I’m super excited to review the new Casio PX-870 digital piano, which has just been released in the US.
The PX-870 has replaced the previous PX-860 model, which means it’s now the flagship of the Privia series.
Sounds promising, doesn’t it?
To make things even more interesting, the PX-870 has numerous improvements over the previous model.
This includes a new 4-layer piano sound, redesigned speaker system and some other cool features that we’ll get to later.
I can’t wait to dive into the review to tell you everything the PX-870 is capable of.
Casio PX-870 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
- 256-note polyphony
- 19 instrument sounds (5 pianos)
- Acoustic Simulator: String Resonance, Key Off Simulator, Lid Simulator, Key On/Off Action Noise, 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
- USB Audio recorder: WAV (44.1 kHz, 16 bit, stereo)
- Metronome, Transpose, Fine-tuning, Octave shift
- Temperament: 17 types
- Speakers: 20W + 20W (12cm x 2 + 4cm x 2)
- Connections: USB to Host, USB to Device, Headphone jacks (2), Pedal Connector
- 139.3 x 29.9 x 80.1 cm (54.8” x 11.7” x 31.5”)
- 34.3 kg (75.6 lbs)
- Release Date: September 2017
Check the availability and current price of the Casio Privia PX-870 in your region:
Design
The Casio PX-870 is a furniture-style digital piano with a full range of 88 keys and 3 piano pedals.
With its compact and stylish design, the piano will blend well with any home environment.
The depth of the piano is only 11.7 inches so you can easily fit it into tight spaces. At the same time, the PX-870 is quite heavy and weighs around 75.6 lbs (fully assembled).
The PX-870 comes in a large box with all the pieces inside (keyboard, base, music rest, etc.). The assembly is pretty straightforward, and the instructions are well-written, which helps a lot.
The only thing you’ll need is a screwdriver and about 30-45 minutes.
You’ll probably be able to assemble the entire thing on your own, but it would be much easier to put it all together having someone to help you out (considering the box weighs about 100 lbs).
Take a look at the table below to quickly compare the PX-870’s size to some other popular digital pianos:
| View on Amazon | Keys | Width | Depth | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 88 | 54.8" | 11.7" | 31.5" | 75.6 lbs |
 | 88 | 54.7" | 11.7" | 31.4" | 69.4 lbs |
 | 88 | 53.4" | 16.6" | 32" | 83.7 lbs |
 | 88 | 54.3" | 16.2" | 32.1" | 83.3 lbs |
 | 88 | 53.5" | 16" | 33.6" | 81.5 lbs |
Casio has slightly re-designed the cabinet, which now has fewer seams and is smaller in height.
Instead of an opening lid on top, the PX-870 has a long narrow speaker-grill, which is a part of a new 4-speaker sound projection system.
The piano comes with 3 pedals: sustain, soft and sostenuto.
The sustain pedal supports half-pedal operation, which means it responds even when you press the pedal part way down just like the damper pedal on an acoustic piano.
I like that Casio kept a pull-out keyboard cover, which protects the keys from dust and dirt.
The cabinet of the PX-870 is made of fiberboard (pressed wood) and has a nice wooden texture.
The piano is available in both black and white wood finishes.
The noticeable change over the PX-860 model is that the control elements have been relocated to the left side of the piano, which gives the piano a cleaner and less cluttered look.
There are 8 buttons for the main sounds (piano, e. piano) and functions (metronome, MIDI/audio recording) as well as a master volume knob.
The PX-870 has lots of other sounds, functions, and settings, which you can access by pressing one of the piano keys while holding the “Function” button.
There are little labels above the keys indicating what setting they change, so you don’t need to memorize all the combinations.
Unfortunately, there is no display on the piano to see the current settings.
But, 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-870 features Casio’s well-known Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II with 88 full-size keys.
The keyboard uses actual hammers to recreate the touch and feel of playing an acoustic piano. The weight of the keys is very close to that of an acoustic piano’s keys.
The PX-870 features an accurate triple-sensor key detection system, which allows for faster note repetition and provides a smooth and responsive playing experience.
The keyboard of the PX-870 is graded, meaning the keys are weighted differently, they feel heavier on the low-end and become progressively lighter on the high-end just like on an acoustic piano.
The keys are also touch-sensitive, which means the volume will change depending on how hard or soft you hit the keys.
The level of sensitivity can be adjusted to match your playing preferences. There are 3 preset touch-sensitivity settings you can choose from.
When the “Soft” setting is selected, the sound will not change too much when you hit the keys hard and soft.
The “Hard” setting provides much broader dynamic range from the very soft pianissimo to the thunderous fortissimo, so you’ll have to hit the keys hard to produce the loudest sound.
The “Medium” setting is set by default and seems the most natural to me.
You can also turn off the touch-sensitivity so that the volume will stay the same regardless of how hard or soft you play.
Another significant feature of the PX-870’s keyboard is the synthetic Ivory & Ebony key surfaces that absorb finger moisture and enhance control.
Sound
The PX-870 uses the Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source, which provides high-quality piano samples of a 9-foot grand piano.
The increased memory capacity and lossless audio compression allow for the rich sound with great accuracy, including the natural decay of notes, string resonance, etc.
