P525B

I needed to get a replacement for my old P-140, whose now-noisy action has worn out considerably, but is still better than the terrible sloppy and noisy action on the Casio Privia I wasted money on three years ago. So I waited until retirement and finally could try again. As it happened, the 525 was/is a new model with the latest tech, some of which I had never heard of and thought it might be a bit of overkill, as I really didn't need to have the mechanical noises of an acoustic grand reproduced to get a sense of authenticity. The action is slightly lighter than I expected, but that being said, the action is SO much more responsive than the P-140. Unfortunately, one of the Yamaha apps that they claimed works with the 525 did not; and I really don't need to change the settings on the piano via an app, but that's what SmartPianist does. The other app was for recording, but it either doesn't work or I haven't figured out how to hook everything up properly to make it work. Directions these days are so terrible, and although the Yamaha site has expanded itself a lot, it is still hard as ever to find what you are looking for. Anyway, it will be interesting to see how long this action lasts. I can play Hanons on the P-140 instead of wearing out the new piano. But seriously, for me this was like getting to play a $200,000 instrument (actually two counting the new Bösendorfer sampling), for under $2000 including a 4-year Asurion "no-matter-what-happens" protection plan. (If I live long enough, maybe I can afford a Nord!) I was really nervous about buying this to be shipped, but it came in perfect condition. If you can afford it, don't hesitate! Addendum 9/22/24: I forgot to mention one downside to the redesign. I guess to improve the sound quality they placed the speakers on the top facing up. While improves the sound quality it leaves the speakers vulnerable to dust and worse possibilities. I feel compelled to cover them whenever I’m not using the piano so I miss out on having the aesthetic near me all the time. It definitely makes me nervous. Another thing worth mentioning is the Baudrilliard-esque experiencial paradox. The detailed reproduction of every minute mechanical acoustic grand sound to try and replicate the experience of playing a real 9 foot acoustic grand actually creates a sort of disconnect as you are aware that you are playing in a small space on a small instrument. It sounds real and fake at the same time. Still, I like the sound boost and auto adjusting EQ that adjust to how loud you are playing. Finally, I just wanna comment on the action once more. I had said it surprised me. It felt a little light. When I compared it to my P140, the P/140 definitely had a firmer action even after 15 years of pounding. But while the 525 action is lighter, it is far more responsive. Okay I’m done. I hope my blathering on helps someone feel more confident making a decision.

Piano is perfect. Keys are supper awesome

Replaced a 30 year old Ensoniq KS-32... so definitely a technology jump. I actually quit using the KS-32 many years ago, have a Yamaha Baby Grand. The P525 however is a welcome addition. I love the keyboard action, the piano choices and tweaks available, the added sounds and esp the Yamaha Smart Pianist app on a wireless IPAD. The ability to store your music sheets in PDF form and then import them into the APP is a nice touch. No more paper sheet music needed. Adding a backing track while playing illuminated sheet music than can be scrolled with a swipe is nice. Unfortunately, that can't be recorded. Yamaha, for some reason, has disabled the ability to record a rhythm while displaying a MIDI or PDF file. Their Tier 2 techs confirmed this. I did have to add some stability. A double 'X' frame still wobbles too much. This is a heavy unit. Had to switch to a Z frame. Their included music stand that 'plugs' into the top of the keyboard is also a weak design. It pivots back and forth easily. Presumably if you just have a piece of paper there it's a moot point. But... they encourage an IPAD and use of the Yamaha Smart Pianist App. So now you have a fairly heavy IPAD on this attachment, and.... you are pressing on it. Wobble wobble. Playing also wobbles this with an IPAD sitting there. Solution- a piece of rubber I cut into a wedge. Jam that into the center under the music holder, and that stabilizes it much better. Yamaha needs to include this as a quick fix, but it's easy to rig it yourself. There are other oddities. If you turn on the unit with your foot depressing the sustain pedal, it reverse its function. Meaning you start on sustain and if you depress the pedal it stops it. Just start over and then never put your foot on the pedal when powering up. Speakers are good. I picked up a BOSE noise cancelling headset, which is either bluetooth or wired. You have to use the wired option for this (I don't think you can bluetooth to it?). There are two headphone jacks also. There aren't a ton of buttons to learn, like some of the higher end gigging keyboards. If you are a home player, and want some great piano sounds, maybe add a soft jazz backing track as a metronome, want your sheet music in PDF form, add some band sounds, records a few songs for your family, and want to follow the bouncing ball on MIDI files or follow along, this is all possible...

I cannot believe there isnt an equalizer. The bass notes are perfect but the midrange could use a little boost with the way I play. I tried connecting to my new yamaha mixer but the only way I can get that to work is to run it from headphone jack into the mixer and that causes headphones to sound terrible. Being I am not using this to haul around I regret not checking out the Arius or mlre piano-like models. Anyone else plug this into a mixer and then use headphones from the mixer?

Don't know what Yamaha improved twenty years later from my wonderful P-80. Speakers sound like from an old fashioned cheap radio, the thing is considerably heavier than the P-80, and highly touted sampled sounds; piano and organ are tinny; not as good as the P-80. Why are they offering this heavy thing with self-contained amplifier and speakers if I have to plug it into an amplifier? Also the digital display screen is small and instruction manual is useless, overly complicated and for many models. Avoid!!

I own a Clavinova which I love, love, love, but unfortunately don't have room for it where I live so it stays at the music studio where I get lessons. I get to play it once a week or so. In the meantime I was practicing on a P45 which I do have room for. It was okay but lacked the touch and tone that I grew to appreciate in the Clavinova. So, I decided to upgrade. What I wanted was a keyboard with the characteristics of the Clavinova in a smaller package and without all the bells and whistles. I just want to play a great piano keyboard. At first I tried the DGX670, but that wasn't it, then I tried Rowland FP30X, which was really nice, but I thought the keys were too heavy, and then, finally I found out about the P525. Bingo, that was it. No, it doesn't exactly compare to the sound of the Clavinova, but it fits in my space, it has the same tone and feel as the Clavinova and I can get an external speaker to improve the sound if I decide I need that. So, I'm very pleased that Yamaha made this possible.

My Yamaha P-525 sounds horribly. The only usable voice is the CFX grand. All other voices including Boesendorfer sound very bad. Even with CFX grand voice some keys have a ringing tone that are difficult to tolerate. On headphones the ringing is less noticeable, and this is how I use the piano. I have purchased the piano on Amazon through Sweetwater. Getting tech support there is close to impossible with waiting time into hours. I am not sure if the problems I have happen to all P-525s or Sweetwater sold me a lemon. The piano itself is big and heavy and sending it back would be a major problem for me. The keyboard touch is actually good thus two stars.

So the speakers and sound are really good quality and I’m impressed considering how small the speakers are. Though the keys aren’t really that great. Even though they are real wood keys like a piano, the touch does not feel any different than your basic keyboard. I was hoping it was a bit more realistic, like an acoustic Piano, but it’s not what the description makes it out to be.