Korg B2SP Review

The Korg B2SP is a digital piano with a nice set of features for a great price- but I didn’t like the key feel, it was much too light for my taste. Despite this, I still gave it a rating of a flat ‘C’. Here’s why: despite not personally loving it, I think that there are a lot of people out there who will still get what they want from this model. I took off 3 points because I can’t 100% back the keybed just because it’s so light. I also took the lower polyphony, and smaller sound bank into account.

Korg B2SP Overview

The Korg B2SP is a popular entry-level piano package that includes (obviously!) the Korg B2 digital piano, along with a stand, and a three-pedal unit. The B2SP digital piano has 88 weighted NH keys and 12 different keyboard sounds. 

The B2SP’s wooden stand is really sturdy and is one of the biggest selling points of this digital instrument. 

A Note on the Korg 2 Line

 The Korg B2 was first released in September 2019, and later, this model, as well as the B2N, was released.  The B2SP boasts a new wooden cabinet with a built-in 2-pedal unit, which the B2 lacks. So, the B2SP gives you more bang for your buck than the slightly older B2 does.

 Korg describes the B2SP as “A piano for the whole family” and I’d agree with that statement. Between being easy to use and having all the basics, it’s hard to go wrong with this model (as long as you are a fan of a lighter touch). Now, let’s check out the features to see what the B2SP is all about! 

Features

NH Keyboard

NH stands for natural hammer and is Korg’s replication of an acoustic pianos action. While NH-style keyboards aren’t my favorite digital recreation of acoustic keyboards, they aren’t bad, either. They feel quite light. 

Included Triple-Pedal Unit 

When you’re planning on playing classical rep, it’s always a good idea to start with a triple-pedal unit. The Korg B2SP has a built-in unit with sustain, sostenuto, and soft pedals. This unit is built to last- Unlike the stand-alone sustain pedals that come with cheaper entry-level instruments, these pedals won’t wear out for a very long time (And also won’t ‘run’ away from you as you play!)

12 Stunning Sounds

Korg touts their sounds are being ‘stunning’. Despite there not being many of them, they are indeed high-quality! The B2SP’s sound bank included electric pianos, grand pianos, and organs. 

Adjustable Touch Control

Adjustable touch control is another facet to keep your eye out for when you’re looking for an entry-level piano- Especially if you’re looking for a piano that multiple folks are going to play on. The B2SP has touch control for light, normal, and heavy. 

Other Features

Other features that make the B2SP have more bang for its buck include:

• Skoove, Korg Gadget, and Korg module le compatibility
• Included bench
• 2 onboard effects (reverb, chorus)
• Great connectivity, including a USB out, and audio inputs and outputs
• Duo mode
• Textured keys
• Transpose, fine-tuning

Specifications

Spec sourced from Sweetwater.com

• Weight: 46.3 pounds
• Dimensions:
• Height: 4.61″/ 29.53″ with stand
• Width: 51.65″
• Depth:13.23″
• Effects: Yes, 2 kinds (reverb, chorus)

Who is the Korg B2SP suitable for?

The Korg B2SP is best suited for beginners, or for those who are looking for an economical digital model to get started on. The Korg B2 series isn’t fancy by any means, but they are workhorses of the digital piano world. Intermediate pianists and composers will likely want something with a bit more realism and recording space, but the B2SP is good for the price.

This Korg in Action 

Take a listen to this review/demo video by Alamo Music of the B2 to get a better feel for the instrument.

The pros at Alamo describe the B2 as being a piano that is ‘designed for the pianist’. I almost agree- If it weren’t for the key feel. 

B2 vs B2SP: It’s worth noting that the B2 and B2SP have the same exact specs, but that the B2 doesn’t come with the wooden stand and built-in pedal. 

Amazon Reviews

The Korg B2SP was rated 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com. Here’s what some customers had to say:

Positive reviews: 

• “Bang for the buck” (Hah, sound familiar?! That’s what I said, too!
• “Good quality piano for amateurs”
• “A great piano”

The B2SP faced a fair bit of harsh criticism in the featured reviews on the site, though. Several customers had instruments get damaged during shipping or received bum models. The issues I read about include pianos that had static noise, pianos with 1-2 broken keys, and one incident with a malfunctioning pedal. Luckily, many of the issues were due to how postal workers handled the instrument, rather than the manufacturers’ issues, at least to my understanding. 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• It’s portable/ light and easy to move
• The stand is easy to assemble!
• It has two included effects
• The speakers sound good for the size
• The grand piano tones are lovely 
• It’s pretty compact

Many wooden cabinet digitals are around 70-80 pounds or more, making it difficult to move the instrument to the other side of the room by yourself! This instrument is also really easy to put together. Many console pianos in this style take a lot of chutzpah and planning to get from the pieces into any semblance of a piano, but not this one. 

