Casio AP420 Celviano Digital Piano with Bench Review

After years of playing my Yamaha DGX-500, I was looking to upgrade my digital piano to something that had graded hammer action, that would look nice in my living room, and that sounded as close to an acoustic piano as possible.I also wanted to spend around a thousand bucks.The Casio AP420, seemed to fit the bill, and having played other Casio digital pianos in my local music store (PX800, PX330, AP200), I was fairly confident in making this purchase from Amazon, sight-unseen.

The mangled box arrived in less than a week, looking like it had fallen off the truck or had been used for target practice.I was almost afraid to look inside.Fortunately, the engineers who designed the packaging did a marvelous job.Every piece was removed from the box in perfect condition.Assembly of the piano was not difficult, took less than an hour, and really did require two people.

The cabinet of the AP420 is quite attractive.I like the sliding keyboard cover, and the faux front legs of the piano, which really make it look less like a keyboard and more like an actual piece of furniture.The pedal board is quite solid, and the action of the brass pedals is firm.The included bench is built like a tank.I'm a rather big guy, and the bench easily supports my weight.The bench is height-adjustable, which is nice, but there is no way to store music inside it.The modesty panel (the back of the piano) covers all but about a 1 inch gap across the top.The gap is visible only when looking at the rear of the piano, or bending over and looking under the keyboard.Having no visible gaps in the back panel where you can see through the piano, helps give the illusion that the piano is deeper than it really is, making it look more like it's in an actual cabinet.One negative point, the music stand is not hinged. Rather, it has two pins that are inserted into holes in the top of the piano.The music stand feels sturdy enough, but the way it attaches seems kind of cheap.

The action on the AP-420 is very nice.The key surfaces (texture) have an ivory feel to them, rather than a cheap plastic feel like most other digital pianos (including some that are WAY more expensive).The action is solid, the keys don't wiggle, and the overall feel is as close to an acoustic piano as I have encountered in a digital.Now, there is a slight 'thump' sound when the keys are fully depressed (seems to be a Casio DP trait), even when the keys are played with just moderate force.This is slightly annoying, but is not really noticeable when wearing headphones, or when the volume is turned up.

The sound quality of the piano samples is probably my chief complaint.The 2x20W built in speakers/amplifier provide ample sound, which is clear, and undistorted.But the piano samples sound slightly muffled to me.This could be because the speakers point downward out of the keyboard sending sound waves directly into my carpeting.There are some attractive fabric-covered 'ports' on the left and right sides above the keyboard that I assume are there to allow some passive speaker sound emanate from the top side of the keyboard. But from what I can hear, 95 percent of the sound comes from the bottom.When playing through headphones, the piano samples sound quite a bit better.The brightness/timbre of the tones is adjustable, but the piano samples seem to take on a 'tinny' sound if adjusted from their default setting.Overall, the piano sounds are not bad; they're just not quite as good as I was hoping for.

One other nitpicky thing: There are only 7 buttons to control all of the the piano settings. For most options, you have to hold down the function button, and then locate the appropriate key on the piano keyboard to set/change the option.Some options are lightly labeled above the keys.Others (like reverb, chorus, tuning) are unmarked, and so you have to look in the manual to find out which keys to press.Fortunately, once you have configured the piano the way you want (pitch, reverb, touch, brightness) you can save your settings, so that it will remember them the next time you turn it on. (Unfortunately, the 'save' key isn't marked either, so you'll have to look that one up in the manual.)

Some other nifty things I like:
- SD card slot for saving midi recordings, or loading midi files.
- Adjustable reverb
- Three level adjustable touch response
- USB port (note that this piano does not have an actual MIDI port.If you need to interface with a MIDI device, you'll need to get a USB to MIDI adapter.)
- Layering of sounds (play strings and piano at the same time)
- Split keyboard (i.e. play string bass with left hand, vibra-phone with right.)
- Duet Mode (splits the keyboard into two equal pitch ranges for playing duets that might otherwise require two pianos.)
- The pedals support 'half-pedaling'
- It has a true sostenuto pedal (only dampens notes that are pressed prior to pressing the sos. pedal.)
- Two 1/4" stereo headphone jacks.
- Two 1/4" mono right/left line out jacks

I've rated it 5 stars since fractional stars aren't allowed.My personal rating is more like 4.5 stars, so I just rounded up.When looking at the features and quality, I don't think there's anything else on the market in this price range that even comes close to this instrument.I hope you enjoy yours as much as I like mine.

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Product Description:
The Casio AP420 Celviano Digital Piano features state-of-the-art high-end digital pianos.The newly developed sound source - Linear Morphing AiF - offers the entire spectrum of authentic grand piano tones from Pianissimo to Fortissimo without abrupt changes to the sound during the transitions. The touch and note replay behavior for the scaled hammer action keyboards has been improved. The new "Tri-Sensor" concept makes even the most complex and demanding playing techniques possible. Developing virtuosos. Virtuoso playing.

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Korg SP170BK 88-key Digital Slab Piano With Speakers Black Review

I debated between this, the SP250, Yamaha P85, and the Casio PX-130/330. After trying the Casios and not liking to sound of them, and deciding that the SP250 was a bit expensive and heavy, I had a hard time deciding between the SP170 and P85. Both are excellent and have similar features. The SP170 is a little cheaper and looks a bit sleaker. The P85 has a couple extra functions (like layering and a metronome). I chose the SP170 and have been very happy with my decision. All 10 voices sound great, the speakers are plenty loud, and the keys feel very good, like a real piano. I bought mine online in a "bundle" and am very satisfied with all components.

There are no buttons on the keyboard (just a volume and on/off switch on the back). I was worried that changes voices would be a pain, and while it is slightly awkward, it really is not a big deal. I just wish there was a way to tell if reverb and chorus were on or off.

An excellent digital piano for the price!

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Product Description:
Compact, unobtrusive, and designed for the modern world, the SP-170 Digital Piano solidly delivers the essential elements of a piano: rich, vibrant sounds and an authentic grand piano feel. Styled to mimic an acoustic piano, the SP-170 boasts a simple and clean design which eliminates the need for a control panel. In place of knobs, buttons and switches, the SP-170 relies on the keys themselves to perform these functions. The built-in stereo sound system features two efficient speakers housed in a bass reflex enclosure to deliver powerful sound. You can choose from two colors --- chic black and elegant white --- to match the décor of any room. The SP-170 is also lightweight and easy to transport, making it an ideal choice for concerts or live use.

