The Alesis Recital Pro digital piano has taken the market by storm, offering a surprisingly high-quality playing experience at an incredibly low price point. This review dives deep into the features and performance of this budget-friendly instrument, exploring whether it lives up to the hype and if it's the right choice for you. We'll examine its key action, sound quality, included features, and overall usability, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses.For under $400, the Recital Pro boasts an 88-key weighted keyboard, impressive sound capabilities beyond its price bracket, and a user-friendly interface with a backlit LCD screen. But does it cut corners elsewhere? We'll explore the limitations, including the built-in speaker quality, sound selection, and the absence of a bundled sustain pedal and Bluetooth connectivity. Ultimately, we’ll determine if this digital piano is a budget triumph or a compromise too far.
Pros And Cons
- Cheapest digital piano from a well-known brand with 88 fully weighted, touch-sensitive keys.
- Good key response and key noise for its price.
- Piano, electric piano, harpsichord, and organ samples sound good for the price.
- Compact and well-designed; good balance between portability and playability.
- Features a brushed aluminum accent.
- Includes a backlit LCD screen.
- Can layer and split tones; allows layering multiple sounds and assigning another voice to the left keyboard split simultaneously.
- Allows balancing the volume mix of different layers.
- Offers 16 reverbs and chorus effects, plus a button for dynamically assigning voice modulation effects (tremolo, vibrato, rotary).
- Many easily accessible buttons for selecting sounds, turning effects on/off, transposing, and controlling other functions.
- Has dual-color LEDs on buttons to show active voice and effects.
- Features dedicated quarter-inch stereo left/right outputs.
- Can be powered by an electrical outlet or batteries.
- Only has a single electric piano sound; lacks Rhodes, Wurlitzer, and DX7 sounds.
- Does not include a sustain pedal.
- Onboard speakers sound cheap and lack warmth.
- Lacks the ability to stream backing tracks from a mobile device to the onboard speakers.
Read more: 5 Best Piano Pedals for Your Digital Piano
Affordable Excellence: Price and Key Response
The Alesis Recital Pro immediately stands out for its surprisingly low price point. For under $380 (USD) or €360 (EU), you get a fully weighted 88-key digital piano with impressive touch sensitivity. This makes it a highly competitive option compared to other brands in the same price range, many of which are lesser-known Chinese manufacturers.
The key response and feel are notably better than expected at this price, exceeding the average for similarly priced instruments. While not quite matching the Roland FP-10 or Yamaha P45, the Recital Pro still offers a satisfying playing experience for its cost.
The sound quality is surprisingly good, considering the price. The piano, electric piano, harpsichord, and organ samples sound richer and more detailed than you might anticipate, though tweaks can further improve the sonic output.
Design and Build Quality: A Balanced Approach
Alesis seems to have found a sweet spot in the Recital Pro's design. It avoids the bulkiness of some competitors like the Yamaha P45 while also not sacrificing features to achieve an overly slim profile like some Casio models.
The brushed aluminum accents add a touch of elegance, contrasting with the plain black and white designs of many other entry-level digital pianos. It’s a welcome aesthetic upgrade.
Importantly, the Recital Pro includes a backlit LCD screen, a feature often omitted from budget-friendly digital pianos. This screen significantly improves usability, making navigation and adjustments much easier than relying solely on buttons.
Sound Capabilities: Layering, Splitting, and Effects
Beyond basic layering and splitting, the Recital Pro goes above and beyond. You can layer multiple sounds and simultaneously split the keyboard, assigning a different voice to each half. This level of functionality is rare at this price point.
It also offers extensive effects processing. In addition to reverb and chorus effects, the Recital Pro includes voice modulation options like tremolo, vibrato, and rotary effects, further enhancing its sonic versatility.
This comprehensive approach to sound shaping surpasses what's typically available in similarly priced digital pianos from other major brands.
Practical Features and Connectivity
The Alesis Recital Pro features a user-friendly control panel with easily accessible buttons for selecting sounds, adjusting effects, and managing other settings. This is a welcome departure from some competitors who prioritize minimalist designs over practical functionality.
For gigging musicians, the presence of dedicated quarter-inch stereo outputs is a major advantage. Many more expensive digital pianos only offer headphone jacks for external speaker connection.
Its ability to run on both AC power and batteries enhances its portability, making it suitable for performances in various settings.
Areas for Improvement: Shortcomings of the Recital Pro
The limited number of included sounds is a notable drawback. Only one electric piano sound is available, missing out on essential sounds like Rhodes, Wurlitzer, and DX7 samples.
The absence of a sustain pedal in the box is disappointing. While a minor inconvenience, it adds to the overall cost for the consumer.
The built-in speakers are underwhelming, lacking warmth and clarity. While external speakers are recommended, this lack still detracts from the standalone usability.
Finally, the absence of Bluetooth audio streaming capability prevents users from easily connecting with smartphones or other devices.
Conclusion: Is the Alesis Recital Pro Right for You?
The Alesis Recital Pro presents a compelling proposition for budget-conscious pianists. Its excellent key action, surprisingly good sound quality (with some tweaking), and comprehensive features make it a strong contender. The inclusion of a backlit LCD screen and a variety of connectivity options adds to its appeal.
However, the limited sound selection, lack of a bundled sustain pedal, poor built-in speakers, and the absence of Bluetooth audio streaming are significant shortcomings. These limitations may be dealbreakers for some players.
Ultimately, the Alesis Recital Pro is a great value digital piano, but potential buyers need to consider these limitations before purchasing. If you're looking for a budget-friendly option for practice or basic performance and are prepared to use headphones or external speakers, then the Recital Pro is an excellent choice. If you prioritize onboard speaker quality and a wide range of sounds, then exploring more expensive options might be necessary.