In a hurry? Here’s our verdict

Before we get into all the fine details of the piano, let’s sum up what it has to offer. This is a superb entry-level piano that differs ever-so-slightly from the P45. The P145 is smaller than its predecessor and weighs less (11.1kg), making it much more portable. However, it still manages to pack in 88 Graded Hammer Compact keys.

All in all, it’s great for beginners who need basic features but also want some high-end sound, excellent sound projection, and realistic keyboard action.

Yamaha P145 review

Build quality and design

One of the main design changes made to the P145 is the piano’s size. This sturdily built digital piano has a slim new body that makes it both portable and ideal for fitting into pretty much any home.

With dimensions of 1,326mm (W) x 129mm (H) x 268mm (D) and a weight of 11.1kg, it’s easy to set up; you can perch it on your desk or purchase it as a package with a stand, stool, and headphones if you want an upright setup.

And it still boasts 88 keys – this is pretty impressive for a piano that’s the most basic of its series and designed to be compact for beginners.

Another reason for the reduction in size and weight could be to make it suitable for gigging with. In this case, I’d say you’d be better off with a lighter stage piano with more advanced features, however, for newbies to the keys who want to take their music to the stage without much fuss, it’s perfect.

The piano is sleek and uncomplicated, with all the fundamental features you’d need. Its interface is easy to grasp – controls for volume, voices, functions, etc are on display but aren’t distracting.

Key action

One of the most important features of any digital piano is the action of its keys. Whatever ability level you are, you need a keybed that reacts to your playing, the intensity in which you press, and the expression you want to release through the keys.

Yamaha have loaded the P145 with a Graded Hammer Compact (GHC) keyboard, differing slightly to the P45’s Graded Hammer Standard. Offering a wide dynamic range and a nuanced response, this keyboard is extremely similar to that of an acoustic piano, mimicking the way in which weighted keys would respond.

Rather than the unweighted, bouncy keys you’d find on an entry-level keyboard, GHC action is balanced and offers a consistent response to your playing. When you play softly, it gives you gentle dynamics; when you press more firmly, you’ll be met with louder dynamics. If you’re a beginner, this will help you build correct technique that’s easily transferable to an acoustic piano.

Plus, since the keys are graded, you have heavier keys in the bass and lighter keys in the high end – just like an acoustic.

It may not compete with some of the more premium hammer actions seen in Yamaha’s top range of pianos, but the GHC is an ideal starting point if you want an affordable piano that feels high-quality to play.

Features & sound options

Yamaha have said that the P145 is a great option for beginner musicians who want to play the piano but don’t quite know what sound they want. However, if you want to practise with a rich, full sound (who doesn’t?), the P145 delivers with the CFIIIS concert grand. There’s also a damper resonance function.

The P145 boasts 10 preset voices, a 64-note polyphony, 50 onboard songs, four types of reverb, Dual mode, and Duo mode. The latter is particularly good for beginners as it essentially halves the piano, creating two sections with the same octave range – perfect for students and teachers playing together.

Despite having Dual mode (which lets you play with two voices at the same time), a drawback of the piano is that there’s no Split mode, which would let you perform with one voice in the bass and another in the treble. However, you may not ever even use this feature if you’re a complete novice.

The piano has also been enhanced with Yamaha’s Sound Boost function. This is a nice detail to add to an entry-level instrument that makes practice and performance more interesting and engaging.

By enabling Sound Boost, you increase the gain and give the sound a bit of oomph; it’s perfect for small gigs in which you need some extra dynamics.

Sound quality

It’s clear that Yamaha have put some time and effort into making sure the sound projection and quality of this piano is clear, resonant, and similar to that of an acoustic. It boasts two speakers, each with 7W amplification, ideal for home practice and small gigs.

However, the real showstopper is in the way these speakers are placed and angled. They’ve been designed in such a way that replicates all those small sonic nuances and reflections you get from a grand piano’s soundboard and lid – quite an advanced sound for an entry-level instrument.

With the CFIIIS piano, the sound is bright, with plenty of clarity in the treble range, and exceptionally clear. It has all the richness and detail of a grand piano. And of course, with the Sound Boost function, you have extra powerful sound on hand when you need it.

App integration

I’m impressed by the level of app integration available with the piano. This is pretty standard for Yamaha instruments but having effortless connectivity to helpful resources can really make your learning experience that little bit easier.

Firstly, there’s the Smart Pianist app, which lets you control your piano from your smartphone and gives you 303 classical pieces with PDF scores to learn and practise.

Then there are three months of Flowkey Premium, a limited-time offer that offers step-by-step courses, over 1,500 pieces to learn, and instant feedback regarding your progress.

If that isn’t enough, you can also claim two free online lessons when you purchase the piano from Gear4music.

Connectivity

As well as useful compatibility with tutorial apps, the Yamaha P145 comes with a standard headphone jack, USB-to-host MIDI and audio functionality for connecting to a computer or other devices, and a sustain pedal.

Who is the Yamaha P145 suited to?

The Yamaha P145 is ideal for beginner pianists who want a high-quality instrument from a reputable brand that will help them grow as a piano player.

It includes all the basic features that a newcomer to the instrument would benefit from, such as useful apps and Duo mode for playing along with your teacher, as well as clever design that advanced pianists would look for, like the Graded Hammer Compact key action and carefully placed and angled speakers.

If you’re an intermediate or seasoned piano player, you might find this model somewhat limiting or too minimal, in which case, something more advanced in the P Series might be better suited to you. But if you’re learning the basics and you want something that can keep up with you as you progress, responding like an acoustic piano and delivering realistic sound, the P145 is a great choice.

FAQs

What is the difference between P45 and P145?

The main difference between the P45 and P145 is the size; the P145 is smaller and sleeker than the P45 and weighs less at 11.1kg. The P145 also has a Graded Hammer Compact key action rather than the Graded Hammer Standard action of the P45.

Does the Yamaha P145 have weighted keys?

The Yamaha P145 has 88 weighted keys, they’re also graded, meaning the bass notes feel heavier and the treble notes feel lighter. This keyboard action closely replicates the feel of an acoustic piano.

Is the Yamaha P145 good for beginners?

The Yamaha P145 is perfect for beginners, in fact, it’s designed specifically for budding pianists. It’s the P Series’ entry-level model and includes various features that can help with improving your technique, including realistic keyboard action and app integration. It also projects the rich, clear sound of the CFIIIS concert grand.

Final thoughts

If you’re a beginner looking for your first piano or a step up from a keyboard with unweighted keys, the Yamaha P145 is ideal.

I’m thoroughly impressed by its minimal design, which gives beginners a solid foundation for properly building their technique. The piano sound is also excellent, aided by the Sound Boost function and carefully angled speakers that replicate the sound reflections you’d get with an acoustic grand – all those little details have been very finely considered!

I hope my Yamaha P145 review has given you a deeper insight into this entry-level piano and the kind of features you can expect in a Yamaha. Let us know in the comments if this is the piano for you!