Topic by carmelo.paolucci

  • Avatar
  • carmelo.paolucci
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 21-08-2024
  • Posts: 515

Topic: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

Good morning friends,
I currently use an entry-level stage piano (Yamaha P125) as a MIDI controller for Pianoteq 9, which I really enjoy playing and making classical music videos with.
I wanted to replace it with a more powerful model. I have a budget of €1,500-2,000 and was undecided between one of these models:
Yamaha P 525
Roland FP 90X
Kawai MP 7 SE

First of all, it must be compatible with Pianoteq 9, be portable, and still have a pleasant native sound (without Pianoteq 9).
What stage piano or midi keyboeard do you use with Pianoteq 9?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Carmelo

Last edited by carmelo.paolucci (18-01-2026 11:06)

Reply by jmanrique

  • Avatar
  • jmanrique
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 16-10-2025
  • Posts: 43

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

I’ve had an MP7SE for a few months now. I bought it especially for Pianoteq, and I think it’s fabulous. At first it took me a while to adapt, mainly because I was using it as an alternative to my acoustic piano (a Kawai upright), but right now I can’t tell how much of the pleasure of playing Pianoteq is actually the pleasure of playing the MP7SE. I think they really are an indivisible package, although it’s true that I might also be overestimating it and would feel similarly with another reasonably realistic stage piano.

About the other keyboards, I can’t really tell you much: you have to try them, and in the end it will be your own sensations that matter. But it’s true that it’s not as simple as saying “go to a shop and try them,” because playing for a little while is not the same as having it at home every day, and your feelings change. In my case, everything I read on the forums about Kawai keyboards weighed heavily. I first thought about the MP11SE (eventually ruled out because of how enormously bulky it is) and even the VPC1, which is only a controller (I also ruled that out in the end because I wanted to have a piano with its own sounds too, although in reality now I never use them).

Anyway, Kawai makes real pianos, so they must know something about how to make them well, even when they’re simulations.

carmelo.paolucci wrote:

Good morning friends,
I currently use an entry-level stage piano (Yamaha P125) as a MIDI controller for Pianoteq 9, which I really enjoy playing and making classical music videos with.
I wanted to replace it with a more powerful model. I have a budget of €1,500-2,000 and was undecided between one of these models:
Yamaha P 525
Roland FP 90X
Kawai MP 7 SE

First of all, it must be compatible with Pianoteq 9, be portable, and still have a pleasant native sound (without Pianoteq 9).
What stage piano or midi keyboeard do you use with Pianoteq 9?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Carmelo

Reply by Hansz

  • Avatar
  • Hansz
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 30-12-2025
  • Posts: 5

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

I thinks it's clearly a matter of personnal preference with the feeling of the keys.
I have played some Yamaha, Roland and Kawai in a shop near me, and it's so different. the way of the key return when you release it.
What I recommend it's to test them if you can, because on internet you will read everything and its opposite.

If you have say that you don't need inboard sound, I have conseilled you Kawai VPC1, I have one and it's so good to play on this piano.
And I like the quiet action, i have also an Yamaha GH3 action piano and it's so loud.

Everything will be compatible with pianoteq. Nearly all piano have midi or usb midi so it's not a matter.

Reply by dv

  • Avatar
  • dv
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 01-11-2021
  • Posts: 380

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

Hansz wrote:

Everything will be compatible with pianoteq. Nearly all piano have midi or usb midi so it's not a matter.

This is the main point for you: any instrument that is not a toy will work just fine.

My personal preference (regardless of price) would be for one of the Avangrand. But those are not portable nor fit in your budget.

Without that, I would be undecided between VPC1 (which has no sounds and no speakers, so requires additional purchases) and MP11 (which weights a lot and costs more), with a marginal preference for the former.

Discarding those, I would go for the Athena, which isn't excellent in any regard, but it has a highly desirable (for me) size. The drawback is that it costs a lot.
Alternatively there is the DreamPlay One, whose problem is that it ships in August, not now.

Among the models you mention, frankly I would buy the one you already have, the P-125, rather than one of the upgrades, ROTFL!!!
If you really hate that for some reasons, it would be important to know why, because the same reason may apply to the P-525

Assuming that you really hate the P-125 and that such reason does not apply to the P-525, I would buy that one. The Roland is also very good and I would consider it, but it's greatly overpriced and absolutely not worth it in my opinion -- Should you really love the Roland, I would instead buy one of the lower-tier models which have the same action.

