Complete Review Startone MK-300 Digital Piano. It it a good choice?

Startone is a brand of Thomann, a company based in Germany that specializes in the sale of musical instruments, audio equipment, professional audio and lighting. Today we will have a review of a keyboard for beginners or keyboardists who are looking for an economical keyboard but that meets their needs. With a value of about €115/£102, its features are:

• 61 keys with touch response (You can adjust the volume of the note depending on how you press it. And it is different from the counterbalance, which is the weight of the keys on a piano)
• 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)
• 390 voices (Various piano and other instrument sounds)
• 100 styles (Accompanying styles that adapt to the chords we are playing. For example they will put a bass and drums that will adapt and synchronize with the notes we are playing on the keyboard)
• 110 songs
• 8 demo songs
• Dual (Dual mode allows two sounds to be combined to create a more complete one. The combination of piano + stringed instrument sound is typical)
• sustain (The sustain pedal on a piano or keyboard is used to keep the note playing even if you stop pressing the key)
• Lower
• Metronome (Basic study element to study and practice the tempo of a piece of music)
• 4 recording memories
• Split (Split the keyboard into two different instruments)
• pitch bend (Functionality that changes the sound wave of what you play and then returns to its original state)
• Recording and reduction
• 2 x 10W speaker system
• Can be operated with batteries or power supply
• Includes power supply
• Connections: Headphones, Sustain
• USB to midi (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)
• Dimensions (width x depth x height): 955 x 360 x 145mm
• Weight: 4.5kg

This keyboard is very interesting because it has sustain pedal input, MIDI and sensitivity on the keys for a very very cheap price. The truth is that it is a very competitive keyboard but you can notice the materials are a bit worse quality than in, for example, the Yamaha PSR E363 with which we will compare it later. It must be said that if you only have 100 euros of budget and you can’t spend more in any way it’s better to buy this than a model that has neither MIDI, nor pedal input nor sensitivity.

Now that we have listed and described the features of this keyboard there is no better way than to take a look at the following video where they tell us more about the Startone MK-300 and you can hear how its different sounds sound.

The video will show the connections it has and get a good idea of the sounds it brings and its possibilities.

 

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.

Now let’s compare the Startone MK 300 with its more common alternatives. Also at the end of the post you will find a section with the best shopping possibilities for this digital piano. But you can go directly to that part of the post by pressing the following button.

Startone MK-300 vs Startone MK-200

We will now compare the MK-300 with a price of €115/£102 and the MK-200 with a price of €89/£79 both from Startone. Let’s then check if the price difference between “brothers” is similar to the features they offer:

• Both have 61 keys that are touch sensitive, this means that if we press a key hard it will sound louder than a key we press less hard.
• The MK 300 offers 390 different voices/tones and 100 rhythms/styles for accompaniment. While the Mk 200 gives us 320 different voices/tones and 110 rhythms/styles for accompaniment.
• Both keyboards provide demonstration songs, when the MK 300 has 8, the MK 200 offers 100. Interesting point if you want to learn the songs that come as demonstration.
• Both keyboards have: input for sustain pedal, metronome, 4 recording memories, audio play/record and Modes; Dual and Split.
• A notable difference is that on the MK 300 we have Pitch Bend (which is a wheel that when moved changes the pitch (height) of a note being played). When in the MK 200 we don’t have this option.
• In terms of speakers, the MK300 gives us 2 x 10W speakers with a powerful sound, while the MK 200 has 2 x 3W speakers, notably less powerful.
• In terms of weight, both are 4.5Kg, too light to be transported.

While the MK 200 is not a bad choice for beginners, as previously reported the MK300 has everything a person needs to start learning to play the piano in a decent way those other €25 are worth moving to the next level.

We will put the characteristics of each of these pianos in 2 different columns to make it easier to see the differences:

As we can see the MK 300 is a little higher than the MK 200 and the speakers are much more powerful. The truth is that for the good price that both have I would buy the MK 300 because with that power of speakers you can play in small restaurants even if it is a little more expensive.

Startone MK-300 vs Yamaha PSR-E363

Now let’s compare the Startone MK300 with a price of €115/£102 together with the Yamaha PSR E363 which has a price of €198/£180, is it worth the price increase of almost €80? Let’s find out by putting its features face to face:

• We found that both keyboards have 61 keys with touch sensitivity and response. Remembering that sensitivity is the option to create dynamics (playing a strong note that sounds higher, as opposed to one that we play less strongly)
• The Startone offers 390 voices/tones with 100 rhythms/styles for accompaniment. When the Yamaha gives us 574 voices/tones with 165 rhythms/styles for accompaniments
• In demo songs, the MK 200 gives us 8 songs, while the PSR E363 gives us 145.
• On the Startone we have 4 recording memories, while on the Yamaha we have 5 with a 2 track sequencer.
• On the Yamaha PSR-E363 we have effects like: Reverb, Chorus, EQ master, harmony, and different arpeggios, apart from the Sustain pedal input. The Startone MK-300 offers no other effects than the Sustain pedal input and the Pitch Bend, which as mentioned above is the wheel for changing the pitch of a note while it is playing. The Yamaha doesn’t have a Pitch Bend.
• In loudspeakers, the Startone has 2 moderately powerful 10Ws, while the Yamaha integrates 2 less powerful 2.5Ws.
• A notable difference is that the Yamaha comes with different iPhone/iPad applications, which require an i-UX1 cable to be purchased separately. On the Startone we do not have this option.
• Both keyboards weigh almost the same, the Startone 4.5 kg, and the Yamaha 4.6 kg.

