Yamaha P-125 vs Casio PX-S1100 | Digital Piano Review & Comparison

 

There are several massively popular models in the sub $1,000 88-key portable digital piano category given how high the current quality level is for digital pianos across the board, and the fact that the $1,000 marker is a line many folks prefer to stay under when choosing a digital piano.

Perhaps no instrument is more popular in this category than the Yamaha P-125 digital piano (aside from perhaps the stripped-down P-Series Yamaha P-45), but the Casio PX-S1100 is proving to be not far behind in terms of sales volume. And what if we told you that for some people, the PX-S1100’s total offering might make it a better offering than the Yamaha P-125?

This statement might come as a bit of a shock to you if you’re only really familiar with Yamaha products, hadn’t been considering anything other than a Yamaha up to this point and simply aren’t aware of how well received the Casio Privia PX instruments have been.

If you’ve been strongly considering a Yamaha after checking out some Yamaha P-125 reviews then this video and companion article are for you as we’ll be comparing and contrasting the Yamaha P-125 vs Casio PX-S1100 to see if, in fact, the S1100 might be a better choice as a piano keyboard for you.

Thanks for being here, let’s get into it.

 

Yamaha P-125 vs Casio PX-S1100 - Background

Well into the year 2022 and these two instruments have been some of the best-selling 88-key digital pianos on the market. The P-125 has been around for several years but it’s still very much a relevant product. The PX-S1100 is the recently released update to Casio's PX-S1000 (while the PX-S3100 replaced the PX-S3000) and has the claim to fame of being the slimmest 88-key weighted action digital piano on the market.

Both of these instruments are built to serve as digital replacements for acoustic pianos, primarily for students, hobbyists or those seeking a practice instrument with the flexibility that a digital piano provides, with a focus on high-quality grand piano sound, a weighted key action, and a user-friendly interface.

We’ll now move to a comparison of everything sound related on each instrument.

 

Digital Piano Sound - Speaker and Sound Engine Comparison

Casio PX-S1100 Speaker System

We’re going to start by discussing each piano’s built-in speaker system as one of the PX-S1100’s key improvements over the PX-S1000 is an improved speaker design here.

We’re working with two speakers here with 8 watts on each side for 16 watts of total amplifier power. The speakers are rear-facing, however, there are front-facing tone ports to deliver high frequencies directly to your ear.

In terms of the speaker redesign, what’s changed from the S1100 is the shape of the speaker’s inner diaphragm. We’ve also heard that they’ve changed the coating on the speaker cone as well.

The result is more definition in the upper register, more detail and generally just more punch - there’s virtually no way to get these speakers to distort.

 

Yamaha P-125 Speaker System

Over on the P-125, and while we’re dealing with less overall power here with 14 watts of rated output, it’s a 4-speaker system here as opposed to a dual system with two downward-facing mains and two upward-facing tweeters.

The result is a very well-balanced playing experience from the players' perspective. Despite a lower overall power output, the presence of the two tweeters here means the P-125 is delivering a clearer overall piano sound, though the sound engine itself is less complex (which we’ll get to more below.)

 

Casio’s Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source vs Yamaha’s Pure CF Sound Engine

The PX-S1100 is using Casio’s very well-regarded Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source. It's surprisingly complex when you consider the price range that the PX-S1100 is available for. The nuance and sophistication they've been able to pack into this tone engine is right up there with the kind of complexity and control you’ll also find with the SuperNATURAL sound in the Roland FP-10 and the Harmonic Imaging engine in the Kawai ES110.

The Pure CF engine, based on a sample of the CFIIIS concert grand piano (which has since been replaced by the newer CFX concert grand), isn’t a slouch by any means, it’s just not delivering the same level of detail, control and recreation of a real piano as the S1100’s AiR engine.

With that in mind, when you're choosing between these two instruments, from a sound perspective the choice comes down to a more advanced tone generator with a less clear speaker system versus a clearer speaker system with a simpler and less nuanced piano tone.

If you’re going to be using an amp or playing frequently with headphones the speaker disparity goes away, and courtesy of the Hall Simulator reverbs and Acoustic Simulator, you can actually tweak the tone of the S1100 to get pretty close in clarity to the P-125.

Both pianos actually offer a nice level of sound editing control with access to parameters like damper resonance, string resonance and more. The P-125 has a couple of neat sound-related features like a Sound Boost that is worth noting as well, while the PX-S1100 has a Surround sound feature.

 

Other Preset Sounds

In terms of the number of sounds to choose from, the S1100 offers 18 compared to an extra 6 on the P-125 for 24 in total. There’s quite a bit of overlap of sounds with a couple of acoustic pianos, electric pianos, organs, synths and strings.

Some sounds are stronger on the P-125 while others are stronger on the S1100. The e-piano sounds on the P-125 are very lush and modern, while the string patches on the S1100 are a real standout.

 

Polyphony

Polyphony is dead even on these instruments at a cool 192 notes each. This is more than enough for solo piano playing which is of course the main function that each of these pianos is made for.

 

Keyboard Action Comparison

Casio’s Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard

Casio’s relatively new Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard was first introduced in the PX-S1000 and PX-S3000. It’s been brought back here and is definitely a responsive action that’s right down the middle in terms of its weighting.

Now, this action is highly compacted, so there are some dynamic quirks here that you should be aware of. One quirk is that the black keys have been intentionally weighted heavier than the white keys, and this is a result of the black key being so short.

The compacted key length also means that the weighting of the keys will feel different depending on where your fingers happen to be physically playing the keys. We’re also working with a double sensor here and escapement sensation for the same reasons.

