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Digital Pianos PSR EW400 Review. Is it a good option?

Yamaha PSR EW400 Analysis and Opinion

It’s not new that Yamaha has always been involved in keyboards for live music and the PSR EW400 is a clear example of that.

The PSR EW400 ranks as a strong competitor among keyboards under 400€ and with more than 61 keys, as this model has 76 pressure-sensitive keys that will allow you to play virtually any piece.

Yamaha is a brand that has always stood out for its versatility, the Japanese brand usually places a variety of functions on its keyboards allowing them to be used for more than one function, the PSR EW400 is no exception to that rule.

Notice – new Yamaha EW410 vs Yamaha EW400

I’m sure you’ll be interested in…

We added this update to the post. The new version has come out, but it doesn’t bring many changes either. So most of the content of this post is valid for the new EW410. We have also updated the purchase link to Thomann. Here you have the new review of the Yamaha PSR EW410 but we detail the differences also in this post: There are new features aimed at increasing control over your music and the ability to edit in real-time. Very direct oriented:

  • The PSR EW410 has a higher number of rhythms, 235, versus 220 rhythms in the PSR EW400.
  • The PSR EW400 does not have the Groove Creator function, although it does have the “DJ Patterns” function which is very similar.
  • The PSR EW400 does not have the Quick Sampling feature that allows you to create new voices from recorded samples.
  • Continue with the post and we’ll tell you about more aspects that both have in common.

Where to buy the Yamaha PSR EW400 or the new EW410?

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.
  • The price change a lot daily.
  • The best option in USA and worldwide

Thomann

  • Free Shipping
  • 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.

Features

Among the outstanding features of the PSR EW400 are the 76 keys with velocity sensitivity and two speakers of 12w each, the versatility of this keyboard makes it a great choice for virtually any use, however, the main utility is to play live music.

Characteristics

  • 76 pressure-sensitive keys (without weighted keys)
  • 758 voices, including a live piano voice.
  • Sounds of diverse genres to play virtually any type of music
  • 48 Notes from polyphony
  • Programmable buttons
  • DSP Effects
  • 1 Tone Turning Wheel
  • Creator of rhythms with 25 patterns included (35 in the Yamaha EW410)
  • Functions of arpeggios and accompaniments
  • Study mode with lessons included
  • Internal recording functions
  • Music database for accompaniment functions
  • Dual and  Split function (two voices on the same keyboard)
  • MIDI connectivity
  • USB connectivity with integration for iPhone and iPad
  • Inline in/out input for headphones
  • Input for sustain pedal (FC4A)
  • The option of use with 6 batteries type D or 11w power adapter.
  • L/R Outputs
  • 2 12w speakers with bass reflex technology
  • Weight 8.6kg
  • The Yamaha PSR EW410 brings the features specified above.

The PSR EW400 is a keyboard with a wide variety of functions, focused on playing live music, however, the focus of the Japanese brand also extends to portable keyboards because it allows the possibility of use with batteries type D, making it a great option to take to any party or presentation regardless of location.

Sound

The Yamaha PSR EW400 incorporates 2 12 w speakers with bass reflex technology allowing to have a fairly respectable sound power, variety of voices, and accompaniment functions. The sound quality is good in spite of having only 48 polyphony notes which are the notes that can sound at the same time including accompaniments, etc.

The Sound of the PSR EW400 is shown below:

The following video shows an interpretation of “Hey Jude” on a Yamaha PSR EW400:

As you can see in the videos, the Yamaha PSR EW400 has a fairly respectable sound quality, especially considering that it is a keyboard of less than 400€.

Connectivity

The PSR EW400 has everything you need for connectivity, this Yamaha model has MIDI, USB, L/R input, and port to connect a sustain pedal.

Yamaha was concerned that the PSR EW400 really had the indispensable, even has a system to connect to iOS (iPad and iPhone) via MIDI and/or USB, however, some will miss the Bluetooth connection and the possibility of including a triple footswitch.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the PSR EW400

The advantages of this model are:

76 key touch-sensitive keyboard for less than 400€.

