Alesis Recital Pro review

The Recital Pro is the budget outlier on this list, from a music-electronics brand rather than a piano maker. Alesis lists 88 full-sized hammer-action keys with adjustable touch response, 12 voices, Layer and Split modes, and modulation, reverb and chorus effects. The 20-watt built-in speakers run at 128-note maximum polyphony. Lesson Mode divides the keyboard into two zones at the same pitch so a teacher and student can play together, and Record Mode lets you listen back to your playing. It can run from the included power supply or 6 D cell batteries, which no other piano here offers. Connections cover a 1/4-inch headphone output, a sustain input, stereo outputs and USB-MIDI. Alesis includes 3 months of Skoove Premium. The sustain pedal is not included, Alesis does not describe the action as graded, and its page shows no US price, so we scored value conservatively. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not test it.

Who it is for

Very tight budgets and players who want to run a piano on batteries.

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• 88 full-sized hammer-action keys with adjustable touch response
• 12 voices with Layer and Split modes
• Lesson Mode splits the keyboard into two same-pitch zones
• Runs on the included power supply or 6 D cell batteries
• USB-MIDI output and stereo 1/4-inch outputs

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Battery power option for practice away from outlets
• Strength: Includes 3 months of Skoove Premium
• Strength: Lesson Mode for teacher and student
• Weakness: 128-note polyphony and no named graded action
• Weakness: Sustain pedal not included
• Weakness: No Bluetooth or USB audio listed

Key facts

• Action: 88 full-sized hammer-action keys
• Polyphony: 128 notes
• Voices: 12
• Speakers: 20-watt built-in
• Power: Power supply or 6 D cell batteries

Where it ranks

Alesis Recital Pro is No. 10 in our Best Digital Pianos verdict.