Casio is a well-known brand in the digital piano business. While they used to have a reputation for producing cheap, plasticky portable keyboards, those times are long gone.
Their latest offerings prove that they can compete with the big companies, like Yamaha, Roland, and Kawai and even be better in many aspects.
The well-known Privia series reflects this commitment, for they have updated this series consistently over the years, making these keyboard options worth considering.
The Privia series has been around for 15 years. To celebrate this longevity, in January of 2019 Casio introduced two new keyboard series, the PX-S and CDP-S.
Both share the same focus – the ‘slim’ & ‘smart’ factor indicated by the ‘S’ in each name.
The CDP-S series follows the previous CDP design ethos, with a focus on affordability. These aren’t the most advanced keyboards out there, but they aren’t the focus of today’s review.
With the PX-S1000 (and the PX-S3000), Casio did something unexpected. They developed a product that wasn’t just another digital piano.
They combined innovation (something quite rare in the digital piano world), risk-taking, and their reputation for playability. The result was outstanding.
Elements from the Celviano series have been integrated for acoustic simulation and new piano samples ensure that you’re getting more than a repackaged Privia piano.
With that said, new doesn’t always equal good. In this review, we’ll share our thoughts on Casio’s latest offering and on whether it’s worth your consideration.
Casio PX-S1000 Specs
- Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard with simulated ebony/ivory key textures
- 88 full-size fully weighted keys
- Touch Sensitivity (5 types, Off)
- Sound: Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source
- 192-note polyphony
- 18 instrument sounds (5 acoustic pianos)
- Modes: Dual (Layer), Split (Bass only)
- 2-track MIDI recorder
- 60 built-in songs (+ 10 User Songs), Part On/Off: L, R
- Acoustic Simulator (adjustable): String/Damper/Key Off Resonance, Damper Noise, Key On/Off Action Noise (4 levels, off), hammer response (non-adjustable)
- Metronome, Transpose, Master Tuning
- 17 Temperament Options
- Speakers: 8W + 8W (two 16cm x 8cm oval speakers)
- Connections: USB to Host, Bluetooth 5.0 (Audio only), Headphone jacks (2), Sustain Pedal jack, Line Out (R, L/Mono), Audio In (stereo mini jack)
- W x D x H: 52” x 9.1” x 4” (132.2 x 23.2 x 10.2 cm)
- 24.7 lbs (11.2 kg)
- Release Date: March 2019
Check the availability and current price of the Casio PX-S1000 in your region:
Design
The design of the PX-S1000 deviates from the norm. As previously stated, the ‘S’ in the name stands for ‘slim.’
Indeed, the form factor of the PX-S1000 is impressively compact, coming in at 52” x 9.1” x 4” (W x D x H). It is marketed as the slimmest digital piano in the world, and it’s hard to argue with that.
Its slim form factor means you can easily move the PX-S1000 around, whether on stage or at home.
Speaking of portability, the PX-S1000 weighs an impressive small 24.7 lbs (11.2 kg).
This is even lighter than the Yamaha P-45, which used to be one of the most portable digital pianos, at 25 lbs (11.3 kg). What’s more impressive is that the PX-S1000 packs a lot more into its small enclosure.
| View on Amazon | Keys | Width | Depth | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 88 | 52" | 9.1" | 4" | 24.7 lbs |
 | 88 | 52" | 9.1" | 4" | 25.1 lbs |
 | 88 | 51.2" | 11.2" | 6" | 32.6 lbs |
 | 88 | 52.2" | 11.9" | 6.5" | 26 lbs |
 | 88 | 51.6" | 11.2" | 5.8" | 26.5 lbs |
 | 88 | 50.5" | 10.1" | 5.5" | 27.1 lbs |
 | 88 | 51.6" | 13.2" | 4.6" | 25.1 lbs |
Regarding build quality, the PX-S1000 is quite unique. Other keyboards and pianos in the $600 price bracket often have matte plastic exteriors, which are fingerprint-resistant but little more.
The PX-S1000 features a glossy plastic surface instead, but somehow looks modern and sleek rather than ugly and cheap. It even feels like the glassy backs of some flagship smartphones.
The reflective surface delivers a striking look you can’t get elsewhere. Even so, fingerprints and scratches can be an issue.
The chassis is a fingerprint magnet and its beautiful looks are easily dirtied during use.
When off, the PX-S1000 is spotless. The only things you’ll see on the front panel are the power button, the volume knob, and a simple Privia logo.
The buttons are touch-based and light up when the PX-S1000 is turned on.
The control elements are clearly marked and visible in low-light conditions, which is a definite plus if you’re considering the PX-S1000 as a gigging instrument.
The controls are also visible in bright conditions if you don’t have a strong light source reflecting above the buttons.
Note that I reviewed the PX-S1000’s black version, which has the clean look when turned off. This keyboard also comes in a white variant and this one gives the button names in black, making them visible when turned off.
Regarding touch-based controls, I have mixed feelings. The user manual makes it clear that you need to touch the buttons with bare fingers since they might not work with gloves.
The buttons utilize capacitive technology, similar to those you find on smartphone screens.
In terms of controllability, the Casio PX-S1000 uses key combinations to access its many features. While I’m not keen on this approach, it is the norm – and the PX-S1000 does offer intuitive features that make navigation easier.
To access a specific sound, like the 2nd electric piano, just press the voice key and the specific piano key corresponding to that sound. The same applies when you’re switching between touch sensitivity settings, reverb style, and so on.
While this isn’t ideal, I understand why Casio did this. You’re getting a lot of features at a low cost, so having no screen is an understandable compromise.
If you prefer a screen, however, the PX-S1000’s older brother, the PX-S3000, offers a screen and more buttons.
Regarding intuitive features, Casio offers handy function guides on their website that you can print out and keep close at hand, so you won’t need to carry the manual around.
The PX-S1000 also has a convenient feedback sound that plays each time you change the settings successfully.
My favorite feature is the demo note that plays when you’re switching between voices, letting you know what specific sound you’re currently choosing.
As an example, say I’m scrolling through the different voices; when I hit the key for the ‘Strings’ sound, a short note using this sound will play, making navigation much easier.
I primarily tested the PX-S1000 with the quick guide nearby and the experience was smooth. With more time, I would have easily remembered the functions without the guide.
If you insist on a well-designed graphical user interface, Casio’s Chordana Play app is available for iOS and Android and helps navigation significantly.
We’ll cover this in the Connectivity section, but rest assured that the piano performs well, even without the app.
Finally, let’s cover one of the distinguishing features of the PX-S1000. Unlike most other digital pianos or stage keyboards, the PX-S1000 runs on 6 AA batteries.
