Yamaha P125 vs P225 - How Much Better Is It?

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⏰ Timestamps ⏰
» 0:00 Intro Comparison
» 1:00 Introducing the Pianos!
» 1:12 How We Are Comparing Them?
» 1:43 Comparing the Feel & Sound
» 3:00 Comparing Patches & Variations
» 6:57 Speakers?
» 7:26 Specs?
» 7:53 Virtual Resonance Modelling?
» 9:00 Final Thoughts
»
» 10:06 Outro Comparison

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Please note that Lee Anderton has a personal financial share holding in the following brands – Victory Amplification, Chapman Guitars and Burns Guitars. The EastCoast, Landlord & Ordo brand names are used for Andertons own brand products.

#Andertons #piano #yamaha

[Justme-jpih]

Im a beginner and the p-225 is my dream piano. It sounds so amazing and looks really clean

[aBachwardsfellow]

One thing that always seems to get overlooked by reviewers is to set ("calibrate") the initial settings -- AND TELL US what they are! The P125 sounds and feels distinctly different depending on whether the touch is set to hard, medium, or soft -- I would assume the same settings work the same way on the P225. So if you're playing the P225 with the touch set to hard, and the P125 with the touch set to soft, they WILL sound distinctly different -- and the comparison is basically useless.

In the initial part of the video the P125 sounds more like the touch is set to soft, which gives a brighter sound. Setting the touch on the P125 to hard would warm the sound and more closely match the sound of the P225.

Also the volume settings need to be set to match the touch response. The volume range affects the nuance level, which can make the sound seem more or less bright depending on whether more or less force is required to get the same level of sound. In this review, the volume levels appear to be reasonably close, but it's hard to tell just by watching how they're being played.

Another thing that would have been helpful would have been to compare the exact variations of each voice one-to-one instead of going through all four variations on one voice, then going through all on the other.

I have the P125; the P225 does not sound like much of a win over the P125, and I'm concerned (as another commenter mentioned) that the quality may actually be less -- especially in the GHC action. I'd like to have a closer comparison of the actions by a trained pianist (perhaps there is one somewhere) and more longevity data on the GHC action as to how well it holds up compared to the GHS. Another reviewer had this to say about the GHC:

"If you’re buying on-line, please do not assume that GHC is a clone of GHS with a similar touch. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Try before buy. Do not buy a GHC-based keyboard on speculation! "

[coolcarz-nftj]

Personally I own a P125a and love it, now I also own a Clavinova CVP-705 which I also love! The P-125a is for me to be able to go out and play with friends or whatnot. Absolutely love my Yamaha’s! No matter what you can’t go wrong with either piano! They both are phenomenal!

[victorcontreras]

I bought the Yamaha P225 and you have to turn on the Sound BOOST function and it gets much louder. I also softened the keys. Didn’t like it right out of the box but now I love it

[okay]

Excellent comparison. Well done Jack.

It's more about how much you want to spend. When I did not know which piano was playing, I preferred the sound of the P125A. Both of them are pretty decent starter pianos. The P125A has come down in price, in the UK, by £100, from £529 to about £429, compared to the price in the 1st half of 2023 - (this comment was posted in October 2023).

The key differences are :

1. P225 uses a new sound engine with the CFX samples, instead of the CF3(III) piano samples via the Pure CF engine of the P125A. Some other improved sounds, but most are about the same.

2. P225 uses the new Grand Hammer Compact, instead of the GHS of the P125A.

I think that Yamaha is simply manufacturing a cheaper keybed, and I really do not like the "sound" of such changes, cos until I play them in person, not sure if I'd be happy with the GHC keybed.. The GHS has been their staple keybed for a long time.

The new CFX sound is like marmite, some like it, some do not. In a live stage setting, which is what most people need this for.

For a beginner, definitely I think the P125A, is the sweetspot at this time, great keyboard for a not too expensive price.

Or you could have a look at the P145, which is about the same price.

Key advantage of either the P125A or P225 is, they come with proper line outs for connecting to speakers or mixing boards. This I think is important, and should be the minimum feature set for any keyboard. The economy of the P145 is not worth the disadvantage of this omission or proper line outs.

[SomeStrangemysterious]

I think this shows, that Yamaha had taken the technology about as far as it could go with the 125 because I don’t really hear a significant generational change in the sounds. It could come down to speakers at this point. It’s time for a newer technology in their lower tier line.

[joshuarai]

p225 sound warmer & has worship feel

[Oryna_piano]

I like the way you investigate ☺️ I can hear small differenc of the sound
I’m planning to buy p 225

[DaggerThrasher]

The P225's primary piano sample sounds significantly improved to me - richer, and much more organic with the virtual string resonance. Doesn't sound like many of the other patches have changed (they didn't really need to), but that new piano makes the world of difference to my ears.

[ShadyRonin]

Honestly P-125 just sounds amazing.... I love the brightness of it. I'm just not impressed with the new one at all in terms of sound. Feel though might be improved.

[jeffbrett]

Best comparison vid I've seen! Thank you sir....the p225 is the boss

[ericturner]

Even through YouTube I can tell a difference, especially when you were trying to coax out the resonance modeling. The 225 sounded richer, more complex.

[timothydewa]

225 has thick sound, classical feels and soften emotions while 125 sounded bright and lively for its own purpose.

[flower-zm]

I would like the 61 and 73 key versions, thanks

[jeanbartholomew]

At times I preferred the 125 but I would have to say the chords were to some extent overly running into each other in ultimate sound on 125 aka almost (not quite) muddy. MOST of the time I preferred the 225 but contrary to what many say here I did not feel the reviewer was pitching the 225 hard; if anything his comments re speakers suggested the 125 came out better in some ways but only due to its slightly heavier speakers. For me the bluetooth on the 225 and the grand piano CFX sound samples built into the 225 (read/listen to other reviews they generally are in awe) make it a better choice. An earlier comment noted that if sound boost were turned on with the 225 they might clock in similar on breadth of feel and loudness. Certainly the clav was hugely better on 225 and that's when I detected the only clear "wow 225 definitely better" moment in an otherwise very open-ended, fairly (to me) neutral "review." I like Clav, like bluetooth concept & utility, the grand piano CFX is a winner and big concession to lower level digital by Yamaha, slimmer fits better in my living room, and 24 sounds beats 10 any day. Wondering if any way to boost speakers if one wanted to do so. That in my view was the only possible ace the 125 had. In digital electronics land, newer is usually better overall unless you drop down in price point. True here in music as well.

[tgfranco]

Did you notice any difference in the weight/action of the keys?? And also, since the p125 has two sound outputs at the top and two at the bottom, the p225 lost compared to the speakers??

[stuartdarling]

I tried out the two new piano models in a shop the other day (and I already own the P121) so I'm very familiar with all of these. The GHC action is a night and day improvement over the GHS (which I actually love) and the chassis is much sleeker. Definitely worth the extra money!

[marcelovictor]

great comparison but you just skipped the principal clav sound in p125

[chadrynlopez]

225 sounds cleaner played them both. It just more satisfying playing 225 over all

[brun]

The 125’s weakness was always its action. It’s a shame they when for compactness rather than improving it in the new model.