Review Piano Digital Korg EK-50. It is a good choice?
Korg is a Japanese company of electronic musical instruments and guitar tuners. Now we’ll review a very popular keyboard which price is usually around €294/$450/£272. We’ll check its features which I think make this keyboard a very interesting option as a portable keyboard:
- 61 Sensitive keys (You can adjust the volume of the note depending on how you press it. And it is different from the counterbalance that is the weight of the keys on a piano) to the touch
- Illuminated controls
- 700 sounds (Different sounds of piano and other instruments)
- 280 styles (Accompanying styles that adapt to the chords we are playing. For example, you will have a bass and drums that will adapt and synchronize with the notes we are playing on the keyboard)
- Midi-format music player (MIDI allows you to do such wonderful things as connect your keyboard to your computer, record a sound track and with certain programs click through what you’ve played to musical notes on a score. MIDI tracks store the information of the musical notes), MP3 and WAV.
- USB to HOST. Which is actually a USB MIDI output (MIDI allows you to do such wonderful things as connect your keyboard to your computer, record a sound track and with certain programs pass what you’ve played to musical notes on a score with a click. MIDI tracks store the information of the musical notes)
- 2 very powerful 10 W speakers
- Programmable set list
- 64 notes of polyphony (Number of notes that can be played at once. This includes accompaniments that also consume notes. So if you play on top of an accompaniment more notes will be accumulated)
- Connections: Line out, USB for a pendrive, headphones and audio input for a player
- Sustain pedal input not included (The sustain pedal on a piano or keyboard is used to keep the note playing even if you stop pressing the key)
- Possibility to operate with batteries up to 5 hours
- Sound Recorder
- Upgradeable operating system
- Weight 7.5 kg and dimensions 994 x 392 x 132 mm
It’s good for learning piano, but you’ll get more out of it if you’re at an intermediate level and want to play away from home and go to music rehearsals with friends. It has an output line to play in big concerts. So it can be used by professionals on a budget.
Now that we have seen the features of this Korg EK-50 piano look at these related videos to learn more.
Related post you can be interested in
- Ranking with the best digital pianos
- My selection of cheap musical keyboards.
- Basic concepts you need to know about digital pianos.
- The best resources to learn to play the piano by yourself.
- The best Kawai Digital Pianos.
Korg EK-50 vs Korg EK-50L
We will first compare the Korg EK-50 with its brother the same model Korg EK-50L but the Limitless version, which almost doubles its price, being the EK50 €294/$450/£272 and the EK50L €541/£499. We will see their main differences in the next section:
- Sounds: 790 sounds, 59 drum kits (including GM compatible sound sets)
- Styles: 290 presets 2 intros, 4 variations, 2 fills, 1 countdown/break, 2 endings, syncro start/stop, tap tempo
- Demo songs 19 songs
- Amplification Speaker System: 10 W x 2.
The EK-50 L offers unlimited enjoyment and best-in-class sound, with immediacy and ease of use. It also has the same great features, but twice the speaker power. It has a specially designed speaker system that is capable of delivering twice the volume of the EK-50, so you don’t have to rely on an amplification system. Like the EK-50, it can be battery operated, so it’s easy to take it with you wherever you go.
In addition to the wide range of sounds already present in the EK-50, the EK-50 L adds new sounds and accompaniment styles. We now have 87 new preset sounds, 18 preset drum kits and 24 keyboard sets that combine four parts each. These additions complement the EK-50 presets to make more sounds available. Ten accompaniment pattern styles are also added. So it’s worth the price increase.
Let’s put the features of these pianos in a table so you can compare
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Korg EK-50 |
Korg EK-50L |
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And here’s a video comparing the two:
Korg EK-50 vs Yamaha PSR E463
The Korg EK-50 Keyboard is €294/$450/£272 and the Yamaha PSR-E463 is €285/$299/£259 , but the difference is so small that this may vary.
They are very similar keyboards that compete in the same range of functions although there are factors that make me like the Korg more. Both can be battery operated and are very portable.
Both come with lots of sounds and effects so it doesn’t matter which one you choose. You’ll always have sounds to spare.
Both have MIDI, sustain pedal input and sensitive keyboard. So they are both the same but the Korg has a slot for a USB stick which is always very useful.
The Yamaha PSR 463 is a little lighter. This is important if you’re going to transport it. But what makes me recommend the Korg most are the following factors:
- Concert line departure
- Much more powerful speakers
Let’s put the characteristics of these pianos on a chart so you can compare
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Korg EK-50 |
Yamaha PSR-E463 |
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And here’s a video of the Yamaha PSR-E463 digital piano:
If you want to know more about this option click on the following link to see the Yamaha PSR-E463 review digital piano
Korg EK-50 vs Casio CT-X5000
The Korg EK-50 Keyboard is usually 60 euros cheaper than the Casio CT-X5000, which is around €359/$450/£329 price.