Because of these factors, this action probably isn’t the best action for a beginner to start with if your intent is to become a high-level classical player. If that happens to be your end goal, we’d recommend going with an action with a longer pivot length that feels more like a real acoustic piano.

In terms of the keytops. we’ve got an ivory texture on the white keys and a matte finish on the black keys. Having some type of finish on the keytops is a huge plus as it provides some glide if your fingers get sticky during longer playing sessions.

 

Yamaha’s Graded Hammer Standard Action

Over on the P-125, and we’re looking at Yamaha’s Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) action. The GHS action has been on the market for quite some time now, and it’s regarded as a very reliable and generally well-liked action.

It’s also using a double sensor and doesn’t have any escapement like the Smart Scaled action, and the overall touch sensitivity seems pretty close between them. On the other hand, the GHS feels lighter than the Smart Scaled action, and the keybed also feels a little more shallow, meaning you can’t dig into the action as much.

The biggest difference between these actions though is the fact that the GHS does not have any type of texture on the key surface. Instead of simulated ebony and ivory textures, the key surfaces are glossy.

The challenge with a glossy surface is that during longer playing sessions your fingers can end up sticking to the keys which can actually start to peel the skin back on your fingers.

Now, there are a lot of people who love this action and have never had this issue, but that’s certainly something to be aware of.

 

Additional Features and Connectivity

When it comes to the features, we’re looking at some fairly dramatic differences here, to the point that this particular area could be what sways you to one instrument or the other. We’ll start with the PX-S1100.

Casio PX-S1100 On-Board Features, Connectivity

The first feature that really stands out when looking at the S1100 is the fact that you have the option to run it on battery power as opposed to a cabled power adapter. Prior to Casio’s PX-S instruments, it was practically unheard of to find a battery-powered digital piano with such a realistic pianistic experience as what we have here. Yamaha for example doesn't offer a battery-powered product in the same vein.

For folks looking for maximum portability and the flexibility that battery operation provides, such as buskers for example since another power supply may not be readily available, the PX-S1100 is a truly unique offering in the price point.

Secondly, the PX-S1100 offers both Bluetooth Audio and Bluetooth MIDI (the S1000 only offered Bluetooth Audio). This means you can wirelessly connect the S1100 to computers and smart devices to extend the functionality without a cable courtesy of the free WU-BT10 Bluetooth adapter.

In terms of the rest of the other connectors, the S1100 also has 1/4” line outputs (L/MONO, R means no fiddling with adaptors when connecting to a PA system), USB Type A and B, a stereo mini line-in, dual headphone outputs, a sustain pedal input and a slot for the optional 3-pedal unit.

Thirdly, the S1100’s weight needs to be mentioned; the S1100 is the slimmest digital piano on the market and among the lightest, which is of course becoming increasingly important to consumers.

 

Yamaha P-125 On-Board Features, Connectivity

Over on the P-125 and we still have a very light instrument, in fact, it’s only a half pound heavier than the S1100, but it’s not as slim and as mentioned, does not offer battery power despite an otherwise minimalistic design.

The P-125 also oddly doesn’t offer any Bluetooth connectivity, whether wireless MIDI or audio, so if you want to connect to Yamaha’s great Smart Pianist App for Android and iOS Devices, you’ll need to do so via the USB port.

Now, on the other hand, the P-125 has a feature that alone makes it many people’s top choice, that feature being a built-in USB audio interface. Having a USB audio interface means you can connect to DAWs to send and receive audio information and do direct audio recording without the need for additional equipment, which can really have a big impact on gigging musicians.

The P-125 also has a solid onboard arranger function taking the form of an auto-accompaniment system. It’s loaded with a number of rhythms, and the accompaniment follows the harmony outlined by your left hand. In terms of other connectors, other than Bluetooth, the P125 is basically the same as the S1100 with a 1/4” line out, USB to Host, a stereo mini line-in, dual headphone jacks, a sustain pedal input and a slot for the optional 3-pedal unit.

 

Standard Functionality Across both Instruments & Accessories

When it comes to standard functionality, things are pretty much the same between these two pianos as both come with things like a basic MIDI recorder, playback, split mode, transpose, a metronome, and some reverb engines.

Both pianos have some built-in songs as well. Both pianos come with a very basic footswitch sustain pedal that we would recommend upgrading to a more substantial damper pedal, and a music stand for sheet music.

Both pianos are available with an optional designer keyboard stand 3-pedal unit.

 

Closing Thoughts

To wrap things up, we’ve got two instruments here offered at almost the same price point to a piano-focused end user, and yet, the finer details around each instrument are quite different.

It’s a battle of equals, but where you place specific value, i.e. do you want the superior tone engine, Bluetooth and a small frame, or do things like auto-accompaniment and a USB audio interface matter more to you?

There’s no right answer here, but hopefully, this comparison has been helpful in answering some questions for you.

The post Yamaha P-125 vs Casio PX-S1100 | Digital Piano Review & Comparison first appeared on Merriam Pianos

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Casio PX-S1100 vs PX-S1000 | Digital Piano Review | Pros & Cons | What's The Difference?

 

 The Casio Privia PX-S1000 and PX-S3000 hit the market a few years ago, and both proved to be hugely popular Casio digital pianos, especially during the lockdown years of 2020 and 2021.

The PX-S1000 has since been replaced by the PX-S1100 (and the S3000 by the PX-S3100), so of course, doing a comparison of these two pianos is called for. We’ve actually had a number of customers contact us who already own an S1000 wondering if it’s worthwhile to trade it in for an S1100.

