Korg D1 vs Yamaha P-125 and other DPs in this price range

Are any D1 owners here? Have you compared this model to other brands? What can you tell about it's touch and sound?

By the way - looks like this guy made something like DIY cabinet using computer table



Looks nice and convienient and there no more need in console pianos )))

I haven't used the on-board sounds since the day I got it. They were ok but noticeably inferior to VSTs. I think this and the cdp-s100 are the best value midi controllers for their price. Yamaha keys are subjectively the worst out of casio, korg, kawai, and roland for entry/mid models.

Not an owner. But I have tried the RH3 action present in the D1. I had to use a G1 to do it as the D1 was not available on the shop floor.

I don't want to repeat everything I said in the linked (and previous) comments. So here's my conclusion:



Just so you know, I decided to pick up a Casio CDP-S100 because I wanted something that could also function as a midi-controller. If a D1 had been available, I might have picked one instead. However, there are people who don't like the Korg RH3 action for some reason.

Sound is often easy to compare with digital pianos, but I sometimes feel talking about touch quickly takes you to territory inhabited by audiophiles and their thousand dollar gold-plated cables. Because, in the end, beyond mechanical aspects that you can actually test, it comes down to feeling.

For touch, I only care about weighted keys and the ability of the keyboard to reliably handle 8-10 levels of touch response and communicate the same in terms of midi velocities. And this isn't something you can necessarily test in a store. Capturing the midi messages on a computer is a much better way to test this. So you have to take a leap of faith.

Pianists might care about other things as well. But I am not one.

When I was shopping for a DP i just brought my MacBook Pro with me and hooked it up to the DPs I was interested in and tried it out - both by playing a VST and looking at reported midi velocities using a midi monitor application - I did end up taking a leap of faith and getting a VPC1 but that’s besides the point

Well, I couldn't even find the headphone ports on a couple of DPs I wanted to test. Turned out you had to crawl under them to access it. Between the dark consoles and bar-like subdued lighting, I passed on the chance.

If the conditions are such that it is feasible for you to test these things, then great. Ideally, you should.

I agree with Johnyw. My past setup, had a Cdp100 but this one was the first model out in the market more than 10 years ago and used it as a controller for my Vst and had an excellent action. It happens that all keys with time will cause the action to become loose. Had some time ago a Yamaha P80 that I had to open and grease it inside to stop it from sticking. Had its final moments so I sold it. The Cdp100, sold it too after a couple of months after using the D1. With so many years playing with wobbly keys and having the D1 RH action is a fresh experience with the touch, it is close to certain acoustic pianos (played in piano store where again, are new and don't have a "beatin' up action"). Sounds are good enough to trick any non keyboardist that cannot have a sound judgement between a 9 foot grand or an upright sound. I use Vst's and would only use the D1 internal sounds as a backup. I wouldn't care for other plastic body keyboard since the construction of the D1 is solid which is a plus. It is safe to carry through narrow doors to a gig and not worry of having an accident and crack a plastic body like many other keyboards brands that use plastic. Last is weight factor. Maybe more pounds over plastic body but it has an advantage: it holds its weight down on a stand.

In this price bracket I’d go for the CASIO Privia PX-S1000, with a much better piano sound than the CDP-S100.