P45 vs Yamaha P71
In the following article, we will discuss the comparison between Yamaha P45 vs Yamaha P71. Both of these two digital pianos are designed mostly for beginners. However, there is some price difference between the two seemingly identical models. So, is there any real difference in the features and sound quality? Which model is better to purchase?
What you can learn from this article:
- Why Yamaha P45 and Yamaha P71 were released into the market
- The design and dimensions of each digital piano
- The features and capabilities of the digital pianos
- The available connectivity options on each model
- The speaker power of each model
- The sound quality of Yamaha P45 vs P71
- Which Yamaha digital piano that is generally more recommended
Overview
A lot of people are confused with Yamaha P45 vs Yamaha P71 because the two digital pianos look very similar, but they are often sold at different price points. Yamaha P45 is usually a little bit more expensive, whereas Yamaha P71 tends to be more affordable. If the two digital pianos are similar, why did the company release them with different names in the first place?
Yamaha P45 and Yamaha P71 are both entry-level digital pianos that are suitable for beginners. After a careful observation, we can say that the two digital pianos do not have any difference in the functions and features. So, you are not going to sacrifice any functionality at all when choosing one model over the other.
We may suspect that the two models differ from each other by coming with different parts and accessories. At first, this may seem to be the case. But then we can also see that both Yamaha P45 and Yamaha P71 are sold in several different bundles, which contain different parts and accessories.
Several forums and Amazon reviews have also discussed the difference between Yamaha P45 vs Yamaha P71, and finally one FAQ article on Yamaha’s official website is able to confirm the suspicion. Yamaha P45 and Yamaha P71 are identical digital pianos without any functional difference. The company produces two digital pianos that are essentially the same for different retailers. Yamaha P45 is the generic model that is available in most retailers, whereas Yamaha P71 is an Amazon-exclusive model.
Being a generic model, Yamaha P45 is easy to be found in many other retailers. Of course, you can also find this model in Amazon. You can find this model in various online stores as well as local stores. So, if you prefer to purchase your keyboard from a physical store, this is the model that will be offered by the retailer.
Yamaha P71 is only sold in Amazon. You can’t find a new Yamaha P71 from any other retailer (but you probably can find the second-hand products in some online marketplaces). The unique perk is that Yamaha P71 is available at a lower price point. It is about 20 percent cheaper than Yamaha P45. Even so, keep in mind that the prices on Amazon are dynamic due to the mechanism of demands and supplies. (Read also : Yamaha P71 vs P115)
Now, let’s see the different bundles of Yamaha P45 vs Yamaha P71 as well as what they include. Make sure that you choose the best bundle that suits your needs. Choosing the best bundle can help you save more money.
Included Accessories
If you take a look at Amazon, you will find that Yamaha P45 is available in three different bundles. You can choose the Digital Piano Bundle, the Starter Bundle, or the Home Bundle. Here is the explanation about what each bundle includes.
- The Digital Piano Bundle is the most affordable of the three. This is the most basic option. The P45 digital piano only comes with a sustain pedal and a standard power supply. This is a great choice if you want to use your own stand/table and bench.
- The Starter Bundle is more expensive than the Digital Piano Bundle. This option includes the sustain pedal, the power supply, one adjustable double-braced X-style stand, and one adjustable padded X-style bench. All these pieces are black, so they fit well with the black digital piano. You should consider this bundle if portability is a top priority, as the X-style bench is lightweight and foldable.
- The Home Bundle is more expensive than the Starter Bundle and the most expensive option of the three. This bundle includes the sustain pedal, power supply, and bench. However, instead of the X-style stand, this bundle comes with a matching stand that attaches securely to the digital piano. It looks very professional and classy. Although the bundle is bigger and heavier, you should consider this bundle if you want to enhance the look of your room with a digital piano.
The Amazon-exclusive Yamaha P71 is also available in three different bundles, which are the Digital Piano Bundle, the Basic Bundle, and the Deluxe Bundle. They are equivalent options of Yamaha P45’s bundles. Well, let’s take a look at each option.
- The Digital Piano Bundle is the cheapest option and also the most basic option. The P71 digital piano comes with a sustain pedal and a standard power supply. This is the most cost-efficient choice if you don’t need the stand or the bench.
- The Basic Bundle is slightly more expensive than the Digital Piano Bundle. This bundle includes an adjustable X-style stand plus an adjustable X-style bench, in addition to the sustain pedal and standard power supply. Both the stand and the bench are foldable, so you can consider this bundle as the ‘portable’ option.
- The Deluxe Bundle is more expensive than the Basic Bundle and also the most expensive bundle of the three. This bundle comes with the sustain pedal, power supply, and bench; however, this bundle has a different stand. The lower part of the fitting stand is black, whereas the upper part that houses the digital piano is white. It may look strange, at least for some people. However, it may be great if the white color suits your room decoration well.