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Casio PX-800 Privia Digital Piano with Weighted Scaled Hammer Action Keys Review

Casio PX800 Privia Digital Piano with Weighted Scaled Hammer Action Keys

My wife and I own a large Steinway grand piano and a small harpsichord in our living room. We bought this digital piano as a replacement of our old MIDI keyboard and for nighttime practice.

Casio PX800 has an excellent speaker set and a realistic keyboard. Although its tuning isn't perfect (like any acoustic piano and harpsichord), it produces a great sound. As a piano with a full size keyboard and three pedals, its footprint is surprisingly, and pleasantly, small.

Its USB-MIDI functionality is also fantastic and extremely easy to use. Thanks to ferland.francois, this Casio keyboard is now Mac compatible. (Casio supports Windows only.)

Not only does this piano function as a great stand-alone musical instrument with an ample set of features and realistic touch, but also it works as an excellent input device for Apple's GarageBand.

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Product Description:
The PX-800 takes digital piano sound quality to a new level. Grand piano sound and feel in an elegant integrated stand with built-in SD card slot and expanded song memory. State of the artsampling engineering provides the most advanced acoustic piano sound in a digital piano. The stylish PX-800 is sure to fit in any décor.


The PX-800 takes digital piano sound quality to a new level.Click to enlarge.
88 full-size, weighted scaled hammer-action keys,
The stylish PX-800 is sure to fit in any décor.
Realistic Piano Sound and Feel
With stereo sampled pianos and an advanced filter that ensures notes change and decay naturally, along with 128-note polyphony so no notes are cut off, the PX-800 delivers a realistic and natural piano sound.
Touch-sensitive keys mean the sound source responds to how much pressure is applied to the keyboard, providing you with the means to shape and color your performances with everything from booming fortissimos to delicate pianissimos.
Finally, the custom wooden stand with damper and soft/sostenuto pedals gives you a more piano-like elegance, to suit any room in your home.
Powerful Audio
With a built-in, two-way 40-watt speaker system, the PX-800 delivers room-filling sound.
162 Built-In Tones
Pianos aren't the only sounds included. Find just the right sound with 162 built-in tones. You can layer two different tones (such as piano and strings) or split the keyboard down the middle for an ensemble approach.
On-Board Effects
Select from four reverb and four chorus effects to add depth and shimmer to your performance. The PX-800 also features an Acoustic Resonance effect, which reproduces the harmonic resonance within a grand piano.
In addition, each tone is preset with its own DSP effect, such as the rotary speaker effect on the drawbar organ tone.
Song Library
60 songs are included, along with 10 user songs. You can turn off the right or left hand part for easy learning.
Real-Time Recording
Record two tracks of performance for instant playback. You can record up to five songs, approximately 50,000 notes total.
The included SD card slot lets you add to that recording time.
Two Headphone Connections
The PX-800 features two headphone connections, ideal for the duet function.
Stereo Line Out
Connect to a PA system or studio equipment using the stereo line inputs.
What's in the Box
Privia PX-575 Keyboard, AC Adaptor, Music Stand, User's Manual

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Williams Symphony Elite Digital Piano Review

My 8 year old son has been taking piano lessons for almost 2 years and has a real talent for it.His piano teacher uses a Casio keyboard that has a foot pedal attached.She kept advising me that he needed a pedal for his keyboard to sustain notes.His Casio "Magic Light" keyboard was purchased 10 years ago as a birthday present for my husband (which he never used). It works great, but doesn't support a foot pedal.Also, the cheaper keyboards do not duplicate the "hammer-action" weighted response of keys on a real piano.Lastly, a full-size keyboard is 88 keys, but ours had only 60 something. I was having a discussion with his piano teacher as to my options.Buying a new piano was out of the question; we're talking 10-20 thousand dollars.However, you can purchase second hand pianos for a few thousand dollars, or "adopt" a used piano for nothing but the cost of having it delivered.A guitar teacher overheard us and offered a wonderful alternative: a digital piano.As he said, "It looks like a real piano, it sounds like a real piano, but it doesn't cost as much as a real piano."He advised us to visit a Cafe next store which had a digital piano in the back.We did, and it was a Yamaha digital piano.It had a brown wood finish and an understated beauty.I immediately was excited and would have gone out that day to buy one.My son was not equally excited, however.It did not look like a real piano to him (which he still wanted).I went online and looked at other brands of digital pianos and noticed the "Williams Symphony Elite Digital Piano."My son was hooked when he saw this one.It looks very much like a real piano.I purchased it online (it costs $899 at virtually any site you order it from).There are two other models: the Williams Console digital piano, which looks to be a regular digital piano with no bells and whistles and it looks like black wood; the next level one is the Williams Overture 88-key digital piano.It has all sorts of digital effects and also has the black wood.The Williams website compares the "Overture" model and the "Symphony Elite" model as the difference between driving a Cadillac and a Bentley. You're paying a few hundred extra for the glossy black finish, more digital effects, etc.Not knowing much about the technical details, I decided to go with the "Bentley" of the Williams line, the Symphony Elite.I would rather spend a little extra and have a piano that will last my son for several years as he expands his technical knowlege.The piano arrived two days ago.My husband said it was delivered curbside by UPS Roadway.This is because the box is quite heavy.He had to open the box in our sunporch and carry pieces upstairs to our second floor individually. I wasn't home when he assembled the piano, but he had no complaints of it being difficult.When he called me at work after assembling it, he referred to it as being a "monstrosity".It measures approximately 55 inches across the top. It has a glossy black finish like a grand piano.The music rest is gorgeous.It has a stainless steel "W" logo on it.There are two shiny brass little wands that can be pulled up to support your songbook or music sheets.This is a great improvement over the steel wire that didn't hold up much of anything on his old Casio Magic Light.Also, there is the delightful keyboard cover that slides out over the keys, again, just like a real piano.Finally, there are the three foot pedals identical to a real piano.Just as a piece of furniture, it is aesthetically beautiful.I don't pretend to know all of the technical details (you can find them listed under the piano picture above), but it has over a hundred voices, effects, demos, computer connectivity via USB, and the ability to record yourself. Hidden discreetly under the piano to your left are jacks for using headphones,USB/MIDI and to plug in a microphone. It also has a metronome.My son sounds great when he uses the church organ voice.The beauty of this piano is not only in its appearance, but in the freedom to enjoy the various effects of a keyboard.When my son plays this piano, it looks like I should put a candelabra on top of it!He is very happy, because he feels like he is playing a real piano.

