INSTRUMENTS

Yamaha Arius YDP-143R Series Console Digital Piano: A Complete Mid-Range Package

Yamaha is known to many as the pioneer in manufacturing incredible musical instruments. Piano geeks all over the world have appreciated keyboards coming from the brand.

The Arius YDP-143R is another top-quality keyboard from the house of Yamaha that we’ll be sharing our thoughts on. The YDP143R comes from the Arius family, including exceptional models, namely YDP-103, YDP-163, YDP-184, and YDP-144 (the latest version of the YDP-143R).

According to the recent trends, the YDP-143 is among the highest-selling Arius pianos. This keyboard has gained popularity in recent years — owing to the extraordinary features and acoustic-piano-like feels. Without haggling more about the piano’s sales, allow us to brief you about the product in detail.

Also Read: Best Digital Piano Under $500 – Guide to Best Affordable Keyboards


Yamaha Arius YDP-143R Digital Piano Review

The Arius YDP-143R is Yamaha’s mid-range offering to accommodate the needs of experienced piano players. This musical instrument comes in two attractive colors — Dark Rosewood and Black Walnut.

There is more to learn about the YDP-143R than just the look and feels of the piano. Keep reading to discover how the instrument justifies its price in other departments.

Design

The Yamaha Arius YDP-143 topples many other mid-range models in the design department. This keyboard comes with dimensions measuring 53.4 inches in width, 16.6 inches in depth, and 32 inches in height. This has a slim body that can fit into cramped rooms, while it can also be taken to concerts with ease.

The quality of the instruments from the Arius series is top-level, promising longevity for years to come. Moreover, this keyboard is backed by a three-year manufacturer’s warranty — offering assurance to the pianists that the product is reliable.

Sporting a furniture-themed look, the YDP-143 adds elegance and a sophisticated look to your room. By picking the Dark Rosewood variant, you get the gold pedals. At the same time, the Black Walnut variant comes with silver pedals. Overall, design-wise — this keyboard is worth the investment.

Keyboard

This piano features 88-fully weighted keys that are identical to real piano keys. This has the Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) keyboard, which is common in the Arius lineup. The GHS keyboard mimics the touch and feel of a traditional acoustic piano.

The benefit of having a GHS keyboard is — they are noiseless and don’t come with annoying clicking noises. The piano’s keys come with a heavier touch in the lower end and lighter touch in the upper end. Interestingly, the touch-sensitivity of the keys can be customized per your playing preferences.

The keyboard comes with four distinct preset settings — Soft, Medium, Hard, and Off. Concerning the keyboards’ quality, the white keys are smooth plastic, while the black keys sport a matte black finish.

Sound

The sound quality of this musical instrument is far superior to most mid-range models. Driven by the Pure CF Sound Engine, this keyboard is coupled with avant-garde sampling technology for producing a grand piano-like music experience.

Yamaha has integrated the ‘Stereophonic Optimizer,’ which improves the sound quality with headphones. This keyboard provides a dynamic natural tone by utilizing the samples from the Yamaha CFIIIS concert grand piano.

Furthermore, the keyboard features three different piano tones that enable music to sound more lively and realistic. The YDP-143 comes with ten different sounds:

  • Three Grand Pianos – Concert, Warm & Bright
  • Two Electric Pianos
  • Two Organs (Pipe, & Jazz)
  • Harpsichord
  • Vibraphone
  • Strings

Yamaha’s strength lies in the distinct reverb types it brings to the table. This keyboard comes with Recital Hall, Concert Hall, Chamber, and Club. In addition to the ‘Stereophonic Optimizer, the Intelligent Acoustic Control (IAC) feature automatically changes the volume to get the clear gist of both bass and treble notes.

Connectivity

Yamaha’s connectivity is a boon to aspiring piano players. The YDP-143 has two-quarter-inch stereo jacks to connect your headphones. These jacks connect in external amplifiers, audio interfaces, etc.

