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A piano student or player has a lot of options when choosing a keyboard. You can find different models with all kinds of features. But all the brands and models aim to achieve the same goal: resemblance with the acoustic piano in the sound and design.

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The concept of a keyboard with weighted keys comes from this common aim.

Maybe you’re a student with no acoustic piano and no budget to afford one, or maybe you are a professional player that needs to travel with your instrument to gigs and concerts. In all the cases, you’re going to need the instrument you choose to feel and sound as the acoustic piano.

These necessities were the creators of weighted-keys digital keyboards.

Yamaha may lead Casio in sound quality and key action (for digital pianos above $1000), but Casio leaves Yamaha in offering fun and useful features. The advantage of a Casio over a Yamaha is that for the money, Casio will offer you more features than a similarly. Casio excels in entry-level keyboards because their instruments are easy to use and often have built-in speakers, which not only saves money, but adds an element of portability for the beginner. Yamaha is one of the most popular companies for professional and touring musicians whose instruments often include more advanced features such as multichannel recording and effects built into the unit. Yamaha, Yamaha, Yamaha. Especially on their lower end keyboards their sound sets are just the best! Bonus information.which ever keyboard you buy. Make sure to pickup a midi to usb cable. This will allow you connect to your computer and use your keyboard as a midi controller. A true piano experience. Kawai makes some of the most beautiful pianos in the world.

But, what are these keyboards? How do they work? Are they really the closest I can get to an acoustic piano?

WHAT ARE WEIGHTED KEYBOARDS?

These are a type of digital keyboards that try to emulate the feeling of an acoustic piano tile when being pressed.

An acoustic piano works with hammers attached to the back of the tiles that are moved when they’re pressed. That hammer strikes a string inside the piano and that’s what produce the note we hear. The hammer movement makes a little resistance when pressing the tile and that reflects on how playing an acoustic piano feels under our fingers.

This is a feeling we can’t obtain when we play a regular digital keyboard. In those instruments the tiles have no resistance and are softer to play. This creates a whole different playing technique that some students, teachers and players do not like.

The weighted keyboard is the closest attempt to emulate this feeling in order to reduce the difference between digital and acoustic piano techniques. They have weights inside the keys that emulates the response and feeling of an acoustic piano tile.

The main focus of weighted-keys digital pianos is to offer a realistic acoustic piano playing experience. It is almost like they have actual hammers and strings inside. For example, if you press a tile very slowly in an acoustic piano no sound is produced, because the hammer doesn’t hit the string with enough strength. That effect is commonly well reproduced in these weighted keyboards. Another characteristic of acoustic pianos is that when you press a tile really hard, the hammer strikes the string with enough strength to make it vibrate and crash against the body of the piano, producing a particular sound that these digital keyboards can emulate too.

DOES IT REALLY IMPROVES THE TECHNIQUE?

Due to the weighted feeling, playing in one of these keyboards really help you keeping the strength in your fingers that an acoustic piano demands. And it really improves velocity and agility.

Once you master a fast piece in a weighted keyboard, playing it in a non-weighted one is going to be way more easier. Unfortunately, that doesn’t work the other way around. Many students have problems facing acoustic pianos when their techniques were practiced in non-weighted keyboards. It is common for piano teachers to recommend that their students use keyboards with weighted keys.

Some would say that having a weighted keyboard is even better than having an acoustic one. Primarily because of the other features it brings. We are talking about an instrument that is half the size – or less – of an acoustic piano and it has a really close sound and feeling. This means you can have it in a small apartment or in a single room of a house. They commonly have headphones ports too, which allows you to practice without disturbing your neighbors or your family. Also, you can move them easier and some of them can be really portables and easy-to-travel.

WHAT ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF KEYBOARDS WITH WEIGHTED KEYS?

You can find the terms “Fully weighted keys” or “Semi-weighted keys” when you go out looking for a keyboard.

A fully weighted keyboard has all the characteristics mentioned above: the keys feels like an acoustic piano. A semi-weighted keyboard still has some resistance when pressing the tiles but the feeling is closer to a non-weighted keyboard than to an acoustic piano.

You can divide them by the number of keys too. As any other digital piano, you’re going to find models with 61, 76 or 88 keys.

IS WEIGHTED KEYBOARD AND A TOUCH RESPONSE KEYBOARD THE SAME?

No, they are different.

A Touch Response or Touch Sensitive keyboard is a digital piano that increases or decreases the volume of the sound according to how hard you press the tile. It doesn’t need to have weighted keys to do so.

A Weighted Keyboard has touch response keys as well, but adding the weight effect.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST KEYBOARD WITH WEIGHTED KEYS?

• Go over your budget once again. These keyboards tend to be more expensive than others. If your budget is not large enough maybe you can consider a touch sensitive one, that works as a first step to get closer to an acoustic piano feeling.
• Ask yourself what do you really need. There are weighted keyboards with tons of other functions that reflect on their price. If you’re looking for a simple acoustic piano feeling maybe you can look for a model without so many digital sounds and connectivity features.
• Set your goals. Maybe you’re purchasing a piano because you’re studying and you need it now just to improve your technique. But try thinking ahead and look for a model that can be sufficient for your upcoming plans and goals with piano playing. There are models with big sounds libraries and MIDI features that can work if you want to do recording. There are others with simpler features that are the best if you want to focus in your piano sound only.
• Think about traveling pros and cons. This is an important thing to consider, as it will be a shame if you purchase a great sounding keyboard that’s going to stay home while you use a lower quality one in gigs and presentations. If you don’t need to move the piano around maybe it is best if you buy a non-travel one, but if your goal is to take what you learn to the stage then look deep into the traveling features like total weight, cases, connectivity on stage and the space it occupies.