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Product Description:
The Williams Symphony Digital Piano combines realistic voices with excellent playability. Players can choose the clear tone of 138 different instruments or use among 100 different rhythm styles for fully orchestrated compositions. The Symphony Piano provides an endless source of musical enjoyment in a luxurious black gloss finish cabinet with sliding key-cover.

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Yamaha YDPS31 Arius Console Piano With Folding Key Cover And 3-Pedal Cabinet. Review

I've had the digital piano for about 1 year already and still loving it. Totally converted to a believer in digital piano.Even though it is in the lower end of the line, it doens't feel that way.The weighted keys have a real acoustic piano feel to it, and it is very sensitive to touch. The sounds are beautiful.It actually sounds better and feel better than the 15 year old acoustic piano that I had when I started learning piano as a kid.The most beautiful part of it is that I can play it in the middle of the night without waking anyone up.

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Product Description:
A competitively-priced, contemporary-designed digital piano with Dark Alder finish cabinet and Graphite-colored key-bed.Soft-Shut key cover, improved pedal frame, and GHS natural touch action means you get a basic, affordable digital piano from a music manufacturer you can trust.

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Casio PX-330 88 Key Digital Stage Piano with Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action Review

This review is for the Casio Privia PX330:

Overall I really like this keyboard for practicing quietly at night and for connecting to a computer.I've been playing it for about a month.Here are my thoughts so far:

Key Touch Sensitivity:
The Casio web site advertisement states: "authentic piano touch that captures every detail and nuance of your performance".If that is your expectation, you will probably be disappointed with this keyboard.I have compared the Casio with two pianos that I play regularly (a Yamaha Baby Grand and a Spinet) and the Casio falls short of both pianos in this area.The Casio keys feel harder to press and do not have the volume/pressure sensitivity or dynamic range of the real pianos.

On the up side I will say that the Casio keyboard touch feels much better than other electronic keyboards I have tried in this price range and it also does a decent job of changing the volume depending upon how hard you press the keys.

Sound:
The keyboard sound using my own headphones (Sony MDR-V6) is great.The on-board speakers are ok, but sound a bit muffled on some of the piano styles.(Fortunately you can buy external speakers and connect them to this keyboard.)

Construction.
The keyboard is fairly light weight and not too hard to move around (although I'd wish it had carrying handles).The plastic music stand (included) and parts of the keyboard appear a bit on the thin side.

The keys visually look large, but I can't really explain why.I measured the entire width of all the keys and it is a match to my real piano.

Connectivity:
I've used the USB connection to my computer with no problems (Windows XP).

Functions:
Tons of functionality.The ones I've tried work well.Selecting some of functions can be a bit confusing though (pressing combinations of buttons, etc.), so I find myself going back to the manual to look up how to select them.

Misc:
- It comes with a nice printed manual.
- The sustain function using the included pedal does not seem to carry out the piano tone long enough, although it does vary depending upon what type of sound you have selected.(I don't know if the sustain length is a function of the pedal or the keyboard.)

Also note that there is a very nice Casio video showing this keyboard on YouTube.Search for "Casio Privia PX130 Preview".The video review is done with the Casio PX-130 which I think is the same keyboard as the 330 one with a few less functions.

Conclusion:
If you are looking to duplicate the sound/feel of a real piano, this is probably not the right keyboard for you.If you're looking for a really nice digital piano with touch sensitivity and lots fun features, then this is a nice choice.

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Product Description:
The new Casio Privia PX-330 redefines the digital piano category with unprecedented sound quality and performance in a sleek package that is supremely portable. Featuring all new grand piano samples and a new Tri-Sensor 88-note scaled hammer action keyboard and weighing only 26 lbs., the Casio Privia PX-330 is versatile enough for any home, studio or stage.


A sleek, portable digital piano with great piano samples and a wealth of other features. Click to enlarge.
A grand piano sound with seamless transitions and a superior dynamic range.
Add a wooden stand and three-pedal unit for an even more piano-like experience.
Realism, Expression and Dynamics
The grand piano sounds in the PX-330 delivers an unprecedented level of realism and expression. Four dynamic layers of stereo piano samples are integrated with Casio's proprietary Linear Morphing System, for a grand piano sound with seamless transitions and a superior dynamic range. For added realism, the PX-330 simulates the sound of the open strings when the dampers are raised by the pedal using Acoustic Resonance DSP. The PX-330 also has 128-note polyphony, enough horsepower for the most demanding musical passages and the ability to layer sounds and use the damper pedal without worry of dropped notes. The result is a grand piano experience that is unsurpassed at any price.
Truly Expressive Touch
The Privia PX-330 features a new Tri-Sensor 88-note scaled hammer action keyboard. Casio's superior engineering has resulted in an authentic piano touch that captures every detail and nuance of your performance. This scaled hammer action provides the weight, feel and resistance of a piano without sacrificing the portability of the instrument.
Performance, Studio or Stage
The superior keyboard action, piano sound and built-in USB MIDI interface make the PX-330 the perfect instrument to integrate into your studio. When you're ready to take the PX-330 to a gig, the built-in registration memory allows you to instantly recall splits, layers and combinations of sounds. The PX-330 also has 1/4-inch outputs for great live sound from your amp or the house's PA system.
16-Track Recorder, Pitchbend Wheel and Much More
While it's easy to connect the PX-330 to your computer, you can easily create and compose music using internal 16 track recorder. Utilizing the PX-330's 250 on-board sounds and 180 rhythms you can record up to 16 tracks. Accepting SD memory, you can save your songs and take them with you or load standard MIDI files that you've downloaded from the web. With these flexible tools you can capture moments of creativity and remember song ideas. It also works great as a practice tool. A built-in metronome and optional accompaniment mean you can practice in-time and later listen back to what you just played. A pitchbend wheel gives you full expression for 250 tones. You can even plug in other instruments or an MP3 player into the keyboard and hear it through the internal speakers and headphones.
Professional, Versatile and Portable Design
Whether you're at home, working on a studio or out on stage, the PX-330 was created to tackle it all, making it a valuable investment. With its light weight, you can easily take the PX-330 from home, to rehearsals, to the gig and back with no worries. It connects effortlessly to your computer via USB and connects just as easily to a live mixer for use on stage. The Casio PX-330 is now the indisputable leader in the digital piano arena.
8 Digital Effects
Add a little more depth and variation to the built-in tones with 4 reverb and 4 chorus effects, along with brilliance and acoustic resonance settings.
Duet Function
The new duet functions allows teachers and pupils to play parallel to each other. The PX-120 can be divided into two keyboard areas, which can be transposed individually.
Two Headphone Connections
The PX-330 features two headphone connections, ideal for the duet function.
Stereo Line In/Out
Connect to a PA system or studio equipment, or connect other sound sources with the line inputs.
Powerful Speaker System
The PX-330 features built-in speakers, with 2 x 8 Watts of output power, to fill a room with sound.
3-Pedal Unit Support
With the optional SP-30, the PX-320 has up to three pedals with half-damper effect. This "half-damper" effect simulates a "half-pedaled" damper pedal.
What's in the Box
Privia PX-330 Keyboard, AC Adapter, Music Stand, User's Manual

