$1,199
Yamaha YDP-S35: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
8.3 Beginner 7.7 Night Practice 3.0 Portability 6.2 Touch Reality 6.3 Value
88 37 kg
Yamaha YDP-S36 Review
Yamaha YDP-S36 review: a 296 mm-deep slim ARIUS with GHS keys and Bluetooth
88 Keys 37 kg Graded Hammer Standard (GHS)
Bluetooth
Beginner
Scores
Where to Buy
MSRP
$1,299
Retail prices change, so check current pricing at retailers.
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How These Scores Were Calculated
Beginner
9.3| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 0.5 |
| Lesson Function | Yes | +1.8 |
| App Connectivity | Yes | +1.8 |
| Bluetooth MIDI | Yes | +1 |
| Recording | Yes | +0.8 |
| Practice Basics (Metronome / Transpose / Layer-Split) | Yes | +0.6 |
| Stand Included | Yes | +0.5 |
| Damper Pedal Included | Yes | +0.4 |
| Preset Songs | 363 | +1.7 |
| Sound Variety | 10 sounds | +0.2 |
Night Practice
8.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 1.0 |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 | +2.2 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm, 6.3mm | +0.9 |
| Headphone Optimization | Yes | +2.2 |
| Bluetooth Audio | Yes | +0.8 |
| Line Out | No | +0 |
| Speaker Mute with Headphones | Yes | +0.7 |
| Key Action Quietness | Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) | +0.7 |
Portability
3.0| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 5.0 |
| Weight | 37 kg | -1.5 |
| Width | 1353 mm | -0.5 |
| Battery | No | +0 |
| Foldable | No | +0 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +0 |
Touch Reality
6.2| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Key Action Quality | Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) (grade 5) | +3 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +1.5 |
| Polyphony | 192 notes | +1.2 |
| Sound Modeling | Yamaha CFX Sampling + VRM Lite | +0.5 |
| Key Surface | matte | +0 |
Yamaha YDP-S36 review verdict
This Yamaha YDP-S36 review reads the published specifications from a comparison-first point of view: touch, sound, practice fit, value, and limits.
The YDP-S36 is the slim ARIUS of the June 2026 generation, following the YDP-S35 that Yamaha Japan now lists as discontinued. On the two spec sheets the cabinet, weight, keyboard type and sound set are unchanged; the new model adds Bluetooth, diffuser-fitted speakers and, according to Yamaha, a revised key sensor.
Pros
- • Only 296 mm deep with the key cover closed, and the folding cover leaves a flat top, so it sits against a wall more like a sideboard than a piano.
- • GHS (Graded Hammer Standard) keyboard with matte black keytops, graded from heavier bass to lighter treble, with four touch settings.
- • Bluetooth audio and Bluetooth MIDI are listed, so phone audio plays through the speakers and Smart Pianist connects wirelessly. The YDP-S35 had neither.
- • Yamaha CFX sampling with VRM Lite and 192-note polyphony.
- • Two standard stereo headphone jacks with Stereophonic Optimizer for headphone practice.
- • 303 lesson songs, 50 classics, a two-track recorder, metronome, transpose, Dual and Duo, plus three pedals with half-pedal damper.
Cons
- • GHS is Yamaha's entry hammer keyboard: no escapement and no synthetic ivory surface. The slim YDP-S56 with GrandTouch-E is the model to compare for touch.
- • 8 W × 2 of amplification is enough for a bedroom or small living room, not for filling a large space.
- • Only 10 voices and no line output or AUX jack.
- • No bench is included, and Yamaha's anti-fall brackets add depth: 366 mm when fitted.
- • Yamaha's US spec sheet marks Bluetooth availability as varying by area.
On published specifications the YDP-S36 changes very little, and most of what it changes is useful. The slim cabinet that made the YDP-S35 the space-saving choice is carried over unchanged at 1353 × 296 × 792 mm and 37 kg, and to it Yamaha adds Bluetooth audio and MIDI, diffusers on the speakers and a revised GHS sensor. For a flat, hallway or bedroom where depth decides everything, that makes it a well-rounded candidate. The trade-off is the same as before: GHS is the simpler Yamaha keyboard, so a player who expects touch to matter over the years should look at the YDP-S56, which uses the same slim idea with GrandTouch-E keys.
