Yamaha DGX 660 Review: An Excellent Price (and Sound Quality) for this Portable Grand Piano


Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Piano - Black Bundle with Furniture Bench, Sustain Pedal, Dust Cover, Instructional Book, Online Lessons, Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD, and Polishing Cloth

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The Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Piano is a compact piano with great sound and a host of advanced, intelligent features that make it capable of so much more.

It combines the great Yamaha Pure CF Sound Engine and GHS weighted keys that mimic an acoustic piano, with app connectivity and a wide range of digital customization options. It’s the most advanced portable piano in the Yamaha family.

Overview of the Yamaha DGX-660

Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Piano - Black Bundle with Furniture Bench, Sustain Pedal, Dust Cover, Instructional Book, Online Lessons, Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD, and Polishing Cloth

Yamaha refers to the DGX-660 as a “Portable Grand Piano.” While traditional grand piano players will beg to differ, it still produces incredible sound in a compact footprint that can go almost anywhere, with an authentic, acoustic piano feel and experience.

 Even better, the range of features, enhancements, and connectivity options take this little piano well beyond the capabilities of a grand piano, to foster the learning, growth, and expression of almost any musician. Let’s take a closer look at everything in this exciting package.

Video Overview of Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Piano

Yamaha DGX-660 FAQs

When did the Yamaha DGX-660 come out?

The Yamaha DGX-660 came out in 2016.

What are the dimensions of the Yamaha DGX-660?

The Yamaha DGX-660 keyboard is 139.7 cm long, 14.6 cm high and 44.5 cm wide. With the keyboard stand, the Yamaha DGX-660 is 139.9 cm long, 76.1 cm high and 44.5 cm wide.

What is the weight of the Yamaha DGX-660?

The Yamaha DGX-660 keyboard is 21 kg. With the keyboard stand, the Yamaha DGX-660 is 28 kg.

How many keys does the Yamaha DGX-660 have?

The Yamaha DGX-660 has 88 keys.

How many sounds does the Yamaha DGX-660 have?

The Yamaha DGX-660 has 554 instrument sounds.

Where can I see a demo/test of the Yamaha DGX-660?

To see a demo of the Yamaha DGX-660, please refer to this Yamaha DGX-600 demo video.

Where can I see an unboxing of the Yamaha DGX-660? 

To see the unboxing of DGX-660, you may refer to this Yamaha DGX-660 unboxing video.

Where to buy the Yamaha DGX-660?

  • You can purchase the Yamaha DGX-660 with furniture stand from Amazon
  • You can purchase the Yamaha DGX-660 bundle (which includes a brand-new keyboard, furniture stand and bench, dustcover, instructional book and DVD, online lessons and polishing cloth) here.

What ports does the Yamaha DGX-660 have?

The Yamaha DGX-660 has ports for:

  • power input (DC IN)
  • headphone (standard stereo phone jack)
  • sustain pedal
  • pedal unit
  • microphone (standard phone jack)
  • AUX IN (stereo mini jack)
  • USB TO DEVICE
  • USB TO HOST

How do the keys feel on Yamaha DGX-660?

The Yamaha DGX-660 has a Graded Hammer Standard keyboard. Hence, the keys of the Yamaha DGX-660 feel like those on an acoustic piano, with heavier touch at the low end and lighter touch at the high end.

What are the songs in Yamaha DGX-660 music database?

The Yamaha DGX-660 music database includes 100 songs, which comprise but not limited to the following (for the full list, please refer to the contents page of the Yamaha DGX-660 song book):

  • Piano Solo
  • Für Elise (L.v. Beethoven)
  • Turkish March (W. A. Mozart)
  • 24 Preludes op.28-7 (F. Chopin)
  • Arabesque (J. F. Burgmüller)
  • The Entertainer (S. Joplin)
  • Piano Ensemble:
  • Piano Concerto No.21 2nd mov. (W. A. Mozart)
  • Ode to Joy (L.v. Beethoven)
  • Nocturne op.9-2 (F. Chopin)
  • Piano accompaniment:
  • Boogie Woogie
  • Gospel R&B
  • Jazz Waltz
  • Classical melodies:
  • Waltz (The Sleeping Beauty) (P. I. Tchaikovsky)
  • Air (Orchestral Suite) (J. S. Bach)
  • Swan Lake (P. I. Tchaikovsky)
  • Traditional melodies:
  • Greensleeves
  • London Bridge
  • Aura Lee

What is Yamaha DGX-660 smart chord?

By pressing a single note, Smart Chord will create the entire chords depending on the Accompaniment Style that you choose.

What size is the headphone jack on a Yamaha DGX-660?