While you can also power the PX-S1000 with your AC mains, this is a plus for performers and buskers.
While I didn’t get a chance to test the battery life to its limit, it’s long enough for 2-3 hour performances. Casio claims 4 hours of continuous operation on alkaline batteries, which is more than enough for busking in the park.
I’m impressed with the design of the PX-S1000. It delivers on its promise to be the slimmest digital piano in the world, which will definitely be appreciated by pianists on the go.
However, you shouldn’t be buying a digital piano just for looks, so let’s consider the new keys on offer here.
Keyboard
Casio’s Privia line of digital pianos has been around for a long time. Their Tri Sensor Hammer Action II has been a proven key action that is popular and feels realistic.
The only true complaint people have against concerns bounciness and inherent noisiness (which, to be fair, is barely noticeable during play). Overall, I’ve been happy with the Privia pianos I’ve played through the years.
With the PX-S1000, Casio opted to use a different key action, one that is designed to fit the slimmer chassis. Casio calls this the Smart Scaled Hammer Action.
To be clear, these are no longer triple sensor actions; they are two-sensor actions instead.
Triple sensor actions have been Casio’s mainstay for years. When you press each key, it passes through each of the three sensors, eventually passing the lowermost sensor as you hit the bottom of the key bed.
Once you slowly release the keys, you can retrigger the sound by passing the middle sensor. As such, triple sensor actions offer more accuracy.
Casio opted to go with a new, smart, 2-sensor hammer action due to its better performance showed during thorough tests.
A two-sensor action might seem like a downgrade, but it’s not entirely true.
Casio’s action isn’t called “Smart” for nothing. Between both sensors, a software-based solution determines how deep your keypresses will be.
During play, I found that this two-sensor action is as good, if not better than the three-sensor actions available on previous Privia keyboards.
Judging by fellow reviewer’s thoughts after playing the PX-S1000 at the NAMM show, it seems like the PX-S1000 has enjoyed a unanimously positive reception.
The keys themselves are plastic and simulate ivory and ebony, giving them a textured feel ideal for play.
There’s a subtle grip on each keypress, and that’s something you don’t really expect on affordable keyboards in the PX-S1000’s price bracket.
A primary improvement of this new action is a silent mechanism that makes it one of the quietest key actions in its category.
There are also a few other minor improvements, including reduced bounciness and a slightly redesigned texture on the keys.
Apart from that, the new action felt quite similar to the previous Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action II regarding mechanical movement and physics.
I also noticed a negative about the new action compared to the older one.
To fit the key action into this compact chassis, Casio reduced the size of the action itself (the part that hides below the fallboard), making the pivot length shorter.
This means it’s slightly harder to play and control the keys at the back. This specifically occurs when you have to stretch your fingers to play between the black keys, which was a bit disappointing.
I’d rather sacrifice an inch or two of the depth of the chassis in the name of a longer (better) key action.
Even so, we always have to make some compromises. If you need portability, the PX-S1000 is one of the best options you can find on the market right now.
With regards to touch sensitivity, there are 5 different levels and an OFF option, ranging from light to heavy. At heavier settings, you need to play with a bit more force to trigger louder sounds.
Comparing the PX-S1000’s action to its competitors, it feels somewhat inferior to Roland’s PHA-4 Standard, Korg’s RH3, and Kawai’s RHCII actions as far as responsiveness and control are concerned. It’s also easier to play into keys with these actions.
The action beats, however, Yamaha’s GHS keyboard action, which, in my opinion, feels a bit basic and plasticky compared to Casio’s action. The pivot point length is about the same for both.
Sound
Casio went all in to make the PX-S series new. They even swapped out the sounds from the previous Privia digital pianos for new updated sample sets.
I was pleasantly surprised by the new sounds, and comparing them to the previous Privia instruments shows definite improvement (partly thanks to new and improved Reverb algorithms and Space simulation).
First, let’s talk about the grand piano sounds.
The new piano samples come from an unidentified 9-foot concert grand piano, though I do hear some nuances of a Steinway concert grand here, with bright highs and a clean low end.
For me, versatility is the main draw of these piano sounds. They give you a concert grand, bright piano, mellow grand, rock piano and jazz piano, all of which sound terrific in different genres.
The Mellow Grand Piano and Jazz Piano sounds are especially good.
Here’s a wonderful performance of “Cleir de Lune” played on the PX-S1000:
Samples are just the base of sounds you hear from the PX-S1000. Another surprising inclusion is acoustic modeling, courtesy of Casio’s updated AiR modeling tech.
Casio didn’t just reuse the tech found in previous Privia iterations. They included some of the modeling techniques from their Grand Hybrid Celviano series, too.
This enables you to tweak multiple parameters to sculpt your sound.
These parameters include key-off response, string resonance, damper resonance, damper pedal noise, and key on/off action noises.
These options are more than mere on/off controls. Each one comes with 4 intensities, ranging from soft to loud. You can even turn them off if you prefer an uncolored sound.
The default settings are well-tuned and provide a clean sound, with subtle details that make the piano sound more realistic.
Other Sounds
Casio offers additional sounds in conjunction with the main acoustic piano sounds.
The sampled Rhodes or Wurlitzer electric piano has a dirty bite to the sound, and I love it. Instead of capturing the clean, direct output of a classic suitcase piano alone, it captures an overdriven amp sound.
The “60’s Electric Piano” is another variation of the same type of sound, but with a more filtered tone that evokes the feel of 60’s ballads.
A “CP-80-style electric piano” sound and DX-7 rounds out the electric piano suite. I do feel that the CP-80 sounds a bit brighter than I prefer, but that’s my only complaint, and you can remedy it with the Brilliance effect.
The harpsichord and vibraphone sounds are fine, but the organs are the premier sound, with the Jazz organ featuring an authentic rotary speaker effect.
In isolation, the strings and bass are unspectacular, but they shine in the PX-S1000 split and layer modes, which we’ll cover in detail in the features section of the review.
Here’s another good sound demonstration:
In summary, the sounds are excellent and even offer sound sculpting options to create your own sounds. My primary complaint is that you can’t save presets.
If you like a certain tailored variation of the Rock Piano, with the pedal and key noise turned off for a sterile sound, you can’t save that for future sessions.
Once you switch to a different sound, you’ll need to make all the changes manually again later. The same applies to changes made to the sound effects.
Effects
Regarding effects, the PX-S1000 comes with 3 built-in effects that you can modify to taste.
First, you get what Casio calls “sound mode effects,” which deliver the main Hall Reverb and virtual Surround Sound modeling.
Each sound defaults to a specific setting, so you’ll need to set your favorites manually each time.
The Surround Sound setting is subtle and comes in 2 variations. I couldn’t discern the difference when the surround settings were on, but there was a wider feel to the sound overall.
