Yamaha YPG525 88-Key Portable Grand Keyboard

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Yamaha YPG525 88-Key Portable Grand Keyboard, On Stand with Musicrest

zZounds Gear Experts Say...

88 piano-style keys and 6-track sequencer.

Overview

For digital piano manufacturers, the goal is simple: translate the sound and feel of the best acoustic pianos into a lightweight, portable keyboard. Easier said than done, but Yamaha is in a unique position to achieve this goal. They make some of the finest acoustic pianos in the world, so they know what it takes to get that tone. Combine that craftsmanship with their advanced technological know-how, and you get the YPG525 digital piano; an ultra-realistic acoustic experience you can take anywhere.

Lightly weighted keys for natural acoustic feel
The biggest difference between a keyboard and an acoustic piano (besides the obvious size and weight) is the action and response of the keys. While most keyboards are little more than overgrown buttons that trigger various sounds, The keys on the YPG525 are lightly weighted to simulate the same touch and feel as an acoustic piano. You'll notice a slight resistance as you press any of the 88 full-size keys, as if there were real mallets "under the hood" striking real strings. Many beginners have a difficult time switching from keyboard to piano because they just aren't used to the extra pressure. With the YPG525, the transition is seamless. You can practice at home on this compact keyboard, and not have to worry about compensating for the acoustic piano at the recital. You'll have the confidence to play expressively, concentrating on the sheet music instead of worrying about the unfamiliar action.

High-resolution Live! Grand piano… read more samples
While feel is definitely important, it is always secondary to the sound. Anyone who's ever played an out-of-tune acoustic piano will agree. Fortunately, the YPG525 never goes out of tune. Yamaha loaded their famous Live! Grand piano into this keyboard, and your ears are in for a treat! These are high-resolution stereo samples of a real grand piano, giving every note rich, warm, resonant character. Nothing else comes this close to the real thing! Also, since this is a digital instrument, Yamaha includes additional instrument samples to help kickstart your creativity. Choose from any of the drum sounds, guitars, horns, organs, and more, and build your own arrangements.

Onboard stereo sound system
When it's time to take your show on the road, the YPG525 is a self-contained unit. For small, intimate gigs, the integrated sound system is all you need to get your music out to the crowd. While some digital pianos offer two speakers, all Yamaha keyboards feature true stereo sound. Special bass ports on each speaker boost the low-end response for deep, full tone with articulate clarity. For larger gigs, use the stereo headphone output to feed a PA system or keyboard amplifier, and you can cut through any mix. This jack is also great for quiet late-night practicing. Weighing less than 29 pounds, you can take this keyboard anywhere.

Additional features
In addition to its expressive feel and natural sound, Yamaha included some helpful features for both beginners and advanced players. Onboard flash memory stores song data, which can be viewed on the large LCD screen. Load songs, save patch settings, and read the score without ever turning the page. Your hands stay on the keys, and your mind stays focused on the music. The YPG525's Music Finder function lets you scroll through all your saved songs, instantly recalling tempo, right-hand voice, and song style. Not sure which patch to pick? The One Touch feature makes it easy. Choose the Jazz style, and a piano is automatically loaded. Play a few chords, and the appropriate backing tracks follow your progression. How about a nice Latin groove. Press a button, and a silky acoustic guitar, complete with reverb, is called up. Beginners will also appreciate Your Tempo mode. If you're unfamiliar with the song, the tempo automatically slows the accompaniment while you search for the next correct note, then gets back up to speed when you've found your place. Use any of the sixteen combination presets to save and reload all your patches.

Advanced operation
Advanced players will appreciate split keyboard mode, letting you play one sound on the lower keys and another up high. How about a bass guitar holding down the groove, and a sax melody on top? Layer mode lets you blend two patches, triggering both with a single key-press. Fill out your chords and add dramatic swells by combining piano and strings, for example. Additionally, an onboard sequencer lets you build your own compositions, playing up to six parts at once. Create a rhythm section with bass and drum patches, add some rock organ and horn stabs, and pretty soon you've got a full band backing you up! Two USB connections let you move your song data for even more control. The USB-to-device port can be used to load sheet music or MIDI sequences from a portable flash drive. Use the USB-to-host port to connect to your computer, archiving all your files on your hard drive.

Included accessories
The YPG525 includes a keyboard stand, music rest, sustain pedal, power adapter, and owner's manual. Purchase the Yamaha Survival Kit, and you also get a Watch and Learn DVD, felt keyboard cover, stereo headphones, and three-year extended warranty.

