Purists might be inclined to say there’s no sense in trying to capture the elusive feel of an acoustic piano, but Sweetwater’s keyboardists, pianists, and synthesists alike would agree that that’s burying the lead a bit. Why? Because you’ve already decided to play something other than an acoustic grand piano. And there’s nothing wrong with that! In fact, digital pianos and MIDI controllers might be better understood as liberating ways to reimagine your relationship with playing keys. With such varied and extensive control, everything from velocity response curves to action profiles is easily customized and tailored to meet your performance needs. Moreover, deep editing possibilities for effects and presets, alongside modulation and expression opportunities, mean you can take even the most rudimentary piano sonics into radical new terrain — far beyond the scope of an acoustic instrument’s possibilities! Plus, advancements in keybed technology afford a level of lifelike realism, sensitivity, and responsiveness beyond simple emulation. Whether you want an all-in-one digital piano or a hearty MIDI controller, we’re looking at the best 88-key weighted keyboards!
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 88-key Weighted & Hammer-action Digital Pianos
- Best 88-key Weighted & Hammer-action MIDI Keyboard Controllers
Best 88-key Weighted & Hammer-action Digital Pianos
Yamaha P-255B 88-key Digital Piano
Immense polyphony and cutting-edge sound design
From manufacturing organ reeds before the turn of the 20th century to pioneering next-gen avenues of digital synthesis with the likes of the vaunted DX7, Yamaha is no stranger to the innumerable ways we’ve deployed the ebonies and ivories to write, practice, record, and perform music. In fact, they built their first piano in 1900, and that expertise has finely aged over the past 100-plus years, superlatively represented by the Yamaha P-255B 88-key digital piano. Its 192-note polyphony, 24 voices, and GHC weighted keys are paired with Yamaha’s state-of-the-art Virtual Resonance Modeling and Intelligent Acoustic Control technologies to ensure every nuance and detail of your performances are captured and reproduced with exacting precision and lifelike detail.
Roland FP-30X Digital Piano with Speakers
Deep connectivity and supernatural sonics
With Roland’s extensive history in sound design, the company’s FP-30X digital piano with speakers has everything you’d expect to find in a digital piano from a sonic titan, such as premium speakers, excellent expressivity, and a complete 88-key range. Roland’s state-of-the-art SuperNATURAL sound engine painstakingly replicates deep piano sounds for accurate playback and premier emulation. The PHA-4 Standard keybed enables dynamic, responsive playing with progressive hammer action and escapement, thus creating a natural and nuanced feel. Its broad-reaching, 256-note polyphony offers an incredible range, bolstered by the rich sounds of its built-in speakers. A robust I/O suite permits both audio and MIDI connectivity over Bluetooth or USB. The 3-band EQ lets you personalize your performance preferences, and the Piano Designer function encourages deep customization of your piano tone.
Kawai ES920 88-key Digital Piano
Digital control nearly 100 years in the making
Kawai’s leading research and development on piano design date back to 1927 in Hamamatsu, Japan. With nearly a century of expertise under the company’s belt, it’s safe to say that Kawai knows a few things about how a piano ought to sound. The Kawai ES920 digital piano is nothing short of an 88-key clinic in premier sound modeling. It starts with the keybed’s Responsive Hammer III action, with its masterfully captured escapement, variable weight distribution across the keys, and nuanced, expressive, and reactive physicality. This isn’t limited to grand pianos, as its 38 onboard sounds are all captured with this same level of cutting-edge technology, including 236-note polyphony to ensure seamless transitions in playback. Plus, its extensive Bluetooth and MIDI connectivity let you play along to your favorite tracks and educational resources from virtually any device.
Casio Privia PX-S6000 Digital Piano
Hybrid-action keys, portability-minded engineering
Casio keyboards have long been associated with portability, intuitive control, and sonic depth — things far from lacking in the company’s 88-key Privia PX-S6000 digital piano. Armed with the cutting-edge Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR sound engine, 350 presets run a gambit of premium grand pianos to electric guitars with brilliant, lifelike tones across a 256-note polyphony. Its Smart Hybrid Hammer Action keybed is outfitted with wood and plastic composite keys scaled in weight with meticulous precision to mirror the experience of an acoustic piano’s keybed. Every note can be felt and articulated with great nuance, and the action can even be adjusted to personalize your experience. Wired or wireless, battery-powered or power-supplied, the PX-S6000 offers a wide array of connectivity options for both audio and MIDI, allowing you to play your way anywhere. Plus, the 4-speaker, 4-channel Spatial Sound System ensures high-fidelity sound wherever you go. And its elegant wooden sides and sleek interface design keep you performing in style!
Nord Piano 5 88-key Stage Piano
Cutting-edge technology with two powerful engines
Since 1983, Nord has consistently sought to blur the boundaries between the physical and digital realms of sound design, production, and control. After four decades of refining their work, the Nord Piano 5 88-key stage piano excellently represents the company’s sonic accomplishments. Deep sound design tools and state-of-the-art independent audio engines allow for rich layering possibilities between piano and synthesizer sounds. The Virtual Hammer Action works in parallel with physical hammer movements to faithfully produce dynamic, reactive responses only bolstered by the Advanced String Resonance, a feature that accurately reproduces the complex resonance structure of an acoustic piano. Armed with various instrument options, the Piano 5 pulls no punches in its effects suite, supplementing the full 88-key range with excellent texturizing tools.