The effects were definitely more pronounced on the built-in speakers, but subtly.
Apart from reverb effects, you also get a tweakable chorus and brilliance effect.
The chorus has 4 different intensities, which range from light chorus to full-on flanger effect at max intensity.
These effects sound good with electric piano sounds, especially with the DX-7 style sound included with the PX-S1000.
The brilliance setting has a range of -3 to +3, which darkens or brightens the sound according to your settings.
Remember how I said that some sounds were too bright? The brilliance control lets you modify these sounds to suit your tastes.
Polyphony
The PX-S1000 boasts 192 notes of maximum polyphony, an upgrade from the typical 128 of prior Privia keyboards in the same price range.
192-note polyphony is more than enough for any song regardless of genre. This high polyphony count ensures you won’t run out of notes even when using the Layer Mode.
Speakers
Now let’s take a second to admire the fact that Casio included speakers on this model in the first place.
Since the PX-S1000’s slim form factor was its distinctive feature, it would have been easy for them to omit speakers as other manufacturers would do (like the superb Korg D1).
What’s more, the dual speakers on this piano sound stellar. Powered by 8W amplifiers, for a total output of 16W. You can’t really ask for much more with a digital piano of this size.
The speakers are back-facing, so if you place the piano against the wall, it will reflect the sound providing a wider soundscape.
Features
Apart from the main features of the PX-S1000, it offers other features you won’t find on an acoustic piano.
Modes
The PX-S1000 includes 3 special play modes: Layer mode, Split mode, and Duo mode.
Layer mode is the easiest to explain. It allows you to play two sounds simultaneously. This feature is standard for most keyboards and digital pianos, regardless of price range.
The primary use for Layer Mode is to layer pianos with strings for a ballad-style tone, and the string orchestra feature does this well.
The electric pianos are also good for layering. This mode is a ton of fun, and I recommend using it to spice up your practice sessions.
Duet Play mode is geared towards teaching sessions.
It enables two players to share the keyboard, splitting the left and right keys into two miniature pianos of equal range.
This allows teachers to demonstrate some music while sitting beside a student, but without the range disparity that results from playing in a lower or higher octave.
To take full advantage of Duet Play mode, you’ll need Casio’s dedicated triple pedal unit. Otherwise you’ll be limited to the SP-3 sustain pedal, affecting the full keyboard range. We’ll talk about this in the Connectivity section of the review.
Split mode is favored by performers because it enables them to load up two different sounds on the left and right of the keyboard. The PX-S1000 makes this mode accessible.
Even so, it’s somewhat limited because the left side must be bass. You can only choose your sound on the right-hand side.
Though this is the primary use of the split mode, people who like to experiment may find it somewhat limiting. At the very least, you can modify the volume and settings of each side individually.
Functions
We’ve discussed how the PX-S1000 lacks a screen, which would allow for easier editing of individual settings. Instead, you’ll need to use button and key combinations to change settings on the fly.
The PX-S1000 has the following functions:
1) Metronome: Pressing the metronome button activates the built-in metronome. Tempo, time signature and volume of metronome sound can be changed.
2) Transpose Function: This allows you to change the played key. Transpositions can be changed from -12 to +12 semitones in increments of 1 semitone.
3) Octave Shift: Raises the octaves of the individual parts in Split, Duo or Layer mode.
4) Fine Tuning: The central tuning of the keyboard can be changed in steps of 0.2 Hz, from 415.5 to 465.9 Hz. The default pitch is the standard 440.0Hz for Middle A.
4) Temperament Options: 17 preset scales for different genres, including Equal Temperament, Pure Major, Pure Minor, Pythagorean, Kimberger 3, Werckmeister, Mean-Tone, Rast, Bayati, Hijaz, Saba, Dashti, Chahargah, Segah, Gurjari Todi, Chandrakauns and Charukeshi. Temperament base note can be selected from C3 to B3.
6) Speaker On/Off: Selects whether the speakers continue playback when Phone Jacks are used.
7) Auto Resume Setting: Makes the PX-S1000 load most recent settings when turned on.
8) Touch Button Brightness: Changes the touch button brightness between 2 different settings.
9) Button Light Auto Off: Makes it so the buttons turn off after a certain period of inactivity.
10) Touch Button Sensitivity: Changes the touch sensitivity between 3 different settings.
Song Recording and Playback
The PX-S1000 comes with 1 demo song and 60 built-in songs from different genres. You can also record your own songs using the record button on the touch panel.
Each user-created song can include 2 parts each, which is very helpful for practicing left and right-hand parts in isolation.
You can also mute each part individually (for both preset and user songs) and you can change the sounds between parts during recording.
Tonal settings are consistent throughout. You can’t change them between parts without affecting the others.
Casio’s MIDI recorder is convenient and playback is straightforward. You can even undo overdubbed parts by restarting the recording until you get it right.
Sadly, songs stored in the PX-S1000’s memory cannot be transferred to an external USB drive or smart device, which is unfortunate.
What you can do is load up to 10 User Songs onto the keyboard from a smart device or computer via a USB cable.
Also, don’t forget that MIDI recording is supported through the back-panel’s USB type-B port. Recording MIDI via external software is more convenient, so I wouldn’t consider this a massive downside.
The PX-S1000 still includes many features you wouldn’t expect in an affordable package. This is made possible by the myriad of connectivity options on offer. Let’s talk about them.
Connectivity
The PX-S1000 has all the essential connectivity options, so it works well for both home and stage use.
Two stereo mini jacks (1/8” | 3.5 mm) are included, allowing you to use headphones during late-night practice sessions. The ports are conveniently located at the front of the instrument (left side), for easy access.
By default, the speakers mute when you plug in your headphones in, though you can change this setting with the function keys.
An Audio In mini jack is also included, allowing you to connect your phones or music players directly for convenient audio playback through the built in speakers.
This is an excellent feature that most affordable keyboards bypass, so kudos to Casio adding it.
Stereo Line Out jacks (R, L/Mono) allow you to easily integrate the PX-S1000 into studio or stage environments by connecting to an external audio interface or PA system. The jacks are the standard ¼” jacks, so you won’t have incompatibility issues.
You also get a USB to Host (Type B) port, which equips you to connect the PX-S1000 to supported devices. This connects to Casio’s Chordana app on your smart devices.
You can use this port to record MIDI via USB-MIDI cable with supported software such as Garageband, FL Studio, and Flowkey.
To connect to an iOS device, you’ll need to rely on a Lightning-to-USB Camera adapter or on the Yamaha Wireless MIDI adapter.
The wireless option might be less cumbersome, but latency could be a problem.