BEST WEIGHTED KEYBOARDS IN THE MARKET

Top Rated

These keyboards are the favorite choices between amateurs and professional players with a limited budget and with high needs. They gather the highest reviews and recommendations you can find in purchasing websites and stores.

Yamaha P115

Yamaha is one of the best brands to choose from when it comes to quality and output. That’s why it’s not surprising that one of the most chosen keyboards with weighted keys belongs to this company.

The P115 is definitely a great choice. It features a great hammer effect, increasing the weight of the keys depending on how low or high you play. With a piano sound that emulates the best acoustic pianos that Yamaha has. It has 88 keys and comes with 14 voices to choose from. It counts with MIDI and plug ports.

One of the most interesting things about this keyboard is that it offers an app for iOS users. With that app, you can control different settings of the keyboard from your cellphone and access learning material and info.

It’s designed to be portable – although it can be a little too heavy – and it can be perfect both for students and professional players.

It’s not a cheap keyboard, so we recommend you to have a medium budget if you want to access this product.

PROS:

• Hammer effect
• MIDI and USB ports
• IOS app
• Portable
• Great piano sound

CONS:

• Not cheap
• Plastic feel on the tiles

Yamaha DGX-660

This is the non-portable favorite of the brand. This is a keyboard designed with Yamaha’s SGH (Scaled Graded Hammer) effect, that allows the player to get really close to an acoustic piano feeling. It’s one of the top recommendation for students or players that need that feeling under their fingers for technique matters.

It offers the same high quality sounds from Yamaha acoustic pianos and some other features that make it a really interesting option.

Next to its headphone port, it has an integrated microphone input so the sound of your voice can also be amplified by the keyboard’s speakers. You can upload songs in MIDI format and the piano will create its sheet music for you to learn how to play them.

Another great feature this keyboard has is its six tracks recorder, that allows you to layer your creations and to expand your ideas without further gear.

Same as the P115, this is not a cheap keyboard. But most of the costumer’s reviews say it worth the price. Definitely, one of the home favorites.

PROS:

• Yamaha’s SGH
• Great piano sounds
• Integrated mic input
• Convert MIDI to sheet music
• Six track recorder

CONS:

• Not cheap
• Plastic feel in the tiles

Korg B1

Korg is a brand mostly known for its synths. Everyone that knows about synths, knows that Korg is one of the best choices. In the keyboards case, this thought can be applied just as well.

The Korg B1 is a top designed keyboard that was made to replicate the acoustic piano feeling as best as it can be. Its keys were conceived to be felt almost the same as playing the keys on any acoustic model.

This piano is another top choice not just because of its design, but for its price. It is an affordable option that offers really high quality features. It has eight different piano sounds with effects like reverb or delay and it comes with a pedal assembly that includes the three pedals an acoustic piano always have.

However, it doesn’t have the same amount of options and sounds other keyboards have. So that makes it a good choice for simpler players that want to keep the clean piano sound. Even though you can release it from the pedal assembly, it wasn’t conceived to be portable.

PROS:

• Really good weighted keys
• Price friendly
• 8 different piano sounds
• Comes with pedal assembly

CONS

• Non portable
• Little amount of voices
• Not so many sound editing options

Casio Privia PX-160

When you hear professional players talking about gear, the Privia always pops up as a good option. Being one of Casio’s top of the line doesn’t come easily. This keyboard gather the best characteristics a player looks for.

The weight of the keys and sensitivity is one of the best in the market. It offers 18 voices with effects. Even though the piano sound is not as great as others, it’s perfect for live stage performances.

It comes with an USB port included so you can connect it to your computer and use it as a MIDI controller as well. Reverb and Chorus effects are built into the keyboard, so you won’t have to spend on extra gear.

It’s one of the most common options for professional players that need a good sound and a portable instrument. It’s light-weight and easy to connect in stage.

Not the best option to be kept in the house, though. It doesn’t come with integrated speakers, so you would need an external sound device or headphones to hear it.

It’s definitely price friendly for a keyboard of this quality and a reliable option.

PROS:

• Good for performers
• Price-friendly
• Portable
• Recommended by professionals
• Reverb and Chorus included

CONS:

• No speakers integrated
• Sensitivity of the keys get limited at high velocity playing

Kawai ES110

If you’re looking for a keyboard that emulates an acoustic piano, why not come to a brand that has a place in top markets for building them? Kawai acoustic pianos are recognized world wide and this digital keyboard is a really good option to access that same quality.

The ES110 is a keyboard with a great portability, light-weighted and with features that cover the needs of beginners and professionals.

It offers 19 sounds with a plenty of piano options to choose. Comes with integrated piano lessons for you to improve your technique and a Setting Memory so you can customize your sound and save it.

One of the most important details of this keyboards is that it comes with a three years guaranty. This is a key element for a piano that was made to be moved from stage to stage.

Even though the weighted system and the touch response are not the best you can find for this price, this keyboards can become a great and simple partner in learning or performing.