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Yamaha YPG635 88 Key Weighted Portable Grand Review

If you've ever moved a real piano, you know the problem. Moving a piano needs to be done by a professional. Pianos need tuning.

But, at the same time, nothing is quite like a real piano. The feel of playing one, the sound - hundreds of years of development have combined to bring the sound and feel to its current state and, when it all comes together, there is nothing quite like it.

But that comes at a price. Did I mention tuning? Action tuneups?

So was developed the keyboard - and the keyboard feels like a keyboard - the action is wrong. And it does not have the rich sound of a piano.

So we arrived at the electric piano. Early electric pianos were neither fish nor foul - they were partially mechanical devices that still needed to be mechanically tuned. The actions were more or less horrible. The sound was that of an electric piano, not a real piano.

The Yamaha sounds like a piano - within the limitations of its speakers.Its action? Better than some real pianos and much less likely to need an action tuneup.

And all the benefits that you can get from modern electronics. Full DSP so that you can get simulated concert hall acoustics if you want.

This is an amazing item. It comes with 30 songs programmed into it, and 70 more on an included CD - and if you are inclined to learn them, it can teach them to you. More music can be downloaded using the software provided and your computer can load them into the piano or you can use a thumb drive to move them. You can learn the left and right hand parts separately. It will show you the music, and the corresponding piano keys that you need to press on the little display. You can start slow - and it will wait, patiently, until you find and press the correct key.

(For Christmas I downloaded a number of Christmas Carols in Standard Midi Format - put them on a USB thumb drive and then plugged the thumb drive into the piano - it was able to play all of them as a midi player - and, for at least some of them, it could teach them to you - I believe that it may be a matter of determining how to select the right ans left hand parts, which I have not managed to do yet - the instructions are not simple. But it worked instantly as a player piano).

At the same time it accompanies you, or not, as you choose.

I first tried this piano in a store - it was lined up with a bunch of other electrics and it had the best action of any of them - the action was clearly the most piano like - in fact, I thought that it had a better feel than some of the real pianos, in terms of consistency and smoothness while still being weighted properly.

The triple pedal attachment gives you a soft pedal, a full sustain, and a left hand sustain, just as the better pianos do (this is an option which I recommend).

The ONLY downside, in my opinion, is the size of the display. It is actually rather tiny, and, as far as I can tell, there is no way to attach an external display.

In my opinion, the controls are reasonably intuitive. And there is one button that you can press which says, "get out of my way and just be a piano".

This is the home piano of the present - frankly, while you need real pianos in concert halls, and even in piano bars, this is what you want in your home - for the kids to play and learn piano on, to plink Christmas carols out on, and to play yourself. Record your music. We need music.

This is the piano of the apartment dweller - because it has a volume control, and a headphone jack. And it can be moved up and down the steps.

I'm not a piano expert. I'm surprising my wife with one of these for Christmas, though. I think she will be really happy with it.

I strongly recommend the optional pedal assembly. The keyboard comes with a portable keyboard style pedal that does sustain, but the triple pedal assembly has a piano pedal feel, and has soft, full sustain, and sostenudo, (which means, in this context, that it will sustain keys you are holding as you press the pedal, but not those that you press after you press the pedal).It takes a few minutes to install, and precisely fits the stand that comes with the keyboard.

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Product Description:
The Yamaha Portable Grand YPG-635 is an affordably priced88-key weighted Graded Hammer Standard action Digital Piano that boasts an authentic grand piano-like touch — heavy in the low end, feathery light in the high, and amazingly responsive all over.

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Casio PX830 Privia Digital Piano, Black Review

I bought this for my daughter who's learning piano and yearning for a "real" one. This sounds and feels like a grand. The parts were packaged and padded securely. It arrived safe and sound even though there was a rip and a hole in the box.

Took me a while to put everything together. The instructions were detailed enough, but it was not in the first page of the manual, so you have to look for it, and read everything first before you start. During assembly, I found that most screws on the piano body were not sufficiently fastened, a few were almost ready to fall out! That didn't incite any confidence in its assembly work.And, the unit did not have a sticker with serial number, nor was one on the box! Can't explain why.

But overall, it plays well, sounds good.And let's hope it doesn't break down! If not for the issues above I would have given it a five stars.

A couple more things.The black wood was faux wood particle board, and looked cheap.I couldn't tell from the photos, and had expected gloss black (like a real piano).Also, even with the lid/cover down, the keys are still exposed on the front side.Instead of having a narrow folding board to cover the front side (again, like many real pianos), it gives you a little stopper to put in the middle so the cover board won't warp.I have to say, this can only make it look "cheap".Not sure if I was expecting too much.

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Product Description:
The Casio PX830 BK Privia Digital Piano is focused on pure piano playing. That starts with the refined matt keys (ivory touch) with a pleasing playing action. The hammer and repeating action on the keys is just as luxurious as the 128-tone AiF sound source with Linear Morphing for dynamic sound behavior. The minimalist design provides a perfect counterpoint to the extraordinary wealth of sound. The "Black Polish" variant provides the PX-830 with an especially refined look.

