All Posts by Jaime Echagüe

Análisis Yamaha PSR E363

Digital Piano Yamaha PSR E363 Complete Review. Is It Worth It?

Digital Piano Yamaha PSR E363 Complete Review Is It Worth It?

Today we are going to talk about the new version Yamaha PSR E353. One of the best-selling keyboards in the cheap range for beginners. The new model is the Yamaha PSR E373. We compare 363 and 373 in this post. Keep reading…

We already told you that there are not many changes in the new Yamaha PSR E363. Basically it is a redesign of the keyboard and a couple of improvements, to justify taking out a new model. Anyway, we are going to do a general review in case you do not know the previous model and then we will tell you the new improvements it brings and if its worth buying it while the two models coexist in the market.

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The Yamaha PSR E363 and its predecessor are probably one of the most balanced keyboards for beginners. You cannot ask for more for such a cheap keyboard. It has what we consider basic to get you started: 61 sensitive (non-weighted) keys, sustain pedal input, and USB MIDI so you can connect it to your computer and record MIDI tracks.

Where to Buy Yamaha PSR E363?

Amazon

  • The best option at USA and Canada
  • Free Shipping and the possibility of shipping in one day with Amazon Premium.
  • A leader in fast shipments.
  • Prices change a lot. On Amazon, you can sell Amazon itself or other competing sellers. So the price may be the cheapest or not. But it is always interesting to see the current price.

Thomann

  • Free Shipping, the best option in Europe
  • Full warranty. If you have any problems, they take care of everything.
  • 100% reliable payment.
  • A leader in trouble-free shipping.
  • Usually the best price
  • Best Reputation: They are the leading online store in Europe and have the best catalog and information.

Sound

The sound of the Yamaha PSR E363 has been sampled and recorded with the AWM system. A somewhat old pattern, but still a standard in this price range.

The Yamaha PSR E363 and its predecessor bring almost the same number of voices. Specifically, the new model has 574 voices. One more than the previous model. This is a lot of different sounds and voices, as you have in it a great piano sound, which also brings organs, different instruments, and electric pianos. The piano sound is quite dignified. The others are not bad, but consider the price you would pay for it. They cannot be compared with the Yamaha PSR S670, for example. The PSR S series is more professional than the PSR E series.

It has a 48-voice polyphony compared to the 32 of his previous model. This change was necessary. The polyphony is the number of notes that can sound at once. This includes those that play and those that sound if you play on top of an accompaniment. An initial level is sufficient.

It brings an enormous amount of accompaniments (165) and like all the keyboards of the Yamaha PSR series, a great variety of reverb, chorus, Master EQ, and Harmony effects, making it well-endowed in this particular.

We leave you the official video so you can hear the sounds.

Connectivity and Extras

What we like the most and that we have also mentioned before is that it brings sustain pedal input. Although you will have to buy it later when you move forward with the keyboard. You can have them from 15 euros or 20 dollars. It is important because it serves to keep the note in time even if you stop pressing the key. A basic expressive resource when playing the piano.

Another good thing is its price. It is usually below 200 euros (250 dollars more or less) if your demand is not very high. And it comes with USB MIDI! MIDI is important because it allows you to do things like record a MIDI track while playing in a music editing program. And then with a single click export it to score. It can do this and much more. It is a highly recommended start-up.

You can record what you play into the memory of the keyboard itself and then play over those recordings by layering.

It also has an arpeggio function to make whole sentences with just one keystroke. Also, it has a metronome.

It has an exit headphone to study in silence. Although it has no line output to plug the keyboard into powerful amplification systems. So in many cases, you will need an increase in the audio signal strength. You can use the headphone output to plug it into an amplifier. So, keeping this in mind, in several cases you will need an extra. It is not intended as a concert keyboard although in a small bar it is worth the exit of the headphones. It comes with 2.5W speakers, but to play in a bar you need an extra amplifier.