I also read somewhere that the B2SP’s sounds had been improved since the B2, but I didn’t see anything on reputable specs sources (Korg, Sweetwater) that backed up this statement. 

Other pro’s I personally enjoyed are the onboard effects, crisp clean speakers, and grand piano sounds. 

Cons

• The action is just ok
• Most packages don’t come with a bench
• There are only a handful of sounds
• There is only one headphone jack
• The polyphony is a bit low
• There is no onboard recorder
• The speakers aren’t very powerful when compared to mid-range pianos

My biggest complaint by far is the action. The B2SP’s action is so light, and honestly, not all that realistic. Another, smaller con is that many places don’t include the bench in the package. Luckily, it’s included on Amazon, so we’d recommend you shop there. 

The B2SP also doesn’t have many sounds- 12 sounds are ok for an entry-level, but I wish there were a few more pianos to choose from. The instrument only has 5 piano tones in total. 

The polyphony is a bit low, and there’s no onboard recorder. The latter point is one I bring up in a lot of my reviews. I always wish that entry-levels had some sort of fleshed-out recorder to log their practice on- It seems beginner pianos either have a 2-track MIDI recorder or no recorder at all. Unfortunately, the B2SP is in the latter category. Recording your practice is integral for improvement, and can especially streamline adult beginners’ progress. If you get the B2SP, invest in a USB to host a MIDI cord so you can connect your piano to an external source so you can hear yourself after you play. 

Lastly, while the 15 X 15 watt speakers might fill up a smaller living room, intermediate players might be wishing for more ‘umph’. Upper entry-level to mid-range pianos often have two 20-watt speakers, rather than 15-watt ones. 

Comparable Korg Instruments

• For a similar instrument with a lighter touch: Try the Korg B2N
• For a used model: Try the Korg B2 or the Korg B1 line

Other comparable instruments to the Korg B2SP include the B2N, which was released at the same time as the B2SP, and the older Korg B2. 

Both the B2N and B2 are extremely similar to the model we’re looking at today. The specs are pretty much the same in every category, from the NH action to the 2 onboard effects, 120-note polyphony, 15 x 15-watt speakers, and so on. 

The Korg B2 is slightly older than the B2SP, so you might have better luck finding it used on the market. It also costs a bit less ($599) because it doesn’t come with a wooden stand. This also means that the instrument weighs less. The con, though, is that you’ll need to buy the stand, bench, pedals, etc…So you’ll probably end up spending more if you get the B2 new than if you get the B2SP new. So, I’d go for the B2SP, unless you can find a B2 used in a brick-and-mortar shop for under $500. 

The Korg B2N, on the other hand, has an even lighter touch keyboard than the B2 and B2SP. In other words, this model is definitely not for me! But if you prefer a super-light touch, this is a great contender. The B2N typically costs around $550. 

Lastly, the older Korg B1 line is worth mentioning. The Korg B1 line is the predecessor to the Korg B2 line. The Korg B1 was first released in 2016. The sounds in the sound bank are very comparable to that of the Korg B2. As long as you are ok with sacrificing some features, the B1 is a good contender for a used Korg piano for beginners. 

Comparable Instruments From Different Brands

Because the B2SP wasn’t the best action for me, I decided to include even more comparable instruments in this section: 

• Yamaha P-45 $449.99
• Casio PX-160
• Roland FP-10
• Kawai ES110 

The Yamaha P-45 is an uber-popular entry-level digital piano. It has weighted keys, 10 different sounds, in the soundbank, and a compact and lightweight design. It also has a built-in stereo sound system.

The Casio PX-160 is another popular entry-level digital piano that features 88 weighted keys, 18 different sounds, and a Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II keyboard. This model is a great one to look out for on the preowned market.

The Roland FP-10 is a real crowd-pleaser on a piano. It is compact and affordable and has Roland’s SuperNATURAL sound engine, and a PHA-4 Standard keyboard. 

Lastly, The Kawai ES110 is a portable digital piano that features 88 weighted keys, 19 different sounds, and Kawai’s Responsive Hammer Compact keyboard.

B2SP Quick View 

Conclusion

Overall, the Korg B2SP is a great option for those looking for a compact and affordable digital piano package that offers a realistic piano-playing experience and a range of different sounds.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this Korg B2SP review! In conclusion, this Korg is a great starter model if you’re looking for a reliable digital keyboard with a solid build, and basic features. While the touch isn’t for me personally, I think a lot of folks who prefer a lighter keybed will get hours of practice out of the B2SP. 

Music Quote of the Week: 

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything” -Plato