The headphone jack on the Yamaha DGX-660 is the standard stereo phone jack, which is a 3.5 mm jack.

How does Yamaha DGX-660 compare to Yamaha P515?

Both the Yamaha DGX-660 and P515 have 88-key Graded Hammer Standard action keyboard, WAV audio recorder, Piano Room feature, and Dual and Split functions. DGX-660 is cheaper, bigger and heavier than P515.

The differences between DGX-660 and Yamaha P515 include but not limited to the following.

  • The keyboard of DGX-660 has 3 levels of sensitivity, while the keyboard of P515 has 5 levels of sensitivity. The P515 also has Natural Wood X keyboard.
  • DGX-660 has 554 instrument sounds, while P515 has 538 instrument sounds.
  • DGX-660 has 205 auto accompaniment styles with One Touch and Auto Chord, while P515 does not have auto accompaniment.
  • DGX-660 has 100 preset songs, while P515 has 71 preset songs.
  • DGX-660 has 192-note polyphony, while P515 has 256-note polyphony.
  • DGX-660 has Yamaha Education Suite, while P515 does not have any lessons/guide.
  • DGX-660 can be connected to 1 headphone, while P515 can be connected to 2 headphones.
  • P515 has Duo and Auto Power Off functions, while DGX-660 does not.

What is the difference between the Yamaha DGX-660 and the Yamaha P115 digital piano?

Both the Yamaha DGX-660 and P115 have 88-key Graded Hammer Standard action keyboard with 3 levels of sensitivity. Both models have 192-polyphony, and Dual and Split functions. DGX-660 is bigger, heavier and more expensive than P115.

The differences between DGX-660 and Yamaha P115 include but not limited to the following.

  • DGX-660 has 554 instrument sounds, while P115 has 14 instrument sounds.
  • DGX-660 has 205 auto accompaniment styles with One Touch and Auto Chord, while P115 does not have auto accompaniment.
  • DGX-660 has 100 preset songs, while P115 has 64 preset songs.
  • DGX-660 has LCD display, WAV audio recorder, Piano Room feature and an auxiliary input for connecting a mic, while P115 does not.
  • DGX-660 has Yamaha Education Suite, while P115 does not have any lessons/guide.
  • DGX-660 can be connected to 1 headphone, while P115 can be connected to 2 headphones.
  • P115 has Duo function, while DGX-660 does not.

What is the difference between Yamaha P125 and Yamaha DGX-660?

Both the Yamaha DGX-660 and P125 have 88-key Graded Hammer Standard action keyboard with 3 levels of sensitivity. Both models have 192-polyphony, and Dual and Split functions. DGX-660 is bigger, heavier and more expensive than P125.

The differences between DGX-660 and Yamaha P125 include but not limited to the following.

  • DGX-660 has 554 instrument sounds, while P125 has 24 instrument sounds.
  • DGX-660 has 205 auto accompaniment styles with One Touch and Auto Chord, while P125 does not have auto accompaniment.
  • DGX-660 has 100 preset songs, while P125 has 71 preset songs.
  • DGX-660 has LCD display, WAV audio recorder, Piano Room feature and an auxiliary input for connecting a mic, while P125 does not.
  • DGX-660 has Yamaha Education Suite, while P125 does not have any lessons/guide.
  • DGX-660 can be connected to 1 headphone, while P125 can be connected to 2 headphones.
  • P125 has Duo function, while DGX-660 does not.

Yamaha DGX-660 vs Yamaha P255: Which is better?

Both the Yamaha DGX-660 and P255 have 88-key Graded Hammer Standard action keyboard with 3 levels of sensitivity. Both models have WAV audio recorder, and Dual and Split functions.

To help you decide which model better suits your needs, you may refer to the differences between DGX-660 and P255 below (please note that this list is not exhaustive):

  • DGX-660 is cheaper, bigger and heavier than P255.
  • DGX-660 has 554 instrument sounds, while P255 has 24 instrument sounds.
  • DGX-660 has 205 auto accompaniment styles with One Touch and Auto Chord, while P255 does not have auto accompaniment.
  • DGX-660 has 100 preset songs, while P255 has 74 preset songs.
  • DGX-660 has 192-note polyphony, while P255 has 256-note polyphony.
  • DGX-660 has Yamaha Education Suite, while P255 does not have any lessons/guide.
  • DGX-660 can be connected to 1 headphone, while P255 can be connected to 2 headphones.
  • DGX-660 has Piano Room feature, while P255 does not.

Which is best: Yamaha DGX-660 or Yamaha YPG-535?

