Yamaha Introduces The P85 Digital Piano

Yamaha introduces the new 88-note weighted action P85 Digital Piano, combining a realistic acoustic piano experience with the convenience of today's music technology. The playability and versatility of the P85 enables users to experience renowned Yamaha quality, whether performing at home for family and friends, or silently practicing through headphones. The P85 will be introduced at Winter NAMM 2008 and includes such stand-out features as the Yamaha GHS (Grand Hammer Standard) weighted action, 10 different Voices that are easily accessible via dedicated front panel buttons, and 50 built-in songs for educational use and entertainment.

"The P85 leverages Yamaha's longstanding expertise as the leader in digital and acoustic pianos to combine our trademark playability, sound quality and versatility with exceptional value," said Dane Madsen, marketing manager, Yamaha Digital Pianos. "By offering GHS weighted action and the pure, powerful sound of Yamaha concert grand piano samples, the P85 gives home users some of the best features of our professional pianos without costing a fortune."

Replacing the esteemed P70, a consistent best-seller in its category, the P85 is truly a step up from its predecessor. Dedicated Voice buttons on the front panel are a welcome enhancement as well as the optional matching-finish stand and pedal frame with 3 piano-style pedals. A newly streamlined, compact design and contemporary appearance make the P85 the ideal alternative to a full sized upright piano. Because the P85 is designed for long-lasting durability, it's equally well-suited for the rigors of educational settings like music labs and practice rooms.

The P85 incorporates a high-efficiency amplifier that supplies six watts of stereo-sampled pianos per side via two internal speakers. A standard 1/4-in. headphone jack for silent practice doubles as an output for recording or external amplification, while the reverb effect duplicates the acoustics of a concert hall.

To provide multi-track recording and playback capabilities in conjunction with a user's home computer, the P85 offers MIDI connectivity along with 64-note polyphony. But even without a computer, the built-in song recorder is great for archiving ideas or as a performance evaluation tool.

The P85 and P85S in silver (MSRP: $799) is currently shipping.