If you are looking to buy a Yamaha piano, you will quickly come across two ranges: the b Series for beginners and improvers, and the professional U Series. Both are upright acoustic pianos from Yamaha, but they are built for different players.
This overview explains the real differences between the b10, b20, b30 and the pro models U1 and U3 – height, resonance, touch – so you know which piano suits your playing level and your room. Buying a piano is a decision that stays with you for years; here are the essentials, at your own pace.
Beginner to mid-range
Ideal for: Beginners, families and returning players looking for a new acoustic piano at a fair price.
See all Klaviere →Professional standard, made in Japan
Ideal for: Ambitious players, music schools and pianists who expect a refined touch and a full sound.
See all Klaviere →01The b Series: the new acoustic piano for getting started
The b Series is Yamaha's range for entering the world of acoustic pianos – upright instruments with a solid spruce soundboard and Yamaha action. Within the series, three models step up by size, and here size largely decides resonance and sound volume.
The Yamaha B10 Klavier schwarz poliert, at around 110 cm tall, is the compact entry-level piano – ideal when space is limited and a real acoustic instrument should mark the beginning. The Yamaha B20 Klavier schwarz poliert, at about 116 cm, gains in string length and soundboard, so the tone becomes fuller. The Yamaha B30 Klavier schwarz poliert, at around 121 cm, is the largest of the series: longer strings, a bigger soundboard, audibly more volume and depth in the bass.
02The U Series: the practice and concert standard
The U Series is Yamaha's professional piano range and has been a standard in music schools and practice rooms for decades. The instruments are made in Japan and offer a more refined action, a more nuanced touch dynamic and more careful craftsmanship than the b Series.
The Yamaha U1 Q Klavier - (1.000 € Sofort-Rabatt mit Yamaha Code), at 121 cm, is the classic professional piano – the same height as the b30, but with a different, more refined action, different materials and therefore a different feel under the fingers. The Yamaha U3 SQ Klavier - (1.000 € Sofort-Rabatt mit Yamaha Code), at 131 cm, is ten centimetres taller: longer strings and a larger soundboard give a warmer, more resonant sound that carries even in larger rooms.
03b Series or U Series: the differences at a glance
Height and soundboard determine sound volume; the action determines how the piano feels to play. The b Series delivers a solid, honest piano for getting started; the U Series is built for demanding, long-term playing – with the corresponding price gap.
The table below places the five models side by side. The prices are rough guide values – the current price is shown on each product page.
| Model | Height | Positioning | Ideal for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b10 | approx. 110 cm | compact entry level | beginners, little space | from ~€4,200 |
| b20 | approx. 116 cm | mid-range | improving players | from ~€5,800 |
| b30 | approx. 121 cm | top of the b Series | families, more volume | from ~€6,800 |
| U1 | approx. 121 cm | professional standard | music school, ambitious | from ~€10,700 |
| U3 | approx. 131 cm | large professional standard | full sound, large rooms | from ~€12,900 |
04Silent and TransAcoustic: play acoustically, practise quietly
For anyone who wants to practise late in the evening without disturbing the neighbours, Yamaha offers two technologies built for exactly that. Both remain full acoustic pianos.
The Silent System (SC3) stops the hammers in front of the strings at the press of a button – the piano goes silent to the outside, and you hear your playing through headphones. The Yamaha B30 Klavier schwarz poliert mit SC3 Silent System shows this within the b Series.
TransAcoustic (TC3) goes a step further and uses the soundboard itself as a speaker, so the digital signal sounds physically from the instrument. The Yamaha B30 Klavier schwarz poliert mit TC3 TransAcoustic combines this with the acoustic piano. We go deeper into the differences between the two systems in a dedicated article on Silent and TransAcoustic pianos.
The choice between the b Series and the U Series ultimately comes down to playing level, room and budget. The b Series, with the b10, b20 and b30, brings a new acoustic piano from entry level to the upper mid-range; the U Series, with the U1 and U3, is the professional class for a long-term purchase. Take your time with the decision – it will stay with you for years.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Yamaha b Series and U Series?
Which Yamaha piano is right for beginners?
Why is the Yamaha U1 more expensive than the b30 if they are the same height?
Can you practise with headphones on an acoustic Yamaha piano?
Which Yamaha piano suits a music school?
See all Yamaha pianos
Compare the b Series and the U Series at your own pace in our piano overview.
Discover pianosView the Yamaha b10Passende Produkte
Yamaha B10 Klavier schwarz poliert
Yamaha B20 Klavier schwarz poliert
Yamaha B30 Klavier schwarz poliert
Yamaha U1 Q Piano - (1.000 € instant discount with Yamaha code)
Yamaha U3 SQ Piano - (1.000 € instant discount with Yamaha code)