Bluetooth connectivity is also available but note that it will only work with audio data, meaning you’ll be able to stream your favorite audio files stored on a smart device to the PX-S1000, but you won’t be able to use MIDI-based apps like Flowkey, Garageband, or Casio’s Chordana Play.
Two pedal jacks are included. The Damper Pedal jack is the standard ¼” jack that allows you to use any standard damper pedal with the PX-S1000. The included pedals plug into this jack right out of the box.
A proprietary Pedal Unit jack is also included, allowing you to connect supported 3-pedal setups for further soft, sostenuto, and damper pedals. Not all pedal units work with this jack.
Chordana Play for iOS and Android
More and more digital piano manufacturers are leaving out screens to reduce production costs, and it’s hard to argue with their logic.
Nearly everyone in the world has a smartphone or tablet with a large, high-resolution screen with accurate touch sensing. Since the PX-S1000 is so affordable, I’m willing to excuse its lack of a screen.
The Chordana Play app overcomes this missing feature by integrating with the PX-S1000, allowing you not only to take advantage of Casio’s piano tutorials and song-learning features, but also to control specific functions with a graphical user interface.
The Chordana Play allows you to modify sounds, metronome settings, and even record MIDI on the go. I found this experience to be much more enjoyable with the app installed. It eliminated guesswork.
If you’re performing on stage, I’d say the Chordana Play is essential. It permits you to change sounds without having a test tone play, which could be embarrassing if you’re not muted.
For novices, Chordana Play’s tutorial features are very good. I love the “raining notes” method of learning a song, and it excels at visualizing when to play each note.
While this is a handy bonus feature for intermediate and expert players, beginners will find the Chordana app very helpful, too.
Accessories
Damper Pedal
The included SP-3 damper pedal is a square-shaped pad pedal, which looks and feels far from a damper pedal you’d find on an acoustic piano, failing to take full advantage of the PX-S1000’s capabilities.
Casio SP-3 Sustain Pedal
The piano supports half-pedaling and soft and sostenuto pedals, but the SP-3 only operates as a regular on/off switch.
I’d definitely recommend getting something more substantial and piano-looking.
The M-Audio SP-2 is one of the most popular sustain pedals available out there. It has a piano-style design, excellent build quality and durability.
Stand
This package includes neither a stand or gig bag, but the PX-S1000 feels right at home on a desk or generic keyboard stand.
In fact, its slim form factor might even persuade you to use smaller stands.
If you’re in the market for a furniture stand, the Casio CS-68P was designed for the CD-P and PX-S portable pianos, ensuring a matching color scheme. It would be a perfect solution for home-based musicians.
Casio PX-S1000 with the CS-68P Stand and SP-34 Pedal Unit
For on-the-go musicians, I’d recommend getting an X- or Z-style stand instead. They are much more compact, easy to move around and are usually adjustable.
Here are a few options I recommend:
- RockJam Xfinity Double-X Stand (collapsible)
- Knox Z-Style Adjustable Stand
3-Pedal Unit
Casio has designed a new, 3-pedal unit for the PX-S1000 and PX-S3000, namely the Casio SP-34.
It comes with a soft, sostenuto, and damper pedal in a single unit, and also supports half-pedaling.
Depending on how you use the PX-S1000, this could be a necessity or a luxury.
Casio SP-34 Pedal Unit
Personally, I don’t use the sostenuto and soft pedals much, so a generic pedal that supports half-pedaling works for me.
People focused on classical music that requires proficiency with technical footwork will definitely appreciate the SP-34.
Carrying Bag
If you travel a lot and plan to move the PX-S1000 around often, you may want to get a carrying bag or case that will make transportation easier and safer.
Specifically for the new PX-S series (will fit the CDP-S series as well), Casio designed the SC-800, a high-quality protective case that you can get for a little over $100.
Casio SC-800 Keyboard Case
Headphones
Headphones come in very handy when you want to practice in private, focusing solely on your playing and not disturbing others nearby.
Moreover, a good pair of headphones will provide a clearer and more detailed sound compared to the onboard speakers.
Check out this guide to learn how to choose the best-sounding headphones for your digital piano.
Summary
- Unique, futuristic design
- Very compact and relatively lightweight
- Runs on 6 AA batteries
- Solid keyboard action with a nice feel
- Natural and very nuanced piano sound with many adjustable parameters
- 192-note polyphony
- Decent onboard speakers (16W)
- Bluetooth 5.0 (Audio)
- Key pivot length is quite short
- Glossy finish is a fingerprint magnet
- No registration memory for saving current settings for later recall
- Touch-based controls aren’t tactile
- No Bluetooth MIDI support
The PX-S1000 turned out to be a really innovative instrument, unique from everything that Casio (and other digital piano brands) have made to date.
It somehow crams all of Casio’s new features into a slim chassis while still delivering a more-than-satisfying digital piano at an affordable price.
The PX-S1000 features many improvements over the previous Casio instruments, including the innovative Smart Scaled Hammer action, updated sounds, higher polyphony count, additional ports, Bluetooth audio, Chordana app compatibility, and more.
The new piano tones are impressive and sound amazing, whether through headphones, Line Outs, or the built-in speakers.
The simulated acoustic elements do a wonderful job adding subtle little aspects to the sound, making it more nuanced and authentic.
I can’t think of any digital piano at this price point that would offer these features AND allow you to adjust them to your preferences.
Another unique feature of the PX-S1000 is that it can run on batteries, which is a big advantage for musicians on the go.
It also helps anyone who wants to play outdoors without extension cords and other paraphernalia.
Room for improvement still exists in the new key action, which has a relatively short pivot point (which shouldn’t be a problem for beginners) and the glossy finish that can lose its “like new,” scratch-free appearance over time.
I’d also prefer having Bluetooth MIDI over Bluetooth audio since it would allow me to connect wirelessly to the Chordana app and use the remote control feature without buying additional cables or adapters.
Check the availability and current price of the Casio PX-S1000 in your region:
Alternatives
The PX-S1000 is priced competitively and the alternatives include the Roland FP-30 and Yamaha P-125.
Before moving to other brands, let’s talk about the PX-S3000, which is the older brother of the PX-S1000.
Casio PX-S1000 vs Casio PX-S3000 (Full Review)
The Casio PX-S3000 was introduced along with the PX-S1000 model and is basically a more advanced version of it.
The instruments share the same piano tones, keyboard action, and overall design.
At the same time, the PX-S3000 comes with a lot more arranger features, extra sounds, connectivity options and other “bells and whistles”.
Let’s take a look at some of the key differences between the instruments.