Specs

Keyboard: 88 piano-style with Touch Response

Display: Full dot LCD 320 x 240

Lyric: Yes

Score: Yes

Voices & Compatiblity: 500 GM & XGlite Compatible

Dual: Yes

Split: Yes

Polyphony: 32 Notes

Featured Voices: 8 Sweet, 3 Live, 5 Cool

One Touch / Registration: 1 Per Style / 2 Pads x 8 Banks

Music Database: Yes - 267 Song titles

Songs: 30 Internal, 70 CD-ROM + 5 User

Y.E.S. Lessons: Interactive Lessons

Styles: 150 + User (SFF)

Style Sections: Intro, Ending + A/B + Fill x 2

Sequencer: 6 Tracks, 5 Songs, 10,000 Notes

PC Button: Yes

MIDI: USB Slave

Storage Device: 875KB Flash + USB to DEVICE

Effects: 9 Reverb, 4 Chorus, 5 EQ

Harmony: 26 Types

In-Out Jacks: Headphone, Sustain

Speakers: 12cm x 2, 3cm x 2

Amplifier: 6W + 6W

Power Supply: PA-5D

Dimensions: 53 x 5.7 x 16.6 inches

Weight: 28.7 lbs.

Included Accessories:
Music Rest, Owner's Manual, CD-ROM, Stand, FC5 Footswitch, PA5D Power adaptor

Optional Yamaha Survival Kit 88:
Watch & Learn Full Length DVD
Grand Piano felt key cover
Stereo Headphones
3-Year Extended Warranty
Hundreds of dollars of Rebate Coupons
Survival Kit DVD

Documents and Manuals

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 714-522-9011
Web: https://usa.yamaha.com/support

Yamaha's Description

Yamaha YPG525 Portable Grand Keyboard

The Yamaha YPG-525 Portable Grand is a piano-focused keyboard with 88 piano-style keys, adaptor, stand and sustain pedal. Main features include high resolution Live! Grand stereo sample, song recorder, USB MIDI, USB storage capability and exceptional sounding voices.

The YPG-525 is a direct replacement for the popular DGX-505, with more features and sounds.

Features
88 piano-style keys

Stand, sustain pedal and PA5D adaptor included

Large Wave ROM features extra high quality Live! Grand sample

Backlit LCD (320 x 240) displays lyrics, chords & notation

USB to DEVICE for storing songs & styles (storage device optional)

Performance Assistant: play melody & chords like a pro

6-track sequencer: record your own music

Interactive Lessons: Your Tempo mode helps you learn to play

Pitch bend wheel for more expressive playing of brass/guitar

Yamaha XGlite/GM, Sweet!, Live!, Cool!, Split & Layer voices

Don't forget your Survival Kit!
Designed to provide you with everything you need to get started. Includes a 3-year extended warranty, Watch & Learn DVD, Grand piano key cover, Stereo Headphones, Bonus coupons, Yamaha Survival Kit DVD-ROM

Reviews

(69 ratings)

Submitted August 31, 2007 by a customer from cwnet.com

"THE PERFECT ALL AROUND 'BOARD FOR ME!"

Overall:

(see rating details)

Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.

I researched for quite awhile before settling on the YPG-525. I'm not really a piano player, but I do play piano, strings, horn stuff, and other sounds as needed. They all seem to be there, and sound very good. I gave up the B-3 years ago for polyphonic synths, and graduated to workstation stuff while doing a single or duo for many years. Now I am back in a band and went back to my roots with the organist thing. I'm enjoying that very much, but my old workstation's sounds were pale in quality stacked with the Korg CX-3. The old board also wasn't weighted at all and made uneven sound with pianos and other sounds. The 525 is perfect for me and should be around for years. I had one old analog ARP for more than 25 years. We'll see if this makes it that long!

Sound
Most of the sounds are really good, especially the piano. The organs are just ok, but I have a Korg CX-3, so no worries.

Features
Would be nice to have a modulation wheel, and some programability in the sounds, but otherwise easy to access and use the features. I don't understand the USB/MIDI. Do I need an adapter? How do I hook it up to my old MIDI sequencer? If you want real piano weighted action buy the YPG-625. Otherwise they are identical except for that and the wood trim. As an organist vs. pianist I like the action. I played a 625 and it made my arms and hands hurt after awhile. I like the lightly weighted action. It works for me!

Ease of Use… read more
The majority of the sounds are great just as they came. Programming my own presets was easy. I had an old PSR keyboard for many years so many things were intuitive. Very easily playable. I'll never use the Educational stuff though.

Quality
Really seems to be well built, very solid. It's not at heavy as I thought for an 88 note keyboard. I ordered a hardshell case, so it will be well cared for.

Value
I got a blem, so it is a 10. The only thing that showed blem was the box it came in. Everything was there and most of it looked like it had never been unpacked. For the price/sounds/features this is a 10!

Manufacturer Support
Haven't needed any help with this keyboard, but their website was a great help in making my decision what to buy. In the past Yamaha has been fairly good with support.

The Wow Factor
This is a very clean professional looking unit. The wood trim on the 625 would have been nice in pairing with my CX-3, but I didn't want the heavier weighted action. I never had an 88 key board before. I like it, especially when it comes to using splits. The sounds will more than replace the sounds from the board it replaced. It looks good on stage on my keyboard stand and most people who see and hear it think I paid four times as much!

Musical Background:
41 years Pro keyboards, sound and recording engineer

Musical Style:
60's Rock roots, Blues, Jazz, Variety

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