Alesis
Concert
$250
Alesis Concert: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
3.1 Beginner 5.2 Night Practice 7.0 Portability 3.5 Touch Reality 5.6 Value
88 7.5 kg
Alesis Recital Review
Alesis Recital: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
88 Keys 7.1 kg Semi-weighted Beginner
In our TOP 10 Portability #10
Scores
Where to Buy
MSRP
$200
Retail prices change, so check current pricing at retailers.
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How These Scores Were Calculated
Beginner
2.9| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 0.5 |
| Lesson Function | Yes | +1.8 |
| App Connectivity | No | +0 |
| Bluetooth MIDI | No | +0 |
| Recording | No | +0 |
| Practice Basics (Metronome / Transpose / Layer-Split) | Yes | +0.6 |
| Stand Included | No | +0 |
| Damper Pedal Included | No | +0 |
| Preset Songs | 0 | +0 |
| Sound Variety | 5 sounds | +0 |
Night Practice
5.2| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 1.0 |
| Headphone Jacks | 1 | +1.3 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm | +0.9 |
| Headphone Optimization | No | +0 |
| Bluetooth Audio | No | +0 |
| Line Out | No | +0 |
| Speaker Mute with Headphones | Yes | +0.7 |
| Key Action Quietness | Semi-weighted | +1.3 |
Portability
7.0| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 5.0 |
| Weight | 7.1 kg | +2 |
| Width | 1283 mm | +0 |
| Battery | No | +0 |
| Foldable | No | +0 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +0 |
Touch Reality
3.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Key Action Quality | Semi-weighted (grade 2) | +1.2 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +1.5 |
| Polyphony | 128 notes | +0.8 |
| Sound Modeling | No | +0 |
| Key Surface | matte | +0 |
Alesis Recital review verdict
This Alesis Recital review reads the published specifications from a comparison-first point of view: touch, sound, practice fit, value, and limits.
Alesis Recital is best read as a portable digital piano for beginners and returning players. This review looks at weighted-key feel, sound, practice features, value, and realistic comparison points instead of treating the spec sheet as advertising copy.
Pros
- • Key count: 88 keys, a clear basis for digital piano comparison.
- • Touch: weighted hammer action, so the review stays focused on practice feel.
- • Quiet practice: Headphone practice support.
- • Connectivity: USB MIDI.
- • Use case: Its best fit is home practice.
Cons
- • Main limit: the need for a furniture-style living-room instrument.
- • Stand cost and compatibility are separate checks.
- • Nearby current models may offer a better match for some players.
Alesis Recital is a portable digital piano that makes most sense when its strengths are matched to the right practice situation. The useful points are 88 keys, weighted hammer action, 128-note polyphony, 20W speakers, and a weight of 7.1 kg. In a digital piano review, those details matter more than broad claims about being the best digital piano overall. For home practice, this model can be a sensible candidate if the layout and feature set match the way the instrument will actually be used. It is still worth comparing as a current buying candidate. The fairest comparison is with models in the same price and use class, where touch, speakers, headphone practice, and connectivity can be judged side by side.
Alesis Recital evaluation points
Alesis Recital key action and touch
Alesis Recital uses a weighted hammer action. For a digital piano with weighted keys, the important question is not only whether the keys are heavy, but whether they help steady daily practice. The matte key surface is a useful comfort detail. The specification lists 128-note polyphony; that is enough for ordinary pieces, while more layered playing or heavy pedal use benefits from a higher number. This makes the key action a practical comparison point rather than a decorative specification.
Who the Alesis Recital is for
Alesis Recital is most relevant for beginners and returning players. The main use case is home practice. Strengths: portability and easy placement. Limits: the need for a furniture-style living-room instrument. Buyers comparing digital pianos should also check the stand, pedal, headphone jack, app support, and local availability before deciding.
Alesis Recital sound and speakers
Alesis Recital offers 5 sounds and 20W speakers. That is the sound side of the review: enough variety for practice, but the real experience depends on speaker power, headphone use, and the room where it will be played. The headphone output supports quiet practice. For lessons, apps, or recording workflows, the useful connectivity is USB MIDI.
What to know before buying the Alesis Recital
Before buying Alesis Recital, compare it with nearby alternatives on touch, sound, portability, and value. A stand may need to be budgeted separately. Pedal needs should be checked before purchase. It is still worth comparing as a current buying candidate. For searchers looking for a Alesis Recital review, the practical conclusion is to treat it as one candidate in a digital piano comparison, not as a universal answer for every player.
Demo Video
Video coming soon for this model
We embed videos from manufacturer official channels and trusted reviewers. As soon as a suitable demo or review is available, it will appear here.
Specifications
| Keys | 88 |
| Key Action | Semi-weighted |
| Polyphony | 128 notes |
| Sounds | 5 |
| Weight | 7.1 kg |
| Speakers | 20W (×2) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Key Surface | Matte |
| Sound Modeling | — |
| Headphone Jacks | 1 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm |
| Headphone Optimization | No |
| USB MIDI | Yes |
| Line Out | No |
| Lesson Function | Yes |
| App Connectivity | No |
| Recording | No |
| Metronome | Yes |
| Transpose | Yes |
| Layer / Split | Yes |
| Preset Songs | 0 |
| Battery | No |
| Foldable | No |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 1283×295×87 mm |
| Stand Included | No |
| Pedal Included | No |
Spec terms are explained in the glossary. Glossary →
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Recommended Accessories
🪑
Stand
Stand not included (sold separately)
A sturdy X-stand or furniture-style stand is essential if one isn't included.
