Pros and Cons
The Thomann DP-28 Plus is a powerful portable piano at a small price. Its range of functions would lead you to expect a much more expensive digital piano. With many piano sounds and modern features such as Bluetooth MIDI, the DP-28 Plus is certainly going to be a sales hit.
You might wonder how inexpensive a digital piano can be without having to make major compromises in terms of quality. It’s no secret – Thomann’s own brand instruments are manufactured in the Far East, and the renowned music store passes the low manufacturing costs on to its customers. So let’s see how the new Thomann DP-28 Plus holds up in the practical test.
A bit minimalistic perhaps, but the chic design is already appealing. The case is made entirely of plastic and therefore lightweight. This should please everyone who is looking for a handy and portable stage piano. However, if you frequently play away from home, you should buy a sturdy keyboard case.
About a year after its launch, Thomann expanded the selection and now offers a white version of the DP-28 Plus. The DP-28 WH is also available in all bundle variants. Also Thomann made a software update to implement the former missing Local Control function.
The functions of the Thomann DP-28 Plus are more oriented towards being used as a home piano, as you get typical functions such as metronome, rhythms, layer/split and least but not last, built-in speakers. The DP-28 Plus sounds good – it produces a balanced and voluminous sound, which even at higher volumes is transmitted without distortion – thanks to 2×20 watt amplification. Even the bass comes across as clear and full, which is something special for a portable piano in this price range.
Optionally, Thomann offers a matching stand that also has a classic triple pedal with all piano functions. This makes the DP-28 Plus look like a compact and modern home piano. Speaking of which: They did not skimp on the pedal here! While other manufacturers in this price range only include a simple footswitch with the instrument, Thomann equips the DP-28 Plus with a decent pedal that even has a polarity switching function – a brilliant move.
You always have to keep the low weight in mind here, which is the most important aspect of a transportable device – so you shouldn’t expect a heavy weighted keyboard like on a large and expensive home piano. A good compromise has been achieved here, and the Thomann DP-28 Plus actually plays really well. The keyboard is easy to play, while the hammer action still provides a nice counterweight for the fingers. The keys therefore have a good grip when playing, and despite the lightweight construction, you can also play the bass range with a lot of gusto.
The DP-28 Plus has four acoustic pianos to offer – German Grand, Bright German Grand, Japanese Grand and Warm Grand. The sounds are full and brilliant. The dynamic range of the sounds is a surprise – clear and direct in the mids and highs, very powerful in the bass.
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I like the Warm Grand best, which offers more expressive possibilities in pianissimo, but without sacrificing clear accents. With it, classical piano pieces or atmospheric chords like in the audio example sound really great.
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Just like the German Grand, the Japanese Grand also allows rocky playing styles. It sounds a bit more open and is perfectly suited for playing pop piano accompaniments, which can be intonated with a lot of expression in the dynamics. A filling sound that can be played with clear accents.
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All sounds take into account sound details like Damper Resonance and Sympathetic Resonance (String Resonance) as well as Damper Noise, Lid and Hammer Noise. The latter may sound a little strange, somehow sharp and hard, but you can also simply turn it down – the DP-28 Plus offers detailed setting options here.
The sound buttons in the control panel represent sound categories that are all occupied by several sounds. Among the pianos there is a funky Electric Grand. Then it’s on to the EP category. As a vintage electric piano, you get different variants of the popular Fender Rhodes electric piano, which represent different playing styles from soft-belly to rocky. As a Reed EP I would have expected a Wurlitzer electric piano, but it sounds more like another Rhodes variant.
Then in the “keyboard” category are clavinet and harpsichord as well as some organ sounds. Synth Pad, Strings, Choir & Co are perfect to layer sounds in combination with the acoustic as well as electric pianos. And whoops: There is a nice vibraphone sound hidden under the name “Bell”. This category also contains basses that give split combinations a good basement.
All in all, the range is decent – but the focus is clearly on the sounds that are important for a stage piano: good acoustic pianos and electric pianos. Apart from that, you should not underestimate the additional possibilities that result from layering various sounds. A lot of potential is still hiding here.
Split, Layering, Twinova (DUET), Transpose, Dynamic Curve and Tuning – the typical digital piano functions are also available. You can layer two sounds on top of each other by simply pressing two sound buttons at the same time. Then you just tap your way through the sound lists in the respective sound groups. However, it gets a bit more complicated if you want to set the (not exactly few) functions of the device using certain key combinations. Of course, the whole thing is much more easily done via the app “Piano Toolbox”.
Piano Toolbox is a universal app that is also compatible with the Thomann DP-28 Plus, among others. The app is very easy to connect via Bluetooth MIDI. Only when using the app for the first time does it need a short moment for data synchronization with the respective piano – but then the app is always ready for use right away. It’s amazing what you get here in terms of functions – the app is free …
The metronome knows different time signatures and can also play rhythms. You can save favorites and play the demo and practice pieces stored in the device. Whether you want to adjust the split point, string resonance or effects – Piano Toolbox makes the Thomann DP-28 Plus very easy to use.
Let’s take a look at the “more!” first – even if this is exactly what to some may seem like nothing more than a minor detail on the side: The Thomann DP-28 Plus has an integrated full audio/MIDI interface via the USB interface, making it one of the rare digital pianos that simultaneously exchange MIDI and audio data with an audio computer or mobile device. The advantage is that no audio cables other than the USB cable are needed to transfer audio from, say, piano apps or online lessons to the DP-28 Plus’s speakers. Next to that, there are standard functions on the DP-28 Plus such as transpose, tuning, touch curve, and a few tuning scales – there’s really nothing missing here.
The previously missing Local function has now been added and is available in devices from October/November 2023. Local On/Off is important in order to be able to configure the DP-28 Plus as a controller in combination with mobile devices and music computers. The function can now be switched on and off as required using the key combination Shift+B4 (see also operating instructions in section 7.12). It is not possible to retrofit older devices via a firmware update.
There’s no doubt about it: you’d have to pay a lot more for a portable piano with so many features. The Thomann DP-28 Plus definitely has what it takes to become a mega-seller. With a good selection of piano sounds, a decent (and light) hammer action keyboard, a powerful speaker system and clever app connection via Bluetooth MIDI, Thomann makes a real statement here in the price range of under 400 euros. Playing the piano can be this affordable without sacrificing contemporary features and good sounding speakers.
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Pros and Cons
Jörg Sunderkötter
Playing the piano can be this affordable without sacrificing modern equipment and good sounds. Usually, you would have to pay a lot more for a portable piano with this much equipment.
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