Casio PX-770 Review: The Best Console Digital Piano Under $700?

Casio PX-770 Review

Casio has just updated its Privia range with two digital pianos, the PX-770 and the PX-870 (next model up).

Just the other day, I posted a review an in-depth review of the PX-870 and today we’re going to take a closer look at the PX-770.

The pianos have a lot in common, but there are also a few significant differences between the two.

The PX-770 is Casio’s most affordable digital piano with a furniture-style cabinet.

It replaced the PX-760 model and comes with a redesigned cabinet, controls, a new 4-layer piano sound and some other improvements.

Considering the PX-760 was one of the most popular cabinet pianos in the 700$ price range, the PX-770 promises to be even better.

Let’s dive into the review and find out!

Casio PX-770 Specs

  • 88-key fully weighted keyboard with simulated Ivory & Ebony keytops
  • Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II
  • Touch Sensitivity (3 types, Off)
  • Sound: Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source
  • 128-note polyphony
  • 19 instrument sounds (5 pianos)
  • Acoustic Simulator: Damper Resonance, Hammer Response
  • 60 preset songs (+ 10 User Songs)
  • Modes: Split (Low-range bass tone only), Dual, Duo (Duet Play)
  • Lesson Function (ability to practice each hand’s part separately)
  • Concert Play feature (10 songs)
  • 2-track MIDI recorder
  • Metronome, Transpose, Fine-tuning, Octave shift
  • Temperament: 17 types
  • Speakers: 8W + 8W (12cm x 2)
  • Connections: USB to Host, Headphone jacks (2), Sustain Pedal jack
  • 139.1 x 29.9 x 79.8 cm (54.7” x 11.7” x 31.4”)
  • 31.5 kg (69.4 lbs)

Check the availability and current price of the Casio Privia PX-770 in your region:

US: ( What Retailer to Buy From )
Sweetwater Guitar Center Amazon

Design

The Casio PX-770 comes with an integrated stand and a triple pedal unit.

The piano looks sleeker than the previous PX-760 due to the redesigned cabinet which now has fewer seams and more minimalistic design.

The cabinet has a wooden texture, which feels and looks very nice.

Casio PX-770 pedals

The instrument is equipped with 3 pedals that simulate the functionality of sustain, soft, and sostenuto pedals on an acoustic piano.

It’s also very convenient that the PX-770 comes with a built-in sliding cover which will protect the keyboard from the dust.

The piano is pretty easy to put together. All you need is a Philips screwdriver and about 20-30 minutes.

It will be much easier to assemble the unit if you ask someone to give you a hand.

The piano is 54.7 inches wide and only 11.7 inches deep, which makes it very easy to fit the PX-770 into small spaces.

Take a look at the table below to quickly compare the PX-770’s size to some other popular digital pianos:

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When fully assembled, the PX-770 weighs 69.4 lbs, which is okay for a furniture cabinet piano.

Anyway, console digital pianos are not meant to be moved around a lot, and the PX-770 is still much easier to carry than an acoustic piano.

In fact, two people will be able to move it around without any problems.

The PX-770 is available in 3 colors: black, white, and brown. So you can choose the one that best suits your home interior.

Casio PX-770 colors

The control elements of the PX-770 have been relocated to the left side of the keyboard, giving the piano a cleaner, less cluttered appearance.

There are dedicated buttons for the main sounds (piano, e. piano) and functions (MIDI recorder, metronome) as well as a volume knob.

To access most of the functions and settings, you’ll need to press one of the keys while holding the “Function” button.

Casio PX-770 controls

All the combinations can be found in the owner’s manual.

Moreover, little labels above the keys will help you understand which keys are used for which settings.

The PX-770 doesn’t come with a display, but it’s still quite easy to navigate the piano.

Whenever you change a setting, you’ll hear a beep sound(s) according to the currently selected option (1, 2, 3 or 4 beeps), which helps you understand what setting is selected.

 

Keyboard

The PX-770 features 88-key fully weighted keyboard with simulated Ivory & Ebony key surfaces.

