Yamaha Arius YDP-105R Digital Piano

Traditional upright-piano look makes a striking first impression

Before you even get your hands on the the Yamaha Arius YDP-105R, you’ll be stunned by its richly-finished rosewood cabinet and elegant appointments. These give the Arius an inviting acoustic allure that won’t look out of place in a living room, teaching studio, recital hall, or house of worship. Includes a matching rosewood bench for a traditional look.

GHS graded hammer action plays more like an acoustic piano

Sweetwater keyboardists have been impressed with the Arius piano’s Graded Hammer Action (GHS) keybeds. This feature gives the Yamaha Arius YDP-105R a realistic key response that’s heavier in the bass side and lighter on the top end. Matte black keytops absorb sweat and moisture to keep fingers from slipping through extended periods of use. Though not quite as realistic feeling as the higher-end Ariuses, the YDP-105R does a great job for students and weekenders.

AWM sampling and built-in speaker system for realistic grand piano sound

Yamaha’s AWM (Advanced Wave Memory) sampling employs digital technology to record an instrument’s sound, and then applies a high-quality digital filter to the recorded samples. Using pairs of waveforms captured by two microphones for Left and Right, AWM Stereo Sampling creates a deeper, richer and more spacious soundstage. You’ll also appreciate the Arius YDP-105R’s built-in speaker system. Just turn it on and you can start performing — there’s no need to connect any other gear. That makes the YDP-105R the perfect transition from an acoustic instrument to the benefits of a digital one.

Playability features that keep the music flowing

We’ve seen some cool digital pianos here at Sweetwater, but Yamaha continues to up the game with included features that make practice and performance the way music is supposed to be: fun! For instance, a Dual Mode lets the player combine two voices together to create interesting compliments. For practicing, engage the Duo Mode to split the keyboard into two halves so teacher and student can play at the same time. Lastly, a volume limiter keeps an eye towards hearing protection, lowering the volume of the instrument whether you’re wearing headphones or playing out loud.