Helping you choose the right keyboard for your musical journey.

Whether you're buying your very first keyboard or upgrading to a professional instrument, this guide will help you understand the different types of keyboards available and choose the one that's right for you.

One thing that's worth mentioning is that, at the true entry level, most major brands offer a very similar experience. Models like the Yamaha P-45, Roland FP-10, Kawai ES60, and Casio CDP-S100 all cover the basics well. You'll get a respectable piano sound, weighted keys, and everything you need to begin learning properly.

Once you move into the next price bracket, roughly $1,000-$2,500 AUD, things start to get far more interesting.

This is where digital pianos really begin to separate themselves. Alongside improved piano sounds and more realistic key actions, you'll start to see a whole range of additional features appear, including expanded sound libraries, rhythm and auto-accompaniment functions, recording capabilities, effects, Bluetooth connectivity, and much more.

The instruments featured in this guide mostly sit within that range. They each have 88 weighted keys and are designed not only for home practice, but also for rehearsals, recording sessions, and live performance. They're portable enough to take to gigs and lessons, while also offering professional audio outputs for connecting to amplifiers, mixers, studio monitors, or full PA systems.

Updated: July 2026

Contents

• How to Use This Guide
• A Quick Note on Pricing
• Home Digital Pianos
• Stage Pianos
• Synthesisers & Workstations
• Don't Be Intimidated
• Finding the Right Keyboard

 

How to Use This Guide

Choosing your first keyboard, or upgrading to something new, can feel overwhelming. There are dozens of models available, each offering different features, sounds, and capabilities. It can be difficult to know where to start.

This guide isn't designed to tell you which keyboard is "best". Instead, it's designed to help you understand the strengths of each type of instrument, so you can choose the one that's right for you.

Throughout this guide you'll find recommended retail prices, practical feature overviews, and real-world advice based on how these instruments are actually used by working musicians.

Whether you're buying your very first keyboard or upgrading to something more advanced, my hope is that this guide helps you spend less time comparing specifications and more time making music.

A Quick Note on Pricing

All prices listed throughout this guide are recommended retail prices (RRP) in Australian Dollars (AUD).

Retail prices often vary between music stores, and you'll frequently find keyboards available for less than their official RRP. Where there are significant savings commonly available, I've included a note throughout the guide to help give you a better idea of typical pricing.

It's always worth shopping around before making your final decision.

 

Home Digital Pianos

Ideal if you're learning piano at home and want the most authentic piano-playing experience.

Home digital pianos are designed to recreate the feel and sound of an acoustic piano while offering the convenience of a modern electronic instrument.

For many people, this is where their piano journey begins. They're designed to feel familiar, encouraging good playing technique while requiring very little setup or technical knowledge. Most home digital pianos focus on delivering realistic piano sounds, responsive weighted keys, and built-in speakers, making them ideal for daily practice.

Home digital pianos typically prioritise:

• Realistic piano feel
• High-quality acoustic piano sounds
• Built-in speakers
• Traditional upright or furniture-style designs
• Simple, distraction-free operation

If your goal is to learn piano, practise regularly, or simply enjoy sitting down and playing, this is likely the best place to start.

Yamaha DGX-670

RRP: $1,899
Most retailers discount this model even further.

Features

• Yamaha CFX concert grand piano sound
• Large library of synths, strings, brass, organs, guitars, basses, electric pianos, and pads
• Auto-accompaniment styles with full backing-band functionality
• Built-in rhythms across multiple musical styles
• Layer and split keyboard functionality
• Colour LCD display
• Microphone input for singing while playing
• Onboard recording functions
• Built-in speakers
• Music score display and learning features
• Portable design that blends a home piano with an arranger keyboard

Why We'd Recommend It

The DGX-670 encourages students to think beyond solo piano. Its auto-accompaniment styles, recording tools, and huge sound library make it feel much closer to a songwriting and arranging workstation than a traditional beginner piano.

For contemporary students, that's a huge advantage. It encourages experimentation with full-band arrangements, layered sounds, and even singing while playing, all without needing additional software or equipment.

If your goal is simply to learn classical piano, there are better options. But if you want a keyboard that inspires creativity from day one, the DGX-670 is one of the most enjoyable instruments in this price range.

Yamaha P-525

RRP: $2,799

Most retailers sell the keyboard-only version (without the stand) for around $2,000.

