Product Review: Yamaha Arius YDP-145 – Entry-Level Home Piano

Yamaha’s 2022 Arius models are all once again less expensive than their Clavinova home pianos, but even within this series, there are options for different budgets. With the YDP-145, you can save a few hundred euros compared to its bigger brother, the YDP-165. Is it worth it?

The Arius YDP-145 is exactly the same size and weight as its predecessor, the YDP-144. Compared to its bigger brother, the YDP-165, it is actually smaller, exactly 3.4 centimeters in height, and four kilos lighter at 38 kilos. This is probably mainly due to the YDP-165’s more powerful sound system.

Otherwise, the Yamaha YPD-145 comes in pretty much the same classic look as the 165 – without front legs and with an airier back panel than is common in the more expensive Clavinova range. The YDP-145 also has to do without a headphone holder and music stand clips. But the body with its wooden keyboard cover is of solid workmanship, and of course the home piano is equipped with all three foot pedals. The right one even comes with half-pedal function.

Tip for beginners: Bundle offers

Especially when buying your first electric piano, you should pay attention to this, because online retailers offer sets and bundles that include other accessory items in addition to the instrument at a low price: Piano bench or stool, headphones, music books, etc.

Technology of the Yamaha YDP-145

The technology behind the YDP-145 was completely taken from the YDP-165. That means: ten sounds and 192-voice polyphony. There is a layer function for two sounds, the duo mode to create student-teacher keyboard halves, but no split function. Four reverb effects are available. The two headphone jacks in the form of standard headphone jack sockets are great.

Power and volume are controlled on the right side of the piano. With the buttons on the left you can switch through sounds and functions. A display with control elements is missing, so most of the piano keys are used for individual settings. An overview of which keystroke is needed for which parameter can be found on the back of the manual.

The only other available connection of the piano is USB-to-Host. This may seem like quite little, but it hides a USB audio/MIDI function that allows the complete integration of additional devices. A high-quality feature that makes connecting audio computers as well as Android or iOS mobile devices very easy.

Versions and case colors

Black, white and rosewood are offered as color variants. An explanatory video from Yamaha shows how to assemble it – not much can go wrong. Yamaha also offers a SlimLine version as an alternative to the classic home piano design. From a purely technical point of view, this model, Arius YDP-S35, is identical to the Yamaha Arius YDP-145. The SlimLine design combines modern looks with practical advantages: The keyboard cover serves as a music stand, and when closed, the piano can also be used as a small desk.

Now with CFX Grand

The current YDP models offer a sampled Yamaha CFX concert grand piano sound, which is almost the same as the one found in the Clavinova pianos. “CFX Grand” is the name of this first-class sound. A large, very dynamic stereo grand piano sound with realistic decay, which you can really play with many nuances – right up to fortissimo.

Virtual Resonance Modeling

The string, damper and cabinet resonances are generated by virtual resonance modeling (VRM). This modeling technology can only be switched on or off on an Arius piano, while it is more finely adjustable on most Clavinova instruments. But even in the YDP-145, a default setting of it provides the CFX sound with audibly more authenticity.

Additional sounds

Two additional grand piano sounds named “Mellow Grand” and “Pop Grand”, a Fender Rhodes and DX7 e-piano sound respectively, a harpsichord with release sound samples, a full vibraphone, a Church and Hammond organ each, and universal stereo strings are convincing across the board.

Keyboard of the Yamaha Arius YDP-145

Like the previous model, the manufacturer has once again equipped the Yamaha Arius YDP-145 with the Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) keyboard. It is one of the heavier weighted manuals in this class of instruments, using the heaviest weights in the bass range and lighter ones in the treble, as is common with Graded Hammer action.

However, there is no non-slip coating on the key surfaces and no third sensor as in the GH3 keyboard of the YDP-165. Nevertheless, the CFX-Grand can also be convincingly shaped and intonated via the GHS. You can choose from three dynamic curves depending on your own velocity.

Sound system: Clear and clean

As with the predecessor and the YDP-165, two twelve centimeter speakers are used for the internal playback system – but here with less power than in the 165: eight watts instead of 20 watts. Of course, the 145 doesn’t achieve the relatively rich sound of its big brother when played at full volume. However, it’s not like the less expensive model can only sound about half as loud. This small home piano is suitable for both low and high volume, and the sound is clear and undisturbed.

New on the Yamaha Arius YDP-145 compared to the YDP-144 are the rear-facing openings in the piano cabinet, which make for a slightly more spacious but even clearer overall sound. “Tone Escapement Construction” is what Yamaha calls this new feature, which the big brother is also equipped with. The built-in speakers are deactivated in the factory setting when using headphones. However, this setting can also be changed – for example, if you also want to connect the Yamaha YDP-145 with external speakers or a stereo system.

Practice Piano with YDP-145 and Smart Pianist

While the 50 “Classical Musical Masterpieces” familiar from the YDP-144 are back on board and sheet music is also included, the YDP-145’s 303 “Lesson Songs” – piano etudes by Burgmüller, Czerny and others – are from the Clavinova series. Via the Smart Pianist app, notation is enhanced with sound tracking as the piece plays, and you can even practice the etudes and songs for playback directly on a tablet. Those who have audio songs on their mobile device can also play them through the piano speakers, so you can play along to arrangements. Furthermore, the app helps to recognize chords in audio songs.

In addition, with the app you can record yourself playing and then save it on a mobile device – as MIDI or audio files. A simple MIDI recorder with two tracks and one song is available on the piano itself. Of course, there is also an integrated metronome.

The tablet and app are also worth using because of the great features of the graphic-based piano remote control and the registration storage spaces for layer sounds, available in any number within the program.

Yamaha Arius YDP-145 in comparison

Yamaha YDP-144 vs. YDP-145: Compared to its predecessor, the new model now even has the “CFX Grand” sound à la Clavinova, which sounds superbly even in the smallest Arius model. In addition, the YDP-145 benefits from improvements to the sound system and more MIDI practice tracks.

Yamaha YDP-145 vs. YDP-165: The Arius YDP-145 is basically nothing other than a small YDP-165. Currently available in stores for less than 1,000 euros and thus about 300 euros cheaper than its big brother, it offers digitally the same.

A noticeable difference is the GH3 keyboard installed in the YDP-165, which provides an even more pleasant playing feel, as well as a more powerful playback system. Also, a few details like the headphone holder and the holding clips for music books have been omitted. Those who really need to mind their budget and thus choose the YDP-145 will not make a mistake.

Conclusion: Solid entry-level piano

The Yamaha Arius YDP-145 shows how much home piano is still possible at a low price – without having to compromise on intonation and feel. In these crucial points, the new small Yamaha Arius YDP-145 is top of its class, and beginners as well as advanced players will enjoy this instrument for years to come. In addition, it is also compatible with the “Smart Pianist” app. A great package that the manufacturer has put together!

Yamaha Arius YDP-145 – Overview

Available since: 05.2022
Keyboard: 88 keys, Graded Hammer Standard (GHS)
Polyphony: 192 voices
Sound generation: Sampling
Piano app: Smart Pianist, free of charge for Android and iOS
Special features: 303 practice songs, remote control via „Smart Pianist“ app
Manufacturer/Distributor: Yamaha

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