Alesis Recital Pro MKII Review: Weighted Keys for $314
An Alesis Recital Pro MKII review covering the 88 weighted hammer action keys, 25 sounds, 20W speakers, Lesson Mode and where it falls short of Roland and Yamaha.
Eighty eight hammer action keys and a lesson mode that splits the keyboard, at the lowest price weighted keys exist.
The verdict: The Recital Pro MKII is the cheapest way to get 88 weighted hammer action keys, and for a family unsure whether lessons will last, that is a genuinely useful thing to exist. Buy it if the budget is fixed and weighted keys are non negotiable. Skip it if you can stretch to a Roland FP-10, because the action is where the difference between these instruments actually lives.
Alesis Recital Pro MKII 88-Key Digital Piano
~$314
An 88 key digital piano with weighted hammer action keys and adjustable touch response, 25 sounds, a 20 watt speaker system, Lesson Mode, a built in metronome and a sheet music rest.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Keys | 88 weighted hammer action with adjustable touch response |
|---|---|
| Sounds | 25, including acoustic and electric pianos, organs, harpsichord and synths |
| Modes | Layer Mode to blend two sounds, Split Mode for independent zones |
| Speakers | 20W system |
| Teaching | Lesson Mode splitting the keyboard into two identical zones |
| Practice | Built in metronome, 5 to 320 BPM |
| Rest | Full back sheet music and tablet rest |
Specifications above come from Alesis's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- Weighted hammer action at this price is the whole point, and it is what separates this from the many unweighted keyboards it competes with on price.
- Lesson Mode splits the keyboard into two identical ranges so a teacher and student can play the same notes side by side, which is a genuinely useful teaching feature.
- A 20 watt speaker system is more than most portables at this price manage, so it fills a room without headphones.
- A full back rest that takes a tablet rather than only sheet music, which matters because most beginners now learn from a screen.
Where it falls short
- The action is the compromise. It is weighted, and it does not have the graded feel or the refinement of Roland's PHA-4 or Yamaha's Graded Hammer actions, and an advancing student will notice.
- Twenty five sounds is generous and the piano sound itself is the one that matters, and it is merely adequate rather than convincing.
- No stand, bench or weighted sustain pedal included, so the real cost is higher than the sticker.
- Alesis does not have the service reputation of Roland or Yamaha, which matters over the ten years an instrument should last.
What owners report
Published owner reports describe it as remarkable value for weighted keys, with the Lesson Mode and speaker volume drawing specific praise. Adult beginners and families on a budget are the most positive reporters.
The consistent criticism is the action compared with Roland and Yamaha, which matches the price gap. Several reports describe upgrading after a year or two, which is a reasonable outcome for an instrument bought to find out whether lessons would stick.
Who it suits
- Families on a fixed budget who still want weighted keys.
- Adult beginners testing whether piano will hold their interest.
- Teaching situations where the split Lesson Mode is useful.
Who should skip it
- Students already committed to classical study, who should stretch to a better action.
- Anyone who wants three pedals or a console format.
- Buyers who want the strongest long term service and resale.
Alternatives worth considering
Roland FP-10 Compact 88-Note Digital Piano
~$500
A hundred and ninety dollars more for Roland's PHA-4 Standard action, widely regarded as the best at anywhere near this price. The action is what a pianist touches every second, and it is the right place to spend.
Check price on AmazonYamaha 88-Key Digital Piano with weighted keys, compact design, Bluetooth
~$470
A hundred and fifty five dollars more for Yamaha's Graded Hammer Compact action and Bluetooth, with the brand familiarity most piano teachers have.
Check price on AmazonRoland GO:PIANO88PX Entry-Level Portable 88-Note Digital Piano
~$350
Similar money for a piano that weighs 12.8 lb and runs on batteries, with unweighted full size keys. Take it only if portability matters more than the touch, which for lesson students it does not.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Yamaha P-45 vs Alesis Recital
- Keyboard vs piano
- Best piano benches
- Roland FP-10 review
- Roland GO:PIANO88PX review
- Beginner instrument cost chart
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a cheap weighted piano better than an expensive keyboard?
For learning piano, yes. Weighted keys teach the touch and finger strength that transfer to an acoustic instrument, and no number of onboard sounds compensates for keys that offer no resistance. Weighting is the specification to protect when the budget is tight.
How does the action compare with Roland and Yamaha?
It is weighted, and it is less refined: less graded across the range and less consistent than PHA-4 or Graded Hammer Standard. For a beginner's first year or two that is an acceptable trade at this price, and it is the reason to upgrade later rather than a reason not to buy.
What is Lesson Mode?
It splits the keyboard into two identical ranges, so a teacher and student can each play the same notes in the same octave side by side. It is a real teaching feature rather than a gimmick, and it appears on far more expensive instruments as Duo or Duet mode.
What else will I need?
A stand, an adjustable bench and a weighted sustain pedal. The supplied pedal on budget pianos is a plastic switch that slides on the floor. Our sustain pedal guide covers a sensible replacement and our cost chart gives realistic totals.
Will my teacher accept it?
Most will, because it has the two things that matter: 88 keys and weighted action. Confirm before buying, and if the teacher has reservations they will be about the action rather than the brand. It is a far better lesson instrument than any unweighted keyboard at the same price.