Yamaha's New Portable Keyboards for 2022

Sleek and professional-looking, Yamaha's PSR-E473 and PSR-EW425 keyboards are the latest entries in a long line of portable electronic instruments that pack startling quantities of advanced features into surprisingly affordable packages. Yamaha has been making portable keyboards since 1980, with the PSR series in production for 35+ years, so there is a substantial pedigree behind these new models. The latest iteration, PSR-E/EW, has been current for almost two decades.

Angled view of PSR-E473 on road case
Close-up of PSR-EW425 main panel and display

To begin with, PSR-E473 and PSR-EW425 are essentially the same instrument in two different cases: PSR-E473 is lighter and more compact with 61 keys, while PSR-EW425 offers a more piano-like range with an extended 76-key keyboard and the sound of a more powerful 12 watt + 12 watt stereo speaker system.

As with other models in the PSR-E/PSR-EW series, the core of the PSR-E473 and PSR-EW425 is a voice library featuring several hundred instrumental voices, in this case 294 "Panel" Voices plus 28 Drum/SFX kits, 40 Arpeggio-optimized Voices, and 458 XG Lite Voices for song playback. These high-quality Voices are accompanied by 290 Styles which provide real-time band backing tracks based on the chords you play, with on-board Style Expansion Memory that will allow you to expand your Style library with your choice of custom content.

Close-up of PSR-E473 showing Quick Sampling function enabled
Close-up of PSR-EW424 showing Motion Effect button and assignable knobs

While PSR-E473 and PSR-EW425 carry forward many features of previous models PSR-E463 and PSR-EW410, like Groove Creator (which gives you real-time control of your own EDM tracks like a DJ), Quick Sampling to USB or internal memory, and assignable knobs for manipulating effects and parameters in real time, there is no shortage of new features to get excited about.

New to the PSR-E473 and PSR-EW425, Motion Effect modifies your performance, adding a Filter, Pitch, or Modulation effect to the selected Voice while you hold down the Motion Effect button. The new models are also now equipped with a 1/4" microphone input, allowing you to connect a microphone and sing along while you play, hear your voice through the keyboard's speakers, and record your performance to USB audio. Other noteworthy new features include Mega Boost, which adds +6dB of boosted volume to the speaker system, and Direct Category Access buttons for easy and instant selection of voices and styles.

Backed up by the impressive history of Yamaha portable keyboards, PSR-E473 and PSR-EW425 offer something for a wide variety of keyboard players in an accessible price range. Whether you're looking for a piano-focused experience with access to fun and inspiring creative tools, aspire to create your own electronic music tracks, or anything in between, these keyboards are ready for your next musical expedition.