Yamaha P-225B 88-key Digital Piano - Black Reviews
When it comes to sleek digital pianos with the feel of a grand, Sweetwater pianists are quick to recommend Yamaha. A new addition to the company's P Series of digital pianos, the P-225 offers users a sleek, lightweight playing experience. Features like Graded Hammer Compact (GHC) keys, Virtual Resonance Modeling (VRM), and Intelligent Acoustic Control (IAC) ensure realistic sound and playability that echoes the nuances of a real acoustic grand. Plus, the P-225 digital piano boasts the voice of Yamaha’s premier concert grand piano, the CFX, for inspiring sound and detailed expression. Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking for a compact 88-key digital piano or a beginner clamoring for a digital piano that’ll last for years to come, the P-225 is waiting for you here at Sweetwater.
Earn $35 back in Bonus Bucks† OR pay $30/month with 24 month financing*
$35 Earn $35.00 back in Bonus Bucks† on this purchase when you use your Sweetwater Credit Card without financing. Select your offer in checkout. Terms
As low as $30/month
with 24 month financing*
See all payment options
We expect more from Yamaha in just a few days. Order today to reserve yours now, risk-free.
Customer Reviews
Customer Added Media
This product doesn't have any review media yet!
Share Your Thoughts
Help other music gear aficionados by sharing your opinions of gear you've purchased.
Questions about the P225BK?
Or call us at (800) 222-4700
Sweetwater's Sales Engineers are regarded as the most experienced and knowledgeable professionals in the music industry, with extensive music backgrounds and intense training on the latest products and technologies. They are available to offer you personalized product advice any time you need it.
Highest Rated Reviews
Basic but solid
Really nice CFX sample with realistic action. I've noticed some complaints about the smaller size, but I love the size: low weight, and easy to fit in tighter spaces either against a wall or on a desk with a DAW. Backwards facing speakers don't seem to effect sound negatively for me even against a wall (when pulled back a couple of inches). Of course my sample library will win on sounds, but if I need to deep dive, I just use my DAW (if recording), or MainStage for live. For me this is just a very compact lightweight basic keyboard for gigs, or quick studio midi that has a really great piano sound and some other very usable keyboard basics.
Not Amazing but not Disappointing.
My main rig weighs almost 80lbs and takes two guys to put it on a stand/back in the 70lb case. Safe to say I needed something light and smaller for 15 minute setup/teardown festival gigs as well as solo gigs where I wouldn't have help. First and foremost, They action is better than I expected from a $ piano, I find it very similar to the P525; Along with the small but mighty onboard speakers the vibration response enhances the feel greatly. One big thing for me is the weight, you can't beat 25lbs when you're by yourself doing quick setup/teardowns. Lastly for the things i like are the patches: the organ, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, and clavichord patches are all very clean. The CFX sounds really good in a system it just has two small problems: the output volume is not near as hot as my CP-300 or a CP4 i've used in the past and what really nags me is that the CFX is EQ'd somewhat poorly, i have to pull most of the lower frequencies and push the highs to clear it up but once I do, it's more than worth $.
What happened here?
I was highly anticipating the P225 with CFX piano to replace my P125 for small gigs. What a big disappointment. I wish I did not sell it, but had a lot of miles on it. Why did they move the speakers, change the body, and change the action? I understand some of the nice upgrades with VRM, CFX, IAC, and the idea of a slimmer body, but overall it's just not worth it to trade off most everything that is perfect with the P125. It kills me to write a bad review about a Yamaha product as I think they are probably the best digital piano manufacturer in the running. They really nailed it with some great new offerings at a higher price, but Yamaha missed the mark on this particular one in my opinion. It will be returned with a heavy heart as I was really hoping to like it and I even tried forcing myself to like it. It's a no-go for me only on this particular Yamaha board. I'm still a huge Yamaha fan and plan to demo their next tier-up to see if it makes sense for me.
Although this is not a favorable review, you still need to try it to be fair to yourself. You might find a connection with the P225 that I could not find - I really tried. After all, the only opinion that matters will be your own.
Not what it's cracked up to be.
I bought a P225 for my church because a P125 was unavailable. It is supposed to be an upgrade to the P125, of which I own one and like very much, but boy was I disappointed in this keyboard! Yamaha "miniaturized" the action and eliminated the upward-facing speakers of the P125 in order to make a "sleeker" cabinet. As a result, the action feels stiff and unresponsive and the sound is muffled to the player. The cabinet buzzes when the volume is turned up and just feels cheap compared to my P125. Other players may respond differently to this piano, but I strongly suggest that any interested player try it out before purchasing. Honestly, I think Yamaha blew it in response to criticism that the P125 looked "dated." Looks aside (I think the P125 looks just fine), I'm more interested in playability than in "sleekness." The only improvement I can see is that the P225 has bluetooth, whereas the P125 does not. For me, that is a non-issue. In fairness to Sweetwater, a very good company that I have dealt with for many years, they readily agreed to exchange the P225 for a P125 when one became available.
