Casio Privia Digital Piano Review: This series has pianos for the intermediate/hobbyist players as well as for the professional player. Do check out the Casio PX Series pianos before you finalize on buying any other brand; these have a lot to offer at very competitive prices. Skip to the best Casio Privia piano on Amazon.
Introduction
These pianos have undergone a sea-change and are one of the best digital pianos in this price range. These uses excellent sound samples, have authentic piano action, and come with powerful built-in speakers.
Casio finally has a winner on its hand with the Privia series pianos. Finally, more people are acknowledging that Casio pianos are offering a lot bang for the buck, and their higher models really sound and fell like a piano in all aspects.
Comparison Chart
Here are the various models in the Casio Privia series.
- Casio PX560 88-Key Digital Stage Piano: Newer model, great for serious piano players, better than the PX-360 model.
- Casio Privia PX160 88-Key Digital Piano: Entry level piano in the Privia series, great for practicing.
- Casio PX-870 Privia Digital Home Piano: Great looks, authentic touch and excellent sound quality.
- Casio PX780 Privia 88-Key Digital Home Piano: Toned down version of the PX-860
- Casio PX360 Key Digital Piano: Better touch than the PX-160, but would recommend the new Casio PX560 (slightly expensive though).
- Casio PX5S 88-Key Privia Digital Stage Piano: Its more of a synth/stage piano (performance keyboard), for those who like to create their own sounds.
- Casio CS-67 Keyboard Stand: Piano like stand for the portable Privia pianos
- Casio PRIVIA PAC 2BK Accesory Bundle for Privia: Bundle containing piano stand, and 3-pedal Pedal board
- Casio PRIVCASE Privia Case: Gig bag for Privia portable pianos
Best Casio Privia PX Pianos
Casio Privia PX-870 88-Key Digital Piano
The top model in the Privia series, the Casio Privia PX-870 lets you experience a real piano (touch, sound, feel, pedals) for a more reasonable price.
Comes with several piano tones and ensembles. It gives you a combination of great sounds and keyboard action in a compact format. It includes grand piano lid simulation, and has features such as Damper Resonance, Hammer response and Sympathetic Resonance.
Transform your room into a concert hall with the PX-870. This is also available as a bundle that includes piano Bench, instructional DVD, instrument cables, headphones, and polishing cloth.
Casio Privia PX-160 Digital Piano Bundle
The Privia PX-160 lets you experience the privia series at a never before seen price. It comes with 88 standard size keys and is perfect for beginners who want to learn the piano.
The new Casio Privia PX-160 redefines the digital piano category with unprecedented sound quality and performance in a sleek package that is also very portable. The Casio Privia PX-150 features all new grand piano samples and a new Tri-Sensor 88 note scaled hammer action keyboard. An excellent piano to help you get started!
Casio Privia Pro PX-360 Digital Piano
The Privia PX-360 is one of the more popular digital piano in this series.
The Casio Privia PX-360 is versatile enough for any home, studio or stage. A piano with far better sound quality and features, good value for money.
Casio Privia PX 5S Digital Piano
The Casio PX-5S is part of the Privia line of digital pianos, and is more of a gigging keyboard.
It doesn’t come with built-in speakers but is powered by AIR sound source for incredible realism, detail and expression for grand piano sounds. You get a collection of acoustic pianos, vintage synth sounds, and it also comes with powerful controller features and sequencing tools. Read more…
Accessories for Casio Privia PX Pianos
Casio SP33 Pedal Board for CS67 Stand
This 3 pedal system easily connects to a keyboard stand, has extended damper function and simulates pedal down 1/2 way. Great for home of studio. Read more…
Casio CS-67 Keyboard Stand for Privia Pianos
High quality dark woodgrain and designed for Privia pianos. Excellent support, Perfect for home, Genuinely stylish appearance. Read more…
Casio Privia Gig Bag
Protective carrying case for Privia Pianos. Works with almost all the privia models
We know that the reputation of Casio when it comes to 88 key keyboards is such that many users will think twice before making a decision.
But it is definitely changing with the new range of Casio Pianos!
Finally, you get a quality stage piano from Casio that is weighted, pretty lightweight…not to mention the cost effective part.
If you have been using a non-weighted keyboard till now and wish to upgrade to a weighted keyboard without burning a hole in your pocket, Casio Privia is the piano to watch out for.
Quality Piano Sounds & authentic Piano Action
Casio was always known for providing lots of features in their keyboards, and the same can be seen in the Privia pianos as well, but the reason most musicians and serious students used to prefer other brands is because they were not convinced in these two areas.
However, that’s not the case because Casio has completely overhauled these two things in the Privia range of pianos.
