Starfavor is one of the brands I have come across on Amazon while looking for a keyboard and got curious after seeing the numerous positive reviews it has received. There are many nameless brands on Amazon that produce low-quality instruments, so it’s not always easy to find a decent keyboard at an affordable price.
That’s why, I always approach these Amazon brands with a dose of skepticism. However, Starfavor seemed to stand out from the crowd. Its SEK-88A model, in particular, caught my attention with its compelling list of features, especially given its sub-$200 price tag.
My honest opinion is that it’s a decent entry-level keyboard that provides enough features for beginners to get started. It’s quite inexpensive and boasts excellent portability, making it ideal for small spaces and travel.
Read on to see my full thoughts with a detailed overview of this keyboard.
Since you’re interested in this keyboard, I assume you’re looking for a budget 88-key keyboard. If that is the case, I highly suggest you check out this post as well where I summarized the best cheap 88-key keyboards and digital pianos in 2024.
Pros
- Great value for the price
- Lightweight and portable
- Touch-sensitive keys
- Decent sound quality
- MIDI connectivity
- Affordable
- Comes with all the necessary accessories
- Excellent customer service
Cons
- Lack of a powerful speaker system
Design
As with all Starfavor keyboards, the SEK-88 features a minimalistic and practical design. It has knobs, each assigned to separate functions, and a LED screen on the front panel, making it easy for beginners and kids to navigate.
With a significantly thin and lightweight body of 11 Lbs (4.5 kg), it puts portability at the forefront of its design. In addition to being powered through a power adapter, this keyboard can also operate on battery power, which means you can play it anywhere without needing a power supply.
The fact that it comes with a carrying bag makes it a perfect choice for not only beginners but also more advanced pianists looking for a second keyboard to travel with.
Not only that, but this keyboard comes with an extensive package that includes a piano stand, sustain pedal, carrying bag, headphones, and key stickers. These are all you will need to get started, so it’s a really amazing deal considering the price and items included.
Keys
Starfavor SEK-88 features 88 semi-weighted and touch-sensitive keys. The keys are of pretty decent quality for the price.
While I don’t recommend starting with semi-weighted keys to serious beginners, you can still go for it if you’re looking for a keyboard to test the waters first before investing in a fully-weighted keyboard. I find semi-weighted keys provide a sweet spot between providing ease of playability and teaching dynamic responsiveness.
Moreover, the fact that it features touch sensitivity means you will learn to control your dynamics and adjust the force you apply to keys to achieve your desired volume.
One thing to be aware of before buying this keyboard is that the keys are not full-sized, meaning they are a bit smaller and closer than the keys in a normal piano. While the reduced size of the keys increases the portability, you might need some time and practice to adjust to the keys, especially if you are used to playing on standard-sized keyboards or pianos.
Sounds
This Starfavor keyboard features a good variety of sounds and rhythms, coming with 128 built-in tones, and 128 rhythms in addition to 80 sample songs. There are enough number of sounds and rhythms for beginners to experiment with. The sound quality is also much better than what I expected for this price range.
Another feature that surprised me in the SEK-88 is the 128 notes of polyphony. Most budget entry-level keyboards feature only 64, so the higher notes of polyphony in the Starfavor is another important factor contributing to a pleasant playing experience.
Speakers
If you have a big practice room, one aspect that might leave you wanting more is the speaker system. Despite boasting two 10W speakers, the SEK-88A may not deliver sufficient volume for larger spaces.
Because I live in an apartment, I always practice with headphones, so the speaker system wasn’t an issue for me. If you’re also going to mainly practice with headphones or in a smaller size room, the speaker system is not something you should worry about, especially considering the other features at the price point.
But, if you are considering this keyboard for a large space, I would suggest looking into other alternatives with more powerful speaker systems.
Connectivity
Starfavor SEK-88A is packed with a good variety of connectivity options including sustain pedal input, a headphone/speaker jack, MP3 input, and a USB MIDI jack.
The MIDI connectivity is a huge plus as it allows you to connect the keyboard to piano learning apps as well as various music-making software.
Features
The primary functions included in the Starvafor SEK-88 are as follows:
- Metronome
- Transpose
- Effect Control
- Dynamics response
- Tempo adjustment
- Recording function
- Dual mode
Dual Mode
One of the standout features of this keyboard is the dual mode that splits the keyboard in half and lets two players play in the same octaves simultaneously. This is a very useful function especially if you’re a piano instructor and play duets with your students.
Is Starfavor SEK-88A Worth Buying?
Considering everything it offers for less than 200 bucks, from portability to an extensive sound library, I believe the Starfavor SEK-88A is a good buy. It is equipped with everything a beginner needs to get started.
Plus, it comes with all the necessary accessories such as headphones and a keyboard stand in a full package, so you don’t need to spend any extra on those.
Conclusion
To sum up, I think Starfavor keyboards are solid options for beginners on a budget. While this review has only focused on the SEK-88A model, other Starfavor keyboards offer similar features.
With its lightweight body and MIDI connectivity, the SEK-88A is also the perfect budget keyboard for musicians on the go. It has a much better sound quality than what I had expected, and I honestly can’t ask for more at this price point.
I hope you have found this Starfavor keyboard review helpful. Let me know if you have any questions below!