Hopefully, this Casio PX-S1100 vs PX-S1000 comparison and review can answer that question for you, and if you’re shopping for the first time and had already heard about the S1000, learning about the S1100 in greater context could be of some value to you.

Let’s start this with some general background information.

Casio PX-S1100 vs PX-S1000 - Background

We’ve done a number of reviews now comparing the new PX-S1100 trading it to some models it competes against in the market, such as the Yamaha P-125 and Roland FP-10, but we haven’t yet compared it to its predecessor the PX-S1000.

While there are some definite upgrades, much of what made the S1000 so successful has been carried over here. With that being said, the PX-S1100BK is a fairly subtle upgrade, and not the giant leap forward that the PX-S1000 was over the PX-160 (though the CDP-S350 is also kind of a replacement for the PX-160 as well).

For many people who already own an S1000, trading it in won’t make a ton of sense except for a few notable situations which we will get to below. Let’s move to what remains the same on the PX-S1100.

What’s the Same?

Sound Engine - Multidimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source

Firstly, it would seem that the tone engines and related specs are exactly the same between these two. Both pianos are using the Multidimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source, both pianos have 192 notes of polyphony, and both pianos have the same 18 built-in preset tones such as grand pianos and electric pianos.

The amplifier power is also the same at 16 watts courtesy of dual 8-watt speakers,

The same digital effects have returned here as well, which consist of Sound Mode, Hall Simulators and more.

Weighted Key Action & Cabinet

Outside of sound-related considerations, both pianos have the same Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard (with the same ivory key surface), the same super slim casing, the same finish options (Black, White and Red), the same music stand, and both offer the option to be powered by 8 AA batteries.

In fact, the PX-S1100 is still the slimmest 88-key weighted action available beating out the Roland FP-10, Roland FP-30X and Kawai ES-110, which is remarkable since it can also run on battery power as opposed to a traditional cabled power supply. The touch sensor user interface has been tweaked but largely remains the same.

 

Features - Midi Recorder & More

Essentially all of the features have carried over here. The MIDI recorder and playback options are the same, as well as things like duet mode and built-in songs.

 

What’s Different?

Bluetooth Connectivity

A critical change with the S1100 digital piano which for some will make it worth trading their S1000 in is the tweak to the Bluetooth offering; while the S1000 remarkably offered Bluetooth Audio, Bluetooth MIDI was conspicuously absent.

The PX-S1100 rectifies this by including the WU-BT10 Bluetooth adapter, which when plugged in gives the S1100 Bluetooth Audio and wireless MIDI.

This allows you to wirelessly access apps for iOS and Android such as the new Casio Music Space App which has replaced the Chordana Play. You can remote control everything from the app including the piano tones, the metronome, transpose, and Acoustic Simulator features like damper resonance, string resonance, and the Hall Simulator reverbs.

You can also play along with your favorite songs by streaming them through the PX-S1100’s speakers.

The remainder of the connectors, including the L/MONO, R line outs, dual headphone jacks, sustain pedal input and 3-pedal unit input (damper pedal, sostenuto and soft), all remain the same.

 

Redesigned Speaker System

As we mentioned above, the built-in speaker power has remained the same here, however, the design of the speaker system has been improved, to the point that the acoustic piano sound is noticeably better on the PX-S1100.

Essentially, they’ve changed the speaker diaphragm with the hopes of creating a clearer high-end and more dynamic low-end to the sound. We are noticing that they’ve been absolutely successful in this regard.

The PX-S1100 is producing better top end on each note, and definitely better clarity as well. This is the most apparent throughout the mid-range. If you plug in a set of headphones, suddenly those differences disappear.

 

Closing Thoughts

When comparing the Casio PX-S1100 vs PX-S1000, the only real difference we’re seeing out of the S1100 is an improved speaker design which translates to better clarity in the mid-range of the instrument and more detail in the higher frequencies.

The superior sound is certainly welcome, but on its own is probably not significant enough for someone to feel compelled to trade up their PX-S1000.

The other big difference, however, is of course the inclusion of the Bluetooth adaptor which gives the PX-S1100 Bluetooth MIDI and Audio capability. If Bluetooth MIDI is important to you, this could definitely be a compelling enough reason for someone to upgrade.

All in all, the PX-S1100 offers everything that made the PX-S1000 great while upgrading a couple of potentially important areas with no downside, remaining an extremely portably digital piano even capable of gigging due to its line outputs.

Thanks for reading!

The post Casio PX-S1100 vs PX-S1000 | Digital Piano Review | Pros & Cons | What's The Difference? first appeared on Merriam Pianos

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Casio PX-S7000 vs Roland FP90X | Digital Piano Comparison & Review

 

 For years the high-end all-in-one portable digital piano portion of the market was occupied by only Roland, Kawai and Yamaha. With the release of the new Casio Privia PX-S5000, PX-S6000 and PX-S7000, Casio has officially entered the fray with their very own stage pianos.

Already we’ve gotten a ton of requests to compare the new Casio PX-S7000 vs Roland FP90X (which replaced the popular Roland FP-90), and, in some ways, it's an unlikely comparison because despite occupying the same specific category, as there are actually some pretty big differences between these two pianos.

That said, there are definitely some interesting points of similarity as well, and since they are directly positioned against one another from a price standpoint, the speaker system, it’s definitely a worthwhile comparison.

 

Casio PX-S7000 vs Roland FP90X - Digital Piano Sound Comparison

Both pianos are of course 88-note weighted key action all-in-one units with high-quality sound engines directed towards offering a very authentic acoustic piano experience. That said, there’s a fundamental difference between how these two pianos generate their acoustic piano tone.

