Yamaha PSR E360 Review
We rated the Yamaha PSR E360 an 8/10. The PSR 360 is a touch-sensitive, portable keyboard from the PSR line. This instrument has a portable grand button, which allows you to get Yamaha’s signature grand piano sound in just one click. It has more than a handful of effects and is a solidly built instrument overall.
Because it only has 61 keys and weaker speakers, professional classical players won’t get much out of this model. However, because it is such a great little gigging instrument and learning tool, we still rated this one pretty high.
$199.99
We rated the Yamaha PSR E360 an 8/10. The PSR 360 is a touch-sensitive, portable keyboard from the PSR line. This instrument has a portable grand button, which allows you to get Yamaha’s signature grand piano sound in just one click. It has more than a handful of effects and is a solidly built instrument overall.
Because it only has 61 keys and weaker speakers, professional classical players won’t get much out of this model. However, because it is such a great little gigging instrument and learning tool, we still rated this one pretty high.
Yamaha PSR E360 Overview
According to Amazon.com and the maker, the E360 boasts the following:
“The PSR-E360 is designed for beginners who need a practice instrument with touch sensitive keys at an affordable price. It’s also designed for the home, Featuring An attractive wood-like finish. This ultra-portable keyboard features a variety of built-in instrument voices and accompaniment styles, making practice more fun and keeping students engaged. The psr-e360 comes in two attractive finishes, one with a dark wood grain reminiscent of an acoustic piano, and the other with a lighter wood grain that reminds you of a classic guitar finish. Not only will a child learn on this instrument, they will have fun, and you will appreciate the attractive design.” (Amazon.com)
About this item:
- The PSRE263 Yamaha portable keyboard features a wide variety of sounds and functions for beginners
- 61 full sized keys are great for learning and developing keyboard playing technique
- The Yamaha Education Suite can be used with the more than 100 preset songs, making it the ideal first keyboard for aspiring musicians
- The aux line input allows you to connect any music device with a headphone output, such as an MP3 player, a computer, a mixer or even another instrument, and hear it through the internal speakers
- Power adapter sold separately; Tone generating technology: AWM stereo sampling (Amazon.com)
In essence, the Yamaha PSR E360 is a high-quality workstation keyboard that is geared towards serious younger students. This instrument from the PSR line was first released at winter NAMM in 2019. It’s not the newest thing on the market, but it is still quite popular.
The Yamaha PSR E360 is a member of the PSR like of instruments. The “P” is a harkening back to some of the companies earlier portable instruments, called Portasounds. The PSR line is a favorite among musicians, students, and music teachers, for both prices and features.
Let’s check out the E360 more in-depth as we take a look at the features!
Yamaha PSR-E360 Features
23 Effects
I don’t have high expectations for effects when it comes to student-model workstation pianos, but they really hit it out of the park here. The E360 has over twenty effects, including multiple reverbs, choruses, and more.
Auto Power Off
This model was built with students in mind- In case the player forgets to turn off the instrument, it will power off automatically after a certain period of time.
Portable Grand Button
The portable grand button is a favorite among PSR musicians. This one-click function allows you to access Yamaha’s ever-popular portable grand sound sample.
Available in Maple Wood Grain and Dark Wood Grain
The Yamaha PSR E360 is available in both black wood grain, and ligher wood grain. Personally, I really like the maple wood grain. It has a more vintage look than the black wood does. You can find the maple wood grainmodel for the same price ($199) here at Sweetwater.
Accompaniment Styles
Yamaha’s built-in accompaniment styles make it easy for students to play along with a band! I find this feature (as well as the chord-filling feature) to be extremely beneficial for younger students. This is because younger musicians are often working on monotonous exercises such as scales, arpeggios, and short one-line melody songs. All of these can sound oh so much ‘cooler’ with the help of some accompaniment style magic.
Master EQ
It’s impressive to me that the PSR E360 has a master EQ, given that it is geared towards a younger audience. That being said, it is never too early to learn to EQ.
Duo Mode
In a similar vein, duo mode helps out both students and teachers. You can adjust the settings so that two people can play the same notes within the same octaves, making call and response / Suzuki style lessons that much easier.
LCD Screen (Backlit)
The backlit LCD screen makes functions easy to navigate. While an LCD screen might sound like a basic addition to a workstation piano, keep in mind how economical the PSR E360 is. Most keyboards in this price range don’t have a screen.
Other Features:
- Touch Tutor lessons and access to Yamaha’s Y.E.S. program
- An auxiliary input
Yamaha has always been known for the high-quality educational material that they provide with their pianos. One thing that I really appeciate as a music educator is that the beginner models come with the same (or even, more) learning tools than the more expensive keyboards. As long as the instrument is purchase for the right demographic, it is a great instrument!
I love the auxiliary input, because it allows you to connect music from your phone, Ipad, or other device, and play it through the E60’s speakers. For a beginner instrument, that is wonderful!
Yamaha PSR E360 Specifications
- Weight: 8.8 pounds
- Dimensions: 42 x 14.5 x 6.6
- Keyboard Type: Portable arranger keyboard, beginner piano
- Total Number of Effects: 23
- Connections: 1 USB, 1 Aux out
Who Is It Suitable For?
The Yamaha PSR E360 is suitable for beginners who are looking for a touch-sensitive arranger keyboard. This instrument is great for those who are planning to take private lessons, especially those who are still learning to read.