PROS:

• Portable
• Price-friendly
• A lot of piano sounds
• Three years guaranty
• Setting Memory
• Bluetooth and MIDI connection

Casio Piano Keyboard

CONS:

• Not the best weighted keys
• Functions are not very user-friendly

Best keyboards with weighted keys for the Professional’s Choice

The next keyboards are the best there is in the market today. They were made for players with the highest needs, being perfect for big scenarios or recording scopes. If you can add some extra numbers to your budget, then don’t think twice in getting one of these.

Roland RD-64

With the backup story of one of the top brands in keyboards design, the RD-64 is a digital piano that knows how to keep it simple. It offers the best sounds and features in the market without loosing the design of a regular and accessible keyboard.

It comes with great piano sounds and offers a library of high quality synths. You can use its interface to channel the sound of legendary Roland synths such as the Jupiter. It has reverb built in and offers a rare feature between keyboards: adjustable EQ.

The only complains you can have about it are, primarily, that it doesn’t have 88 keys. It’s actually small sized because it’s thought to be transportable and easy to be used on stage (you can see great players using it next to grand pianos or other synths).

The other complain that one can have about this professional keyboards is that they doesn’t come with speakers, so you need to have an external sound system to actually listen to its sound.

PROS:

• Top of the market
• Great sounds
• Reverb and EQ included
• You can channel Roland emblematic sounds
• Portable

CONS:

• No speakers incorporated
• Not 88 keys
• Expensive

Nord Stage 3

A real beauty, without a doubt. This keyboard is one of the trending choices between the best players in the world, offering all that a keyboard player can desire: great weighted keys, great piano, synth and organ sounds, a big library, connectivity options and – as we can see – a stunning design.

Nord was quite shy between the other keyboards brands, but with the Stage series they raised their faces into the top of the mountain. A lot of critics define this keyboard to be “the best in the market”.

It comes with three analogical sound engines you can edit by pushing buttons and moving faders. These engines cover the piano sounds – with different models to choose, equalization and dynamics -, the synth sounds – with all kinds of wave shifters and effects – and the organ sounds – with a big amount of models and harmonics selectors.

And in the digital scope, it offers no less than 2GB of sounds uploaded into the keyboard, with the option of expanding it with Nord’s actualizations. It can be used as a MIDI controller and as a commander to other keyboards.

This is a keyboard designed for the stage and the recording studio. It’s portable – even tough a little heavy. A great choice if you want to have a keyboard for your entire life, covering all the scope of work you can choose as a piano player.

PROS:

• The best there is in the market
• Separated engines for piano, synth and organ
• Vast amount of sounds
• Mostly analogical settings
• All the connectivity features

CONS:

• A little heavy
• No speakers incorporated
• Really non price-friendly

Korg SV-1

SV-1 is a stage favorite option without a doubt. It offers one of the best piano playing feeling you will find on the market.

The key feature this keyboard has is that you can personalize your sound. It doesn’t have a LED screen, so most of what you’re going to edit is going to be through analogical gear included in the keyboard. It counts with reverb and chorus effects built in.

This is not a cheap option and it’s aiming be among the top range.Also, you won’t have speakers in it. The lack of the LED screen can be a little bit uncomfortable for players who have been playing in other digital pianos before. But, those little details are not significant when you face a keyboard that was built to be reliable, loyal and a tour companion.

PROS:

• Perfect for stage
• All analogical
• Customize sound
• One of the best piano playing feels

CONS:

• Expensive
• No LED screen
• No speakers

Other options you can consider

The next keyboards are not top rated or the top of the market, but costumers and reviewers have been giving them certain acknowledgement. If you’re in low budget and looking for a keyboard that does its work with a good sound and functionality, these may be the options for you:

Yamaha Arius YDP-163

This is a great choice for someone looking for a quality and price-friendly home piano. The Arius give a fully acoustic piano experience from the sound to the design, being one of the best looking models of the Yamaha scope. It has a great piano sounding, since it features the sounds of the best pianos of the brand.

It comes with the elements that are taking Yamaha to the next era on keyboards. Same as the P115, it offers an iOS app that allows you to control some aspects of the piano and it gives you access to learning material. The system built in the keyboard offers a music book for you to learn too.

One of the main features you can enjoy playing this in your house, is the 2-tracks recorder included in the Arius. You can make accompaniment and then soloing, or creating new sounds and full compositions with just your two hands.

The Arius is designed to the stay at home. Is a non portable keyboard that doesn’t offers much connectivity options. Is perfect for the living room or the home studio.

PROS:

• Really good acoustic piano experience
• Great piano sound
• Built in music book
• IOS app
• 2 track recorder
• House-made

CONS:

• Non portable
• Not so many connectivity features

Yamaha P71

Yamaha is definitely one of the most integral brands you’ll find in the market. As you can see, it offers keyboards both for the professional and amateur scopes with great reviews on both sides. It should always be a tempting option on the table if it fits in your budget.

The P71 is a great option for beginners who need a reliable piano with a good design for their practice and to find their own piano sound. It’s a model that offers a good piano sound and a variety of voices for you to experiment.

It’s portable and definitely price-friendly. One of the great pros of this keyboards is that it comes with its sustain pedal. This is actually very surprising for models in this price range and make this model a really integral option for the player who need all the tools on their places to get started.

This advantage gets complemented by the fact that it comes with a lot of connectivity features, including headphones and line-out ports.

