Williams Allegro 2 Review

The Williams Allegro 2 is a simple piano that’s made for beginners. With only 10 sounds in the soundbank, it’s clear to see that this instrument is designed with simplicity in mind. The full-sized, fully-weighted keyboard sounds like a great deal…. But we ended up rating this one a 3/10 because, while we wish some of the non-piano tones were a little more realistic, and the action isn’t up to par with our standards. While this one does have a lot going for it, once we tried out the action, we couldn’t quite give it a resounding ‘yes’!

Williams Allegro 2

Hey there piano lovers, how are you? It’s a chilly, gloomy day here in Michigan. But don’t worry, I’ve got some musical sunshine for you! In fact, today we are doing a review on the Williams Allegro 2. Hey- That even rhymed!

You probably already know that I’m a music fanatic. In my spare time, I love to write for music blogs, like this one. Feel free to say hello, or offer your own thoughts on the Williams Allegro 2 in the comments below. We love hearing from you here at BestPianoKeyboards. Okay, let’s get started on the Williams Allegro 2 review.

Overview

Here’s the Williams Allegro 2 at a glance:

• It features 88 hammer-action, weighted keys
• Comes with 64-note polyphony
• It has demo songs that correspond to each voice
• Comes with free learning software
• It has 10 samples
• It has split and layer functions, which make creating instrumental music  fun and easy
• You can record your piano by connecting it to your computer( by using a  MIDI cable)
• It has a metronome with variable tempo
• It has a built-in headphone jack
• Built-in speakers
• It has both stereo and mono line outputs
• It has great chorus and reverb effects along with MOD or FX controls

The Williams Allegro 2 was first released in 2015. That being said, popularity has kept up its name in the music world. So what is it all about? The Williams Allegro is an 88-key, digital piano. It’s a straightforward and portable instrument. This product actually isn’t being produced by Williams currently, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find them used, or on Amazon! The more recent model in this line by Williams is called the Williams Allegro 3. The Williams Allegro 2 piano doesn’t have a lot of software that comes with it…So let’s get into the nitty-gritty, and see if it is still up to our standards. Read on to learn more about it!

Features

Sleek Design

At first glance, the Allegro 2 has a professional look. It comes in a matte black finish and has pristine keys. And for an 88-key piano, it is quite low-priced. So does this under-three-hundred keyboard have both quality and looks? Let’s see.

10 Tones

A piano should sound like a piano, no matter the price point. Ever gone to a store looking to try out a budget piano and end up staring at the keys, hearing tinny-sounding violins?

While I have never played a Williams Allegro keyboard myself, I did some research for you. I listened to some unboxings and got all the details. I can tell you this much, especially for the price range; The sounds are fairly nice for total beginners.

If you would like to see an unboxing of the Allegro 2 for yourself, check out this video by Kris Nicholson (Starting at 9 minutes). Kris even compares the Allegro model to the Legato model, side by side. At 16 minutes in, you can hear him playing the Allegro 2. It has a lovely, authentic sound for the price. It is clear and crisp. He said ‘beautiful!’ and I agree. It’s really nice that you can adjust the tone and reverb to your own liking- We’ll talk more about that later.

Multiple Power Options

The keyboard can be powered by either D batteries, or with an outlet and a power cord. This allows players to perform in the comfort of their own homes, and on the go!

Superb Controlling Power:

The controlling system of this instrument is just awesome! The Williams Allegro 2 comes with a bevy of options. It has excellent reverb control and a sensitivity control system. The instrument also features a newer FX or MOD control option. This will give you the most control over the internal sounds of the keyboard. Ultimately, you can control anything that you want to about the sound here. 

10 Great Instrument Sounds

The Williams Allegro 2 comes with 10 instruments: Grand Piano, Electric Piano, Organ 1, Organ 2, Electric Piano 2, B. Piano, Synth Pad, E. Bass, A. Bass, and Strings. Some people have reviewed the keyboard, stating that the sounds could be more authentic. Based on the ears of a professional, they’re not entirely wrong. But know that if you want to adjust the sounds, you can. The sounds on this keyboard are more than enough for the beginner to intermediate piano student. Oh, and not to mention, it has 64-note polyphony (that’s roughly twice as much as the Legato by Williams!).

Free McCarthy Software

The Allegro comes with free McCarthy Software! Mccarthy software is a way to learn to play the piano. It gives you real-time score reading and feedback, so you know how you’re progressing. If you want to know more about McCarthy software, you can check out the website here. They will teach you all about how to use it.

Unfortunately, another downfall of the piano is that it comes with software that is older. McCarthy no longer allows purchases of lessons or songs. Quite frankly, it is a nice extra, but it is out of date. Any malfunctions that may happen with this will not be able to be remedied. That being said, as a general rule, you can still access and use the software. You can find more information about McCarthy Software and its current capacity here.

Piano Practice Pro-tip: Are you frustrated with trying to practice in a noisy environment? Try practicing with headphones, like these from Headphone Palace.

Full-Sized, Weighted keys

The Williams Allegro 2 comes with 88 piano keys. This means that the instrument has a full set of keys, similar to what you would find on a full-sized piano. Having a proper and full set of keys will grant you the ability to play all 7 octaves worth of notes! This will remove a lot of limitations for you as a player. You will be able to perform everything from Bohemian Rhapsody to Rachmaninoff’s piano concertos.  