The keyboard has a USB port to pair this piano with a computer or smartphone. This digital piano can also be connected to an iOS device using the Lightning to USB Camera Adaptor. For uninterrupted wireless connectivity, you can use the Yamaha UD-BT01. This keyboard has plenty to offer in the connectivity department — something which we were impressed by.

Additional Features

Yamaha’s Arius lineup is undeniably the best mid-range offering currently on the market. Without bells and whistles, this keyboard comes as a tremendous music-learning tool for beginners and intermediate-level piano players. Here are a few of the piano’s exciting features:

Modes: Like the other Yamaha models reviewed earlier, the YDP-143 also comes with two different modes — Dual and Duo Mode. The Dual Mode provides an option of playing two different instruments to layer and then play with the keyboard. The Duo Mode allows two pianists to use the piano at the same time.

This keyboard’s music library consists of 10 demo and 50 piano songs that make music-playing sessions more worthwhile. The piano’s two-track MIDI-sequencer allows seamless recording and can also be used as playback during a concert.

The YDP-143 comes with a great set of add-ons; a bench, music rest, three pedals, an AC power adaptor, a “50 Greats for the Piano” music book, and an owner’s manual.

Also Read: Nord Piano 3 Review – Professional’s Favorite Piano 


Pros and Cons of Yamaha Arius YDP-143R

Yamaha’s Arius YDP-143 does have the capability to entice both the musician and the audience. This digital piano is built for serious piano players who would love to thrive on the instrument’s features. The following are this musical instrument’s hits and misses:

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • The two-track recorder enables pianists to make most of the instrument
  • Yamaha’s CF sound sampling engine provides a grand piano-like sound experience.
  • It comes compatible with the iOS Controller app
  • The keyboard is a Graded Hammer-action.
  • It arrives with a useful bundle — bench, pedals, and a music book.
Cons
  • The keyboard does not come with a display
  • Slightly expensive for a mid-range model

This digital piano is reliable and best-selling from the Arius series. Despite the functions, we still feel this could have been a lot cheaper. Nevertheless, Here some information about affordable alternatives, to the Yamaha Arius YDP- 143R:

Alternatives to the Yamaha Arius YDP-143R

1. Kawai KDP 110

The Kawai KDP 110 is a tad bit cheaper than the Arius YDP-143. The KDP 110 features 88 keys, which are of plastic with matte finish keytops. The keyboard is not the ideal piece recommended for live performance, as it weighs close to about 86 pounds.

This digital piano has the Responsive Hammer Compact II action, offering a concise and responsive feel. Overall, the keyboard has an impressive sound quality that is real and highly-expressive. Moreover, this keyboard also comes with a Bluetooth connectivity option.

2. Casio Privia PX-870

A flagship yet affordable model from the house of Casio is the Privia PX-870. This digital piano comes with a full 88 keys and three piano pedals. Much like the KDP 110, this instrument is also not ideal for portability.

This piano is has a Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II, meaning this instrument utilizes hammers to simulate the touch and feel of an acoustic piano. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, then the PX-870 is worth every penny. The quality and the incredible speakers are capable of entertaining a massive room.


VERDICT

The Arius YDP-143 is a famous mid-range instrument offering pianists the most important features. The piano is making daunting compositions look easy and a great tool for many beginners.

The selection process of narrowing down to one keyboard is tiresome. To make your life easier, we bring you the reviews of some of the best-in-the-business. If there’s a product you want us to review, mention it in the comment section.


FAQs

  • What is the difference between the YDP-143 and YDP-144?

The YDP-144 is an upgraded version of the YDP-143. The former has some interesting and useful features when compared to the latter.

The YDP-144 features a CFX sampling sound engine that makes the sound more affluent, while the YDP-143 comes with a Pure CF Sound Engine. The main features that separate both are the improved speakers and optimum volume balance on the YDP-144.

  • Can these pianos be placed close to a fireplace?

NO. Never if you use the fireplace. The heat coming from the place would deteriorate the instrument’s quality, making it challenging to keep the piano in tune.

Oscar

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