Quick answer: The Yamaha P-225 (around $650-$750) is our top overall pick for a reason: a genuine 88-key GHC (Graded Hammer Compact) weighted action paired with Yamaha’s CFX concert-grand sample, for under $800. The catch most listings gloss over: despite the “P-2” prefix looking like a simple step up from the P-145, the P-225 actually runs a different-generation action with a different name — GHC, not GHS — and a better piano sample to match. According to a MusicRadar review, the trade-off for the compact design is noticeably shorter key travel toward the back of the keys compared to a full-depth hammer action.
Our best digital piano roundup already names the P-225 the best overall pick. This review goes deeper on what that GHC action actually buys you, how Bluetooth works on this model, and who should look elsewhere.
Yamaha P-225 at a glance
| Spec | P-145 (budget line) | P-225 (this review) |
|---|---|---|
| Key action | GHS (Graded Hammer Standard) — same as the decade-old P-45 | GHC (Graded Hammer Compact) — newer, different action |
| Piano sample | CFIIIS | CFX concert grand |
| Polyphony | 192 notes | 192 notes |
| Speaker output | 2 x 7W | 2 x 7.5W (15W total) |
| Bluetooth | Not available | Audio + MIDI |
| Street price | ~$500 | ~$650-$750 |
What you’re actually getting
Yamaha P-225
- 88 weighted keys on Yamaha's GHC (Graded Hammer Compact) action — a different, newer action than the GHS action in the cheaper P-45 and P-145.
- CFX concert-grand piano sample (an upgrade from the CFIIIS sample still used on Yamaha's budget boards), with 192-note polyphony per Yamaha's spec sheet.
- Bluetooth audio and MIDI built in, plus USB-to-HOST for a single-cable connection to Yamaha's Smart Pianist app.
A boxed 88-key piano like this one typically ships at close to 25 pounds — try Amazon Prime free for 30 days if you want that box at your door in two days instead of waiting on standard freight-style shipping. Once it arrives, the P-225 sets up like any other slab piano: stand or furniture base, sustain pedal, power, done.
The naming trap, in reverse
Our Yamaha P-45 vs P-145 comparison covers a trap where two different model numbers hide the same key action underneath. The P-225 is the mirror image of that trap: a model number that looks like a modest step up from the P-145 actually hides a completely different action generation. GHS (Graded Hammer Standard) is the name used across the P-45 and P-145. GHC (Graded Hammer Compact) is a separate design found only on the newer P-225, built to be shallower front-to-back so the piano itself can be slimmer. Retailer spec sheets and hands-on reviews describe the GHC action as “not amazing, not bad either” — a step up in realism from GHS, but not a match for the deeper, heavier hammer actions on Yamaha’s console models like the YDP-165.
The sample set changed too, and this part is easy to miss since both pianos list “192-note polyphony” on their spec sheets. The P-225 uses Yamaha’s CFX concert-grand sample, the same flagship sample family used in Yamaha’s much pricier instruments. The P-45 and P-145 are still running the older CFIIIS sample. Polyphony headroom is identical on paper; what the extra money buys is a different, richer-sounding library behind those 192 voices of headroom.
The one real trade-off: key travel
A 2023 review flagged the practical cost of making the action compact: there’s noticeably less key travel toward the back of the keys compared to a full-depth hammer action, since the lever mechanism itself is shorter. For most buyers moving up from an unweighted keyboard, this won’t register. For players coming straight off an acoustic piano or a full-size console action — like Yamaha’s own YDP-series — it’s worth testing in person or at least reading a few hands-on accounts before buying, since “weighted” and “graded hammer” on the box don’t fully capture how a compact action feels compared to a standard-depth one.
Bluetooth: the opposite problem from the FP-10
Our Roland FP-10 vs FP-30X comparison documents a Bluetooth naming trap where the cheaper FP-10 lists “Bluetooth” on the box but only supports MIDI — no audio streaming to the piano’s own speakers. The P-225 doesn’t have that problem: its Bluetooth handles both audio and MIDI, so you can stream a backing track or a reference recording straight through the onboard speakers while you play along, in addition to connecting to apps like Smart Pianist. If audio streaming matters to your use case, that’s a genuine advantage over the FP-10 at a higher price point — not just a different flavor of the same spec.
Who should (and shouldn’t) buy it
The P-225 earns its spot in our best digital piano and best digital piano, weighted keys roundups because it’s one of the few pianos under $800 pairing a genuinely different, newer action with a flagship-tier sample set. If your budget tops out closer to $500, the GHS-action P-45/P-145 and the Roland FP-10 remain the better value picks — see our Yamaha P-45 vs P-145 breakdown for that tier. If you specifically want the deepest, most acoustic-like key feel regardless of price, Yamaha’s own console-style YDP-165 (covered in our best Yamaha digital piano roundup) uses a deeper, triple-sensor action the P-225’s compact design doesn’t try to match.
The bottom line
The Yamaha P-225 is a genuinely different, better instrument than the cheaper GHS-action Yamahas below it — not just a bigger number on the box. The GHC action and CFX sample are real upgrades, Bluetooth audio works as advertised, and at $650-$750 it undercuts every console piano with a comparable sample set. The one thing to walk in expecting: the compact action trades away some key travel for its slimmer size, so test it in person if you’re coming from a full-depth acoustic or console action. For most buyers choosing a first serious digital piano, it’s still the easiest overall recommendation on this site.