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Casio PX-100 Privia 88-Key Digital Piano Review

I am obsessed with this keyboard. Why? Because it's the first one that I've seen and played so far that has PERFECT weighting on the keys, beautiful sound, and a GREAT price. This keyboard has been on my wishlist for a while now, ever since I first saw it at Sam's. I just want to reiterate how well Casio has done with this keyboard - While there are a limited range of tones available on the PX-100, there are plenty of features for someone who is like me - If you want the feel of a real piano with the weight of an electronic keyboard, this is the keyboard you want to look at. I just couldn't help but fall in love with the keys on this baby, I've played on keyboards with weighted keys before, but this one just takes the cake - The keys are weighted propertly, they spring back like they should, and the weight is ranged just right - the lower keys are just the slightest bit heavier than the higher end. This thing is a DREAM to play! Featuring midi input/output ports, two headphone jacks, pedal port and everything I've talked about so far, this keyboard is definitely something to look at if you want the warmth and feel of a real piano at the price and portability of an electronic keyboard. I highly reccomend this keyboard!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Casio PX-100 Privia 88-Key Digital Piano

Product Description:
The slim, lightweight, and overall compact nature of Casio's Privia PX-100 digital piano means you can pack it just about anywhere. When you're not tickling its full 88 keys, you can stash the polyphonic keyboard in a closet, under a bed, or in other compact locations where most digital pianos refuse to fit.
The scaled hammer-action keyboard offers touch sensitivity for beautiful piano tones and a feature called New Sound Source which is said to give the PX-100 sound quality to rival that of an actual grand piano. Auto-accompaniment provides exciting, dynamic, and realistic background arrangements for pop, jazz, rock, and a range of the other genres. The PX-100 can provide complete orchestral accompaniment on command, too.
Other primary tones (voices) include strings and pipe organ, with 10 total tones. A layer feature allows simultaneous sounding of 2 tones, while a split feature lets you split the keyboard between 2 different tones. Lesson assembles functions that enhance your practice sessions, which you can devote to right-hand part only, left-hand part only, or both hands--whatever requires the most practice. You can also record songs for playback at a later point (up to 5,200 notes).
An onboard metronome offers adjustable tempos and beats. Adding effects makes notes sound richer and deeper, and the PX-100 includes 8 effects: 4 reverbs and 4 choruses.
Use the built-in music library to learn songs and develop coordination. There are 30 preloaded tunes plus memory storage for 10 downloadable songs. The PX-100's 30 preloaded piece include Chopin's Fantaisie-Impromptu Op.66, Satie's Gymnopedies 1, Beethoven's "Fur Elise" and Sonata Op.27-2 "Moonlight" (first movement), as well as classic songs like "Over the Rainbow," "Someday My Prince Will Come," and "Let It Be."
What's in the Box
Keyboard, a user's manual, and warranty information.

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Casio CDP-100 88-Note Weighted Hammer Action Digital Piano Review

The CDP-100 is a great practice piano for anyone who is looking for a temporary-somewhat portable piano to practice on.
The sound is decent, I really like the headphone jack feature which allows me to plug in my headphones when I practice. With the headphones on the notes sound crisp and sharp, however relying on just the built-in speakers the piano sounds a little dull and could be louder. The foot pedal isn't that great, I found myself holding it down the entire time to hear the effect; but it's a minor issue. The weighted-hammer keys feel just like real piano, really great.

I am very happy with the CDP-100 and highly recommend this as a piano for people who don't have the money/space for a real piano. As a college student, I think this is the perfect keyboard since I can put on my headphones in when I practice and not disturb my roommates.

However, Don't make the mistake I made in buying the CDP-100 for $399! After I bought this, guitar center had a holiday special and was selling the CDP-100 for $299, so check there first!

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Product Description:
It all starts with the sound and feel, and thanks to the carefully sampled grand piano sound and scaled hammer action, the Casio CDP-100 Digital Piano gives you both. The HL Sound Source and 88-key, naturally scaled hammer action with three levels of touch sensitivity give you a realistic and satisfying piano experience in a portable, affordable digital piano. The Casio keyboard has five sounds including stereo grand piano, 32-note polyphony, eight digital effects, five demo songs, layer and transpose function, speaker system, MIDI I/O, plus headphone and sustain pedal jacks. The Casio CDP-100 digital piano comes with a sustain pedal.

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Yamaha YPG535 88 Key Portable Grand Piano with Power Supply Review

Nice keyboard, nice sound, feels like a real piano and it's got all the keys. I like that it includes a nice, stable music rest, keyboard stand, footswitch and power adaptor.

Lots of features too: fun sounds, (drum, maracas, bongos, etc. plus sound effects like phone, ufo, dog barking, etc)

It has a super metronome which you can adjust the tempo of, set the number of beats per measure, adjust volume, etc.

It records your performance which is nice, so my piano teacher can play something she wants me to learn, record it, then I can replay that when I'm practicing.

More features, too many to mention... If you'd like to start with something smaller or something less expensiv, I'd check out a Casio keyboard. Casio CTK4000 Premium Pack with Power Supply, Keyboard Stand and Professional Closed Cup Stereo Headphones, Casio LK100 Lighted Keyboard with Premium Accessories Package (this is the first one I got)

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Product Description:
The Yamaha YPG535 88 Key Portable Keyboard gives to the sound and feel of a grand piano in a portable package at an affordable price. The YPG535 offers a graded soft touch action that everyone from the beginner to the professional will love. The YPG535 also includes a stand along with a sustain pedal and power adapter. For the beginner, the built-in interactive lessons provide a user definable tempo that allow for learning at your pace. Yamaha YPG535 Features 88 piano-style keys with Graded Soft Touch 6-track sequencer allows you to record your own music USB & Flash ROM to download new Songs and Styles for playing 5 types preset Master EQ Interactive Lessons: Your Tempo mode helps you learn to play Backlit LCD, panel lights, pitch bend wheel Portable Grand Button: industry's best piano Yamaha XGlite/GM voices plus Sweet!, Cool!, Split & Dual voice Performance Assistant guarantees a rewarding music experience Music Database 267 keyboard setups by song title Piano Centric Features The Yamaha Portable Grand, YPG535 has an easy to use panel, a wealth of piano-centric features including 88 piano-style keys, Graded Soft Touch (GST) action with different levels of resistance, high resolution stereo piano sample and comes with an attractive matching stand, PA-150 energy saving power adapter and sustain pedal. Lyric, chord and notation display Have you ever played a song and wondered what it would look like as sheet music? The YPG535 can display the score to a song whether it comes from the Internet, the internal selections or ones that you record yourself, and the pages scroll automatically when a song is played back - no more page turning! And for singers, the screen also displays chords and lyrics to XF compat

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M-Audio DCP-200 Digital Console Piano with Premium Sounds, Graded Hammer Action and Built in USB Interface Review

For the past 4 months I had been searching for a reasonably priced digital piano that interfaced well with a computer and finally I settled on M-audio's dcp200 and I couldn't be happier.I really took a gamble on this piano because all I could find was one very short review of the piano.A couple of years ago I had a yamaha clavinova and while I really liked the piano, this piano is better in so many ways.