  • Versatility
  • Sound power
  • Portable and can be used with batteries
  • Connectivity
  • Diversity of functions

The disadvantages of this model are:

  • Sound quality (only 48 polyphony notes)
  • Keys without weight
  • No Bluetooth
  • Variety of accessories (there is no triple footswitch for this model)

The PSR EW400 has more advantages than disadvantages, it is necessary to emphasize that this model has 76 keys sensitive to the touch, powerful speakers, and possibility of using with batteries, inside the keyboards for less than 400€ the PSR EW400 offers a quite attractive versatility.

In the disadvantages section, you will find the sound quality, at this point, you have to clarify that it has good sound quality (compared to 48 notes polyphony keyboards), however, the clarity and cleanliness is not compared to models that include a greater number of polyphony notes. Another important disadvantage is the lack of counterweight on the keys, as it can cause conflicts for those who are accustomed to using a piano.

Yamaha PSR EW400 vs PSR E453

The two models of the Japanese brand share a great diversity of functions and characteristics, however, within the main differences are found:

  • The size of the PSR EW400 is larger, with 76 sensitive keys, while the PSR E453 has 61 sensitive keys.
  • The PSR EW400 has more sound power as it has two 12w speakers, while the PSR E453 has 2 6w speakers.
  • The PSR EW400 has an L/R input, while the PSR E453 only has an auxiliary input.
  • The PSR EW400 is powered at 16V, while the PSR E453 is powered at 12V.
  • The weight of the PSR EW400 is 8.6 Kg and the PSR E453 weighs 2Kg.

​The PSR EW400 is a clear winner in this comparison because it has more power and more keys, providing more versatility, basically, the two models of Yamaha have the same functions, the main differences are the number of keys, the sound power, the size and weight of the keyboard.

The PSR E453 is also an excellent alternative for those looking for a good quality keyboard for a lower price if you want to know more about this model you can read our full review of the Yamaha PSR E453.

Yamaha PSR EW400 vs Casio WK7600

Competition between the Casio and Yamaha keyboards has always existed, as there are very similar models in both brands, this situation happens with the Casio WK7600 and the Yamaha PSR EW400. Below are the differences between the two models:

  • Both models have 76 keys with sensitivity (without counterweight), however, the Casio WK7600 has 64 polyphony notes against 46 Yamaha notes.
  • Both models can be used with batteries, USB input, MIDI, and pedal.
  • The Yamaha has 758 voices, while the Casio model has 820 voices.
  • The PSR EW400 has a specific mode for connection with iPad and iPhone, while the almost only has MIDI and USB ports.
  • The sound power of the PSR EW400 is much higher, as it has two speakers of 12w each, giving a total of 24w, while the Casio WK7600 has two speakers of 7w each (14w). The Casio WK7600 has an SD input for SD card storage expansion (supported capacity 2gb to 32gb).

The comparison between the Yamaha PSR EW400 and the Casio WK7600 is very close, the two models are similar, both models are of great quality and a very good purchase option, however, for a musician who has presentations and can not use an amplifier the PSR EW400 would be a great choice because in terms of sound power is much higher, but if the selection criterion is sound quality the Casio WK7600 is a better option.

Below are two videos to compare the sound of the two brands:

Casio WK7600

Below is the sound of the Yamaha PSR EW400:

Conclusion

The PSR EW400 can be a good choice for those who want to learn piano and can’t afford an 88-key digital piano but want a good-sized alternative, as the 76 keys give you the ability to play almost any piece.

The only disadvantage of this model is the lack of weight on the keys, however, it is practically impossible to find a keyboard of less than 400€ with that feature.

If you’re a musician and you’re looking for a keyboard to go out and use anywhere the PSR EW400 is an excellent choice, as it has two powerful speakers that will help you generate a proper volume of sound, also has the ability to be used with batteries.