Both the Yamaha DGX-660 and YPG-535 have 88-key Graded Hammer Standard action keyboard, Yamaha Education Suite, and Dual and Split functions.

To help you decide which model better suits your needs, you may refer to the differences between DGX-660 and YPG-535 below (please note that this list is not exhaustive):

  • DGX-660 is more expensive, heavier and slightly bigger than YPG-535.
  • DGX-660 has 554 instrument sounds, while YPG-535 has 500 instrument sounds.
  • DGX-660 has 205 auto accompaniment styles with One Touch and Auto Chord, while YPG-535 has 160 auto accompaniment styles with One Touch.
  • DGX-660 has 100 preset songs, while YPG-535 has 30 preset songs.
  • DGX-660 has 192-note polyphony, while YPG-535 has 32-note polyphony.
  • DGX-660 has WAV audio recorder and Piano Room feature, while YPG-535 has Performance Assistance Technology and Easy Song Arranger feature.
  • DGX-660 supports multi-pedal, while YPG-535 does not.
  • YPG-535 has Pitch Bend control, while DGX-660 does not.

What’s the difference between Yamaha DGX-640 and DGX-660?

The Yamaha DGX-640 is the predecessor of DGX-640. Both models have 88-key Graded Hammer Standard action keyboard, LCD display, Yamaha Education Suite, and Dual and Split functions. The dimensions and weights of both models are about the same.

 The differences between Yamaha DGX-660 and Yamaha DGX-640 include but not limited to the following:

  • DGX-660 has 554 instrument sounds, while DGX-640 has 535 instrument sounds.
  • DGX-660 has 205 auto accompaniment styles with One Touch and Auto Chord, while DGX-640 has 165 auto accompaniment styles with One Touch.
  • DGX-660 has 100 preset songs, while DGX-640 has 35 preset songs.
  • DGX-660 has 192-note polyphony, while DGX-640 has 64-note polyphony.
  • DGX-660 has WAV audio recorder and Piano Room feature, while DGX-640 has Performance Assistant Technology and Easy Song Arranger feature.

Which is better: Yamaha DGX-660 or Yamaha P515?

Both the Yamaha DGX-660 and Yamaha P515 have 88-key Graded Hammer Standard action keyboard, WAV audio recorder, Piano Room feature, and Dual and Split functions.

To help you decide which model better suits your needs, you may refer to the differences between DGX-660 and P515 below (please note that this list is not exhaustive):

  • DGX-660 is cheaper, bigger and heavier than P515.
  • The keyboard of DGX-660 has 3 levels of sensitivity, while the keyboard of P515 has 5 levels of sensitivity. The P515 also has Natural Wood X keyboard.
  • DGX-660 has 554 instrument sounds, while P515 has 538 instrument sounds.
  • DGX-660 has 205 auto accompaniment styles with One Touch and Auto Chord, while P515 does not have auto accompaniment.
  • DGX-660 has 100 preset songs, while P515 has 71 preset songs.
  • DGX-660 has 192-note polyphony, while P515 has 256-note polyphony.
  • DGX-660 has Yamaha Education Suite, while P515 does not have any lessons/guide.
  • DGX-660 can be connected to 1 headphone, while P515 can be connected to 2 headphones.
  • P515 has Duo and Auto Power Off functions, while DGX-660 does not.

What is the difference between the Yamaha DGX-660 and the 660B?

Both the Yamaha DGX-660 and the 660B are the same model with the same features. The DGX-660 is available in black and white color options. The 660B is black in colour.

Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Piano’s Specs

Specification

Description

KeysFull-size 88-key keyboard
Jacks Included
  • Headphone jack
  • Sustain pedal jack
  • Pedal unit jack
  • Standard microphone jack
  • AUX in jack
ScreenLarge monochrome LCD screen
Songs
  • 320 song music database
  • 100 preset songs
Accompaniment Styles205 preset accompaniment styles
Polyphony192 max levels of polyphony
Reverb & Chorus Settings
  • 41 reverb settings
  • 44 chorus settings
Demonstration modeYes
Voices Included
  • 151 voices
  • 388 XGlite voices
  • 29 featured voices
Accessories Included
  • Comes with a piano bench
  • Comes with a dust cover
  • Comes with a sustain pedal
  • Comes with a piano instruction in a book, DVD, and online
  • AUX in jack

Who the Yamaha DGX-660 is Most Suitable For?

source

While the Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Piano has onboard education and learning tools, and this Amazon bundle also includes piano lessons and education, it isn’t an entry-level piano. It has features, options, and settings that a beginner may find complex, and doesn’t have the popular Duo keyboard function that facilitates side-by-side piano instruction. 