Casio PX-770 keyboard

The keyboard is called Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II and it’s the same keyboard you’ll find on all Casio digital pianos under 2000$.

So what is so good about this keyboard?

First of all, the keys of the PX-770 are weighted with real hammers (rather than springs) which create mechanical movement and feel similar to an acoustic piano.

The Scaled Hammer system simulates the characteristic of an acoustic piano where the keys are heavier in the lower registers and become gradually lighter as you go up the keyboard.

Each key of the PX-770 uses a triple sensor detection system that sequentially detects touches of the keys, allowing for faster note repetition.

The keys are also touch-sensitive, which means the volume will change depending on how hard or soft you play.

Casio PX-770 graded hammer action

You can adjust the level of touch sensitivity out of 3 preset settings.

For example, when the 3rd setting is selected, you get the widest dynamic range and can play from the soft pianissimo passages right through to the thunderous fortissimo.

You can also turn off the touch sensitivity so that the same amount of volume is produced regardless of how hard you strike the keys.

It’s also worth mentioning that the keys of the PX-770 have Ivory and Ebony textured keytops, which helps to absorb moisture and aid control.

Casio PX-770 ivory/ebony feel

No digital piano in this price range offers that, except for the Roland FP-30 with its Ivory textured keys (no ebony simulation).

With that being said, Casio’s Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II remains one of the most realistic and enjoyable to play keyboards in this price range.

To my fingers, it feels better than Yamaha’s GHS action and slightly worse than Kawai’s RHC and Roland’s PHA-4 Standard action.

Sound

The PX-770 uses Casio’s proprietary Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source.

The AiR processor features an increased memory capacity, allowing for better quality samples and even more accurate sound.

Moreover, Casio uses lossless audio technology for compressing sound data, which helps reproduce the original piano sound without any quality loss.

Casio PX-770 new grand piano tone

The PX-770 has an upgraded Grand Piano sound, which uses stereo samples of a grand piano recorded at four dynamic levels.

It provides a player with seamless variations in tone and volume, ranging from the soft pianissimo to the powerful fortissimo.

Compared to the previous PX-760, the piano tone has been noticeably improved with more natural decay and resonance reproduction.

I’ve also noticed improvements in other instrument sounds.

It seems that Casio has re-recorded and optimized some of them. Plus, a new sound has been added.

  • In total there are 19 sounds you can play with the PX-770:
  • 5 Grand Pianos (Concert, Mellow, Bright, Modern, Rock, Jazz)
  • 4 Electric Pianos
  • 4 Organs (Pipe, Jazz, 2 Electric Organs)
  • 2 Strings
  • Harpsichord
  • Vibraphone
  • Bass (Lower)

Unlike its bigger brother, the PX-770 doesn’t have a Hall Simulator function. But you can still use chorus and reverb effects to tailor the sound to your taste.

There are 4 types of reverb you can use to simulate the acoustics of a Room, Small Hall, Large Hall or Stadium making the sound bigger and lusher.

The chorus effect (4 types) will make the sound fuller and richer by adding various tone and pitch variations to the notes you play.


Polyphony

What is Polyphony?

Polyphony is the number of notes a digital piano can produce at the same time.

Most contemporary digital pianos are equipped with 64, 128, 192 or 256-note polyphony.

You may wonder how it is possible to have 32, 64, or even 128 notes playing simultaneously, if there are only 88 keys and we never play them all together.

First of all, many of today’s digital pianos use stereo samples, which sometimes require two notes for each key played.

Furthermore, using the sustain pedal, sound effects (Reverb, Chorus), dual-mode (layering), and even the metronome ticking sound take up additional notes of polyphony.

For example, when you depress the sustain pedal, the earliest played notes continue to sound while you’re adding new ones and the piano needs more memory to keep all the notes sounding.

Another example of polyphony consumption is when you’re playing along with a song playback (can also be your own recorded performance) or auto-accompaniment.

In this case, the piano will need polyphony not only for the notes you’re playing but also for a backing track.

