A great keyboard is only the beginning. The right stand, a road-ready case, a solid sustain pedal, and a MIDI interface or controller are what turn an instrument into a complete setup you can play at home, in the studio, or on a gig. Whether you’re buying your first keyboard or adding another synth to a growing rig, this guide walks through keyboards and synths in various price ranges, from entry-level models to flagship instruments. It also covers the accessories keyboardists reach for most, so you can build a setup that’s ready to play from day one.
Note: At Sweetwater, we know there’s no such thing as “best” when it comes to music gear. Every player and artist has unique tastes, which is what makes selecting gear so fun! The items on this list feature some of our favorite products from top manufacturers to help you start your buying journey! Explore these recommendations and dive into Sweetwater’s massive collection of gear on our online store. For personalized picks and expert advice, please contact our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700!
- Best Digital Pianos
- Best Synthesizers
- Best Keyboard Amps
- Best Keyboard Stands
- Best Keyboard Cases & Gig Bags
- Best MIDI Keyboard Controllers
- Best Grooveboxes & Desktop Synths
- Best Guitar Effects Pedals for Synths
- Best Sustain Pedals
- Best MIDI Cables & Interfaces
- Best Studio Headphones for Keyboardists
- Best Keyboard Cables
- Best Direct Boxes
Best Digital Pianos
Best Digital Pianos Under $500
Beginners and students need a keyboard that inspires their creativity and makes them want to play. Fortunately, there are many options in the under-$500 range that fit the bill. At this level, you can expect realistic piano sounds, responsive keybeds, and useful features. From the practice room to the first gig, these keyboards are more than capable.
Best Digital Pianos Under $1,000
Stepping up to the under-$1,000 range gives you better key actions, such as graded hammer action, which feels closer to an acoustic piano than weighted or semi-weighted keys. These instruments typically include larger, multilayered sample sets bolstered by string and damper resonance on digital pianos.
Best Digital Pianos Under $1,500
In the under-$1,500 range, you’ll find premium-caliber keybeds with synthetic ivory tops, escapement, and a more consistent velocity response than previous ranges. These keyboards often feature stage-piano-grade acoustic modeling and workstation-level sound libraries to meet the demands of serious or gigging musicians.
Best Synthesizers
Best Synthesizers Under $500
Synth-curious musicians can find plenty to be excited about in the under-$500 category. This range is full of patchable analog synths with plenty of adjustable parameters to start exploring the thrilling world of synthesis.
Best Synthesizers Under $1,000
Entering the under-$1,000 range gets you deeper sound-design options — exactly what you need to expand a flexible synth rig. These synthesizers typically have more expressive keybeds, oftentimes with aftertouch. You’ll also see built-in sequencers, arpeggiators, and effects as well as broader sound libraries and more powerful synth engines.
Best Synthesizers Under $1,500
In the under-$1,500 range, you’ll encounter true polyphonic analog synth engines for dedicated synth aficionados and collectors. Additionally, you’ll see advanced expressive features such as poly-mod, MPE, ribbon controllers, and touchscreens. Many vintage reissues of legendary models live here, as do current flagship instruments.
We’ve Got Your Back: Keyboards and synths pack sophisticated electronics and plenty of moving parts, so things can occasionally need service. Most retailers charge 10% to 30% of an item’s cost for extended coverage. Sweetwater gives you 24 months of coverage at no cost, backed by our factory-certified Service Team. Learn more about our free 2-year warranty here.
Best Keyboard Amps
Unlike guitar amps, keyboard amps are designed to cleanly reproduce a full-range signal so that your carefully crafted patches sound exactly as you intended. Many of them feature built-in multichannel mixers, as well, so you can plug your whole performance rig into the same amp.
Best Keyboard Stands
When shopping for keyboard stands, remember that stability is paramount; you need to find one with a weight rating sufficient to support your instrument. X-style stands are a terrific option since they’re portable, quick to set up, and rugged enough for all but the heaviest playing scenarios. You can also choose a tiered stand if your performance setup includes more than one keyboard.
Best Keyboard Cases & Gig Bags
Whether you’re taking your keyboard to a gig or a lesson, it’s a smart idea to protect your investment. Options range from standard padded bags to tour-grade weatherproof bags, so you can choose the level of protection that fits your situation and budget.
Best MIDI Keyboard Controllers
Music creators who rely on virtual instruments don’t need onboard sounds. Instead, they simply want a comfortable keyboard they can use to control their software. These MIDI-only controllers range from simple synth-action keyboards to realistic piano keybeds, so you can choose the one that best fits your needs.
Best Grooveboxes & Desktop Synths
Sometimes you just want to write songs or craft beats on the go without relying on a computer. That’s exactly what desktop synths and grooveboxes are for. Often battery powered, these portable production tools let you create melodies and sequences when you’re away from the studio.
Best Guitar Effects Pedals for Synths
Synth aficionados are, by nature, tweakers. That’s why one of the most gratifying add-ons for a synth rig is a set of effects pedals. After all, why should guitarists have all the fun? With pedals, you can expand your setup’s palette with additional filters, grunge up your sound with distortion or fuzz, craft harmonies with pitch shifters, add movement with modulation, create pulses and swells with tremolo and volume pedals, and envelop your performance in ambient reverbs and delays.
Best Sustain Pedals
Sustain pedals are essential keyboard accessories — especially for pianists. Many keyboards also let you use a sustain pedal for patch and preset selection, arpeggiator and sequencer control, octave and split toggles, and parameter adjustments.
Best MIDI Cables & Interfaces
Many keyboards and synths — especially older models — don’t have USB connectivity. That’s where MIDI interfaces come in. These devices allow you to connect your keyboard’s 5-pin MIDI port to your computer via USB.
Best Studio Headphones for Keyboardists
A good set of headphones is a definite must-have so that you can practice without disturbing the rest of your household. Additionally, studio musicians use closed-back headphones to listen to playback without sound bleeding into microphones.
Best Keyboard Cables
Subpar cables suffer from poor shielding, which opens you up to hum, buzz, microphonics, and all sorts of noise and interference. Weak conductors can break, causing shorts, intermittent connections, and other issues. Simply put, don’t skimp on cable quality — it’s the physical link between your instrument and your amp, interface, or mixer.
Best Direct Boxes
Whether you’re recording your keyboard or running it straight to front of house, you’ll need a direct box to ensure that a proper balanced signal arrives at its destination. Additionally, many direct boxes include useful features such as a ground lift to eliminate unwanted hum and a pad to tame extra-hot signals.
Get Expert Advice on Your Keys & Synths Gear
Not sure which pick is right for your setup? Your Sweetwater Sales Engineer is standing by at (800) 222-4700 to give you expert advice tailored specifically to your needs.