🎧
Headphones
Closed-back headphones with good bass response make practice sessions more enjoyable.
🎹
Sustain Pedal
The included pedal is usually basic. A half-damper pedal upgrade is worthwhile for expressive playing.
💺
Bench
An adjustable-height bench helps maintain proper posture during long practice sessions.
Where to Buy
MSRP
$200
Retail prices change, so check current pricing at retailers.
These buttons open retailer search results and may include affiliate tracking where available. Stock and listing status can change without notice.
How It Compares
Recital vs Concert
The Recital and Concert score very similarly across the main review axes.
Alesis Concert →Recital vs DEP-60
The Recital scores higher in portability, while the DEP-60 is stronger in beginner support and piano-like touch. Choose the Recital if portability matters most.
Donner DEP-60 →Recital vs PA-88H
The Recital scores higher in beginner support, quiet practice and portability, while the PA-88H is stronger in piano-like touch. Choose the Recital if beginner-friendly features matters most.
Artesia PA-88H →Related Guides
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Read more →88 Keys vs 61 Keys: Which Digital Piano Size Is Right?
The number of keys on a digital piano seems like a simple spec, but the decision affects how you learn, what you can play, and how much you spend. The honest answer isn't "always get 88" — it depends on your goals. This guide walks through who genuinely needs a full keyboard, who is better served by fewer keys, and what the practical differences look like in daily practice.
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Read more →Digital Piano Buying Guide: Everything You Need to Know (2026)
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Read more →What reviewers say online
A synthesis of recurring points from price-comparison sites, Amazon reviews, music-store staff videos and forum threads. Not a star-rating average — we read across multiple reviews and pulled out the points that came up repeatedly.
The Alesis Recital is widely known as an entry-level keyboard that lets you try 88 keys at an affordable price. Across overseas specialist reviews and retailer reviews, the majority view is "you can buy a full-size 88-key board at this price" and "a solid entry point for beginners." At the same time, reviewers repeatedly note that the playing feel of the semi-weighted keyboard and the quality of the piano tone have limits.
Praised most often
-
You get a full-size 88-key board at this price
While many budget instruments cut down to 61 keys, reviewers repeatedly note that the Recital secures 88 keys. Comments center on it being "affordable as a first instrument for beginners who want to try the piano."
-
It covers the basics needed for practice
Self-taught beginners welcome that basic features such as built-in speakers, a metronome, USB MIDI, and a headphone jack are included at this price. With a touch-responsive keyboard, you can express dynamics to some extent.
-
Light and not fussy about where it goes
Reviewers note that the unit is light and easy to place even in a studio apartment or a student's room. The assessment is that it is easy to handle as an entry point you can try casually.
Common cautions and criticisms
-
The semi-weighted keyboard is a different thing from a piano
Because it has no hammer mechanism, the point that "it is hard to recommend if the goal is to acquire a real piano touch" comes up repeatedly. Some also say it takes time to get used to and has a distinctive feel.
-
The usable voices are effectively few
There are only a few voices, and a sharper view stands out that "only the piano-type ones are really usable." The assessment centers on the sound quality itself being in line with the price.
-
Complaints about the build and operability
There are remarks that "it creaks when moved" and that "the button-and-key combination operation is hard to understand," and some feel a gap in build compared with the Yamaha P series and the like.
-
No sustain pedal included
Because the pedal is sold separately, a standard point is that serious practice requires an additional outlay.
By source
-
Specialist review sites
Outlets such as PianoDreamers and Merriam Music tend to praise the price, calling it "probably one of the cheapest weighted-ish 88-key boards on the market," while soberly framing the keyboard feel and tone as in line with the price.
-
Retailer reviews (Amazon, etc.)
Customer reviews on Amazon and elsewhere mix comments such as "satisfied as an entry point for beginners" with "it falls short if you want a piano-like quality."
-
Head-to-head comparisons (vs Recital Pro / Concert, etc.)
Comparisons with the same series and neighboring models note that placing it next to the hammer-action Recital Pro makes the difference in playing feel easy to see.
Net take
On balance, the Alesis Recital is an entry-level instrument suited to the goal of trying 88 keys as affordably as possible. The solid price and the fullness of the basic features are its central strengths, making it easy to handle as a unit for the stage of testing whether you can keep up the piano. At the same time, the semi-weighted keyboard and the tone quality have limits, and many comments note that it starts to feel lacking the more you continue. Once your intent to study the piano seriously is firm, a move to a model with a hammer-action keyboard is the realistic step.
We do not compute a numeric star average. The points below are recurring themes we identified by reading across multiple reviews.
Sources & transparency
This page is written by the operator, who has run the piano-learning site Piano Juku since 2017, based on published manufacturer specifications. We are not a retailer or tied to any maker — every model is compared by the same criteria. About the operator
- Last verified
- Data referenced from
- Manufacturer official
How the 5-axis scores are calculated
We do not aggregate user reviews or star ratings (see methodology for why).
Spot a mistake or have a question about what's on this page? Let us know and we'll review it.
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