But the most important thing is that the PX-870 comes with a new 4-layer piano tone, and man, it sounds fantastic.
The tone is very rich and smooth with natural decay. It’s just a pleasure to play.
Although the PX-870 doesn’t have hundreds of sounds, each of its 19 tones sounds very authentic.
All pianos in Casio’s Privia Series share the same AiR Sound Source, but the PX-870 being the flagship has some unique features that other pianos (PX-160, PX-770) don’t offer.
Firstly, the PX-870 utilizes the String Resonance system, which simulates resonance for each of the 88 keys.
The thing is that when you play an acoustic piano, the sound it produces is not only associated with the keys you play but also with other closely related strings that resonate making the sound richer and fuller.
Moreover, on the PX-870 you’ll be able to adjust String Resonance to your taste.
You can choose out of 4 settings: Suppressed, Slightly suppressed, Reverberation, Strong reverberation.
Another unique feature on the PX-870 is called Lid Simulator, which simulates the sound changes associated with opening or closing the lid of a grand piano.
There are also 4 settings you can choose from: Lid closed, Lid opened slightly, Lid fully open, Lid removed.
The Key Off simulator (available exclusively on the PX-870) will change the tone of the sound according to how fast your fingers leave the keys so that slow key release will produce longer reverberation than fast key release.
Key-On and Key-Off action noises are another aspect of piano sound reproduced on the PX-870.
The Hammer Response setting will allow you to change the time deviation between when you play a note and it actually sounds.
You can further customize the sound by using various sound effects available on the piano, including reverberation and chorus.
The Hall Simulator feature will recreate the acoustics of playing in various performance venues, such as Dutch Church, Standard Hall, Berlin Hall, French Cathedral.
Polyphony
256-note polyphony is more than enough to play the most complex music pieces with fast passages and layer multiple sounds without running out of notes.
In fact, 128- or 192-note polyphony would also be enough in 99.9% of cases, but when it comes to polyphony, the more, the better.
And with 256 notes of polyphony you can play and progress for years to come without needing to upgrade.
Speakers
The PX-870’s new 40W sound projection system consists of 4 speakers (2 x 12 cm + 2 x 4 cm) and allows the sound to come from different places of the instrument (top, under the keyboard, above the keys).
Such powerful speaker system can produce the sound almost as loud as that of a grand piano, providing a natural and realistic listening experience.
The piano offers an incredibly wide dynamic range from the very soft pianissimo to the loudest fortissimo, which digital pianos with less powerful speakers can’t offer.
The quality of the sound is also amazing.
The speakers are powerful enough to fill a big room, so you can throw little performances playing in front of your friends and family without using external speakers.
Features
Modes
Dual Mode
The PX-870 allows you to layer two different sounds so that they sound simultaneously. You can combine a piano tone with strings, electric piano with harp, or any other sounds you like.
The only sound you can’t use for layering is Bass (lower).
The volume balance between the sounds can be adjusted to achieve various effects.
Split Mode
Some digital pianos offer so-called “Split Mode” where you can divide the keyboard into two sections and play a different sound in each of them.
The PX-870 doesn’t have that, but when you select the Bass (Lower) tone it will automatically be assigned to the left side of the keyboard (low range) and you can choose any other sounds for the right side (high range).
So it works pretty much like a “Split Mode” except that the Bass is the only sound you can assign to the left side of the keyboard.
Duet Mode
Another feature, I personally find very useful, is the “Duet Mode”.
What it does is splits the keyboard into two equal sections with the same octave ranges and two middle C as if two pianos were being used.
For example, a teacher can play some tunes on the left side of the keyboard, while a student can sit next to him or her and follow along on the right side of the keyboard playing the exact same notes at the same time.
Concert Play
The PX-870 comes with an amazing feature called Concert Play, which allows you to play along with actual recordings of a live orchestra.
I was quite impressed with how beautiful and realistic it sounds and I wish the piano had more than just 10 tunes.
Before turning the orchestra part on, you can first practice the piano part of the Concert Play.
Each hand part can be practiced separately. You can play the left-hand part while listening to the playback of the right-hand part and vice versa.
The scores of the songs (piano part) can be found in the sheet music book included with the piano.
Music Library
The Music Library on the PX-870 includes 60 songs.
You can listen to them, play along, and practice the left and right-hand parts independently.
Moreover, the piano allows you to load up to 10 MIDI songs (SMF format 0 or 1) into its internal memory and use them in the same way.
There are thousands of MIDI songs that you can download for free on sites like MidiWorld , FreeMidi , etc.
Recording and Playback
The recording function on the PX-870 allows you to record your performances right onboard.
There are two ways you can record your performance with the PX-870.
The first option is MIDI recording, which is where MIDI data (sequence of notes, velocity, etc.) is being recorded and not the sound itself.
The piano allows you to record one 2-track song in its internal memory. You can listen to the playback of the recorded track while recording the other one.
For example, you can record each hand’s part on a separate track and then play both tracks back together as a single song or turn off one of the tracks to practice each hand’s part separately.
When you’re recording the second track, you can turn on the playback of the first one you’ve already recorded.
Since the PX-870 can only store one song, the next recording will delete all the previously recorded data.
To keep your recordings, you’ll have to save them to a flash drive and load them back into the instrument when you need them.