Sampling vs Modeling

The PX-S7000 is using a version of Casio’s Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR tone generator which is a sample-based engine, meaning it’s based on the recording of a real grand piano (or three in this case with three core grand piano samples). Calling it multi-dimensional means they’ve built this engine with more than just basic stereo samples. This is a high-quality engine through and through.

On the FP-90X, Roland is using the PureAcoustic tone generator which is a modeling-based engine for acoustic piano sounds (the non-acoustic piano presets are sample-based). With a modeling engine, the tone is generated in real time via a mathematical algorithm. As a result, the polyphony is limitless here on acoustic piano tones.

Both approaches to tone have their merits, and we have a number of videos and articles that go in-depth on this topic if you’re interested. Let’s now compare our musical observations to the core acoustic piano tones of each piano.

 

The PX-S7000’s Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source Observations

Starting with the PX-S7000, we have three high-quality grand piano samples here with the New York grand, which is not so secretly a sample of a Steinway Concert D concert grand, the Hamburg Grand (Hamburg Steinway D), and the Berlin grand, which is openly advertised as a sample of the C. Bechstein D282 grand piano due to the collaboration between Casio and C. Bechstein.

These samples were originally created for the Celviano Grand Hybrid line of premium home digital pianos. With the onboard speakers engaged, the Berlin grand is probably the best-matched tone to what the speakers naturally produce. The tone is rich, dynamic, and quite warm.

The FP-90X’s PureAcoustic Piano Modeling Engine Observations

The PureAcoustic engine offers a number of different acoustic piano presets, all with differently configured parameters of the over-arching algorithm. The default grand piano tone is very nice, as are some of the others, while some are not so convincing.

Being a modeling engine, Roland gives the users many parameters to edit and modify to customize the piano tone via the Piano Designer function, with access to things like lid, key-off noise, soundboard type, string resonance, hammer noise, duplex, full-scale, key-off resonance, cabinet resonance.

You get the same type of functionality over on the PX-S7000 via the Acoustic Simulator, it’s just not as extensive given the fact that we’re working with a sample-based engine instead. That said, you can still edit things like damper resonance, aliquot resonance, as well key-off resonance, and a Hall Simulator gives you access to different reverb engines.

Overall, both pianos are generating killer acoustic piano tones, and many people are going to have to split hairs to choose which one they think is better.

 

Polyphony

From a polyphony standpoint, you've got 256 notes worth of polyphony across all tones on the PX-S7000 digital piano. The FP-90X offers limitless polyphony on acoustic piano tones, and 256 notes across others such as electric piano tones, synths, etc.

Other Sounds

There are 362 total sounds pre-loaded onto the FP-90X courtesy of the SuperNATURAL engine, 83 of which we can think of core sounds, with the remaining 279 being of the GMII variety. Navigating the last selection of sounds is simple and intuitive. Roland’s e-pianos are also a highlight, and the rotary speaker effect on organ tones is really nice.

Over on the PX-S7000, there’s an even 400 in total. Once you get into some of the more obscure sounds, the quality of the samples on the S7000 is consistently richer and more interesting than what the FP-90X has to offer.

 

Speaker Comparison

The FP-90X is equipped with a truly formidable built-in speaker system boasting 60 watts of amplifier output power across 4 speakers (2 mains and 2 tweeters). There are going to be plenty of gig settings where the onboard speakers here will be totally sufficient without the need for additional amplification.

The PX-S7000 has 4 full-range 8-watt speakers for 32 watts of total power. While output power isn’t an exact barometer for a digital piano’s max volume potential, there’s no question that the FP-90X totally outpowers the S7000 in this regard.

That said, the S7000’s new 4-Way Spatial Sound System with side-enhancing diffusers is producing a much better sound than we would typically expect out of a 32-watt system. The new Piano Position Function allows you to optimize the speakers depending on how and where your S7000 is positioned,

So, we’re definitely dealing with two quality sets of speakers here, even if the 90X is the clear winner in terms of brute force.

 

Sound Comparison Wrap Up

To wrap up this sound section, in our view from a signal standpoint, you've got two very competitive instruments here. We really like what Casio has done with the acoustic piano sound, and bringing those excellent grand piano samples to a portable instrument is really nice to see. The non-acoustic piano tones are really great too. Over on the FP-90X, you’re also getting a wonderful acoustic piano tone with quite a bit more in the way of speaker power and extra control over the tone. Our hats go off to both manufacturers here.

Keyboard Action Comparison

FP90X PHA50 Keyboard vs Casio’s Smart Hybrid Hammer Action Keyboard

The piano actions are probably the single biggest differences between these two pianos. Excluding the Kawai MP11SE (which arguably isn’t so much a portable instrument as it is a studio instrument), the FP-90X’s PHA50 action offers the longest pivot length of any action available in a portable digital piano and serves as an upgrade to the PHA-4.

The PX-S7000’s Smart Hybrid Hammer Action Keyboard by contrast has one of the shortest pivot lengths available in a portable digital piano. Surprisingly, in most playing settings and most repertoire, these actions don’t feel radically different necessarily, and the Smart Hybrid action stands up surprisingly well to the PHA50.

That said, pivot length is going to be a huge deal for certain players.

 

Why Pivot Length Matters

The situation where pivot length really starts to matter is when you’re playing outside of the normal zone on the keyboard. For beginner players, 99% of the time you’ll be playing on the same part of the keys and the shorter pivot length won’t matter at all.