Last but not least, I had many Kawai instruments very similar to the MP7SE, and I liked them all, so I can recommend it too. The only reason why I don't have them anymore is beacuse I went with a Yamaha hybrid.

In conclusion, since you have a P-125 and say that you enjoy it, I would just keep that and use that money either in a Pianoteq upgrade (e.g. get the studio bundle) or in speakers/headphones, or starting a saving account for an Avantgrand or Novus. And since there is no hurry, preorder a DreamPlay One which is a bargain, in my opinion.

Last edited by dv (18-01-2026 16:40)
Where do I find a list of all posts I upvoted? :(

Reply by Borealis

  • Avatar
  • Borealis
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 18-06-2020
  • Posts: 722

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

Hello Carmelo,

If you want a "pleasant" native sound, maybe the FP90X is not the choice to make (to me).

It seems the keybed in P525 is on the lighter side (compared with the P515). However, it is the Grand Touch-S action. The MP7SE keybed is the same (if I'm not wrong) as the Kawai ES920. So if you can't test one but another, you should have the same feel with your playing. The MP7SE is a nice choice if you want to go further with computer music.

Now, the best action with your bugdet (nearly) for classical music is the Kawai MP11SE, but it had some slip tape issues. However, it seems the last units aren't concerned but I'm not sure. I still own an old Kawai MP8 and Yamaha CP33 (as a controller) and I'm waiting to see what's new this year.

Yes, It depends on your preferences. Hope it helps !

Last edited by Borealis (18-01-2026 18:02)

Reply by Coises

  • Avatar
  • Coises
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 06-12-2019
  • Posts: 137

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

carmelo.paolucci wrote:

Good morning friends,
I currently use an entry-level stage piano (Yamaha P125) as a MIDI controller for Pianoteq 9, which I really enjoy playing and making classical music videos with.
I wanted to replace it with a more powerful model. I have a budget of €1,500-2,000 and was undecided between one of these models:
Yamaha P 525
Roland FP 90X
Kawai MP 7 SE

First of all, it must be compatible with Pianoteq 9, be portable, and still have a pleasant native sound (without Pianoteq 9).
What stage piano or midi keyboeard do you use with Pianoteq 9?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Carmelo

Just a minor note that might not be minor at all, depending on what you want and need... the MP7SE is a “stage piano”; it does not have any speakers. The keyboard you have, and the others you’ve listed, are “portable digital pianos”. Note that none of the portable digital pianos you’ve listed have even pitch bend or mod wheels; they’re meant for playing piano only; but they do have speakers. The MP7SE has a much wider range of internal sounds, and is better capable of controlling other virtual instruments, like synthesizers or virtual string sections, on your computer; but it doesn’t have speakers, so it makes no sound on its own. The Kawai that’s more equivalent to the other keyboards you’ve listed would be the ES920. Here’s a comparison between the ES920 and the FP-90X.

Reply by Triton

  • Avatar
  • Triton
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 29-12-2022
  • Posts: 65

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

Dear Carmelo,

Assuming this comes down to personal preference, I would choose the Yamaha P-525 without hesitation.

The key action is excellent, and the sound from the built-in speakers is exceptionally good for this class—better than anything else I’ve heard in this range.

I upgraded my digital piano about a year and a half ago, and in the one to two years before that I looked into quite a wide range of models, mainly home-piano types.

Kawai actions also have a good reputation, so they were at the top of my list at first, but they didn’t suit me. I was mainly looking at models like the CA401, so the action is different from the RH III in the MP7SE, but I found that the key return was slow, and there was a large amount of unit-to-unit variation, so I eventually ruled them out. Another reason I didn’t choose Kawai is that they don’t support high-resolution velocity. I know there is some debate about how important that is, but for me it was necessary.

Roland also remained a candidate until the very end. At first I thought the PHA-50 would be fine, but after trying many instruments, it started to feel a bit lacking to me. Also, I clearly prefer the sound from the speakers on the P-525. I strongly recommend trying them side by side if you can.
That said, one advantage of Roland is that the soft pedal is also continuously detected. I haven’t been able to confirm whether the RPU-3 pedal unit for the FP-90X supports continuous detection, but judging from the connector, I suspect it does. Considering that Pianoteq supports various pedal functions, I think this is a significant advantage, and it was one of the points that made my decision difficult before I finally chose the Yamaha CLP-875.

In the end I went with the Yamaha CLP-875, but if I were choosing a portable model, I would have gone with the P-525.

Whichever model you choose, I’m really looking forward to hearing your performances on your new piano.