- 18 Built-in Tones
- 2-track MIDI recorder (1 song)
- USB type B
- 60 Built-in Songs (for playback and practice)
- 700 Built-in Tones
- 3-track MIDI recorder (5 songs)
- USB type B + USB type A (for connecting flash drives)
- Built-in Display
- MIDI and Audio playback (from the flash drive)
- Audio Recorder (WAV, 16bit, 44.1kHz, stereo)
- 200 Built-in Rhythms (6 chord input modes)
- Auto Harmonize function (12 types)
- Arpeggiator (100 types)
- Pitch Bend Wheel
- 2 Assignable Knobs
- Fully editable DSP parameters (+100 presets)
- A few extra Reverb and Chorus effects
- Registration function (96 sets)
- Expression Pedal (assignable jack)
Casio PX-S1000 vs Roland FP-30 (Full Review)
The Roland FP-30 is part of Roland’s portable digital piano line and also happens to be one of Roland’s most popular intermediate digital pianos under $1,000. This pits it against the PX-S1000’s pricing.
Regarding the touch and feel of the keyboards, I’ve mentioned how the PX-S1000 has certain limitations, while the FP-30 arguably feels more natural with its PHA-4 Standard key action.
Roland has always been known for their realistic key actions, so it’s nice to see this quality in their low-cost keyboards as well.
The Roland FP-30 sacrifices some portability in terms of size and weight, but it leverages added depth to provide a longer pivot point.
This makes it more enjoyable to play and it avoids the issues of the PX-S1000, which feels slightly unnatural at the deeper points of the keys.
The Roland FP-30’s extra bulk also accommodates more powerful speakers (11W dual speakers rather than Casio’s 8W speakers).
If portability is your goal, the PX-S1000 is the best choice. It’s lightweight (approx. 7 lbs. lighter than the FP-30) and can run on battery power.
The PX-S1000 includes proper Line Outs, which are a big deal for performers. The FP-30 only has a headphone output, which is less than ideal for performers.
The PX-S1000 features an Audio In jack and Bluetooth audio connectivity, making practice a more convenient since you can easily connect your phone or music player to play along.
Meanwhile, the FP-30 comes with Bluetooth MIDI support, which the PX-S10000 lacks. This allows you to record MIDI wirelessly, which you can’t do on the PX-S1000.
You can also play back MIDI and WAV playback straight from a flash drive on the FP-30, which can be more convenient depending on your preferred method for storing practice songs.
It’s hard to choose between the two, but I’d say it depends on what you want. If you want portability, get the PX-S1000.
If an authentic feel is more important, the FP-30 is probably a better option (though I know people who actually preferred the Casio keyboard, so it depends really).
- 18 Built-in Sounds
- 192-note Polyphony
- 2 x 8W Speakers
- 60 Preset Songs + 10 User
- Weighs 24.7 lbs
- 2-track MIDI recorder
- Bluetooth Audio connectivity
- Sympathetic String/Damper/Key off Resonance, Key on/off Action Noise, Damper Noise (adjustable)
- Audio In jack
- Can run on batteries
- 35 Built-in Sounds
- 128-note Polyphony
- 2 x 11W Speakers
- 30 Preset Songs
- Weighs 31 lbs
- 1-track MIDI recorder
- Bluetooth MIDI connectivity
- Sympathetic String/Damper/Key-Off Resonance (non-adjustable)
- Supports MIDI and WAV playback from a flash drive
Casio PX-S1000 vs Yamaha P-125 (Full Review)
Yamaha’s P-series keyboards are aimed towards piano players of different levels and buyers looking for portable keyboards that feel good to play.
The P-125 is a mid-range digital piano priced in the same range as the PX-S1000. It’s a recent update to the aging P-115, which was a very popular portable digital piano in its day.
Even so, the Casio PX-S1000 wins hands down, in my opinion.
The main drawback of the P-125 is a less realistic Yamaha GHS (Graded Hammer Standard) key action. The PX-S1000’s key action feels more natural during play.
The Yamaha P-125 comes with glossy plastic keys which are prone to slipping, whereas the PX-S1000 features a textured, synthetic ebony and ivory feel with a more premium quality.
As you might expect, the PX-S1000 is slimmer and weighs less (24.7 lbs. to the P-125’s 26 lbs.).
Portability is also better on the PX-S1000, as it can be powered with batteries, while the P-125 requires an A/C main.
While both digital pianos come with piano modeling technology, the PX-S1000 has more tweakable options, namely key on/off action noise and damper noise.
The Sympathetic String/Damper and Key-Off resonances are common to both digital pianos, but they aren’t adjustable on the Yamaha P-125.
The PX-S1000 includes recording capabilities, an Audio In jack, Bluetooth audio support, and a good chorus effect.
That’s not the say that the P-125 is a straight-up worse digital piano. It has more built-in sounds (24 to the PX-S1000’s 18) and a more powerful 4-speaker setup (to the PX-S1000’s 2 speaker setup).
You also get accompaniment rhythms on the Yamaha, which is a lot more conducive to practice than a monotonous metronome.
Yamaha also includes USB Audio Interface functionality on the P-125, making it more convenient for record piano sounds into your DAW or supported software.
All in all, I’d choose the Casio PX-S1000, thanks to its better-feeling keys and slim form factor – but the Yamaha’s additional features might make it the right piano for you instead.
- 18 Built-in Sounds
- 2 x 8W (2 speakers)
- 60 Preset Songs + 10 User
- Weighs 24.7 lbs
- Sympathetic String/Damper/Key off Resonance, Key on/off Action Noise, Damper Noise (adjustable)
- Chorus (4 types)
- Bluetooth Audio connectivity
- Audio In jack
- Can run on batteries
- 24 Built-in Sounds
- 2 x 7W (4 speakers)
- 50 Preset Songs
- Weighs 26 lbs
- Sympathetic String/Damper/Key-Off Resonance (non-adjustable)
- 20 Accompaniment Rhythms
- USB Audio Interface function
Nice review Lucas, thx for it.
As I’ve been having the 3000 at home for just 3 days, I’ll be waiting for your review of this tiny terror to write my commentaries rather than on this review.
Keep up the good job
Hey Philippe, thanks for the kind words. The review of the PX-S3000 is coming very soon!
Hi, thanks for the review.
I have a concern that wasn’t addressed that maybe you have an a opinion on. I wonder about longevity with this piano. As it is like a smart phone and doesn’t have buttons is it very likely that with a bad knock it will cease to work? It would pretty much be non-functional if the computer or touch option is compromised. I don’t want to buy it and have it useless In a few years. I plan on gigging it.
Maybe I’m a Luddite!