For advanced classical players, on a semi-frequent basis, your fingers will be forced to play on other areas of the key, at which point you’ll notice the uneven weighting of the Smart Hybrid Action due to its short pivot length. In our opinion, this essentially disqualifies the Smart Hybrid Action for advanced classical players, though keeping in mind that not too many advanced classical players will be shopping in this category anyway.

Still, the PHA50 definitely offers more even weighting and a deeper level of control due to its extended pivot length.

 

Other Action Considerations

Both actions are really well cushioned, so there's not a high level of unwanted mechanical noise coming off of either one. Both actions also feature wooden siding for improved durability, and this also helps imitate the feel of a grand piano action.

The PHA50 offers escapement and triple sensor key detection making it very accurate from a touch sensitivity standpoint, whereas Casio doesn’t disclose the sensor count on the Smart Hybrid Action leading us to believe that it’s probably not a triple sensor, and there isn’t any escapement.

In terms of the key surfaces, both actions offer a premium feeling of ivory and ebony texture, so that’s a big plus for both.

 

Features, Connectivity and Aesthetics

Control Interface

When it comes to the control interfaces, these instruments have taken a very different approach. Roland has gone with a highly tactile approach with an on-board equalizer with sliders like Yamaha introduced back in the day.

Many other features and functions like Modulation and Ambience are instantly accessible via a series of onboard buttons meaning you don’t have to menu dive to accomplish things, really showcasing the fact that the DP-90X is really built for on-the-fly live performance.

Over on the PX-S7000, you have a completely different approach where the overall aesthetic has definitely been given the top priority. The look is super clean, and Casio has made the decision not to clutter up the front panel with a whole bunch of buttons. Instead, most of your features, such as recording and playback are accessible via a touch-sensitive panel and the well-laid-out LCD menu.

You are also four assignable touch buttons and you can assign virtually anything to any one of these function keys. Overall, a cool approach that also offers tactile control without always having to menu dive. There’s also a pitch bend wheel which is missing from the FP-90X.

 

Connectivity - Audio In/Out, USB & MIDI

From a port standpoint, they both have 1/4-inch outputs, which is pretty much expected at this price point in a professional setting for connecting to amps, PA systems and mixers. Both pianos have USB A and B, a mic input (with adjustable mic volume knobs), and multiple pedal inputs for a three-pedal unit and expression pedal. Both pianos have dual headphone jacks, while the FP-90X also offers traditional 5-pin MIDI.

Both pianos have Bluetooth Audio and wireless MIDI, though this is courtesy of the free WU-BT10 adapter Casio includes in the box, just simply plug in the audio adaptor to the back of the piano.

This is super handy as it allows for quick compatibility with each manufacturer’s free apps for iOS and Android; the Roland Piano App (just replaced the clunky Piano Every Day App) and the Casio Music Space App. Both apps expand the functionality of these respective pianos, and allow you to remote control features of the instrument like the metronome, surround sound mode on the S7000, transpose, etc.

 

USB Audio Interface

One critical difference is the inclusion of a USB audio interface with the FP-90X. This replaces a two-way audio connection to a computer and allows you to do direct audio recording to a DAW without additional gear.

The PX-S7000 doesn’t have that, unfortunately, though it may not matter to the part of the market that the PX-S7000 is aimed at.

 

Aesthetics - Finish Options & Pedals

Both pianos are available with a choice of finishes. In the case of the FP-90X, your options are Black and White. The PX-S7000 offers these options as well, but it’s also available in a stunning yellow finish referred to as Harmonious Mustard that’s sure to turn heads and compliment a range of lifestyles.

The FP-90X is available with a triple pedal board (KPD-90) and stand (KSC-90) at an extra cost (it comes standard with the DP-10 damper pedal), while the PX-S7000 comes standard with the slick pedal unit and totally eye-catching wooden stand. This happens to one of the sturdiest keyboard stands we’ve ever seen!

We should also mention both pianos have floating 3 pedal unit options as well - the RPU-3 in the case of the FP-90X and the SP-34 for the S7000. Both pianos also come with a music stand or music rest.

 

Closing Thoughts

Even though there's a fair bit of intersection when comparing the Casio PX-S7000 vs Roland FP90X and their price points happen to be close together, generally speaking, we think these two pianos will ultimately appeal to two different audiences.

With the quality of the furniture and overall appearance, we think Casio is probably projecting that 90% or so of end users of the PX-S7000 will be looking for a stylish piano for the home.

The S7000 will appeal to a quality-seeking fashionable buyer who really wants great sound but knows they don't need the best action on the planet.

The FP-90X is just simply a tank that is going to be a better overall fit for people seeking something for a variety of professional applications, and for those for whom the other FP-X series Roland digital pianos (FP-60X and FP-30X) just don’t cut it. A quick glance at a specs sheet and the owner’s manual really speaks to this.

The PHA50 action also happens to be one of the most capable key actions available in a digital piano.

Thanks for reading!

The post Casio PX-S7000 vs Roland FP90X | Digital Piano Comparison & Review first appeared on Merriam Pianos

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Casio PX-S7000 | Digital Piano Review | Casio Privia PX-S7000

 

By this point in time, odds are you’ve heard about Casio’s huge expansion of their beloved Privia PX series with the new PX-S5000, PX-S6000 and PX-S7000. These three new models get Casio products in parts of the market they haven’t occupied lately, or even in the case of the S6000 and S7000.