Reply by Pianistically

  • Avatar
  • Pianistically
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 12-07-2023
  • Posts: 289

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

carmelo.paolucci wrote:

Good morning friends,
I currently use an entry-level stage piano (Yamaha P125) as a MIDI controller for Pianoteq 9, which I really enjoy playing and making classical music videos with.
I wanted to replace it with a more powerful model. I have a budget of €1,500-2,000 and was undecided between one of these models:
Yamaha P 525
Roland FP 90X
Kawai MP 7 SE

First of all, it must be compatible with Pianoteq 9, be portable, and still have a pleasant native sound (without Pianoteq 9).
What stage piano or midi keyboeard do you use with Pianoteq 9?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Carmelo

For classical music the digital keyboard with the best action for classical music is the MP7 SE . If you look for a portable piano as opposed to a stage , the Kawai ES920 has the same RH3 action . Both the support the GFP-3 pedal which has optical sensors and offer continuous values for both Sustain and Una Corda and which is the best pedal by a long stretch for classical music in this category. The action has the fastest return of the 3 and the sensors are ideally placed which is critical for classical music for pieces with difficult trills  ( specially on black notes ) and repeated notes. You can play the entire repertoire on this keyboard and will find tons of videos on YouTube demonstrating it.
The Roland PHA50 is very good as well, has a very good  midi output range but more appropriate for jazz than classical and s on the  slower and heavier side compared  than the RH3. The limitation for classical music for the Roland is the relatively slow key return and the relative positioning of the middle one bottom sensor which can create ghosts notes with fast repeated notes.  The Roland has a very good  midi output range. The Yahama Grand Touch S action is quite good for classical too but  is slightly heavier and slower than the RH3. Note that for Pianoteq, there is a limitation with the Yamaha P525 as it doesn't transmit note-off variable velocity. Not a show stopper but worth knowing.  I personally use a Kawai MP11 which has a longer pivot length but I find the key return slow,  the trills on black notes difficult and the repetition speed average compared to the RH3 action. 

In call cases , my recommendation would be to try these keyboards if you can as there is no such thing  a' best ' keyboard in this category of portable keyboards, It is essentially a matter of personal preference ( heavier vs lighter key action) , a matter of playing style and also depends of which pieces of the repertoire you play given you play classical music.

Last edited by Pianistically (19-01-2026 09:54)

Reply by carmelo.paolucci

  • Avatar
  • carmelo.paolucci
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 21-08-2024
  • Posts: 515

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

jmanrique wrote:

I’ve had an MP7SE for a few months now. I bought it especially for Pianoteq, and I think it’s fabulous. At first it took me a while to adapt, mainly because I was using it as an alternative to my acoustic piano (a Kawai upright), but right now I can’t tell how much of the pleasure of playing Pianoteq is actually the pleasure of playing the MP7SE. I think they really are an indivisible package, although it’s true that I might also be overestimating it and would feel similarly with another reasonably realistic stage piano.

About the other keyboards, I can’t really tell you much: you have to try them, and in the end it will be your own sensations that matter. But it’s true that it’s not as simple as saying “go to a shop and try them,” because playing for a little while is not the same as having it at home every day, and your feelings change. In my case, everything I read on the forums about Kawai keyboards weighed heavily. I first thought about the MP11SE (eventually ruled out because of how enormously bulky it is) and even the VPC1, which is only a controller (I also ruled that out in the end because I wanted to have a piano with its own sounds too, although in reality now I never use them).

Anyway, Kawai makes real pianos, so they must know something about how to make them well, even when they’re simulations.

carmelo.paolucci wrote:

Good morning friends,
I currently use an entry-level stage piano (Yamaha P125) as a MIDI controller for Pianoteq 9, which I really enjoy playing and making classical music videos with.
I wanted to replace it with a more powerful model. I have a budget of €1,500-2,000 and was undecided between one of these models:
Yamaha P 525
Roland FP 90X
Kawai MP 7 SE

First of all, it must be compatible with Pianoteq 9, be portable, and still have a pleasant native sound (without Pianoteq 9).
What stage piano or midi keyboeard do you use with Pianoteq 9?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Carmelo

Thank you so much, jmanrique, for your comment and your experience with the Kawai MP7SE! I imagine the connection to the Pianoteq 9 is easy and fantastic from what you've said...
I've read everywhere that it's an excellent MIDI keyboard, although forums say it has a heavier action than other keyboards (this would perhaps make it mechanically closer to my Petrof grand piano). The only drawback I see (at least for my use) is that you'll be forced to always have external speakers or headphones with you, as I don't believe it has built-in speakers. Next week I'll try it out near me at a store that also carries the Yamaha P525 so I can make a direct comparison...
Thanks again for your help!
Greetings from Italy
Carmelo

Reply by carmelo.paolucci

  • Avatar
  • carmelo.paolucci
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 21-08-2024
  • Posts: 515

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

Hansz wrote:

I thinks it's clearly a matter of personnal preference with the feeling of the keys.
I have played some Yamaha, Roland and Kawai in a shop near me, and it's so different. the way of the key return when you release it.
What I recommend it's to test them if you can, because on internet you will read everything and its opposite.