When you reach the polyphony cap, the piano starts to drop the earliest played notes to free up memory for new notes, which in turn affects the quality and fullness of the sound.

You’ll rarely need all 192 or 256 voices of polyphony at once, but there are cases when you can reach 64 or even 128 note limits, especially if you like to layer several sounds and create multi-track recordings.

So it’s very desirable to have at least 64 notes of polyphony.

The PX-770 features 128-note polyphony, which is more than enough even for the most seasoned musician.

In this price range, digital pianos have either 128- or 192-note polyphony.

Considering the PX-770 doesn’t allow you to record more than 2 tracks for one song, you’ll hardly ever need more polyphony.


Speakers

The PX-770 features 2 x 12cm speakers with 2 x 8W amplifiers.

The speakers produce a sound loud enough for casual playing and small performances in a living room but not more than that.

Casio PX-770 speakers

Unfortunately, the piano’s 16W sound system can’t get as loud as a real piano, but for its size, the PX-770 sounds very decent.

The sound quality remains excellent at any volume across the entire frequency range.

Even though the PX-770 uses the same speaker system as the PX-160, you’ll get a bigger and more resonant sound with the PX-770 due to its cabinet design (larger keyboard block).

Features

Modes

The PX-770 offers 2 versatile modes that will allow you to use several sounds in your performances as well as Four Hand mode for two people to play the piano simultaneously.

The Dual Mode allows two different sounds to be layered and played together creating a more complex and atmospheric sound.

For example, an acoustic piano layered with a string ensemble would be a beautiful combination. You can actually layer any of the 19 sounds except for the Bass sound.

The layer balance allows you to adjust the volume of each tone making one more dominant than the other.

Another mode that enables you to play with two different sounds is called Split Mode. The mode will split the keyboard into two parts to which you can assign a different sound.

Casio PX-770 split mode

For the left-hand section, you can select only the Bass sound, while for the right-hand one you can select any other sound you like.

Duet Play is another great feature often used by teachers during lessons with their students.

What it does is splits the keyboard into two equal parts with the same pitch ranges (two middle Cs) so that two people can sit side by side and play the same notes at the same time as if two pianos were being used.


Concert Play & Built-in Songs

The PX-770 doesn’t have an accompaniment function but has something even better. The feature is called Concert Play and it allows you to play along with the recordings of a live orchestra.

There are 10 tunes each consisting of 2 parts: a piano part and an orchestra part.

Casio PX-770 concert play

First, you can listen to a tune to familiarize yourself with what you’re going to play.

Then you can practice the piano part of the Concert Play (each hand can be practiced separately).

And finally, you can play the piano part with the orchestra accompaniment turned on.

It sounds really amazing considering these are real orchestra recordings. I hoped Casio would add more some more tunes but there are still only 10 of them.

Casio PX-770 lesson mode

The PX-770 also has a built-in Media Library with 60 different piano songs.

You can use them in the same way as Concert Play songs, which means you can listen to them, separately practice each hand part, change the tempo, etc.

On top of that you can load up to 10 User Songs (MIDI) from your computer into the PX-770, and they will appear in the Media Library as 61-70 songs.

Recording & Playback

The PX-770 is capable of 2-track MIDI recording. For each song, you can record up to two tracks, which can then be played back together as one song.

Casio PX-770 midi recording

For example, you can record the left-hand part of a piece on track one and the right-hand part on track two (while listening to the playback of the first track).

Alternatively, you can record a different instrument part to each track to create complex multi-instrument songs.

If you want to practice R and L part separately, you can turn off one of the tracks and play it live while the other track will be played back.

The PX-770 doesn’t have an audio recorder, which would allow you to record the sound of the instrument (rather than a sequence of notes in case of a MIDI recording).


Other Features

Casio PX-770 metronome

The PX-770 has an onboard metronome which is a great tool you can use to practice your rhythm and learn to keep a steady beat.

There are 3 functions on the piano you can use to adjust the pitch of the instrument.

The transpose function allows you to shift the pitch of the keyboard up and down in semitone steps.

With this function, you’ll be able to hear a song in another key, playing it in the original key.

