Yamaha P121 Vs Yamaha P45
Yamaha has many good digital pianos at different price ranges and for other user bases. The Yamaha P121 Vs Yamaha P45 is a good option for those who want to start learning to play the instrument. These pianos are easy to play, sound amazing for the price, and have all the features you need in a digital piano, including the weighted keys and dual or layering feature. But which is the best entry-level piano for you? Let’s see what these two can offer and which fits you best.
In this comparison, we will talk about the following:
- What are the Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45
- How is the Design of Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45
- How is the Key Action of Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45
- How is the Sound Engine in Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45
- What are the Features of Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45
- What are the Connectivity in Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45
- Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45
- Which Yamaha Digital Piano to Buy?
| Yamaha P121 | Yamaha P45 | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Product Dimensions | 43.86 x 11.61 x 6.54 inches | 52.25 x 11.5 x 6 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 32.2 pounds | 33 pounds |
| Shop now at Amazon | Check price | Check price |
About Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45
Most people are familiar with Yamaha because this is one of the most well-known digital instruments in the world. This company also makes acoustic pianos and is among the best regarding sound and overall quality. Like most companies, Yamaha has tons to offer their customers, which can be overwhelming, especially at the entry-level. If you need a budget piano that is still reliable for many years, the Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45 are exciting options.
The P45 is a famous entry-level piano from the company as it has all the essential features with good sound quality, but some people may want more and be willing to spend more, thus the Yamaha P121. This iteration is like a step up from the other in price range and abilities. If the P45 is marketed towards beginners and budget shoppers, the P121 is more suitable for experienced players who need more from their pianos, such as a better sound engine and more built-in voices.
The choice should be based on your preferences because not everyone has the same goals. If you are willing to pay more and want a better digital piano, the Yamaha P121 is the one to go. Still, the P45 is a good choice with all the essential features available and still very compact for limited spaces or travel purposes. Read also: Artesia PE 88 Vs Yamaha P45 here.
Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45 Design
The first thing to look for in almost any product is the build quality. Because these pianos come from Yamaha, they are well-made but very compact. The P121 is 43 inches wide, 11.6 inches deep, and 6.5 inches tall, while the P45 is 52 inches wide, 11 inches deep, and 6 inches tall. The P121 is much narrower than P45 because it has fewer keys as it is a 73-key piano as opposed to the 88-key format in P45. The Yamaha P45 is also heavier than the P121.
Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45 Key Action
The second factor to consider in your digital piano is the keys, and this is also one of the most notable differences between the Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45 because one is a 73-key model, and the other is an 88-key full-sized piano. This difference also affects how you play the instrument as a 73-key piano has six and a half octaves while the 88-key variants have a full seven octaves. If you intend to play songs the way they are played intentionally, the 88-key is the way to go.
As for the key action, these digital pianos use the same GHS or Graded Hammer Standard by Yamaha, a weighted key with hammer movement to emulate the feel of playing real piano keys. The keys are also sensitive, meaning the pressure affects how the piano emits sound. The reason why the 73-key setup exists is that it is more compact for traveling musicians, and most songs are still playable with 73-key pianos or keyboards.
Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45 Sound Engine
The sound quality is the next prominent difference between the Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45. Yamaha usually uses AWM stereo sampling for their entry-level instruments. Still, the P121 already uses Pure CF, which is higher than AWM in terms of overall sound quality and sampling. Yamaha pianos also use this sound engine in the more expensive price range. As a beginner model, Yamaha only put 64-note polyphony for the P45 while the P121 has 192-note polyphony, so the chance of you running out of notes to play is minimal.
Not limited to the sound engine, the Yamaha P121 also has much more tones or voices to offer at 24 than the P45, which only has ten voices. This piano has more acoustic and electric variations and bass voices to enrich your performance.
Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45 Features
The next part we want to discuss is the feature part because Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45 are also different here. Most digital pianos have layer mode, where you can layer two voices across the keyboard to play a more sophisticated sound. These pianos also have duo mode, where two people can play the instrument side by side by halving the keyboard in the middle, giving the same range on each side. The split mode is missing from the P45, where you can halve the keyboard and let each part play a different voice.
In addition, the P121 also has more built-in effects and other features like a recording function. The recording function is still limited to two tracks with a file limit of 100kb. You can also add damper resonance, activating Intelligent Acoustic Control, and Sound Boost in Yamaha P121.
Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45 Connectivity
Lastly is connectivity because we want a versatile instrument that can connect to many different devices. As for the Yamaha P45, we only see the power in the headphone jack, sustain pedal jack, and a USB to Host port. Similarly, you can find these connectors on the P121, but there are also USB MIDI and Aux Out for external amplification. You can use the footswitch/pedal included with the purchase or buy the compatible pedal for a better experience. Check our other comparison in: Korg LP 180 Vs Korg LP 380 here.
Yamaha P121 Vs Yamaha P45
The Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45 are good options for those looking for a compact yet reliable digital piano. The main difference is that the P121 is more compact and is a higher model based on the sound engine and features. The P121 has a more authentic sound sample, effects, features, and built-in voices. However, since it only has 73 keys, some songs may need adjustment, especially those made initially to be played on 88-key pianos.
Conclusion
There is no bad option between the Yamaha P121 and Yamaha P45 as they are equally impressive for the budget. We highly recommend the P121 if you want a higher model, as it offers more and is more suitable for experienced players. On the other hand, the Yamaha P45 is better for beginners and those looking for a good piano to learn the instrument. It has fewer features and voice, so you can focus on building the basic skills.
