Yamaha P71 vs P115

Yamaha P71 and Yamaha P115 are two popular pianos from Yamaha Portable line of electric piano. These two products shares some resemblance yet they were aimed at different market. If you are planning on purchasing an electric piano for intermediate or beginner level, you may want to check our article below first to make sure you are choosing the most suitable one for you.

In this article we are going to give you information about:
– What is Yamaha P71 and Yamaha P115
– How Yamaha P71 and Yamaha P115 Look Like
– What Yamaha P71 and Yamaha P115 can offer to you
– Yamaha P71 vs Yamaha P115

About Yamaha P71
Yamaha P71 is a digital piano from the Japanese manufacturer Yamaha that also makes several other electronic products. This item is an Amazon exclusive digital piano and also the most affordable piano in the “P” line including the infamous P-45. Most of you probably already know that this digital piano is marketed towards beginner similar to its predecessor but, taking the price and release into consideration, Yamaha P71 is deemed as the better version of P-45.

Yamaha P71 Design
Looking at Yamaha P71 from the outside, there is nothing special about the piano. The unit measures at 58.2 x 16.1 x 11.7 inches in 25 pounds, making it great to carry around with you in your practice or tour. All the control you need to play your piano are placed conveniently at the top. There is two packages you can choose when purchasing the unit with paying a little more, you will get additional pedal, piano stand, and a pair of headphones.

Yamaha P71 Features
When talking about Yamaha P71 , the best and boasted feature in the piano is the 88 realistic weighted action keys that will gives you the similar experience like when you play the real piano but without the budget. These weighted keys is said to be held by Yamaha’s entry level Graded Hammer Standard that is known to have a higher standard than some other brands in the market.

As it have been mentioned earlier, Yamaha P71 is marketed towards beginner and it also a great choice for those who are currently starting their music career since the keyboard gives you everything you need to get started. Whether you are a novice or experienced user, the controls are set up to be plug-in and play. The most prominent feeling when playing the piano is you will have more control on your finger as well as lesser burden in your finger, so you won’t get tired too quickly.

Another great thing in Yamaha P71 is how beautiful it sound. This piano comes with AWM sampling that used digital technology to record the sound of an acoustic piano so the sound feels natural and realistic. Coming with 10 different voices, you can choose which one to enrich your musical performances. For those who loves rich full bass with crisp treble, Yamaha P71 is the one for you. For the classical sound, you can have a bunch of them, such as strings or horns.

From the connectivity, Yamaha P71 will allow you to connect to any computer using the USB to Computer functionality, so now you can record your music when the inspiration comes without the worry of forgetting it later.

About Yamaha P115
Yamaha P115 is also a digital piano from Yamaha together with the other portable “P” series. The piano is said to be released to replace one of the line best-selling item P105, so if you ever played the piano, you can expect that this version also comes with similar abilities. Unlike the P71 and P45 that mainly marketed for beginner, the P115 is aimed at intermediate player with more experience and of course with better features and higher price point.

Yamaha P115 Design
From the outside, Yamaha P115 looks just like another P series but with more controls placed at the top of the unit. Measuring at 58.2 x 16 x 11.8 inches and weighing around 37.7 pounds, it is still as compact but slightly heavier than its brother the P71. You can purchase the piano only, but by adding a couple buck you can have additional items including seat, keyboard stand, and pedal.

Yamaha P115 Features
Yamaha P115 highlighted feature is the pure CF sound engine. When listening to the piano you can feel how good the sound it produced that was recorded from the infamous Yamaha CFIIIS concert grand piano. The built in speaker does produce full low frequencies and bright tones in the higher registers to produce even more pure sound quality. The beautiful sound is then combines with Graded Hammer technology to give you the similar experience like when playing an acoustic piano. (Have a look : Casio PX 160 vs Yamaha P 115)

Another great thing on Yamaha P115 is the number of polyphony, which is the number of key this piano can play at the same time. The higher the number the closer the piano resemble a real acoustic one in the term of playing multiple notes and layers simultaneously without the dropping out sound. This piano came with an impressive 192 keys together with 17 different instruments sounds. Among those instruments, there are grand piano, bright piano, Wurlitzer, and rock organ.

A cool function planted in the piano lets you play a chord and choose a style, which means the Yamaha P115 will play as accompanist while your hand is free to create fuller melodies. From the connectivity, you can connect your piano to a PC with USB to Host function as well as a new app called Digital Piano Controller if you use iOS devices. Through the app, you can control the keyboard, such as changing the settings and sounds to make it more convenient for you.

Comparison
Now, let’s compare Yamaha P71 with Yamaha P115. Both pianos have the same size and 8 weighted keys. What set them apart from each other prominently are the sound quality, which is clearer in Yamaha P115 and the number polyphony, which is greater in Yamaha P115 with 192 keys while Yamaha P71 only have 64 keys. From the feels, the keys in Yamaha P115 is softer compared to Yamaha P71 that feels slightly harder.

Yamaha P71 vs P115

- 88 fully weighted piano-style keys simulate the feel of an acoustic piano and provide a quality playing experience
- Contains 10 different voices, including digitally sampled tones from real Yamaha acoustic grand pianos
- Dual Mode lets you combine two Voices together, like piano and strings, for an inspiring new playing experience
- Slim and stylish design with a depth of less than 12 inches, the P71 requires little space and weighs only 25 lbs
- Bundle includes Yamaha P115B 88-Key Graded Hammer Standard Digital Piano with Knox Keyboard Stand and Knox Bench
- 192-note polyphony ensures the suppression of dropped notes even with simultaneous Dual and Split modes and a drum pattern playing
- Intelligent Acoustic Control provides full, balanced sound that adapts to each user's volume setting for the best possible tone at any level
- Duo mode allows for side-by-side piano practice. Ideal for schools teaching group lessons, it accommodates two students per piano

Conclusion
All in all, the decision is all yours to make. We do think that both piano are great for different people. If you are a beginner and or those with little to no experience, Yamaha P71 is the better option for it is simpler and more affordable. But of you are on intermediate level with more experience, we highly recommend you the Yamaha P115.