Yamaha
P-525
$1,899
Yamaha P-525: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
10.0 Beginner 8.0 Night Practice 3.0 Portability 8.8 Touch Reality 6.3 Value
88 22 kg
Yamaha P-S500 Review
Yamaha P-S500: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
88 Keys 13.8 kg Graded Hammer 3 (GH3)
Bluetooth
Intermediate
Scores
Where to Buy
MSRP
$1,599
Retail prices change, so check current pricing at retailers.
These buttons open retailer search results and may include affiliate tracking where available. Stock and listing status can change without notice.
How These Scores Were Calculated
Beginner
10.0| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 3.0 |
| Lesson Function | Yes | +1.5 |
| App Connectivity | Yes | +1.5 |
| Recording | Yes | +1 |
| Metronome | Yes | +0.5 |
| Transpose | Yes | +0.3 |
| Layer / Split | Yes | +0.3 |
| Preset Songs | 303 | +1.5 |
| Sound Variety | 660 sounds | +0.5 |
Night Practice
8.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 2.0 |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 | +2 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm, 3.5mm | +1.5 |
| Headphone Optimization | Yes | +1.5 |
| Key Action Quietness | Graded Hammer 3 (GH3) | +0 |
| Volume Control | Yes | +1 |
| Bluetooth Audio | Yes | +0.5 |
Portability
4.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 5.0 |
| Weight | 13.8 kg | +0 |
| Width | 1340 mm | -0.5 |
| Battery | No | +0 |
| Foldable | No | +0 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +0 |
Touch Reality
8.2| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Key Action Quality | Graded Hammer 3 (GH3) (grade 7) | +4.2 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +1.5 |
| Polyphony | 256 notes | +1.5 |
| Sound Modeling | Yamaha CFX | +0.5 |
| Key Surface | ivory-feel | +0.5 |
Yamaha P-S500 review verdict
This Yamaha P-S500 review reads the published specifications from a comparison-first point of view: touch, sound, practice fit, value, and limits.
Yamaha P-S500 is best read as a portable digital piano for players who already practise regularly. This review looks at weighted-key feel, sound, practice features, value, and realistic comparison points instead of treating the spec sheet as advertising copy.
Pros
- • Key count: 88 keys, a clear basis for digital piano comparison.
- • Touch: weighted hammer action, so the review stays focused on practice feel.
- • Quiet practice: Headphone practice support.
- • Connectivity: USB MIDI, Bluetooth and app support.
- • Use case: Its best fit is home practice and stage use.
Cons
- • Main limit: the need for a furniture-style living-room instrument.
- • Stand cost and compatibility are separate checks.
- • Nearby current models may offer a better match for some players.
Yamaha P-S500 is a portable digital piano that makes most sense when its strengths are matched to the right practice situation. The useful points are 88 keys, weighted hammer action, 256-note polyphony, 20W speakers, and a weight of 13.8 kg. In a digital piano review, those details matter more than broad claims about being the best digital piano overall. For home practice and stage use, this model can be a sensible candidate if the layout and feature set match the way the instrument will actually be used. It is still worth comparing as a current buying candidate. The fairest comparison is with models in the same price and use class, where touch, speakers, headphone practice, and connectivity can be judged side by side.
Yamaha P-S500 evaluation points
Yamaha P-S500 key action and touch
Yamaha P-S500 uses a weighted hammer action. For a digital piano with weighted keys, the important question is not only whether the keys are heavy, but whether they help steady daily practice. The ivory feel key surface is a useful comfort detail. The specification lists 256-note polyphony; that is enough for ordinary pieces, while more layered playing or heavy pedal use benefits from a higher number. This makes the key action a practical comparison point rather than a decorative specification.
Who the Yamaha P-S500 is for
Yamaha P-S500 is most relevant for players who already practise regularly. The main use case is home practice and stage use. Strengths: a more piano-like touch. Limits: the need for a furniture-style living-room instrument. Buyers comparing digital pianos should also check the stand, pedal, headphone jack, app support, and local availability before deciding.
Yamaha P-S500 sound and speakers
Yamaha P-S500 offers 660 sounds and 20W speakers. That is the sound side of the review: enough variety for practice, but the real experience depends on speaker power, headphone use, and the room where it will be played. The headphone output supports quiet practice. For lessons, apps, or recording workflows, the useful connectivity is USB MIDI, Bluetooth and app support.
What to know before buying the Yamaha P-S500
Before buying Yamaha P-S500, compare it with nearby alternatives on touch, sound, portability, and value. A stand may need to be budgeted separately. A damper pedal is included, though some players may still want a fuller pedal unit. It is still worth comparing as a current buying candidate. For searchers looking for a Yamaha P-S500 review, the practical conclusion is to treat it as one candidate in a digital piano comparison, not as a universal answer for every player.
