Home > Consumer Reviews > Yamaha PSR-E403 - Portable Keyboard & Synthesiser - 61 Touch Sensitive Full Size Keys

This is (or was for Christmas 07) the bees-knees of amateur level Yamaha keyboards. It has an enormous range of features, which frankly can be rather overwhelming at first. There is a tome like written guide and software that come with the keyboard, but be warned there is nothing to actually get you started on the learning process if you want to use this keyboard to learn from scratch, you will need lessons or a written guide as well.

One negative comment I have is that the book that comes with the keyboard, though lengthy on technical explanations, does not really explain how to get the best out of this technical marvel. This is a shame as I am sure many of the features are useful, I just don't know enough to know when or how. For example there is a large lever to the left of the keys which act rather like the lever on an electric guitar altering the pitch of the note played, though the manual explains the operation of this in a matter-of-fact way it makes no suggestions as to when or how to use this whilst playing. The manual then is a spartan 'user guide' rather like a car manual, which makes no suggestion as to how to get the most out of the keyboard. This I find rather disappointing given the intended audience is the amateur and therefore the inexperienced user, what is the point of all these features without any suggestions how to make the most of them?

Aside from this negative, the key board is great. The sound reproduction is excellent, loud enough for a village hall, for example, with out additional amplification. The keys are full size (though not as many as a full piano) and feel relatively solid and well weighted considering. I imagine that the electronics are little different on a much more expensive professional version, the main difference being the build quality.

You will get a shock if you haven't seen this before ordering it, because it is quite a size. Luckily though it is fairly light.

It comes with a mains power supply, and will also run on batteries. It also has a rather plasticy music stand, which would not hold a heavy collection of sheet music.

A set of Yamaha detachable legs can be bought separately that mounts direct to the base, though any suitable table will do for occasional use. I would recommend a bag or carry case if you intend to store this or transport it as it is large, and will not take knocks very well as it is not made of heavy duty plastic. As I leave mine permanently out on a table I have a dust cover which is essential as the speaker grills and keyboard will quickly soak up dust (or liquids).

On balance this is a great product with flawed documentation and no extras in the box (with the notable exception of the power supply).

However I would like to see Yamaha improve the user interface as the sea of buttons is a bit much, and I suspect is intended to impress gadget fiends by the sheer number of them (some even throb glowing red) rather than be of practical use (perhaps I am missing the point here, as 18th century pipe organs have even more knobs and buttons)

If you are an amateur who plays the keyboard this is a must buy, but if you are a novice then consider alternatives before going for this king of the keys.

Duh duh durrrmmm, the organ began to swell.

Having looked around for a keyboard for some time, I noticed Amazon was selling the Yamaha PSR-E403, and at such a fantastic price too !!!!!

I must admit I am not an experienced musician at all, but I have owned a Yamaha keyboard before, although it was not a full size one like this!
That is the first thing that struck me when it arrived, was just how big this keyboard is, I must admit maybe I should have gone for a slightly smaller version, but I liked the features this one had to offer.

After getting over the initaial shock of buying such a large keyboard, I was pleasantly suprised at how easy it was to operate, and the quality of the product and sound, there are a lot of features for beginners like myself too and conecting to my PC was a breeze. But then what do you expect.

It is a Yamaha !!!!!!

I bought this for my daughter, just starting out learning piano. I can't think you would ever need anything more, it appears to provide all you could think of. Keys feel nice and although the case is classic plastic, ideal as a first keyboard.
Only bit which annoyed me was that it doesn't come with the power adaptor so effectively you cannot take it out the box and start playing !!
It does work from batteries but obviously not very practical. So in order to play there is more to purchase - the power adaptor. Which I would have done had I known it was required !!! Now I have to reorder and pay shipping. You cannot buy electrical goods in the UK without a plug fitted. Yet you get nothing for this and if you plug in a wrong AC adaptor for this keyboard, you could damage it. The part specified in the manual is a Yamaha PA-3C AC Power adaptor.

I just bought this keyboard for my son's xmas pressie. I had a little play with it, and it feels good and has a nice sound with many choices of tones. I only paid £145 from amazon, but for some reason they have put the price up. Maybe it has become so popular they are running low on stock?

I just bought the Yamaha PSR-E403 for my 10-year-old boy. It does seem to work fine right out of the box. Unlike the preceding reviewer, mine came with a power adaptor. The adaptor is called a 'KPA-3 Power Supply' and is made to work with Yamaha products.

Take my 5-star rating with a grain of salt, as we've only had the Yamaha for a couple of hours. It looks good so far, though.