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When making an important investment one should always try to find out as much as possible about the manufacturers and products. This rule is crucial especially when it refers to musical instruments. Even if for the average person, most musical instruments sound and look the same, the truth is that the price range can vary anywhere between 100 and 2000 dollars. Of course, some instruments are more expensive than others, the piano (acoustic or digital) being one of the most pretentious regarding time, space and money. Due to the fact that acoustic pianos are generally hard to use and maintain, most people choose their digital counterparts.

Any digital piano buyer's guide can offer certain pointers on manufacturers and models, but few beginners can understand the differences between them. First of all, the most popular piano-resembling instruments are: digital pianos, MIDI controllers and arranger keyboards. The main difference between the three is their intended use: digital pianos are ideal for anyone who desires the feel and sound of an acoustic piano; MIDI controllers are generally used in studio recordings while arranger keyboards are proficient when it comes to live performance. Most modern models have different elements from each of the three "core" instruments, but it is a good idea to know how and where you want to use it.


Another aspect that is not very well known is in regard with amplification. You should always take plenty of time to understand the input-output system of your instrument, or you will most likely have lot of problems when performing on stage. From RCA, MIDI, large jack or XLR, your output dictates the type of cable you need and the type of amplifier. In extreme cases you can use adapters, but generally this not recommended due to the fact that you will lose some of your output signal.

Finally, maybe the most important tip regarding the purchase of a piano is to always try the instrument you think of buying, experiment with it. Do not trust reviews who state that a certain model is the best digital piano, for it may not be suitable for your needs. If there is anything general regarding digital pianos, it is that most quality products have an 88-note weighted keyboard and offer a variety of voices and other expended capabilities.

You should also be sure to purchase instruments from well known manufacturers and always keep an eye out for cheap replicas.