Korg Forums

cabasner · Joined: 13 Jun 2010 Posts: 39 Location: Las Vegas, NV

Hi All,

I posted last week about my new Kronos 2 - 88, which I'm thrilled with. I am still a beginner, though, and am just very fortunate to be able to have the best keyboard there is to learn on!

My Kronos is upstairs, in what I call my music room. I am significantly disabled in my lower extremities, making the trip up the stairs something of a challenge. I'd like to have an additional keyboard that is portable, which I can practice on downstairs, when I don't have the energy or are in too much pain to make it upstairs. Does anyone have an opinion on a good, really CHEAP portable keyboard that would be good for practice, but small and light enough to move around easily? I am not particular on the number of keys (though I suppose, for the purposes of practicing keyboard basics, that there need to be enough keys to feel the 'expanse' similar to a full 88 keys), and not really particular about whether the keys are weighted or not. I don't know if it's worth considering that this practice keyboard be something that I could use in conjunction with the Kronos, or simply to use for practice. I have been researching on the internet, but the reviews haven't been much help to me.

Any thoughts on what keyboard to consider would be hugely appreciated!!
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Curt Basner
Las Vegas, NV

Bertotti · Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 8:50 pm Post subject:

Roland and Yamaha make some smaller keyboards that might work out if you are looking for something that isn't just a controller. Want to spend more cash, I use a Roli Rise 25 key with my phone. I also travel with the Kory arp Odyssey it has an ice case but I dont know what you are looking for size wise. With a controller there are a fair few desk top synth options that are small and portable but even a controller with the current iPad iPhone apps is pretty nice!

cabasner · Joined: 13 Jun 2010 Posts: 39 Location: Las Vegas, NV

JoeyL · Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 9:50 pm Post subject:

I have 2 of these for exactly the reasons you gave. I give it high marks. Be sure you have a 12volt adapter.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/keyboards-midi/yamaha-ypg-235-76-key-portable-grand-piano

voip · Platinum Member Joined: 27 Nov 2014 Posts: 3776

The Alesis Coda Pro may fit the bill. It is light at 13kg, has decent action weighted 88 keys, built-in speakers, and at a small fraction of the price of the Kronos.

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Bertotti · Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2017 2:58 am Post subject:

King Korg, 17Kg- 15.4lbs, If new is outside the price range check used. Sounds great light 61key has some great filters. Headphone jack, LR out. Keeps you in the Korg ecosystem but i don't know if that would actually help you at all.

These are nice vids on Orgs website and i think the black version looks great.
King Korg

Sorry not cheap 999$ new I have seen it as low as 500 used. Still maybe to high. Kronos takes a big bite when you buy it.

My kids have a 100$ PSR sounds fine and is more then capable of helping someone practice, but it isn't no Kronos.

cabasner · Joined: 13 Jun 2010 Posts: 39 Location: Las Vegas, NV

Perilous · Junior Member Joined: 29 Jul 2015 Posts: 77

Is there any lightweight inexpensive keyboard in all the land with built-in speakers that doesn't feel or sound like a toy?
I wish the price on the Roland RD-64 would come down a bit. That would make a swell practice keyboard in my mind.

When I don't want to fire up the big powered speakers and the Kronos, I turn to my new Kawai ES-110. In my opinion, it's the best option if you want 88-keys, built-in speakers, simplicity, good basic sounds, good action, and sits at the sweet spot of 26.5 lbs. Goes for $729 though.
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cabasner · Joined: 13 Jun 2010 Posts: 39 Location: Las Vegas, NV

bobmusic · Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2017 7:12 pm Post subject:

I can highly recommend the Roland FP-30. Really good keybed in this price range and also good sounding and transportable.
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Best regards, Robert
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Korg Gear: Kronos 88 & 73 (2nd SSD, 3GB RAM, silent fan)
Trinity Pro with MOSS-Board, PBS FlashRom, HDR, Optical DI
Korg Collection 3

Perilous · Junior Member Joined: 29 Jul 2015 Posts: 77

The Roland FP-30 does seem excellent. I do like Roland keyboards and might have gone with it except there's no 5-pin Midi Out. That, and there's the slight concern of the FP-30 being 5 pounds heavier than the Kawai.