Thanks
Hi Sam, well, any electronic device that uses a motherboard, a processor, microcontrollers, etc. are prone to breakage under certain circumstances, but I wouldn’t say that the touch-based controls makes the PX-S1000 easier to break. Yes, the repair may be a bit more complicated than with regular buttons but in my opinion, it’s quite unlikely it will come to this (plus, you’ll likely have a few years covered by warranty).
Hey Lucas,
thanks so much for the review. These are extremely helpful!
I’m looking forward to your discussion of the PX3000 as well. I’ve just tried the 1000 and 3000 in a shop (and I was amazed by the key-action – they feel great) and to me the 3000 sounded a lot better, especially in the lower range (in the Grand Piano mellow and bright settings). But according to the specs there should be no difference. Do you have any idea why that might be?
It might have something to do with the relative positions of the pianos in the room or maybe their acoustic settings have been adjusted differently… But anyway, I’d really like to hear if you notice anything, because if they really sound the same, im going to go for the s1000.
Cheers!
Hey Anja, there are definitely a number of factors that can affect the sound and how you perceive it. With that, it’s not impossible that someone adjusted the settings and altered the sound.
The piano tones on both of these keyboards are sampled from the same grand piano, but the PX-S3000 has a number of piano presets that are not available on the PX-1000, which became possible thanks to the PX-3000’s built-in DSP algorithms.
For example, the Stage Piano preset, or the Ambient Piano, etc. So maybe you just liked one of those presets better than whatever tone you were playing on the PX-1000.
I’m thinking about casio px-s1000 vs kawai es110 .In my country 2 piano as same price .Please help me to pick the right one .
_key action/feel
-sound
Thank you alot
Both are good choices, only you can decide which one is “the right one”. The ES-110’s key action is slightly lighter, bouncier, and noisier compared to the keys on the PX-S1000. Soundwise, they’re on the same level, though the Casio has more organic piano sound elements such as string resonance, key action noise, etc.
Check out this article where I compare the ES110, PX-S1000 and a few other digital pianos in this price range. Hope this helps.
Thank you for the review! I know that px-s1000 is in a different category from pic-770 but do you happen to have a chance to compare the grand piano sound quality between these two? With the stand, they are in the same price range. I’m debating which one I should buy. (Portability is not my concert but the sound quality.) Thank you!
Hi Jerry, by “pic-770” you mean the Casio PX-770? If so, the PX-S1000 is a newer instrument with an upgraded AiR sound engine, which produces a slightly richer and more detailed sound compared to the PX-770. That was achieved mostly by adding new resonance algorithms and simulation of acoustic noises not found on the PX-770. The piano sample itself is new as well. I hope this helps.
Hi Lucas, awesome review! In terms of acoustic realism, how would do the speakers on the Casio PX-S1000 compare with the Kawai ES110, seeing as they are both very good? Thanks!
Hi Kevin, the quality of the speakers is comparable with these two. The PX-S1000 sounds slightly better, in my opinion, but it also largely depends on where you place these instruments.
The ES110 has front-facing speakers, while the PX-S1000 has speakers on the back (with small speaker grills on the front to allow the sound to flow both ways).
In theory, if you place the PX-S1000 against the wall, the sound will come out of the speakers, reflect from the wall and create an immersive sound field. In practice, this also depends on a lot of factors, including the size of the room, material of the wall, ceiling heights, etc.
But overall, both of these instruments have decent speakers for home practice and recreational playing.
Hi! I’m a beginner and I’ve been looking for quite some times to reviews and videos about which digital piano I should get. My choices stopped at the Casio PX-S1000 and the Yamaha P-125(both at 800 in my country). I read both of your reviews and you seem to like more the casio, for it’s action and features. So I went to the store and got to feel them both. I really like the key texture on the Casio and I did not really see any difference in the action(maybe I’m not used enough to pianos to notice). The seller tried them both for me and I really really liked the yamaha sound. It seemed louder, richer (especially in the low notes) compared to the casio. The seller thought seemed to only talk about the yamaha, telling me it’s features and did not say much about the casio. I’m still not convinced on which one I should get.
Maybe the casio was not tweaked to have better sound? I don’t know. Could you help me decide?
Thank you
Hi Simon, the Yamaha has a great sound, that’s for sure, so it’s not impossible that you liked its sound better. However, it’s important to remember that the sound you were hearing was coming from the internal speakers, which is different from when you’re listing through headphones (a good pair of headphones will almost always sound better than the internal speakers).
Since the Yamaha has 4 speakers (front-facing) and the Casio has 2 (back-firing), the sound character/shape will be slightly different with these two.
Other factors that will affect the sound quality from the speakers are the size of the room, materials of the walls/floor, placing of the instrument. The PX-1000’s sound system is likely to perform better when placed against the wall, which will allow the sound to reflect and create a more immersive soundfield.
As for the action, while they’re somewhat similar with regards to the mechanism design, key pivot length, but they do have a different feel.
Hi Lucas,
Thank you for the amazing amount of information and effort you have put in. I have been lost in reading/rereading your site for most of the weekend.
We are looking for a digital piano, primarily for our daughter (almost 8yo). She took a basic piano class this fall and is showing some interest in learning. So my priorities for her are to have something simple but competent to learn on for technique, etc. I’d like to be able to pair it up with a good learning app. I know Roland and Casio have their apps but would like to hear which might be better for our daughter. (Or if there are any 3rd party apps you highly recommend, would love to hear those as well).
I’d be lying if I didn’t say I want to try to learn with it too. I have a minor music background having studied and played bass guitar many years ago. Though I haven’t played in ages.
After reading your reviews I think I have narrowed the field to the Roland FP30, Casio PX160, or the Casio PXS1000. The Yamaha 125 was in the mix as well but you seem to slightly favor the Casio.
Last considerations are minor portability. We will most likely be using an X or Z stand so that we can have the ability to move it around to various rooms and put it away.
I would love to hear your advice. Having the right instrument for our daughter that will be fun and comfortable for her to learn on is the greatest priority.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Jonathan
Hi Jonathan, it’s so cool that you want to learn the piano, it should make it even more fun since your daughter is learning as well.
You mentioned some great options, I’d also add the Kawai ES110 to that list, and keep the P-125 on the list as well. Even though I’m not a bit fan of Yamaha’s entry-level digital pianos, many people love them and it’s all very subjective, so definitely try all of them out if you have a chance.
With that said, these are all solid options, and any of them should serve you well based on the info you provided.
As for the learning apps, note that most manufacturers don’t offer any learning apps. Usually, they develop their apps to make navigation easier by providing a graphical interface to get easy access to all the instruments’ built-in sounds and features. Sometimes they also provide some extra functionality such as songs for practice, scoring features, etc., but it’s not their main focus, and you’ll hardly be able to learn the piano using those apps.
