Korg SP-170BK user reviews ( 8/10) - 5 user reviews

• 07/06/11

  Anonymous 's review "Just a home piano."

  Characteristics

  The Korg SP 170 is a rather striking entry level digital piano, in that it has no buttons on it! It looks like an instrument instead of a machine. Visually, the SP 170 is a thing to behold, and the way the chassis itself feels screams quality when compared to its competition in the Yamaha P95 and Casio Privia PX-130.
  
  
  
  Thankfully, the SP 170 doesn't share the polyphonic plight of the Yamaha P95. I has enough to get by, a strange 120 note polyphony, just under the generally used 128 note polyphony but just as acceptable.
  
  
  
  Especially since you can't layer voices with this piano. Yup. That's something that this piano doesn't do, unlike its competition.
  
  
  
  This piano also has the weird lack of 1/4" outs. Like its friends, it can be fixed with adapters, and considering the market, it's acceptable, but it's still quite annoying to have to deal with. Thank goodness again, for the MIDI.

  Utilization

  Everything that needs to be a button is painstakingly tucked away where no one can see. Even the volume is out of the way; this gives the SP 170 a very clean look. It is quite deceptively full of features though. Hold down the top three keys and depress another key to change the sounds, and to adjust reverb, chorus, etc. It is a bit clunky at first, but it's endearing once you get used to it. It also discourages drunk groupies from pushing a lot of buttons on your piano (speaking from personal experience with the Casio Privia PX-330 I personally own here).

  Sounds

  Once again, I urge you to listen to samples and if possible, try the feel of the piano itself; this area is entirely subjective.
  
  
  
  In my opinion, however, this is where the SP 170 gets a little erratic. I'm NOT a fan of the samples at all. The only samples I really like are the Rhodes and the FM piano, the grand piano doesn't do it for me; the decay of the notes is very bizarre.
  
  
  
  The feel of the piano is also strange. While it's obvious that these pianos are all artificially weighted, this makes it the most obvious. It's heavier and spongier than its competition, but it doesn't seem to be because of hammers.
  
  
  
  However, the speakers of the SP 170 are godly compared to its peers. While the Casio's speakers are acceptable and the Yamaha's speakers are awful, the Korg SP 170 speakers are incredibly usable.

  Overall Opinion

  If you're stuck in this class of digital piano, go for the PX-130. It's the most comprehensive and easy to use. Once again, you should try them out to see what works for you. They are all roughly the same, except the Korg and Yamaha have a strange set of limitations that the PX-130 seems to transcend.
  
  
  
  Again, see for yourself. The Korg SP-170 is still a perfectly great piano if it's going to sit in a living room!
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• 06/07/11

  tony-blackman's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Very proper to start the piano"

  Characteristics

  88 notes.
  
  2 headphones
  
  pedal
  
  noon.
  
  
  
  10 sounds available obviously not editable.

  Utilization

  I like the touch.je beginners and I find it trs saw the price okaz.

  Sounds

  I like the Piano1
  
  
  
  the other a lot ...

  Overall Opinion

  I use it recently (two months) and a small dose so my opinion is not worth trslger so much.
  
  
  
  to start I think it's good, j'esitais with the P95 but I had a lot of Yam (Motif. ..) so I wanted to go a bit beyond.
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• 02/19/11

  deridof's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Nice sound, great reality"

  Characteristics

  see below

  Utilization

  Touch is very pleasing that what may be a little hard but it's not necessarily a default.
  
  Configuration is dirrect with buttons, no buttons except for volulme and on / off. There is nothing complicated but personally I never use the functions (chorus. ..)
  
  Small default, the maximum level speaker crackles a bit which is unfortunate given that often plays at the maximum level (which is no exaggeration to get a good feel of real piano)
  
  Other default, the headphone input is misplaced, if one has a headphone a little short of impossible to do so passed from below and above it hinders when playing.

  Sounds

  I find the sound very convincing, very pretty, at least for the 1st, after I do not much but some others are quite correct (it should be about 10 sounds I think) .
  
  There is a good reaction to the power with which we attack the key power that can settle it seems to me (again I did not really dwelt on the settings).
  
  Customers who bought this piano on occasion I have not had the pedal Sutaine with and I must say that its a bit lacking. Without the pedal sound is a little too square.

  Overall Opinion

  It did 2 months that I have and I am fully satisfied, very realistic sound rather bleufant to my taste anyway, I take great pleasure to play with especially after having spent time on a synth. bought 350 euros in almost new opportunity, it's a very good piano for not putting large sum in which the piano korg sp-170 can easily compete, for people of all levels, personally I play pretty well and it suits me perfectly, a small budget does not necessarily mean product expert.
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• 11/16/10

  Philippe Spectral's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " It depends on what is expected ..."

  Characteristics

  88-key keyboard, heavy touch, but graded action (or so; it's not obvious).
  
  One input for the sustain pedal (included, but very cheap)
  
  Two headphone outputs on the back (not very practical)
  
  One MIDI OUT.
  