This way you can record as many songs as you like.
The second option is Audio (WAV) recording where will be capturing the actual sound of the instrument.
The PX-870 allows you to record your performances in WAV format (Linear PCM, 16bit, 44.1 kHz, Stereo) and save them to a flash drive without using any special tools or equipment.
You’ll then be able to play the recordings back on almost any smart device (laptop, portable music player, etc.), share it with your friends and burn it to a CD if you want.
Both formats Audio (WAV) and MIDI (SMF 0/1) can be played directly from a flash drive, which is very convenient.
Other Functions
Two new features we haven’t seen on Privia pianos before are the Headphone Mode and Volume Sync EQ.
The Headphone Mode optimizes the piano tone creating the spacious sound field of an acoustic piano and allows you to enjoy an immersive sound experience.
The Volume Sync EQ works similar to Yamaha’s Intelligent Acoustic Control.
The function balances the sound at low volume levels so that the notes in high and low registers are clear and natural.
Metronome
The piano includes a metronome with adjustable tempo, time-signature, and volume.
Metronome is a very useful tool, which you can use to practice playing at a steady tempo and improve your time-keeping skills.
Temperament
You can change the temperament of the instrument from the standard equal temperament to one of 16 temperaments available on the PX870.
While the ‘Equal Temperament’ system is what most of the modern instruments are tuned in, there are other so-called historical temperaments that are more suitable for playing classical pieces (Renaissance and Baroque periods), Arabic, Indian music, etc.
Transpose, Tuning, Octave shift
The PX-870 offers 3 functions that can be used to change the pitch of the instrument.
The Transpose function allows you to raise or lower the pitch of the entire keyboard in semitone increments.
For example, you can use this function to facilitate playing a song written in a difficult key, or you just want to hear a song in a different key without changing your fingering (playing the same keys).
The Tuning function allows you to adjust the pitch of the PX-870 in 0.1Hz steps from the standard A440 tuning.
It’s particularly useful when you need to match the pitch of another instrument or a singer.
Another option is to shift the pitch in octave units using the Octave Shift function.
Connectivity
The PX-870 is equipped with the following connectors:
Phone Standard Stereo jacks
On the front of the piano, you’ll find two 1/4” stereo jacks that you can use to headphones and practice at any time of day and night without bothering others.
These jacks can also be used as Line Outs to connect the piano to external speakers, amplifiers, etc. if you want to get more powerful and higher-quality sound.
Line Out jacks
Unlike its predecessor, the PX-870 doesn’t have dedicated Line Out jacks.
USB to Host terminal
This USB type B port can be used to connect the PX-870 to a computer for exchanging MIDI data.
It means you can use the piano as a MIDI controller by sending MIDI data to music apps like GarageBand, FL Studio, Sonar running on your computer.
You can also transfer songs and files between the piano and the computer using this port.
An A-B USB cable needed to connect to a computer is not included with the piano and sold separately.
USB flash drive port
This USB type A port is used to plug a Flash drive into the piano to exchange files quickly and easily.
For example, you can load MIDI songs into the piano’s internal memory for playback or rehearsal.
Alternatively, you can play back both WAV and MIDI files directly from the flash drive without loading them into the piano’s flash memory.
And finally, you can save your own performances recorded with the instrument to the flash drive as well as load them back when needed.
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 great thing about the PX-870 is that there are not many accessories you’ll have to buy additionally, which will save you some money.
In fact, buying an optional furniture stand and a triple pedal unit, which most manufacturers offer for their portable pianos, will cost you about $200.
But you don’t have to worry about these additional costs with the PX-870.
The piano has a cabinet, so there is no need to purchase a stand. It also comes with 3 piano-style pedals so again no need for spending extra money on that.
However, some accessories you’ll still have to buy additionally. I’m talking about headphones and a bench.
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
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
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Slim and stylish design | Not very portable |
| Comes with 3 pedals | Few built-in sounds, sound effects |
| Hammer Action Keyboard with Ivory & Ebony feel | A bit noisier key action than that of the competitors |
| 19 beautiful sounds | |
| New improved piano tone | |
| 256-note polyphony | |
| 40W sound projection system | |
| Concert Play feature | |
| Built-in MIDI and Audio recorder |
If piano is your main focus, the PX-870 is among the first digital pianos to consider under $1000.
Casio has made a number of considerable improvements over the PX-860 (which is a very capable piano by the way) and provides you with the best technology in the industry that is normally available only on much higher-priced pianos.
The PX-870 is the most advanced piano in the Privia series in terms of piano playing.
It utilizes high-quality samples of a concert grand piano and reproduces the finest details of piano sound including string resonance, damper resonance, key on/off action noise, etc., which makes it sound truly authentic.
The Tri-sensor Hammer Action Keyboard II with graded velocity-sensitive keys, triple sensor detection system and simulated Ivory & Ebony keytops provides a responsive and realistic feel.
To make things even better, Casio has equipped the PX-870 with a 40W sound system consisting of 4 speakers, which allows for a full, powerful sound and impressive dynamic range that portable keyboards can’t offer.
The PX-870 has also got some fun and useful features to play around with.
Beginners will benefit from the Lesson mode, where you can play along with one of the 60 built-in songs as well as mute one hand’s part to practice.
