Digital Piano vs Acoustic Piano: Which one is Better?

Pianos were a revolutionary device when they were first brought to light back in the early 1700s. And its use has not diminished since its inception but is growing day by day. This device’s popularity has remained the same as it has coped up with the trends, and changes. In our Digital Piano vs. Acoustic Piano article, we highlighted everything you need to know to choose the right device.

Once you start browsing through the internet, you’ll find multiple articles about Digital Piano and Acoustic Piano. So, choosing the most convenient one might be difficult for you. Hopefully, our article will help you resolve this problem.

Before we begin, you should know that the acoustic piano delivers a superior sound. And it produces sound when the sledge strikes a string. On the other hand, a digital piano can just copy the sound of the acoustic piano. Its sound is a digital file, thus, it doesn’t produce as accurate a sound as an acoustic piano does.

Without further ado, let us move on to our Digital Piano vs. Acoustic Piano

Definition:

Digital piano:

A digital piano is a type of musical instrument that is different from the electronic keyboard. Digital pianos have 88 keys and 6 octaves, so if we look at the performance of playing one, it will give you a feel close to a traditional piano. It is built to serve as an alternative to a traditional piano and gives an almost accurate simulation of a real piano. It facilitates learning like a pro to provide the authentic feeling and touch of a real piano.

Some digital pianos even look like acoustic pianos. Digital pianos may weigh much less, be more compact, and cost less than an acoustic piano. Moreover, digital pianos don’t require tuning in a traditional fashion; also, tuning can be changed to match the tuning of another instrument.

Acoustic Piano:

An acoustic piano looks as old-school as it can get. It has a wooden exterior with hammers and steel strings. The keys are linked to the hammers. When a key is pressed, it strikes the strings, and the hammer moves. Thus, they vibrate and produce sound.

There are two types of acoustic pianos. They are the upright piano and the grand piano. Grand pianos have a longer body, soundboard, larger footprint, and strings that are elaborated horizontally. On the other hand, upright pianos have frames, strings, and a soundboard that act vertically.

Characteristics Comparison:

The following table provides a clear and concise list of the advantages and disadvantages of both types of pianos.

Acoustic Piano	Digital Piano
The sound quality of the acousticpiano is warmer and authentic.	Digital Pianos produce sample sound. It is not as authentic but useful.
Acoustic Piano requires tuning 1-2 times a year.	Digital Piano does not require tuning.
Acoustic Piano has to be stored at a suitable temperature and humidity.	Digital Piano does not have such strict temperature and humidity requirements.
An Acoustic Piano is more expensive compared to Digital Piano.	A Digital Piano is less expensive compared to an acoustic piano.
The resale value of an Acoustic Piano is higher.	The price of Digital Piano depreciates faster.
Acoustic Piano gives you better musical tones control and expression by piano action mechanisms.	Some models of Digital Pianos are less touch-sensitive, while others are more touch-sensitive.
Acoustic Pianos Includes sustain pedals; it comes with 2 or 3 pedals.	Digital Pianos do not need pedals.
Acoustic Pianos require 2 to 3 people to move it.	Digital Piano Requires only one person to move it.
Acoustic Piano requires more space for storing or placement.	Digital piano requires Less space.
Acoustic Piano does not need any power source.	The power source is essential for digital pianos.

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Which one is best for whom:

This part provides some straightforward ideas to make a purchase decision. Let’s discuss some factors such as age, gender, location, culture, etc at first. It will help you see the criteria that you belong to. Once that is done, you can choose the device that best suits you by comparing your exact criteria.

1. Age up to 16:

A college student who loves pop music. He can play his favorite songs by Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars to learn the piano. Up to age 16, the best decision would be to purchase a Digital piano.

→ My recommendation for age up to 16: the digital piano (as a beginner)

If you’re tight on budget and don’t plan to use the instrument for a long time, then a digital piano would be a good choice for you.

Digital piano should be used for stage programs or auditorium programs that do not offer much space.

Digital piano is suitable for pop music lovers. These instruments are good to play pop songs.

2. For Middle-aged people:

A married person busy with the office and family often wants to learn musical expression seriously. They can choose the acoustic piano. These instruments are best for their learning.

→ My recommendation for Middle Age: the acoustic piano

The acoustic piano is more expensive compared to a digital piano. But if you want to showcase your love for authentic piano sound and don’t have a problem with storage space, the acoustic piano can be the right choice for you.

3. For middle age up to 50:

Busy working adults, often can’t get home until 8 pm. Other people at home go to bed as early as possible for sleep. If you are serious about learning the piano, you can choose the digital piano.