Best 88-key Weighted & Hammer-action MIDI Keyboard Controllers
Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII 88-key Weighted Keyboard Controller
French finesse with contemporary accommodations
Arturia’s aural expertise has redefined how we approach classic and contemporary synthesis, from cutting-edge software emulations of historical instruments to boundary-pushing approaches to modern sound design. It’s only natural that the company would use the same finesse in designing their MIDI controllers — the Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII 88-key weighted keyboard controller is a masterclass in remote sonic control. Its premier Fatar TP100LR hammer-action keybed faithfully captures the nuances of a lush grand piano while being fully enabled for aftertouch. Its sleek, white, and wood-panel-bound interface expertly blends ergonomics with flexibility, featuring nine faders (each with an accompanying rotary encoder) and 16 RGB-backlit performance pads — all completely customizable. Pedal and sustain ports are coupled with three additional auxiliary connections. And for cross-generational synthesists, this KeyLab even has a CV input and four CV outputs for gate, pitch, and modulation signals, allowing for uncompromising integration into most studio and performance rigs.
Native Instruments Kontrol S88 Mk3 88-key Smart Keyboard Controller
Fully weighted control meets polyphonic aftertouch
If you know anything about Native Instruments, then it should be no surprise that the company’s dedication to thorough and accommodating sound design isn’t limited to the beat production suite of their Maschine. The Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 Mk2 smart keyboard controller is a tremendous mixture of fully weighted, lifelike-performance, and DAW-friendly adaptability that rivals standalone arrangers. Its aftertouch-equipped, 88-note, Fatar hammer-action keybed offers an acoustic piano’s satisfying tactility and nuance with the response time and bounce back to allow for plenty of synth-style performances. A touch strip accompanies the mod and pitch wheels for additional, customizable modulation, and an array of RGB keybed lights will intelligently display anything from scale and chord changes to instrumental splits via a color-coded Light Guide. A vivid pair of high-resolution, full-color screens lets you dive deep into your DAWs and VSTs of choice, utilizing the innovative tagging system popularized with Maschine and a 4-directional push encoder to make for streamlined navigation and sound selection.
Doepfer LMK4+ 88-key Master Keyboard Controller with Case
Pared-down, streamlined, and uncompromising control
While many understandably associate Doepfer with their historic suite of Eurorack modules, the Doepfer LMK4+ master keyboard controller delivers 88 fully weighted keys of pure customization. Two MIDI outputs and a USB-B port let you take control of multiple devices simultaneously, accompanied by two 1/4-inch control ports and a dedicated port for switch management. Each modulation wheel, pair of control sliders, and rotary control knob is fully assignable to any desired parameter. Its central nervous system, however, is the program management area. Presets, sound banks, program changes, and a host of additional controls can be designed and saved with 128 onboard memory slots, easily recalled whenever needed. Plus, you have 32 velocity response curves and eight aftertouch response curves to tailor the hammer-action keys to your desired style of play. And, when it’s all said and done, the flight case’s removable lid makes the LMK4+ a painless, portability-minded controller that’s just as powerful on the stage as it is in the studio.
Kawai VPC1 88-key Virtual Piano Controller
Lifelike emulation in form and function
With nearly a century of experience in meticulously designing acoustic pianos, Kawai’s venture into MIDI control is nothing short of poetic. The Kawai 88-key Virtual Piano Controller, or VPC1 for short, sports a sleek design and classic housing that are more than just a surface-level resemblance of an acoustic piano. Its 88 wooden keys feature Kawai’s superlative RM3 Grand II keybed, complete with moisture-absorbent Ivory Touch keys to masterfully emulate the feel of an acoustic piano. Graded hammer action yields lifelike tactility, and the triple-sensor key detection means everything from subtle pianissimo and precision let-off simulation to acute, staccato stabs is always within your grasp. Moreover, the included F-30 triple-pedal unit provides full immersion with uncompromising accuracy. Plus, the joint connectivity of both USB and traditional MIDI means lifelike piano playback is virtually never out of reach.
Studiologic SL88 Studio 88-key Keyboard Controller
All wheat, no chaff, and played your way
Finding a MIDI controller that prioritizes accessibility and performance without overwhelming you with a slew of buttons and knobs is no small task. However, Studiologic’s years-long reputation should assuage any doubts, as the company’s SL88 Studio 88-key keyboard controller successfully inherits an extensive lineage of lifelike keyboard action with the superlative, aftertouch-equipped TP/100LR Fatar keybed. Its Premium Hammer Action brims with authenticity as it easily handles nuanced play. A streamlined user interface pares down on excessive control schemes by taking the proposition of its design at face value: a controller of sounds, prioritizing customizability between four pedal inputs, two MIDI outputs, a MIDI-enabled USB port, and three X/Y joystick-style expression controllers. Accompanied by a smart rotary encoder, its TFT color display provides accurate information for navigating DAWs and plug-ins. Plus, keyboard feel and velocity curves are programmable to match performance styles and personalize your playing experience seamlessly.
Ready to Play?
When looking for a digital piano or MIDI controller, it’s important to take stock of how variations in arrangement and scope of control schemes, customization options for response curves and playback profiles, and portability or onboard speakers factor into your writing, recording, and performance experiences. Each item on this list has made its mark on our musicians, but plenty of other options may be a better fit. If any of these resonated with you or you’re looking to find an instrument that better suits your needs, then feel free to reach out to one of our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700. They’ll be more than happy to help you find the right instrument today