If you have say that you don't need inboard sound, I have conseilled you Kawai VPC1, I have one and it's so good to play on this piano.
And I like the quiet action, i have also an Yamaha GH3 action piano and it's so loud.

Everything will be compatible with pianoteq. Nearly all piano have midi or usb midi so it's not a matter.

Thank you so much, Hansz, for your experience and advice...
I'd actually prefer the new stage or digital piano I buy to have native sound capabilities and not require a PC, as is the case with the Kawai VPC1.
However, next week I'll see if I can try this instrument too. From what I hear, the action is superior to the MP7SE, at least on paper, and it has a more essential and clean design.
We'll see.
Thank you anyway.
Best regards from Italy.
Carmelo

Reply by jmanrique

  • Avatar
  • jmanrique
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 16-10-2025
  • Posts: 43

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

The MP7SE doesn’t have built-in speakers, it’s a stage piano. The portable piano version with speakers is the Kawai ES-920, which has the same Responsive Hammer III action as the MP7SE (although I haven’t tried it).

carmelo.paolucci wrote:
jmanrique wrote:

I’ve had an MP7SE for a few months now. I bought it especially for Pianoteq, and I think it’s fabulous. At first it took me a while to adapt, mainly because I was using it as an alternative to my acoustic piano (a Kawai upright), but right now I can’t tell how much of the pleasure of playing Pianoteq is actually the pleasure of playing the MP7SE. I think they really are an indivisible package, although it’s true that I might also be overestimating it and would feel similarly with another reasonably realistic stage piano.

About the other keyboards, I can’t really tell you much: you have to try them, and in the end it will be your own sensations that matter. But it’s true that it’s not as simple as saying “go to a shop and try them,” because playing for a little while is not the same as having it at home every day, and your feelings change. In my case, everything I read on the forums about Kawai keyboards weighed heavily. I first thought about the MP11SE (eventually ruled out because of how enormously bulky it is) and even the VPC1, which is only a controller (I also ruled that out in the end because I wanted to have a piano with its own sounds too, although in reality now I never use them).

Anyway, Kawai makes real pianos, so they must know something about how to make them well, even when they’re simulations.

carmelo.paolucci wrote:

Good morning friends,
I currently use an entry-level stage piano (Yamaha P125) as a MIDI controller for Pianoteq 9, which I really enjoy playing and making classical music videos with.
I wanted to replace it with a more powerful model. I have a budget of €1,500-2,000 and was undecided between one of these models:
Yamaha P 525
Roland FP 90X
Kawai MP 7 SE

First of all, it must be compatible with Pianoteq 9, be portable, and still have a pleasant native sound (without Pianoteq 9).
What stage piano or midi keyboeard do you use with Pianoteq 9?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Carmelo

Thank you so much, jmanrique, for your comment and your experience with the Kawai MP7SE! I imagine the connection to the Pianoteq 9 is easy and fantastic from what you've said...
I've read everywhere that it's an excellent MIDI keyboard, although forums say it has a heavier action than other keyboards (this would perhaps make it mechanically closer to my Petrof grand piano). The only drawback I see (at least for my use) is that you'll be forced to always have external speakers or headphones with you, as I don't believe it has built-in speakers. Next week I'll try it out near me at a store that also carries the Yamaha P525 so I can make a direct comparison...
Thanks again for your help!
Greetings from Italy
Carmelo

Reply by carmelo.paolucci

  • Avatar
  • carmelo.paolucci
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 21-08-2024
  • Posts: 515

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

dv wrote:
Hansz wrote:

Everything will be compatible with pianoteq. Nearly all piano have midi or usb midi so it's not a matter.

This is the main point for you: any instrument that is not a toy will work just fine.

My personal preference (regardless of price) would be for one of the Avangrand. But those are not portable nor fit in your budget.

Without that, I would be undecided between VPC1 (which has no sounds and no speakers, so requires additional purchases) and MP11 (which weights a lot and costs more), with a marginal preference for the former.