First off, the piano looks beautiful; I have the darkgrain model and it blends in with my house really well and it looks very rich.When we first got the piano put together I was slightly dissapointed with the key action, my wife assured me that it just needed to be played a little bit and it would feel better.Boy was she right, I've had the piano for 3 weeks now and it feels great, the hammer action is just right.

The sound on this piano is phenominal as well, I was skepital of 20 watt speakers but this piano gets nice and loud and still sounds great.There are 8 different instruments you can play on it which is slightly dissapointing, they probably could have included more for not too much more cost, but the instruments all sound good.The response of the piano is great and allows you to really feel the music you are playing and let you forget that you are not playing an acoustic piano.

If the piano had just the features I had talked about it would still be a great but this piano has much more. The piano comes with a cable to hook it up to your computer as well as software to record your music on the computer. It also comes with a cable to hook up a mp3 player directly to the piano and it has a knob to control the volume of the music input so you can easily play along with your favorite music.It also has 2 headphone jacks.

The piano is simple enough for beginners but advanced enough for people that know a lot about computers and electronics.It also comes with an incredibly detailed guide to show you how to use all the advance features this piano has.

I truly cannot give this piano enough praise, if you are reading this and haven't decided on a piano buy this one. Also I recommend the m-audio piano bench, its super comfortable and looks great. I promise I'm not affiliated in anyway with M-Audio and am not being paid to write this review.Buy the piano and write your own review, you won't be dissapointed.

Also right now M-audio has a mail in rebate where they will send you a set of headphones (retail is over [...]) as well as 3 music books of your choice.I'm still waiting to get mine but am excited nonetheless.

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Product Description:
The M-Audio DCP-200 digital piano brings the beauty of a classic instrument into your home, classroom or house of worship. The elegant console design incorporates a premium audio system and powerful speakers that convey every note with exceptional detail--from resonant bass to delicate highs. Realistic TruTouch II graded hammer action makes it a pleasure to play the authentic acoustic and electric piano sounds, as well as harpsichord, organ, strings and bass. The built-in USB computer connection gives you instant access to the world of music software for education, recording, notation and more--making DCP-200 a superior investment that will grow with your family. This expressive digital console piano upholds the best of music tradition while embracing today's new creative technologies.


Bring the beauty of a classic instrument into your home, classroom or house of worship.Click to enlarge.
Dark Woodgrain finish.
Includes Sibelius First software--the easy-to-use application from the industry leader in music notation.
20 Years of Innovation
M-Audio is celebrating 20 years of critically acclaimed music technology innovation. Professional musicians and recording studios rely on M-Audio products such as industry-leading USB MIDI controller keyboards and Studiophile studio speaker systems. M-Audio digital pianos build on this legacy of quality and dependability, fusing years of expertise in digital keyboard technology and high-fidelity audio with world-class sounds. M-Audio digital pianos are sophisticated, expressive instruments equally suited for today's homes and houses of worship.
Authentic Sound and Feel
The M-Audio DCP-200 digital piano features premium onboard sounds meticulously sampled from some of the world's finest instruments, including the classic Steinway Model D concert grand piano. This remarkable instrument boasts a finely crafted 88-note keyboard with graded hammer action and escapement to reproduce the feel of an acoustic piano--from a lighter touch on the high notes, down to a firm response on the lows. The powerful combination of authentic sound and realistic touch provides an inspiring playing experience for beginners and enthusiasts alike.
USB Computer Compatibility--Access the World of Music Software
All M-Audio digital pianos feature built-in USB MIDI interfaces to connect to most PC and Mac computers. A single USB cable lets you plug into a wide range of music software for education, notation, recording and more. Your DCP-200 even includes Sibelius First software--the easy-to-use application from the industry leader in music notation. Just press record and your computer transcribes what you play into professional-grade sheet music.
Write, Compose and Arrange
Want to create your own music? The DCP-200 digital piano features eight different popular instrument sounds you can play right from the keyboard: acoustic pianos, electric pianos, harpsichord, church organ, strings and upright bass. Work out song ideas, then connect to a computer via USB and use the included Sibelius First software to print out the score.
Perfect for Piano Lessons
Looking for the perfect instrument for your kids' music education--or perhaps to further your own childhood piano lessons? The affordability, realism and compact size of the M-Audio DCP-200 digital piano make it an ideal choice. You and your family will experience the joy of playing the piano--either through the high-fidelity internal sound system or privately with headphones. In fact, there are two headphone jacks to accommodate teacher and student. The built-in note recorder lets you record and play back your practices and performances for evaluation. Unlike many digital pianos, DCP-200 gives you all three of the pedals found on grand pianos--including sostenuto. And a simple USB computer connection provides access to self-paced music education software like Sibelius Groovy.
A Musical Director's Best Friend
If you're the musical director for a house of worship, school chorus or similar group, the DCP-200 digital piano gives you a new reason to rejoice. This handy performance instrument never needs tuning--and the included Sibelius First software lets you print your own musical arrangements for your group to rehearse and perform.
The Piano That's Easy to Live With
The piano has a longstanding tradition of bringing music enjoyment and education into the home. Now with today's digital technology, it's never been easier to make this beautiful instrument your own. Digital pianos are made with modern manufacturing techniques so they don't cost a fortune. They fit the sound of a concert grand and other instruments into a spare corner of the room. They enable family members to entertain guests or play privately using headphones. And digital pianos never need costly tuning or repair--or a skilled piano mover when you relocate. The M-Audio DCP-200 brings all the advantages of today's technology to the instrument you know and love.
What's in the Box
DCP-200 Piano (assembly required), 1/8-inch TRS to 2x RCA adaptor cable, User Guide, Assembly Instructions, Sibelius First CD-ROM, USB Cable, IEC Power Cable, A4 Laminated Sheet showing additional keybed functions, Piano Bench

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Yamaha NP30 Portable Grand Piano Review

Before detailed remarks, here is my reference point.Having been spoiled with playing real pianos (I should say "acoustic", for PC :), I wanted a keyboard just to enjoy some classical music on my own, at my amateur level.I wanted it to be like a piano (in how it feels and sounds) but small and inexpensive.