In this article and companion video, we’ll be taking a long look at the new Casio PX-S7000, which not only offers a great tone engine and action but also happens to ship with one of the nicest wooden stands we’ve seen, while also being available in the optional Harmonious Mustard finish - easily one of the most striking finish options we’ve seen on a digital piano.

The PX-S7000 is offered at a price point that implies it will be pitted directly against the Roland FP-90X, as well as the Kawai ES-920 and Yamaha P-515. Needless to say, the PX-S7000 has some very stiff competition and will really need to deliver on the hype if it’s going to be a successful product for Casio. Let’s get started.

 

Casio PX-S7000 Background

Our expectations for this instrument were very high when we first heard about it, and those expectations were largely formed by the price point, which comes in at $3,300 CAD and $2,500 USD. This price point makes the PX-S5000 the most expensive portable Privia digital piano Casio has ever brought to market and sends a very clear warning shot across the bow to Roland's FP-90X.

Our overall impressions are that although the approach to the user interface, stand and finish (in the case of the Harmonious Mustard option) are quite different than anything else out there, musically, the PX-S7000 is going to provide consumers with a true 4th option in a category dominated by the FP-90X, Yamaha P-515 and Kawai ES-920.

With that important bit of context out of the way, let’s explore everything related to sound.

 

Digital Piano Sound

Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source

The first important thing to know is that while the PX-S7000 is using Casio’s Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR sound engine, this version of the engine draws on many of the same samples and much of the same technology that is loaded into the GP-310 and GP-510 hybrid pianos from Casio.

Anyone familiar with those instruments will know that they’re outfitted with killer samples of Hamburg Steinway, New York Steinway, and a C. Bechstein D282 concert grand pianos, referred to by Casio as the Hamburg Grand, New York Grand and Berlin Grand respectively.

These legendary grand pianos have been meticulously captured via multi-channel sampling, and the result is some of the best samples available in a digital piano.

 

Acoustic Simulator

Even though all three of these core grand piano sounds are great out of the box, the Acoustic Simulator feature allows you to edit a large number of sound-related parameters to further refine the samples to your liking.

You’re given control of things like string resonance, damper resonance, open string resonance, aliquot resonance, damper noise and more. Once you’ve found combinations you like, you can then save these as presets for quick call-up later.

Reverbs & Other Effects

The Acoustic Simulator dovetails with a number of Reverb Hall Simulators and DSP effects for non-acoustic piano tones like synthesizers for another layer of control.

There’s also a cool surround effect as well.

 

Polyphony

The S7000 is equipped with 256-note polyphony across all tones on the instrument, meaning it’s doubtful that you’ll find yourself in a situation where you run out of polyphony.

Other Sounds

There are 400 sounds in total here, and with very consistent quality across the board, this means you’ve got a very large stable of useable sounds at your disposal.

There are a ton of great and classic electric piano tones, organs, strings, synths and just about everything else you can think of.

Navigating the large collection of sounds is actually very straightforward too.

 

4-Speaker Spatial Sound System

The new Casio PX-S7000 is equipped with a 4-speaker system, and it’s unique in that all 4 speakers are equal range, 8-watt speakers. Typically with digital pianos when you see a 4 speaker system it will consist of two mains and two tweeters, so it’s interesting that Casio went with a different approach here.

The two outward-facing speakers have been equipped with side-enhancing diffusers which work to produce a wider tone better for filling a room. They’ve also added a Piano Position feature which automatically EQ’s the sound depending on what type of surface you happen to be playing your S7000 on.

While these speakers can’t come close to matching the sheer power of the FP-90X’s 60 watts of power since we’re working with 32 watts here, the quality of the speaker design is very high, and the power output is in line with what the P-515 and ES-920 have to offer as well.

Casio also needed to keep the speaker size within reason since the PX-S7000 is extremely portable when not affixed to the stand and even gives you the option of running it on battery power.

 

Digital Piano Action

Smart Hybrid Hammer Action Keyboard

We should mention right away that we’ve done a pretty extensive comparison between this new action and the Smart Scaled action found in the PX-S1100 and S3100 in some other videos and articles, so definitely check those reviews out if you’d like to learn more about that comparison.

That said, like the Smart Scaled action, these new Smart Hybrid Hammer Action keys also use a shorter pivot length to accommodate the slim cabinet we’ve got here.

That being said, it’s a much quieter action due to improved key cushioning, and the weighting is also more consistent between the white and black keys.

 

Wood Side Panels

Another upgrade featured in this action is the presence of wood siding. Wood also helps quiet down the key, makes the weighting feel more like a real acoustic piano, and will also help with long-term durability.

Roland has taken this same approach with their much beloved PHA-50 action.

So, there are some differences. Not to mention that it's a completely new surface.

The key tops on the white and the black keys feel a lot more realistic and a lot closer to an acoustic and less exaggerated than what you find on the 1100 and 3100. So, it's at a premium price point for this category of instrument. It feels like a premium key top, which is really nice.

Now, there are two features that are typically discussed on actions that Casio doesn't mention, escapement and whether it's a double or a triple sensor.

It definitely does not have any escapement. You can feel that. And it doesn't mention whether it has a triple sensor.

Since Casio in the past has mentioned when there is a triple sensor included, my guess is that they probably have not, and this may still be a double sensor.

Given the short pivot length on the key, perhaps the thought was that a triple sensor wasn't that meaningful because you're unlikely to get this instrument being used in studio settings to input really accurate MIDI information into piano tracking or things like that. And they're probably right.

So, inconclusive whether it's a double or triple, but the absence of the fact that they've said it probably means that we are looking at a double sensor. But my overall impressions of the action are positive.