Discarding those, I would go for the Athena, which isn't excellent in any regard, but it has a highly desirable (for me) size. The drawback is that it costs a lot.
Alternatively there is the DreamPlay One, whose problem is that it ships in August, not now.

Among the models you mention, frankly I would buy the one you already have, the P-125, rather than one of the upgrades, ROTFL!!!
If you really hate that for some reasons, it would be important to know why, because the same reason may apply to the P-525

Assuming that you really hate the P-125 and that such reason does not apply to the P-525, I would buy that one. The Roland is also very good and I would consider it, but it's greatly overpriced and absolutely not worth it in my opinion -- Should you really love the Roland, I would instead buy one of the lower-tier models which have the same action.

Last but not least, I had many Kawai instruments very similar to the MP7SE, and I liked them all, so I can recommend it too. The only reason why I don't have them anymore is beacuse I went with a Yamaha hybrid.

In conclusion, since you have a P-125 and say that you enjoy it, I would just keep that and use that money either in a Pianoteq upgrade (e.g. get the studio bundle) or in speakers/headphones, or starting a saving account for an Avantgrand or Novus. And since there is no hurry, preorder a DreamPlay One which is a bargain, in my opinion.

Thank you so much for your comment and your thoughts...
Unfortunately, my budget doesn't allow for the Avangarde or Novus models.
But even if I could buy them, would they be worth the money they ask for?

As for the Yamaha P125, I don't hate it at all; over the last two years, I've recorded with it on my little YouTube channel:
- All 15 Bach Inventions and 15 Symphonies
- 3 complete French Suites
- 3 Handel Grand Suites
- 2 Purcell Suites
- All of Bach's WTC 1
- And now I'm starting to record WTC 2 (I'm on my fifth Prelude and Fugue)...
It's been an excellent and reliable companion for my musical forays over the years... I was just wondering if I could get something better to pair with it for my videos.
So, the Yamaha p
525 or the Kawai MP7SE would be excellent (assuming I'll still have to buy speakers in the latter case).
I don't know Dream Play One, I'll take a look!!!
Thanks anyway for your advice.
Carmel

Reply by carmelo.paolucci

  • Avatar
  • carmelo.paolucci
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 21-08-2024
  • Posts: 515

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

jmanrique wrote:

The MP7SE doesn’t have built-in speakers, it’s a stage piano. The portable piano version with speakers is the Kawai ES-920, which has the same Responsive Hammer III action as the MP7SE (although I haven’t tried it).

carmelo.paolucci wrote:
jmanrique wrote:

I’ve had an MP7SE for a few months now. I bought it especially for Pianoteq, and I think it’s fabulous. At first it took me a while to adapt, mainly because I was using it as an alternative to my acoustic piano (a Kawai upright), but right now I can’t tell how much of the pleasure of playing Pianoteq is actually the pleasure of playing the MP7SE. I think they really are an indivisible package, although it’s true that I might also be overestimating it and would feel similarly with another reasonably realistic stage piano.

About the other keyboards, I can’t really tell you much: you have to try them, and in the end it will be your own sensations that matter. But it’s true that it’s not as simple as saying “go to a shop and try them,” because playing for a little while is not the same as having it at home every day, and your feelings change. In my case, everything I read on the forums about Kawai keyboards weighed heavily. I first thought about the MP11SE (eventually ruled out because of how enormously bulky it is) and even the VPC1, which is only a controller (I also ruled that out in the end because I wanted to have a piano with its own sounds too, although in reality now I never use them).

Anyway, Kawai makes real pianos, so they must know something about how to make them well, even when they’re simulations.

Thank you so much, jmanrique, for your comment and your experience with the Kawai MP7SE! I imagine the connection to the Pianoteq 9 is easy and fantastic from what you've said...
I've read everywhere that it's an excellent MIDI keyboard, although forums say it has a heavier action than other keyboards (this would perhaps make it mechanically closer to my Petrof grand piano). The only drawback I see (at least for my use) is that you'll be forced to always have external speakers or headphones with you, as I don't believe it has built-in speakers. Next week I'll try it out near me at a store that also carries the Yamaha P525 so I can make a direct comparison...
Thanks again for your help!
Greetings from Italy
Carmelo

Thank you so much for your Info  so I'll try to test that ES 920 if it has same action and Characteristics!
Thank you for your advice
Carmelo

Reply by carmelo.paolucci

  • Avatar
  • carmelo.paolucci
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 21-08-2024
  • Posts: 515

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

Borealis wrote:

Hello Carmelo,

If you want a "pleasant" native sound, maybe the FP90X is not the choice to make (to me).