The Yamaha PSR E363 is a great keyboard to learn for one or two years and then save it as a secondary keyboard. It is also the typical keyboard that is then sold very well as second-hand. Although as it has the USB MIDI output it will always serve you as a very light MIDI keyboard. It only weighs 4 Kg. and can be battery operated.

If you want keyboards that simulate a piano better and are worth more years, what you are looking for is a portable piano keyboard. In that case, do not hesitate to visit our selection with the best piano keyboards of the moment and also our guide with the best cheap keyboards of the current market.

Yamaha PSR E363 vs Yamaha PSR E373

There is not much room for improvement for the price this model is priced at. The new model brings the following:

  • The new model has more sounds, 622 vs. 574 of the yamaha PSR 363.
  • The internal memory has been improved by at least 1 MB.

Both still have the same recording capabilities and although the new one has some new DSP effects for sound wave modification they are not important for a beginner. They are not a big deal and are only good for playing a little bit. It is a very good keyboard to start with for its price but the important thing as I always say: Sensitivity on the keyboard, MIDI and sustain pedal.

Yamaha PSR E363 vs Yamaha PSR E353

As we have been telling you, the differences are very small. Basically a more modern redesign of the shell and polyphony of 48 notes compared to the 32 of the Yamaha PSR E353, which were a bit short.

Note: we have updated this post and the Yamaha PSR 353 is now out of stock. You will only find the Yamaha PSR E363.

Also, do not miss our article on the Yamaha PSR E353, if you have the opportunity to buy it second-hand below 100 euros.

Where to buy Yamaha PSR E363

These entry-level keyboards can be found ultra-cheap by shopping online. The important thing is that the store offers you a total guarantee of several years and safe transport. If you ask other musicians about the worldwide leader, by far is going to be Amazon, but in Europe it is Thomann. Here you have the direct link to the best combination for the Yamaha PSR E363:

For a similar price you have the following pianos and keyboards:

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review-korg-b1

Digital Piano Korg B1 – Review. Is it a good option?

Korg B1 in-depth review

Korg surprises us with a portable digital piano at a very competitive price. You can easily find it for less than €400. So let’s take a look at it.

We are going to study aspects such as sound, materials and connectivity. But first we’ll leave you some quick reference tables with the places where you can buy it. The analysis follows below.

Where to Buy Korg B1?

Amazon

  • Free Shipping and possibility of shipping in one day with Amazon Premium.
  • Full Guarantee but they are no experts in music equipment
  • Leader in fast shipments.
  • Precios that change a lot daily.

Thomann

  • Free Shipping
  • Full warranty. If you have any problems, they take care of everything.
  • 100% reliable payment.
  • Leader in trouble-free shipping.
  • Usually Best Price.
  • Best Reputation: They are the leading online store in Europe and have the best catalogue and information.

Sound and Voices

The Korg B1 is a digital piano with 88 sensitive and weighted keys designed for the studio. He’s got a 120-voice polyphony. That’s enough for your price range. The polyphony is the amount of notes that can sound at the same time by counting the notes you are playing and whether an accompaniment sounds.

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Your synthetic Hammer Action NH keyboard is quite nice and has three sensitivities to regulate the force with which the note sounds.

It’s a piano mainly weighing for the studio. It has 8 sounds among which the natural piano and electric piano stand out. But you also have sounds of baroque key instruments and organs. In the following video you can hear the sounds it brings. Don’t worry because it’s in English, just so you can hear what it sounds like. After the video we tell you more things and tell you the best place to buy the Korg B1.

I’m sure you’ll be interested in…

Connections and Extras

In sound and in touch the Korg B1 comes very well endowed by its price. Although there are certain things that limit it a little. Korg has focused on creating a quality digital piano to study for a low price by sacrificing some things.