Whereas on the 1100, it always felt like you were sort of having to just defend the fact that it was passable, that it was okay, it wasn't gonna hold anybody back. I actually like playing this action. It isn't just okay, it feels really good.

This is an action that I would gig on for two, or three hours and be really quite happy with.

In fact, I have every intention in the world within the next couple of weeks to actually take this guy out and see how it feels and stands up over the course of a pretty rigorous two or three-hour gig.

 

Features/Connectivity

LCD User Interface

The new menu system and the accompanying user interface on the PX-S7000 is generally speaking a super intuitive system to use. The function button gets you into the menu and it's well-marked and easy to get around.

You can also assign various things to the function buttons and save them as registrations, such as microphone effects, for quick recall.

The S7000 also has some nice real-time controls with a pitch bend wheel and modulation control.

 

Connectivity

The PX-S7000 checks the main boxes in terms of its onboard connectivity. The ever-important 1/4” L/MONO, R discreet line outputs are present so no need to fiddle with adapters when you need more juice, and quite notable, also present is a mic in with a mic volume knob.

There’s also USB Type A and B, an extra pedal input for an expression pedal in addition to the included 3-pedal unit, and dual headphone outputs.

The PX-S7000 is also enabled with Bluetooth Audio and Bluetooth Wireless MIDI - simply plug in the complimentary WU-BT10 adaptor to activate the Bluetooth functionality.

The new Casio Music Space App for iOS and Android is very much worth checking as it happens to be one of the best remote control apps available, allowing you to easily control features like the metronome, audio recording and more from your Smart Device.

Wooden Stand

As we mentioned earlier, the PX-S7000 with a super aesthetically striking wooden stand. Not only is it striking, but it also happens to be the most rugged and solidly built stand to go along with a portable digital piano that we’ve ever seen.

It’s an absolute tank that doesn’t budge even when you’re really digging in with your playing, and would probably cost around $500 on its own if it wasn’t included with the PX-S7000 for free. The piano can screw into the stand, or simply slot in place if you want to quickly be able to grab it and go.

 

Finish Options

The PX-S7000 comes standard in a Black or White finish, and as we mentioned above, it’s also available in a stunning Harmonious Mustard yellow finish that has to be one of the most unique-looking digital piano finishes we have seen.

Closing Thoughts

Thanks for joining us for our first look at the Casio PX-S7000. When you take in everything it has to offer, for its three great grand piano samples, innovative speaker system, solid action, unique but easy-to-use user interface and excellent stand, we think the S7000 is poised to win over some hearts.

If you’re looking for a high-end, portable all-in-one digital piano and assumed you only had three legitimate options, not so fast; the PX-S7000 makes it four.

The post Casio PX-S7000 | Digital Piano Review | Casio Privia PX-S7000 first appeared on Merriam Pianos

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Casio PX-870 Digital Piano Review

Hi, everybody, and welcome to another digital piano review video and article here at Merriam Pianos. In today’s review, we’ll be taking a look at Casio PX-870. This is a wonderful instrument in the mid-range home digital piano category with 88 fully weighted keys, great sound, and a nice cabinet.

The PX-870 has been a very popular instrument for us at Merriam Pianos, especially during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. The combination of price and class-leading features such as a robust speaker system capable of great sound projection and always reliable Tri-Sensor II action has made the Privia PX-870 a logical choice for many shoppers.

Let’s get into it by starting with a quick overview.

The Newer Casio PX-870 Model | A More Advanced Digital Piano

The PX-870bk sits right at the top of the Casio Privia PX lineup. As such, there are several models below the 870 like the PX-770, the PX-780, and portable units like the PX-S1100 and PX-S3100, but Privia and PX lines have been a staple lineup of Casio’s for quite some time, with newer more advanced models coming out every few years to replace models from the previous generation. It’s been wonderful seeing the line evolve over the years in terms of the fit and finish of the product, as well as the overall musical performance that the various models are capable of.

We had high hope for the PX-870 when it was announced after one quick look at the specs sheet - it’s clear that Casio has equipped the PX-870 with a great tone engine, solid action, and strong internal amplifiers.

In practice and especially for the price point, we’re happy to report that the PX-870 is delivering very nicely. So let's run down what that means.

Casio PX-870 Piano Sounds and Tone Engine Generators

Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source

Casio has equipped the PX-870 with their Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source tone generator which is delivering an impressive 256-note polyphony count. Polyphony is a less relevant spec these days, especially with home-based digital pianos meant to be a substitute for an acoustic piano because most digital pianos have a sufficient digital piano for solo piano playing.

Up-to-date Polyphony Count

Polyphony used to be a really important spec when computing technology was more expensive as it was a lot more difficult for manufacturers to deliver a decent polyphony count without the cost being through the roof.

These days, it's almost a given that the polyphony is going to be something pretty decent if it's an up-to-date product. All of that being said, a count of 256 is very impressive, and that definitely puts the PX-870 among the top of the class in this category. Check out our YouTube channel and our video on polyphony for a detailed breakdown of what it means, but essentially, the spec simply refers to how many notes a tone engine can generate and sustain at one time.

Sound Projection and Speaker System

Moving onto the speakers, we’re looking at a 4-speaker system with a pair of 20-watt amps for 40 watts of power. The speakers are down-facing, however, Casio has incorporated small vents or tone ports on the back of the cabinet to help create a more detailed sound, essentially like a tweeter.

