is not one. While you may not want to play the piano without one, you can set it on a table or somewhere that is comfortable.
If you do feel the need to get a stand, you can buy one from Yamaha or even just a standard keyboard stand.
iOS App Hookup for Controls
The Yamaha P125 is moving with technology and has designed something new when it comes to its controls. The Yamaha P125 is compatible with Yamaha’s Smart Pianist iOS app. This app will allow you to control your piano straight from your phone.
If you do not have an iPhone or do not want to control the piano from the app, it still has old-fashioned controls on the keyboard itself. Each function has its own designated button with different voice groups, buttons for recording, rhythms, and the metronome.
By doing this, you will have to press the “function” button and the designated key for the function you want. So, if you need the metronome, you will press “function” and the metronome key. The keys are not marked on the keyboard, so you will have to use the manual to remember which key does what.
No Full Set of Pedals: Only The Sustain
The keyboard only comes with a sustain pedal to use the sustain function. Standard pianos have three different pedals to use other than just the sustain, so it may be limiting in that aspect.
However, the sustain pedal itself does not mimic a real sustain pedal as it is either on or off. There is no middle ground. So it does not matter how hard you press down on the pedal.
If you find this an issue when it comes to this keyboard, you can buy the triple pedal for the Yamaha P125. This will allow you to get three pedals just like a standard piano. This pedal set is much less portable with the keyboard and makes traveling with it difficult. However, if you need three pedals, this is the way to go.
Different Color Options
The Yamaha P125 comes with two different color options. You can either get the piano in black or get it in white without sacrificing any features. It allows you to pick something that you feel will match your living space better or even match your equipment for live shows.
Natural Acoustic Piano Sound
The Yamaha P125 includes sounds from the Yamaha CFX Concert Grand Piano. This recorded sound allows you to have the same sound as your Yamaha P125. It gives off the sound of a genuine concert piano and the fully weighted keys reflect different dynamics and textures.
The keyboard allows you to play as if it actually was a grand piano. It has great acoustics and sounds like the real deal.
24 Included Sounds
The Yamaha P125 includes 24 sounds. The sounds are separated by sections which include:
- Piano sounds
- Electric piano sounds
- Harpsichord
- Vibraphone
- Clavichord
- Organ sounds
- String sound
- Bass Sounds
While the keyboard does not have too many sounds compared to other keyboards, what is included is a great number because of its compact size. The sounds themselves are high quality and recorded the same way as the grand piano standard sound.
Even if you do not plan to use them, they are nice to have if you are writing music and want to know what other instruments sound like, but also to broaden your musical horizons.
Immersive Speakers
The Yamaha P125 includes 4 speakers, with two on the front and two on the bottom. The way the speakers are placed allows the sound to surround your environment and completely immerse you with the keyboard.
The speakers are quite loud and are just loud enough to play at gigs and shows. Even at high volumes, there is little to no distortion as the speakers are strong.
The keyboard also includes a sound boost that makes the sound louder than normal. For a portable and compact piano, the speakers included are better than most portable keyboards.
Reverb Effect
The reverb effect is the only additional sound effect that is included with the Yamaha P125. If you want a keyboard with multiple sound effects, this may not be the one for you.
However, the reverb itself has different types of reverb to give off different types of acoustics. This includes:
- Concert Hall
- Chamber Hall
- Club
- Recital Hall
The four different reverbs allow you to switch out the acoustics based on the different rooms that you would typically play in. It gives you a sense of a natural concert environment.
Dual, Layer, and Split Modes
The keyboard includes three different modes, so you can change how you use the keyboard. There are some functions that may be more useful to you than others. However, having the option is a great feature.
The three features included are:
- Dual mode splits the keyboard into two right down the middle. It will allow you to play with two people at once and play the same keys. If you have a teacher or student, this is a great way to learn to follow alongside one another.
- Layer mode is a feature that will let you play two different sounds at the same time. You can play a string sound alongside a piano sound. When you do this, you will hear both and be able to know what the piano sounds like with different instruments.
- Split mode will essentially split the keyboard into two sounds. It will allow you to play one instrument with one hand and another with the other. So, with your right hand, you can play the organ and with your left hand, you can play a voice.
192 Note Polyphony Functions
The keyboard includes a 192 polyphony function. This function plays multiple sounds at once. So you will be able to play ten sounds at once or up to 192 sounds at once.
If you have a complicated musical piece you are working on that requires this, you will be able to use this function easily. By using the sustain pedal, you can activate this function and implement it into your practice.
Transpose 6 Semitones
The Yamaha P125 allows you to transpose multiple semitones. You can go from +6 semitones to -6 semitones. By easily switching keys, you can match the people you may play with instead of actually transposing the music you are playing. It makes everything much simpler rather than transposing the music itself.
Metronome Is Included
The metronome included with the Yamaha P125 has many different speeds to choose from. This may be anywhere between 5bpm and 280bpm. This ability will allow you to play in any time signature and allow you to keep tempo while practicing.
Having a keyboard with a built-in metronome is a very helpful tool and you won’t even have to buy one.
MIDI Playback and 2-Track Recording
If you need to listen to your playing to make sure you are playing at the right speed or watching for any dynamic mistakes, the Yamaha P125 allows you to record two tracks.
However, if you want to record music on the keyboard to create songs on your computer, you can use the USB port to use a MIDI to record your playing. By using a USB MIDI, you will be able to record your playing on your computer with music recording software.
Includes Graded Hammer Standard Keyboard Action
Like other Yamaha keyboards, the Yamaha P125 includes the Graded Hammer Standard action. This allows the keys to be weighted and feel like a standard piano. It replicates a concert piano quite well and gets the job done.
If you are really picky, there are some flaws in this action, as it is not exactly the same as a standard piano. However, for the price and its compactness, it does well for its limitations.
Touch Sensitivity
The keyboard has built-in touch sensitivity which allows you to play different dynamics. This capability allows you to play music exactly how it is written with different levels of softness and loudness.
What You Get In the Box
What is included is not much. However, it is everything you will need to get this keyboard up and running. What you get is:
- Music Rest
- Manual
- Power adapter
- Sustain pedal
Conclusion
Yamaha states that “the P-125 was designed with simplicity of use in mind.” The digital piano is just that.
It is a simple digital piano that gives you a concert experience. If you are looking for something that is lightweight and portable to practice on and take to gigs, this is a great keyboard. It is not limiting when it comes to intermediate piano playing and is great for the price.
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