Digital Piano vs. Acoustic Piano – what’s the Difference?

Digital piano vs. acoustic piano – you can obviously hear the difference, right? After all, these are two different instruments, even though both are designed for playing the piano. But is it really that simple? Is it just about the sound? Or does the choice between an acoustic or digital piano for beginners ultimately come down to budget?

Questions upon questions – not all of them have simple, clear-cut answers. For some, however, the choice between an acoustic and a digital piano is an obvious one. Broadly speaking, there are two main approaches:

1. No compromises: To fully experience, learn, and practice the authentic touch and sound of an acoustic piano, only an acoustic instrument will do.
2. A practical choice: If space is limited, the budget doesn’t allow for an acoustic piano, or the noise level makes playing at home impractical, a digital piano is the logical choice. But is it truly a compromise?

Whichever way you choose, there’s no right or wrong answer. An acoustic piano isn’t the only “real” option, nor is a digital piano merely a compromise. There’s also the possibility of striking a balance with a hybrid piano – but let’s take it one step at a time!

Getting Started (…But)

For beginners, starting with a digital piano is much more affordable than investing in an acoustic piano. After all, you can’t be sure at the beginning if you’ll truly commit to playing long-term. So, choosing an inexpensive option to start playing with is both reasonable and sensible.

The most important thing is to get started! This could be an affordable digital piano or even an old, well-worn acoustic piano. If you’re serious about learning, it’s definitely worth exploring the option of buying a used piano.

Plus, there’s no reason you can’t upgrade to an acoustic piano later. What you learn on the digital piano, you can easily transfer to an acoustic instrument and continue to develop your skills. Just be sure to consider a few key features when choosing your first digital piano.

Avoid No-Name Products!

Choosing the right digital piano is crucial. Anyone who jumps at the first deal promising numerous features at a low price is likely making a mistake. For beginners unfamiliar with musical instruments, it can be difficult to evaluate what really matters. After all, this key aspect won’t appear on any feature list: Making music is about joy and passion. Playing and practicing should be enjoyable, and nothing motivates more than an expressive piano sound that truly resonates with you.

→ Learn more here: Best Digital Piano for Beginners: Testing Entry-Level Pianos

Just a Question of Budget?

Acoustic pianos are generally more expensive than digital pianos. For those who want to spend between €300 and €1,000, a digital piano is an excellent choice, with a wide range of quality options available in this price bracket.

The decision between an acoustic and a digital piano typically comes into focus when considering instruments in the €3,000 range or higher. However, a used acoustic piano in the €500 to €1,000 range found through private classifieds could turn out to be a lucky buy…

It’s a complex topic, so here’s a quick summary of the key considerations for piano beginners.

Digital Piano vs. Acoustic Piano: Sound Characteristics

Replicating the sound behavior of an acoustic piano is a significant challenge for the playback system of a digital piano. The intricate interaction between the strings, soundboard, and cabinet construction of an acoustic piano is far more complex than what a few speakers inside a digital piano cabinet can reproduce.

It’s clear that a compact digital piano or portable model won’t turn your living room into a concert hall. More advanced speaker systems are typically found in digital pianos priced above €1,500. Among these, Kawai stands out with the CA-901, which combines a 360° diffuser system with an acoustic transducer soundboard for an unparalleled listening experience.

Differences in Playing Feel

The playing feel is often attributed solely to the keyboard, but the keys are not the only factor. Sound response and expressive possibilities also play a significant role. Our video on this topic highlights how the sound perception and the sound behavior of the instrument influence the playing experience: Piano and Speaker Sound – How Good Do Digital Pianos Sound?

It’s about the interaction with the instrument. While digital pianos have made significant advances in this area, the acoustic piano remains unmatched in its responsiveness. Learning to play the piano is about much more than simply pressing the keys—it’s about mastering the art of controlling sound in terms of intensity, tone color, dimension, and texture. An acoustic piano reacts with exceptional sensitivity to velocity dynamics and pedaling, offering a depth of interaction that digital pianos cannot fully replicate. That said, these differences do not mean that you can’t learn to play the piano on a digital instrument.

Digital Pianos: Only for Beginners?

Not at all! Digital pianos have come a long way, not only in sound quality but also in feel. Even entry-level models now offer a convincing piano touch thanks to high-quality hammer action keyboards.

Advanced and professional pianists also turn to digital pianos for practice and often appreciate the playing feel and sound characteristics of premium hybrid digital pianos.

In the upper price range, digital pianos offer high-resolution piano sounds, premium keyboards—often with wooden keys—and meticulously engineered hammer actions modeled after grand pianos and upright pianos. Playing these instruments is a real pleasure. Furthermore, many high-end models are designed to closely resemble acoustic pianos, proving that aesthetics also matter in the world of digital pianos.

Digital Piano or Acoustic Piano: Pros and Cons

An acoustic piano is a fantastic instrument with an authentic and vibrant sound. Nothing is simulated—it’s entirely real. The resonance of the vibrating strings and soundboard creates an unparalleled sound and playing experience.

