Williams
Allegro IV
$400
Guitar Center's house brand delivers a no-frills hammer-action piano at $400
8.4 Beginner 5.5 Night Practice 4.5 Portability 5.7 Touch Reality 6.7 Value
88 14 kg
View Details Alesis
Alesis Prestige Review
256-note polyphony and ivory-feel keys for $500 — the spec sheet champion
88 Keys 13.6 kg graded hammer action Beginner
Scores
How These Scores Were Calculated
Beginner
8.6| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 3.0 |
| Lesson Function | Yes | +1.5 |
| App Connectivity | No | +0 |
| Recording | Yes | +1 |
| Metronome | Yes | +0.5 |
| Transpose | Yes | +0.3 |
| Layer / Split | Yes | +0.3 |
| Preset Songs | 50 | +1.5 |
| Sound Variety | 30 sounds | +0.5 |
Night Practice
5.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 2.0 |
| Headphone Jacks | 1 | +1 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm | +1 |
| Headphone Optimization | No | +0 |
| Key Action Quietness | graded hammer action | +0.5 |
| Volume Control | Yes | +1 |
| Bluetooth Audio | No | +0 |
Portability
4.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 5.0 |
| Weight | 13.6 kg | +0 |
| Width | 1350 mm | -0.5 |
| Battery | No | +0 |
| Foldable | No | +0 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +0 |
Touch Reality
6.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Key Action Quality | graded hammer action (grade 5) | +3 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +1.5 |
| Polyphony | 256 notes | +1.5 |
| Sound Modeling | No | +0 |
| Key Surface | ivory-feel | +0.5 |
Our Verdict
The Prestige delivers specs you'd normally find on $700+ pianos — 256-note polyphony, graded hammer action, ivory-feel keys, and 30W speakers — all at $500. The trade-off is brand prestige, not build quality.
Pros
- • 256-note polyphony — the highest in this price range, handling sustain-heavy pieces without note dropout
- • Ivory-feel keys with graded hammer action — a premium touch usually found on pricier models
- • 30W speakers — room-filling sound that competes with established brands
- • Built-in lesson function with 50 preset songs and split-keyboard mode for learning
- • Recording function to capture and review your practice sessions
- • Line out jacks for connecting to external speakers or an audio interface
Cons
- • No Bluetooth — you can't connect to apps wirelessly or stream audio
- • No app connectivity at all — all features are panel-controlled only
- • Alesis is primarily a DJ/producer brand — less piano-specific expertise than Yamaha or Kawai
- • Single 6.3mm headphone jack with no headphone optimization
The Prestige is the value king of budget portables. On paper, it embarrasses competitors: 256-note polyphony where others offer 128, ivory-feel keys where others have plain plastic, and 30W speakers that actually fill a room. The asterisk is that Alesis builds great audio gear but doesn't have decades of piano-specific refinement like Yamaha or Kawai. The piano sounds are good, not great. But if you're choosing on specs and price alone, the Prestige is the smartest $500 you can spend.
Technical Deep Dive
About the Key Action
The graded hammer action with ivory-feel surface is the Prestige's strongest selling point. The keys have proper weight — heavy in the bass, lighter in the treble — with a textured surface that provides grip even when your fingers are warm. The action is comparable to entry-level Yamaha and Casio hammer actions. It's not as nuanced as Kawai's RHC or Korg's RH3, but at $500 with ivory-feel keys, it's hard to complain.
Who Is This Piano For?
You're a practical buyer who cares about specs over brand names. You've compared the numbers and you can see that the Prestige offers more polyphony, the same key type, and comparable speakers to models costing $200 more. You want the most piano for your money, and you're comfortable buying from a brand that's better known for audio interfaces than pianos.
Specifications
| Keys | 88 |
| Key Action | Graded Hammer Action |
| Polyphony | 256 notes |
| Sounds | 30 |
| Weight | 13.6 kg |
| Speakers | 30W (×2) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Key Surface | Ivory Feel |
| Sound Modeling | — |
| Headphone Jacks | 1 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm |
| Headphone Optimization | No |
| USB MIDI | Yes |
| Line Out | Yes |
| Lesson Function | Yes |
| App Connectivity | No |
| Recording | Yes |
| Metronome | Yes |
| Transpose | Yes |
| Layer / Split | Yes |
| Preset Songs | 50 |
| Battery | No |
| Foldable | No |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 1350×350×130 mm |
| Stand Included | No |
| Pedal Included | Yes |
Recommended Accessories
🪑
Stand
Stand not included (sold separately)
A sturdy X-stand or furniture-style stand is essential if one isn't included.
🎧
Headphones
Closed-back headphones with good bass response make practice sessions more enjoyable.
🎹
Sustain Pedal
The included pedal is usually basic. A half-damper pedal upgrade is worthwhile for expressive playing.
💺
Bench
An adjustable-height bench helps maintain proper posture during long practice sessions.
How It Compares
Prestige vs Allegro IV
The Prestige scores higher in Touch Reality. The Allegro IV costs $100 less. Choose the Prestige if you prioritize realistic touch.
Williams Allegro IV →Prestige vs KA90
The Prestige scores higher in Touch Reality. The KA90 costs $100 less. Choose the Prestige if you prioritize realistic touch.
Kurzweil KA90 →Prestige vs KA-120
The Prestige scores higher in Touch Reality, while the KA-120 edges ahead in Portability. Choose the Prestige if you prioritize realistic touch.
Kurzweil KA-120 →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Alesis Prestige good for beginners?
Yes. The Alesis Prestige scores 8.6/10 on our Beginner scale, which means it has strong learning features like lesson modes, app connectivity, and built-in songs to help new players get started.
Does the Alesis Prestige have Bluetooth?
No, the Alesis Prestige does not have Bluetooth. You'll need a USB cable for app connectivity.
How heavy is the Alesis Prestige?
The Alesis Prestige weighs 13.6 kg (30 lbs). It scores 4.5/10 on our Portability scale. This is manageable for occasional moves but not truly portable.
Can I use headphones with the Alesis Prestige?
Yes. The Alesis Prestige has 1 headphone jack (6.3mm). It scores 5.5/10 on our Night Practice scale.
How many keys does the Alesis Prestige have?
The Alesis Prestige has a full 88-key keyboard, the same as an acoustic piano. This gives you the complete range for any piece of music.
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