There are many good 3-rd party apps/courses that you may want to consider using, at least in the early stages of your learning path. Feel free to check out our article on how to choose the best way to learn the piano. It should give you some guidance on what options you have to start your musical journey.
We also have a few dedicated app reviews, so feel free to check those out as well.
Hi, It would be great if you could do a comparison between
px s1000 and px 770. Given that prices are almost the same, I wonder as a beginner, which one to go far considering it to provide inspiration for my two year old son as well for the next 10 years apart from taking me to the next level.
regards
suresh
Hi Suresh, both are good instruments, and are similar sound- and feel-wise. If portability is not an issue, the PX-770 has an advantage over the PX-S1000, since it comes with a stand and 3 pedals, so you don’t need to buy those separately. Also thanks to its cabinet design, the sound coming out of the speakers should be slightly fuller and more resonant compared to the PX-S1000.
Of course, the PX-S1000 being very slim and lightweight has its advantages as well, so I guess, you should decide which form factor makes more sense for your situation, and choose an instrument based on that.
Thanks Lucas. I wish casio had the sagacity to provide cabinet as an accessory for px s1000. It’s between elegance, protection and the resonant feel afforded by the cabinet Vs portability and features that are better, but by an unaural notch for the beginner. Regret here, regret there…
I’ll go with PX S1000.
Thanks for your reviews, nay, dissertations!
By the way, the succinct comparison and advice you’ve given in your reply is to be found nowhere else in googlescape.
regards
suresh
Glad to be of help! I hope you enjoy your PX-S1000.
I got a chance to try the Roland fp-30 and Casio px-s1000 side by side, and from that experience I concluded that I prefer the feel of the Roland by a good margin. However much preferred the sound of the Casio. Ultimately I ended up getting neither and went with the Kawai kdp 110 as it was on sale for $900 with the stand and pedals. That piano imo trumps both the Casio and Roland in looks, touch and sound.
Great choice, Sydney. Have fun with the KDP110 and happy playing!
Hello. I have some questions about the bluetooth connection: connect bluetooth audio to keyboard and insert headphone to audio jack. Are you then able to hear the bluetooth audio through the headphones or does it play through the speakers?
Thank you
Hi Steven, once you insert your headphones into the headphone jack, all audio (including the audio via Bluetooth) that the instrument receives/produces will be routed to that jack, and the speakers will be muted.
Thank you for answering!
Hi Lucas
Thank you for your detailed review. Lots of information and very thorough.
I would like to get your view on the S1000 keyboard versus the ES110. You say it’s not as good as the RHC II but how does it compare to the RHC in the ES110?
I tried the ES110, the FP30 and the P125 keyboards and much preferred the Kawai. I’ve previously had access to an acoustic piano and so prefer the action to have a similar feel. I get what you say about the S1000 not being a couple of inches deeper to provide a lengthier pivot but would value your sense of touch comparison between this, an ES110 and an acoustic piano.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Steve, well since you’ve already played the ES110, FP-30, and P-125 and preferred the Kawai, I doubt that you’ll find the PX-S1000 to be far superior in this respect. It’s a good action for a portable keyboard, but the short pivot length is less than ideal when you’re playing more advanced pieces.
In terms of touch, I can’t compare it to your acoustic pianos since I haven’t played it, but when compared to the ES110’s action, I would say the Casio action is less bouncy and noisy. With that said, the pivot length is shorter and the mechanism itself is not as realistic, in my opinion. When playing the ES110, you get a better simulation of hammers moving inside the body compared to the PX-S1000, at least I had that impression.
Hi
first of all i would love say thank you from all my heart
your whole website and the reviews are precious
i spent many hours reading your words and its quite enjoyable
i have been looking for a digital piano for a months and i’m sure i found out what i need
but the only problem i had its the competitor fp-30, Ronald
regarding it;s an old keyboard it’s still compete with other successful pianos ( px-s100 , p-125 )
I’ve never understand that, cause i like the idea to but smoothing new that just came out
and it will keep being good enough for a long time but the fp-30 it’s always win in (keys feels, sound )
why casio didn’t do their home work
and thank you so much sir, i’ll always come here from time to time to read, even if i bought a keyboard, love you 🙂
Thanks for all the kind words, Heath!
Hi, recently bought the casio pxs1000 but had to send it back to be exchanged as about 10 of the white keys have a rubbing noise when being pressed down, like they were coming into contact with something on the way down, was told on ths phone I may have recieved a faulty item, you heard anything similar with this?
Hi Michael, the PX-S1000 is still relatively new, so, no I haven’t seen many complaints about the new action with regard to how noisy it is. With that said, it’s a pretty common complaint when people receive a damaged or faulty unit, so this may well be the case as you were told by the Casio representative (I assume).
Let me know if the new unit has the same problem.
Hello,
If I connect my bluetooth headphones to the piano will I be able to hear myself play in the headphones?
Hi,
Bluetooth Audio on the PX-S1000 is not designed to send audio to external Bluetooth devices. It’s actually quite the opposite, you can connect your phone to the PX-S1000 via Bluetooth and stream your favorite songs, which you’ll be able to hear via the PX-S1000’s onboard speakers/headphone output.
I am disappointed with your review. You have missed the key point to consider. I have bought this piano for the apparent exhaustive analysis that you have made of the product. As soon as I tried the keyboard. I realized the most important mistake this piano has. There is a significant difference in resistance when pressing the white keys compared to the black keys. I do not understand why you have not commented. I’m sure you noticed. It seems to me a huge failure. This mistake turns this piano into rubbish.
Hi David,
Sorry to have disappointed you. This is why I always recommend trying each instrument before buying. As for the PX-S1000, even though I reviewed it a while ago, I don’t remember feeling anything out of the ordinary when it comes to how the white vs black keys are weighted. Again we all have different hands/fingers and play different styles of music, so it’s possible that if what you’re saying is true, it’s more apparent when playing certain genres / with certain hand anatomies.
With that said, I find it hard to believe that Casio would make an instrument with differently weighted black/white keys and wouldn’t know about it. There’s a chance that you simply received a faulty unit cause’ I haven’t seen any mentions of this issue from other PX-S1000 users.
Another thing that might be happening here is that Casio made a deliberate decision to make the black keys slightly lighter than the white keys to compensate for the short pivot length.
In other words, since the pivot length of this instrument is not great, when you move up the black keys, the keys become stiffer and harder to play, so in order to compensate for this, the black keys are weighted a bit differently. Of course, that’s just a speculation of mine. We need more people to see how widespread this issue is and whether it affects their playing in any negative way.
Again, sorry to hear you’re not enjoying your PX-S1000. I hope you ultimately find the instrument that you love.
