The Yamaha P115 is considered by many to be the gold standard when it comes to digital pianos for beginners, but it now has a successor: the Yamaha P125.
With so much in common, it’s easy to see why choosing between the Yamaha P115 vs P125 can be a tough decision for anyone looking for a starter digital piano. With that in mind, we provide a breakdown of the features, similarities, and differences between the Yamaha P115 and Yamaha P125, to help you make a better buying decision.
Yamaha P115 vs Yamaha P125 Specifications Compared
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Yamaha P115 |
Yamaha P125 |
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88-key fully weighted matte finish keyboard |
88-key fully weighted matte finish keyboard |
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Graded Hammer Standard action |
Graded Hammer Standard action |
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Touch Sensitivity (Hard, Medium, Soft, Fixed) |
Touch Sensitivity (Hard, Medium, Soft, Fixed) |
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Sound: Pure CF Sound Engine |
Sound: Pure CF Sound Engine |
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192-note polyphony |
192-note polyphony |
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14 instrument sounds (3 pianos) |
24 instrument sounds (4 grand pianos) |
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50 preset piano songs + 14 demo songs |
50 preset piano songs + 21 demo songs |
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Modes: Duo, Split, Dual |
Modes: Duo, Split, Dual |
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Lesson Function (ability to practice each hand’s part separately) 2-track MIDI recorder |
Lesson Function (ability to practice each hand’s part separately)2-track MIDI recorder (one User Song) |
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Metronome (14 rhythms), Transpose, Fine-tuning |
Metronome, Transpose, Fine-tuning, 20 accompaniment rhythms (drums and bass) |
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Sound Boost, Intelligent Acoustic Control |
Sound Boost, Intelligent Acoustic Control, Stereophonic Optimizer, Table EQ |
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Speakers: 7W + 7W (12cm x 2 + 4cm x 2) |
Speakers: 7W + 7W (12cm x 2 + 4cm x 2) |
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Connections: USB to Host, Headphone jacks (2), Line Out, Sustain Pedal jack |
Connections: USB to Host, Headphone jacks (2), Line Outs, Sustain Pedal jack |
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1,326 x 295 x 163 mm (52.2” x 11.6” x 6.4”) |
132.6 x 29.5 x 16.6 cm (52.2” x 11.6” x 6.5”) |
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11.8 kg (26 lbs. 3 oz.) |
11.8 kg (26 lbs) |
Major Similarities Between Yamaha P115 vs Yamaha P125
A major similarity between the Yamaha P115 and the P125 is that the number of polyphony notes have surprisingly remained the same, as in, 192 notes. That said, this is more than what you can expect from your average digital piano. With up to 192 notes of polyphony, you will find it hard to run out of notes to use.
Both the P115 and the P125 come with the Intelligence Acoustic Control (IAC) feature, which is Yamaha’s proprietary technology used to enhance the sound performance of their digital pianos.
Major Differences Between Yamaha P115 vs Yamaha P125
One of the main differences that you will notice with the P125 is that it has a more pronounced middle register along with an overall brighter sound as compared to its predecessor, the P-115. Another key difference is that the P125 uses 4 layers of sampling to get far better richness in sound quality as opposed to the 3 layers of the P115.
The P125 also boasts of a brand new feature called the stereophonic optimizer, which plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall sound quality of this digital piano. This is a big deal since the stereophonic optimizer is only found in high-end digital pianos. This means you get to take advantage of some great features on a budget with the P125. The P125 also comes with 10 new instrument sounds, which have been included in the 14 tones found in the P115. The P125 also boasts of a clearly upgraded speaker system with two speakers on either side to ensure a crystal clear sound.
Yamaha P115
For those who are new to the world of digital pianos, the Yamaha P115 has been the official standard-bearer for beginners for many years. The P115 made waves when it was first launched, and while there were some who doubted how it would fare with replacing its predecessor, the P-105, the nay-sayers were soon proven wrong.
The Yamaha P115 not only proved to be a formidable successor of the P-105 but quickly became the go-to choice for many beginners looking for an efficient and easy-to-use digital piano that’s affordable.
But, what really sets the P115 apart from others in the Japanese brand’s lineup is that it was designed not just to compete with previous versions of the company’s digital piano offerings, but also with the rest of the market as well. This means the P115 gives you the advantage of getting a digital piano that is great to look at and comes with all the bells and whistles you would expect from a premium brand digital piano.