More experienced players will enjoy using the Concert Play feature, which allows you to play one of the 10 different tunes along with the orchestra accompaniment.
Great recording capabilities are another important plus of the PX-870.
The piano can record and play back songs in both WAV (audio) and MIDI format, which is very convenient and allows you to record, store and share your performances in a matter of a few button presses.
As for the cons…
Well, the most obvious one is probably that the PX-870 is not very portable and requires two people to move it around.
Another thing is that you won’t find hundreds of sounds, accompaniment styles, rhythms or a 10-track MIDI recorder on the PX-870.
Instead, the instrument focuses on providing the closest to an acoustic piano sound and touch.
And if you feel that 19 built-in sounds and 2-track recorder are not enough for you and you want some more “bells and whistles”, I’d recommend taking a look at the Casio CGP-700 or the Yamaha DGX-660.
And in the next section, we’re going to talk about the competitors and what they have to offer compared to the PX-870.
Check the availability and current price of the Casio Privia PX-870 in your region:
Alternatives
Below, you’ll find quick comparisons of these models. Also, feel free to refer to our Best Digital Pianos Under $1000 guide where we talk about these pianos in even more depth.
Casio PX-870 vs Casio PX-770 (Full Review)
The PX-770 was announced at the Summer NAMM 2017 together with the PX-870. Like its bigger brother, the PX-770 comes with some new features and upgrades.
In particular, the piano has a new 4-layer piano sound and a resigned cabinet with control elements on the left side, just like the PX-870.
With that said, the cabinet of the PX-870 looks neater due to its solid back panel, which hides the chords.
When it comes to features and functions, the pianos are pretty similar.
The pianos share the same keyboard action and have the same set of sounds. At the same time, the PX-870 has a number of extra features that aren’t available on the PX-770.
First of all, despite the fact that the pianos use the same AiR sound source and have the same instrument sounds, the PX-870 adds an extra layer of realism to the piano sound by reproducing Damper Resonance, String Resonance and Key On/Off action noise.
Plus, it has a Lid Simulator, Key Off Simulator, and Hammer Response feature.
The PX-770, on the other hand, only offers Damper Resonance and Hammer Response simulator.
It’s not necessarily a deal-breaker, and these are pretty subtle nuances in the piano’s tone, but it does make the PX-870 sound more authentic and “acoustic-like” than the PX-770.
The PX-870 also has more polyphony (256 vs 128 notes) and a more powerful and sophisticated speaker system.
The PX-770 has two 8W speakers, while the PX-870 boasts a 40W 4-speaker sound projection system.
In practice, the difference is not very significant, but the PX-870 definitely sounds fuller, louder and offers a wider range of dynamics.
Another feature missing on the PX-770 is an audio recorder.
You can still create 2-track MIDI recordings, but to record the actual sound of the piano (WAV format), you’ll have to use some additional equipment and software.
And last but not the least, the PX-770 doesn’t come with a USB to Device port, which means you won’t be able to record your performances directly onto a USB drive.
You can only transfer the recordings from the internal memory using the USB to Host terminal.
Moreover, the lack of this port makes it impossible to play back audio (WAV) files from the Flash drive.
That’s pretty much it when it comes to differences between the PX-870 and the PX-770.
Casio PX-870 vs Casio PX-780
First of all, don’t be confused by the model number, the PX-780 is an older model (than the PX-770) and was presented in 2013 along with the PX-850 and the PX-750 (now discontinued).
So why are we even comparing these two pianos from different generations?
Well, even though the Casio PX-780 was released a while ago, it’s still a very popular piano in Casio arsenal, which offers some features that the PX-870 and PX-770 don’t have.
To begin with, the PX-780 is a much more versatile instrument.
It features 250 built-in tones, 180 accompaniment patterns, and 300 music presets that will provide you with an optimal tone, rhythm, cord according to the music genre you choose.
So you get much more than just a few pianos and organs as in the case of the PX-870/PX-770.
The PX-780 is also equipped with a 17-track MIDI recorder, which allows you to create complex multi-layered tunes right onboard. Audio recording is also available with this model.
Finally, the PX-780 offers additional connectors including MIDI In/Out, Line Out and Line In jacks + all the connectors the PX-870 has.
The pianos share the same keyboard, the same sound source (AiR) and speakers with the same power output (40W).
However, if we’re talking about piano playing experience, the PX-870 is still a better option.
The PX-870’s upgraded piano tone enhanced by Damper & String Resonance simulation, Key Off simulation, Key On/Off action noise and Lid Simulator does sound closer to the real thing.
From the above, the PX-780 offers only Damper Resonance and Hammer response feature. The PX-870 also has more polyphony (256 vs 128 notes).
Wrapping up, I think it’s not too difficult to decide between these two.
Casio PX-870 vs Yamaha YDP-144 (Full Review)
The main competitor from Yamaha is a mid-range model of the Arius line – the YDP-144.
The pianos sell for about the same price, which makes it even more difficult to decide which option to go with.
The YDP-144 replaced the previous YDP-143 model in 2019 and comes with a traditional furniture-style cabinet and 3 pedals just like its predecessor.