Here is a clear advantage of the Yamaha, taking into account its greater amount of sounds and rhythms or styles for accompaniment, its different effects and types of sounds and its availability to connect to an iPhone or iPad, make it a good option. The MK 300 stands out in its 64 notes of polyphony and its 10 watt speakers taking the lead in these aspects compared to the Yamaha. Remember also that Yamaha is almost twice as expensive as the Startone, check the videos and according to the sound quality, you will know if they are worth it or not.

Here is the table with the characteristics of each one:

The decision is not easy here. On the one hand the Yamaha PSR E363 has many more sounds and extra features like the two-track sequencer and the quality of the piano sounds.

The truth is that the Yamaha PSR is more popular although this Startone model is very good in its price. It even costs less than the Yamaha and has more powerful speakers. I like the sound quality of the Yamaha better though. In this case the criterion must be money.

Here is a video of the Yamaha PSR E363:

If you want to know more about this model (the best seller in its range) do not miss our review of the Yamaha PSR-E363.

Startone MK-300 vs Thomann SP 320

Now let’s compare these two items. While both are for beginners, the Startone MK300 is a digital keyboard with a price tag of €198/£180 and the Thomann SP 320 is a digital piano with a price tag of €239/£218. That we will test face to face to see if which one is more suitable for you according to what you are looking for:

• The Startone MK – 300 has 61 keys with touch response (sensitivity) and the Thomann SP 320 has 88 lightweight weighted keys with sensitivity as well. Counterbalance, is the weight that has the low keys and is gradually becoming lighter reaching the high keys. Sensitivity is the option to make dynamics, that is to say that when we press a stronger key it sounds higher compared to another one that is pressed with less force.
• The Startone MK300 provides 390 voices/tones with 100 accompaniment styles/rhythms, 64 polyphony notes and 8 demo songs. The Thomann SP 320 gives us 12 sounds, no rhythms/styles (since it is a piano), 32 notes of polyphony and 12 demo songs.
• The Startone has a sustain effect with the use of its pedal input, while the Thomann SP320 has a sustain effect: Reverb, Chorus and also its pedal input.
• The Startone MK300 has an option for audio recording and playback, when the Thomann SP320 does not have this option.
• The Startone MK300 has a Pitch Bend Wheel, which serves to change the pitch of the note while it is playing, the Thomann SP 320 does not have this feature.
• Both have: USB MIDI, to be connected to a computer and used as a MIDI controller in a music composition or production program, line output and headphone output.
• The Startone MK300 has a pair of 10W speakers, while the Thomann SP320 has a 2 x 20W speaker system.
• The Startone weighs 4.5 kg, and the Thomann weighs 9 kg. Almost twice as much, counting also the number of notes in the second.

Of course, if you want to learn piano more properly, the Thomann SP 320 is the cheapest digital piano available. Although I recommend others but in price the Thomann SP 320 beats many but I only advise it if your budget is very very low.

Here is the table with the characteristics of each one:

Startone MK-300	Thomann SP 320
61 keys with touch response 64 notes of polyphony 390 voices 100 accompaniment styles 110 songs 8 demo songs Dual Sustain Lower Metronome 4 recording memories Split Pitch Bend Recording and playback. 2 x 10W speaker system Can be operated with batteries or power supply Connections: Headphones, Sustain USB MIDI connector Both weigh 4.5 kg	88 lightweight weighted keys 12 sounds 12 demo songs 32 notes of polyphony Layer mode Reverb Chorus Metronome Tempo Connections: Headphones, USB MIDI, USB Audio, Line Out (L/R), Sustain Includes power supply, sustain pedal, music stand Can be used with batteries 2 x 20W speaker system Dimensions: 1275 x 275 x 85mm (width x depth x height) Height with lectern: 1000mm Weight: 9kg

And now a video of this piano

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3KAuhpzPg8

If you want to know more about this model don’t miss our review of this Thomann SP-320.

Startone MK-300 vs Casio CT-S300 (Old Casio CTK 3500)

Now a comparison between two best-selling digital keyboards from different brands, on the one hand we have the Startone MK300 with a price of €198/£180 and on the other the Casio CT-S300 with a price of €177/£159. Let’s see which one is the best by comparing its features face to face:

• Both are 61-key keyboards with touch response sensitivity, remembering that sensitivity is having the option to create dynamics, when we press a strong key, it sounds louder than another pressed with less force.
• The Startone MK300 has 390 voices/tones, 64 notes of polyphony, with 100 styles/rhythms for accompaniment and 8 demo songs. The Casio CT300 has 400 voices/tones, 48 notes of polyphony, with 77 styles/rhythms for accompaniment. Polyphony means the number of notes that can be played at the same time.
• Both keyboards also have a Pitch Bend wheel, which is used to change the pitch of a note as it is played.
• Both have: USB MIDI, to be connected to a computer and use them as MIDI controllers in a music composition or production program, line output (very good for playing with powerful amplification equipment as it has more signal power), headphone output and input for sustain pedal.
• One advantage of the Casio CT-S300 is the learning function and the possibility of the App Chordana, which does not count in the Startone MK300.
• The Startone MK300 has a pair of 10W speakers, while the Casio CT-S300 has a 2.5W speaker system, below the Startone.
• In weight, the Startone is 4.5Kg while the Casio is 3.3 Kg.

The Casio CT S300 is another bestseller and competes very well with the Yamaha PSR E363.

Here is the table with the characteristics of each one:

Here is a video of the Casio CT S300:

Where to buy Startone MK 300

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.