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It comes with a sustain pedal, which serves to hold the note in time and is a basic for playing the piano. Totally necessary to learn.It also admits triple pedalboard although it is not included. This is good because we will need it when we advance in our piano training. With what this piano can be worth to us for a medium level of piano without problems.This is very good thinking about the classic music studio.

Its main limitation is that it does not have a MIDI connection to connect it to the computer. This allows you to record what you play in programs like CUBASE for example and then automatically export that MIDI track to music sheet. This is very powerful.

Of course bring a headset connector so you can study in silence. It also has Duet mode to divide the keyboard into 2 and you can study teacher and student together.

Another limitation is that it has no line output. This is logical because it is primarily intended for study. You can plug the output of the headphones to an amplifier or table but in many cases you will need an injection box to give more power. It’s not intended as a live show piano.

Portability is good. It weighs less than 12 kg and that makes it very portable. It has a support that does not come with the piano keyboard but can be purchased separately.

It’s got some pretty powerful 9W speakers.Bring the included charger, it doesn’t support batteries and it has a metronome and all the chorus and reverb effects you need.

Now let’s compare the Korg B1 with its main competitors.

Korg B1 vs Yamaha P45

They are a little different although the price is usually almost the same. Even the Yamaha P45 is usually a little cheaper. In touch and polyphony wins the Korg B1 because the Yamaha P45 only has 64 polyphony.

On the other hand the Yamaha P45 has MIDI and the Korg B1 does not. Which is a limitation in the future for doing things on the computer.

Both bring sustain pedal and Hammer Action. The Yamaha P45 has some more sounds but both are ok.The Korg B1 supports triple pedal and the Yamaha P45 does not. In addition the Korg B1 speakers are more powerful.

The Yamaha P45 has two more piano sounds.If you only want to study and you have clear that you will not need a MIDI controller buy the Korg B1 that is only a little more expensive. Take a look at our review of the Yamaha P45.

Korg B1 vs Yamaha P115 vs Yamaha P125

Here the difference is clearer. The Yamaha P115 usually costs about 100 euros more on average but it brings many more things.

Now it is necessary to bear in mind that the new version of the Yamaha P115 has come out that is the Yamaha P125 that brings 10 more piano sounds than the 115 and surpasses the Korg B1 in:

  • In total it has 24 different piano sounds compared to the 8 of the Korg B1.
  • Supports also triple bottom bracket
  • It’s got USB MIDI.
  • It has a line output to connect it as a live piano.
  • Sound Boost functionality for better live sound.
  • The keyboard can be divided into two and has two headphone outputs.polyphony of 192 voices.

If you can pay the difference in price do not hesitate. With the Yamaha P125 you have it all. Check out our review of the Yamaha P125 to find out more. We also leave you a video in English that also guides you a lot about things to keep in mind:

Where to buy the Korg B2 at the best price

These types of keyboards are best bought online, as they can be obtained at very good prices. It is important that the store you choose has a good reputation, is would be with the shipments and give you full warranty.Worldwide the leader is Amazon but in Europe Thomann is a good option, the most famous store in Europe, we leave here the direct link to the Korg B2 the new model of the B1:

For a similar price you have the following pianos and keyboards:

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Digital Piano Yamaha EZ 220. Full Review. A good Piano?

Yamaha EZ 220 Full Review

The Yamaha EZ 220 electronic keyboard is a keyboard for beginners with curiosity. Its 61 keys are illuminated, so you can learn to play with its learning suite while reading the score on an iPad.

From our point of view, it is a very specific product for people who want to experiment with a inexpensive keyboard. It can serve you perfectly for the first 2 years of learning.

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Sound

The Yamaha EZ 220 comes with a 32-voice polyphony for easy learning. The polyphony is the number of notes that can sound at once and this includes those you are playing with your hands and also over an accompaniment. A medium-level keyboardist will easily overcome this polyphony.

Where to Buy Yamaha EZ 220?