At the heart of the YDP-144 is Yamaha’s flagship CFX Sampling technology that provides you with an amazingly realistic piano sound sampled from the famous Yamaha CFX 9′ Concert Grand.
The sound is delivered via 2 oval (12 cm x 6 cm) speakers with two 8W amplifiers. It’s enough to fill a room, but the PX-870 with its 4 speakers and 20W amplifiers is a clear winner here.
And I’m talking not only about the volume; the PX-870 has a deeper and more rounded sound even at a medium volume.
When it comes to piano sound itself, I wouldn’t say that the PX-870 sounds better, that’s really a matter of personal taste.
Both pianos sound very good and you’ll be hard-pressed to find something better sounding in this price range.
What the YDP-144 doesn’t give you compared to the Casio is the ability to control various aspects of the sound like resonance, damper noise, key on/off noise, etc.
The polyphony count is also higher on the PX-870 (256 notes) while the YDP-144 has 192 notes.
It’s not that critical, and 192 notes are more than enough in most cases, but I said earlier the more polyphony you have, the better.
Now let’s talk about the keyboard on the YDP-144. The piano features the Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) key action with 88 touch-sensitive keys.
And again I prefer Casio’s Hammer Action Keyboard II, which feels more authentic to my fingers.
The keyboard uses a triple-sensor detection system (allows for faster note repetition) and has simulated Ivory & Ebony keytops.
The Yamaha uses two sensors and has conventional glossy keys (only the black ones have a matte finish).
As for the features, the YDP-144 is pretty basic: metronome, transpose function, Dual/Duo modes, 50 preset songs, 2-track MIDI recorder and that’s pretty much it.
No accompaniment function, no audio recording and no USB flash drive port.
Hi Lucas. Thanks for your detailed review! This is the best review of any piano that I have seen and since I am currently looking between the Casio PX 870 and Kawai KDP 90 I went searching with excitement for your review of KDP 90. However, it seems there isn’t one. I was curious for your thoughts on the KDP 90 vs PX 870? I am leaning towards the KDP 90 which despite being older, 2013 I believe, based on what I’ve read I think it has superior piano tones and keyboard action. It does not have as many digital features (most disappointingly no usb port), but the few things it does, it does them really well. KDP 90 is currently slightly more expensive than PX 870, but still close enough. I am curious to hear your opinion on it. Thanks again for the review above!
Hi
There are lots of instruments on the market. Each review takes a lot of time to write, and I’m doing my best to publish new reviews once in a week or two. I’m going to review the KDP90 as well as many other home digital pianos from Yamaha, Roland, etc. in the nearest future.
Now about your question:
Well yes, the PX-870 has a number of features that aren’t available on the KDP90, including two types of USB ports, an onboard audio recorder, built-in songs, Split mode, etc. But if you don’t care much about the extra features, the KDP90 is a strong option to consider.
Although its AHA IV-F action has been around for quite a while, it feels more realistic and responsive than Casio’s action.
In addition, Kawai instruments offer arguably the most authentic piano sound on the market.
But Casio have also considerably improved the quality of their samples over the years, and nowadays their digital pianos sound very good.
In particular, I liked a lot the new piano tone on the PX-870. It’s rich, bold, and it sounds fairly close to a real thing. The 40w built-in sound system is also quite impressive.
Plus, the Casio’s piano tone includes a number of organic elements not available on the Kawai (string resonance, key off simulator, key on/off action noise, etc) and you can adjust them as well.
So, to me, the PX-870 seems to offer more value for the money, despite the fact that its action is slightly inferior to the Kawai.
Depending on your needs, the Kawai KDP90 can be a better option for you, and it’s an excellent digital piano as well.
I would recommend if possible that you visit a store and compare them in person as it’s the only way to know which one you like better.
That being said, I’m sure you’ll be happy with either of these pianos. They’re currently one of the best options available at this price point.
In absolutely no way is the Casio inferior… I’ve played both and bought the Casio!
The Kawai sounds nice, but when you start playing with the features of the Casio, like the lid simulator, the hall simulator, and the other features like the Key Off simulator and resonance, you quickly realize that this Casio is a better than keyboards almost twice the price.
Also, the weighting of the keys is flawless, as is the synthetic ivory feel that no one else appears to be able to match. It is just flat out a beautiful piano and at $799 (On sale) the bland piano sample in the KDP 90 just can’t touch it. Trust me, it is very bland, if you jump to the 220, it gets much better, but it is a lot more money.
So, do yourself a favor and find a shop that has these two in stock, because you’re likely to realize these same things for yourself.
By the way, I mean bland as in plain, not bad.
Hi Lucas,
Thanks for so awesome material (have been trying to find these comparisons for a week) .. There is also Roland F140 on the market. How do you think this piano is in comparison with Casio PX870?
Thanks!
Hi Yaros, I’m glad you’ve found this review useful.
Yes, as I mentioned the F140 is a strong competitor to the PX-870. The piano is actually very similar to the FP-30, except it comes with a furniture-style cabinet and 3 pedals. Plus, it has more built-in songs, rhythms and slightly more powerful speakers.
You can read the review of the FP-30 here
Comparing the F-140R to the PX870…
Well, I do like F140R’s PHA-4 Standard action slightly better than Casio’s.
