Yamaha YDP-105 Review: The Cheaper Arius
A Yamaha Arius entry console digital piano review covering the Graded Hammer Standard action, three pedal setup, dual headphone jacks and where it differs from the YDP-145.
The same Graded Hammer Standard action and three pedals for three hundred dollars less, with a simpler sound engine.
The verdict: The entry Arius keeps the two things that matter for a lesson student, a graded hammer weighted action and a three pedal unit, and saves three hundred dollars by simplifying the sound engine. Buy it if you want a console piano for lessons at the lowest sensible price. Skip it if you want the CFX grand sample and Bluetooth, which are the YDP-145's additions and are worth having if the budget stretches.
Yamaha Arius Series 88-Key Weighted Action Upright Digital Piano
~$1,000
An 88 key upright console digital piano with Graded Hammer Standard action and Touch Response, a three pedal setup, dual headphone jacks and 10 voices.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Keys | 88, Graded Hammer Standard with Touch Response |
|---|---|
| Sound | Grand piano voice plus 9 other instrument voices |
| Pedals | Three pedal setup |
| Headphones | Dual headphone jacks for duets and teaching |
| Cabinet | Traditional upright with wood grain finish |
Specifications above come from Yamaha's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- The action is the same Graded Hammer Standard as the more expensive model, and the action is what a teacher actually cares about.
- Dual headphone jacks are quietly excellent for lessons, because a teacher can hear exactly what the student hears while the room stays silent.
- Three pedals rather than a single sustain switch, which is the main practical difference between a console and a portable.
- It is a thousand dollars for a piece of furniture that a child can learn on for a decade, which compares well against an acoustic upright plus tuning.
Where it falls short
- The sound engine is simpler than the YDP-145's CFX sample, and a developing ear will eventually hear that.
- No Bluetooth, so connecting to learning apps needs a cable and an adapter rather than a pairing.
- Like every console it is furniture: hard to move, harder to sell, and it occupies a permanent corner.
- Graded Hammer Standard is the entry Yamaha action, which is right for a beginner and limiting for an advancing student.
What owners report
Published owner reports describe it as the sensible choice for a family that wants a console without paying for the flagship features. The action draws consistent approval and is repeatedly described as adequate for years of lessons.
Reports comparing it against the dearer Arius models focus on the sound rather than the feel, which matches the specifications. Assembly comes up often: it needs two people and an hour, and it is worth planning for rather than discovering.
Who it suits
- Families committed to lessons who want a console at the lowest sensible price.
- Homes where dual headphone jacks are useful for teaching or duets.
- Anyone replacing an untunable old acoustic upright.
Who should skip it
- Buyers who want the best sample and Bluetooth, which the YDP-145 has.
- Households not yet sure the lessons will continue.
- Advancing students who need a better action.
Alternatives worth considering
Yamaha Arius Series 88-Key Weighted Digital Piano with 3 pedal unit
~$1,300
Three hundred dollars more for the CFX concert grand sample with damper and string resonance, plus Bluetooth audio and MIDI for learning apps. Same action, better ears and better connectivity.
Check price on AmazonCasio Privia PX-770 88-Key Weighted Console Digital Piano
~$906
Around a hundred dollars less with Tri-Sensor II hammer action, ebony and ivory feel key surfaces, 60 built in songs and Concert Play. A genuine competitor rather than a compromise.
Check price on AmazonRoland FP-10 Compact 88-Note Digital Piano
~$500
Roland's PHA-4 Standard action in a slab for half the money. You give up the cabinet and the three pedals and gain the ability to move, store and resell it easily.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Digital vs acoustic piano
- Keyboard vs piano
- Best piano benches
- Yamaha YDP-145 review
- Casio Privia PX-770 review
- How long it takes to learn piano
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
What is Graded Hammer Standard action?
Yamaha's entry weighted action, where the low keys are heavier than the high ones as they are on an acoustic piano. That gradation is the point: it builds the finger control that transfers to a real instrument. It is not Yamaha's best action, and for a beginner that does not matter.
Is this enough piano for grade exams?
For early and intermediate grades, generally yes: 88 weighted keys and three pedals covers what the syllabus asks for. Exams themselves are taken on the centre's acoustic piano, so what matters is that practice at home builds transferable technique. Ask your teacher, who will know the local expectations.
YDP-105 or YDP-145?
Same action, same three pedals. The 145 adds the CFX concert grand sample with resonance modelling and Bluetooth. If the budget allows, take the 145 for the sound and the app connectivity; if not, nothing about the cheaper model will hold a beginner back.
Do I need a piano bench?
Yes, and an adjustable one. Height determines posture, and posture determines whether a child develops good technique or a sore back. It is the cheapest meaningful accessory for a piano and the one most often skipped. Our piano bench guide covers what to look for.
Can two people play at once?
Dual headphone jacks let a teacher and student both listen silently, and many digital pianos also have a duo mode that splits the keyboard into two identical ranges. Both are genuinely useful for lessons and are a real advantage of digital over acoustic.