Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Yamaha P105 vs DGX-650

Could you guys provide some insight on why not the DGX-650 if I was looking into getting the P105 + L85 stand. It seems the DGX-650 comes with a stand, and buying the P105 + L85 stand is basically the same price or close.

So far what I was able to gather from the net:

DGX-650 / P105
GHS action / GHS action
128 polyphony / 128 polyphony
CF sampling / CF sampling
100's voices / 14 voices
50 pounds / 25 pounds

So why NOT get the DGX-650 since it seems to be more fun. Why are they so similar in price? What's the catch?

Thanks!

I wanted to say "number of sample layers", but that detail is not in the Yamaha specs it seems.

Because DGX is ugly. The 650 is less so than previous models. But it has 5 track easy recording facilities and good memory storing banks and a load of other stuff too.

You might get to be fond of her!

(Why not download the manual for both pianos?)

It's possible that the P105 piano sound is more realistic than the DGX-650 piano sound.

The P105 piano sound uses a multi-layer sample -- that is, different samples for different volume levels, nicely blended. The details are in the "DPBSD" thread, here.

Whether the "PureCF sound engine" is the same in the two DP's -- that's a good question.

The DGX-650 is about $200 more than the P105, so you _are_ paying for all those extra voices. [That's (more-or-less) the price difference between the Casio PX-150 (limited voice repetoire) and Casio PX-350 (full voice repetoire). Some people buy the PX-150, not being interested in playing saxophone, harmonica, or steel drums.]

. Charles

Ah yes, the DPBSD thread. It suggests the DGX-640 is likely a single layer, and the DGX-650 hasn't been tested.

Buy the one that entices you to practice!!

It looks like the P-105 would provide a more realistic piano experience with more portability.. the 650 is more of an arranger keyboard. Really depends on what you're after. Case could be made for either depending on your desired use.

Yes, the DGX-640 isn't the most handsome unit out there, but luckily the 650 looks much better.

I play classical, and I need the L85 stand, since I need something very stable and also need the pedal unit. I am getting old and need a lot of time to practice all the coordination of both feet with both hands. Seems only the P105 and DGX-650 supports a 3-pedal unit. I was interested in the P155 as well, but I discovered it does not support a 3-pedel unit, so that's out. I'm a beginner, and I can't just start using the soft pedal on a piano that has one when I learned something on a piano without one like a real pianist could. Everything I do has to be practiced in.

I noticed that the DGX MSRP is much higher then selling price compared to the P105. Is that because the P105 is so popular, they can sell it at close to full list?

Is there anything that has the GH/GHE action with 3-pedals unit without going into the price range of a CLP?

Yes. The Yamaha Arius line (above the 142) satisfies those requirements. The most affordable Arius with GH is the YDP 162.

Thanks for pointing that out. I'll give it a try when I have a chance.

So, I spent over an hour playing the DGX-650 vs P105. Also played the Yamaha YDP-162 (with GHE action) and the Casio PX-150. The action in the YDP-162 felt better slightly than the P105, but now the price jumped to $1499. I wanted to try the P35 also, but this big dude was there the whole time.

My impression is that the DGX-650's action is a bit lighter and less responsive than the P105 despite both being GHS according to Yamaha. I asked the sales guy and he said everyone that tried both have that same impression. There is no headphone jack / port in front of the console, so I had to use the 1/4" out in the back. That's pretty awkward especially when these thing are typically against the wall. The P105 has headphone jack conveniently in front. The 001 Grand Piano sound on the DGX-650 is disappointingly synthetic.

The sales guys said in order to provide so many features for the DGX-650, Yamaha had to skimp on the action a bit (I'm sure he was just guessing), but then experiencing it myself, it seems entirely possible there are more than one version of the GHS action.

That`s interesting and informative. I found the same thing with the 650. But I didn`t think the P155 was up to much either; however, I doubt the GHS action varies from piano to piano, that would be economically crazy. Mine feels like mush playing a software piano; totally different to the on board one.
Buying a DP is worse than buying a car . . . .particularly when you find these forums!
In addition, I find the default piano on most (all) models is never to my liking . . lack of decent ambience (usually reverb)is the problem, I think. With the 650, it`s . . . the wrong sort of reverb! But there are loads to choose from and everything is adjustable. That is a big plus imo.

This kind of thing comes up all the time with Yamaha pianos. Two pianos have the same action, apparently, but people swear they feel different. Could be the state of the internals (how well lubricated they are, etc), could be the angle they are sitting on the desk, could be the built-in velocity curves. Or it could be that there are real differences between Yamaha actions of the same name. I wish we knew.

I did not like the dgx action at all. It actually hurt my hands after only an hour of playing. I ended up returning it unfortunately. And I also didn't like the pedal board at all. It was stiff and plasticky. Have you tried out the casio px350 or px780? I think they have much better action and are similar to the dgx in some ways. Just my experience, try them for yourself and decide.

I was playing some Grieg on mine (the 630) and my index finger`s not been the same since . . . .thought it was the computer mouse. I use my LH for that now. But I can`t play piano lefthanded

Out of curiosity I tried the P35 while at GC- it was on sale for $380. Although polyphony is very low; I found it to sound a little clearer than the P95 I owned for 2 years.
Did anyone else notice this?