The Roland has a characteristic piano sound, which is very rich and full, some like it, some don’t. I personally, find the F-140 and other pianos with SuperNATURAL technology to sound authentic and really enjoyable.
If we’re talking about features, both instruments offer some unique features not available on other pianos in this price range. But it all comes down to your own needs of course.
The F140R has Bluetooth MIDI connectivity, which will allow you to connect to your smart devices to transfer MIDI data wirelessly. It’s a very convenient feature if you’re going to use a piano as a midi-controller with educational/music making apps.
The PX-870 doesn’t have that but you can always use its USB to exchange MIDI.
On the other hand, the PX-870 has a more powerful speaker system and offers much more options to customize the piano sound by making adjustments to sound elements like String Resonance, key on/off action noise, lid simulator, etc.
It also has an Audio recorder, which is a useful tool to record the sound of the instrument right onboard without using any cables or external audio interfaces.
But in the end, the question is whether you need those features or not?
But even if you don’t, the PX-870 is an excellent piano alternative, with incredible piano sound and good action.
Due to the 40W, it will also sound closer to a real thing in volume and expressiveness.
At the same, the quality of Roland instruments, starting from sound and action and finishing with build quality is also fantastic.
That being said, there’s really no wrong way to go. Both are fantastic instruments for their price.
You may also want to check out the Roland RP102, which has just been released. It’s very similar to the F140R but has a different design, slightly more internal songs, and more attractive price.
Hi Lucas,
Great review! I was about to get the px870 then I just saw that kawai Kdp110 is about to be released in few days.. and it seems incredible!
What do u suggest?
Hi Michele,
Yes, the KDP110 has just been announced, and although I haven’t been able to put my hands on it yet, it’s definitely going to be a strong competitor to the PX-870.
I personally enjoy Kawai’s key actions, so I assume the new Responsive Hammer Compact II on the KDP110 will feel amazing. The new Shigeru EX piano sound and 40W speaker system also seems exciting, at least on paper.
For now, I don’t know the price of the KDP110, but I think it will be about $200-300 more expensive than the PX-870.
In any case, if you’re trying to choose between these two models, I’d recommend visiting the nearest store that has both of these pianos and comparing them side by side. But as far as I know, the KDP110 is yet to be released, so you’ll have to wait for a few weeks until it appears in stores.
Thanks for the awesome review (and other reviews) Lucas, you have been most helpful in helping me choose a good piano. I would, although, like to hear what you can say about how does the Casio AP-470 compare to this PX-870, is it worth investing some extra $ for the AP?
Also what can you say about Kawai CN17?
Hi Egor, I’m glad my articles have helped you.
Unfortunealty, I haven’t been able to play the AP-470 yet. But as far as I can tell from my experience with the AP-270 (which is closer to the PX-870 in terms of price/sound), the instruments are quite similar.
They share the same sound engine and the same keyboard action.
The main thing that makes the AP-270 unique is the additional New York Grand Piano tone, which sounds fantastic, but I can’t say that the difference is that huge compared to the European Grand Piano tone on the PX-870. It’s just a little bit different in character.
Also, the cabinet of the AP-270 is a bit bigger and looks more like a traditional instrument.
But even though the AP line is considered as a premium line, while Privia is more entry-level, the PX-870 offers a number of things that the AP-270 doesn’t have such as 4-speaker sound projection system (the AP-270 has 2 speakers), string resonance, lid simulator, key off simulator, audio recording feature, headphones mode and some other features.
So, in my opinion, the PX-870 is a better bang for the buck, unless you want the “fancier” cabinet of the AP-270 or the New York Steinway piano tone.
As for the AP-470, it’s almost identical to the PX-870 in terms and features, but it also has that New York piano tone and a bigger more traditional cabinet. I don’t know the AP-470’s price yet but my guess it will be around $1400-1500, which is x1.5 more expensive than the PX-870. And considering it has the same features and keyboard action as the PX-870, the price difference is not necessarily worth it. But it depends of course. Portability is another aspect to consider. The AP-470 is about 6 inches wider and 5 lbs heavier than the PX-870.
Sorry, can’t say much about the CN-17, I’m yet to try it.
Having looked at the specification, the CN-17 is identical to the new KDP-110, which I’m going to do a review on in the next few weeks.
Thanks for the reply, Lucas! Gonna stay tuned for your next reviews.
Lucas you are impressive…
🙂 Thanks, Deleilah
Hi Lucas, you are building an amazing compendium of reviews on this site for the budding novice piano player. It’s really appreciated!
I have one question which you may or may not be able to answer in regards to the pricing of this particular instrument. On Amazon, the price is very alluring and competitive to the rest of the other pianos on offer from other brands. However I live in Australia which makes that option unavailable.. but I have noticed there is a huge markup on Casio digital pianos here! For example the PX-870 here will set you back roughly $1350USD from local retailers. This kind of markup is not really prevalent on other brands and makes the PX-870 a hard sell.. would you happen to know why there is such a big discrepancy between the US price and the Australian price?
Hi Dan, I wish I had a good answer to this, but it seems to be their pricing strategy. I’ve noticed the same happening in the European market, which makes it harder for Casio to compete with other brands there.