Alternatively, you can transpose a song into a different key (e.g., with easier chords) without affecting the melody itself (as if you were playing in the original key).

Casio PX-770 Review

The tuning function allows you to adjust the overall pitch of the keyboard in 0.1Hz steps from the standard A440 tuning.

You can use this function to match the PX-770’s pitch finely to that of other instruments or music (old piano, tape).

The octave shift function lets you change the pitch of the piano in steps of an octave.

By default, the PX-770 uses the standard ‘Equal Temperament’ tuning system, but you can always change it to one of the 16 different temperaments to better suit the style of music you’re playing whether it’s classical, Indian or Arabic music.

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Connectivity

The PX-770 is equipped with a standard set of connections that will allow you to use the piano with various external devices.

Casio PX-770 audio jacks

On the front, you’ll find two 1/4” stereo jacks that can be used to connect up to two sets of headphones at the same time for silent practice.

These jacks can also be used for connecting the piano to an external amplifier, PA system, etc. for sound reinforcement.

The PX-770 doesn’t have dedicated Line Out jacks.

USB to Host terminal

This USB type B port can be used to connect the piano to your computer for exchanging MIDI data, files, settings files, etc.

An A-to-B USB cable required for the connection is not included with the PX-770 and you’ll have to buy it separately.

Once you’ve connected the PX-770 to the computer, you can use the piano as a MIDI controller, which will be receiving and sending MIDI data to your computer.

Casio PX-770 midi apps

There are a variety of music apps for both Windows and Mac OS that you can use to expand the capabilities of the PX-770 in terms of music recording, editing, and learning.

Some apps can transcribe the music you play into notation or help you create music using algorithmic technologies and much more.

Update: December 9, 2017

Casio has released the new version of Chordana app compatible with the newly released PX-870/PX-770 digital pianos and available for both iOS and Android devices.

With this app, you can control various settings of the instrument using an intuitive on-screen interface.

In addition, the app includes 198 built-in songs that you can practice at your own tempo, visually checking the keys you need to play next.

Accessories

  • The PX-770 comes with the following accessories:
  • Music Rest
  • AC Power Adapter
  • Score book with Concert Play songs
  • Owner’s Manual

Stand and Pedals

Since the piano comes with a cabinet and 3 piano pedals, you don’t have to spend money on that.

And that’s great considering that an optional furniture stand with a 3-pedal bar would cost about $160-200 in most cases (P125, PX-160, etc.)

As for the bench, it’s actually not that difficult to find a good one: check photos, reviews and see if it fits your budget.


Headphones

Casio PX-770 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.

In most cases the headphones included with Amazon bundles are cheap and don’t offer great sound quality and comfort.

Summary

Casio Privia PX-770 Review Summary

 

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Casio certainly did a great job with their latest x70 Privia models, including the PX-770.

The piano offers a lot of value for the money and is a great compromise between the PX-870 and the PX-160.

Whether you’re a beginner or intermediate player, the PX-770 is a perfect choice if you want a cabinet-style digital piano with three pedals and a natural feel but have a limited budget.

The PX-770’s hammer action keyboard along with an upgraded grand piano sound and 128-note polyphony are the three main things that make the PX-770 a fairly realistic alternative to a traditional instrument.

On top of that, you get a comprehensive set of features that will help you learn and add more fun to your playing.

The PX-770 is equipped with 19 high-quality sounds, 50 built-in songs, lesson function, MIDI recorder and more.

Comparing the PX-770 with other popular pianos in this price range such as the Yamaha P-115, Kawai ES110, Roland FP-30, etc., you should remember its main advantage.

With the PX-770 you won’t have to buy a stand or a triple pedal bar separately, which will save you money.

Moreover, due to the PX-770’s cabinet design, the sound through the onboard speakers is deeper and bigger compared to portable pianos without a furniture-style cabinet.

So if you’re buying a digital piano for home and tight on a budget, the Casio PX-770 is a strong option to consider.