The PSR EW400 is an excellent alternative for a beginner pianist or a keyboardist who makes presentations in places where there is no electricity, however, there are other high-quality options, to know them you can enter our selection of the best digital pianos and keyboards of the moment if you are looking for an economical option we recommend you read our selection of cheap keyboards.

Where to Buy Yamaha PSR EW400

It’s always best to buy from an online store that will ship you the correct transport. Besides, buying online can save you a lot of money. You can search for the product at any Yamaha distributor in your area. But if you buy online that for this keyboard is the ideal choice for the leading store in the USA and worldwide is Amazon, in Europe the best is Thomann. Here the direct links:

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

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Digital Piano Casio CTK 2200 Full Review. Is It worth it?

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The Casio CTK 2200 is a keyboard for beginners with a very cheap price. Less than 150 € but is characterized by having the basics to make it very useful. It has sustain pedal input, 61 keys and USB MIDI connection for use as a MIDI controller

Nowadays it is out of print but we make this article because it is a very present keyboard in the second-hand market. If you want to buy it first hand you have to buy the Casio CTK 3500, which is also for less than 150 €. We recommend that option to you without any doubt. The Casio CTK 3500 is also better. Update: The new version of the Casio CTK 3200 has been released and you can see it in our review of the new Casio CTK 3500.

I’m sure you’ll be interested in…

The Casio CTK 2200 has a polyphony of 48 voices. That number of notes that can sound at once. This includes the accompaniments while you play on top. You have enough for an initial and intermediate level.

These types of keyboards usually bring a lot of sounds so you have a lot of sonic possibilities. Sounds to other instruments, electric keyboards,… All this for your amusement. You have to bear in mind that because of their low price they are sounds of limited quality. It has more than 400 different sounds, which is more than enough.

It has 61 keys, which is more than enough to play any piece of music. Although it has neither a sensitive keyboard nor Hammer Action. The sensitive keyboard serves to level if the note sounds louder or looser. The Hammer Action is the weight sensation on the key.

If you want to learn piano better buy the current model, the Casio CTK 3200 does have a sensitive keyboard.

Where to buy this keyboard?

What is good is that the Casio CTK 2200 has sustain pedal input. The sustain pedal is used to keep the note playing even if you don’t press the key. It is a basic expressive resource for playing the piano. It’s not included, though.

We’ll leave you a video so you can hear what it sounds like. The article follows later:

https://youtu.be/zrsmplQwBIg

Can we learn piano with this keyboard?

It doesn’t have a sensitive keyboard but it has a sustain pedal so that can be a problem because we can’t do the dynamics of forte or piano. Although if we have very little budget and we sell it second hand with a pedal for 80 € or less can be worth to see if we like the piano or not. Although the professor will ask us for a certain sensitivity after a few months.

If you want to study piano we recommend the Casio CTK 3200 named above for little more money or the Yamaha PSR E353 (has also come out its new model in 2018 the Yamaha PSR E363) Which have some sensitivity on the keyboard.

Portability

Very good with 3.4 kg weight. It can run on 6 AA batteries making it a great keyboard for acoustic testing in other people’s homes.

It is a very useful keyboard for composing and rehearsing with other people. In addition to having MIDI is very good to work with the computer and write music sheet with programs such as Sibelius.

It has two 2 W speakers. They are not very powerful but enough to rehearse with a guitar or similar.

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

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Digital Piano Yamaha PSR E253 Full Review. Is it a good purchase?

The Yamaha PSR E253 is a Yamaha keyboard from the PSR series. It is a keyboard designed for fun at a very low price.

It must be said that the new model has already come out and you can see it in our selection of cheap keyboards. It is the Yamaha PSR E263 and in our selection, you can also see where to find it at the best price. They are practically the same but below we compare it with the new one and we tell you where you can buy them.

Where to buy it?