However, if you’re a more advanced player, this is not the keyboard for you. Its design and feel may leave you wanting a better keyboard, and its library of sound is not as big as others.

PROS:

• Price-friendly
• Portable
• Comes with sustain pedal

CONS:

• Details in the manufacturing
• Not so big sound library
• Mostly for beginners

Yamaha YPG-535

This is another great option for beginners who doesn’t want to leave the Yamaha scope. The YPG-535 offers what an amateur player always need: portability, great keys design, big amount of sounds and speakers incorporated.

This is a very light-weighted keyboard that can be transported in your car, the bus or to carry on your back. It has a good weight on its keys, perfect for players that needs to keep their technique sharp.

The system offers a big amount of voices you can choose and combine, with a decent piano sound – yet not as good as other models – and speakers are incorporated so you can sound in your house or friend’s places.

It has and incorporated USB connection that allows you to use it as a MIDI controller and to access to several learning softwares.

This is the weighted-keys keyboard choice that a beginner player may want without the complications and sometimes useless extra features you pay for and never get to use.

PROS:

• Price-friendly
• Portable
• Great keys weight
• Big amount of sounds
• USB connection

CONS:

• Not the best piano sound
• Mostly for beginners
• Currently not on Amazon

Roland RD800

This is the low-priced option of Roland. With this model they’re looking to offer a keyboard that fills the expectations of middle players and, at the same time, leaves them curious about the features of their other models.

This is the perfect option for the stage players with low budgets and big expectations. We are talking about an easy-portable keyboard with a big library of high quality sounds beyond piano.

The only think to criticize is that it doesn’t comes with incorporated speakers. Roland is trying to send the message that even though it has a good price range, it’s not designed for beginner players who wants to stay home.

So, if you need a reliable keyboard that makes a good company for your gigs, without occupying a lot of spaces and with great sounds, this should be one of your tempting options.

PROS:

• Great library of sounds
• Options beyond piano
• Portable
• Designed for stage

CONS:

• No speakers incorporated

Roland FP-30

This is Roland’s fighting horse in the market. This model is designed to be a really tempting option for the beginner/medium players. The FP-30 is a digital keyboard with the high quality semi-weighted keys of Roland’s designs.

With the really great sounding voices of the brand – and some stunning system features – this model becomes a good option for stage and home studios. It comes with bluetooth connectivity which give you access to learning and sound editing softwares. The keys comes with adjustable sensitivity depending on how hard or soft you play them.

It is design for traveling, occupying little space for a gear this integral-made. The model comes with great offers including its own sustain pedal, bench, headphones and iPad holder.

This should definitely be one of the options in a stage player’s mind when it comes to connectivity, reliable system features and traveling options. It is not a model to keep in your living room, this keyboard was made to fill the gigs.

PROS:

• Designed for traveling
• Great sounds
• Adjustable sensitivity
• Bluetooth
• Comes with headphones and iPad holder

CONS:

• No speakers
• Not the best choice for home

Korg LP380

Taking some distance from stages and keyboards designed for traveling, this is Korg’s offer for your house. This model is a home keyboard that is ready to immerse you in the piano playing world without leaving your living room.

The LP380 has a smooth design, with nothing to envy to an upright piano. It has a really great playing experience, that offers a good weighted-keys system, and a great piano sound that is faithfully reproduced by its built-in speakers.

This is a keyboard that is not designed to travel and it has little connectivity options, but it compensates that with a design that is not going to leave you wanting anything else.

Definitely a good option for those players that needs a beautiful piano in their homes to play, without loosing care on technique.

PROS:

• Great playing experience
• Great piano sound
• Good option for home
• Smooth design

CONS:

• Not for traveling
• Little connectivity features
• Currently not on Amazon

Casio Privia PX770

This is the model that makes Casio to be in the top and amateur range at the same time. Its design is focused to reproduce almost precise acoustic piano playing experience and to offer a made-for-home instrument that fills up all the expectation a home player can have.

The playing feeling of the PX770 is one of the best. It uses actual hammers in the back of its keys to perfectly emulate the acoustic piano system. It features the Casio’s tri-sensor system, that consists three sensors under each key that can tell more precisely to the system how hard or soft you’re playing, allowing you to have all the playing dynamics you could have in an acoustic maiden.

This is not a keyboard for travelers, it was made for your living room or your home studio. It’s actually a great option for players who can’t afford an acoustic piano and turn their attention to the digital world.

PROS:

• Great playing feeling
• Uses actual hammers
• Tri-sensor system
• Great design

CONS:

• Not for traveling

Alesis CODA / Alesis Recital

We are grouping these two models into a single review because they are both great options coming from this brand. Alesis is an American company that manufactures a large amount of sound devices, including audio mixers, processors, interfaces, drums machines and electronic instruments like this two keyboard models.

CODA and Recital are great choices for the beginner player with a low budget and who’s looking for alternative models that provide the same quality that trending brands offer.

With a good piano sound and a semi-weighted keys system with nothing to envy from Yamaha or Roland models, the CODA and Recital becomes tempting options. They’re light-weighted, perfect to travel, but with connectivity features that allow you to keep it in-doors as well.

They offer adjustable touch response and an included recorder through which you can create full tracks without looking for a computer or other instruments.

These are keyboards that will fill all the expectations and needs a beginner player may have and a really good first step for entering the advanced models in the market.