Check the availability and current price of the Casio Privia PX-770 in your region:

US: ( What Retailer to Buy From )
Sweetwater Guitar Center Amazon

Alternatives

The PX-770 seems to be the sweet point between PX-160 and the flagship PX-870 .

Check out the following reviews to see how these models compare to the PX-770:

1) CASIO PX-770 vs  CASIO PX-160

2) CASIO PX-770 vs  CASIO PX-870

Below I’ve also listed 3 other great pianos you may want to consider.

Casio PX-770 vs  Yamaha YDP-103 (Full Review)

The YDP-103 is the most affordable piano of Yamaha’s ARIUS series of console digital pianos.

In terms of features, sound, and action the YDP-103 is almost identical to the portable P-45 model.

The YDP-103 uses the same AWM stereo sampling technology, the GHS action and has 64-note polyphony.

To my taste, Casio’s keyboard feels more accurate and nicer to the touch than the GHS.

As for the sound, I’d probably also go with the Casio. The PX-770’s new piano tone sounds very beautiful and rich.

In addition, the piano has twice as much polyphony (128 vs 64) and slightly more powerful speakers (16W vs 12W), which ensures accurate sound reproduction.

With that said, when it comes to sound, the best option is to visit a store and try out the pianos in person.

Unfortunately, the YDP-103 doesn’t have much else to talk about.

The PX-770, on the other hand, has a Concert Play feature, a 2-track MIDI recorder as well as more built-in sounds (19 vs 10) and songs (60 vs 10).

So overall the PX-770 seems to provide more features for a better price, and the piano sound and touch are not inferior to the YDP-103, at the very least.


Casio PX-770 vs  Casio CGP-700 (Full Review)

The CGP-700 is a great alternative to the PX-770 for those who want more than just a piano with a bunch of standard sounds and features.

The piano unlocks a world of options for musical creativity offering 550 built-in sounds, 200 accompaniment styles, 305 music presets, over 35 sound effects.

Moreover, the piano has extensive recording capabilities such as a 17-track MIDI recorder and an Audio (WAV) recorder.

At the same time, the CGP-700 is just as good for piano playing.

It features the same tri-sensor hammer action and 128-note polyphony found on the PX-770.

But when it comes to sound, the CGP-700’s MXi processor offers slightly less sophisticated piano sound compared to the PX-770’s AiR sound source with its new Grand Piano tone.

At the same time, the CGP-700 is equipped with a unique 6-speaker (40W) sound system that you won’t find in any other piano in the price range.

Such powerful speakers offer an excellent dynamic range and make the CGP-700 sound more like a plausible piano.

Another great feature of the CGP-700 is its 5.3-inch color touchscreen, which makes the whole interaction with the piano much more enjoyable.

So if you want a digital piano that not only provides a realistic piano playing experience but also has lots of useful features for music production, learning, and entertainment, then the CGP-700 is an excellent choice.

Last but not least, the CGP-700 can be removed from its stand and used as a stage piano easily (it’s only 26 lbs without the stand and has dedicated Line Outs).


Casio PX-770 vs  Yamaha P-125 (Full Review)

The reason why I’ve included the P-115 in this list is that although it’s a portable piano, you can buy it bundled with a furniture stand and 3-pedal bar which will make it very similar in look and price to the PX-770.

The P-125 is a very popular intermediate keyboard from Yamaha, which boasts the Pure CF sound engine, the Standard Graded Hammer action, and 192-note polyphony.

The piano offers a high-grade piano sound sampled from the Yamaha CFIIIS 9′ Concert Grand and delivered by the 14W speaker system.

Still, the PX-770’s 16W onboard speakers combined with its cabinet design sound slightly fuller and more resonant than the P-115’s.

On the other hand, the Yamaha has dedicated Line Outs, “full” Split Mode and 20 accompaniment rhythms, and more preset sounds (24 vs 19).

As for the rest, the pianos are very similar in features.

The P-125’s big advantage over the PX-770 is that it’s a portable piano, which means you can take it with you to gigs and rehearsals.

Whereas the PX-770 is an in-home piano and is designed to be used with its furniture-style stand.

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