PROS:

PORTABILITY - especially for an (almost) full-size keyboard.I really didn't want another piece of furniture.NP30 just lies on the table, which (to my own surprise) ended up as the deciding factor for me.YMMV.

SOUND.All the voices (including grand piano, organ, harpsichord) are well done and beautiful.(But see "CONS" below.)

KEY WEIGHTING.NP30's keys are something like "semi-weighted" and "touch sensitive" (but consult the official specs on this) and somewhat easy to press.But see "CONS" below.BTW I researched this "weighted" topic quite a bit and tried several options, but my practical conclusion is this.If you care about the feel, go more high-end or get the real thing (an acoustic piano, that is).Otherwise you will likely get used to what you have, even though it isn't perfect.

SIMPLICITY.The controls are few and quite intuitive.

PRICE.It's all relative, of course, but compared to other full-size keyboards out there, it's among the cheapest - $300 at Best Buys.(And that's without any sale discounds - Best Buys felt kinda thin on sales to me.)

CONS:

KEY WEIGHTING.While offering you an approximation of an acoustic piano's feel, NP30's keys are not quite there.First, they are hard to press if you place your fingers far from the edge of the key (i.e. towards the back of the keyboard) - I have never noticed this on an acoustic.Second, in some cases when I press several keys at once, NP30 doesn't sense one or two of them, whereas an acoustic piano would.I have to re-adjust the pressure to get NP30 to play them.

SOUND.While individual sounds are beautiful, their combinations may not parallel the richness of an acoustic piano's.This is probably because there is no is no resonating effect between the various strings.(Which is quite understandable at this price level.)

FEATURES (missing).The ones I cared about: additional voices (NP30 only got 10) and the 12 keys for the full-size 88-key keyboard.Again, it's all about a trade-off against portability and price.

ACCESSORIES (missing).Power adapter and the sustain pedal are not included, and Best Buys charges $25-30+ for each.This is a RIP-OFF, people.For power, look around; maybe you have a compatible one already (12V, 1500 mA, negative is outside) - or use rechargeable batteries.And maybe you are fine without the pedal (I am still to answer that question for myself).

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Product Description:
The Yamaha NP30 Portable Grand is an easy-to-carry piano that features Advanced Wave Memory stereo sampled piano sounds for incredible sound quality.A entirely new take on the digital piano, offering quality, value and portability with a lighter touch. Featuring 76 Graded Touch keys and stereo-sampled pianos. Also, 10 voices like Organs and Strings plus 32 notes of polyphony. Another great feature for the home recording artist is that it performs as a MIDI controller too. The built in speakers allow you to play it anywhere since it operates on six AA batteries.Ultra-Portable Digital PianoThe new NP-30 Portable Grand delivers Yamaha digital piano sound and simplicity in a new lightweight, compact design like nothing else you've seen... all at a price point you won't believe.Its super slim design and minimal weight of 12 pounds makes it the most compact performer in the digital piano family of instruments. And 6 AA batteries are all you need to power up and start playing immediately.Do you have questions about personal keyboards?Click on the image for product comparisons and FAQs!Graded Soft Touch Action - NEWBecause of its similarity to acoustic pianos, a graded action is one of the primary features sought by pianists in their digital instruments. While technically a non-weighted action, the new Graded Soft-Touch keyboard is the first of its kind bringing different levels of resistance without the extra

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Yamaha Arius YDP140 Digital Home Piano Review

I concur with another review of this digital piano as I too went into my local Guitar Center and found the YDP-140 to be an excellent choice in digital pianos... and especially because you can, as said, walk away with a smile on your face for the price you (ultimately) pay before you walk out of the door (if you've done your homework).The assembly is easy, if not simple; seven steps to completion in about an hour or so requiring only a Phillips screwdriver (for the provided screws - less than a dozen?) and a small crescent wrench (for the included piano bench assembly) and an extra set of hands at the end to place the keyboard on top of the sturdy housing.If you're older than ten years old, you can put this piano together with the help of a friend.

As you might be considering the more expensive YDP-160, I can tell you it too is an excellent choice for both quality of product and cost (do your homework on the prices offered), but only if you actually need the two 20 watt speakers that the 160 model has, or the additional voices (I just wanted something that sounded like a real piano, and with the extra voices the 140 already has, who needs more?It comes with an electric piano, church organ, and strings, in addition to an ability to adjust for tonal reverberation AND ambiance, as in a room, hall, or even stage - more than adequate for my more limited needs).The 140 has two 6 watt speakers (stereo sound) and can fill a good sized room adequately with the volume still not turned all the way up.I think the 160 comes in a rosewood finish with gold-colored pedals, as an additional option, if I'm not wrong, but even (if?) in alder alone (similar to a dark walnut color) and with the silver pedals on the 140, it isn't a cheap looking instrument if you set it up in your living room.As the speaker output and the number of voices offered are the basic apparent differences between the two choices (of the 140 versus 160), consider your ultimate needs, as again, creatively, the 160, with a wider array of voices, in addition to other creative recording choices not mentioned here might be your better choice (if you want to spend the additional 300 bucks).

And by the way, I'll mention it again here as I see some people are buying benches for their YDP models, mine came with a good quality bench in the box... so why buy another? (Is this model being sold without benches by some retailers?Ask.)

And finally, I've had a real, upright piano for more than thirty years.This recent purchase of a digital YDP-140- with the facility to control the volume - was important to me for other reasons I won't go into here.However you decide, I found the YDP-140 I purchased from Guitar Center (and certainly offering the best price yet!) to be a good decision and I can't fault the sound as compared to my other piano, nor the fact that it can fill a room nearly as well.The weighted, graded keys are another thing that you might consider in the purchase of any digital piano; you want such if you want to easily "translate" from one type of piano to the other.