PROS:

• Accompaniment Patterns
• You can record what you’re playing
• Light-weighted
• Price-friendly
• Adjustable Sensitivity

CONS:

• Non fully-weighted keys
• Best for beginners

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS BEFORE FINISHING

There are so many brands, so many models, so many features that you may feel a little overwhelmed. That feeling of not knowing if you’re purchasing the best you can find, if you should buy this one but that… that’s the secondary effects of reading a lot of reviews. So as the reviewers, we want to give you some advice so you can dissipate these confusing feelings.

• First of all, order your priorities. You can write in a paper what you’re exactly looking for in the keyboard you want to purchase, and then add the list the models that fit those requirements. This is going to make the primary list way shorter
• Don’t just look for system and design features. Make sure you know about offers and special discounts some brands may have and you can end up with a better keyboard than you thought possible.
• Think ahead and try picturing yourself using all the features a keyboard can have. If you really can’t imagine using a feature, you don’t really need it (even if it’s an incredible one).
• Think about the extras. Maybe you need a model that comes with its own sustain pedal, or with a bench or a pedal assembly.
• Space matters! Even more when you’re looking to purchase a keyboard for your home or studio. You don’t want to have a good keyboard that becomes a disturbance for your house. Look for the dimensions of each model and make sure they fit your available space.
• If you’re a professional player, don’t forget to think about your image. Once you have checked all the features and options, the outer design of a keyboard is important. If you’re a classical player for example, maybe you don’t need one of Roland’s all digital designed keyboards, maybe you need a sober design like a Privia or one of Yamaha’s models. But, in the other side, if you play modern music, maybe your audience will like to see a keyboard that glows in colors and screens.
• And ultimately, think about the sound you want to get. If you really like clean piano sound, don’t waste your money paying for incorporated effects and sound options, instead you can look for models with a big amount of clean sounds and equalizations. But, all the way around, if you want your own customized sound, make sure you don’t buy a model with a limited piano sound and think that the incorporated effects customized for a piano are always going to be better and cheaper than external ones.

REFERENCES

– https://www.429records.com/best-digital-piano-with-weighted-keys/

– https://acousticbridge.com/best-keyboards-with-weighted-keys/

– https://digitalpianojudge.com/best-digital-piano-with-weighted-keys-reviews/

– https://musicoomph.com/best-88-key-weighted-keyboards/

– https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075M22DCJ/?tag=1010128-20

– https://www.amazon.com/Casio-Privia-PX-770-Digital-Piano/dp/B074F3BTNZ/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=2WESRE0K4GBPM&keywords=casio+privia+px770&qid=1555949485&s=gateway&sprefix=casio+privia+px770%2Caps%2C323&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

– https://www.amazon.com/Roland-FP-30-Essential-Keyboard-Bundle/dp/B07NBL6WRF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=X2QOQD473MNF&keywords=roland+fp30&qid=1555949205&s=gateway&sprefix=roland+fp30%2Caps%2C-1&sr=8-1

– https://www.amazon.com/s?k=yamaha+ypg535+88-key+keyboard&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

– https://www.amazon.com/s?k=yamaha+p71+88-key+weighted+action+digital+piano&crid=1QQSCZBTD8O4R&sprefix=yamaha+p71%2Caps%2C342&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_10

– https://www.amazon.com/Nord-Keyboard-Sustain-Instructional-Polishing/dp/B079KT1Q78/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=nord+stage+3&qid=1555947988&s=gateway&sr=8-1

– https://www.amazon.com/Kawai-88-Key-Portable-Digital-Stylish/dp/B07MJF7WG5/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?crid=36X124MYKIK17&keywords=kawai+es110&qid=1555947684&s=gateway&sprefix=kawai+%2Caps%2C803&sr=8-2-fkmrnull

– https://www.amazon.com/Casio-Privia-PX-160BK-88-Key-Digital/dp/B0100RBPTC/ref=sxbs_osp18-696a8ddc_cov?ascsubtag=696a8ddc-5336-4e0c-8e51-69500f8d09aa&creativeASIN=B0100RBPTC&crid=DY3VA4L2J3PM&cv_ct_id=amzn1.osp.696a8ddc-5336-4e0c-8e51-69500f8d09aa&cv_ct_pg=search&cv_ct_wn=osp-search&keywords=casio+privia+px160&linkCode=oas&pd_rd_i=B0100RBPTC&pd_rd_r=009d73eb-0c91-48f0-be2e-f60ad74c448c&pd_rd_w=hkZeJ&pd_rd_wg=iooOE&pf_rd_p=8a46f3d2-51b6-446b-8020-99cb470b30b4&pf_rd_r=E09KY3VB1E1G0QPB3B9Y&qid=1555947613&s=gateway&sprefix=casio+privia+%2Caps%2C504&tag=thewire06oa-20

– https://www.amazon.com/Korg-Enhanced-Keyboard-Behringer-Headphones/dp/B07PB8ZYRM/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?keywords=korg+b1&qid=1555947537&s=gateway&sr=8-2-fkmrnull

– https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-Package-Headphones-Keyboard-Microphone/dp/B07NYCJ7CG/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=1LUCXBYQPGQVX&keywords=yamaha+dgx+660&qid=1555947398&s=gateway&sprefix=yamaha+dgx+%2Caps%2C383&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