Features

• 88-note GrandTouch-S wooden keyboard action (it really does feel incredible to play)
• Yamaha's flagship portable digital piano
• Yamaha CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial concert grand piano sounds
• Grand Expression Modelling
• Virtual Resonance Modelling (VRM)
• Wooden white keys for a more authentic feel
• Highly realistic grand piano touch
• 542 onboard sounds, including electric pianos, organs, strings, pads, guitars, basses, vibraphones, and synth textures
• Built-in speakers
• Recording functionality
• Adjustable EQ
• Layer and split functionality
• Compact, portable design suitable for home, studio, rehearsals, and live performance
• Optional stand and triple-pedal unit

Why We'd Recommend It

The P-525 is all about authenticity. The GrandTouch-S wooden action is a significant step up from Yamaha's lower-priced models, and the overall playing experience feels remarkably close to an acoustic grand piano.

At the same time, Yamaha has included enough modern features to make it equally comfortable in rehearsals, recording sessions, worship teams, and live performance.

If you're looking for a premium instrument that balances authentic piano feel with modern flexibility, the P-525 sits in a really impressive middle ground.

Casio PX-S3100

RRP: $1,649

Features

• One of the world's slimmest 88-note weighted digital pianos
• 700 onboard sounds, including acoustic pianos, electric pianos, organs, synths, strings, pads, basses, guitars, and drum kits
• Enhanced string and damper resonance
• 200 built-in accompaniment styles
• Layer and split functionality
• Arpeggiator and Auto Harmonise
• Audio and MIDI recording
• DSP effects, including amp simulations, EQ, delay, modulation, and reverb
• Ivory and ebony textured key surfaces
• Built-in stereo speakers
• Battery-powered operation
• Microphone input
• Suitable for home practice, songwriting, rehearsals, and gigging

Why We'd Recommend It

The PX-S3100 packs an enormous amount of functionality into an incredibly slim instrument.

While it looks like a straightforward portable piano, it behaves more like a hybrid between a digital piano, arranger keyboard, and lightweight workstation.

Students not only get an excellent weighted piano experience, but also accompaniment styles, recording tools, arpeggiators, effects, and a huge sound library.

If you're interested in songwriting, arranging, contemporary keyboard playing, or portable gigging, it's one of the most versatile keyboards in its class.

Stage Pianos

Ideal if you're performing regularly and want a keyboard that's portable, reliable, and designed for live performance.

Stage pianos are the go-to choice for regularly gigging keyboard players. While they still offer realistic piano feel and high-quality sounds, they're designed with live performance as the priority. Every feature is built around speed, practicality, portability, and reliability.

Stage pianos typically prioritise:

• Fast sound selection
• Simple layering and keyboard splits
• Real-time controls
• Reliable live-performance workflow
• Lightweight, portable designs
• Professional audio connectivity

Unlike many home digital pianos, stage pianos place less emphasis on learning features and more emphasis on helping you get on stage, dial in your sounds quickly, and start playing.

If you're performing regularly with bands, theatre productions, or at church, this is the category you'll likely spend most of your career using.

Yamaha CK88

RRP: Around $2,349

Most retailers have discounted this model to under $2,000.

Features

• Piano sounds based on Yamaha's CFX, S700, and CF3 grand pianos, along with upright piano sounds
• Electric pianos including Rhodes, Wurlitzer, DX-style FM sounds, and Clavinet
• Dedicated organ engine with drawbars and rotary speaker effects
• Large collection of synths, pads, strings, brass, basses, and textures
• Built-in speakers
• Battery-powered operation
• Lightweight stage piano design
• Layer and split functionality
• Three-part sound engine for layering or splitting up to three sounds at once
• Real-time hands-on controls with minimal menu diving
• Built-in effects including reverb, delay, modulation, drive, wah, filters, and EQ
• Audio input for microphones or external instruments
• Suitable for live performance, rehearsals, home practice, and recording

Why We'd Recommend It

This is a real-world gigging keyboard. You can take it straight onto the stage and get jammin' immediately.

The CK88 sits somewhere between a traditional digital piano and a modern stage keyboard. You still get a solid weighted piano action, but its real strength is how immediate everything feels. Yamaha has clearly designed this keyboard for players who want to grab sounds quickly, layer textures, tweak effects on the fly, and spend more time playing than scrolling through menus.

If you're regularly performing with bands, theatre productions, worship teams, or corporate acts, the CK88 is well worth exploring. It gives you access to organs, synths, electric pianos, and modern live keyboard workflows without becoming overly complicated.

