Hitachi CP X5

Advantages: Has a very upmarket image and robust build quality
Disadvantages: Limited off road ability

...Before I say another word, let's get one thing straight - BMW's X5 is essentially a road car. More or less without exception, everything I've heard or written about the X5 praises its superb road manners and its saloon car like quality, comfort and poise. Having just spent a hard-charging week behind the wheel of this 3.0-litre turbodiesel model, I would second that. The BMW X5 for me is a perfect mix of new and old. In my opinion it successfully blends BMW's new futuristic look, with the clean muscular lines of the old X3. The X5 front-end face echoes the traditional BM "twin-kidney grill" , whilst its rear end retains that distinctive "boxyness" which made previous models so aggressive. Underneath the bonnet is BMW 3.0L straight 6 cylinder where the diesel does 235 hp and has a top torque of no less than 520 Nm. It's nicely packaged... Read review

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Advantages: reasonable price, reasonable sound, portable, built-in amplification & speakers, USB port
Disadvantages: no music rest supplied, a few dodgy-sounding notes around D4

...was so confident that CP300 would suit me that I didn't even bother playing it before buying it. Later, when the instrument arrived, I was not disappointed in any way. Just bear in mind that, unless you have one, apart from the music rest for CP300 a suitably robust stand will be required on which to sit the instrument. I use a Quiklok 'X' type stand. But Yamaha does a special stand costing about £150 - also available as 'an accessory'. *As far as I know Technics stopped making electronic pianos a few years back. UPDATE ON ABOVE REVIEW - 8TH APRIL 2009 Now on to my second CP-300. The first one - reviewed above - developed an odd resonance on the note 'D' that lies a major ninth above middle C. In fact, the two notes on either side of this 'D' are affected i.e. the C and C# and the D# and E. Yamaha reckons it could be... Read review

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Advantages: -
Disadvantages: -

...about £30. You probably have to order it direct from Yamaha if it is not available at the music stores. Another accessory that you would have to purchase is a stand specially made by Yamaha to sit the instrument. It costs £150. However, you could use other suitable stands. I use a Quiklok X type stand. Yamaha CP300 piano is a worthwhile purchase.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful