Gewa DP140 Review

This is the first piano of 4 that I will be reviewing that we definitely do not recommend here at Best Piano Keyboards. While the German-made full-sized digital Gewa DP140 sounds promising on first blush, the quality of this keyboard, as a whole, simply fell short. I wasn’t a fan of the velocity or (lack of) dynamic sensitivity on this one.

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Overview

The Gewa DP140 is a full-sized digital piano with 88 weighted, graded hammer action keys. It is made in Germany and was first released in December 2015, so this one has been around for a while. 

This particular Gewa model has been the source of much debate– Some musicians think it’s a solid instrument, given its European make, and Fatar keyboard, while others say it’s nowhere close to matching the quality of household makes/ solid beginner models such as the Yamaha PSR series. My opinion tends to lean towards the latter. That all being said, let’s check out the features more in-depth. 

Features

Graded Hammer Action, Fatar Keybed

The DP140 has weighted, graded hammer action, and a TP40 Fatar keybed (Fatar is the same style of keybed that Nord and Native instruments use.) 

Human Flex Dynamic Setting

This term appears to be Gewa’s lingo for touch sensitivity. The touch settings are as follows: Artist, standard, and light. Despite such a fancy-sounding name, there’s not much to be found in regard to the human flex dynamic settings. 

New Algorithms 

One big selling point for the DP140 specifically was its new algorithms/acoustic simulations, including Chorus, tremolo, flange, phase, and rotary. Updated algorithms are always exciting, but do keep in mind that the DP140 was released quite some time ago, so they aren’t exactly the cutting edge of sonic technology. 

Other Notable Features:

• 4 reverbs 
• Level adjustment to velocity curve
• A warm and modern dark rosewood design
• 6-part layered grand piano sample
• Internal recorder
• Metronome
• Dual Mode
• Several connectivity options 

The connectivity and recording options are good, I’ll give you that. Another large selling point for this Gewa is the 6-part layered grand piano sound. 

Specifications

• Weight: 82 pounds
• Dimensions: 55 x 38 x 20 inches

Who Is It Suitable For?

The Gewa DP140 was clearly designed to be a high-quality beginner model. And while some of the specs sound pretty promising, I can’t exactly recommend it as an ideal piano for any student- The price is too high while the quality is too low. The key velocity and dynamic issues present a large problem for many players. 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• 88 full-sized keys with graded hammer action
• A solid selection of FX, including algorithms like rotary, and multiple reverbs
• It’s aesthetically pleasing
• It has a large number of connections
• It has an internal recorder
• Dual mode makes it easy to teach one
• The 2 headphone jacks also make it ideal for duets (or, once again, teaching!)
• It has an internal speaker system

There’s no denying that this is a pretty keyboard with a large number of connections and a small handful of solid features. Teachers like me always value the little things like duo mode and 2 headphone jacks, because it makes teaching and playing duets a breeze. But while it’s clear that the Gewa DP140 was designed for being a beginner model that is lesson-studio friendly, I still can’t quite get behind it- There are far too many mixed reviews and cons. 

Cons

• The key velocity is low quality
• The dynamic range could be better
• The polyphony is somewhat low
• Many customers have complained about a whole host of key-related problems

Alternatives to the Gewa DP140 

If you are looking for a beginner-friendly digital piano with weighted graded keys, try out the following models instead: 

• Yamaha P45 of P71

Both the Yamaha P45 and P71 will cost you half the price as the Gewa DP140, and will give you way less trouble in the velocity department. These keyboards are portable, and far more reliable. 

Gewa DP140: Quick View 

DP140: Conclusion

In conclusion, while I wouldn’t pass off the Gewa DP140 as being totally terrible, there are many other beginner pianos that are better options. Be sure to come back to BestPianoKeyboards for what to buy, as well as what not to buy! 

Music quote: 

“One good thing about music, is when it hits you, you feel no pain”

4Expert Score

This is the first piano of 4 that I will be reviewing that we definitely do not recommend here at Best Piano Keyboards. While the German-made full-sized digital Gewa DP140 sounds promising on first blush, the quality of this keyboard, as a whole, simply fell short. I wasn’t a fan of the velocity or (lack of) dynamic sensitivity on this one.

PROS

• 88 full-sized keys with graded hammer action
• A solid selection of FX, including algorithms like rotary, and multiple reverbs
• It’s aesthetically pleasing
• It has a large number of connections
• It has an internal recorder
• Dual mode makes it easy to teach one
• The 2 headphone jacks also make it ideal for duets (or, once again, teaching!)
• It has an internal speaker system

CONS

• The key velocity is low quality
• The dynamic range could be better
• The polyphony is somewhat low
• Many customers have complained about a whole host of key-related problems