Roland RD-08

RRP: $1,899

Features

• Over 3,000 onboard sounds, including Roland SuperNATURAL Piano and Electric Piano sounds
• Organs, synths, strings, brass, basses, pads, and more
• Three-part layering and split functionality
• Built-in stereo speakers
• Lightweight stage piano designed specifically for gigging musicians
• Streamlined front panel with quick-access controls
• Four assignable control knobs for real-time sound shaping
• Pitch-bend and modulation wheels
• 90 multi-effects including chorus, delay, reverb, EQ, compression, and tone-shaping tools
• Optional upgrade path for expanded sounds and Apple MainStage integration
• Microphone input and external audio input
• Metronome and song playback functionality

Why We'd Recommend It

The RD-08 is all about simplicity and live performance.

Unlike many home digital pianos packed with learning features, the RD series focuses on getting you up and running quickly. Everything is designed around reliability, fast sound selection, and practical live performance.

The weighted action provides a great piano-playing experience, while the huge sound library, effects, layering options, and real-time controls make it equally comfortable in bands, theatre shows, worship teams, rehearsals, and gigging.

If you're stepping into the world of stage pianos and want something that's straightforward, reliable, and easy to navigate, the RD-08 is well worth considering.

Roland RD-88 EX

RRP: $2,499

Features

• Over 3,000 onboard sounds including Roland's SuperNATURAL Piano and Electric Piano engines, plus ZEN-Core sounds
• Three-zone layering and split functionality
• 400 Scene memories for storing live setups
• Built-in stereo speakers
• Lightweight stage piano designed for gigging
• Apple MainStage integration
• Rhythm patterns for practice and performance
• WAV and MP3 playback
• Real-time performance controls and assignable knobs
• Multi-effects including EQ, compression, chorus, delay, modulation, drive, and reverb
• Pitch-bend and modulation wheels
• Microphone and external audio inputs
• Fast-access interface designed to minimise menu diving

Why We'd Recommend It

The RD-88 EX builds on the RD-08 by adding even more flexibility for players who want room to grow.

The PHA-4 keyboard action feels excellent, and the expanded sound engine opens the door to thousands of additional sounds and much deeper layering possibilities.

If you're playing with bands, working in theatre, part of a worship team, producing music, or looking to get into regular gigging, the RD-88 EX offers a huge amount of flexibility without becoming intimidating. It strikes a nice balance between authentic piano playing and the broader range of sounds and controls that modern keyboard players often rely on.

Korg D1

RRP: $1,549

Many Australian retailers sell the D1 for closer to the $1,000 mark.

Features

• Slim, portable stage piano design
• Compact chassis with reduced depth for easier transport
• 30 onboard sounds including acoustic pianos, electric pianos, organs, Clavinets, vibraphones, strings, and guitars
• Damper resonance modelling
• Key-off simulation for more realistic piano response
• Layer mode
• Adjustable touch sensitivity with multiple velocity curves
• Built-in metronome
• Chorus, reverb, and brilliance effects
• Lightweight design for rehearsals, transport, and live performance

Why We'd Recommend It

The Korg D1 keeps things refreshingly simple.

Rather than trying to be an arranger keyboard or workstation, it focuses on keeping things simple. You won't find massive sound libraries, recording features, or deep editing menus here. Instead, the emphasis is on providing a straightforward stage piano that's easy to transport and easy to use.

If you're after a simple, piano-focused instrument without a long list of extra features, the D1 is worth considering.

Studiologic Numa X Piano

RRP: Around $2,499

Most retailers sell it for considerably less.

Features

• Premium stage piano with acoustic piano modelling
• High-resolution physical modelling for acoustic and vintage electric pianos
• Over 200 onboard sounds across eight sound banks
• Four-zone architecture for layering and MIDI control
• Large colour display with the UX Logic interface
• Built-in digital mixer
• Four programmable audio inputs
• Eight insert effects, plus dedicated master delay and reverb
• Global EQ
• Piano resonance, key-off, and damper modelling
• Two programmable joystick controllers
• Multiple pedal inputs
• Metal chassis built for gigging

Why We'd Recommend It

The Numa X Piano is designed to become the centrepiece of a modern keyboard rig.

Rather than functioning purely as a stage piano, it becomes the hub of an entire keyboard setup. Between the four-zone architecture, built-in mixer, controller features, and audio inputs, it's equally comfortable controlling software instruments, backing tracks, microphones, and multiple keyboards.