While I can easily see the Yamaha PSR E360 as something that students are going to want to step up on if they continue music for several years down the road, this keyboard is a good investment for parents who are wondering ‘Will my student continue next year, or not?”
Other Musicians Professional Opinions on the E360
Keyboard reviewer and pianist Jeremy See gives us his take on the Yamaha PSR E360 in the following video.
Well, this is some interesting news! See says that it is so similar to the Yamaha E263, that is just looks like they added ‘a few extra parts from the bin!’ While I don’t want to be too harsh here, it does look very similar to other models in the PSR E line.
In his video, he also mentions that they changed up the look, and increased the price by over $100. I’m not quite sure if inflation has taken its toll on both keyboards or not, but it seems that the PSR E263 is now priced at $189- not too terribly far off from the newer E360 model now, in 2021.
Amazon Reviews
This instrument received a 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon. Let’s see what customers liked:
- It plays well
- Has great features
- Portable
- It is easy to use
- Looks nice
- Overall, it is a great starter keyboard
- Worked really well for a customers 12-year-old daughter
- It has a lot of on board functions
- Has all the basics
- High quality
Here’s what the customers didn’t like:
- The faux wood grain doesn’t look very convincing up close
- The speakers could be better (sometimes they buzz, and they are not very powerful)
There were a surprisingly low number of one and two star ratings for it being a beginning instrument.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Overall, this is a really nice (and economical) beginner workstation piano
- It is super portable
- It has auxiliary inputs and USB to Host capabilities
- The master EQ lets players adjust their sound, and learn how to equalize sound
- The power supply and rest are included in the package (many keyboard companies are having customers purchase these separately, but not Yamaha!)
- The four touch sensitivity options allow players to adjust the keys responsiveness to their liking
- This model can also run on batteries, so you won’t have to worry about always having access to power. This makes it the perfect on-the-go instrument for lessons, or even a trip to a family members house for the holidays!
I can tend to get pretty nit-picky when it comes to beginner keyboards (What can I say, I didn’t get a music education degree for nothing!) However- There’s a lot to like about this keyboard. I have a surprisingly short list of cons for today, especially considering that this is an under-$300 instrument.
Cons
- There are only 32 notes of polyphony
- It isn’t full-sized
- It isn’t fully weighted
- This instrument doesn’t come with a stand
32 notes of polyphony is quite small, in the world of piano-speak. This doesn’t make the piano lower-quality per se. After delving deep into some of these numbers, it is clear to me that the Yamaha PSR E360 is simply geared towards a music younger audience than me,
Another light con is that is isn’t full-sized, or fully-weighted. The size is less of a con to me than the lack of key weight is. While the company likely made this keyboard velocity-sensitive to keep the price down, having graded hammer keys is extremely beneficial for young (classical) students to have. The only thing I can say I really am wishing for on this keyboard is the full weight on the keys.
Quick View
Keys | 61 touch-sensitive keys |
Touch sensitivity | Yes: Velocity sensitive
Soft, Medium, Hard, Fixed |
Sounds | 384 voices in the main soundbank, 16 drumsets
573 presets |
Recording capabilities | Internal, USB to host port n |
Metronome | Yes |
Polyphony | 32 notes |
Speakers | Onboard speakers: |
Headphones | Input available (1) |
Accessories | Through Sweetwater, this instrument comes with the following accessories: A music rest, PA-130 power supply, owner’s manual |
Price point | $199.99 |
Comparable Keyboards
Yamaha E263
Find it here on Amazon.
According to several other piano experts, including Jeremy See, the upgraded Yamaha PSR E360 isn’t that far off from the Yamaha E263. So, If you are really looking for a deal, try and find a used E263 at a music resale shop. Especially if you are looking for a non-commital keyboard for a student, or are an adult who wants a quality instrument to play around with some lead sheet with.
Yamaha E373
Find it here on Sweetwater.
The keyboards that are the most comparable to the Yamaha PSR E360 are the Yamaha E263, and the E373 (which we have reviewed previously). It is $199.99, which is actually the same exact price as the Yamaha PST E360. So what’s the same, and what’s different?
The Yamaha E373 and the Yamaha E360 are both portable arranger keyboards. They both have 61 full-sized touch sensitive keys, as well as duo mode, and a connection to Yamaha’s Educator suite.
That being said, the E373 has a considerably bigger sound bank when compared to the E360. Where the E360 only has 384 voices, the E373 has a whopping 622. And while the PSR E373 has multiple USB ports, the E360 only has one.
Yamaha PSR EW10
Find it here on Sweetwater.
The Yamaha PSR EW10 is another great keyboard that is similar to the E360. Yet, It has similar features, but 76 keys instead of 61. So, for $269.99, it’s a great deal. Not to mention, the extra keys opens up the doors to other repertoire. However, this does decrease the portability of the keyboard, so be sure to weigh your options, and plan out how you are going to be using the instrument.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve enjoyed this Yamaha PSR E360 review. While this instrument is basic when compared to other members of the PSR line, it is clearly a piece of equipment that will hold its value. Finally, in conclusion, the Yamaha PSR E360 is a great starter piano for beginners. It’s economical, reliable, and has a great sound bank. So, that is all for now, but be sure to come back soon for our next review on the Yamaha EZ 300.
Music quote of the week:
“You write to become immortal, or because the piano happens to be open, or you’ve looked into a pair of beautiful eyes.” – Robert Schumann
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