For example, Thomann.de, which usually has the best prices in Europe, offers the PX-870 for 1157$, which is not a big difference compared to Amazon’s price ($999), but it’s enough to make it a pretty unpopular option there.
For now, it has zero reviews on Thomann.de, and the main reason is that the PX-870’s competitors have much more appealing prices.
For example, Thomann.de offers the Roland F-140 for as low as $1157 (same price as the PX-870), while on Amazon.com it’s $200 more than the PX-870.
The Yamaha YDP-143 is available for $868 there. So for many people living outside the US, Casio digital pianos are more expensive than the competitors, which makes people go for other brands, which is sad because Casio make really good digital pianos today.
Anyway, I hope they reconsider their pricing policy in countries outside the US and offer prices closer to what Amazon offers.
Thank you very much for your considered reply. I will hope too that Casio reconsider their pricing strategy.
Hi Lucas, thank you so much for the amazing website and sharing your knowledge in guiding us choose the best digital piano. I am deciding between KDP-110, CASIO PX-870. I know that the price range is different and KDP-110 is about $300 more expensive at least where I live but I want to make the best decision as i am going to use this piano for a couple of years perhaps. I am only going to use the piano sound and not interested in other featuring tones. So considering that which one would you recommend the most?
Hey, both are really nice options withing their price range. There’s no a definite answer to your question, as only after playing them both side by side, you’ll be able to tell which one YOU like the most. But, in my opinion, you can’t really go wrong with any of these instruments.
Hi Lucas
thank you for the informative reviews – so helpful in making a decent choice. I’m looking to buy a nice weighted keyboard that I can use at home for rehearsal and recording and also take out to acoustic gigs. I have two questions – do you think the Casio 870 is too heavy to be carting around, even with a quality keyboard case? And secondly you mentioned that there are no line outs – will I be able to connect up to my eight track digital studio using the headphone jacks?
thanks for your help, much appreciated 🙂
Hey Tammy, I don’t think it’s a very good idea to carry the PX-870 around too much, especially outside of home.
The PX-870 is a console type digital piano and is not really designed to be used that way. I’m not sure about what keyboard case you’re talking about, because this model comes with the stand (body) and although it can be detached, it should be used with it.
Yes, you can absolutely use headphone jacks for your digital recorder.
Hello, I need help as well – how does PX-870 compare to PX-360? Both have the same key action mechanism (I think), so my main problem is the sound quality. I’d go straight for PX-870 if it was portable, but unfortunately it’s not and that’s a problem for me. I just don’t have that much space (which is sad) and I’ll probably want to travel with the instrument from time to time.
Or maybe Casio has (or is planning to release) a portable version of PX-870?
Hey Borek, the PX-870 features an upgraded sound engine with a new 4-layer piano sound, which previous generation models don’t have (PX-160, PX-360, PX-560). There’s definitely an improvement in sound department (subtle nuances), but as you said the keyboard is the same. So if you’re looking for something portable the PX-360 is still a very nice option to consider.
I’d think that Casio will update their Privia line with new portable pianos, but I can’t say how soon it’s going to happen.
Hi Lucas, thank you so much for your reviews! I don’t know anything about digital pianos (used to play the piano as a child, but haven’t done so in 20 years), but I am now going to buy one as a wedding present. However, the Casio PX-870 and the Casio AP-470 are both available for exactly the same price (here in Amsterdam) and I’m not sure how to choose. I have read in your replies above that you had not tried the AP-470 yet, but perhaps by now you have some advice to offer? I hope so. Thank you so much!
Hi Marlies, sorry for the late reply. Generally, the AP-470 is a more expensive instrument, and in the US it’s almost x1.5 more than the PX-870. But the fact is that they’re very similar. The main difference is a more traditional looking cabinet of the AP-470 and some extra sounds including the American grand piano samples.
Should there not be a comparison against some Yamaha Clavinovas (CLP models at least) ?
Hi Juan, I tried to compare the PX-870 to digital pianos within its price range. Yamaha CLP models are much more expensive, and it’s not entirely fair to compare them to the more affordable PX-870.
This review and others on your well written website convinced me to buy “like new” Casio PX-860 with a $500+ savings (compared to Costco retail price + taxes) from a private seller.
Was looking for an upgrade to a weighted digital piano from my Yamaha NP-30 for my daughter and myself.
Absolutely happy with PX-860. It looks good, sounds very good. The touch feels similar to the various weighted digital pianos I tried at the store (Yamaha P-125, P-255, Roland FP-30…). Having used non-weighted keys in the past, it feels nice but still getting used to it.
Thank you for helping me narrow down on the insanely complex world of digital piano choices. I had it down to Yamaha P-115, or Casio PX-160. I did consider Casio PX-860 but the price of new was way beyond what I was comfortable spending. Fortunately, a private seller put out an ad that lowered the price enough for me to go for it.
Hey Richards, congrats on your new instrument. I’m glad I was able to help. The PX-860 is indeed a very good digital piano (the PX-870 is even better). The price you were able to buy it for is pretty dope! Good luck with your musical journey!
Hi Lucas, great review. It’s been some time since the KDP 110 from Kawai was released and I was wondering if you had time to compare it to the PX-870. I’m currently debating between the two and have the option of getting the Kawai for about $150 more than the Casio.
