Korg SP -170S Overview

Korg has been around for years now and during this time they have mastered the art of manufacturing unique instruments while keeping them well within an affordable range. Among their best products are digital pianos which come with remarkable features competing with some of the most expensive keyboards in the market.

The Korg SP 170 is an upgrade from a previous decent instrument they called the Korg SP 170. A tiny S might be the only difference you can notice from their naming but when it comes to performance the two machines are well apart. Korg SP 170 is equipped with everything that made the Korg SP 170 incredible and the manufacturer didn’t stop there. They improved the features imported from the predecessor and then went ahead to add new features to take this machine an extra mile. All the upgrades have had a significant impact on the entire performance of the keyboard.

From right away we can tell you that it isn’t as explosive, in terms of features, like most other keyboards in the market (Which isn’t shocking considering its price range) but it does come with everything you’d expect from a keyboard and a few extras.

Here is everything else you need to know about the Korg SP 170S. Click the image for best price and free shipping on the Korg SP170s:

First Impressions

The one thing that all fans will notice about this keyboard is the inclusion of buttons on the keyboards panel. The SP-170 came with no buttons which took some time getting used to but after some time all users came to appreciate the simplicity of the machine. Korg has for some reason decided to go back into including buttons in their units. This may come as a disappointment to all the pianists who loved the Korg SP 170 for its simplicity and lack of buttons. Perhaps they can take comfort in the only four buttons included; volume knob, power button, sound buttons, and piano play. To everyone else who found controlling and accessing the various functions of the SP-170 a bit too hard due to the lack of buttons the four buttons will prove really useful.

Other than the four buttons everything else looks just like the Korg SP 170. It still has the same simple but elegant appearance below which all essentials necessary for a decent performance are contained.

Coming to the keys, Korg has maintained the natural hammer action technology found in all their entry-level keyboards. They have, however, made a few refreshing improvements to the new hammer technology fitted here for even better performance. All of this gives the keys a relatively sturdy response that feels a lot better than most of the other competing keyboard. All the keys deliver a graded response where they are heavy at the bass area and lighter towards the upper registers.

The one area that Korg have somehow managed to be exceptionally good at is replicating the response of acoustic instruments in almost all their keyboards. This is special expertise that they have mastered and the best part is that they deliver the technology to their entry-level keyboards which are much more affordable.

Sound

Entry level keyboards are usually associated with cheap and poor sound quality. When it comes to Korg and the Korg SP 170 in specific, the case is very different. Korg has designed this keyboard with their stereo sampling technology that delivers rich and realistic sounds. The Korg SP -170S replicates the sounds produced by other high-end pianos in the market yet it comes at over half the price. This is an incredible opportunity for beginners and musicians on a tight budget to get and work with a machine that isn’t just convenient to play and learn with but also one that delivers excellent sounds for enjoyable sessions. Not many entry level keyboards in the market can match the quality of this particular keyboard.

The Korg SP 170 also comes with 120-notes polyphony. This reduces drop-offs of sustained notes working almost exactly like an acoustic instrument. This extended polyphony makes it possible for advanced performance while sustaining the passages even when you are playing complex high-notes. This has gotten rid or rather reduced, cases of losing notes during complex performances.

When the stereo is in use the notes will drop to 60 which isn’t bad considering it’s an affordable entry level machine.

The Korg SP -170S also comes with a wide variety of sounds to choose from. Korg has recorded and enhanced sounds from their expensive synths and pianos before getting them into this instrument. All beginners will have a fun time working with all these sounds.

The keyboard is packed with two key tones from an electric piano; a modern touch enhanced with technology and a smooth and authentic sound. There are also two grand piano tones; one is a clear and bright sound while the other is elegant and warm ideal for a heart-soothing performance. Additionally, you get sounds from a strong pipe organ, vibraphone, a classic harpsichord, an ensemble string, and a drawbar electric organ.

To make sure that the quality of the sounds isn’t just included in this keyboard in vain, the manufacturer has fitted the system with an incredible speaker system. This makes sure that the sounds being produced have excellent clarity for the ultimate experience. This system is a major upgrade from the previous Korg SP 170 which in most cases had to be connected with an external system to get the best out of the sounds. The Korg SP-170S now comes with two 5cm by 10cm oval speakers with valuable improvements for better tones and resonance. If you still find the system too weak or in case, you want bigger sounds for a bigger audience you’ll still have the chance of hooking up this system with an amplifier and speakers. The sound production here will be extremely high and hence this is only encouraged for gigs or studio settings. On the other hand, there are two headphone jacks on the keyboard for private practice. These ports provide the privacy you need to practice virtually any time of the day without inconveniencing anyone. The dual headphone jacks also allow for student-teacher practice where you can learn on how to play the keyboard without having to use the loudspeaker system. This also means that you and your trainer can have piano lessons at any time of the day regardless of other activities that may be going on within your household. With the dual headphone jack, duet performance is also not just possible but more convenient.

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Korg SP 170S Specs

• Dimensions: Width 1312mm (51.65”); Depth 325mm (12.8”); Height 144mm (5.67”)
• Weight: 12kg (26.45lbs)
• 88 keys (A0-C8)
• Weighted Hammer Action Keyboard(NH)
• Three levels of touch control (Light, Standard, and Heavy)
• Stereo Sampling Sound system
• 120 notes polyphony (comes down to 60-notes) when using the stereo
• Comes with 10 sounds: two from a piano, two from electric piano, and one from E. Clavichord, Harpsichord, Pipe Organ, Vibraphone, electric organ, and some strings
• 10 demo songs
• Chorus and reverb effects
• Pitch control
• Key Transpose
• DC 12V power supply
• 9W power consumption
• Inputs/Outputs: damper pedal connection, two-line output/jacks headphone, MIDI output
• Two 9W 10cm by 5cm speakers

Korg SP 170 Pros

• The keyboard is an ideal option for all musicians operating on limited space. Its compact nature helps the keyboard to fit within tight spaces. It’s also light and easy to assemble and dismantle thus making it a portable unit
• The Korg SP-170S is one of the most affordable entry-level keyboards in the market. This makes it an ideal option for all learners out there with limited finances
• It offers excellent sound quality. This is a huge plus especially due to its low price tag. Therefore, users won’t just be getting a cheap product but a good performing one too
• Korg SP-170S also comes with a uniform graded touch response offering an ideal platform to practice on

Cons

• The most prominent issue we had with this keyboard is the lack of a full housing unit and sustain pedal in this keyboard. The Korg SP 170S is designed for home use but it doesn’t come with a stand or the two pedal unit to make it a fully functional digital keyboard. The extra cost of completing this keyboard could make one reconsider and buy another slightly costly but fully functional keyboard.

Final Words

The challenge associated with this particular unit is quite a huge one. With Korg SP 170S price range, most keyboards from other brands do come with a full pedal mechanism and stand to complete the functionality of the keyboard.

Other than that, everything else seems to be in favor of this keyboard. All beginners will find it very interesting and extremely useful for learning and perfecting their skills in preparation for the big acoustic piano. We, therefore, recommend it more to learners as we believe seasoned players won’t be able to put all their skills into practice with this machine.

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