Yamaha
YDP-145
$1,100
Yamaha YDP-145: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
9.9 Beginner 8.0 Night Practice 3.0 Portability 6.2 Touch Reality 7.4 Value
88 38 kg
Yamaha YDP-105 Review
Yamaha YDP-105: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
88 Keys 37.5 kg Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) Beginner
Scores
Where to Buy
MSRP
$900
Retail prices change, so check current pricing at retailers.
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Model variants
Yamaha Arius YDP family
The YDP line is Yamaha's fixed-cabinet Arius family. The main differences are sound engine, polyphony, key action, cabinet shape, and price.
| Difference | YDP-105 | YDP-145 | YDP-165 | YDP-S35 | YDP-S55 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Database status | Published product page | Published product page | Published product page | Published product page | Published product page |
| Positioning | Lowest-cost Arius console in the current U.S. lineup | Main Arius beginner console with stronger piano tone | Upper Arius home console with stronger action and speakers | Slim Arius cabinet for narrow rooms | Slim Arius cabinet with upgraded key action |
| Sound engine | AWM Stereo Sampling, 64-note polyphony | CFX Sampling + VRM Lite, 192-note polyphony | CFX Sampling + VRM Lite, 192-note polyphony | CFX Sampling, 192-note polyphony | CFX Sampling + VRM Lite, 192-note polyphony |
| Key action | GHS with matte black keytops | GHS with matte black keytops | GH3 with synthetic ebony and ivory keytops | GHS with matte black keytops | GH3 with synthetic ebony and ivory keytops |
| Speaker system | 6 W x 2 | 8 W x 2 class | 20 W x 2 class | 8 W x 2 class | 20 W x 2 class |
How These Scores Were Calculated
Beginner
8.1| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 3.0 |
| Lesson Function | Yes | +1.5 |
| App Connectivity | Yes | +1.5 |
| Recording | No | +0 |
| Metronome | Yes | +0.5 |
| Transpose | Yes | +0.3 |
| Layer / Split | Yes | +0.3 |
| Preset Songs | 20 | +0.7 |
| Sound Variety | 10 sounds | +0.3 |
Night Practice
6.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 2.0 |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 | +2 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm, 6.3mm | +1 |
| Headphone Optimization | No | +0 |
| Key Action Quietness | Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) | +0.5 |
| Volume Control | Yes | +1 |
| Bluetooth Audio | No | +0 |
Portability
3.0| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 5.0 |
| Weight | 37.5 kg | -1.5 |
| Width | 1357 mm | -0.5 |
| Battery | No | +0 |
| Foldable | No | +0 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +0 |
Touch Reality
5.4| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Key Action Quality | Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) (grade 5) | +3 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +1.5 |
| Polyphony | 64 notes | +0.4 |
| Sound Modeling | AWM Stereo Sampling + Damper Resonance | +0.5 |
| Key Surface | matte | +0 |
Yamaha YDP-105 review verdict
This Yamaha YDP-105 review reads the published specifications from a comparison-first point of view: touch, sound, practice fit, value, and limits.
Yamaha YDP-105 is best read as a console digital piano for beginners and returning players. 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 and app support.
- • Use case: Its best fit is home practice.
Cons
- • Main limit: the need for large sound reserves and heavy pedal work.
- • Furniture footprint should still be checked.
- • Nearby current models may offer a better match for some players.
Yamaha YDP-105 is a console 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, 64-note polyphony, 12W speakers, and a weight of 37.5 kg. In a digital piano review, those details matter more than broad claims about being the best digital piano overall. For home practice, 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 YDP-105 evaluation points
Yamaha YDP-105 key action and touch
Yamaha YDP-105 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 matte key surface is a useful comfort detail. The specification lists 64-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 YDP-105 is for
Yamaha YDP-105 is most relevant for beginners and returning players. The main use case is home practice. Strengths: a more piano-like touch. Limits: the need for large sound reserves and heavy pedal work. Buyers comparing digital pianos should also check the stand, pedal, headphone jack, app support, and local availability before deciding.
Yamaha YDP-105 sound and speakers
Yamaha YDP-105 offers 10 sounds and 12W 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 and app support.