It seems the keybed in P525 is on the lighter side (compared with the P515). However, it is the Grand Touch-S action. The MP7SE keybed is the same (if I'm not wrong) as the Kawai ES920. So if you can't test one but another, you should have the same feel with your playing. The MP7SE is a nice choice if you want to go further with computer music.

Now, the best action with your bugdet (nearly) for classical music is the Kawai MP11SE, but it had some slip tape issues. However, it seems the last units aren't concerned but I'm not sure. I still own an old Kawai MP8 and Yamaha CP33 (as a controller) and I'm waiting to see what's new this year.

Yes, It depends on your preferences. Hope it helps !


Hi Borealis,

First of all, congratulations on making it to the finals of the Contest!!! (I supported you!)
Thank you too for your advice! I was also quite inclined towards the P525 as an improvement over the P125 I have today...
The only thing I don't know how much it might affect the performance with the Pianoteq 9 is the Aftertouch issue, which isn't recognized by Pianoteq...
I don't know, but I hope someone with a P525 and Pianoteq will reply to share their experience.
Regarding the Kawai ES 920, I hope to be able to directly compare it with the P525 next week in the same store and then decide...
Greetings from Italy
Carmelo

Reply by carmelo.paolucci

  • Avatar
  • carmelo.paolucci
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 21-08-2024
  • Posts: 515

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

Triton wrote:

Dear Carmelo,

Assuming this comes down to personal preference, I would choose the Yamaha P-525 without hesitation.

The key action is excellent, and the sound from the built-in speakers is exceptionally good for this class—better than anything else I’ve heard in this range.

I upgraded my digital piano about a year and a half ago, and in the one to two years before that I looked into quite a wide range of models, mainly home-piano types.

Kawai actions also have a good reputation, so they were at the top of my list at first, but they didn’t suit me. I was mainly looking at models like the CA401, so the action is different from the RH III in the MP7SE, but I found that the key return was slow, and there was a large amount of unit-to-unit variation, so I eventually ruled them out. Another reason I didn’t choose Kawai is that they don’t support high-resolution velocity. I know there is some debate about how important that is, but for me it was necessary.

Roland also remained a candidate until the very end. At first I thought the PHA-50 would be fine, but after trying many instruments, it started to feel a bit lacking to me. Also, I clearly prefer the sound from the speakers on the P-525. I strongly recommend trying them side by side if you can.
That said, one advantage of Roland is that the soft pedal is also continuously detected. I haven’t been able to confirm whether the RPU-3 pedal unit for the FP-90X supports continuous detection, but judging from the connector, I suspect it does. Considering that Pianoteq supports various pedal functions, I think this is a significant advantage, and it was one of the points that made my decision difficult before I finally chose the Yamaha CLP-875.

In the end I went with the Yamaha CLP-875, but if I were choosing a portable model, I would have gone with the P-525.

Whichever model you choose, I’m really looking forward to hearing your performances on your new piano.

Hi Triton!

Thank you so much for your comment and for sharing your experience and suggestions...
I'm also leaning toward the Yamaha P525. My only concern is the Aftertouch issue, which isn't recognized by Pianoteq 9. I'm not sure how much this will affect performances and videos. I'd like to continue using Pianoteq with the new instrument.
I'll definitely compare it next week with both the MP7SE and the ES920 side by side... and let you know what I'll take.
Greetings from Italy
Carmelo

Reply by carmelo.paolucci

  • Avatar
  • carmelo.paolucci
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 21-08-2024
  • Posts: 515

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

Pianistically wrote:
carmelo.paolucci wrote:

Good morning friends,
I currently use an entry-level stage piano (Yamaha P125) as a MIDI controller for Pianoteq 9, which I really enjoy playing and making classical music videos with.
I wanted to replace it with a more powerful model. I have a budget of €1,500-2,000 and was undecided between one of these models:
Yamaha P 525
Roland FP 90X
Kawai MP 7 SE

First of all, it must be compatible with Pianoteq 9, be portable, and still have a pleasant native sound (without Pianoteq 9).
What stage piano or midi keyboeard do you use with Pianoteq 9?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Carmelo