In this case the decision is not so easy. In terms of sound and possibilities, the Casio CT X5000 has more sounds and more possibilities for interpretation because of its 4-stage pads. The 100 arpeggio types, etc
The Casio also has line output and even more powerful speakers.
If you have the money, the Casio is better because it has more recording possibilities. More features that help you configure your keyboard better. More configurable pads, etc
If you’re going to take your keyboard with you wherever there’s an electrical connection, the Casio CTX 5000 is well worth the effort. But if you’re on a tighter budget and want to play on the street, the Korg EK 50 is the perfect choice.
Let’s put the features of these pianos on a chart so you can compare
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Korg EK-50 |
Casio CT-X5000 |
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Note: Battery operation is not possible |
And here’s a video of the Casio CT-X5000 digital piano
If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Casio CT-X5000 review digital piano
Korg EK-50 vs Yamaha PSR-EW410
The Korg EK-50 Keyboard is usually €90 cheaper than the Yamaha PSR-EW410, which is around €385/$430/£349.
In this case it’s a bit like the previous one. The Yamaha PSR EW 410 also has a line output so if we are professionals on a budget the Yamaha can be a good choice.
If you come from the acoustic piano and want a better real piano feeling the sensitivity of the Yamaha PSR EW 410 is better than the Korg EK 50.
The polyphony of the Yamaha PSR EW410 has a lack of polyphony in the 48-notes. The PSR EW 410 is very popular because its sound possibilities. I like its sounds better than those of the Korg. On the other hand as you will see in the charts it has more functions and a sequencer.
As in the previous case if you have less budget and need to play on the street the Korg EK 50 is the choice. But if you want better sounds and a more sensitive key, the Yamaha PSR EW 410 is the best choice we have seen so far.
Let’s put the characteristics of these pianos on a chart so you can compare
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Korg EK-50 |
Yamaha PSR-EW410 |
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And here’s a video of the Yamaha PSR-EW410 digital piano
If you want to know more about this option click on the following link to see the Yamaha PSR-EW410 review digital piano
Korg EK-50 vs Roland GO KEYS
The Korg EK-50 Keyboard is usually £14 more expensive than the Roland GO:KEYS which is around €280/$325/£259, but the difference is so small that this can vary.
The Rolland Go Keys is a keyboard with a sensitivity in the keys very achieved by its price and has very good sound. The truth is that for the same price I like more its sounds and how you can play with its pads (watch video). The Roland go keys also weighs only 4 kilograms. Which is great if you want to move it by public transport.
It’s a pity but what is wrong with the Roland is the speakers because the Korg EK speakers are much more powerful.
The Roland has many more sound effects but the speakers are a pity. The Roland has no line output.
If you want to play in big concerts and be able to play anywhere the Korg EK 50 is the perfect choice. If you want to play at home or you can connect it to amplification equipment with the headphone output (no problem if the amplification equipment is medium or small power) I like the Roland Go Keys more for the quality of its keys and all the extras it brings.
Let’s put the characteristics of these pianos in a table so you can compare
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Korg EK-50 |
Roland GO:KEYS |
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And here’s a video of the Roland GO:KEYS digital piano
If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Roland GO:KEYS review digital piano
Where to buy Korg EK-50
Amazon
- Free Shipping and possibility of shipping in one day with Amazon Premium.
- Full Guarantee but they are no experts in music equipment.
- Sometimes better price.
- He’s got worse stock than Thomann.
Thomann
- Best option to buy it at Europe
- 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.
Check below related models with similar price and features:
- Thomann SP 5600
- Yamaha YDP 143
- Roland FP 30
- Yamaha YDP 163
- Yamaha YDP S52
- Hemingway DP 201 MKII
- Casio PX S1000
- Thomann DP 33
- Casio PX S3000
- Casio PX 870
- Yamaha YDP S54
- Yamaha YDP 144
- Korg C1 Air
- Yamaha PSR S775
- Casio CDP S350
- Thomann DP 32
- Yamaha YDP S34
- Korg LP 180
- Korg PA 600
- Casio CT X5000
- Yamaha DGX 660
- Korg LP 380
- Yamaha PSR EW410
- Roland 5
- Casio CT X3000
- Yamaha PSR A350
- Casio WK 7600
- Casio WK 6600
- Yamaha P45
- Korg B1
- Yamaha P125
- Kawai ES 110
- Alesis Recital Pro
- Kurzweil SPS4 8
- Roland FP 10
- Korg D1
- Yamaha PSR S670
- Studiologic Numa Compact 2
- Korg SP 280
- Yamaha P121
- Studiologic Numa Compact 2x
- Roland GO PIANO 88
- Studiologic Numa Stage
