Yamaha P225 Review

The Yamaha P-225 is basically an updated P-125A– which means that you get an excellent portable instrument equipped with CFX voices, a pedal that supports half-pedaling, VRM, Smart Pianist app compatibility, and more. I most appreciated the updated speaker system and newly optimized GHC keyboard. 

Overall, the Yamaha P-225 is an excellent lightweight instrument that is reasonably priced, of a high build quality, and contains all the essentials. I wish it had 1-2 more tracks inside the recorder and a bit more variety in the soundbank, but all in all, this is a well-rounded keyboard that will serve someone just getting started very, very well!

Yamaha P225 Overview

As I mentioned a minute ago, the Yamaha P225 is an updated P-125A. So, if you’re familiar with the older portable model, you’ll likely recognize many elements in this digital instrument as well.

The P-225 was first released this summer, alongside the P-145 (which replaces their P-45 model). One of the P-225’s biggest selling points is its newly adjusted speaker system, which integrates the recreation of the sound of the lid and soundboard digitally and has a different speaker placement. The instrument also boasts a more responsive version of their compact action in this keyboard which they called GHC. 

Features 

Tweaked Speaker System

Since the P-125, Yamaha has updated the speaker system. The P-225 has two 4.7-inch speakers, and double amps (7 watts each). While it doesn’t have a boomingly powerful output, the result is nice and rich/rounded for the price. The speakers are two-way and are at an optimized angle, which helps give the grand piano samples a more clear tone than the P-125 did! 

 A Fresh GHC Keyboard with VRM 

Some folks say that the P-225’s keyboard is a touch lighter than the P-125’s but I haven’t had a chance to play them side-by-side, so it’s hard to say. Regardless, this model has a respectably responsive keyboard- Especially for under $1,000.

According to Sweetwater and the maker, this new graded hammer compact keyboard was designed specifically for this model. I really enjoyed the matte/textured black keys, as it helped with the issue of finger slipping. 

Overall these plastic keys feel even, reliable, and expressive to me. And once you pair that with the lite version of their VRM, you get something that is truly impressive for the price range. 

Honed-In Grand Piano Sounds Inside a Small Package

Looking for the rich overtones of a Yamaha grand but don’t have the space or the funds for one? Then the Yamaha P-225 will get you off to a great start. Surprisingly, this P/portable model includes one of the grand piano voices that we see in their hybrid series: The premier concert grand CFX  

The P-225 includes grand piano tones like the live grand, bright grand, and ballad grand, as well as a handful of organs, bass, strings, harpsichords, and even a synth pad. The instrument has 24 voices total, but the CFX voice is by far the best. 

Recording

This model isn’t really optimized for recording onboard- Though there is an onboard recorder, it only holds 1 track. If you’re looking to record your music using this instrument, you can use the USB to host port. Some review sites say that this model did away with the USB port since the previous model, but this is actually misinformation, as the instrument did indeed keep the USB port from the P-125! 

Half Pedalling 

Most beginner models do not have pedals with half-pedaling compatibility- but this one does. Being able to half-pedal might not be essential to complete piano newbies, but for us more seasoned players, it’s extremely helpful to have. This one small feature makes the P-225 more ideal as a backup/ travel piano as players can choose how much of the sustain effect they’d like to be applied to the sound. 

Virtual Resonance Modeling 

Yamaha’s VRM (virtual resonance modeling) is worth a section of its own. While this model only has the “lite” version of their VRM, it’s still excellent. The resonance modeling inside the P-225 model recreates the sound of the resonance of acoustic piano strings and body. According to the Amazon listing, this all happens in real-time. 

All with the Perk of a Smart Pianist 

According to the maker, the Smart Pianist App gives pianists access to 470 more accompaniment styles, 400+ songs, and 692 voices. Once you combine the app with the instrument, you have access to over 1,000 unique sounds and tons of styles. The app can actually analyze the songs you already have in your library too, so you can play along with them. 

Side note: A lot of folks have technical issues with the app- this is not a P-225 issue but rather, a software issue. It’s also (unfortunately) not the most easy-to-use piece of technology, so it’s best saved for teens and up. 

Specifications

• Weight: 25.3 pounds
• Dimensions:
• Height: 5.1 inches
• Width: 5.2 inches
• Depth: 10.7 inches
• Effects: 4

Who is it Suitable For?

The Yamaha P-225 is best suited to those who are looking for a high-quality, portable piano with all of the basics. Traveling musicians will enjoy having the P-225 as a backup, and young learners will benefit from the evenness and weight of the keys. Personally, I think that the new P-225 makes for an ideal instrument for those who have never owned a digital piano before- It’s economical, it’s built to last, and it has great connectivity and features. The recreation of realistic sounds that comes out of this flagship portable model is absolutely unbeatable for the price. Budding composers, college students, and songwriters will also enjoy the instrument- Just as long as they don’t need a big wattage or loads of tones onboard.  

The Yamaha P225 In Action 

This all-sound (all-playing, no talking) video by Masataka Kon will help you get a better feel for the tones inside the model.

Buyer Reviews

I was only able to find 1 highly critical review from a buyer, who didn’t seem to enjoy the updates such as the change to the speaker angle and new action. To quote this buyer, “As a result, the action feels stiff and unresponsive and the sound is muffled to the player”. If you really love your older P-125, you may not like the P-225- Definitely try both and see which action and tone production/speaker system you most enjoy. 