The Privia Piano series not only has several models in the series, they now cater to a wide range of players. So if a beginner is looking for an 88-key piano with piano like touch and at an affordable pricing, s/he will find it here. If an experienced piano player is looking for a portable piano but with excellent piano touch (graded hammer) and excellent piano samples, s/he will find it here. You even have elegant looking home piano in this series. And then there’s this performance stage piano as well with several knobs and sliders.
One of the reasons that the Privia pianos sound better is because these pianos uses a new proprietary sound source ‘AiR’ (acronym for Acoustic and Intelligent Resonator). Without going much into the technical details, what it means is that the new system has more installed memory that allows longer sampling duration and enhanced waveform data quality. Besides, thorough attention has been given to perfectly reproduce the rich, resonating tones that are inherent to the piano.
For added realism, AiR provides Damper Resonance for the rich sound of the strings – when the sustain pedal is used, and String Resonance to emulate the sympathetic resonance of the open strings in an acoustic grand.
Coming to the piano key action, the top models in this series feature Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action II keyboard, which is scaled to match the weight and resistance across the range of an 88 note grand acoustic piano. Casio’s key action utilize three sensors to capture the dynamics of a performance with speed and accuracy. The top models also feature simulated Ebony and Ivory textured keys to give you that very realistic feel.
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Casio Privia PX Pianos with Synth Capabilities
The geat thing about Casio pianos is that you now have the option of choosing a fantastic piano that comes with synth capabilities, and again the advantage that Casio offers is its price point. So for example, the Casio Privia PX-5S offers knobs, sliders, faders — things that you commonly see on synthesizers, making it a suitable option for gigging.
Its pricing and lightweight (portable nature) makes the Casio pianos a favorite piano for most musicians and music teachers, who also own other synth/workstations from Yamaha, korg or Roland.
There are many pro musicians who are still skeptical about the Casio, but I would request that to have a look a the several videos available online to hear what these keyboards can do.
The action and feel is excellent, it comes with several controls, and its lightweight – making it suitable for use in a studio (as a controller) or for live uses (as a stage piano/synth).
More Reasons to Own One
Remember that Casio has only recently started making digital pianos, and considering that it has done quite well with its portable pianos.
It comes with minimal lights and buttons, and looks quite uncluttered. You can even buy a stand made specifically for these pianos and make them look much better.
It is slim, lightweight and will look right at home, studio, church, or your living room.
The two important aspects – sound quality and keyboard touch is vastly improved too.
The keyboard is weighted, and you get a scaled hammer action…the same action and feel which you find on acoustic pianos. The keys are harder to play on the left side and lighter on the right side.
The speakers are powerful, and the sound is full and realistic as Casio has used a much better sound source and better samples for its piano models.
What Could be Improved?
Though the keys are weighted and graded on these pianos, experienced players, looking for a top notch stage piano, may find that there is still scope for improvement, compared to some of its peers (Yamaha CP, Nord pianos).
These pianos are made of plastic (most of the parts) and as such are not very sturdy instruments. For home use these would be just fine, but if you intent to do lot of gigs get yourself a nice keyboard case.
The built-in speakers are good but to really appreciate the sound quality, get yourself professional headphones or use external amplification.
Most of the functions on these portable pianos can be accessed through a combination of buttons and piano keys, which can be difficult to remember initially. So keep your user-manual handy.
In spite of the above limitations, value-wise there is no beating a Casio. You get worth for every penny of yours! Every Casio piano has a nice space-saving design, and comes with advanced technological features.
But again, what you need to remember is that the top stage pianos from other brands easily cost $2-3k. Casio has made few compromises to cut cost, but in terms of bang for money, these pianos are the best.
So before you zero-in on another brand, have a look at a Casio Privia Piano!
Casio Privia Piano Reviews
Okay, so the Casio portable pianos are good, but then which piano models in specific are doing well?
They all are good and suitable for various purposes, but here some suggestions.
To begin with, if you are a beginner who wants to learn to play the piano, are short of budget, and don’t mind owning the Casio brand, then the Casio px-130 88-key piano is the one to go for.
If you have played a piano before, you might think that the keys are a bit lighter or makes a bit of squeaky noise or the overall construction is not solid, in the case you should be buying a digital piano worth couple of thousand dollars. For the price you pay, the Casio PX-160 88-key piano is perfect for a beginner. You can even get a privia gig bag to go along with your PX-160.
Leave all your misconceptions about Casio aside, the Privia pianos are much better than what you think.
Looking for something with some pro features? For a hundred or so more dollars, you can opt for the Casio px-330 which gives you a 16-track sequencer, pitch bend, a bigger screen, and line-ins to connect other sound sources. The Casio Privia PX-360 is another bestseller there.