– https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-88-Key-Weighted-Digital-Sustain/dp/B07BSM7PFL/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?keywords=yamaha+p115&pd_rd_i=B07BSM7PFL&pd_rd_r=7bb95d9d-3a9c-4fc8-aa2f-dd69095307f5&pd_rd_w=ukMFB&pd_rd_wg=JhQYl&pf_rd_p=5c5ea0d7-2437-4d8a-88a7-ea6f32aeac11&pf_rd_r=ZK2W7K666TZGK3BDMDJW&qid=1555947082&s=gateway

– https://www.amazon.com/Casio-Privia-PX-160BK-88-Key-Digital/dp/B0100RBPTC/ref=sxbs_osp18-696a8ddc_cov?ascsubtag=696a8ddc-5336-4e0c-8e51-69500f8d09aa&creativeASIN=B0100RBPTC&crid=1NB878RM0XQ7E&cv_ct_id=amzn1.osp.696a8ddc-5336-4e0c-8e51-69500f8d09aa&cv_ct_pg=search&cv_ct_wn=osp-search&keywords=casio+privia+px160&linkCode=oas&pd_rd_i=B0100RBPTC&pd_rd_r=df1108e4-7671-4a64-b834-5f1157d3312a&pd_rd_w=ptmpS&pd_rd_wg=GYpYS&pf_rd_p=8a46f3d2-51b6-446b-8020-99cb470b30b4&pf_rd_r=GHFGCY0DJWZRVXM8S6Y1&qid=1555946805&s=gateway&sprefix=casio+privia%2Caps%2C919&tag=thewire06oa-20

– https://www.amazon.com/Korg-Enhanced-Keyboard-Behringer-Headphones/dp/B07PB8ZYRM/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?keywords=korg+b1&qid=1555946652&s=gateway&sr=8-2-fkmrnull

– https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-Package-Headphones-Keyboard-Microphone/dp/B07NYCJ7CG/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=3CSQHSYLJW4HK&keywords=yamaha+dgx660&qid=1555946506&s=gateway&sprefix=yamaha+dgx66%2Caps%2C343&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

Casio instruments have long been amongst the best in the world; now, we are looking for the best Casio keyboards and digital pianos. With such a prolific manufacturer, there are enough options to make several lists, but we will try our best to narrow it down for you. We will list and review what we consider to be the best Casio offerings available in 2021. Let’s get started!

Here are the best Casio keyboards and digital pianos 2021:

1. Casio Celviano AP-700

The most realistic piano experience

We are stepping into expensive territory now with the Casio AP-700. At this level, it’s not enough just to sound good, it has to feel as close to the real thing as possible.

The AP-700 has scaled hammer action keys with premium ebony and ivory feel. The difference between these hammer action and those of the PX range is that these are mechanical. There are no springs at all, the hammer action is entirely dependent on levers and weights. It has a max polyphony of 256 notes.

Three are three main piano tomes, named Berlin, Hamburg, and Viena. The flagship voice is the Berlin grand piano, which is modeled on the legendary D282 Bechstein. On top of the three pianos, there are a further 21 onboard sounds. Instruments can be layered to create custom voices and exciting textures.

There are two levels of play-along material, including 15 high-quality orchestral recordings. For the less advanced players, there are 60 training songs to develop your playing. Like most other models, it has duet mode for teaching, but this one also has two headphone outputs, which is a nice touch.

The Casio AP-700 is a very realistic digital piano. The mechanical hammer action keys, combined with the ebony/ivory feel, is superb. In fact, you would struggle to find a digital piano that feels more realistic. In our opinion, that’s the main thing when spending so much money, because cheaper pianos can sound just as good.

Getting the whole experience depends more on the physical attributes, speaking of which, the AP-700 has a reasonably large cabinet. That might be a negative for some people, but again, if you want realism, this is it. Our advice would be that it’s too expensive for a beginner, other than that, we love it.

2. Casio Privia PX-S3000

The future of Privia keyboards

The PX-S3000 is one of the latest 88-key Casio keyboards. It has an ultra-modern design and is a sign of the future for the portable Privia range. We can all agree that good looks are only a secondary concern, but the fact that it looks super sleek doesn’t hurt one bit. It’s also the world’s slimmest keyboard piano, so we’re off to a good start.

The PX-S3000 has Casio’s scaled hammer action keys with five sensitivity levels. Considering how slim the keyboard is, it’s remarkable that it houses such a realistic keybed. It sports a max polyphony of 192 notes, which is higher than many similar keyboard pianos.

If the advanced hammer action keys weren’t enough, this gorgeous keyboard also features the Air sound engine. That means it has stunning piano sounds with damper and string resonance. In total, there are 700 voices and 200 rhythms, which should keep the most creative players busy for some time.

There are 96 registration memories to save custom voices, like layered or split patches. As well as the 200 onboard rhythms, you can stream music/backing tracks through the keyboards built-in speakers from a smart device via Bluetooth.

There are lots of good things to say about the Casio PX-S3000, but the thing that stands out most is the weight of the keys. Never before have we seen such a convincing hammer action keybed in such a slimline instrument. That feature alone males this keyboard a dream for the working musician.

Couple that with the sound quality of the AiR piano engine, and the results are quite astonishing. The PX-S3000 is a prime example of a professional Casio keyboard. Ultimately, you could find better sounds and a better feel, but at this size and weight, you won’t even get close.

