On keyboards, you often come across the term, “weighted hammer action.” This means that the keyboard feels just like a real piano. Actually, what you’re looking at is technically a digital piano, not just a keyboard.
So, why is it called weighted hammer action? On a real piano, the keys are connected to a hammer mechanism. When you press a key, a hammer is launched which strikes the string, setting it into vibration. When the vibration of the string is transmitted to the piano’s body, you hear a loud sound.
The hammers gradually reduce in size as you move in the higher register of the piano. Thus, the keys in the lower register gives you more resistance, while the keys of the higher register are reponsive to lighter touches as well.
A digital piano (or equivalently, a keyboard with weighted hammer action), simulates this feel of the piano. Such keyboards have actual hammer-like mechanism under the key that gives you this feel. This almost feels like a real piano.
Apart from this, such digital pianos also have a very superior, multiple dynamic levels sampling of an actual piano’s sound. Thus, compared to a normal keyboard, they sound more piano like. They have that rich, vibrant and resonating sounds.
An example of a good digital piano is the Yamaha P155. It has a better Graded Hammer (GH) standard. The Yamaha P95s use an inferior GHS action.
Casio’s equivalent would be the Casio Privia PX830. The lower end Privias like the PX130 and PX330 have quite a plastiky feel to them. For almost the price of the PX830, you can get a Yamaha P155, which is an excellent digital piano choice.
If you wanted to go higher, then it’d only be the Yamaha Clavinovas. But they’re very professional digital pianos, and if you just want something for home, the P155 should probably suffice. However, it’s worth checking all of them out.
