Casio Privia PX-160: Entry-level 88-key piano with fully weighted keys

The Casio Privia PX-160 is an affordable 88-key portable piano with fully weighted keys, perfect for serious students, and even for gigging musicians (as an add-on board). Scaled Hammer-action, 2-track Recorder, USB Connection, Duet Mode, 128-note Polyphony. See Price on Amazon

Highlights

Here are the top features of a Casio Privia PX-160 Digital Piano:

• Perfect for beginners looking for a serious piano
• The piano sounds a lot more Realistic
• Built-in speakers (Rear-mounted) deliver superior sound
• Duet Mode makes this instrument perfect for lessons
• USB connection and 2-track recorder for more creative possibilities

This 88-key digital piano comes with USB MIDI and a fully weighted scaled hammer-action keyboard. If you know how to play the keyboards, you will enjoy running your fingers on the Casio Privia PX-160 88-key digital piano.

• Pros: 88-Key hammer action keyboard, dual headphone outputs, Great value for the money, lots of features
• Cons: Some of the piano sounds don’t sound like real pianos

Casio PX-160: Review

The Casio Privia PX-160 is the entry-level piano in Casio’s Privia series. The great sound quality, hammer-action keyboard, coupled with great features is what makes it feel like a real piano. The new speaker system sounds much better and you will get a concert-like feel even while playing at home.

Even though the piano comes with fully weighted keys, it is lightweight and portable, and easy to set up (just plug and play out of the box).

Who Is It For?
Want to learn to play the piano seriously, but don’t have a huge budget? Don’t Like the feel of most 76-key keyboards out there? This one fits the bill.

You can use it for learning or for performing. In fact, experienced players can use this as their second board as its quite lightweight. Though it comes with built-in speakers, you can further enhance the sound quality by using quality powered amps/speakers, or even headphones. Experienced players could feel that the sound selection & functions (such as the Recorder) are limited.

Get Connected
You get two headphone outputs (located in the front).
Features 1/4″ left and right line outputs on the rear panel.
USB Midi for easy connectivity to Mac or Windows computers (without the need for downloading drivers).

More Benefits
Weighing less than 25 lbs, it is quite lightweight which will suit most performers. the piano also comes with the Duet Mode, which makes it suitable for two players – you and your teacher perhaps, to learn and play together. The USB connection and 2-track recorder makes it easier for you to be creative.

Demo / Review Review

Competition Check

Casio PX-360 Vs Casio PX-160
The PX-160 is the entry level model in the Privia series, but the PX-360 has more features and is also priced higher. The PX-360 comes with a full color LCD touchscreen interface. It has got many more sounds, effects and features and can be used by intermediate/advanced players, unlike the PX-160 which is more for the beginner.

Here are some of the options that you may consider besides the Casio PX-160.

• Yamaha P-45: Nice option, its the entry level piano from Yamaha’s popular P series of pianos. Similar price and specs. Graded hammer standard (GHS) keyboard
• Casio PX-360: Next model in the Privia series, fully weighted keyboard action
• Yamaha P125: Nice piano from Yamaha. Fully-weighted (GHS) key action

Casio PX-160: Key Features / Tech Specs

Here are the main features of Casio Privia PX-160 88-Key full size digital piano:

• Keyboard: Has Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II keyboard for piano like feel & touch. 88 keys, weighted scaled hammer action
• Comes with powerful speakers, has line-out slot for external speakers
• 18 sound tones, 5 grand piano voices
• Simulator: Hammer Response, Damper Resonance, String Resonance, Lid Simulator
• 4 reverb and 4 chorus settings
• 60 songs you can listen to or play along with
• 2-track sequencer
• Polyphony (maximum): 128
• Duet mode splits the keyboard into two equal ranges, also has Layer, Split, Octave Shift
• Dual headphone outs/jacks, USB MIDI.

Overall

A lightweight keyboard, the Casio PX-160 Privia Piano is suitable for performers and comes with a scaled hammer-action keyboard. It has plenty of good features such as built-in Recorder, USB Connection, Duet Mode, and more. The privia PX160 has good build quality, good touch keys (no plastic feeling). The speakers are good but it can sound better through headphones/external speakers.

You should also consider the optional CS-67 stand that puts the PX-160 at the proper height, and the optional SP-33 pedal system that provides the same 3-pedal functionality as a grand piano.

Buying Links

• Buy Casio Privia PX-160 on Amazon
• Buy Casio Privia PX-160 on zZounds

Do consider buying the optional CS-67 stand and the optional SP-33 3-pedal system.

You can check out more Casio Privia pianos here, and check out the other Casio piano series here.

Have any views on the Casio PX-160? Please share it below.

KeytarHQ Editorial Team

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.