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The Best Digital Keyboard

Last updated on August 14, 2024
Categories Electronics Tags

We looked at the top 12 Digital Keyboards and dug through the reviews from 49 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Digital Keyboards.

Best Digital Keyboard

Our Review Process

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Our Picks For The Top Digital Keyboards

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Product Overview
Key Takeaway
Pros
Cons
 Best Overall

Alesis Melody 61 Built-In Speakers Digital Keyboard

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Alesis

Melody 61 Built-In Speakers Digital Keyboard

If you're in the market for a digital keyboard that's packed with special features, you'll want to give this model a closer look. It's constructed with 61 keys and a set of built-in speakers. Users will especially have fun playing around with the 300 voices, 40 demo songs, layer and split modes and built-in record feature.

Overall Take

Stool IncludedWith this digital keyboard, you get piano stand, music rest and matching stool.

 Easy to Use

Donner DEK-610 61-Key Beginner Digital Keyboard

Donner

DEK-610 61-Key Beginner Digital Keyboard

Individuals who are just discovering their love of music will appreciate this digital keyboard's three teaching modes. The LCD display makes it easy for players to view the functions that are currently in use. The USB Midi interface, pedal interface and two audio interfaces also allow for connecting everything from a microphone to an MP3 player.

Overall Take

Great for BeginnersRich sound is what you'll get from this digital keyboard, which has 500 tones, 300 rhythms and 40 demo songs.

 Portable Pick

RockJam 54-Key Portable Digital Keyboard & LCD Screen

RockJam

54-Key Portable Digital Keyboard & LCD Screen

This digital keyboard can be powered via an outlet or a set of batteries if you want to take it on the road. It's lightweight and compact, which also adds to its portability. Players will love the full-size keys, two built-in speakers and the included music sheet stand.

Overall Take

Easy to TransportIncluded with this digital keyboard is a teaching app with 30 songs.

 Elegant Look

Casio PX860 Digital Home Piano & Keyboard

Casio

PX860 Digital Home Piano & Keyboard

You can simulate 18 different instruments with this digital keyboard. If you regularly entertain large groups, this is a great choice. It works well in bigger rooms, thanks to built-in speakers. You can also record two tracks, then combine them later to play simultaneously.

Overall Take

Built-In SpeakersThis digital keyboard is an all-in-one system, with sound, speakers and the ability to record tracks.

Pros
" Re-creates the sound of a grand w/tri-sensor scaled hammer action keyboard."
Cons
"No ability to download or record songs, Does not come with a bench"

Buying Guide

Thanks to technology, pianos have come a long way in recent years. Grand pianos not only take up a great deal of space in a home, but they also can be almost impossible to move. A digital keyboard can give you deep, rich sound, as well as versatility that you’ll never get from a traditional piano. Best of all, you won’t have to dedicate an entire room of your house to it.

Choosing the right digital keyboard can be challenging, though, especially with so many big-name brands competing for your dollar. You can find keyboards that emulate that baby grand piano sound, as well as those that can provide instrumental sounds that come from a harp, organ or a guitar. If you’re learning or teaching others, a model that features dual play mode may be a better choice, since you can play as a duo.

It’s also important to consider the room that will house your piano. If it’s a big room and you plan to entertain large groups of friends, a piano with a built-in speaker system is likely better for your situation than a quieter keyboard. However, some households may find a slightly quieter instrument is more suitable.

One feature that’s popular with many digital keyboard buyers is the ability to record your performances. This is great for sharing on social media, but it’s especially valuable if you want to listen to your results in an effort to improve. Not all keyboards include this, and some let you record to an external hard drive, so definitely pay close attention to recording ability if it’s important to you.

Although it may not be a top consideration, the appearance of the keyboard you choose will likely be important. It will, after all, be a piece of furniture that features predominantly in whatever room you set it. You can choose between a variety of colors, but many digital keyboards have a setup similar to a traditional upright piano. Consider whether you want a deep mahogany, black or white model before you start shopping.

Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
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Products Considered

We identified the majority of the digital keyboards available to purchase.
12

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: New York Times Wirecutter, Digital Piano Guide, Piano Dreamers, Guitar Junkie, Music Advisor.

30,108

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 12 Digital Keyboards and also dug through the reviews from 49 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Digital Keyboards.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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What to Look For

  • If you’re a fan of the traditional piano sound you’d get from a baby piano, consider a model that features 128 notes, as well as a split mode to layer sounds, as this will create a richer experience. You can also use this feature to create original songs that combine rhythm sections and the keyboard. Some models use something called a SuperNATURAL sound engine to simulate that baby grand piano sound.
  • Teachers and students will be interested in a feature called Partner Mode, available on certain digital keyboards. This feature lets you play alongside someone else. Using this feature, a teacher and student can play the same song together to allow the student to imitate and learn.
  • One common complaint about digital keyboards is that they simply feel different than a traditional piano. Manufacturers have worked hard to shrink the gap between the two experiences. Some digital pianos use a graded hammer action to simulate the way keys move on a concert grand. This feature means the lower-range keys have a heavier touch than those in a higher range. For those who are used to the lighter touch of a digital keyboard, though, this feature may be a negative, making it better suited for individuals looking for that traditional playing experience.
  • Digital pianos have long excelled over traditional pianos in one important way: They take you beyond one instrument. If you’re interested in this type of diversity, you may be more interested in a digital piano that offers 305 tones outside of the acoustic piano, including organs, guitars, brass and synthesizers.
  • It’s also important to consider how you’ll use your piano. If you’re performing for large groups in a big room, for instance, you may find that a model that comes with four powerful speakers built in is a better choice. Quieter models are a better option for smaller spaces.
  • Whether you want to listen to your performances later or share them with others, the record feature is something to consider. Some digital keyboards let you record one or two tracks, then put them together to play simultaneously. There are even models that not only let you record two tracks for later playback, but also let you save them to a USB stick or a remote hard drive.
  • Although it’s designed to make music, the truth is your piano will become an important part of your décor. For that reason, it’s hard to get away from the issue of appearance. You may prefer a digital keyboard that looks closer to a traditional upright piano and is available in a choice of colors, like dark brown or black. It’s also important to note that some models come with a bench, so you’ll face the challenge of finding a keyboard and bench that match when you buy them separately.
  • Price can be a big differentiator between digital pianos. You can find a good digital piano costs less than what a baby grand piano would cost.

More to Explore

To this day, electronic keyboards are heavily associated with the new wave style of music that began in the late ’70s. Called synthesizers, these keyboards were able to bring an innovative sound to the mainstream. In the mid-1970s, a German band called Kraftwerk introduced the sound to the world with its hit song “Autobahn.” The song wasn’t well received, with one publication pleading that we should “keep the robots out of music,” but the sound caught on. Gary Numan began experimenting with the sound in the late ’70s, releasing two hit singles that predominantly featured electronic keyboards. Soon, the music style made its way to the U.S. and was all over airwaves, dominating the radio throughout the 1980s.

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