The Yamaha PSR-E253 is an electronic keyboard with a great variety of sounds. In total 372 voices + 13 sets of drums. It also comes with accompaniments (presets so you can play on top).It has enough sounds to make electronic music. This keyboard has a polyphony of 32 voices that are the number of musical notes that can sound at a time. Including the accompaniments while you play on them

It is a keyboard that can be good to start with because it has sustain pedal input (not included), necessary to keep the note in time. But it has the limitation of having neither a touch-sensitive keyboard nor a MIDI output. Which limits it quite a bit, even if it costs very little.

It’s got reverb, metronome and you can record what you’re playing with it. That’s a point in your favor.

It has 2.5 W speakers that can be used for small rehearsals with other acoustic instruments but it is not a stage piano. Well, there’s line audio output.

Yamaha PSR E253 vs Yamaha PSR E263

I’m sure you’ll be interested in…

The Yamaha PSR E263 brings it back:

  • Master EQ (6 types)
  • 12 new instrument sounds and 3 new percussion kits.
  • 30 new preset styles.10 new songs (preset songs)
  • A pity but it doesn’t bring MIDI either (although then the Yamaha PSR E363 wouldn’t make sense)

At the same price, the new one is obviously the best choice.

Is this keyboard good enough for the conservatory?

​This keyboard is not the ideal place to start studying classical music.

It can be used to get started on the keyboard with a private teacher or in a more relaxed school. For a keyboard to be optimal for studying classical it must have the Hammer Action keyboard. This that imitates the weight of the keys of a real piano. This is important when playing and progressing.

On the other hand, it is important that you have a keyboard with various sensitivities and the Yamaha PSR E253 does not. So you can adjust the volume at which a musical note sounds depending on how loudly you press the key.

What the Yamaha PSR E-253 does have is sustain pedal input, which serves to hold the note playing over time even if you don’t press the key. Something that is vital in piano performance.

Already with this clear information, we can point out that the Yamaha PSR E253 is not ideal to start at the conservatory. But it can be valid for the first year or two years in a more relaxed teaching model. Below we propose other keyboard models with similar prices and more features.

However, remember that any Yamaha keyboard comes with a three-month subscription to the Flowkey music learning app. This is a very interesting option to learn the piano interactively.

Portability

Very good, weighs about 4kg, so you can take it anywhere and supports batteries. The mains charger is included.

yamaha-psr-e253-review-small

Limitations

Thanks to the sustain pedal input you can be valid for the first year of learning. But then you’ll only use it as a secondary piano to see chords and compose. In this respect the MIDI connection to be able to work with the keyboard in the computer is vital.

The lack of MIDI connection makes us opt for other better keyboards at similar prices. They also have a MIDI connection and a sensitive keyboard. That is also another vital factor for the keyboard to be useful for a long time.

In the same price range, you should look at the Yamaha PSR E353 (it is the new model of the Yamaha PSR E363) which although more expensive has MIDI and sensitive keyboard. And above all take a look at the CASIO CTK 3200 keyboard (best it’s the new 2018 model of the Casio CTK 3500). Which is cheaper and also has MIDI for a lower price.

Where to buy the Yamaha PSR E253?

As it is out of stock we will put the links of the new Yamaha PSR E263. For this type of keyboard, we recommend buying them in-store with a full warranty on shipping. Online you can find the best prices. For this range, the best is Amazon in the USA and worldwide although if you buy a complete pack with chair and others you can get the best price in Thomann in Europe

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.
  • The price change a lot daily.
  • The best option in USA and worldwide

Thomann

  • Free Shipping si le añades algo más al set que te enlazamos como un pedal (pedido mínimo de 199 euros para gastos de envío gratis).
  • 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.

These keyboards are good to start with and as secondary musical keyboards. We recommend that you take a look at our selection of the best digital pianos at value for money. I’m sure it helps you make up your mind. Or also the following post:

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

 

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