Description
Music brings joy to so many of us. And for pianists what we play can become the soundtrack to our modern lives. Since how, when, and where we enjoy our piano can be personal depending on the player, the simplicity of the Yamaha P225 makes it the most approachable and user-friendly digital piano for everyone. Beginner and intermediate players will find the touch and tone perfect for their repertoire, and the portability of the P225 means you can take it on those coffee-house gigs, or bring it to the cottage with ease. The Smart Pianist app gives you a modern user interface to access all of the features in the P225 while the Rec N Share app allow you to record your practices and performances directly to your smart device. This makes sharing to your social media platforms quick and easy!
Scott S –
TL;DR: The Yamaha P225B is a compact digital piano with superb weighted action and realistic CFX grand piano sound, perfect for experienced players seeking a space-saving alternative without sacrificing quality.
I approached the Yamaha P225B with skepticism and hope. I was pleasantly surprised on all fronts.
Action: The Graded Hammer Action (GH3) is a revelation. The keys respond with nuanced weight and sensitivity, mimicking the resistance of an acoustic piano with impressive accuracy. From delicate pianissimos to thunderous fortissimos, the P225B translates every minute expression with remarkable fidelity.
Sound: Gone are the days of tinny, artificial piano tones. The P225B boasts Yamaha’s renowned PureCF sound engine, meticulously capturing the rich, nuanced timbre of the flagship CFX concert grand. The stereo sustain samples add breathtaking depth and realism, replicating the sympathetic resonance of an acoustic piano with stunning authenticity.
Features: The P225B has features that enhance practice and performance. The metronome is a welcome addition; the ability to layer different voices or split the keyboard opens up creative possibilities. Bluetooth connectivity allows for effortless music playback or integration with learning apps.
Aesthetics: The P225B’s sleek, minimalist design complements any decor. The matte black finish is fingerprint-resistant and lends a touch of sophistication. The compact size makes it ideal for smaller spaces, yet it retains the presence and elegance of a traditional piano.
Verdict: The Yamaha P225B is a game-changer for pianists seeking a high-quality digital piano. It delivers an authentic playing experience, stunning sound, and many features in a compact and elegant package. For me, it has rekindled the joy of playing, proving that digital pianos can truly capture the essence of an acoustic instrument. Highly recommend the Yamaha Stand accessory.
Mark W. Ingalls –
My wife has played piano since she was a little girl, but she never could afford a nice piano of her own. She always talked about wanting her own grand piano, but we just didn’t have the space or the money.
We saw a singer on TV who was accompanied by someone playing an electronic piano and it inspired me to search for one for my sweetheart. After hours of research I decided to try this Yamaha 225B.
My wife loves the piano so much that when she gets asked to play at church she has me pack her piano and take it along. She loves the feel of the keyboard and pedals. I love the sound!
Andres Fernandez –
I haven’t completed using it but I can project thst eventually I may have good use for it. I took possession of it and just now have found that the piano and the piano stand was not delivered with a complete set of tools designed for this piano. I have been struggling with tools and nuts and bolts incompatible for this piano. I’m taking this opportunity to request a valid toolset and screws designed to adequately marry the piano and the piano stand together. The materials I need do not allow a complete and valid assembly of the piano and the piano stand.
Please review your design and parts list to conform with the assembly of both piano and piano stand for valid use.
This piano is a Yamaha and deserves all the components that should have been shipped with it. Otherwise I will have no recourse to return this item to Amazon.
Thank you for reviewing my statement as soon as possible so I can return to my work.
michael –
The product is perfect and works well. However the P.O. would not deliver the package. They said it wouldn’t fit on their truck. I had to drive about 11 miles to pick it up at the P.O. This item should be shipped through FedEx or UPS and not the USPS.
Mark James –
Comparing this keyboard to my P121 keyboard with the speakers on top: With the speakers pointing upward you hear the full range of sound. With the speakers on the P225 facing out toward the room will give you (the performer) a slightly muffled sound unless you place the keyboard against a wall so the sound can bounce back toward you. The sound coming out of the speakers sounds great for the audience but it won’t sound balanced to you (the performer) when the keyboard is in the middle of the room. Not a deal breaker but something to consider.
David M Cheetham –
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.
Misher –
Though the hammer like keys are not quite the feel of a grand piano it is a good feel for a light weight keyboard. Nice sound too
JetJocky –
Most anything Yamaha builds is good. The sound of this keyboard is very natural. The keys feel like a regular piano. It is being used much more than I thought it would.
Bernard –
Pros:
Looks very sleek and stylish. Relatively light.
Key action is on the lighter side (compared to Roland) and has a great feel. Feels great playing on it for a long time
Some of the sounds are very good: like string, choir, organ, harpsichord with on-board speakers.
Virtual resonance really improves the sound quality.
Rhythms are so fun to use.
Cons:
Grand Piano sounds that come out of the speakers sound a bit muffled. I would recommend hooking to an external speaker system. Lows and bass are lacking from piano speakers.
Headphones and line-out all require 1/4″ adapters. Will test the line-out function once the adapter arrives but I expect sound to be vastly improved with external speakers.
Wm. Bonner –
It’s a piano at a reasonable price. There are plenty of videos showing features and sound.
I’ll add that the sound from the built-in is great!
One mild dislike: the action is clearly designed to simulate an acoustic piano but it’s a *little* stiff for my taste – firmer even than the old-timey “real” pianos I’m used to. I’ll probably get used to it over time and it’s not a deal-breaker.
All told, I’d give it a 4.5 overall, 4.8 on piano sound emulation.