Yamaha YDP-165 Review

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This is a great beginner-to-intermediate level instrument from the Arius line. We rated this Yamaha a 9/10 because of how well the instrument suits the needs of its target audience. The feel and sound of this instrument are extremely high quality, and we were particularly impressed with the compact size, built-in lessons, and virtual resonance modeling. We did take off a half of a point, however, due to the small soundbank and quiet speaker system.

This is a great beginner-to-intermediate level instrument from the Arius line. We rated this Yamaha a 9/10 because of how well the instrument suits the needs of its target audience. The feel and sound of this instrument are extremely high quality, and we were particularly impressed with the compact size, built-in lessons, and virtual resonance modeling. We did take off a half of a point, however, due to the small soundbank and quiet speaker system.

Yamaha YDP-165 Overview

YDP-165 review

DSC_0727

In this YDP-165 review we will be looking into a shiny new Arius model from this past June! 

The Yamaha YDP-165 model features GH3 hammer action and synthetic ebony and ivory keys on a full-size keybed with 88 keys. The YDP-165 is the new and improved version of the older Yamaha YDP-164. Now, let’s get into it!

According to Amazon.com and the manufacturer, this is what the new release has to offer us:

“The Arius YDP-165 is a great choice for the hobbyist, student or parent of a student. It’s 88-note weighted action (GH3) features synthetic ebony and ivory key tops for authentic acoustic piano feel. Combine this keyboard action with the sound of the flagship Yamaha CFX concert grand, with improved sound engine, and you get an expressive and immersive piano experience. Connecting an iOS device running the Smart Pianist app let’s players select Voices, record performances and configure settings with even greater ease. Furthermore, the Smart Pianist app can analyze songs stored in your music library and produce a chord chart, allowing you to learn and play along with your favorite songs.”

The Arius YDP-165 is a great choice for the hobbyist, student or parent of a student. It’s 88-note weighted action (GH3) with the improved CFX concert grand sound engine provide an expressive piano experience. Connecting an iOS device running the Smart Pianist app let’s players select Voices, record performances and configure settings with even greater ease.”

Features

The Arius 165 features the following:

  • 10 Solid Sounds
  • Metronome with Beat Accent
  • Half-Pedaling
  • Smart Pianist App
  • DSP/ Damper Resonance, Stereophonic Optimizer ,Intelligent Acoustic Control
  • and other state-of-the-art sound technology
  • Duo Mode
  • Synthetic Ebony and ivory non-slip keys
  • 353 built-in songs
  • Over 300 practice exercises

Specifications

YDP-165 Prize

  • Effects: 4 (reverbs)
  • Song Playback: 10 demos, 50 classics, 303 lessons
  • Recording: 2-track, 1 song, 11,000 notes
  • USB: 1 x type B
  • Headhpones: 2 x ¼ inch
  • Pedals: One 3-pedal unit
  • Dimensions:
  • Height: 39.48 inches
  • Width: 53.43 inches
  • Depth: 16.62 inches
  • Weight: 92.62 pounds

Who Is The Yamaha YDP-165 Suitable For?

This instrument is best suited for those who are looking for a piano for home use. Young learners and adult learners alike will appreciate the YDP-165’s touch sensitivity, and gorgeous CFX piano sound. Like the YDP-164, players will get the most enjoyment out of the instrument if they play classical, jazz, or pop music. While this keyboard may not have the most sounds, what it does have are high quality sounds. 

The YDP-165 in Action

Speking of the sound bank, piianist Gabriel Aldort shows off the YDP-165 in this all-playing, no-talking video with Kraft music.

This piano has some serious gusto and velocity, as well as impressive touch sensitivity and dynamic range. Be sure to take a listen for yourself and let us know what you think in the comments!

Amazon Reviews

This instrument was rated 4.8/5 stars on Amazon. Let’s see what some other musicians who have tried this one out have to say! 

