Yamaha P85
Description
The Yamaha P85 was discontinued in August 2010. Check out the new model P95
Buy a carry bag to protect your Yamaha P85 >> more details
(Thick padding, large pockets, shoulder strap, nametag, 5 year guarantee)
Compare Yamaha P85 with Classenti P1
P85 also available in silver (P85S)
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You also get:
30 day money back guarantee
3 year UK and European warranty (any faults will be repaired in your home or the piano collected and replaced)
Free delivery
The good news is the price is less than its predecessor (P70). The bad news… the quality has gone down. It doesn’t have as much volume, and the touch is not as solid. The biggest problem of all is the piano’s bottom: It’s rounded which makes it almost impossible to sit firmly on most keyboard stands.
The new Yamaha P85 digital piano features: 88 keys, graded hammer action, 2x 6W integrated speakers, 62-note polyphony, 10 different sounds, stereo samples, reverb and chorus effects, dual performance mode, sustain pedal, 10 demos and 50 demo songs, metronome, 2 headphone outputs. Includes music stand, sustain pedal FC-5 and power supply — perfect for stage performances and home use.
Yamaha P85 Specs
Keyboard – Progressive Hammer Action Keyboard, 88 keys
Tone Generator – AWM, Stereo Sampling
Polyphony – Max. 64 notes
10 voices
Reverb Effects
Dual Performance Modes
Sustain Pedal – When an optional FC3 Foot Pedal is connected, the half-damper pedal effect can be used.
Demo Songs – 10 voice demo songs, 50 preset songs
Connectors – Headphones, MIDI-IN/OUT
Amplifiers 2 x 6 Watt
Speakers 12 x 6 cm x 2
Dimensions (W x D x H) 52-3/8″ x 14″ x 5-1/4″
Weight 13.0 kg (28 lbs. 11 oz.)
Touch Sensitivity levels: 3
Included Accessories – Music Rest, FC5 Foot Pedal, AC Power Adapter
Optional Accessory Keyboard Stand (L-85)
Delivery
Free delivery to UK, Ireland and most European Countries.
Reviews
The reasons I bought a Yamaha P85:
My 8 year-old son is learning to play the piano so we needed a piano for him. That immediately meant we wanted a “proper”
piano sound with weighted keys and ruled most cheaper products. He had been practising on the school piano but the holidays were coming up and we needed something at home.
We live in a 450 year-old cottage so space is tight – we need something we can put out of the way when not in use(the harpsichords seem appropriate too!).
I took on board your comments about 64 note polyphony. 2 × 6 watts may not be very loud but small cottage, semi, thin party walls.
We bought it from Digital Village partly on price, partly because they gave a 4 year warranty (which my credit card provider will have to honour if they go bust) and partly because they could deliver within 48 hours (they got it to us the day before
the snow arrived – as it turned out).
It sits on an X stand. The rounded underside can cause it to move around a bit – as can our uneven floor!. I have a board in the garage and, when the weather is a bit warmer, I will cut it to size, cut out holes under the speakers and bolt it to the underside (there are captive nuts underneath it). I will probably incorporate an arrangement to clip it to the X stand as well.
We (or rather Father Christmas) got some cheap headphones for him in Argos so he can experiment with the sounds.
Would I recommend it – well I am not a musician (though I can get a tune out of it) but yes – I think I would. I imagine, if you have plenty of room/money, there are better choices but a month on it seems to be doing what we wanted.
Regards
Peter Turner
—
I bought the Yamaha P85 for my son to use in his room at Uni so he doesn’t always have to book a practice room ! Main factors were price, brand name, and weighted keys. This has all three, and a realistic enough piano sound for the price. I dealt with Normans in Burton, who I had previously bought a trombone from, and the transaction was again successful in all respects.
No advice was involved, as I ordered online.
Reviewed by Anthony, Merseyside
Read more P85 reviews
Useful Resources
1) Click here to read the report: “Which Digital Piano To Buy” by piano advisor, Graham Howard
2) Check out the ‘ever expanding’ piano questions section on this site.
3) The world’s first and only dedicated digital piano forum. Check it out here
4) Click here to read the report: “7 Things You MUST Know Before You Buy A Digital Piano”
What our customers say…
Hi Graham,
“I finally got my piano the other week! I ended up ordering the Yamaha P85, as the Roland was a little out of my price range!
Its fantastic!
I’ve been writing and recording with it ever since and its just great. Even my girlfriend is impressed and is playing it quite happily.
As you said, the sound quality isn’t top notch, but I was very surprised at how good it is. The high registers sound perfect. The only complaint I would have are that the lower registers are not great, but I am happy for the amount that I’ve spent.
Next in line is to buy a good quality amp!
Thanks for all your help with this, I will definitely recommend you to whoever wants to hear!”
Rhys Bethell
Questions and Comments
Hi Graham,
I’ve been researching pianos online for a while now, and have found your site very
helpful. To sum up briefly what I am looking for, I would like a electronic piano with
the most realistic feel and sound for, of course, the best price.
At first my research led me to think the Yamaha P-85 was the way to go – it seemed to
have what people consider to be the most realistic action for the price, and I like the
fact that it also has MIDI in/out as I might well like to hook it up to my laptop and
music software. Its portability also was attractive as I live in a small flat and may
well move around a bit over the next few years…
But I then began to consider that I would want to buy a proper stand for the keyboard
rather than the cheaper cross type device, as when it’s set up in my flat it will stay
put for some time. I also would want to have the three pedal board so it would be
completely true to a real piano, so with these additional bits the cost goes up to over
£560 at the very least… So then I began to wonder whether I might be better just to buy
the Yamaha YDP-141 as it was barely more expensive and had the stand and pedals already
built in. So when reading around this model, I happened upon your site and was then given
food for thought; perhaps in fact the Classenti CDP1 would be better from what I read on
your site. It’s another £100 or so but if it’s really that good I would probably be
prepared to pay the extra for the quality and realism.
But I wonder about its portability and could not find an answer to this anywhere: can the
keyboard bit be detached from the stand and still be used? Say if I wanted to stick it in
the boot of my car for a jamming session at a friend’s at short notice. If so then I
think my decision will be pretty clear cut!
Many thanks,
Kevin
Reply/ Hi Kevin
The Classenti CDP1 is not portable. The keyboard part,
speakers and half the base are in one piece. This is
the main reason it’s so strong and stable – Ideal for
kids learning, but not for portability!
The Classenti CDP2 would be a better option for you.
The CDP2 speakers are built facing the underneath of
the keyboard section. So you can use it with or
without the stand.
But, if the CDP2 goes beyond your intended budget,
perhaps the Classenti P1 would be a good compromise?
The P1 was designed to be portable. It has a flat
bottom, with speakers facing towards the back of
the piano.
The top is also lighter in weight, and more compact.
The P1 only has one pedal though.
You can read more about the Classenti P1 here:
www.ukpianos.co.uk/classenti-p1-portable-piano
Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
—
Dear Graham Howard,
I am a professional Opera singer and need a digital piano for
transportation to concerts. My piano will be played by professional
accompanists who need the sound and feel of a real piano. The piano
also needs to be easily transportable in a large Seat hatchback.
From the research I have done, the Yamaha seems to come out the best.
Could you advise me on the make and model that you would recommend.
Thank you
Pauline Birchall
Reply/ Hi Pauline
My advice is to try the new Yamaha P85:
www.ukpianos.co.uk/yamaha-p85
You will need to have a decent keyboard amp to go
with this though. The amp makes ALL the difference.
Something like the Roland KC150:
www.ukpianos.co.uk/roland-kc150
Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos
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