Studiologic Numa Compact SE review: Lightweight powerhouse

Studiologic is one of my favorite manufacturers for a few reasons, not least because it’s drastically undervalued. Despite being undervalued, in my opinion, Studiologic has a habit of over-delivering value for money. The Numa Compact SE is an affordable stage piano, and in this review, I’ll discuss everything it has to offer.

Studiologic Numa Compact SE
Numa Compact SE stage piano | Image by Studiologic

Final verdict 4.8

The Numa Compact SE is arguably the best stage piano in its class if you can live without fully-weighted keys. It delivers exceptional quality for the price, and that’s why I’ve scored it so highly. It’s lightweight and sounds incredible, and finding any relative negatives is a struggle.

What I like

  • Four revamped sound engines.
  • Outstanding sound quality.
  • Diverse built-in effects.
  • Aftertouch.
  • Lightweight.
  • Value for money.

What I don’t like

  • No faders.
  • Semi-weighted keys won’t suit everyone.

Why you should trust this review

James Michael Nugent

Stage pianos have been a vital part of my working life for the past 20 years, and I’ve learned that each one has something different to offer. I’ve owned three Studiologic stage pianos during that time, from the original Numa Compact to the flagship Numa X Piano GT, and they are all great in different ways.

One of the most important lessons I learned is that even semi-weighted models have value for players of any level.

Contents

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

Sound quality 4.8

The Numa Compact SE marks the introduction of four completely overhauled sound engines: Acoustic, Electric, Synth, and Organ. It boasts 148 factory sounds.

The sound quality on the previous Numa Compact 2 was already outstanding, but with this model, the sounds are even more authentic. The acoustic pianos sound more realistic with added string and duplex resonance, as well as damper/hammer noise. You can adjust resonance settings for acoustic piano voicing, creating the perfect balance for your playing.

What I love most about these acoustic piano sounds is that they aren’t too bright; they are warm yet still clear and articulate, unlike many in the same price range.

Adjustable tine volume and damper noise have been added to the electric piano voices.

The revamped organ sounds are better than ever, but the lack of physical drawbars is a shame. Similarly, the synth sounds are world-class, but some more hands-on customization would make a huge difference.

The Numa Compact SE has a max polyphony of 200 notes (128 on the previous models).

The Numa Compact X SE is a worthwhile upgrade if you can afford a few hundred dollars more. It offers everything this model does, with the addition of nine drawbars/faders and dedicated synth engine controls, like cutoff, resonance, filter, and LFO controls.

Built-in speakers 4.9

Such a high score might be surprising here, but it’s more than justified. The built-in speaker system passes the main test to deliver clarity across all sounds and at high volume, even when you really dig in.

Beyond the impressive clarity, the Numa Compact SE boasts dual speakers with two 10-watt amplifiers, which is more than average power. The icing on the cake is the inclusion of adjustable bass, treble, and mastering 3D settings; features that you don’t typically see at this price.

Keyboard feel 4.5

The Numa Compact SE has 88 semi-weighted keys with aftertouch. It isn’t easy to score semi-weighted keys higher than I have because graded hammer-action keys are typically preferred on a stage piano. But I believe the score is fair because the Fatar action is excellent, and the aftertouch is a real treat with the synths and organ sounds.

key action of the Numa Compact SE
Image by Studiologic

Synths and organs are the easy part; lighter keys are best, and the Numa Compact SE is a dream to play with those sounds.

Electric pianos are somewhere in the middle; ideally, you’d have fully-weighted keys, but lighter keys aren’t a complete disaster.

The acoustic piano voices are where people will struggle with the semi-weighted keys; there’s no denying the lighter keys make playing with nuanced expression more difficult. However, the action is highly responsive and more expressive than you might think.

The improved acoustic piano sounds also enhance the potential for dynamic and expressive playing.

Features 4.8

As much as I’d love faders, there are enough features to discuss; here are some of the best.

  • Built-in effects. The built-in effects include drive, chorus, phaser, flanger, rotary, tremolo, pan trem, and delay. You can independently assign effects to each keyboard zone (Upper/Lower – A and B) using FXA and FXB. Up to six effects simultaneously. You also get a dedicated reverb section with room, hall, plate, and spring algorithms.
  • OLED display. The display might seem like a small thing to mention, but it’s the quality that impresses me in this price range. It’s a crystal-clear OLED display that makes most functions easy to navigate.
  • Assignable controls. There are two fully-assignable sticks; admittedly, it might take some users a while to get used to them. It took me a while, but once you get the hang of using sticks rather than wheels for pitch and mod, it becomes intuitive and easy to perform quick pitch bends or sweeping modulations.
  • Keyboard zones. There are two customizable zones, upper and lower.
  • Keyboard modes. In addition to the keyboard zones, you can split or layer sounds to create a unique scene. As cheesy as it might sound, the Numa Compact SE does a fantastic piano and double bass combo.

In use 4.9

In use is where this stage piano shines. The built-in speakers make it ideal for home practice, and it’s light enough to carry around the house if you want a change of scenery. The lightweight chassis and premium sound quality also make it ideal for the stage.

Whether performing, composing/producing, or practicing, the Numa Compact SE is addictive; it’s a keyboard you’ll want to play more and more. The combination of high-quality sounds, effects, and aftertouch creates an immersive experience that you won’t often see so far under $1000.

Build quality 4.7

The build quality is good for the price; it’s above average in its class. That said, no matter how nice the plastic finish is, it will never compare to the feel of metal on a high-end stage piano. At just over 15 lbs (7.1 kg), the Numa Compact SE is easy to carry from gig to gig, but do so with some care.

You should be pleasantly surprised if your expectations are relative to the price; everything feels nice with no flimsy encoders or buttons.

Connectivity 4.7

It’s not an extensive lineup, but again, it’s above average for the price range. You get a pair of 1/4-inch audio outputs for performance and a single 1/4-inch headphone jack for practice.

You get MIDI In/Out and USB Type-B for studio use. And, you get two pedal inputs for sustain and expression/volume, etc.

Compared to others

As much as I love this stage piano, there are some worthy alternatives to consider.

Numa Compact SE vs Numa Compact X SE

It’s around $300 more expensive, which is a lot, but it’s money well spent if you have it. If you like the Numa Compact SE, you’ll love this upgraded model. See the current price

Numa Compact SE vs Casio CDP-S360

If you need fully-weighted keys, it’s hard to find a better option for less money than Casio’s CDP-S360. I prefer the Numa Compact SE, but the action of this Casio keyboard is excellent. See the current price

Numa Compact SE vs Yamaha P-225

The P-225 costs around $100 more, but you get the premium CFX concert grand piano sound and Yamaha’s compact hammer-action keyboard. Studiologic wins on versatility, and Yamaha wins on the realistic keyboard action. Read the full review

Who is the Studiologic Numa Compact SE best suited for?

The Numa Compact SE suits anyone who wants premium sound quality on a budget and performers who want a lightweight stage piano.