Portable keyboards/pianos

Hana

Does anyone have recommendations on a good portable keyboard / piano?

Something small enough to be carried around in a bag. Based on size there will have to be compromises in the number of keys and key size, but I figure that it would still be useful for practicing short bits to figure out notes and rhythm. If all else fails, still an instrument to have fun with.

The idea is to use this to supplement my practice when I am away from my piano, and not as a main instrument.

Options so far:

Yamaha Reface CP. 37 mini-keys, 3 octaves, and has velocity sensing. Small size and runs on AA batteries. Read some reviews online and it seems many enjoy the feel of the keys.
Yamaha PSS-A50. Similar to the Reface CP but at a lower price point. Apparently it may have the same key bed as the Reface CP.
Piano de Voyage 40 keys. Full-size velocity sensitive keys. Drawback is a much higher price point.

HZPiano

Hello,

Hana, I started out with the PSS-A50 some two years ago. My focus was on (double) bass so initially I bought it just to find out notes by ear to then transfer to the bass. For what it is, and for the price, it is a sweet little thing. It is super light and portable, has the neatest mini-key action I touched so far, and does well as a little MIDI controller too. The sound (through its single speaker as well as the stereo headphone output) has a little noise to it. The internal sound bank is so-so, useable for some noodling but nothing to take too seriously.

In my case, after just weeks I got hooked on piano VSTis, so bought a Roland A49 controller, and a few weeks after that, went on the hunt for a proper 88-key weighted hammer action. That resulted in the Roland FP-10. I kept the PSS-A50 for some MIDI testing/score writing/note entering and such.

Now CyberGene mentions the Casio CT-S1. I recently bought that too, for use as a second 'manual' above my 88 keys to create a setup for Hammond-ish playing (also through a virtual instrument). Again for what it is, I like it a lot. It looks stylish/classy, feels sturdy enough, has a super simple non-distracting layout, doesn't weigh much. So weight-wise it is as portable as it gets, size-wise this depends on how and where you want to take it. The keyboard action is nice, feels good to the touch, has the right amount of texture on the keys. Of course it is non-weighted, a springy action returns the keys. MIDI behavior is nice enough. Now, for such a keyboard, I'd say the sound quality is more than decent. The experience through its speakers is quite good, headphone output is excellent. Many of the sounds are pleasant and actually usable and enjoyable. My keyboard experience is not extensive, but thus far I've always been put off (or even appalled) by their sound and speaker quality.

So, here are some hands-on experiences, maybe these'll help you a bit.

Cheers and a happy search,

CyberGene

I have the refaceCP for that purpose. It’s a great little keyboard but not sure it’s a piano replacement, more a fun little keyboard in itself. I also have the refaceCS.

From the slightly larger ones I’d mention the Roland GO:Keys and GO: Piano. I owned the former and it has many wonderful sounds in it but 5-octaves full-size keys is slightly trickier to carry and so, I sold it to friends whose kids now enjoy it.

Recently many people seem to praise the Casio CT-S1.

xooorx

I have the Reface CP. It's definitely fun. I'm not sure time spent playing it counts as practice in any physical sense, but useful for stuff like working through a bit of theory you just read, or for entering MIDI in a hotel or at the kitchen table.

The PSS-A50 does appear to have the same "HQ Mini" keyboard, in which case it is identically useful whilst being smaller, lighter, cheaper, and can be powered over USB. (But possibly a bit flimsier? Not sure).