Yamaha ARIUS YDP-143

Considering getting the Yamaha ARIUS YDP-143? Let us take you through some key features.

Yamaha is well known for making all things musically inclined. From the greatest instruments in the business, for professionals and beginners alike. You can find the best instruments specially made for anyone who appreciates music, made by this industry titan. Yamaha makes all sorts of musical instruments be they acoustic grand pianos or digital pianos. 

You can expect the same great quality across the board. Yamaha makes pianos, Keyboard instruments, guitars and bass, drums, brass and woodwinds, strings, percussion, marching instruments, and electronic entertainment instruments. From this wide range, you are sure to find something that will tickle your fancy. 

The acoustic grand piano is an amazing instrument to own. The rich sound and also the way it looks to add an air of luxury and elegance to a room. However, there are times when you are unable to afford this grand piece. Or perhaps you are looking for something to use for a school of music, which means it should have the great advantages of an acoustic piano but it should not have to cost you an arm and a leg. 

Thinking about how great an acoustic piano looks in a room, the digital piano may be different in shape, but it does not mean that you can not get one that also looks great in a room. You are saving space with this beauty but also getting the great benefits of what would ordinarily need its room. 

There are many digital pianos on the market today, however, the choice is up to you to get the one that suits your needs. We take a look at the YAMAHA ARIUS YDP-143 and all its great benefits. What makes it such a great catch? We explore all those options, trimmings, bells and whistles. 

General Overview

The Yamaha Arius YDP-143 digital piano provides authentic acoustic piano touch and tone suitable for any aspiring pianist. The Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) keyboard action helps build proper finger technique and strength for an easy transition to playing on acoustic pianos. Improved Pure CF Engine delivers expressive, high-resolution recordings of the Yamaha CFIIIS concert grand piano. 

Damper Resonance digitally recreates acoustic piano depth of tone when pedalling, while newly improved reverbs set the stage for you to replicate the feeling of playing in a variety of different environments. With 192 note polyphony, many of the most complex piano compositions can be played without any dropped notes, and the sustained notes ring through faithfully. The Arius YDP-143 is available in either rosewood or black walnut finishes, and the furniture-style cabinet exceeds all expectations of the typical electric piano, lending a classic piano look to any home. 

User Experience

One of the first things most users are elated about is the price! This is a super affordable instrument as far as instruments go. Affordability is key if you are looking for a practice instrument, or if you need to start playing but just do not have the budget. Aspiring pianists found this piano extremely helpful thanks to the graded hammer 88-key piano keyboard action which varies between models. 

Graded Hammer Action provides a heavier touch in the low end and lighter touch in the high end, responding similarly to the hammers inside an acoustic piano. It is also a favorite because it has stereo sustain samples that provide mellow reverberations when the player depresses the damper pedal which creates more detailed nuance and subtlety when playing, similar to pedaling on a grand piano. This feature allows for continuously increasing lengths of sustained notes, from slight to full, as the sustain pedal is depressed.

A lot of users also found it very useful to have the piano connect to your smart device. The Yamaha digital piano is pre-loaded with so many piano songs, you will be playing like a pro in no time and this is another feature several people love.  

Available Options

You can purchase this in either black walnut and dark rosewood.

Key Features

The Pure CF Sound Engine is the result of many years of piano-making history and expertise, combined with state-of-the-art sampling technology. Yamaha is the industry leader in digital piano technology, and this is evident when listening to Yamaha digital pianos that utilize the Pure CF Sound Engine. The sound of the renowned Yamaha CFIIIS 9′ concert grand piano is faithfully reproduced, allowing for incredible dynamics and expressiveness, making Pure CF-equipped digital pianos worthy of the Yamaha name.

A Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) 88-key piano keyboard provides a heavier touch in the low end and lighter touch in the high end and is similar to the hammers inside an acoustic piano. GHS is great for the aspiring pianist because practising with the GHS action builds proper finger technique for playing on an acoustic piano. Additionally, the matte finish of the black keys makes them less slippery when playing for extended periods of time.