If you're building a more advanced live setup, or want a keyboard that can grow alongside the rest of your rig, the Numa X Piano offers a huge amount of flexibility without becoming unnecessarily complicated.

Kawai MP7SE

RRP: $2,995

Most retailers sell it for less.

Features

• 256 onboard sounds, including acoustic pianos, electric pianos, organs, synths, pads, strings, brass, guitars, basses, and more
• Responsive Hammer III keyboard action
• Tonewheel organ engine with virtual drawbars and rotary controls
• Four-zone MIDI controller architecture
• Layer and split functionality
• Real-time faders and assignable control knobs
• 129 onboard effects, plus reverb and EQ
• USB audio recording and playback in MP3 and WAV formats
• Drum rhythms and metronome
• Audio inputs for external instruments and playback devices
• Road-ready metal chassis with wooden side panels

Why We'd Recommend It

The MP7SE strikes a nice balance between authentic piano feel and modern stage keyboard flexibility.

Its four-zone architecture, organ engine, real-time controls, deep MIDI functionality, and generous sound library make it equally comfortable on stage, in the studio, or at the centre of a more complex live keyboard setup.

If you're looking for a stage piano that combines an authentic piano-playing experience with the flexibility of a modern performance keyboard, the MP7SE is well worth exploring.

 

Synthesisers & Workstations

Ideal if you're interested in songwriting, music production, sound design, or want one keyboard that can grow with you as your skills develop.

If stage pianos are designed for performing, synthesisers and workstations are designed for creating.

These keyboards still offer realistic piano sounds and weighted keys, but they open the door to a much wider world of music production, sound design, songwriting, and advanced live performance.

Synthesisers and workstations typically prioritise:

• Huge sound libraries
• Deep synthesis and sound design
• Advanced effects processing
• Songwriting and production tools
• Sequencing, sampling, and recording
• Extensive layering, splits, and MIDI control

The trade-off is complexity. With all of those extra features comes a steeper learning curve and more time spent exploring menus and settings.

If you're interested in writing music, producing recordings, performing with bands, playing theatre or worship gigs, or building more advanced live keyboard setups, this is where things start to get really exciting.

 

Yamaha MODX M8

RRP: $3,399

Most Australian retailers sell the MODX M8 for just under the $3,000 mark.

Features

• Three powerful sound engines: AWM2, FM-X, and the new AN-X virtual analogue synthesiser
• Over 3,400 onboard sounds derived from Yamaha's flagship technology
• Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) weighted keyboard
• Motion Control synthesis system with Super Knob for expressive real-time performance
• Large colour touchscreen with an intuitive workflow
• Extensive layering and split functionality
• Advanced sequencing and arpeggiator with thousands of preset patterns
• Powerful effects engine including reverbs, delays, modulation, amp simulations, compressors, EQ, and rotary speaker effects
• 10-in/4-out USB audio interface with MIDI 2.0 support
• DAW integration and Expanded Softsynth Plugin (ESP) compatibility
• Lightweight design considering its feature set
• Designed for professional live performance, studio production, sound design, and composing

Why We'd Recommend It

The MODX M8 is an absolute powerhouse, and an incredibly close relative of Yamaha's flagship Montage M series.

Rather than stripping features away to reach a lower price point, Yamaha has packed the MODX M8 with many of the technologies that make the Montage M one of the world's leading professional synthesisers. The result is a keyboard that's equally comfortable producing authentic acoustic instruments, classic analogue synth sounds, modern electronic textures, and complex multi-layered performances.

Despite its enormous capability, Yamaha has done a great job keeping the instrument approachable. As your skills grow, the MODX M8 has the depth to keep rewarding exploration, whether you're writing music, programming sounds, performing live, or working in the studio.

If you're looking for one keyboard that can cover almost everything, from realistic piano playing to advanced synthesis, music production, and professional live performance, the MODX M8 is well worth exploring.

Yamaha MX88

RRP: $1,799

Most Australian retailers sell the MX88 for less than its recommended retail price.