What to know before buying the Yamaha YDP-105
Before buying Yamaha YDP-105, compare it with nearby alternatives on touch, sound, portability, and value. The stand is included, which simplifies the purchase. 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 YDP-105 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:
Rimmers Music Watch on YouTube ↗
Specifications
| Keys | 88 |
| Key Action | Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) |
| Polyphony | 64 notes |
| Sounds | 10 |
| Weight | 37.5 kg |
| Speakers | 12W (×2) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Key Surface | Matte |
| Sound Modeling | AWM Stereo Sampling + Damper Resonance |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm, 6.3mm |
| Headphone Optimization | No |
| USB MIDI | Yes |
| Line Out | No |
| Lesson Function | Yes |
| App Connectivity | Yes |
| Recording | No |
| Metronome | Yes |
| Transpose | Yes |
| Layer / Split | Yes |
| Preset Songs | 20 |
| Battery | No |
| Foldable | No |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 1357×422×815 mm |
| Stand Included | Yes |
| Pedal Included | Yes |
Spec terms are explained in the glossary. Glossary →
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Recommended Accessories
🪑
Stand
Stand included
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
$900
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
YDP-105 vs Rhapsody III
The YDP-105 and Rhapsody III score very similarly across the main review axes. The Rhapsody III costs $201 less.
Williams Rhapsody III →YDP-105 vs KDP70
the KDP70 is stronger in piano-like touch. The YDP-105 costs $199 less. Choose the KDP70 if piano-like touch matters most.
Kawai KDP70 →YDP-105 vs PX-770
the PX-770 is stronger in piano-like touch. Choose the PX-770 if piano-like touch matters most.
Casio PX-770 →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 YDP-105 is the entry-level console in the Arius series, bringing together an 88-key GHS keybed, a furniture-style cabinet and three pedals at an affordable price. Across specialist reviews and retailer reviews, most reviewers say the "piano tone is honest and good for the price" and that it "has the basics covered for a beginner," while others note that the polyphony stops at 64 notes, that there is no recording function and that it amounts to a logical step up from the higher model.
Praised most often
-
Honest piano tone with depth for the price
On the voice, which is based on a Yamaha grand piano sound, the majority say it "has depth in the mid-range and a clean resonance for an entry-level console." Reviewers find it neutral and easy on the ear for practice.
-
The basics for a beginner are covered
With an 88-key GHS keybed, a furniture-style cabinet, three pedals and a bench all included, the practical praise is that "you can start on a first console without second-guessing." Some even see the simplicity as a strength.
-
A build that fits easily in a living room
On the sliding key cover and the furniture-style cabinet, reviewers say it "looks at home in a living space" and is "easier to settle in place than a portable."
-
Value for money as a console
On covering the basics of a console while keeping the price below the higher Arius models, the main view is that it "offers good value for money as a first instrument."
Common cautions and criticisms
-
Polyphony is 64 notes
On the polyphony stopping at 64 notes, the repeated remark is that "128 notes would have been better." The framing is that the higher models have more headroom on pieces that use the pedal heavily.
-
No onboard recording function
Some find the lack of a function to record your own playing on the instrument a shortcoming. Comparisons note that some models in the same price range come out ahead on recording or voice count.
-
A modest step up from the previous model
Reviewers note that it is a logical step up — adding damper resonance and USB audio — with a key feel that does not change much from the previous model. The framing is that the higher models are the option for anyone wanting more playing feel.
By source
-
Specialist review sites
Specialist sites such as PianoDreamers tend to credit the sound and build of a beginner console while calmly framing the 64-note polyphony, the absence of a recording function and the scale of the step up from the previous model.
-
Retailer reviews & videos
Retailer reviews such as those from Sweetwater and Rimmers Music emphasize practical points — that it is "solid as an entry-level console" and that "with a bench and pedals included you can start right away."
-
Head-to-head comparisons (vs higher Arius, etc.)
In side-by-side play against the higher Arius, the usual framing is "the YDP-105 to keep the price down, the higher model if you prioritise sound satisfaction and headroom for long-term use."
Net take
On balance, the YDP-105 earns steady marks in international reviews for beginners as "the entry-level Arius console." Its honest piano tone and the ease of getting started — with a bench and three pedals included — are the central plus points, making it an instrument that is easy to shortlist when you are undecided on a first console. If polyphony, a recording function or a better keybed matter to you, however, the higher Arius models become realistic alternatives to compare.
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
- Manufacturer official Official manual Authorized retailer ×2
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 YDP-105