It also isn’t the perfect piano for those who want an authentic grand piano experience. Those who are accustomed to playing big acoustic pianos may find some fault with key weight, pedal effects, and some of the other audio characteristics of the DGX-660.

It’s also not a great choice for traveling gig musicians. While Yamaha classifies it as “portable,” the keyboard weighs 46 pounds alone, and, with the included stand, has a combined weight of 61 pounds. While it is technically portable, it’s larger, heavier, and more substantial than most people would want to frequently move from place to place.

It is, however, an excellent choice for great sound and a great piano experience in a compact package. It’s perfect for aspiring musicians and composers who want to write, hear, and share music from their home or studio, with USB connections that make it easy to use your computer for editing and processing songs.

The microphone jack allows you to sing along or share your music with others, and the built-in speakers have good volume, which also makes it a smart choice for a classroom, hall, or small performance space.

 The Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Piano is the perfect piano for those who aspire to a big, prestigious acoustic or digital piano with loads of features, but are limited by their budget or available space. It’s the very best piano, with the most authentic grand piano sound, that you can get in this size at this price.

What’s Included with the Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Piano?

Yamaha L85 Keyboard Stand, Black
Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Piano - Black Bundle with Furniture Bench, Sustain Pedal, Dust Cover, Instructional Book, Online Lessons, Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD, and Polishing Cloth

The Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Piano Bundle comes with a stand, a furniture-style piano bench, a music rest, a sustain pedal, an instructional book and DVD, a dust cover and polishing cloth, and two months of live online lessons.

Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Piano’s Features

Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Piano - Black Bundle with Furniture Bench, Sustain Pedal, Dust Cover, Instructional Book, Online Lessons, Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD, and Polishing Cloth

source

The Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Piano is loaded with features and capabilities that will excite any musician.

FEATUREDESCRIPTION
Design

It has a full size, fully weighted keyboard with GHS weight system. It comes with a stand, bench, and sustain pedal, so you can set it up and get playing right away.

Sound

It uses Yamaha’s Pure CF Sound Engine, with high-quality samples captured from Yamaha’s best concert grand pianos.

Touch sensitivity

The touch sensitivity of the keys and pedal and half-pedal functions mimic the feel and expressions of playing an acoustic piano.

LCD display

The LCD screen is large and the display can be adjusted according to your preferences.

Polyphony

It has 192 levels of polyphony, for a wide range of complex and overlapping sounds. It comes with 151 instrument voices, 15 rhythms, and 388 XGlite voices.

Multiple Sound effect

It comes with 151 instrument voices, 15 rhythms, and 388 XGlite voices. The 29 featured voices include Live! Cool!, and Sweet! voices, which blend long, multi-layered samples for unique resonance, vibrato, and expression. It has a wide range of EQ, reverb, and other audio settings, as well as pitch bend, transpose, and tune functions.

Piano Room

The “Piano Room” function allows you to select your preferred virtual practice or performance environment. You can set the instrument voice, acoustic space, and even adjust the position of the lid of your virtual piano.

Smart Chord and Style Recommender

Smart Chord can build entire chords from a single note, with styles ranging from pop triads to jazz 7th and 9th chords, or play a few notes in the desired tempo, and Style Recommender will offer a list of complementary styles to choose from. Accompaniment styles can fill in the rest, so you can play along with an entire virtual band in just minutes.

Apps

Compatible with a wide range of music apps via USB. The DGX-660 can also connect wirelessly to dedicated iOS apps including Yamaha MusicSoft and Chord Tracker.

Pros & Cons of the Yamaha DGX-660

PROS

  • Full size, fully weighted, touch sensitive 88 key keyboard for acoustic playing experience
  • Pure CF Sound Engine tone generation for rich, deep, nuanced sound and expression
  • Comes with included keyboard stand, piano bench, sustain pedal, dust cover, and everything you need to set up and play the piano
  • Amazon bundle comes with a piano instruction in a book, DVD, and online lessons to get beginners playing quickly and easily
  • Large monochrome LCD screen can display either the score or music lyrics, even of your own songs
  • Pitch bend, panel sustain, and damper resonance for more authentic sound
  • 151 voices, 15 drum and effects kits, 388 XGlite voices, and 29 featured voices for a huge range of sound and musical possibilities
  • 41 reverb settings, 44 chorus settings, 237 DSP types, and 5 Master EQ types for custom control of your sound quality, and the “piano room” setting creates an entire virtual environment.
  • Intelligent Acoustic Control adjusts the speakers if you take it off the stand for best sound quality
  • 205 preset accompaniment styles, 3 fingering styles, style controls and style recommendations fill in an entire band based on your playing
  • 320 song music database, 100 preset songs
  • Record up to 5 songs with up to 6 tracks, in MIDI or WAV files with onboard or flash memory
  • Auto power off saves energy if you leave the piano on

cons

  • Stand assembly can be challenging
  • Keys are plastic, and don’t have acoustic piano feel or texture

An Alternative Product to Consider

It’s difficult to compare the Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Piano to a similar product, because the “portable grand” occupies such a specialized niche, and other brands don’t make exactly comparable keyboards.