However, certain characteristics of an acoustic piano are often perceived as drawbacks, though they are simply inherent to its nature: volume, the need for regular tuning, finding the ideal placement for the instrument, and a relatively high cost.

Volume: Playing an acoustic piano comes with a certain volume level, and the experience is most enjoyable when the piano is properly tuned. To maintain this, it’s essential to have your piano tuned regularly, usually once or twice a year.

Relatively high price: With an acoustic piano, you’re starting at a relatively high price point. Smaller models sell for around €3,000, though you may also consider purchasing a high-quality used piano. Regardless of your choice—especially with a used piano—consulting a reputable piano dealer is highly recommended. A good mid-range acoustic piano typically costs around €8,000, with higher-end models reaching well into the five-figure range. Such a piano is considered a long-term investment.

Tuning & care: In addition to regular tuning, proper care is essential for the longevity of an acoustic piano. Over time, mechanical components such as the keyboard and hammer action can experience wear and tear. Therefore, regular maintenance is important to keep the piano in optimal condition.

Setting up the instrument: Not only does an acoustic piano require more space than a digital piano, but it also needs specific environmental conditions to perform at its best. You should place the piano in an area with a stable room climate.
Fluctuating room temperatures and insufficient humidity can significantly impact the lifespan of a piano. For example, a dry environment can damage the soundboard over time, which would be unfortunate.

→ Find out more: Where to Position Your Piano

Digital Piano and Acoustic Piano: Hybrid Pianos!

If you don’t want to compromise on the sound and feel of a piano, or if you’re having trouble deciding between digital and acoustic options, a hybrid piano might be the ideal solution. This instrument combines the best features of both, though it is often on the pricier side.

At its core, a hybrid piano is an acoustic instrument. However, it also incorporates an electronic sound generator that can either be played through headphones with the sound muted or in conjunction with the acoustic components, depending on the specific design of the hybrid model.

→ Learn more about hybrid pianos.

What Are the Advantages of Digital Pianos?

Flexibility

One of the key advantages of digital pianos is their flexibility. Thanks to modern technology, these instruments are available in compact forms such as portable pianos or stage pianos. This makes them suitable for both home and mobile use.

In additon, they serve as a practical solution when space is limited. A portable piano, for example, is easy to set up and take down. In general, however, it’s ideal for a musical instrument to have a dedicated, permanent place.

Sound Variety vs. Piano Sound

The difference is clear: An acoustic piano produces a single, unique sound, while a digital piano offers a range of piano sounds and additional voices, such as strings, organ, or vintage electric pianos. You can even combine these sounds using split and layer functions.

Variable Volume

One of the key advantages of digital pianos is their adjustable volume, allowing for a completely silent playing experience with headphones. Additionally, you can connect a digital piano to external speakers or recording equipment.

Tuning Stability

A digital piano never needs tuning. In addition, it offers the flexibility to adjust tunings and can be easily fine-tuned to match other instruments. A transpose function is a standard feature on all digital pianos.

Intonation of the Piano Sound

A piano sound is more than just the vibration of strings over a soundboard. Instead, it involves many subtle details in a dynamic context that contribute to an authentic sound—even mechanical background noise is part of the experience.

High-quality digital pianos account for these nuances and offer detailed customization options, such as adjusting string resonance, damper noise, key-off effect, and fallback noise. Why is this important? The goal is to shape the individual sound response of the instrument. For example, a bright, radiant concert grand with rich dynamics is typical for classical music, while neo-classical compositions may call for a softer, more intimate sound full of delicate nuances.

Connecting Your Digital Piano to Your Computer

Impossible with (almost) all acoustic pianos: Connecting it to other music equipment via MIDI, USB, or Bluetooth. In contrast, e-learning, notation, arranging, and composing with music software and apps are all easily possible with a digital piano.

Recording with a Digital Piano

Want to quickly capture a musical idea or review a newly practiced etude? It couldn’t be any easier, as almost every digital piano comes with a built-in recorder. Some even allow you to record audio in formats like WAV and MP3, which you can save directly to a USB flash drive.

In addition, all digital pianos feature at least one USB-MIDI port for an easy connection to a DAW. This allows you to connect your digital piano to a computer or mobile device to record your music or control piano VSTs.

Where available, USB audio/MIDI support ensures seamless integration with music computers or mobile devices.

Composing with a Digital Piano

While traditional composition with music paper and pencil is always an option, digital pianos offer a built-in recorder to capture your musical ideas. Some digital pianos even have multi-track recorders, allowing you to create original music like backing tracks without the need for additional equipment. In this context, digital pianos with an arranger function offer significant advantages.

With features such as automatic accompaniment and a wide range of sounds, composing becomes more intuitive and accessible. In additon, these instruments allow you to explore and enjoy a diverse selection of musical styles. However, it’s important to keep in mind that these advanced features come with a higher price tag.

Digital Piano Buyer’s Guides

• Digital Piano under €500
• Digital Piano under €1000
• Best Digital Piano for Beginners
• Digital Piano for Advanced Players
• Can You Learn Piano on a Digital Piano?
• Digital Piano for Beginners: A Good Keyboard Is Important