After you've put your piano together, you can then take your first free classical piano lesson with Shawn Cheek, or from others, on YouTube.com, although I found Shawn's methods to be nearly a no-brainer, even for this beginner.His lessons are also available at reasonable cost on webpianoteacher.com, but try his YouTube "treat" first.Try this link for Shawn's classical lessons on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/resultssearch_query=shawn+cheek+classical+piano+lessons&search_type=&aq=f

or just type in a search for "shawn cheek piano lessons" at YouTube and his name should come up (with other popular piano music suggestions that he gives for free on YouTube.com .By the way, I get no compensation for this mention, but only the satisfaction that it might help others learn something they've always wanted to do.YouTube, I just found out (gee, am I slow or what?), offers a lot of other helpful instructional videos on many other subjects, including instrument learning lessons.

I hope this review has been somehow useful to you.

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Product Description:
The Yamaha Arius YDP140 88 Key Digital Piano comes through with authentic sound and natural touch.Exceptionally natural key touch virtually replicates that of an actual grand piano with Graded Hammer Standard keyboard with matte black keytops. Built-in AWM stereo sampled instrument voices faithfully reproduce their complete range from the soft, dark lows to the glistening, bright highs.The damper pedal includes an authentic Half Damper effect, giving you nuanced expressive control over the sustained sound far more realistic than a simple on/off footswitch.Built-in song recorder and metronome make this instrument ideal for piano lessons, practicing, or even as a scratch-pad for you next masterpiece. 50 specially selected piano songs of standard piano repertoire are built into each Arius, either for your listening enjoyment, or as a rehearsal tool while playing out of the included 50 Greats for the Piano book.Do you have questions about personal keyboards?Click on the image for product comparisons and FAQs!Realistic Graded Hammer Piano Touch for the Aspiring MusicianDrawing on over a hundred years of experience and craftsmanship in making world class acoustic pianos, Yamaha introduces the Arius series. All of these instruments provide exceptionally natural, grand piano-like touch, with realistic weight gradations-heavy in the lower end, and light in the upper. The YDP140 features the entry-level Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) keyboard with realistic matte black finish key tops. While technically an entry level action (beneath the more sophisticated Graded Hammer Effect), GHS is designed for budding pianists who require weighted keys to

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Williams Overture 88 Key Digital Piano Review

I'm certainly not a professional, however, I do know what a piano is supposed to sound like, and I know the difference between a Harpsichord, Organ, and a Harmonica: 'nuff said.

First of all I would like to say that the Williams Digital Piano is by far the best instrument I have ever owned, next to my toy, an old Casio keyboard that I owned for quite some time, I was happy to finally sell that off in a garage sale. When I went hunting for another piano, I took my Sony headphones and headed off to various stores with digital pianos. This one by far sounded the closest to a real upright piano (Well, the Yamaha was closer, but another 1K more expensive...), and it had the features and look I was wanting.

Pros ---
1. The weighted digital piano keys mimic perfectly the hammer-action of a real piano, and the sound is equally amazing. As I said I tested it out in headphones, and even at home in total silence the headphones are clear as anything and sound perfect. The built-in speakers that are attached to the piano work equally as well. I 'tested' it note-for-note, unplugging my headphones and listening to the built-in speakers, and I can safely say that I don't hear a difference at all. No "fuzzy-sounds", no buzzing, no humming, etc. Sounds nice.

2. After listening to several Harpsichord songs, I played a few notes on the piano to compare. So far I can't tell the difference between the notes played in the song and the ones I played on the piano.

3. Same with the Organ and string setting, both sound equally realistic and about as close to an acoustic piano as I'm going to get without spending thousands of dollars.

4. I actually bought this piano online, yes, from Musicians Friend. No, I am not an employee there, nor have I ever heard of it. I did call them up to see how exactly it was going to be mailed. I mean, sure it is less than 1K for the digital piano, but I wanted to make sure it wasn't going to end up in several pieces on my doorstep. I have to say the piano box arrived in no less than perfect condition. Go with Musicians Friend if you are going to buy this!Cons ---
1. Okay, so again I'm new at this. So, of COURSE I played the Play-Along songs while I waited for my real books to arrive. One of the irks I have is that when you use the digital piano to listen to the play-along songs, be forewarned that it is MUCH louder than when you are playing the piano normally. Also, if you are trying to play along, you have to compensate the volume by turning it down to hear the song correctly, but I also had a hard time hearing what I was playing on the piano!

2. Same thing goes with the metronome. It is MUCH louder than the 'volume' of the piano. If I had to change something, it would be how loud the Metronome sounds as compared to the piano. The volume, when recording songs and playing them back, however, is at the 'same volume' as the piano. Don't know if it is just my piano or what, but listening to the Play-Along songs and using the metronome is quite annoying.

3. I'm a computer programmer. I bought this piano because it came with a USB cable, anddd I thought I could use my computer knowledge to retrieve the songs off of the Williams Digital Piano. Not-so-much. There is no way to get the recorded songs off of the piano, the only thing the USB cable does is transmit the MIDI messages to a computer if you have the correct software installed. For me, kinda pointless.

Well, I think that about sums it up. Oh yeah, well, I don't think that this is a "Con" per-se, however: this piano comes disassembled. Which means that you have to assemble it. Fine, but the problem lies: this piano does not have instructions included to tell you how to assemble the piano. I, personally, was able to assemble is promptly. However, at first it was irksome laying out all the pieces and figuring out what goes where.

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Product Description:
The Williams Overture is a console style 88-Key digital piano with a sliding key-cover and full vanity panel. The Overture features an 88-note hammer-action keyboard with selectable touch response; sustain, sustenuto, and soft pedals; 64-note polyphony; 15 main voices and 128 General MIDI voices; 3 keyboard modes; effects; 2-track recording; and a built-metronome.The Overture is expertly designed and crafted to look and sound its best for years of musical enjoyment. With a dark wood grain finish the Overture has a distinctive look and style to match any home decor. Williams digital pianos have an uncompromising attention to detail that you will see and hear every time you sit at the keyboard.

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