Design
Now, we will discuss more about the actual digital piano, starting from the design. Yamaha P45 and Yamaha P71 look identical, with the same dimensions and layouts. One distinctive feature that is shared across all Yamaha P-series digital pianos is the simple, convenient design. By keeping the design simple and minimalistic, the piano can appear elegant and classy.
Take a look at the front panel of the digital piano. Here, you will only find a handful of buttons and controls. There is the power button, which is equipped with an accidental pressing protection to prevent the digital piano from turning off while you are still playing. There are also the volume control and the “Function” button.
The Function button is quite unique, as it is used for ‘shortcuts’ on the digital piano. In order to access a particular setting or feature, you need to press the Function button and one of the keyboard keys. You should refer to the manual to find out the corresponding keyboard key for a setting or feature.
Each digital piano measures 58.2 inches x 16.1 inches x 11.7 inches. The lightweight body is one of the biggest advantages of Yamaha P45 and Yamaha P71. Each digital piano only weighs by about 25 pounds (11.5 kg). It is a very slim and compact and lightweight. So, if you are looking for a portable digital piano that you can easily carry to a stage, gig, or even a student’s home, both Yamaha P45 and Yamaha P71 are excellent options.
Of course, don’t forget about choosing the right stand for your particular purpose. Gigging musicians may prefer the foldable and adjustable X-style stand (included in the Starter/Basic Bundle). However, if you prefer something that looks professional and classy for your room, consider getting a furniture-style stand. Yamaha P45’s Home Bundle comes with the all-black version, whereas Yamaha P71’s Deluxe Bundle comes with the white-and-black version.
Features and Connectivity
Each digital piano here features an 88-key keyboard with Yamaha’s Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) weighted action. This keyboard technology has been designed to provide an authentic touch to the user. The GHS weighted action is heavier on the low end but lighter on the high end. It closely mimics the hammers inside a real acoustic piano. So, Yamaha P45 and Yamaha P71 are ideal for beginners who want to get familiar with the feel before going to real acoustic pianos.
Note that the black keys have a matte finish, so they are significantly less slippery than cheap plastic keys. As the effect, these digital pianos are very comfortable to play. You will be less bothered by sweaty hands when playing for an extended period of time. The keys feel nice, solid, and precise.
If you take a look at the rear panel of the digital piano, you can find the available connection ports. Since Yamaha P45 and Yamaha P71 are entry-level models, we certainly can’t expect them to come with various connectivity options. They do come with the basics; each digital piano has one sustain pedal jack (you can attach an optional half pedal as well) along with one stereo audio output for connecting to an external speaker system.
However, there is one nice thing: Yamaha P45 and Yamaha P71 already come with one USB-to-host port. This feature is very, very useful for beginners as well as more experienced users. You can connect the digital piano to an iPhone, iPod, or iPad by using the optional adapter. There are several mobile apps available – you can see the list from Yamaha here.
The mobile apps can help you learn, make MIDI files, or record your plays. Unfortunately, these mobile apps are only available for iOS devices so far. It is unknown if the mobile apps will be available for Android, but this seems to be unlikely. Nevertheless, although Yamaha P45 and Yamaha P71 don’t have any MIDI port, the USB port can serve the same purpose when connected to a computer.
These digital pianos each have 10 different voices, which include:
- 2 Grand Piano voices
- 2 Electric Piano voices
- 2 Pipe Organ voices
- 2 Harpsichord voices
- Strings
- Vibraphone
All of the voices support layering, so you can play using two different voices at the same time. You can choose any voice combination. In addition, there is also the Duo mode, which enables two different players to play simultaneously using the same octave ranges. One person plays on the left, and the other person plays on the right. The Duo mode is useful for teaching and learning. Both Yamaha P45 and Yamaha P71 have several reverb effects.
Performance
Each digital piano has a pair of 6-Watt speakers. Well, the speakers are not powerful enough to deliver a real performance at high volume, except if the gig is quite small. So, you may want to use a reliable external speaker if you want to use your Yamaha P45 or Yamaha P71 for gigging.
For home practice, though, the speakers are pretty good. They can fill the air of a medium-sized room. As long as you don’t push the volume too high, the speakers will deliver solid and accurate sound without any distortion.
Both Yamaha P45 and Yamaha P71 use the company’s Advanced Wave Memory (AWM) sound engine. This technology is famous for its deep, rich, and spacious sound. It has recorded L-R pairs of waveforms by using two microphones to capture the acoustic piano sound in the best quality. As a result, both Yamaha P45 and Yamaha P71 can deliver very realistic and natural sound. You will be really impressed that they sound just like Yamaha’s real grand pianos!
P45 vs Yamaha P71
Conclusion
So, between Yamaha P45 vs Yamaha P71, which model is better to choose? They are basically the same, but Yamaha P71 is an Amazon-exclusive that is available at a lower price. So, we recommend you to choose Yamaha P71 to get the most value from your money. It is an excellent digital piano that is suitable for beginners. It already has 10 built-in voices with layering, the Duo mode, and a MIDI-capable USB port. The sound quality is impressive.