  Ten sounds (piano 1 and 2, Rhodes, DX7, hammond, organ, clavinet, harpsichord, vibraphone, strings)
  
  Chorus and reverb (on / off)

  Utilization

  From the outset, be aware; I am not a pianist - I play a bit of everything that passes without a wholesale level anywhere. I bought this keyboard for myself to put a bit harder because the piano and feel "synth" bothered me for some uses.
  
  Touch does not seem too bad. I think that to learn the piano or to work without disturbing the neighbors it may be suitable for a pianist, but realise it might seem a bit "plastic". I do not have much basis for comparison except for the few pianos on which I could play, but overall I think a piano has a sound that's more natural, to respond to differing attacks and nuances.
  
  But, to compose, or arrange your work, or if only for relaxation, it's ample.
  
  The manual is clear, but given the limited editing capabilities, it would have been difficult to get complicated. The only problem is that since the functions are accessible only by combination of keys (no buttons here, apart from on / off), it is better to have the manual at hand at the beginning.
  
  MIDI-it's simple, it's just a MIDI OUT; no knobs, no dials.

  Sounds

  The sound is just like the rest, it helps out ...
  
  The piano is good, not too characteristic, and neutral sounding.
  
  The Piano 2 is too bright and tight, I do not use it (plus it is in mono).
  
  The Rhodes is nice but has only 2 layers (saturated or not) the expressiveness of the coup is taking a beating.
  
  The DX7 is not as badly made as the clavinet. The harpsichord is a bit like the artificial organ. As for Hammond it is very ... Charlie Oleg-like. The strings are a bit kitschy.
  
  In short, this is not a digital piano that you will wnat record directly using embedded sounds. I think we need to see it as a master keyboard with hammer action sounds (including piano 1) which allows integrated work without having to plug it into a computer.

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for two months and so far it has not disappointed me. For the price, it does what I want:
  
  - To play the piano without having to plug in my computer.
  
  - To have a heavy touch, not necessarily high-end, but a more realistic semi-weighted MIDI controller.
  
  - To have integrated speakers (not very powerful, but sufficient) for failing to connect speakers and more.
  
  
  
  I think it will not compare to a real piano because the touch and sounds are not realistic and lacking in finesse.
  
  Fans of synths and VST will bemoan the lack of knobs and dials.
  
  Bad points for the headphone jacks on the rear and the sustain pedal is ugly and not practical (not too light and progressive).
  
  
  
  My rating reflects my use and price. Of course, if I could afford it I would have taken a keyboard, but this suits me to start with.
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• 04/24/10

  hhub92's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  88 keys, speed, touch that resembles a piano for the handyman that I am.
  
  SMALL JACK 2 headphone jacks, a power MIDI, taking power-supplied, a sustain pedal jack-supplied.
  
  A white plastic desk the most beautiful effect when the cache with a score-not included.
  
  No kick, stand, anything to put the piano top.
  
  No USB port that would have liked, however, nor from noon IN / OUT / THRU, or exit BIG JACK mono / stereo.
  
  Good, entry-level price and attack force, so the score of 8 reflects the price.
  
  Oh, and also, mine is white or black or wood. I should look for to match my guitars!

  Utilization

  The keyboard is very pleasant for me, I seem to play a real piano, with keys that are resistant, that bounce and that look real piano keys if you do not look at the rest of the instrument. Well, I'm not a pianist, but I still hit the pianos in my life and that, that it looks good.
  
  Manual: essential because the configuration is done at the keyboard, no buttons visible. Well, in two pages you know everything.
  
  So if we know in two pages all is that the general pattern is simple: you press the last three buttons on the right to enter selection mode (you can hear a click instead of notes), press a button selections of his or midified piece, and if we really want to address in something turning the volume knob from behind.
  
  Well, actually, there are thirty-six alternatives, all the keyboard: reverb / chorus, pitch, transpose, pitch adjustment (handy for harpsichord accompanying an oboe or other instrument not tunable).
  
  Selection noon: then I am not there yet, I did not even interface with proper outlet, so I do not know. In view of the manual, everything is done on the keyboard, of course. To learn by heart if it has use.
  
  9 because everything would be so simple, but certainly much less beautiful, with buttons, simple pimples!

  Sounds

  The sounds I agree entirely, the effects, I do not use it, I have everything I need on the computer and the Toneport when needed.
  
  I like the pianos, because they sound realistic enough, and HP and the amp is enough to live up to what I hear.
  
  Other sounds I do not dislike them, except maybe the strings, it's weird to play the strings on a keyboard like this, it seems more normal type on a keyboard synth, and they do not sound very realistic.
  
  The words surprised me by its proximity to that of a real piano, but hey, I'm still not a pianist, there must be a trick.
  
  The use of the pedal, for cons, it does not hit in the foot is too soft and artificial, but the result in terms of sound corresponds to what is expected.

  Overall Opinion

  I have recently, I have not tried before to avoid to get into something than 1000 € and more, I just wanted a piano as realistic as possible for not too expensive.
  
  I like the value (495 € with German VAT, more expensive than here).
  
  I find it somewhat resembles a real piano to satisfy me, and it makes you want to work and learn to play nice on by his side.
  
  
  
  With experience, I probably would do that choice, I do not think you can find both the price otherwise. But I would look at the color because white is white ...
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