Demo Video
Source:
ePianos.co.uk Watch on YouTube ↗
Specifications
| Keys | 88 |
| Key Action | Graded Hammer 3 (GH3) |
| Polyphony | 256 notes |
| Sounds | 660 |
| Weight | 13.8 kg |
| Speakers | 20W (×4) |
| Bluetooth | Audio + MIDI |
| Key Surface | Ivory Feel |
| Sound Modeling | Yamaha CFX |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm, 3.5mm |
| Headphone Optimization | Yes |
| USB MIDI | Yes |
| Line Out | Yes |
| Lesson Function | Yes |
| App Connectivity | Yes |
| Recording | Yes |
| Metronome | Yes |
| Transpose | Yes |
| Layer / Split | Yes |
| Preset Songs | 303 |
| Battery | No |
| Foldable | No |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 1340×295×140 mm |
| Stand Included | No |
| Pedal Included | Yes |
Spec terms are explained in the glossary. Glossary →
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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.
Where to Buy
MSRP
$1,599
Retail prices change, so check current pricing at retailers.
These buttons open retailer search results and may include affiliate tracking where available. Stock and listing status can change without notice.
How It Compares
P-S500 vs ES920
The P-S500 and ES920 score very similarly across the main review axes. The P-S500 costs $300 less.
Kawai ES920 →P-S500 vs ES-520
The P-S500 scores higher in piano-like touch. The ES-520 costs $200 less. Choose the P-S500 if piano-like touch matters most.
Kawai ES-520 →P-S500 vs P-525
The P-S500 scores higher in quiet practice and portability, while the P-525 is stronger in piano-like touch. The P-S500 costs $300 less. Choose the P-S500 if quiet practice matters most.
Yamaha P-525 →Related Guides
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Read more →What reviewers say online
A synthesis of recurring points from price-comparison sites, Amazon reviews, music-store staff videos and forum threads. Not a star-rating average — we read across multiple reviews and pulled out the points that came up repeatedly.
The Yamaha P-S500 is a higher-end portable with a near-console keyboard, a large voice set, and Stream Lights. Across specialist reviews and retailer feedback, the praise centers on the CFX and Bösendorfer sounds, the Stream Lights learning feature, and its portability. At the same time, some note that a few specifications have been simplified relative to the higher-tier P-515, and that the design assumes the Smart Pianist app.
Praised most often
-
Flagship concert-grand sound engine
The sound, sampled from the Yamaha CFX and the Bösendorfer Imperial, is mainly described as clear from the low to the high register and dense for a portable.
-
Stream Lights learning feature
Stream Lights, where lights above the keys show which key to play and when, draws frequent comments that you can start playing even if you cannot read music and that it is clearer than learning from videos.
-
Playing feel of the GH3 keyboard
The weighted keyboard is mainly praised for a natural gradient—heavier in the bass, lighter in the treble—that makes expression easier, with comments that it has real substance for a portable.
-
Portability and space-saving
Compact and easy to carry, it stands out in practical terms as easy to place even in a small room and easy to take out and about.
Common cautions and criticisms
-
Some simplification relative to the higher-tier P-515
Reviewers repeatedly note that some specifications, such as the keyboard and the onboard voices, have been pared back compared with the higher-tier P-515. The takeaway is that those familiar with the P-515 are more likely to notice the difference.
-
Realizing its full potential assumes the app
The many voices and settings are designed to be drawn out via the Smart Pianist app. Some note that without a compatible device or the app, much of its appeal is lost.
-
Stand sold separately
No stand is included with the instrument, so setting it up for stationary use requires additional spending.
-
Less volume than a console
The four speakers hold their own for a portable, but in a large room they struggle to deliver the fullness of a console model.
By source
-
Specialist review sites
The tone mainly credits the sound and playing feel of a higher-end portable and the Stream Lights feature, while soberly noting the simplification relative to the P-515 and the app-dependent design.
-
Retailer reviews and videos
Practical praise stands out for being able to start even without reading music and for combining portability with quality.
-
Head-to-head comparisons (vs the DGX-670 / P-225, etc.)
The recurring framing is that the P-S500 wins on keyboard quality and learning features, while the lower-tier models suit those focused on price or purely on piano use.
Net take
On balance, the P-S500 earns steady marks as a higher-end portable that combines portability with quality. Its flagship sound engine, the Stream Lights learning feature, and the playing feel of the GH3 keyboard are the central strengths, making it well suited to those who do not want to compromise on either quality or portability. That said, for those keeping costs down or focused mainly on pure piano practice, the lower-tier P-225 and the DGX-670 are realistic alternatives to weigh.
We do not compute a numeric star average. The points below are recurring themes we identified by reading across multiple reviews.
Sources & transparency
This page is written by the operator, who has run the piano-learning site Piano Juku since 2017, based on published manufacturer specifications. We are not a retailer or tied to any maker — every model is compared by the same criteria. About the operator
- Last verified
- Data referenced from
- Published spec sheet
How the 5-axis scores are calculated
We do not aggregate user reviews or star ratings (see methodology for why).
Spot a mistake or have a question about what's on this page? Let us know and we'll review it.
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Yamaha P-S500