→ My recommendation for middle age up to 50: the digital piano

To practice late at night, you want not to disturb your family members who are already asleep. Go with the digital piano.

4. For retired persons:

As a retired person, who has a lot of time to spare, and wants to become an advanced pianist, an acoustic piano could be the right choice for you given that you have enough budget.

→ My recommendation for a retired person: the acoustic piano

If cost is not a big deal for you, you can go with the acoustic piano. Because, in general, a digital piano is not suitable for advanced players. Keep in mind the portability and weight of the piano. If you spend most of your time at home practicing, the best option for you is the acoustic piano.

Buyer’s Guide:

It is essential to know which instrument is suitable for you and what you need to consider while buying one.

The sound of the instrument is one of the most important factors when buying a musical instrument. We have referenced before that the acoustic piano delivers preferable sound over the digital piano. It generates an authentic, acoustic sound with natural resonance and rich vibrancy.A digital piano can only imitate the sound of an acoustic piano. It has a sensor that can identify the most fragile movement of the keys. Digitally recorded sound can be intensified and delivered from speakers. Regardless, a good quality digital piano can create sound in a superior manner than a low-end acoustic piano.

The next important thing that we have noted is the versatility and portability. In this case, the digital piano is well ahead of the acoustic piano. Digital piano can produce the sound of other instruments as well. You can use it to produce the sound of an electric guitar, a saxophone, or a choir. Some of the digital pianos got drum beat tracks. So you can choose a digital piano if you consider versatility.

Digital pianos vary in types and sizes. But, they are more portable than their acoustic brethren.

The touch sensitivity of a digital piano can differ significantly from an acoustic piano. The weight of the keys is responsible mainly for this difference. A soft touch can produce sound in a digital piano where you need to press a little harder while using an acoustic piano.

After checking the above three sections, you need to consider the price of the instruments you will buy. An acoustic piano is costlier than a digital piano. A low-to mid-level upstanding acoustic piano could cost $1000-$3000, while a digital one could be priced somewhere in the range of $200-500 upwards.Though the price depends on the features and the materials used to manufacture the instruments, we would suggest you go after the quality even if it costs you a few more bucks.

Another factor that needs to be considered is the durability of the product. You can use an acoustic piano for an extended timeframe by replacing the worn parts.Depending on the quality of the product, a digital piano can last longer than the expectation.

An acoustic piano’s resale value can be more stable than a digital piano as its value depreciates faster.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What to Consider When Buying a Piano: Acoustic or Digital?

Choosing the right piano could be tricky. You must consider costs and maintenance. This article can help you decide on the right choice by comparing the features of an acoustic piano and a digital piano.

Which are the best pianos to buy right now?

Which are the best pianos to buy right now? Well, first answer the following questions:What type of piano are you after?What playing level you’re at?How are you looking to use it?

For acoustic piano, you can choose Yamaha U1. This is an expensive instrument. But it is truly a beautiful instrument. This model has a stunning sound.

For Digital piano, you can choose the Yamaha NP-12 portable piano.

How to choose the best piano for you?

The price of the piano itself is not always the only expense you need to make. For example, you may want to buy a piano stool, a pair of headphones. The best choice for playing at home is an acoustic piano. Also, you can go through our other article about Best Piano Books For Beginners, and get a clear idea about what to choose.

Digital Piano vs Acoustic Piano: What to Opt for as a Beginner?

For purchasing a piano, price is a significant factor for you. But as a beginner, you must read about the functions, features, and other details of the piano. This article explains to you the key things you need to learn about digital and acoustic pianos.

Why not have both?

That depends on how big your budget is, how serious you are about playing, and how much space you have in your room.

Why Buy A Digital Piano?

If your budget is low, the digital piano is best for you. A digital piano has better touch, great sound, simple tune, and it requires little maintenance. If you love composing, recording, and playing back, then the digital piano is for you.

Final Word:

The world of music is getting richer day by day. Many new musical instruments are coming on the market nowadays. But the application of some instruments never ends. They have been in demand for ages and still are. And the piano is one such instrument. Both digital pianos and acoustic pianos are popular all over the world. But when it comes to the dichotomy between acoustic piano and digital piano, we have to think a little. If you want to produce good sound, you must go with an acoustic piano, otherwise a digital piano. But everything on the digital piano is set so perfectly that it greatly reduces your hassle. So when it comes to digital piano vs. acoustic piano, considering everything, it would be wise to pick digital piano.