Half-damper pedal control creates more detailed nuance and subtlety when playing, similar to pedaling on a grand piano. This feature allows for continuously increasing lengths of sustained notes, from slight to full, as the sustain pedal is depressed. Stereo Sustain samples provide mellow reverberations when the player depresses the damper pedal.

Similarly, Damper Resonance provides broad and deep resonance when the pedal is used. The result is more realistic sound, similar to that of an acoustic piano. It is possible to detect the subtle changes that occur when the players begin to press the pedal while striking a key.

The Yamaha digital piano is pre-loaded with a variety of classic piano songs for listening and learning pleasure. Players can use the accompanying book, “50 Greats for the Piano” to follow along with the music and learn how to play iconic pieces. They can also playback the songs to enjoy these recognizable piano favorites. This feature is sure to add hours of enjoyment to this terrific instrument.

Sounds

The recording function built into the instrument allows players to record performances* with a single touch. Additionally, players can record up to 2 tracks for simultaneous playback, meaning that both hands can be recorded separately, or allowing them to overdub with different voices.

* Recordings are made in Standard MIDI file (SMF) format. Compatible software is required for playback of the recorded data on a computer.

Yamaha developed this new technology with an in-depth knowledge of the acoustic properties of musical instruments. Acoustic Optimizer delivers naturally smooth tonal richness across the entire keyboard by regulating the flow of sound and control of tone from the cabinet of the instrument.

Connectivity

“Digital Piano Controller” app with an attractive interface optimized for iOS touch screens adds a whole new level of functionality to your Yamaha instrument. Turn your iOS device into an intuitive instrument controller, allowing you to access features and settings even more quickly than using the panel of your instrument. Adjust settings, choose Voices, and even record performances. Once you try it, you’ll never want to live without it!

Combine two Voices together, like piano and strings, for an inspiring new playing experience. Nothing livens up piano practise like playing a piece with a different sound and creating unique combinations of two sounds together. Experiment with these combinations to discover inspiring new sounds.

A standard USB cable can be used to connect the instrument to a computer or mobile device, opening up a world of creativity, entertainment, and education. iOS devices can be connected to the instrument using the Yamaha UD-BT01, or the Lightning-USB Camera Adaptor. The instrument can be used to interact as a controller and/or sound source with a variety of music creation applications.

Effects

With the Yamaha exclusive Intelligent Acoustic Control (IAC) feature, people can enjoy playing their digital pianos at a lower volume in a quiet home environment. Before IAC was introduced, playing at a low volume resulted in a loss of treble and bass. With the addition of IAC, the instrument automatically adjusts the balance of bass and treble, creating a truer sound with more depth.

Additionally, the volume dial automatically makes fine adjustments to the overall sound of the speaker system (EQ) when played at a low volume. This ability to retain a rich and balanced sound on the digital piano, regardless of volume, ensures the highest sound quality.

The Stereophonic Optimizer is unique to Yamaha. When playing and listening to the instrument using headphones, the Stereophonic Optimizer adjusts the spacing of the sound and the separation from the piano, resulting in a spacious, surround sound quality that will inspire you to play for hours at a time. Within this private listening environment, the sound of the piano can be perceived to come from the body of the instrument rather than from the headphones, providing a more realistic and natural experience.

Accessories

The most common accessories for this piano are the headphones, Bluetooth wireless MIDI adaptor, piano bench and AC power adaptor.

Verdict

Yamaha is one of the world’s greatest piano makers, and they have been at this game for over a century. So if it is an experience you are after, you are sure to get loads of it with this brand. The Arius has all the conveniences of an electric piano. If you are looking for a great digital piano, you will want to make sure that you find one you can grow with and not just one to use at your current skill level. When your skill level rises, you will need a keyboard action built for more serious playing. 

The Graded Hammer keyboard action and synthetic ivory keytops, giving the performer a tactile surface with a response eerily similar to some of the finest pianos throughout history. All these great features are meant to make for a great piano playing experience. At the end of the day, the instrument you choose to go home with is an entirely personal choice. We have highlighted why we think the YAMAHA ARIUS YDP-143 is so great. We hope this helps you make your decision. Happy shopping!

CHECK PRICE

Be sure to check out our review of the Yamaha YDP 184. See our tips on how to pick a good digital piano.