Got this for my wife for Christmas, as we had elected to sell her upright acoustic piano a while back due to the difficulties of keeping it in tune. I spent several days researching a few different Yamaha P-series models before settling on this one. While they are all excellent digital pianos, this one has a few features that make it worth the difference in price.
They all have a great feel. Yamaha spent a lot of time getting the weighting on these keys to feel as much like their acoustic grands as possible, and having sat down at a C5 myself a few times over the years, I can say that their work paid off. This really does accurately capture the touch of a real piano.
The other thing they spent a lot of time on was the sampling. Unlike a lot of much cheaper options, every individual key on a Yamaha grand was recorded for sampling, and each key is playing back its corresponding sample as opposed to saving a bit of space on a drive somewhere and using a single sample for a range of keys. This is most evident when you're wearing headphones and playing because you can hear the coloration of the sound provided by all the unique internal reflections at a particular string, and the little bit of sympathetic vibration of the surrounding strings that occurs in a real piano. Your immediate though might be that this isn't a good thing... but that's what real pianos sound like and part of why you can often hear the difference between a real piano and a cheaper digital copy.
The other thing that stands the Yamahas head and shoulders above others is the touch sensitivity. There is a wide range of "velocities" available, allowing for nearly the same flexibility dynamically that a real piano has. The faster you press a key, the harder the hammer hits the string which changes the tone... except there are no hammers and no strings, just more magic in the sampling and playback process.
Speaking of playback... this is the lowest model in their lineup that offers "full duplex" audio through the USB connection. This means you can connect the piano to a computer for MIDI capture or audio recording, but the computer can also play a backing track simultaneously that you can listen to through the headphones. This is an indispensable feature if you're planning on recording because it allows you to listen to a click (or whatever other tracks you might want) as you play and record.
I have not yet played with the iPad app, but I'll update this review if there's anything worth noting.
The only Not Amazing thing is the included sustain pedal. The P-225 ships with an FC5 Foot Switch "for sustain and other momentary (on/off) functions." It's fine. It works as advertised, but it is not elegant in any way. The biggest advantage it has is that it is exactly what it says it is, i.e. a "momentary" switch. It can be used for anything you might want to control with a momentary foot switch and can plug a 1/4" TS connector into. So, as a sustain pedal it is "functional"... but you can get creative with it and that's kinda cool.
Yamaha P225B, 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano with Power Supply and Sustain Pedal, Black (P225B)
4.7 | 1,759 ratings
Price: 699.99
Last update: 01-11-2025
About this item
Graded Hammer Compact (GHC) keyboard action uses weighted keys to replicate the acoustic piano experience, with a compact design that saves space without sacrificing authenticity.
The CFX Premium Grand Piano Voice delivers the commanding power and rich tonality of the flagship CFX concert grand piano.
Virtual Resonance Modeling (VRM) recreates the resonance of the piano strings and body in real time as they would respond to the limitless factors present when playing an acoustic piano.
The Half-Damper Pedal gives you more control over piano sustain, allowing for nuanced changes and expressive performances.
With the Smart Pianist app, you can take your piano playing to the next level. This app allows you to control all functions and access additional features that go beyond what the instrument can do alone.
The CFX Premium Grand Piano Voice delivers the commanding power and rich tonality of the flagship CFX concert grand piano.
Virtual Resonance Modeling (VRM) recreates the resonance of the piano strings and body in real time as they would respond to the limitless factors present when playing an acoustic piano.
The Half-Damper Pedal gives you more control over piano sustain, allowing for nuanced changes and expressive performances.
With the Smart Pianist app, you can take your piano playing to the next level. This app allows you to control all functions and access additional features that go beyond what the instrument can do alone.
Product information
| Age Range (Description) | All ages |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 25.4 Pounds |
| Model Name | P225B Digital Piano |
| Product Dimensions | 55.5"D x 14.2"W x 8.4"H |
| Style | Digital Piano |
| Connectivity Technology | USB |
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
| Instrument | Piano, Digital Piano |
| Item Weight | 25.4 pounds |
| Country of Origin | China |
| ASIN | B0CBN7HYKB |
| Item model number | P225B |
| Customer Reviews |
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars
60 ratings
4.8 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #2,357 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments) #12 in Home Digital Pianos |
| Date First Available | August 7, 2023 |
| Color Name | Black |
Top reviews from the United States
David M Cheetham
This is the real deal
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2024
Scott S
A Delightful Digital Piano
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2024Misher
Great investment
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2024Mark W. Ingalls
Sounded So Beautiful I Wept
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2024
Mark James
Speaker position does make a difference
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2024JetJocky
Very Impressive
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2024
Wm. Bonner
Nice step-up E-Piano
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024