Yamaha p125
Wanted to make this post in the case it helps anyone else out that's in a similar boat to me.
TLDR: Roland 2000 keyboard feel is not even close to Yamaha 525/515, RD88/RD08, even the Nord stage or piano like you read online. Only comparison is the Nord grand/Hammer Kawai like VPCs.
I was looking for: a mid-tier/intermediate keyboard that played and felt like a real piano so playing would translate, a midi controller for Keyscape/ableton, and something I could potentially take out and gig with once I don't suck.
Price range was 500-$2500, it's a buy it for life kind of thing so I could justify spending more. All the recs you read online and on here are good, like none of these are bad by any means, but reading things online about how keys feel versus actually going to try them out are HUGE and I can't stress that enough. I would've wasted $1500 dollars had I not drove out 30 minutes so find somewhere you can test them out.
Was deadset on the Yamaha p525 or 515 since it seemed like best value for price for around $1500, and while that's technically true (it plays way better than the RD88/RD 08, and honestly even better than the Nord stages/piano), if you can justify spending a little bit more for the key-bed there is a huge difference in play-ability. After trying the Yahama's first and feeling a little disappointed coming from the Native instruments MK2 S88, I tried the Roland RD88 and RD08 thinking I would do one of those instead. Those both felt like plastic-y toys and worse than the Yamaha P525, so what gives. Then I touched the Roland 2000 and holyyyyy, that's exactly what I was looking for without breaking the bank for the Nord Grand. The Nord Stage and Piano while insane build quality and great for gigging out, the keybed just doesn't feel like a real piano's although the best "keyboard" feeling one if that's what you want.
So tier-list for a keyboard that actually feels like a real piano: Nord Grand (2500-5k) If you can find a good used Nord Grand/Kawai with same keybed for a similar value like around 2500ish, that's #1. #2 is the Roland 2000 Ex/reg, #3 is Yamaha p525/p515. Despite what you read online there's a gap between the p525 and the Roland 2000.
The rest of these are pure preference if you like going for a more "keyboardy" feel but still weighted or semi-weighted hammer action. The Roland V-stage felt similar to the Nord Stages and Pianos. The RD08 and RD88's felt like a step down from that, although fun to play on and jam. Would be good for just playing out since they're lighter too. Biggest takeaway, is go out and try them, and if you can afford the next level, just go for it because it is worth it and will make you want to practice and play more!
Yamaha p125
I have a Nord Grand 2 and I enjoy playing it, but I would never say it feels anything like a grand piano. It can *sound* like one if you are skilled.
In my experience playing every digital piano in over a dozen piano showrooms you have to get to around $7500 tier to get close to an acoustic feel. I went with the Roland GP-6 and it’s served me well and feels similar to the Yahama CX9 concert grand I play in a church (after I tweaked the Roland settings a bit). I haven’t played a Nord Grand but I guess it’s different than the other Nords because those definitely don’t feel like pianos?
I have a setup at home of used Kawai MP7se paired with Yamaha HS-5 monitor speakers, and it's just wonderful. I got it specifically because it has the same action as the Nord Grand (the Kawai RH III), and after trying it out in music store I just new that I need to practice on a keybed like this, and the Kawai was much cheaper than any Nord Grand. I also have a really high opinion on the sounds supplied by Kawai. Grands and Pianos are really good (especially the extremally natural sounding Upright Piano from the bank 1-4-A, that I love), and the rhodes, wurli and electric-grand are outstanding IMO. Usually I gig with my Nord Electro 4hp 73 due to the weight, but the Kawai is my choice for practice and recording.
This is a subjective topic. There is no one single measure of best that can be applied objectively. There's a few factors that could be used to grade boards but most of it is personal opinion. Any buyers guide is nothing more than the feelings of the author(s). To illustrate, here are my opinions. The Nord Stage and other Fatar boards feel nothing like a Grand Piano to me. They come bottom of the list in my ranking. Then comes the Yamaha P525. Nothing like a real grand. Is not bad but there's better elsewhere. The Roland PHA-4, as in the FP-60x/RD-88/Fantom 08/Roland V-Stage, is comfortably above the Yamaha P series. I'm very happy with this as one of the best 'portable' hammer actions around, something I can actually lift. The RD-2000 has the PHA-50 action, as does the Fantom 8 and Fp-90x. This is really nice but too heavy to gig with. A definite step up in class from the PHA-4. The action on Nord Grands is beautiful. It's made by Kawai and I think it may be similar to that in their MP11SE . The (Kawai) Nord Grand takes the runners up award. The winner as best and closest to a real Grand Piano in my book is the top of the range Kawai CA901. That's two votes for Kawai, it must be best 😎.
I have a Kawai CA901 and in my opinion it fits the bill nicely. The key action is phenomenal for a digital, it sounds pretty great with its wooden soundboard and it looks almost like a small upright. But I remember Kawai being way more expensive in the US than here in Europe, so don't know if it fits budget when bought used.