The thing about 61 key keyboards is that those tunes are off limits!  And if you plan on becoming a professional performer someday, having experience playing on a full-sized keyboard will be all the better. It behooves every piano player. This is because, when we learn to play, we develop a deeper sense of spatial reasoning and touch memory. The bigger the keyboard you memorize (within reason) the better. 

Not to mention, all 88 keys of this instrument are hammer-weighted, which will make them feel more genuine and real while you’re playing. The keys of this item are not graded. Grading is the amount of resistance in a keyboard. The resistance will remain the same across this full keyboard. Also, the keys are velocity-sensitive. This means that they will play louder when you hit them harder, and they will sound softer when you press them more gently. Unlike with the RockJam piano we reviewed earlier, you will have full control over your dynamics, accents, and other articulations.

It’s Portable!

The item is pretty heavy compared to other portable keyboards and pianos. That being said, the instrument is really sturdy and durable. Despite its weight, it’s still pretty easy to transport it from one place to another place as long as you aren’t traveling every day. Honestly, as we said earlier, this piano is really versatile and can run on both batteries and AC power.

Specifications

• An electronic keyboard
• It has the following dimensions: 13 x 51.6 x 5 inches
• It has 88 weighted, velocity-sensitive keys
• 10 sounds
• It has a polyphony of up to 64 notes
• Its voice control has layer, touch, split, and metronome
• Speakers: 2- YDT816 (4U*15W)
• Powered by D batteries or an outlet

Who Is It Suitable For?

This piano is best suited for anyone from a beginner, to a college music major looking for a good practice instrument (without breaking the bank). So, if you are looking for an instrument that has all the bells and whistles, this one probably isn’t for you. Honestly, it doesn’t have a lot of sounds. But what it does have is weighted keys. The Williams Allegro 2 is best for newbies.

It is also suitable for a musician on the go. Do you take the occasional coffee shop gig? Well, good news for you. You can take your piano to the bar, to a cabin getaway, or down the road to a friend. And since it runs on batteries, you won’t have to worry too much about a power source. 

The Williams Allegro 2 could be compared to the uber-popular Roland EP-7 if it weren’t for the plasticky action. It does have many staple features that the EP-7 does, like splitting and layering, controllable reverb, and a metronome, among other things. Before the Roland EP-7, it wasn’t really typical for a piano keyboard to have features like splitting and layering sounds. 

 Ultimately, I would consider the Williams Allegro 2 to be an entry-level piano keyboard. 

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Easy to use
• It has a variety of sound effects
• It has weighted keys
• Has an adjustable volume
• It has excellent audio
• It has touch-sensitive keys
• Somewhat portable

Cons: 

• The action is quite poor
• It is a little bit heavy for frequent gigs out on the town
• Some of the sounds could be more authentic
• This model is outdated (The Williams Allegro 3 is now the newest model)
• It does not have Bluetooth capabilities 
• The speakers could stand to be higher quality
• The software is outdated as well

Quick View 

Conclusion

We’ve reached the finished line. I guess you could call it the ‘finale’ if you’re a music geek such as me. We are in the last stage of today’s topic. I hope you have gained some valuable information about the Williams Allegro 2. We know you’re busy. So thanks again for stopping by! Here’s the wrap-up:

With its quality construction, split ad layer features, and portability, the Williams Allegro 2 is a steal. In fact, it’s clear that this keyboard continues to be an excellent ‘bang for your buck’. So if you see one used, or on Amazon and are in need of a beginner instrument, consider it. 

The item is an asset for beginners. Remember, weighted keys are always better, as long as they’re within your budget. Although, now that we are towards the end of this review, I have to remind you of the action. This graded hammer action is not the best, and there’s better out there- At a bit higher price. 

Remember, this is an economical beginner instrument. Back in the day, parents would have to spend thousands of dollars paying for a piano with strings, not to mention lessons and tuning. Whether it be for yourself or your child, if you want to get a decent instrument to learn on and also want to save space, you cannot go wrong here. 

All in all, the Williams Allegro 2 a fair instrument for beginners students who are looking for a practice instrument to keep at home. So, be sure to come back to our blog, for more information on how to learn to play the piano, and how to purchase a piano. Until next time! Chao! 

3Expert Score

The Williams Allegro 2 is a simple piano that’s made for beginners. With only 10 sounds in the soundbank, it’s clear to see that this instrument is designed with simplicity in mind. The full-sized, fully-weighted keyboard sounds like a great deal…. But we ended up rating this one a 3/10 because, while we wish some of the non-piano tones were a little more realistic, and the action isn’t up to par with our standards. While this one does have a lot going for it, once we tried out the action, we couldn’t quite give it a resounding ‘yes’!

PROS

• It is easy to use
• It has a variety of sound effects
• It has weighted keys
• It has an adjustable volume
• It has excellent audio
• It has touch-sensitive keys
• It is somewhat portable

CONS

• The action is quite poor
• It is a little bit heavy for frequent gigs out on the town
• Some of the sounds could be more authentic
• This model is outdated (The Williams Allegro 3 is now the newest model)
• It does not have Bluetooth capabilities
• The speakers could stand to be higher quality
• The software is outdated as well