I’ve been shopping for a synthesizer or digital piano, and have temporarily become something of an expert on some of the actions used on the various contemporaneous keybeds. I only tested portable keyboards, so that immediately rules out some of the very best actions. Action is one of those things you have to try in person, but thought I’d share what I’ve learned from the keybeds I tried in person.
Fatar TP/400W
Found on Numa X GT Many people rave about this action for being very realistic like a real piano. It’s true the action felt crisp and balanced, but for me personally it also had a certain hardness to it, as in the keys felt rigid, like some of the energy riccocheted back into my finger. I didn’t really like it. Also the short pivot length was less than ideal, although I could live with that one.
Fatar TP/110
Found on Numa X Piano
A precise and heavy action, yet the keyboard weighs considerably less than the Numa X GT. I can see how pianists might like this action as a good compromise: solid like the TP/400W (though requiring more inertia) but in a more portable package. But for me I found it fatiguing, and again some kind of energy shock coming back to my finger, and I also didn’t like the short pivot length. Maybe I don’t have the right technique, but I did not enjoy this action even though I recognize it is good quality.
Casio
This action is quite nice to play. It is light the way I like. Just two minuses for me on this: the key shape is a bit angular, so my fingers get scraped here and there, and the pivot length is too short. But still overall a surprisingly pleasant action for such a low price and light weight. If Casio ever made a more stage-focused keyboard (knobs, faders, good inputs) with this action I’d consider it.
Nord Stage 88
Note that the 88 has a different action from 73. It’s also different from the Piano. Its keys are slightly longer than Piano.
Nord Grand
Nice light action by Kawai. Shallow keybed is slightly jarring at the bottom, but pretty good overall
Nord Electro Hammer 88
Not as smooth. A bit of extra sludginess, though certainly not bad. But I wouldn’t personally choose this action.
Nord Electro 73 God I hate this action! It is so gratuitously stiff and springy. I actually owned this keyboard once. I changed the springs to a lighter set I found on the internet. It helped, but not enough. Plus the keys are too short, my fingers often hit buttons on the board by mistake. I changed the springs back to original and sold it. Many people love this action, so selling it was a win-win: someone else now enjoys this action, and I don’t have to touch it.
FSX Found on Yamaha Motif This unweighted action is really good! Buttery smooth to play, probably my favorite synth action I’ve tried
Roland
RD 2000
Everyone raves about this action. I don’t like it. I actually prefer the “cheaper” PHA4 action
PHA4 Not great for rapid note repetition, but otherwise very smooth playing. I like this one a lot. There’s a slight suppleness to it which feels good, like hitting the sweet spot of a tennis racket. My fingers don’t get any unpleasant aftershock, the energy cleanly leaves them, even if the keys are slightly “bouncy”.
MPSE11
I actually prefer the cheaper MPSE7. This thing was heavy. But some people like these actions. Just not me.
MPSE7 A good solid medium weight action. Seems like a good middle ground. Not my favorite, but certainly playable.
Yamaha CK 88
Not bad, perfectly playable, but definitely inferior to CP 88. Lacks a certain precision that CP88 has
CP 88 This one is most similar to TP/400W to me. I probably even prefer this one. It’s very crisp and accurate, and I can see how pianists would love this action. Energy imparts cleanly from my fingers, and I appreciate this keybed as very high quality, but for my own taste the push resistance is too heavy. I could probably live with it because it is so precise, but it doesn’t make me happy.