OYAYO Upgrade 88 Key Folding Travel Piano

Last three weeks found myself testing, somewhat against my will, to what extent it´s possible to maintain a reasonably consistent practice routine using inexpensive equipment. Since - as things stand – I will be away from home for a total of 22 weeks this year, I´ve bought a foldable digital piano so I don´t fall completely behind. The one Willie mentioned once (https://youtu.be/dZKfH09C7Pc?si=EHRs1IMURzfQ4Pzy) does not seem to be available at the moment. Besides, it´s quite expensive, so I would have liked to test it before buying. The same goes for a travel piano from France (https://pianodevoyage.com/) that can be disassembled into four parts. So I ended up choosing a  „plastic model“ made in China for around 200 euro (0,86 euro = 1 US-Dollar) - a low financial risk. It has a full-size standard keyboard, the action is simulated by springs. On my digital piano at home (it costs about 30 times as much) it is controlled by an original grand piano keyboard ... 

My first impression was devastating: As expected, the sound from the built-in speakers (which I would not have needed anyway) was not that of a „grand piano“, as the sound is called. It is bearable with good headphones, but when traveling I use standard wired earbuds. Due to the risk of injury, I started practice with 20 to 30 minutes, but soon got back to my usual two hours without any problems in my hands, arms, or shoulders. After three or four sessions, I was able to get used to the unfamiliar sound and feel. 

What does not work: Playing near the chassis, between and on the black keys: unlike with a high-quality keyboard, no sound comes out here - likely due to how the keys are attached. The range of volume levels between loud and soft is also limited. After some days a certain key also stopped working after turning the device on. So far, however, it has come back to life after playing for a while - sometimes after an unpleasant noise, like a spring suddenly releasing. 

Naturally, the keyboard is not nearly as responsive as on a high-quality instrument, and highlighting the melody when playing large chords is a real challenge. So I wouldn’t recommend this instrument to beginners, nor for practicing challenging classical pieces. In the long run, I wouldn’t enjoy the sound either, and I’m glad that I can now and then return home to my wonderful Kawai. After about 35 hours of intensive use, however, I´m positively surprised overall: For the ridiculous price of a „toy piano“ it is usable and ten times better than not practicing at all while traveling. 

The attached photos show the piano in my hotel-room and how I had to adjust a chair using towels😆...