Donner Oura S100 review: Surprisingly good (with a few caveats)

The music technology company Donner has been around since 2012 and has become a favorite among beginners on a budget. In this review, I’m discussing the Oura S100, the entry-level model from the new Oura digital piano series.

Donner has come a long way over the last decade, and its latest generation of pianos promises to be a big step forward for the brand; let’s find out if they deliver.

Final verdict 4.1

Beginners could do far worse than the Oura S100; it’s surprisingly good.

While I view this model as a significant step forward for Donner as a brand, I still believe that the money could be better spent elsewhere, but not enough to suggest it would be a bad purchase.

It sounds good and looks fantastic; it’s not quite there with the bigger brands yet, but an impressive sign of things to come from Donner.

Why you should trust this review

I’ve been playing the piano for over 25 years, and spent much of that time working with digital instruments.

Throughout various stages of my musical education, I’ve had to find the best digital pianos for my level and budget, and not always successfully.

In recent years, with the benefit of experience, I take pride in helping students find the right piano and get the most value for their money.

Contents

Use these jump links to navigate to the desired section of the review.

• Sound quality 4.2
• Speakers 4.0
• Keyboard 4.2
• Features 3.0
• In use 4.5
• Build quality 4.2
• Connectivity 4.4
• Comparisons

Sound quality 4.2

The reality of dealing with budget-friendly brands is that we have to lower our expectations, relatively speaking. But, now and then, a piano comes along that surpasses those expectations, and that’s what we have in the Oura S100.

There are 15 onboard sounds, including acoustic/electric pianos, guitars, jazz organ, bass, orchestral sounds, and layered voices.

The main concert piano and grand piano voices surprised me; they have a maturity that dispels the idea that Donner pianos are toy-like first instruments.

The acoustic piano voices sound excellent, and with a max polyphony of 256 notes, even advanced pieces are unlikely to cause any dropouts.

My issue with the piano voices is that they’re both a little bright and slightly thin, lacking the depth of a premium piano voice. However, this isn’t a premium instrument, and I could easily have similar complaints about more prominent brands, so I see this as a win for Donner.

Of the additional voices, there are a few surprising standouts. The electric pianos are pretty good, especially the 80s-inspired digital DX/FM sounds. But it’s the guitar voices that stood out most to me; these sounds are often novelty voices, but Donner has produced acoustic guitar sounds that are very usable.

A huge step in the right direction.

Built-in speakers 4.0

There’s a part of me that wants to score the speaker system higher because it doesn’t disappoint, in terms of my expectations. But, it’s not spectacular, either, so I think four out of five is a fair reflection of the quality.

The two-speaker system, powered by dual 10-watt amplifiers, delivers plenty of volume for any bedroom musician.

Sometimes, an average speaker system exploits flawed sounds, and, in this case, the somewhat thin acoustic piano voices have nowhere to hide.

On the positive side, I want to stress that this isn’t a problem for beginners; only more advanced students are likely to find reason to complain.

Keyboard feel 4.2

Again, I’m very pleasantly surprised. Donner’s entry-level Oura 88-key digital piano features graduated weighted keys and a lovely hammer action mechanism.

The graded hammer-action keyboard transitions from heaviest to lightest (low to high notes), and the weight is pretty accurate.

One of the things I like most about the keyboard feel is the matte finish on the black keys. It may seem like a small detail, but it’s something I wish we saw more of in beginner pianos; it makes a genuine difference.

Many manufacturers are opting for a compact hammer-action keybed in entry-level instruments to reduce the overall size and weight. While I’m very happy with the compact design of the S100, and I’ve enjoyed the keyboard action, it’s not quite at the same level as some of the competition.

Features 3.0

As an entry-level model, the Oura S100 isn’t feature-packed, and I’d like to see more in this area, but there are very few bells and whistles with this model.

• Demo songs. The Oura S100 features three demo songs to enjoy, learn, and play along with.
• Melodics. Oura S100 owners will get access to the Melodics app, where they can work through various lessons and songs.
• Three-pedal unit. You’ll get all three pedals, just like you would on a real acoustic piano.

In use 4.5

As a minimalist digital piano, there are very few controls to deal with, which means there can be very few complaints.

The Oura S100 uses key triggers to perform standard functions such as changing the voice or launching demo songs. It’s very easy to use; you press the master Function button, along with the corresponding key, and you’re done.

The downside is that the simplicity of this piano stems from the fact that it offers almost no additional functionality; however, it does what it says on the tin.

Build quality 4.2

There are things I love, and things I’m not so fond of.

I think the Oura S100 looks fantastic, with its compact design and synthetic wood finish. However, I know that synthetic wood may be enough to put off some potential buyers.

I really love the addition of red felt at the key pivot point; it adds a premium element to this budget piano.

In terms of how robust the instrument is, it’s very sturdy. The tube legs look beautiful and give the impression of something more expensive, rather than a cheap keyboard stand.

Although it doesn’t feature a premium wood finish, the aspect I like most about the S100’s build and design is that it looks and feels like a grown-up piano, which is something beginners often miss out on.

Connectivity 4.4

The connectivity is above average in its class. I like to see dual headphone jacks on beginner pianos, and the S100 offers just that (two 1/4-inch jacks).

You also get an AUX input and output, allowing you to play your favorite songs and backing tracks through the onboard speaker system.

Additionally, you have a 1/4-inch input for the three-pedal unit and MIDI over USB.

You also have Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to connect wirelessly to your favorite piano apps.

Compared to others

Donner is consistently a popular choice among first-time buyers looking for a budget digital piano. Here are a few alternatives in the same price range as the Oura S100.

Donner Oura S100 vs Casio CDP-S360

If you can buy the S100 during a sale or promotion, then I’d favor the cheaper option. But, at full price, Casio delivers more value and versatility for your money. See the current price

Donner Oura S100 vs Kawai ES60

Although the ES60 is far from a flagship model, I find it impossible not to love the Kawai sound. The ES60 is exceptional value for money. Read the full review

Donner Oura S100 vs Yamaha P-143/5

Few digital pianos are as tried and trusted as Yamaha’s P Series, and the P-143/5 features the newer compact keyboard action, which I think performs better than the S100. Read the full review

Who is the Donner Oura S100 best suited for?

The Oura S100 suits early beginners who want a straightforward digital piano that doesn’t break the bank.