Yamaha ARIUS YDP-181 Digital Piano Information, Specifications and Resources

Author: Andy Merrett / Data Driven

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Yamaha ARIUS YDP-181

Overview

The Yamaha ARIUS YDP-181 is a digital piano released in 2010. It is aimed at those primarily wanting a quality piano sound and keyboard feel.

The ARIUS YDP-181 has 88 fully weighted full sized keys with touch sensitivity but no aftertouch. It has 128 notes of polyphony. It has 14 on board sounds including pianos and real world sounds, and a sustain/damper pedal.

It uses Yamaha's AWM sound generation. Advanced Wave Memory is a classic high-quality sample playback and layering engine.

It has the ability to record and play back user performances. It has built-in MIDI capabilities. It has no built-in learning system. It has a built-in amplifier and speakers. It runs from AC power.

It's a part of the YDP family of instruments.

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Disclosure

Check out the latest Yamaha digital pianos on Amazon

As the Yamaha ARIUS YDP-181 is 16 years old, you may find used models and spare parts on ebay.

Specifications

Form

Number of Keys: 88
Key Weight: Piano
Key Size: Full
Touch Sensitive:
Aftertouch:

Sound

Number of Voices: 14
Polyphony: 128
Sound Generation: AWM
Piano Sounds:
Real World Sounds:
Sounds Editable:
Accompaniments:

Extra Features

Recorder/Sequencer:
Tutorials:

Communication

MIDI:
USB:
Tablet Connectivity:

Power

AC Power:
Batteries:

Audio

Speakers:
Audio Out:
Audio In:

Pedals

Sustain Pedal:
Soft Pedal:
Expression Pedal:

Release Info

Year: 2010
RRP: $2000

Description

Perfect for beginning students and experienced players alike, the ARIUS / YDP series provides true piano sound and feel. The Graded Hammer keyboard makes it a true joy to play, both in practice and in performance. The 3-level AWM Dynamic Stereo Sampling Voices deliver remarkably authentic sound, and YDP-181 incorporates a USB device port for storing songs recorded on the instrument. Moreover, the damper pedal includes a half-damper effect, giving you nuanced expressive control over the sustained sound. Dual Voice capability lets you play two different instrument sounds at the same time, while a 2-track song recorder allows you to capture your original musical ideas and performances.

Features

Graded Hammer (GH) Keyboard

Just as on a traditional acoustic piano, lower notes on a GH keyboard have a heavier touch, while the higher ones are more responsive to lighter playing. GH features an extra key sensor capable of reproducing fast repetitive playing of a single note with perfect articulation. The matte finish of the black keys enhances the keyboard's luxurious appearance.

Variable Touch Sensitivity

Select the hard, medium or soft setting to match your playing style or finger strength. Turn off sensitivity for a fixed response setting, ideal when playing the organ.

Advanced Wave Memory (AWM) Dynamic Stereo Sampling

The AWM (Advanced Wave Memory) is a sampling system which creates the realism of an acoustic instrument by using digital technology to record the instrument sound and applying high-quality digital filter technology to the recorded audio samples. The waveform of the sound created by playing the key of an acoustic piano differs depending on the playing strength from pianissimo to fortissimo. The AWM Dynamic Stereo Sampling can produce such dynamic nuances by recording samples of various playing strengths. The greater the number of samples used, the higher the expression.

USB connectivity for storing and playing music

Insert an optional USB storage device into the USB port to save and transfer your performances.

128-note Polyphony

Conventional digital pianos quickly run out of notes during fast, dense legato passages: sustained notes are cut off as the instrument "steals" notes to make room for new notes. A maximum of up to 128-note can be played at once.

Damper Resonance

Damper Resonance samples provided the rich and broadening tones produced in pedaling. Using these comprehensive gradations, YDP-181 model can realistically reproduce the complex sounds of a grand piano.

Song Recorder

The built-in, 3-song performance memory allows you to record a song, and then step into the spotlight and solo over it. Best of all, you can change tempo or Voices even after you've recorded your performance. There's also a built-in metronome to help you stay in perfect time.

50 Preset Piano Songs

A selection of 50 different piano songs is provided for your listening pleasure. These recordings were chosen for their beauty as well as their functionality. Since many of the songs are classic piano pieces, anyone taking lessons can listen to them for reference.

FAQ

What year was the Yamaha ARIUS YDP-181 launched?

This instrument was launched in 2010

What other models did Yamaha release in 2010?

What models did other manufacturers release in 2010?

What other digital pianos were released at a similar time?

Have your own question about the Yamaha ARIUS YDP-181? Email us and we'll research it for you.

Resources

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Purchase Links

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More Info

Added: 2026-01-26 Updated: 2026-06-17 ID: 8

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