Major Features
Below are some of the major features of the Yamaha P115:
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FEATURE |
DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
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Compact Piano with a Stylish Design |
The P series by Yamaha has been known for delivering exquisite digital pianos that offer the very best in form and function, especially for beginners. The P115 is no different and comes loaded with a plethora of features that have been wrapped nicely in a compact and elegant frame. The P115 offers a sleek, modern design that can fit anywhere comfortably without taking much space. |
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Authentic Playing Experience |
One of the main selling points of the P115 has got to be the graded hammer standard (GHS) design, which makes it a joy to play this digital piano. The feel that one gets when pressing the keys gradually changes as you move down the keyboard. This means it will feel heavier on the bass part of the keyboard and lighter while pressing the treble, which gives you an authentic, traditional piano playing experience. |
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Pure CF Sound Engine |
Another major feature of the Yamaha P115 is that it features Pure CF sound engine technology. In short, the sound of the P115 was recorded by using the Yamaha CFIIIS concert grand piano. That’s the piano that’s used to perform on stage so you can get to enjoy the real concert feel while playing the P115, even if you’re a beginner. |
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Improved Damper Resonance |
The P115 comes with many great features that easily makes it a smart choice for all those who are looking for a solid digital piano from the Yamaha lineup. The inclusion of the improved damper resonance in the P115 means that this digital piano is able to recreate the reverberation that’s quite similar to a grand piano, getting you the same about of nuanced expression while playing. |
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Three Different Playing Modes |
The inclusion of three different playing modes in the P125, such as the Dual Mode (layering), Split Mode, and Duet Play makes it easier for players to customize the keyboard according to their playing style. With Dual Mode, you get to layer the sounds of two different instruments while performing. In Split Mode, you can split the tones into two keyboard zones. With the Duet Play mode, you can split the keyboard into two identical parts to play the same octave range for shoulder-to-shoulder playing. |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Graded Hammer Action keyboard with 88 keys
- 192-note polyphony
- 14 high-quality instrument sounds
- Realistic samples of the Yamaha CFIIIS 9’ Grand
- 2-track MIDI recorder
- Built-in library with 50 songs
- Lesson Function
Cons
- Few options for sound customization (effects, resonance, acoustic noises, etc.)
- No USB Type-A port (for USB drives)
- Flimsy sustain footswitch
The Bottom Line
The P115 offers a comfortable new design that is suited for any type of player from the novice to the experienced. The updated configuration in the P115 means that users get to take advantage of a better reverberation in the melody line, which results in a better performance. The P115 is specially designed to make it easier for beginners to learn this wonderful instrument. With up to 14 simple rhythm patterns from jazz, pop, and much more, novice players can learn to play their favorite songs quicker.
Yamaha P125
The P125 is the successor of the P115, which was already a solid digital piano. So, it only made sense for Yamaha to upgrade the P125 to make it even “sexier,” and from the looks of it – they’ve succeeded. The P125 proves its mettle when compared to its predecessor with a sleeker, modernized design that is packed with a combination of old and new features, giving users the right mix of performance and portability.
Major Features
The following are some of the major features of the P125 digital piano:
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FEATURE |
DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
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A Modern Classic Design |
The P125 boasts of a compact design that offers the perfect balance between user-friendliness and portability. The P125 features sleek edges, which gives it a distinguished appearance. This digital piano has been build using premium quality plastic, but considering it comes from Yamaha, you can expect only the best. The P125 boasts of heavy-duty plastic keys with only the black ones having a matte coating.
Although the minimalist design is the first thing you notice with the P125, there are some minute design accents that stand out, such as the red felt ribbon that runs across the top of the keys. Don’t be fooled by the compact size of this digital piano because it has lots of amazing features and a few surprises under the hood. |
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Upgraded GHS Action |
Yamaha seems to have perfect its Graded Hammer Standard technology and is showing no signs of replacing it. With the P125, we get the same GHS technology, but it has been slightly upgraded from the P115. The Graded Hammer Action means that the keys go from heavier at the beginner to lighter towards the higher notes, replicating the effects of a traditional piano.
With the P125, key action has been tweaked to improve performance, while providing you with an unmatched touch experience. This alone makes the P125 the smart choice for either beginners or experienced players. |
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Pure CF Sound Engine |
The P125 features the Pure CF Sound Engine, which is the same as the P115. This technology uses samples from the acclaimed CFIIIS concert grand piano by Yamaha, which means each note of the P125 was recorded multiple times at different levels of velocity to recreate a rich, dynamic sound that’s similar to an acoustic concert piano. But, what makes the P125 unique is that it uses 4 layers of sampling to get far better richness in sound quality as opposed to the 3 layers of the P115. |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Compact gig-friendly design
- 4-layer Pure CF Sampling
- 192-note polyphony
- 24 high-quality instrument sounds
- Realistic tones of the Yamaha CFIIIS 9’ Grand
- Built-in library with 50 songs + 20 versatile rhythm accompaniments
- Great speaker system
- Smart Pianist App compatibility
- USB Audio Interface
Cons
- Not the most realistic key action
- Limited selection of sound effects/settings
- Basic sustain footswitch
- No Bluetooth connectivity onboard
The Bottom Line
The P125 easily stands out as the better choice for those who are looking for a reliable digital piano with all the latest technologies. As compared to the P115, while the two still have a lot in common, the P125 is still able to shine through as being the more advanced in the lineup, which is the purpose of being a successor. If you’re looking for a few more features than the P115, then the P125 should be right up your alley.
Video Demonstration of Yamaha P115 and P125
Conclusion
At the end of the day, it’s all about choice. The P115 has been the go-to choice for novice and experienced players who needed an affordable digital piano. But, if you are looking for a digital piano that gives you some modern features while staying true to the same compact, minimalist design, then the P125 is the way to go.