Features

• Lightweight stage synthesiser design
• Over 1,000 onboard sounds derived from Yamaha's MOTIF series, including a Full Concert Grand piano, synths, pads, strings, brass, basses, guitars, organs, drum kits, electric pianos, and Clavinets
• Layer and split functionality
• Powerful arpeggiator with hundreds of preset patterns
• Built-in effects including reverb, chorus, EQ, amp simulations, delays, modulation, wah, and vintage-style processing
• Four assignable real-time control knobs
• Pitch-bend and modulation wheels
• DAW integration and remote control functionality
• Approximately 14 kg, making it easy to transport
• Designed as both a stage keyboard and music production tool

Why We'd Recommend It

The MX88 is a great introduction to the world of synthesisers and music production.

It still offers a proper weighted piano action, but Yamaha has clearly designed it to encourage exploration beyond traditional piano playing. Between the huge sound library, arpeggiator, effects, and DAW integration, it feels much more like a creative workstation than a home digital piano.

If you're looking to branch out into songwriting, bands, theatre, worship, recording, or electronic music while still keeping an authentic piano feel under your fingers, the MX88 is well worth exploring.

Roland JUNO-D8

RRP: $2,399

Most Australian retailers sell the JUNO-D8 below its recommended retail price.

Features

• Ivory Feel keyboard surface
• Over 3,800 onboard sounds including pianos, electric pianos, synths, pads, strings, brass, basses, organs, leads, electronic textures, and more than 95 drum kits
• Expandable sound library via Roland Cloud
• Eight-track pattern sequencer
• Phrase pads for triggering samples, loops, rhythms, and backing tracks
• Layer and split functionality
• Large colour display
• Real-time performance controls
• Extensive multi-effects including chorus, reverb, EQ, drive, modulation, delays, filters, and amp simulations
• Microphone input with compressor, EQ, reverb, and vocoder
• DAW integration
• Designed for live performance, studio work, rehearsals, and music production

Why We'd Recommend It

The JUNO-D8 is built for players who want to create, perform, and experiment.

While the weighted keyboard provides a solid piano-playing foundation, the real focus is creativity. Sequencing, sample triggering, microphone processing, synthesis, and thousands of sounds encourage you to think well beyond simply playing piano.

If you're interested in writing music, producing recordings, performing live, or exploring contemporary keyboard playing, the JUNO-D8 offers an enormous amount of creative potential in one instrument.

Korg KROSS 2 88 MB

RRP: $1,999

Features

• Over 1,000 onboard sounds powered by Korg's EDS-i sound engine
• Expanded PCM memory with additional premium piano and synth sounds
• Layer and split functionality
• Step sequencer and MIDI sequencing
• Built-in audio recorder with SD card recording
• Pad sampler
• Arpeggiator and drum track functions
• Real-time performance controls
• Seven simultaneous effects processors
• Microphone and external audio inputs
• SD card storage
• Battery-powered operation
• Lightweight design for rehearsals, live performance, songwriting, and portable music production

Why We'd Recommend It

The KROSS 2 88 packs an enormous amount of functionality into an incredibly lightweight instrument.

Rather than behaving like a traditional digital piano, the KROSS leans heavily into workstation territory. Sequencing, recording, sampling, drum tracks, synthesis, and live performance tools all come together in a surprisingly portable package.

One of its biggest strengths is that it doesn't ask you to choose between portability and functionality. Despite being a full-sized 88-note weighted keyboard, it's light enough to move around easily and can even run on batteries for truly portable setups.

If you're interested in songwriting, theatre, worship, electronic music, home recording, or simply want a keyboard that encourages experimentation, the KROSS 2 88 is well worth exploring.

Don't Be Intimidated

Every keyboard in this section can still be used as a fantastic digital piano. The extra features simply give you more room to grow as your interests expand into bands, recording, music production, sound design, and live performance.

Many players only scratch the surface of what these keyboards can do, and that's perfectly okay. You don't need to master every feature on day one. Start by enjoying the sounds, learn the features that interest you, and explore the rest as your skills and confidence grow

Finding the Right Keyboard

There isn't a single "best" keyboard in this guide.

The right choice depends on your goals, your budget, and the type of music you want to play.

If you're primarily learning piano, a home digital piano is likely the best place to start. If you're performing regularly, a stage piano offers a more practical live workflow. If you're interested in songwriting, music production, or creating your own sounds, a synthesiser or workstation gives you room to grow.

Whatever you choose, I'd always encourage you to visit a music shop and spend some time playing a few different models before making a decision. Specifications only tell part of the story. The way a keyboard feels under your fingers is something you can only discover by sitting down and playing it.

At the end of the day, the keyboard is simply a tool. The music you create with it is what really matters.