Yamaha DGX650 The Complete review
Intro
I’ve been playing the piano for 16 years now. I have done extensive research on the Yamaha DGX650 and other digital pianos to assist you in determining whether or not this particular digital piano is a suitable option for you.
I recommend the Yamaha DGX650 as a reliable and high-quality option for anyone interested in playing the piano.
The Yamaha DGX660 is the sequel of the Yamaha DGX650 and is an excellent choice, although the two models are almost identical; nonetheless, the DGX660 is slightly superior.
In this article, we will look in-depth at the features available on the Yamaha DGX650, its benefits, and its drawbacks. The main difference between the Yamaha DGX650 and the Yamaha DGX660, as well as between the Yamaha DGX650 and the Yamaha P-115.
Let’s dive right in.
Main Features
Yamaha DGX650 is a 88 key digital piano designed for professional musicians and beginners. It features an advanced speaker system, built-in effects, amp modeling, and other useful features like USB audio output and recording.
In addition to its excellent sound quality, this digital piano also features some powerful features, including:
Polyphony
One way to explain polyphony is to consider the number of notes the piano can play together. For example, when you use the sustain pedal, if the piano can play more notes, it lets you obtain more expression and sentiments out of the instrument (less decaying keys when playing more notes).
The Yamaha DGX 650 has a maximum polyphony of 128 notes (or voices), meaning you can simultaneously play up to 128 notes while recording. It allows more flexibility when composing music because it allows each of these instruments their own space within the same piece of music without having them compete with one another over who gets all the airtime!
Key action
The key action is the feel of the keys when you press them. It’s crucial for comfort, speed, and learning.
Like a real acoustic piano, the DGX 650 key action uses the GHS mechanism, giving the lower notes more weight while the upper notes have less. Great if you’re starting and want to get used to the feel of the piano keys while practicing, but also a good option for more experienced players that want to feel the key actions they are used to.
Voices
With a large number of around 540 selections of voices, you always enjoy sounds, from bass to guitar sound effects to drums. This lets you experience different vibes to the same music you play. And motivate you to practice more without getting tired of the same sound.
Split Mode
The split option enables you to divide the piano into two pieces, each of which may produce a unique sound.
Dual layers
If you think that more than 500 voices are a lot, think again because the dual layer allows you to mix two layers of sounds simultaneously.
For example, you could layer the piano sound with a drum sound and create a new cool and punchy sound.
Connectivity
Connectivity is vital for music producers and those who just want to connect their piano to another device, such as an iPhone or a computer.
Some digital pianos are more suitable for connecting to another device than others. A cool thing about the DGX 650 is that you can connect it to a wide range of devices and use a USB flash drive with the piano USB ports to transfer MIDI or just audio recordings.
Drawbacks
Compared to other digital pianos, the price of the DGX650 may be higher, but considering the value you get, it’s still a great deal.
Another factor to consider is the weight, which may be slightly higher than other digital pianos. This means that if you plan to transport the piano often to different locations, you should look into alternative pianos that are less heavy.
Some say the speaker isn’t loud enough, but you can always use headphones if this bothers you.
The last thing is that the keys are made of plastic which doesn’t feel the same as ivory keys. Note aside, real ivory is illegal to trade in most countries today, so the new pianos are built with synthetic ivory.
Yamaha DGX 650 vs Yamaha P-115
The Yamaha DGX650 and the Yamaha P-115 are both from Yamaha but offer different features.
The P-115 is much lighter, so if you need a piano to take outside, it is the one to go. But the DGX 650 comes with more voices and a little screen that may be helpful for beginners.
The Yamaha p-115 is usually cheaper than the DGX650, but still, its sound quality is impressive, and it comes with 192 polyphony instead of 128 in the 650
In general, the P-115 is simpler than the DGX650, but sometimes you may prefer simple.
Yamaha DGX 650 vs Yamaha DGX 660
The Yamaha DGX660 Is the newer version of the DGX650. It gives you all the great benefits of the DGX650 and even more.
Although they have the same appearance, the Yamaha DGX660 comes with more polyphony (from 128 in the 650 to 192 in the 660) and a wireless option.
The wireless, for example, lets you connect your phone to the piano and use an app called Chord Tracker, which gives you the chord of the songs you want and shows you how to play them.
If you’re an average pianist and find the DGX650 cheaper and don’t need the extra features, go with the DGX650.
Conclusion
The Yamaha DGX650 is an excellent choice of digital piano that provides a comprehensive set of capabilities and amazing sound. It boasts a maximum polyphony of 128 notes, GHS key action that resembles the experience of playing a genuine piano key in a real acoustic piano, and over 500 different voices you can pick from.
The split mode and multiple-layer choices also provide further creative potential, and a USB port makes it easier to transfer your recording to other devices.
It may be a little heavier than other digital pianos, and the speakers may not be as loud as those on other models, but the superb features more than makeup for any potential downsides.
The DGX660 is a more recent version that provides higher polyphony and wireless connection.
