Digital Pianos Review
Yamaha Arius YDP-145 Review: The Pre-Bluetooth Mid Arius
The YDP-145 was Yamaha's mid Arius console until the 2025 YDP-146 replaced it, and it remains on sale. It carries the GHS action, the CFX sample with damper and string resonance, 192-note polyphony, 2 x 8 W speakers, three pedals, a bench and a 303-song lesson library, without Bluetooth. This review explains when it is still the right buy and when the YDP-146 is worth the difference.
Our Verdict
Research Score 80/100The Yamaha Arius YDP-145 is worth buying only at a clear discount to the YDP-146. The two share the GHS action, the CFX sample with resonance, the lesson library and the bench; the YDP-146 adds Bluetooth audio and MIDI. If the gap is small, buy the newer model. If the YDP-145 is on clearance, it is the same console for less, and the lack of Bluetooth is a minor loss in a house where apps connect by cable.
Editorial research score based on published specifications and documented features, not a customer rating or lab test.
Yamaha
Yamaha Arius YDP-145
Best for: Families who find the YDP-145 discounted against its Bluetooth-equipped successor
Skip it if: you want Bluetooth or a better action
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Listing verified: October 2026
Who Should Buy It
Buy it if
- You found the YDP-145 clearly cheaper than the YDP-146
- You want the CFX sound and a bench in one box
- Wireless streaming is not something you will use
Skip it if
- Prices are close; buy the YDP-146 instead
- Touch is the priority; look at the Roland RP107
- You want a console loud enough for a living room
Key Specifications
| Key Action | GHS (Graded Hammer Standard) |
| Sound Engine | Yamaha CFX sample with damper and string resonance |
| Voices | 10 |
| Polyphony | 192 notes |
| Speakers | 2 x 8 W |
| Bluetooth | No |
| USB | USB to Host |
| Pedals | 3 pedals built in |
| Weight | 83.8 lb (38 kg) per listing |
| Form Factor | Upright console with bench |
Where the YDP-145 Stands Now
Yamaha refreshed the Arius line in 2025 and the YDP-146 took the YDP-145's place with Bluetooth audio and MIDI added. Everything else carried over: the GHS graded hammer action, the CFX concert grand sample with damper and string resonance, ten voices, three pedals, dual headphone jacks, the bench and the library of 50 classics and 303 lesson songs. The listing confirms all of that and shows no current price, which usually means stock is clearing.
The YDP-145 also documents two figures the YDP-146 listing does not: 192-note polyphony and 2 x 8 W speakers.
Action
GHS is Yamaha's entry graded hammer action: heavier in the bass, lighter in the treble, plastic keys, two sensors and no escapement. It is the same keyboard as the YDP-105 below and the YDP-146 that replaced this model. It teaches correct technique and it is the first thing an advancing student outgrows, which is why Yamaha fitted the GrandTouch-E action to the YDP-166 above. Against the Roland RP107's PHA-4 Standard and the Korg LP-380U's RH3, the GHS is the lighter and simpler keyboard.
Sound, Polyphony and Speakers
The CFX sample with damper and string resonance is the YDP-145's strength, bright and detailed with chords that bloom under the pedal. It is a clear step above the YDP-105's older AWM sample and the same tone as the YDP-146. Polyphony is 192 notes, enough for any layered, pedaled passage, and the ten voices cover grands, electric pianos, organs, harpsichord and strings.
The 2 x 8 W speakers fire downward and suit a practice room or a modest living room; they are not a feature to buy the piano for. Through the dual headphone jacks with the Stereophonic Optimizer the YDP-145 sounds its best.
Connectivity
USB to Host carries MIDI to a computer or tablet, and the Smart Pianist app works over that cable with an on-screen panel and the song library. There is no Bluetooth, no USB audio and no line output. For a household that streams music to the piano or uses apps wirelessly, that is the whole case for the YDP-146.
Assembly and the Bench
At about 84 pounds the YDP-145 assembles in under an hour with two people: side panels, back board, pedal board and the keyboard unit, plus the bench. The key cover folds over the keys, the music rest is fixed, and finishes are black and rosewood. The bench is fixed-height; a cushion helps younger children.
YDP-145 or YDP-146
Same action, same sample, same lesson library, same bench. The YDP-146 adds Bluetooth audio for play-along music and Bluetooth MIDI for wireless apps. At the same price the YDP-146 is the obvious choice; at a meaningful discount the YDP-145 is the same piano with one convenience missing. Check both listings on the day.
Against other brands at the YDP-145's clearance price, the Casio PX-770 has a three-sensor action and the Korg LP-380U a far heavier one, while the Yamaha keeps the better sample and the bench.
Headphone Practice and Apps in Daily Use
Most YDP-145 practice happens on headphones, and the piano is well set up for it: two quarter-inch jacks on the front rail, a Stereophonic Optimizer that widens the image, and the CFX sample's resonance fully audible. Smart Pianist over a USB cable turns a tablet into the control panel, with the 303 lesson songs shown as notation and the metronome, voices and recorder a tap away. The absence of Bluetooth means the cable stays plugged in, which in practice most families leave in place permanently.
Long-Term Fit
The YDP-145 serves a student through intermediate level, and the GHS action is what eventually prompts an upgrade to the YDP-166, YDP-184 or a Kawai CN201. As a discontinued model it will resell below the YDP-146, which is fair given it was bought below it. For a family that wants the Arius package at the lowest price and does not need Bluetooth, it remains a sensible choice.
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths
- CFX concert grand sample with resonance at a mid Arius price
- 192-note polyphony
- Bench, three pedals and 303 lesson songs included
- Dual headphone jacks
Limitations
- No Bluetooth; replaced by the YDP-146 which adds it
- GHS entry action
- Modest 2 x 8 W speakers
How We Scored It
Scores reflect published specifications, documented features and value against the alternatives below. They are editorial research scores, not laboratory measurements.
Alternatives to Consider
Yamaha Arius YDP-146
Families who want the CFX sound, Bluetooth and a bench in an affordable Arius console
Read the Yamaha Arius YDP-146 review →
Yamaha Arius YDP-105
Families who want a proper three-pedal upright for lessons without portable-piano clutter
Read the Yamaha Arius YDP-105 review →
Casio Privia PX-770
Students who want a three-pedal console with a three-sensor action at the lowest Privia price
Read the Casio Privia PX-770 review →Questions Buyers Ask
Yamaha Arius YDP-145
See the current listing, price and included accessories.
About This Review
Mandrillis Team
The Mandrillis editorial team researches and compares audio and music gear using manufacturer documentation, verified specs and real buyer feedback, so you can make a confident purchase without wading through marketing claims.
Read our full research methodology.