It’s not a faulty individual unit. Around middle C white keys are about 60 grams and black keys about 43 grams. Huge difference. Casio has really screwed up. Royally. Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChMHi2auG_c
Around 16:00 forward…
Yeah, considering he did the measurements correctly, the black keys are indeed lighter than the white keys on the PX-S series.
Again, my theory is that Casio did it on purpose (to compensate for a shorter key pivot length). The question is how much it affects the playing (if it does at all). The measurements, tests and all that are great, but the most important thing is how the action responds when you actually play it and whether it allows you to play and express yourself in the way you want.
So far, I haven’t seen people complaining about this aspect of the new Casio actions. Yes, as I mentioned in the review, the action is not perfect and the relatively short pivot length doesn’t help either, but by no means is it bad or unplayable keyboard nor have I seen anyone call it that.
It’s good to remember that the PX-S and CDP-S series are one of the slimmest digital pianos out there, so you can’t expect them to be flawless, there will always be some compromises as far as portable digital pianos are concerned.
hi, nice review! i have a question: can we record the audio on px s1000 and then transfer the audio by bluetooth, chordana or any other way? i saw on the review that isn’t possible to transfer by USB. Really sad….
Hi Jonas,
Do you mean after you record an audio file on the PX-S1000 can you then transfer it to another device? Since audio recordings on the PX-S1000 are done via an external flash drive, you can then take those files and transfer them to whatever device you want. Or are you specifically looking for wireless streaming of those recordings directly from the piano?
Hi, Lucas. I have a question only someone with lots of experience can answer as reading reviews doesn’t help anymore. I decided to learn to play piano. Probably would like to learn to compose some pop/rock melodies on it and have no intention to play anything by Rachmaninoff 🙂 I don’t need good speakers (will mostly play through headphones), lot’s of sounds (just piano or multiple pianos) and additional functions that have nothing to do with acoustic piano. Basically something that sounds and feels nice through headphones or hi–fi would be great. Every cheap upright piano that I touched feels great to me 🙂 From reviews I read I narrowed my selection to Casio PX S1000 (for stylish look, size, sound) and Roland FP-10 (key feel/action). I can get both for under 500€ in my country, but in the best case scenario could try live only one of them (but what could I say without any experience?). I guess how digital piano sounds and feels (keys/action) are two most important things (for me)? Which one you feel would be better deal for me? Thanks
Hi Paulius,
The action on the FP-10 is a closer approximation of what an actual piano feels like, which is preferable for a beginner. With that said, it seems like you’re not necessarily interested in learning/playing classical music, so for rock/jazz, it isn’t going to be that much of an issue. The main problem I have with the PX-S1000’s key action is its relatively short key pivot length. Depending on the anatomy of your hands and your playing technique, this may be a noticeable drawback or something you don’t even notice.
As for the rest, both instruments are perfectly fine for a beginner and are pretty much on the same level (realism-wise).
Gracias, Lucas. I also found Korg D1 for similar price. From what I understood from your reviews this one would be even better than fp10/30? I don’t care about speakers.
Yeah, the Korg D1 is a great instrument for the price. I wouldn’t say it’s straight-up better (depends on what you’re looking for in a digital piano), but it’s definitely a strong competitor to Roland’s FP-10/FP-30 and a solid option to consider.
Thanks again and one more thing… The only reason I found out about the existence of Korg D1 is accident. Here you compare it to Kawai, Roland, Casio, but if I go to respective reviews of Roland, Kawai, Casio, Yamaha, Korg is not mentioned as alternative. Neither it is in all of lists like „best under … €“ or so. And believe it or not, but after „nice samples“ and „good action“ the third thing I was looking for in a DP was „no speakers“ 🙂 But already after my first day of research I was completely sure that there’s no such thing as DP without speakers 🙂 And it looks like almost everyone will put D1 into a category “Stage piano” (which it is) maybe not realising that for some it might be a perfect Digital piano. Strange though because even you review it as digital/stage piano, maybe even more as digital piano. Anyway, thanks again for your detailed reviews and now it’s shopping time 🙂
Hi Paulius,
Thanks for your input! Glad you stumbled upon the D1 model, as it does look to be the model you’ve been looking for 🙂
The reason why you didn’t find it in the Alternatives section of those other reviews is because I reviewed it after those reviews were published, so I didn’t go back and add the D1 as a potential competitor (which I probably should do).
It’s also not featured in our digital piano top lists because it’s considered a ‘stage piano’ as doesn’t have onboard speakers, so I was planning to feature it in one of the future articles covering specifically stage pianos. Maybe I should reconsider that approach since some people do seem to be interested in digital pianos with no speakers (not that there are many of them, especially in this price range). The Korg D1 and the recently introduced Roland RD88 are pretty much the only stage pianos you can find in the sub-$1000 price range.
Great review! Thanks for the help and it helped me make my decision to purchase this. However, I am very disappointed in this keyboard for one reason that should be in your review. The Chordana app does not work for a lot of android devices, including it seems, most Chromebooks. You can confirm this by looking at the app reviews on Google Play, and not having Chordana really makes this a more clunky interface. It is also super disappointing not having access to the tutorial functions.
Thank
Hi Joel,
Sorry to hear that. Well, the Chordana app is completely optional and I don’t consider it to be a vital part of a digital piano setup. It’s impossible for me to test the app on every Android device imaginable, plus the apps tend to get updated regularly, so compatibility issues may be fixed in the future. I’d recommend contacting Casio directly to see if they can help to make it work.
Are there any particular features that you’re missing without Chordana Play? There are many 3rd-party apps out there that can do similar things more effectively (apart from controlling the PX-S1000).
Hi, Lucas
Thank you, as always, for such a comprehensive and detailed review!
I’ve been thinking of buying a Casio PX-870 for some time, especially because it already has its own stand and pedals included.
On the other hand, PX-S1000 comes with most of the “software” features that the PX-870 has (damper resonance, key-off simulator etc.).
The PX-S1000 + stand + 3-pedal set will cost almost the price of a PX-870. In that case, which one do you think is better, particularly when it comes to key action and sound quality?
Hi Gabriel,
Indeed, these two are more or less comparable when you add the stand and the pedals to the PX-S1000. Obviously, the PX-870 is geared towards home use, so it’s not portable unlike the PX-S1000 (if that’s important to you). When it comes to the feel of the keys, they’re very similar. The newer action on the PX-S1000 is quieter and less bouncy, but it also has a shorter pivot length. Overall, they have a very similar feel, though.
As for the sound quality, the PX-S1000 has an arguably more refined sound than the PX-870 (upgraded sound engine and all), but when played through the speakers, the PX-870 with its powerful onboard sound system is a clear winner.
Hope this helps.