In this article, I’m comparing two of the most popular beginner-friendly stage pianos on the market: the Yamaha P-225 and Roland’s FP-30X. These two instruments are priced similarly and target the same type of buyers, so I’m putting them head-to-head to see which one comes out on top.
Final verdict: P-225 wins comfortably
Admittedly, there are a few areas where the competition is close, but Yamaha wins where it counts. Although the Roland FP-30X offers more variation, the P-225 sounds and feels better, and that’s what matters most. On a less significant and more subjective note, I also think the Yamaha looks better.
Why you should trust this review
I’ve been playing piano for over two decades and spent many years testing and reviewing digital pianos and keyboards.
As a music educator, I’ve spent years matching students with the best-suited instruments and, more importantly, helping them avoid making the wrong purchase.
At Pianist’s Compass, all reviews are based on hands-on testing, and if you’d like to learn more about our approach and process, you can read about how we test digital pianos and keyboards.
Contents
Use these jump links to navigate to the desired section of the review.
- Sound quality
- Built-in speakers
- Keyboard feel
- Features
- In use
- Build quality
- Connectivity
- Compared to others
Sound quality: P-225 wins
The Yamaha P-225 wins, but there’s a twist. Roland’s FP-30X offers more onboard sounds (56 in total) and a higher max polyphony at 256 notes. It also offers 12 acoustic piano sounds, compared to Yamaha’s four. The higher polyphony and additional acoustic piano voices might appeal more to some pianists, and it shouldn’t be ignored.
My problem with the FP-30X is that, despite my love for Roland’s SuperNatural sound engine, I prefer the CFX concert grand sound of the P-225. I can sacrifice the variety of sounds for a stronger flagship piano, and that leads me to choose the P-225.
The Yamaha P-225 has a max polyphony of 192 notes, but the difference between 192 and 256 is unlikely to be an issue for anyone thinking of buying either of these pianos.
When I compare the non-piano sounds, both pianos are pretty good, and the difference is not massive. However, I feel that the Yamaha sounds are more authentic; there’s something more organic and less clinical about the P-225 sounds, especially the clavichord and jazz organ.
In summary, the FP-30X offers more sounds, while the P-225 provides better sound quality.
Built-in speakers: P-225 wins
I don’t think there is any significant difference in the quality of the speaker systems, but Yamaha’s redesign for the new P-Series models is what sways me.
The P-30X has a pair of 4.7-inch speakers with dual 11-watt amplifiers. Yamaha’s P-225 offers the same size speakers with 7-watt amplifiers. You get more power from Roland, but as neither is likely to be gigged without external amplification, the difference is negligible. At home, both will do the job equally well.
Yamaha’s recent redesign of the speaker system provides a more authentic playing experience thanks to vents that allow sound to travel toward the player. It creates a more realistic and three-dimensional sound stage.
Keyboard feel: It’s a draw
When I initially tested each of these pianos, I scored the P-225 ever so slightly higher in the keyboard feel department. However, my score was, in part, influenced by the fact that Yamaha’s new compact hammer-action keyboard surpassed my expectations.
Yamaha’s compact hammer-action keyboard is perfect for the smaller and lighter P-225. The black keys have a matte finish. Roland’s PHA-4 graded hammer-action keyboard has authentic escapement and a simulated ivory feel.
It would be easy to argue that the PHA-4 action is every bit as good, or even better, depending on your preference. However, Yamaha’s compact action impressed me more, and I think the benefits of having a lighter piano with a great action adds to the appeal.
Features: P-225 wins
Neither of these keyboards is feature-rich, and I don’t expect them to be, given the price. However, we can compare some of the main features.
Both pianos feature a built-in recorder; the FP-30X offers recording and playback of up to 70,000 notes, while the P-225 offers one-song, two-track recording.
Both pianos offer the standard keyboard modes, including Dual, Layer, and Split.
Roland has two standout features: the Piano Designer app and desktop placement optimization.
The Piano Designer app acts like a virtual piano technician, allowing you to adjust various parameters, such as tuning, acoustic resonance, and piano lid position. The desktop placement optimization minimizes the impact of surface vibration when the piano is placed on a desk.
As much as I like those features, Yamaha’s Intelligent Acoustic Control, along with the improved speaker system design, creates a more authentic overall experience, and that’s what matters most here.
In use: P-225 wins
If I set aside sound and keyboard feel for a moment, I could say that both of these pianos deliver a similar experience. Neither one of them is unusually bulky or heavy, and they both offer a minimalistic interface with user-friendly controls.
While neither one is particularly heavy, the Yamaha P-225 is significantly lighter, and if you decide to gig with your piano, the weight will make a huge difference. The lighter piano is also easier to move around the house whenever necessary.
Now, if I consider the sound, feel, and overall piano experience again, Yamaha’s P-225 starts to pull ahead of the FP-30X. It’s worth keeping in mind that some elements are subjective, and it’s always worth trying both pianos, especially when some areas are close.
Build quality: P-225 wins
When you’re buying a piano around the $700 mark, the build quality will never match that of a high-end stage piano. It’s very unlikely that you’ll see a metal chassis; instead, you’re more likely to see lots of plastic and an optional wooden stand.
With reasonable expectations in mind, neither piano presents any real concerns. Both pianos have a hard plastic chassis that will easily survive life on the road if you’re sensible. If you’re buying purely as a home piano, you shouldn’t have any issues at all.
While they are very similar, the P-225 feels slightly more premium to me; I prefer its buttons over the FP-30X, and the slimmer, sleeker design looks better.
Connectivity: P-225 wins
Connectivity is another very close area. I scored the P-225 slightly higher when I reviewed these pianos, and part of that score was because it’s cheaper and exceeds expectations.
Both of these pianos offer Bluetooth, MIDI over USB, two 1/4-inch audio outputs, and two headphone jacks.
The one difference so far is that the P-225 has two 1/4-inch headphone jacks, while the FP-30X has one 1/4-inch jack and one 1/8-inch jack. I prefer having two 1/4-inch jacks; it’s unlikely to be an issue for most users, but it puts the P-225 slightly ahead.
Both also offer a 1/4-inch sustain pedal input and a six-pin mini-DIN input for a three-pedal unit.
Compared to others
If you aren’t set on one of these great pianos yet, here are a few alternatives to consider.
P-225/FP-30X vs Yamaha P-145
The P-145 is cheaper, but it doesn’t have the flagship CFX concert grand piano sound. It’s a great option, but it’s worth paying extra for the P-225 if you can. Read the full review
P-225/FP-30X vs Casio PX-S1100
If you want the slimmest stage piano with fully weighted keys, it’s the PX-S1100. It sounds great, and it’s relatively budget-friendly. Read the full review
P-225/FP-30X vs Studiologic Numa Compact SE
The Numa Compact has semi-weighted keys, which could be a potential issue. However, I had to include it as a wildcard choice because the sounds and feature set are fantastic value for money. Read the full review