3. Casio Privia PX-870

The best home digital piano under $1000

Casio’s Privia range has stood the test of time, usually in direct competition with the Yamaha Arius series.

The PX-870 is one of the best-selling Casio digital pianos. It has Casio’s premium Tri-sensor II hammer action keys, with a max polyphony of 256 notes. One of the best physical features of the high-end Privia pianos is the simulated ebony, and ivory feel keytops. It might sound like an indulgence, but it makes a huge difference.

As for the all-important piano sound, it comes from Casio’s remarkable AiR Sound Source. This sound engine is present in Casio pianos far more expensive than the PX-870, so when Casio says it’s their best ever, we believe them.

One of the factors that determine how well the piano can utilize the sound engine is its internal memory. Casio opted to increase the memory in this model compared to previous ones, to get the best out of the AiR piano engine. Everything about the piano performance is very accurate, including the mechanical noises like the pedals, or key lift, and so on.

After the grand piano tones, the electric pianos are the best of the 19 onboard voices. Voices can be layered, too, and the keyboard can be split to create more diverse sounds. The onboard effects are pretty standard for the Privia range with reverbs, chorus, and brilliance.

In terms of interactive content, there are 10 concert play-along songs, but there is far more if you use the Chordana Piano app. The app also has lots of lessons and tutorials. Rounding up the main features is the 2-track record function, allowing up to 5000 notes.

As we have repeated time and time, Casio Privia digital pianos are always excellent. This particular model happens to be the best one available under $1000, which is good and bad. It’s good because it’s worth the money, but it’s bad because it’s getting into a price range where you have so many great pianos to consider.

We think the PX-870 could be more versatile, for example, the built-in recorder could have more tracks. Or, the onboard voices (other than the pianos) could be better. The thing is, this kind of instrument is mainly about the acoustic piano experience, everything else is secondary. In that sense, it ticks all the boxes, it feels and sounds just as it should.

4. Casio Privia PX-160

The best cheap Casio Privia keyboard

Yes, it’s another Casio Privia,but what do you expect? They are that good; you won’t find a list of Casiokeyboard reviews without them.

Despite being lower down in the Privia line up, the PX-160 has the same Tri-sensor II hammer action keys that you will find on the PX-870. They also share the same simulated ebony/ivory feel with the more expensive models.

Again, the flagship piano tone comes from the AiR sound engine. There are five acoustic pianos in total, amongst the 18 onboard voices. The voices also include some lush string ensembles that came from Casio’s award-winning PX-5S stage piano. Being cheaper than the PX-870 makes this digital piano more accessible to beginner players, and it has plenty of functions aimed at the learner market.

One of the best tuition features, which is common throughout the Privia range, is the duet keyboard mode. Duet mode creates two identical playing zones, so that a student and teacher can play side by side. It also has a second headphone jack, so you can keep your practice nice and quiet.

Yet another feature it has in common with the PX-870 is the 2-track recorder, and USB MIDI interface. The most obvious difference is that the PX-160 is much more portable, which is not only great for gigging, but also just moving it around the house.

The PX-160 is a fantastic way to get the outstanding AiR sound engine and realistic feel in an affordable weighted Casio keyboard. The fact that it shares most major functions/features with the much more expensive PX-870 speaks volumes about how good this keyboard is.

The piano sound, as we keep saying, is first class. The orchestral sounds are lovely, and they encourage a different style of playing, too, which is good for harmonic development. Having these features in a compact and affordable keyboard is why we think so highly of it.

5. Casio CT-X5000

The best arranger keyboard under $500

The first of two arranger keyboards on our list is the Casio CT-X5000. This budget Casio keyboard offers far more than its price tag suggests. It comes with 61 velocity-sensitive keys that have a nice action for a variety of playing styles, like piano, synths, organs, etc.

There are onboard sounds that come from the powerful AiX sound engine. The soundbank boasts everything from acoustic pianos right through to synth leads. If 800 voices aren’t enough for you, the soundbank is expandable and has plenty of space for user presets. The most noteworthy sounds are the real instruments, like acoustic pianos, horns, and strings, but the synths are better than most similar keyboards.

The 260 onboard rhythms, or smart accomplishments as they are better called, are also expandable. Things, like switching styles or triggering fills, can be controlled by footswitch, so you can keep your hands free for playing.

The DSP effects are high-quality, and include some amp models, too. The best of which is the rotary speaker emulator that gives a real vintage sound, especially to the organs. There are 100 effects in total, with some already applied to preset sounds by default.

The built-in sequencer has 17-tracks with a 42-part mixer. It’s user-friendly, and an excellent tool for beginner producer composers. Another cool production aspect is the phrase pads that you can use to trigger phrases that you have pre-recorded (up to 100).

The CT-X5000 isn’t quite the best Casio keyboard for beginners, but it could be the best arranger keyboard for beginners. If we had one complaint, it might be that some of the voices already have pre-programmed DSP effects. But, it’s not a massive complaint, at the end of the day, there are 800 voices and 100 effects, there’s something for everyone.

Having got our one complaint out of the way, the overall quality of the AiX sound engine is very high. Features like the rotary speaker emulator add lots of new creative possibilities, too. If you are a fast learner, you might outgrow the CT-X5000, but not before you’ve had more than your money’s worth.

6. Casio WK-7600

The affordable band in a box

Casio 88 Key Digital Piano

Casio pitches the WK-7600 as an affordable powerhouse, and at first glance, that seems an apt description.