The next step up in quality and playing experience would cost more money to enter the Yamaha Arius line, but those are console pianos and not portable at all. Or keep the portability and save some money, but lose audio quality and digital features with the Yamaha P125.

Yamaha P125 88 Weighted Key Digital Piano Bundle with Knox Double X Stand, Knox Large Bench and Sustain Pedal

Advantages of the Yamaha YDP143R Arius

Better key feel in black keys

Comes with 3 pedals and all pedal and half-pedal functions

Has dual keyboard function

Advantages of the Yamaha DGX-660

Smaller and more lightweight

More digital and device connectivity

More voices, reverb, and audio settings in general

Advantages of the Yamaha P125

Smaller and more light weight

Better key feel in black keys

Advantages of the Yamaha DGX-660

More digital and device connectivity

More voices, reverb, and audio settings in general

All three of these pianos have the same graded hammer standard keyboard weight and Pure CF Sound Engine. The DGX-660 has a bigger library of voices, choruses, accompaniments, reverb, etc., than any of them, but they all have some of those features.

 So the primary differentiator is the amount of space they require, the amount of money they cost, and the fact that the DGX-660 is better equipped to interact with digital devices. There is no bad choice among these keyboards; it’s just a question of your priorities.

Additional Accessories to Consider Buying

To make the most of your Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Piano, it’s best to invest in a few additional accessories that will make all the difference in your experience as a musician.

Pedals

Yamaha LP7A 3-Pedal Unit for DGX-660, Black

The Yamaha LP7A 3-pedal Unit for DGX-660 is specifically designed for the DGX-660. It has damper, soft, and sostenuto pedals, with half damper effect for greater expression and control over the music.

It attaches easily to the DGX-660 stand, and gives you a greater range of musical capabilities, and a grand piano-like playing experience.

Bluetooth adaptor

Of course, you could use the Yamaha DGX-660’s onboard USB ports, but it’s much easier to use Bluetooth and skip the cables and connections. The Yamaha UD-BT01 is designed to connect the DGX-660 to all your digital devices and iOS apps wirelessly.

Yamaha Wireless USB to Host MIDI Adapter

Microphone

TONOR Pro Vocal Dynamic Microphone with XLR Cable Male-Female Wire Cord Mic Audio Connection for Stage Karaoke Singing Recording Speech Wedding Indoor Outdoor Activity

The Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Piano has a microphone jack, and it would be a shame to not take advantage of singing along with your music, or inviting friends to join in. While microphones can be extremely specialized and very expensive, a good entry level vocal mic is the TONOR Pro Vocal Dynamic Microphone.

 It has good sound quality and dynamic range, is versatile and durable, and comes with a wind screen to eliminate pops and unwanted sounds. The included ¼ inch cable will plug directly into the DGX-660 and project singing from the keyboard’s speakers.

Microphone stand

Of course, you can’t hold a microphone and play piano at the same time. A nice option for the DGX-660 that won’t take up any additional space is the Samson MB1 Mini Boom Stand. Samson is well-known for their microphone stands, and this one has an excellent weight and counterweight to prevent tipping, while being small enough to fit comfortably on a desktop.

 At full extension, it can even be placed on the floor and act as a traditional boom mic while you sit at the piano. It’s a good, compact, boom mic stand that will work well with any digital piano.Samson MB1 Mini Boom Stand

Yamaha DGX-660 – Yamaha Corporation of America

Sweetwater’s Review on Yamaha DGX 660

Conclusion

The Yamaha DGX 660 Digital Piano has the best sound quality and digital capabilities of any similar size piano in its price range.

For those who want to replicate the feel and sound of playing a grand piano, but are short on space, it’s an incredible alternative. 

Yamaha DGX-660 Digital Piano - Black Bundle with Furniture Bench, Sustain Pedal, Dust Cover, Instructional Book, Online Lessons, Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD, and Polishing Cloth

And its digital features and connectivity options open up an even wider range of musical possibilities, making it an instrument you could love for decades to come.

Maurice

I am intrigued by how music affects the brain. I created this site to share my fascination with music in general and piano keyboards in particular.

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