Yamaha YDP-S36 evaluation points
Yamaha YDP-S36 key action and touch
The YDP-S36 uses Yamaha's GHS keyboard with matte black keytops. Weight is graded across the range, heavier at the bottom and lighter towards the top, which gives a beginner the basic resistance to learn finger control on. Yamaha says the sensor design has been improved so that repeated notes and faster passages are read more accurately; the spec sheet still lists the keyboard as GHS. It has no escapement and no synthetic ivory or ebony surface. Those features, in the same slim format, are what the YDP-S56 and its GrandTouch-E keyboard add.
Who the Yamaha YDP-S36 is for
People who want a full 88-key cabinet piano but have very little depth to give it: flats, bedrooms, hallways or a corner of a shared room. It suits beginners and returning players who plan to practise mainly at home, often on headphones, and who may want to use Smart Pianist or play along with phone audio. Anyone for whom touch nuance is already the priority, or who wants many voices, should compare a step up.
Yamaha YDP-S36 sound and speakers
The main piano is sampled from the Yamaha CFX concert grand, and VRM Lite adds string and damper resonance in response to keys and pedal. There are 10 voices in total. Output is 8 W per side into two 12 cm speakers, now each fitted with a diffuser, which Yamaha describes as spreading the treble more evenly. A slim cabinet has less internal volume than a full-depth one, so expectations should stay at practice level rather than room-filling. Intelligent Acoustic Control helps at low volume, and Stereophonic Optimizer is aimed at a more natural headphone image.
What to know before buying the Yamaha YDP-S36
The cabinet is 1353 mm wide, 296 mm deep and 792 mm high; with the key cover open it is 309 mm deep and 968 mm high, and with the anti-fall brackets attached the depth becomes 366 mm. It weighs 37 kg. Bluetooth audio and MIDI appear on both Yamaha's US and Japanese spec sheets, but the US sheet notes that Bluetooth varies by area, so check the unit sold where you live. No bench is included, and in Japan no headphones either. There is no AUX or line output; USB TO HOST carries MIDI and 44.1 kHz / 24-bit audio.
Demo Video
Video coming soon for this model
We embed videos from manufacturer official channels and trusted reviewers. As soon as a suitable demo or review is available, it will appear here.
Specifications
| Keys | 88 |
| Key Action | Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) |
| Polyphony | 192 notes |
| Sounds | 10 |
| Weight | 37 kg |
| Speakers | 16W (×2) |
| Bluetooth | Audio + MIDI |
| Key Surface | Matte |
| Sound Modeling | Yamaha CFX Sampling + VRM Lite |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm, 6.3mm |
| Headphone Optimization | Yes |
| USB MIDI | Yes |
| Line Out | No |
| Lesson Function | Yes |
| App Connectivity | Yes |
| Recording | Yes |
| Metronome | Yes |
| Transpose | Yes |
| Layer / Split | Yes |
| Preset Songs | 363 |
| Battery | No |
| Foldable | No |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 1353×296×792 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
$1,299
Retail prices change, so check current pricing at retailers.
Buttons without a “search” label open the product page directly; the others open retailer search results. Links may include affiliate tracking. Stock and listing status can change without notice.
Thomann ships from Germany; check shipping cost and import fees before ordering.
Buttons without a “search” label open the product page directly; the others open retailer search results. Links may include affiliate tracking. Stock and listing status can change without notice.
How It Compares
YDP-S36 vs YDP-146
The YDP-S36 and YDP-146 score very similarly across the main review axes. The YDP-146 costs $100 less.
Yamaha YDP-146 →YDP-S36 vs CX102
The YDP-S36 and CX102 score very similarly across the main review axes.
Kawai CX102 →YDP-S36 vs AP-S200
The YDP-S36 scores higher in beginner support, while the AP-S200 is stronger in piano-like touch. The AP-S200 costs $200 less. Choose the YDP-S36 if beginner-friendly features matters most.
Casio AP-S200 →Head-to-head comparisons
Spec-by-spec pages pitting this model against the alternatives it is most often weighed up with.
Related Guides
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Read more →Best Digital Pianos for Church and Worship Use (2026)
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Read more →88 Keys vs 61 Keys: Which Digital Piano Size Is Right?
The number of keys on a digital piano seems like a simple spec, but the decision affects how you learn, what you can play, and how much you spend. The honest answer isn't "always get 88" — it depends on your goals. This guide walks through who genuinely needs a full keyboard, who is better served by fewer keys, and what the practical differences look like in daily practice.
Read more →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 press release ×2 Published spec sheet ×3 Authorized retailer
How the 5-axis scores are calculated
We do not aggregate user reviews or star ratings (see methodology for why).
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Yamaha YDP-S36