In this head-to-head comparison, we look at two of Yamaha’s popular models the Yamaha DGX 660 vs P115.
If you think your keyboard skills have outgrown the beginner level, at this point the right thing to do is invest in a good-quality intermediate keyboard. Going a level up will increase the musical possibilities for you and will also allow you to create more creative music.
That’s where the DGX 660 and P115 come in – and in this detailed review, we look at the specs, features, pros & cons and more of both Yamaha models.
Yamaha DGX-660 vs. Yamaha P115 Specifications Compared
Specification | Yamaha DGX-660 | Yamaha P115 |
|---|---|---|
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Keys | 88, Graded Hammer Standard | 88, Graded Hammer Standard |
Touch Response | Soft, Medium, Hard, Fixed | Soft, Medium, Hard, Fixed |
Polyphony | 192 notes | 192 notes |
Preset Songs | 100 | 14 demo songs and 50 piano songs |
Preset Voices | 151 + 15 Drum/SFX Kits + 388 XGlite | 14 |
Functions | Dual and Split modes | Dual, Split and Duo modes |
Onboard Recording | Yes | Yes |
Connectivity | USB to Host, USB to Device, Bluetooth | USB to Host |
Speakers | 12cm x 2 | 12 cm x 2 + 4 cm x 2 |
Amplifiers | 6W x 2 | 7W x 2 |
Dimensions | Width: 55 inches, Height: 5 ¾ inches, Depth: 17 ½ inches | Width: 52 ¼ inches, Height: 6 ¼ inches, Depth: 11 ½ inches |
Weight | 21kg | 11.8kg |
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Major Similarities Between Yamaha DGX-660 vs. Yamaha P115
The Yamaha DGX-660 and Yamaha P115 are quite similar to one another in a number of areas. The first major similarity is that both these models by Yamaha have 88, weighted keys with a Graded Hammer Standard keyboard technology, which offers a piano playing experience similar to that of an acoustic piano. Another noticeable similarity is that both the Yamaha DGX-660 and P115 have four levels of touch sensitivity hard, soft, medium, and fixed. The user can adjust the level of touch sensitivity as per their preference or fix it.
Both the Yamaha DGX-660 and P115 feature the proprietary Pure CF sound engine. They also have a similar polyphony with 192 notes. Another thing that makes the two models similar is that they both feature onboard speakers that enable the user to play their music out loud. Both the Yamaha DGX-660 and P115 allow the users to attach their headphones to their keyboard if they wish to practice in silence and privacy.
You’ll find Split and Layering functions in both the Yamaha DGX-660 and P115. You can incorporate the sound of multiple instruments at the same time through the layering mode or split the keyboard into two separate instruments and enjoy a much wider range of sounds with both the Yamaha DGX-660 and P115.
You can record your performances and play them in the future on both your Yamaha DGX-660 and P115. Also, both these keyboard models support Host to USB connectivity so that the users can save more of their performances on their external storage or load more songs that they wish to play.
All in all, the Yamaha DGX-660 and P115 are quite similar as far as basic features are concerned. However, when you look deeper into the specifications and features, you’ll see you contrastingly different they are from each other.
Major Differences Between Yamaha DGX-660 vs. Yamaha P115
The first difference that you’ll observe when you compare the Yamaha DGX-660 and the P115 is that P115 weighs literally about half the weight of the Yamaha DGX-660. The Yamaha P115 is extremely lightweight and smaller in size that makes it more portable than the Yamaha DGX-660.
Since both these keyboards fall in the intermediate level category, you can expect them to have some sort of learning features that allow the user to enjoy a smooth transition from a beginner level to the intermediate one. The Yamaha DGX-660 comes with 100 preset songs, whereas the P115 offers only 14 demo songs and 50 piano songs. As far as the learning aspect is concerned, the Yamaha DGX-660 weighs heavier.
The next difference between the two is that with the Yamaha P115, the users can enjoy the Dual, Split, and Duo modes, whereas the Yamaha DGX-660 only features the Dual and Split modes. It means that if you’re looking for a keyboard that allows you to enjoy playing the keyboard with your partner, friend, or teacher, the Yamaha P115 is the one you should buy.
While both the Yamaha DGX-660 and P115 have an onboard recording feature that allows the users to record their performances, the number of songs they can record on each of the two models is different. The user can record up to 5 songs on the Yamaha DGX-660 while the Yamaha P115 only allows the user to record only one song.
Another difference between the two is that the onboard speakers of the Yamaha P115 produce sound of comparatively better quality than that of Yamaha DGX-660. The Yamaha P115 features two speakers with 7 Watt amplifiers, whereas the Yamaha DGX-660 has two speakers with 6-Watt amplifiers each.
The Yamaha DGX-660 and P115 also differ drastically in the number of preset voices. The Yamaha P115 has only 14 preset voices, whereas the Yamaha DGX-660 comes with 151 preset voices with 15 Drum and 388 XGlite voices. It gives the users of Yamaha DGX-660 a greater room to experiment and produce creative sounds.
If you’re looking for a simple keyboard that offers you all the basic features that you’ll need, the Yamaha P115 is a great option. However, if you’re looking to bring your keyboard game up and want a keyboard that enables you to experiment and groom, the Yamaha DGX-660 will be the right choice.