The WK-7600 is a 76-key arranger keyboard with a massive 820 voices. The voices range from acoustic pianos, electric pianos to horns, and strings. Although, the organ sounds are some of the most impressive, thanks to the high-quality DSP rotary speaker emulation. If that wasn’t enough, there are physical drawbars to give an authentic organ experience (50 user presets can be saved).

There are 260 smart rhythms that can respond to your playing in various ways, to provide a full backing band. As well as that, there are 100 DSP effects from basic reverbs to crazier phaser and flanger effects. All of which can be tweaked extensively and saved as user presets.

The heart of many arranger keyboards is the sequencer. The WK-7600 has a 17-track sequencer (16 tracks plus 1 system track), and 32-channel mixer. For composers of any kind, this is fantastic for getting ideas together. These compositions can then be saved on an SD card as SMF’s (Standard MIDI Files).

If the 260 onboard rhythms aren’t specific enough for you, there is a pattern sequencer, so you can create your own. The pattern sequencer allows for up to 8 tracks, which are drums, percussion, bass, and five chord tracks.

The Casio WK-7600 is definitely the powerhouse that it’s advertised to be. It has all the expected bells and whistles of a good arranger keyboard. It has a massive soundbank, it has lots of rhythms, and it has a built-in sequencer.

However, the WK-7600 goes beyond what we expected in an affordable arranger. The sequencer is fantastic, but what’s even better is the addition of the pattern sequencer. Another particularly impressive feature is the rotary speaker emulation, that, along with the drawbars, takes you into full Hammond organ mode.

This keyboard would be a fantastic buy even if it were a little more expensive, but we’re happy it’s not!

7. Casio Privia PX-770

The best beginner home digital piano

The Casio Privia PX-770 offers a realistic piano experience at a reasonable price. Being part of the Privia PX digital piano range means that it’s going to be good, it’s just a question of how good.

It has 88 full-size keys with scaled hammer action. The hammer action is a Tri-sensor system, meaning there are three velocity layers. The keys also have a simulated ebony and ivory finish, adding another layer of realism, and it helps maintain grip when your fingers sweat. The PX-770 has a max polyphony of 128 notes, which is pretty standard for a digital piano at this price.

It comes with the same outstanding Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR piano engine that the higher-priced models have. The grand piano sounds were samples at four different velocity levels, so they are quite exquisite. There are 19 onboard voices, including electric pianos, and organs. The number of voices is quite pleasing for this kind of digital piano.

The sounds can be shaped further by the onboard effects. There are four reverb types and four chorus types that add depth to your tone.

Casio digital pianos are known to be fantastic instruments to learn on. The PX-770 has lots of play-along content, including 60 built-in songs, and duet mode, which is perfect for teaching. It’s easy to keep track of your progress, too, with the 2-track MIDI recorder. The whole thing is wrapped up in a stylish, slimline 3-pedal stand/cabinet.

Casio Keyboard Vs Yamaha Keyboard

The Casio PX-770 is a beautiful piano and ideal for any student/learner. It’s also ideal for any advanced player who doesn’t want to spend the extra money on the PX-870.

Casio’s best-ever grand piano tone (as they claim themselves) is absolutely gorgeous. The realistic ebony/ivory feel of the keys, of course, helps the piano tone. The other available voices are good, but not as important. Ultimately, it’s not quite as good overall as the PX-870, but it’s considerably cheaper, and for many, it will be the better option between the two.

8. Casio CGP-700

The most versatile portable digital piano

The CGP-700 is a nice alternativeto other Casio keyboard models, with a bit more versatility than most. Theversatility makes for value for money that you don’t see in some of the otherranges.

It comes with Tri-sensor scaled hammer action keys, not quite the same as the high-end Privia models, but very good nevertheless. The CGP-700 sits on an included stand with built-in speakers.

Now, here is where that value for money starts to come in. The CGP-700 has a massive 550 onboard voices and 200 rhythms. That’s a great deal more than the average digital piano. Rather than a bog-standard 2-track recorder, there is a 16-track sequencer with enough memory for up to 100 songs.

The focal point of the CGP-700 is the 5.3-inch color touchscreen that controls almost everything. The touchscreen has an icon-based system, so finding your way around.

We spoke about value for money with this keyboard, and that might make some people think it’s about quantity over quality. However, that’s not the case, the voices may not be as authentic as higher-end models, but they are still good. The sheer number of voices goes some way to make up for the slight drop in quality.

Yamaha Vs Casio Digital Piano

The built-in sequencer is more in-depth than you’d expect, and the touchscreen ties everything together nicely. Casio’s CGP-700 is the ideal keyboard for anyone who wants a balanced mix between performance and production.

Conclusion

We can tell you that it was no easy task to choose the best Casio keyboards and digital pianos. It’s difficult enough when you are trying to separate keyboards from various manufacturers. But, when they are all from the same manufacturer, they carry far more similarities, making it a more difficult decision.

So, when you are choosing the right Casio for you, find a way to shortlist even further. Think about the size/style (keyboard or digital piano) then think about the features you need most. Hopefully, that will leave you with a few fantastic options!

James is a writer and musician with a passion for audio production. He is a lover of all things tech, especially the latest keyboards, synths, DAW’s, virtual instruments, and effects plugins. Musical interests include jazz, funk, hip hop, blues, and rock.