While the key travel and the response of the ES-110 feels good, the action keys does feel solid. It's like they're hallow inside, but it doesn't bother me.
There's not a music store near me, so I have to buy-to-try or travel hundreds of miles. The only keyboards I've come in contact with are the Korg Concert C-303, Technics SX-PR51, Technics SX-PR903, Korg Kronos 88, Casio Privia PX-5S, and the Roland A-88.

Other smaller keyboards I've used are the Roland A-800 and A-300 Pro, Korg microKEY 37 and 61, Keith McMillen QuNexus (hopefully the K-Board Pro 4 and Roland RD-64 later this year), CME Xkey 37, Alesis Vortex Wireless, Roli Seaboard Grand Studio, Korg Kronos 61, Minimoog Voyager Performer.

I'd say go for something with built-in speakers so that you don't always have to be wearing headphones. Don't settle for anything less than 73 keys at the very least. You already have a Kronos 88, so if you want another keyboard just for practice, you might as well keep the cost below $500. If a Piano sound is the most important, then you need a sustain input jack and an action and feel that isn't too drastically different from the Kronos. Is there a keyboard like this? I don't know. Those Yamaha keyboards seem alright.
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Need CX-3 sysex help?

cabasner · Joined: 13 Jun 2010 Posts: 39 Location: Las Vegas, NV

Wow, it's getting harder rather than easier, guys!!! Very Happy

I'm not complaining at all, though, I appreciate all the experience I'm getting from you folks, I really do.

After playing with my Kronos today, I think I've kind of settled on the need for an 88 key board. Up until today, I was REALLY thinking that I didn't need 88, and I could probably live with 76, but it would probably be best to keep the same number of keys for 'practice', as I'm learning to appreciate the value of the entire range, especially in the lower end of the board. I happened to get a $200 gift card from the store where I bought my Kronos (B&H Photo Video [moderators, sorry if I violated any rules by mentioning this]), and was hoping to stay close to that very limited $$, but it's also becoming clearer that if I intend to get any real value out of an alternate board, the 'other' board needs to be at least reasonably close in feel to the Kronos. Of course, I don't expect to get something VERY close, after all, the Kronos is a flagship keyboard. The weight of the board is pretty important, though, lighter being better.

I'm still pondering, and anyone who still has some ideas for me, I'm still not close to making up my mind, yet!
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Curt Basner
Las Vegas, NV

cabasner · Joined: 13 Jun 2010 Posts: 39 Location: Las Vegas, NV

My wife has already caught on to my plans. Last night, she said she hoped I wasn't going off the deep end and thinking about a $400 keyboard... Hmmmm, well, that kind of puts the squish on a number of the boards I've been pondering. Maybe I'll have to come at it from the 'I need a board with the best keyboard feel or it's not worth it' kind of angle. Not sure that will fly... Sad

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Curt Basner
Las Vegas, NV

tomto66 · Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 7:34 pm Post subject:

Yamaha DGX-660 - 88 weighted keys, semi-reasonable feel and sounds, built in speakers. It's still heavy though...
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Kronos X-88, Nanopad2, Tascam US122 MKii, Roli Rise 49

cabasner · Joined: 13 Jun 2010 Posts: 39 Location: Las Vegas, NV

My wife has already caught on to my plans. Last night, she said she hoped I wasn't going off the deep end and thinking about a $400 keyboard... Hmmmm, well, that kind of puts the squish on a number of the boards I've been pondering. Maybe I'll have to come at it from the 'I need a board with the best keyboard feel or it's not worth it' kind of angle. Not sure that will fly... Sad

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Curt Basner
Las Vegas, NV