Yamaha DGX-660 Summary
Major Features
FEATURE | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
Keyboard | The Yamaha DGX-660 features 88 keys, and a hammer action keyboard that provides an enhanced user experience. The keys of the keyboard are weighted like that of an acoustic piano, so you can expect an experience close to that of a professional, acoustic piano. This is not it. The Yamaha DGX-660 allows the user to choose the touch sensitivity level as per their preference or choose to turn the touch sensitivity off. The four level options that you get are hard, soft, medium, and fixed. |
Sound Quality | The Yamaha DGX-660 features the CF sound engine that is known to produce great quality sound. It is one of the finest sound engines that you’ll find in most of the Yamaha keyboards. Moreover, the 192 note polyphony and the built-in 151 sounds along with 388 XGlite sounds and 15 drums gives the user a lot of room to produce great pieces. |
Functions | The Yamaha DGX-660 is equipped with the Split and Layering functions. The Split mode splits your keyboard into two separate units, each producing a sound of a different instrument. The Layering function layers the sound of two instruments, so when you strike a key, it produces two instrumental sounds at the same time, adding more variety and depth to the performances. |
Onboard Recording and Playback | Users can record up to 5 songs on their Yamaha DGX-660 and listen to it in the future or save it to a USB and share them with others. |
Connectivity | The Yamaha DGX-660 is a highly versatile instrument. It is equipped with separate ports for headphones and a sustain pedal along with microphone input and an auxiliary input. Other than this, it supports USB to Device and USB to Host connectivity that enables the user to connect their keyboard to their PC or smart devices. What makes the Yamaha DGX-660 stand out among other Yamaha keyboards is that it also allows wireless connectivity through Bluetooth! |
LCD Display | Another feature of the Yamaha DGX-660 is that it has a good quality LCD display on its top panel that makes navigating through the settings and options a lot easier and quicker. The Yamaha DGX-660 is extremely user-friendly, which is one of the major catches for the users! |
Onboard Speakers | The Yamaha DGX-660 features two onboard speakers with 6 Watt amplifier each. You can play your performances out loud and make any gathering all more enjoyable for your friends and family. |
Lesson Function | If you would like to use the Yamaha DGX-660 to learn to play the piano, you can do so by all means. The keyboard is equipped with the Yamaha Education Suite. There are 100 preset songs and three types of song lessons, including Waiting, Minus One, and Your Tempo. In the Waiting lesson, the song will wait for you to strike the notes displayed on the LCD screen. The Minus One lesson allows you to choose the part of a song you wish to play (left-hand or right-hand part). Your Tempo mode allows you to practice the right timing. The playback tempo will be adjusted to match your speed. |
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
The Bottom Line
The Yamaha DGX-660 is a great option if you’re looking for a keyboard that helps you groom your piano playing skills. It is an ideal choice for both beginners and intermediate-level musicians.
Yamaha P115 Summary
Major Features
FEATURE | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
Keyboard | The Yamaha P115 has 88 fully weighted keys that are the same size as keys of an acoustic piano. The keyboard features the Graded Hammer Standard technology, which accounts for high-quality sound quality at a truly affordable price. With Yamaha P115, the user can enjoy an experience similar to that of playing a full-size acoustic piano. |
Sound Quality | The Yamaha P115 comes with the CF sound engine that most of the Yamaha keyboards have. The CF sound engine is known for its more-than-adequate sound quality that is great for an intermediate-level keyboard. Moreover, the 192 note polyphony and built-in sounds, voices, and rhythm further add to the quality of the sound that the Yamaha P115 produces. |
Functions | The Yamaha P115 is equipped with a Split mode, Dual mode, and a Duo mode. While you already know by now that the Split mode splits the keyboard into two parts, each producing the sound a different musical instrument and the Dual mode enables you to integrate sounds of two musical instruments at the same time. The Duo mode is something that isn’t very common. It divides the keyboard into two equal parts, allowing you to play the keyboard with your partner or friend. |
On-Board Recording and Playback | Onboard recording is a very useful feature for musicians who like to record their performances and revisit them later or wish to share it with others. The Yamaha P115 comes with an onboard recorder that enables the user to record one song at a time. |
Onboard Speakers | The Yamaha P115 is equipped with two onboard speakers having 7-watt amplifiers each, making sure that the sound is heard loud and clear on the speakers! |
Connectivity | You can connect your Yamaha P115 to your computer or smart device like a tablet or iPad, thanks to the USB to Host connectivity. In addition, it has two jacks for connecting headphones allowing the user to connect two headphones at a time. Separate jacks for a sustain pedal and pedal unit further allows the user to improve the quality and feel of their performances. You can also connect external speakers or amplifiers through the AUX-Out port. |
Portability | The Yamaha P115 weighs only 11kg that makes it extremely portable. The Yamaha P115 is an ideal option for musicians who travel with their keyboard often, whether for fun or for gigs. |
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
The Bottom Line
The Yamaha P115 is a very basic, intermediate-level keyboard that even beginners can take advantage of. It is ideal for individuals who want to keep it all simple!
Conclusion
In our (humble) opinion, the Yamaha DGX-660 is definitely superior to the Yamaha P115. If you want to step a level above your beginner level keyboard, you should strongly consider the DGX-660.