A good stand for your Casio Privia will make it look better overall. You also have options for attaching a pedal board for your Privia Piano to make it look like a real acoustic piano with three pedals. If you don’t want a pedal board, go in for a universal piano style sustain pedal for better playability.
We have always maintained that Casio definitely trying to change its image and is coming up with more professional keyboards. They now have a serious entry level professional digital stage piano – the PX3. It is lightweight, has a much smaller footprint and is a digital stage piano combined with a midi controller. The sounds are great, can be easily tweaked and saved. The backlit LCD screen makes it perfect for onstage performances as it is easier to view even when it is dark. So do check out the Casio px3 digital stage piano.
As for the accessories, I did mention the choices you have. You can go in for a complementing stand for your Casio Privia where you have options of attaching a pedal board for your Privia Piano to make it look like a real acoustic piano with three pedals.
If you don’t want to spend on a pedal board, then just go in for a simple and good universal piano style sustain pedal for your Privia.
Here’s a summary of all the Casio PX Privia pianos and accessories:
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B012XHJ8OG” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Casio PX560BE 88-Key Digital Stage Piano[/easyazon_link]
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B0100RBPTC” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Casio Privia PX160BK 88-Key Digital Piano[/easyazon_link]
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B00S5ETZKY” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Casio PX-860 Privia Digital Home Piano[/easyazon_link]
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B00BISVN54″ locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Casio PX780 Privia 88-Key Digital Home Piano[/easyazon_link]
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B0130VVOOG” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Casio PX360BK Key Digital Piano[/easyazon_link]
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B00BISVO0I” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Casio PX5S 88-Key Privia Digital Stage Piano[/easyazon_link]
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B002KG9LX4″ locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Casio CS-67P Keyboard Stand[/easyazon_link]: Digital Piano stand for portable Privia pianos
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B0094P4DZU” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Casio PRIVIA PAC 2BK Accesory Bundle[/easyazon_link] for Privia: Bundle containing piano stand, and 3-pedal Pedal board
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B000Y08846″ locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Casio PRIVCASE Privia Case[/easyazon_link]: Gig bag for Privia portable pianos
Casio Privia News
Casio Donates Privia Keyboards to Further Music Education for Children & Youth
Casio, a leading manufacturer of musical instruments, donated several Privia pianos Keyboards in the US as part of its commitment to further music education for children. Casio donated several Privia keyboards to the Jazz Education Network (JEN), schools & several Berklee City Music Network locations.
“Music education is a critical component to Casio’s keyboard division goals. Without the support of manufacturers, educators, artists and NAMM, children today might miss out on the benefits that are derived from studying music. Keyboards have been often denoted as the gateway instrument for many musicians, if these donations help just one student benefit than we are all successful. We are thrilled to be able to share the gift of music with organizations and schools around the country,” said Stephen Schmidt, Vice President of Casio’s Electronic Musical Instrument Division.
Of late, Casio has been quite aggressive with its brand building activities, and they know the importance of reaching out to the young students and getting them engaged in music. Their current line up of digital keyboards and Pianos includes some top quality models, especially the Privia pianos, which are among the best pianos available under $1000.
- Casio donated keyboards to the Jazz Education Network (JEN) for a silent auction fundraiser at the JEN 2016 Conference in Louisville.
- Casio donated to Leverette Elementary School in Arkansas, which coincided with Casio partner and pianist, Simone Dinnerstein’s classical music program, Bachpacking.
- Casio also gave an assortment of Privia digital pianos to 10 Berklee City Music Network locations including the Boys & Girls Harbor in New York City.
About The Jazz Education Network
The Jazz Education Network is dedicated to building the jazz arts community by advancing education, promoting performance, and developing new audiences. JEN hosts a popular annual conference that serves teachers, students, artists, performing arts presenters, music industry partners, and enthusiasts. JEN runs ongoing programs of scholarships and awards for students and educators, student composition showcases, community outreach, music and instrument donations to schools in need, and mentoring with jazz pros and students.
About Berklee City Music
Berklee City Music is a non-profit organization that tries to empower the youth from underserved communities by using culturally relevant music as a vehicle for holistic youth development. Berklee City Music helps young people flourish as students, musicians, and well-rounded individuals ready to shape the world.
Source: broadwayworld.com
Final Words
Casio has come a long way with its digital keyboards and pianos. Today, the Casio Privia digital pianos draws respect from all quarters, something which was missing until a few years back when its keyboard and portable pianos sounded a bit tinny. Finally, you have quality pianos that you just cannot ignore. Casio Privia pianos are among the bestselling Mid-Range digital pianos that you will find on the market. Ignore them at your own peril.
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KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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