Hey Brandon! Both are great choices, but personally, I’d probably go for the Kawai. I really like its key action, but you might also prefer the PX-870 (it’s fairly subjective). The best option would be to play them both side by side and decide which one you like better. I’m going to review the KDP110 this month, so I’ll make sure to compare it to the PX-870 more thoroughly.
Hey Lukas, thanks a lot for taking the time to answer all of our questions, this really help us… I have a question about the keyboard of the Px-870… Since I’m a beginner from zero, I have been making a research in order to perform the best decision possible at the moment of buying my very first digital piano. I really like what I have read about the Px-870, but in my research I read some comments regarding noisy keys on some casio’s models. Does this particular model have this issue? Is this really a problem? If so, Is it also present in the same price range of other brands? Would you still recommend me to buy the Px-870? Thank you so much man… Best regards
Hey Jose, there’s a certain amount of key action noise on any kind of instrument, digital or acoustic. Acoustic pianos are often even “noisier” than their digital counterparts you just can’t hear due to high volume levels.
On a digital piano, on the other hand, you have an option to adjust the volume, so whenever you go to low/medium volume levels, you might hear those key action movement noises that otherwise you wouldn’t hear.
Cheaper digital pianos tend to have slightly “noisier” key actions as opposed to higher end $2000+ instruments.
As for your question, the action installed in all current Casio Privia models indeed tends to be a bit noisier compared to Yamaha’s GHS, Kawai’s RHC/RHC II, and Roland’s PHA-4 Standard but I don’t think it’s a real deal breaker (the difference is not that huge).
If you’re still concerned with this particular characteristic, I’d recommend considering Roland digital pianos (RP-102, FP-30, F-140R), which in this price range probably have the most “quiet” key action (PHA-4 Standard) compared to other manufacturers.
Hi Lucas,
Thanks for the wonderful reviews. I had shortlist three models- AP-270, PX-870 and DGX-660 , but am down to the PX-870 and DGX-660 after reading your reviews. What do you suggest.
Hey Rupesh,
Casio PX-870 for piano sound and feel, Yamaha DGX-660 for extra sounds, songs, recording features. Both are great instruments though.
I am looking for a digital piano for my 12 yo daughter that is interested in learning piano. I’ve kind of narrowed it down to to the px870 and the px560. I like the fact that they both have 256 polyphony. My question is, the 560 came out in 2015 and it looks like the 870 in 2018. For a straight up piano sound which has the better sound engine, or are they both the same? Since the 870 is 2018, I wondered if it was better…I know the 560 is loaded, but I’m not sure we would ever use all of the bells and whistles although it would give a ton of roo. To grow. I also hate the the fact that the 560 is blue, but most YouTube reviews are off the hook…..screen factor isn’t a huge deal. Decision decisions!!!
Hi Justin, for your main focus is going to be piano playing I’d probably go for the PX-870.
The difference compared to the PX-560 isn’t going to be that huge (same sound engine, same key action) but the PX-870 has a new piano tone, which I quite like. Plus, you get 3 piano pedals and a nice furniture style cabinet.
But, you’re right the PX-560 much more than just a piano, it has tons of sounds, styles, and options for sound design, I can even imagine someone using it in a studio.
But to be honest, a good amount of those features are quite advanced, so I don’t think the PX-560 would be the best choice for a beginner, especially when we’re talking about children.
On the other hand, the PX-560 leaves a lot of room for growth, and if one day your daughter will express interest in other areas of music such as sound design, composing, etc. she will have all the tools she needs.
I love the features on the px-870. I have read a lot of articles and watch reviews. I know it doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but that is not what I am looking for. I am looking for a piano with a great sound and great feel of the keys. I have heard some reviews that the px-870 has a better sound and feel then the some of Yamaha’s pianos like the YDP-143 but I have also heard the Yamaha’s sounds better than the px-870, I don’t know who is correct. And I was wondering, You said the px-870 is “ A bit noisier key action than that of the competitors” I would like too have little more info. Thanks so much.
No need to reply to the last question about the noisy keys. I didn’t see Jose‘s comment.
Hey Lucas… thanks a lot for the review
.. two questions? 1.- How can I split the PX-870 so it can be use in duet mode… I just cant find the settings. Thanks in advance and best regards.
2.- How can I connect the tablet with chordana play to the px-870? I already connect it, but it does not recognize the tablet
Hey Jose, 1) look into the owner’s manual, you’ll find how to turn on the Duet Mode there.
2) Are you using the Chordana Play or the Chordana Play for Piano? Theses two different versions of the same app. The first version is compatible with Casio’s electronic keyboards, while the other one works with digital pianos. Here are the links to the version you need:
iOS
Android
I just bought the px-870 and I don’t have a bench. Is there one you recommend?
Congrats on your new instrument! There’re a lot of good benches out there, depending on your needs, you might want to consider a bench with adjustable height, storage for sheet music, etc.
These seem like pretty good options:
1) Option one (non-adjustable + storage for sheet music)
2) Option two (adjustable height + storage)
3) Option three (adjustable + storage + 100% genuine leather)
Thank you so much!
Thanks soo much! I got option two!
Do you recommend any lamps you recommend?
Sorry I mean Do you recommend any piano lamps