There are 19 onboard sounds in total, and the quality of the sounds that Casio is putting overall has really gotten quite impressive. There are aspects of the tone on the PX-870 here that we think is coming across as successfully as some similar tones that you would get out of comparable Kawai’s, Roland’s, and Yamaha’s. In our showroom, the PX-870 competes primarily against the Kawai KDP-110.

Where would we say the KDP-110 has an edge in terms of sound quality? In our opinion, the acoustic piano tone that the Kawai KDP-110, or similarly priced Roland with their SuperNATURAL engine, is generating is still processing some of the finer details of the piano tone with a little bit more definition and accuracy.

Acoustic Piano Sound with Modeling Technology

That said, this is splitting hairs to some extent here since the PX-870 really is delivering a very impressive acoustic piano sound, and in addition to the sample, they’re using some modeling technology to fill in things like string resonance, damper resonance, lid simulator, and hammer response. Here are some specific observations regarding the default grand piano tone;

• There’s Lots of character and warmth which is immediately apparent.
• There are a few other grand pianos all with different characters, though we do think the default tone is the best of the bunch.
• Adjustable reverb, hall simulator, and brilliance also give you an extra layer of control over the piano tones.

After moving through the acoustic piano patches we come to a couple of very nice e-piano sounds, along with harpsichord, organs, and strings. There are a few misses among the selection sounds, but overall, it's a pretty impressive lineup.

Wrap Up

To sum up the highlights of the piano sound of the PX-870, we’re looking at a piano with the most powerful speaker system in the class, with the exception of the Kawai KDP-110 which also has a 40-watt speaker system.

Polyphony also happens to be among the class leaders with a strong 256 notes here, and while the sound engine may not be our favorite in the class, it’s nonetheless a very good sound engine overall. Let’s move on to the action.

Casio PX-870 Digital Piano Keyboard System

Casio has done a few interesting things with its actions over the last few years. Certain things have been very successful, while others we would classify a little bit odd. For the most part, however, their actions have come a very long way and compete very well in the marketplace.

Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II

 The PX-870 is using Casio’s Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II. This action is using a triple sensor, so it's very accurate in terms of its dynamic output and touch sensitivity. This is a potentially important consideration if you plan on using the PX-870 as a MIDI controller at any point.

It doesn't have escapement, which is not unusual for this price range. For example, the Kawai and Yamaha options in the price don’t feature escapement either, with Roland being the only exception courtesy of their PHA-4 action.

Key Texture

An area where Casio is ahead of the curve is with regards to a fairly dramatic simulated ebony and ivory texture on the keytops to imitate the feel of an acoustic piano action. This approach has become common with all the manufacturers, but Casio was a real trailblazer in this regard.

The black keys feel a little bit too slippery right out of the box, but this goes away after playing for a little while as the finger’s natural oils gradually work their way into the keys.

Another thing we like about this current generation of the action is that it feels a lot more solid, and there’s much less unwanted motion in the key action parts than there was with past Casio actions.

Wrap Up

Overall we would suspect that this action will age fairly well, very much in line with Kawai’s RHC action or Yamaha’s GHS action, though we think this action easily outplays Yamaha’s GHS action which is feeling fairly dated at this point.

So, to sum this category up, what we have here with Casio’s Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II is a well-built, enjoyable action to play on, and courtesy of its triple sensor will be accommodating to advanced playing styles.

Features and Connectivity

Music Library

The PX-870 has a fairly standard, but no less impressive set of features available when you consider the price point. For starters, there’s a solid music library of built-in songs that are good for playing along with, or simply sitting back and listening.

Connect with Chordana Play App

You can isolate specific piano parts for practice purposes, and it’s all easily controllable from the Chordana Play App, which is compatible with both iOS and Android. For a demo of the Chordana app, definitely check out the video review version of this article as Stu Harrison walks us through a nice sample of the app.

From there we have a cool Concert Play feature wherein the player gets to play along with symphony recordings of classic compositions.

Built-in Audio Recorder

There’s also a MIDI recorder as well as built-in Audio Recording and playback capability.

Cabinetry and Pedal System

The Casio PX-870 features a nice built-in cabinet and triple pedal system with damper, sostenuto, and soft pedals, though Casio isn’t including a piano bench in the package at this point. Comparable Kawai’s and Yamaha’s do include a bench at no charge, so that’s an area where the PX-870 is a little bit behind.

Dual Headphone Jacks

In terms of connectors, we’ve got two headphone jacks and a designated headphone mode that enhances the sonic experience when playing with headphones. There are no discreet line outputs, so you will need to use the headphone ports and an adapter if you need more power.

The Casio PX-870 also lacks any Bluetooth connectivity which is a little bit disappointing since it is quite common these days at the price point, so you will need to use a cable when connecting to a Smartphone or Tablet.

Of course, the basics are covered such as Layer, Duet mode, a metronome, transpose, and octave shift.

Closing Thoughts

In summary, what do we have? Well, we have an instrument in a sweet spot price-wise that also happens to exist in a very competitive part of the market. Compared to some of the other instruments out on the market, we have an above-average piano tone and action, and an impressive sound projection system courtesy of the 40-watt speaker system.

If you’re looking for an instrument in this price range and you hadn't yet considered Casio, it's definitely worthwhile to give the PX-870 a look by getting into a showroom to compare it against a Yamaha YDP-144 for example.

We’ve already mentioned the KDP-110 as Kawai’s comparable model, while the RP-102 on the Roland side of things would be a good match.

It’s definitely fair to say that the PX-870 is a compelling option to consider against anything else in the price point, with Casio’s growth and improvement over the past few years really being something to behold.

The post Casio PX-870 Digital Piano Review first appeared on Merriam Pianos

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