Amazon

  • Free Shipping and the possibility of shipping in one day with Amazon Premium.
  • Full Guarantee but they are no experts in music equipment
  • A leader in fast shipments.
  • Prices change a lot daily.

Thomann

  • Free Shipping with pack Bundle Deluxe.
  • Full warranty. If you have any problems, they take care of everything.
  • 100% reliable payment.
  • A leader in trouble-free shipping.
  • Usually Best Price.
  • Best Reputation: They are the leading online store in Europe and have the best catalog and information.

It’s got about 392 sounds. Plenty of variety to play with and a moderately acceptable piano sound. But it’s still a keyboard for beginners.

On the other hand, it has 100 styles of accompaniment to play on and that follows what you are playing. All electronic keyboards typically have these features in this price range

Take a look at this video, where you can see how to make an iPad compatible with the illuminated keyboard. It is the most striking feature of this keyboard, which for many can be very interesting.

Keyboard and Connectivity

I’m sure you’ll be interested in…

It has a sensitive keyboard (with no Hammer Action) which is worth starting and see if you like it, but from the second year is better to have the Hammer Action, to simulate the keyboard of an acoustic piano and the weight of its keys.

The keys are plastic made, but for the price they are good. Sensitivity has the normal quality that comes in this range.

The good thing about the keyboard is that it has the basic features to make it very useful.

It has a USB MIDI to HOST connection that allows you to connect the keyboard to a music editing program such as CUBASE and record MIDI tracks that can then be exported to the music sheet directly. It brings connection to plug a sustain pedal, which serves to maintain the note in time and is basic as an interpretative resource in the piano. It is not included and you have to buy it separately, but at least it has the connection and that is a basic way to study piano from the beginning.

It has an output for headphones to be able to study in silence, although it does not have an exit of line. You can connect it to an amplification system by the output of headphones but in certain equipment, you may need an injection box to play live. Although to connect it to guitar amplifiers it’s worth it. It’s not a professional stage piano, though. Still, we will bring you a cheaper option, if you require it.

Portability

It’s very good, weighs only about 4 Kg. and can work with batteries. It is too light as to take it home with your classmates and rehearse in acoustics. Includes power supply.

It has 2.5 W speakers, enough to rehearse with friends in a house but no more without an extra amplifier. Includes music holder.

Yamaha EZ 220 vs Yamaha PSR E353

Both are very similar and their functionalities are similar. Both have MIDI, sensitive keyboard, sustain pedal input, etc. Although the Yamaha PSR E353 includes some modulation controls and has more sounds oriented to electronic music.

Now there is the new version of the Yamaha PSR E363 with some improvements (raises the polyphony to 48 notes) although it must be said that now the Yamaha EZ 220 has been put at a good price. We will share here with you our review with the Yamaha PSR E363.

Other options to Yamaha EZ 220

If you have an iPad the Yamaha EZ 220 and its function of illuminated keys is a good feature to motivate you in the initial learning of the piano. But the truth is that the Yamaha PSR E363 is cheaper and the functionality of the illuminated keys makes the Yamaha EZ 220 cost a little more (although now the difference has decreased). For everyone’s liking, we would buy the Yamaha PSR E353 or its new version for that budget, to be honest.

If your budget is very low, the minimum is that you can have is MIDI and sustain pedal input. In that case, take a look at the Casio CTK 3500. Impossible more for less.

If you want to do other more serious options within the PSR range, the Yamaha PSR E463 is a very interesting option for a low budget.

Although if you want something that will last for many years, between 500 and 650 € and you want to study classical piano and you are interested in the technique, is important that your keyboard is 88 Hammer Action keys. In that case, the most balanced portable digital piano is the Yamaha P125. You can also play it live. At the end of the post, you will see very interesting links, if you were thinking about this keyboard.

Where to Buy Yamaha EZ 220 at the Best Price

The most reliable store that works best in Europe is Thomann and worldwide (USA, ASIA) Amazon:

For a similar price you have the following pianos and keyboards:

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