Positive reviews:

  • It has balanced acoustics, beautiful graded keys and pushes the boundaries of the modern piano in regards to tuning
  • It has a great sound overall

Critical reviews:

  • One particular songwriter found that their instrument wasn’t as smooth sounding or as realistic sound as they would like, but loved the construction and aesthetics of the piano

Pros and Cons

YDP-165 piano

Pros

  • If you go with this model, you will get the newest product on the market
  • This model has more realism than the previous model, the Yamaha YDP-164. 
  • There is a ton of bang for your buck here, when we take price and features into consideration
  • This model is very similar to the popular YDP-164, so it’s bound to be a crowd pleaser
  • It has multiple touch sensitivity options to suit different touch preferences, whether you tend to play softly or more firmly
  • It has enough polyphony for intermediate players
  • The timbre of this piano overall is warm and pleasant

Cons

  • The featured sound on this instrument is the same as the one on the YDP-164. 
  • This isn’t the ideal gigging piano, for several reasons
  • The sound system hasn’t been updated since the previous model

This ‘con’ may actually be a big pro in the eyes of some. The flagship Yamaha CFX piano sound is the featured sound on this instrument (The same featured sound that can be found on the YDP-164)… But does part of me wish that there was a new CFX grand sound on this new release? Yes. And I know I can’t be alone! But, we take what we can get, and what we get is still excellent. It’s just not “new”.

Another con is there isn’t enough power behind these speakers to really use this instrument as a piano out on the town.This instrument does not have an updated sound system. This piano has two speakers and dual amplifiers that will get you by just fine, but they aren’t crazy powerful or particularly impressive. While we can daydream about having a little more ‘umph’, the instrument is way too heavy to gig with anyways!

Comparable Instruments

If you don’t need to have the newest of the new, consider the two older Arius pianos, The YDP-164 and YDP-163. The Yamaha YDP-164 was designed to replace the YDP-163, and the YDP-164 was more recently replaced by the Yamaha YDP-165. That being said, if you go with one of these models, you will sacrifice a fair bit of realism. Yamaha’s Arius’s have come a long was since the YDP-163 was released. 

If you are looking for more of a space saver, check out the Yamaha S models. S stands for slimline; these two instruments are extremely similar to the 165 in regards to features, but will fit into a smaller space such as a dorm or apartment. These models are actually a little bit more economical than the 165 as well! 

Quick View 

Keys 88 full-sized, GH3-action keys (synthetic ebony and ivory)
Touch sensitivity  Three touch sensitivity levels; also includes fixed
Sounds 10 total preset voices
Recording capabilities  Internal MIDI recording (2-track, 16 slots), USB to host
Metronome Yes
Polyphony  192 total notes
Speakers Yes: Two 4.7 inch speakers with two 20 watt amplifiers (40 watts total) 
Headphones Headphone jacks: 2 available
Accessories Varies depending on retailer: Typically includes bench, 50 Greats book, power supply, and owners manual
Price point  $1,799.99

YDP-165: Conclusion

In conclusion, the Yamaha YDP-165 is an excellent beginner to intermediate piano for the serious student. While it might not have a ton of extra sounds or production tools, this is one of the most solid new instruments you can start off on. Come back soon, since we are doing a review on the unique Rhodes MK8 next!

Music quote of the week:

  • “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” – Maya Angelou

9Expert Score
Yamaha YDP-165 Review This is a great beginner-to-intermediate level instrument from the Arius line. We rated this Yamaha a 9/10 because of how well the instrument suits the needs of its target audience. The feel and sound of this instrument are extremely high quality, and we were particularly impressed with the compact size, built-in lessons, and virtual resonance modeling. We did take off a half of a point, however, due to the small soundbank and quiet speaker system.
PROS
  • If you go with this model, you will get the newest product on the market
  • This model has more realism than the previous model, the Yamaha YDP-164.
  • There is a ton of bang for your buck here, when we take price and features into consideration
  • This model is very similar to the popular YDP-164, so it’s bound to be a crowd pleaser
  • It has multiple touch sensitivity options to suit different touch preferences, whether you tend to play softly or more firmly
  • It has enough polyphony for intermediate players
  • The timbre of this piano overall is warm and pleasant
CONS
  • The featured sound on this instrument is the same as the one on the YDP-164.
  • This isn’t the ideal gigging piano, for several reasons
  • The sound system hasn’t been updated since the previous model

Videos: Yamaha YDP-165 Review

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