For classical music the digital keyboard with the best action for classical music is the MP7 SE . If you look for a portable piano as opposed to a stage , the Kawai ES920 has the same RH3 action . Both the support the GFP-3 pedal which has optical sensors and offer continuous values for both Sustain and Una Corda and which is the best pedal by a long stretch for classical music in this category. The action has the fastest return of the 3 and the sensors are ideally placed which is critical for classical music for pieces with difficult trills  ( specially on black notes ) and repeated notes. You can play the entire repertoire on this keyboard and will find tons of videos on YouTube demonstrating it.
The Roland PHA50 is very good as well, has a very good  midi output range but more appropriate for jazz than classical and s on the  slower and heavier side compared  than the RH3. The limitation for classical music for the Roland is the relatively slow key return and the relative positioning of the middle one bottom sensor which can create ghosts notes with fast repeated notes.  The Roland has a very good  midi output range. The Yahama Grand Touch S action is quite good for classical too but  is slightly heavier and slower than the RH3. Note that for Pianoteq, there is a limitation with the Yamaha P525 as it doesn't transmit note-off variable velocity. Not a show stopper but worth knowing.  I personally use a Kawai MP11 which has a longer pivot length but I find the key return slow,  the trills on black notes difficult and the repetition speed average compared to the RH3 action. 

In call cases , my recommendation would be to try these keyboards if you can as there is no such thing  a' best ' keyboard in this category of portable keyboards, It is essentially a matter of personal preference ( heavier vs lighter key action) , a matter of playing style and also depends of which pieces of the repertoire you play given you play classical music.


Thank you so much, Pianistically, for the details and advice you've given me!
Personally, of the three, I prefer the P 525, also because I'm using a Yamaha P125 and see it as a natural upgrade. I know it has issues with Pianoteq 9 due to aftertouch, although I'm not sure how this could affect performance and sound quality. Could you explain them to me in simpler terms? Does Pianoteq work with the P525? What are the differences compared to the Pianoteq I have now (P125)?
Sorry for the silly questions, but I'm no expert.
Regarding the three action keys, I know that on paper the RH3 should be superior. I'll test the P525 and ES 920 side-by-side next week in a shop in Rome and then choose the best one.
Thank you in advance for your answers.
Best regards,
Carmelo

Reply by carmelo.paolucci

  • Avatar
  • carmelo.paolucci
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 21-08-2024
  • Posts: 515

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

Coises wrote:
carmelo.paolucci wrote:

Good morning friends,
I currently use an entry-level stage piano (Yamaha P125) as a MIDI controller for Pianoteq 9, which I really enjoy playing and making classical music videos with.
I wanted to replace it with a more powerful model. I have a budget of €1,500-2,000 and was undecided between one of these models:
Yamaha P 525
Roland FP 90X
Kawai MP 7 SE

First of all, it must be compatible with Pianoteq 9, be portable, and still have a pleasant native sound (without Pianoteq 9).
What stage piano or midi keyboeard do you use with Pianoteq 9?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Carmelo

Just a minor note that might not be minor at all, depending on what you want and need... the MP7SE is a “stage piano”; it does not have any speakers. The keyboard you have, and the others you’ve listed, are “portable digital pianos”. Note that none of the portable digital pianos you’ve listed have even pitch bend or mod wheels; they’re meant for playing piano only; but they do have speakers. The MP7SE has a much wider range of internal sounds, and is better capable of controlling other virtual instruments, like synthesizers or virtual string sections, on your computer; but it doesn’t have speakers, so it makes no sound on its own. The Kawai that’s more equivalent to the other keyboards you’ve listed would be the ES920. Here’s a comparison between the ES920 and the FP-90X.

Thank you so much, Coises, for your comment and suggestions!
Actually, next week I'll try side by side
the three instruments I mentioned.
Thinking without trying them, I'd lean toward the Yamaha P525, because it's the natural upgrade from my P125... I don't need pitch or other effects because I play exclusively classical music...
But I'll try them out uncritically and ultimately choose the one that comes closest to my ideal...
Hoping I make a good choice...
Greetings from Italy
Carmelo

Reply by RagtimeMike

  • Avatar
  • RagtimeMike
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 23-10-2007
  • Posts: 12

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

Interesting that no one has mentioned the Korg D1 in this thread . Over the years I have used several medium price portable pianos with Pianoteq, including various Yamaha and Kawai models.  The D1 has a far better touch than any other portables I have tried, in my opinion.  It's also a lot lighter than the Kawai MP7.  Certainly worth a try?

