Review: Thomann DP-32 – Affordable Digital Upright Piano

A digital upright piano for less than $500—is that too good to be true? Thanks to its classic console design, the Thomann DP-32 from the Treppendorf-based music retailer even deserves a spot in your living room. However, the extremely low price makes you wonder where the catch is.

The DP-51 was a complete surprise, but Thomann has an offer for those with an even lower price limit: the DP-32. Production in the Far East makes this possible, and Thomann passes the low manufacturing price of its own-brand instruments and equipment on to customers. Customers can be happy about features for which, in the category of digital upright pianos, they would actually have to pay a few hundred dollars more.

Weighted Keys

Compared to more expensive digital upright pianos, it’s clear that the keys could be improved. Nevertheless, the Thomann DP-32 has a full 88-note keyboard with graded hammer action. Similar to an upright or grand piano, the keys in the bass range are heavier than those in the treble range. This gives the keyboard a pleasant, well-balanced feel.

The keys fall easily under the fingers, which is ideal for beginners. However, they still have a good grip and respond well to repetition. The keys are not quite as easy to control during pianissimo passages because the let-off mechanism is missing. This is normal for this price range, though. Overall, it’s not a top rating, but given the low price, it’s really very decent.

Thomann DP 32 – Half-Pedal Support

A special feature is the half-pedal function. While it does not work as a continuous controller, it offers an intermediate stage that still allows for this important expressive nuance.

Appealing Piano Sound

The Thomann DP-32 offers a total of 16 sounds, three of which are acoustic pianos. Essentially, they are all the same sample of a concert grand piano, recorded in stereo. The first preset is a muted version, while Piano 2 is a more brilliant version. Piano 3 is somewhere in between and has a nice floating effect. This is ideal for pop music and song accompaniment.

The piano’s sound is balanced throughout its tonal range and has good dynamic range. Of course, you can’t expect super-detailed pianissimos at this price point. Nevertheless, various velocity samples provide expression from mezzo piano to forte. The damper resonance creates a balanced effect when playing with the pedal.

However, the piano sounds are slightly unnatural during the decay phase. The samples in the mid and high registers loop shortly after the attack, creating a somewhat static effect. You may also occasionally hear loops in the bass range. This is negligible for your first piano etudes, though. One positive technical detail stands out: Switching sounds does not cut off the playback.

The Many Sounds of the Thomann DP-32

When it comes to electric pianos, the DP-32 offers both vintage and modern DX piano sounds. E-Piano 1 has a full, brilliant sound similar to a Fender Rhodes. When playing dynamically, you may notice a slight change in velocity. Nevertheless, it’s great that you can play so expressively with this sound. In comparison, E-Piano 2 sounds a bit flat. You’ll also find typical digital piano sounds, such as harpsichord, clavinet, transistor organ, Hammond organ with a Leslie effect, and church organ.

While the additional sounds aren’t essential for playing the piano, they increase the fun factor without compromising quality. Thomann even took sound details like the attack into account. The Hammond sound with percussion is very engaging, and the chiff of the pipes in the pipe organ is realistic. An accordion is also included as a keyboard instrument. More important, however, are the beautifully dimensional strings. With their floating sound, they have an orchestral effect.

Extensive Equipment

For this price range, I would expect an on/off switch and a volume control. Surprisingly, there is another small control panel with seven buttons to the left of the keyboard. This panel has all the necessary settings: metronome, recorder, sounds, song player, reverb, and chorus. The labels on the buttons indicate that some functions can be accessed using key combinations. As soon as you press the FUNCTION button, the keyboard works as a further control element.

Although this is awkward to use, you may be surprised at how functional this little digital piano is. It allows you to play two sounds simultaneously as a dual or split sound. The Twinova function is interesting for piano lessons because it divides the keyboard into two playing ranges with the same tonal range and sound. This is optimal for parallel four-handed playing, and the two headphone outputs support this feature.

It’s a pleasant surprise to find a USB MIDI port, an audio output, and an aux-in on the back, each designed as a stereo jack. This allows you to connect the Thomann DP-32 to external speakers or a mixing console, a feature typically reserved for much more expensive digital pianos. The built-in speakers produce clean sound, which is typical for a piano in this price range. Given its small size, you shouldn’t expect miracles from the speakers.

Conclusion: Thomann DP-32 – Great Performance Made Affordable!

As a digital piano in the $500 price range, the DP-32 is a pleasant surprise. Similar instruments with a digital upright piano design are much more expensive. The DP-32 comes with a wide range of features, and Thomann offers it in an affordable bundle that includes a bench and headphones. With its wooden case, keyboard cover, hammer-action keyboard, triple pedal, and two headphone jacks, it’s a fully-fledged small digital upright piano.

While the piano sound of the DP-32 may have a slightly static decay, a Steinway grand piano of this quality simply isn’t available at this price. However, it convinces with its balanced piano sound across the entire tonal range and the possibility of dynamic expression via the keyboard. If you want to start playing the piano without breaking the bank, the Thomann DP-32 is a great option.

Thomann DP-32 – Overview

Release date: May 2019
Keyboard: Weighted hammer action keyboard
Polyphony: 128 voices
Sound generation: Sampling, stereo
Manufacturer: Thomann