Other reviews on different sites were rated a bit higher: The piano is rated a 4.8/5 on Amazon. I do have to agree with some of the constructive criticisms, such as the speakers not being very loud. On one forum I saw a musician say the strings and non-piano sounds were ‘decent enough to not offend” which, unfortunately, I do have to agree with. But nobody is really buying the economical P instruments for the non-piano tones, though.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• The style of the onboard buttons is easy to navigate
• It is a space-saver
• It includes the renowned CFX grand sample
• Includes key-off samples, which makes the pianos sound more real
• This model is even more compact than before
• It has a sturdy build
• Available in both black and white so you can make it match your aesthetic!
• The newly designed cabinet which looks more modern than before
• It has app compatibility
• Textured black keys– Unusual to find in this price range!
• It’s an ideal full-featured model for beginners
• Reasonably priced

The Yamaha P-225 is easy to use, which is part of what makes it such a great entry-level instrument. I was also quite surprised to see this new entry-level instrument has textured black keys, as this feature is usually reserved for upper intermediate digitals. The instrument has keys that are responsive and of a light-to-medium weight, great piano tones (especially the CFX), and other keyboard tones like harpsichords as well. 

Cons

• The onboard recorder is only one track
• Some musicians report that this model has lighter keys than the P-125
• Not many sounds for those who like non-piano voice
• Furthermore, the string and other non-pianos tones don’t have a wow factor
• No texture on the white keys
• No other effects besides reverb 
• GHC is not the same as GHS 
• The keys are a bit short for intermediate players and up
• Not many accessories included (stand, bench, etc)
• The soundbank wasn’t updated much from model to model (P-225)

As you might expect for this price range, you’re not going to get very many accessories, pro-level sound samples, voices, or wooden keys. However, a con that I keep hearing and seeing musicians talk about over and over again is the difference between GHC and GHS. It seems like when people don’t like the graded hammer compact action, they really don’t like it. Because the pivot length and key itself are shorter, you get a smaller instrument but also sacrifice some realism along the way. 

Comparable Instruments

• For a comparable used instrument look out for the: P-125 and P-125A
• For a new portable Yamaha that is even more economical try: The P-145
• For a more bare-bones Yamaha try: The P-45
• For a nice digital by another brand consider: Roland

Due to the release of this updated model, Yamaha did away with the ‘125’ models as of this year. Luckily for you, if you’re in the market for a used model, the P-125 and P-125A are still a viable option. While these models aren’t quite as compact as Yamaha’s new releases and have a lower polyphony, they’re still portable and have a nice sturdy build. In fact, some musicians prefer these models, as the keys are a bit longer with the GHS action. 

If you’re looking for another, newer Yamaha to check out, I’d recommend looking into the P-145 which was released at the same time. It has fewer voices, but you can buy one new for about $450-$555. While this model hasn’t hit Amazon yet, you can look at the slightly older P-45 model on this page.

And for another brand to try out, I think the Roland FP-30 is always worth considering! 

Quick View 

Yamaha P-225: Conclusion

In conclusion, the Yamaha P-225 might not be the most “decked-out” digital piano, but it is a very solid instrument to have by your side. If you’re looking for a high-quality digital to own and don’t plan on recording using a USB port, then the P-225 makes for an excellent travel instrument or studio apartment piano. It has many updates that make it more valuable than some of its predecessors- and I personally believe this is a great piano to get if you’ve never had one before. If you like minimalist portable keyboards, then this one is calling your name.

 Thanks for sticking around until the end! 

Music quote of the week: 

“I don’t really care about how good a song is, I only want them to reflect what I felt when I was writing them.” -Lana Del Ray

8Expert Score

The Yamaha P-225 is basically an updated P-125A- which means that you get an excellent portable instrument equipped with CFX voices, a pedal that supports half-pedaling, VRM, Smart Pianist app compatibility, and more. I most appreciated the updated speaker system and newly optimized GHC keyboard. Overall, the Yamaha P-225 is an excellent lightweight instrument that is reasonably priced, of a high build quality, and contains all the essentials. I wish it had 1-2 more tracks inside the recorder and a bit more variety in the soundbank, but all in all, this is a well-rounded keyboard that will serve someone just getting started very, very well!

PROS

• The style of the onboard buttons is easy to navigate
• It is a space-saver
• It includes the renowned CFX grand sample
• Includes key-off samples, which makes the pianos sound more real
• This model is even more compact than before
• It has a sturdy build
• Available in both black and white so you can make it match your aesthetic!
• The newly designed cabinet which looks more modern than before
• It has app compatibility
• Textured black keys- Unusual to find in this price range!
• It’s an ideal full-featured model for beginners
• Reasonably priced

CONS

• The onboard recorder is only one track
• Some musicians report that this model has lighter keys than the P-125
• Not many sounds for those who like non-piano voice
• Furthermore, the string and other non-pianos tones don’t have a wow factor
• No texture on the white keys
• No other effects besides reverb
• GHC is not the same as GHS
• The keys are a bit short for intermediate players and up
• Not many accessories included (stand, bench, etc)
• The soundbank wasn’t updated much from model to model (P-225)