Reply by carmelo.paolucci

  • Avatar
  • carmelo.paolucci
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 21-08-2024
  • Posts: 515

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

RagtimeMike wrote:

Interesting that no one has mentioned the Korg D1 in this thread . Over the years I have used several medium price portable pianos with Pianoteq, including various Yamaha and Kawai models.  The D1 has a far better touch than any other portables I have tried, in my opinion.  It's also a lot lighter than the Kawai MP7.  Certainly worth a try?

Thank you so much for your comment RagtimeMike,

Frankly, I hadn't considered the Korg D1, mostly because it lacks speakers, which means I'll have to carry external speakers or headphones with me at all times. I've seen that it has good mechanics and a very competitive price compared to others... I'll see if the store I'm going to has it in stock and maybe I'll try it... Although I'm not convinced that at this entry-level price, it can compete with pianos that cost double or triple the price...
Greetings from Italy
Carmelo

Reply by sigasa

  • Avatar
  • sigasa
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: UK
  • Registered: 09-01-2008
  • Posts: 2,090

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

carmelo.paolucci wrote:
RagtimeMike wrote:

Interesting that no one has mentioned the Korg D1 in this thread . Over the years I have used several medium price portable pianos with Pianoteq, including various Yamaha and Kawai models.  The D1 has a far better touch than any other portables I have tried, in my opinion.  It's also a lot lighter than the Kawai MP7.  Certainly worth a try?

Thank you so much for your comment RagtimeMike,

Frankly, I hadn't considered the Korg D1, mostly because it lacks speakers, which means I'll have to carry external speakers or headphones with me at all times. I've seen that it has good mechanics and a very competitive price compared to others... I'll see if the store I'm going to has it in stock and maybe I'll try it... Although I'm not convinced that at this entry-level price, it can compete with pianos that cost double or triple the price...
Greetings from Italy
Carmelo

Remember though, Carmelo, that the RH3 on the D1 is the same action as that on the £3000+ Kronos 3. It's KORG's top action.

I've personally been considering getting on myself (still thinking). Even though it only has two sensors per key, it has very good repetition performance.

Worth considering or at least trying at a store. If you buy from KORG, they have a 30 day money bag guarantee so you can spend some time testing it at home with no risk.

Warmest regards,

Chris

Reply by jmanrique

  • Avatar
  • jmanrique
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 16-10-2025
  • Posts: 43

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

Although I haven’t played it, I see a big advantage in the Yamaha P-525: it carries both audio and MIDI over a single cable (USB-C), so you can run Pianoteq on an iPad, play it from the P-525, and route the audio back to the piano’s speakers. As far as I know, this isn’t possible with Kawai instruments.

carmelo.paolucci wrote:

Good morning friends,
I currently use an entry-level stage piano (Yamaha P125) as a MIDI controller for Pianoteq 9, which I really enjoy playing and making classical music videos with.
I wanted to replace it with a more powerful model. I have a budget of €1,500-2,000 and was undecided between one of these models:
Yamaha P 525
Roland FP 90X
Kawai MP 7 SE

First of all, it must be compatible with Pianoteq 9, be portable, and still have a pleasant native sound (without Pianoteq 9).
What stage piano or midi keyboeard do you use with Pianoteq 9?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Carmelo

Reply by RagtimeMike

  • Avatar
  • RagtimeMike
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 23-10-2007
  • Posts: 12

Re: Upgrading Stage Piano for Pianoteq 9

carmelo.paolucci wrote:
RagtimeMike wrote:

Interesting that no one has mentioned the Korg D1 in this thread . Over the years I have used several medium price portable pianos with Pianoteq, including various Yamaha and Kawai models.  The D1 has a far better touch than any other portables I have tried, in my opinion.  It's also a lot lighter than the Kawai MP7.  Certainly worth a try?

Thank you so much for your comment RagtimeMike,

Frankly, I hadn't considered the Korg D1, mostly because it lacks speakers, which means I'll have to carry external speakers or headphones with me at all times. I've seen that it has good mechanics and a very competitive price compared to others... I'll see if the store I'm going to has it in stock and maybe I'll try it... Although I'm not convinced that at this entry-level price, it can compete with pianos that cost double or triple the price...
Greetings from Italy
Carmelo

Thanks for the greetings from Italy, Carmelo.  Your country is fascinating, from head to toe.  I take your point about the speakers, but for me (I usually use a separate Bose L1 compact PA) the lack of speakers is a bonus because it makes the device lighter.  Another thing is that the Korg does not offer many functions.  For me that's also a plus.  The in-built piano sounds are OK (but not as good as Pianoteq).  These things probably keep the price down.  I hope you'll tell us what you choose!

Last edited by RagtimeMike (26-01-2026 21:17)