Piano Keyboard Reviews (2021)

Plixio Keyboard Review (2021): A Cute Keyboard with a Few Quality Concerns

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Plixio 61-Key Digital Electric Piano Keyboard & Sheet Music Stand - Portable Electronic Keyboard for Beginners (Kids & Adults)

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The Plixio 61-Key Digital Electric Piano Keyboard is advertised as an affordable portable piano keyboard, perfect for a child or adult's first instrument. It certainly is affordable, and it has a lot of beginner-friendly features that will be especially fun for a child.

 But Plixio isn't exactly a household name. Is this truly an affordable instrument, or is this just a toy? Today we're taking a look at this beginner keyboard to find out.
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Quick Navigation
Overview of Plixio 61-Key Keyboard
Video Overview of Plixio 61-Key Keyboard
Plixio 61-Key Keyboard and Specs
What’s Included with the Plixio 61-Key Keyboard?
Plixio 61-Key Keyboard's Features
Pros & Cons of the Plixio 61-Key
An Alternative Product to Consider
Plixio 61 Key Keyboard Electric Piano with Lesson Mode
Conclusion

Overview of Plixio 61-Key Keyboard

plixio keyboard

One of the downfalls of many digital keyboard designs is that the interface on the device is just minimal buttons and a screen. In order to access the keyboard's functions, features, and settings, you have to frequently refer to the printed manual to identify the codes and buttons to access these settings, which can be frustrating for beginners.

The Plixio 61-Key Digital Electric Piano Keyboard uses buttons and instructions on the keyboard itself, to help you choose and navigate the settings without having to refer to the manual as often. Rhythms, percussions, and many effects are quickly accessible with buttons directly on the device, making it simpler to use and navigate.

 The Plixio 61-Key Digital Electric Piano Keyboard has a fun and playful design, with just enough color and charm to be friendly for kids, while still looking like a serious instrument. It has a decent library of instrument voices and rhythms, that invite play and exploration, and 61 keys are perfectly adequate for a beginner.

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Video Overview of Plixio 61-Key Keyboard

Plixio 61-Key Keyboard and Specs

Specification

Description

Keys

61 compact-size keys

Weight

Lightweight and portable, weighing less than 9 lbs.

LCD Display

Yes

Speakers

Bass boost speakers

Rhythms and Songs

  • 100 rhythms
  • 60 demo songs

Percussions

  • 8 built-in percussions
  • 61 keyboard percussions

Effect

  • Chord, echo, and other sound effects
  • Sustain and vibrato effects

Polyphony

10 max levels of polyphony

Power

Can be powered with included AC cord, or with 6 AA batteries

Ports

  • Has a port for a microphone or audio in
  • Has a port for headphones

Controls and Functions

  • Transpose function
  • Volume control
  • Tempo control

Instrument Tones

Acoustic grand piano, Orchestral harp, Church organ, Vibraphone, Electric guitar (2 types), Violin, String ensemble, Acoustic guitar (2 types), Rhodes piano, Xylophone, Trumpet, Tuba, Electric bass (2 types), Clarinet, Flute, Banjo

Bonus Instrument Tones

Oboe, Trombone, Alto sax, Harmonica, Distortion guitar, Acoustic bass, Fretless bass, Slap bass (2 types), Synth bass (2 types), Viola, Cello, Soprano sax, Tenor sax, Baritone sax, Bassoon, Piccolo, Pan flute.

What’s Included with the Plixio 61-Key Keyboard?

plixio key

The Plixio 61-Key Digital Electric Piano Keyboard comes with a built-in music stand, and an included AC power supply.

Plixio 61-Key Keyboard's Features

plixio features

source

FEATURE

DESCRIPTION

Design

It has a fun and colorful design, with clearly labeled buttons to ease navigation, but is sophisticated enough that it doesn't look like a toy. It's intended to be easy to use and understand, with minimal referral to the written manual.

The music stand is cute and functional, and the LED display is bright and easy to read. It is lightweight and portable, and can be battery powered to go anywhere.

Sound

The onboard speakers have a bass boost assist, for more robust sound in the lower register. It has 40 instrument tones, 100 built-in rhythms, 61 keyboard percussions, and 8 button percussions, for a wide range of styles and musical exploration.

Accompaniment volume can be controlled separately from master volume, which is a great feature, particularly in a child's keyboard, where rhythms and percussion effects are often quite loud.

The headphone port

The headphone port is ideal for practicing without disturbing others, and is also a feature that is very desirable in a keyboard for kids.

Functions

It has volume and tempo controls in easy-to-access buttons, and an onboard library of 60 demo songs that provide good opportunity for practice and exploration.

It comes with chord, echo, and other sound and ambient effects, as well as sustain and vibrato functions. However, with such a low number of polyphony, it is likely that using many of these functions while playing will cause sound clipping and not be very useful.

Microphone-in port

The microphone-in port is a great feature for kids, who love to sing along with their favorite songs, or use it as an audio-in port to play any song you like through the keyboard's speakers.

One-year warranty

It comes with a one-year warranty, which is helpful for buying without risk.

Features

The onboard drum combination buttons are fun for new players, since they are so responsive and are easy to access, with no playing or programming.

Pros & Cons of the Plixio 61-Key

PROS

  • 61 keys are a good number for beginners, who can still play a wide range of music on a compact keyboard
  • The compact-size keys keep the keyboard small and lightweight, and battery power allows it to be portable and taken anywhere you go
  • The design is fun, attractive, and has a lot of clear labeling on the device, making it easier to navigate and control settings
  • The bass boost speakers provide extra amplification and clarity in low notes
  • The drum combination buttons are fun and intuitive
  • 100 rhythms, 61 keyboard percussions, 8 drum control buttons, and 40 instrument tones create a wide range of possible sounds, musical styles, and personal expression to suit any interest
  • With the transpose function, you can adjust the tuning of the instrument by semitones, to better play along with your favorite song, or even accompany a vocalist
  • 60 demo songs give a good opportunity to be inspired by the capabilities of the keyboard, as well as learn and practice while playing along
  • With sound effects and ambient effects like echo, sustain, and vibrato, you can add even more depth and customization to the sound of the keyboard
  • The accompaniment volume can be adjusted independently of the master volume, so the sound of your playing isn't overpowered by built-in functions
  • The microphone port is a fun feature for kids who want to sing along with their playing, or with the demo songs that come with the keyboard
  • The headphone port is essential for quiet practice and playing without disturbing others
  • It comes with a one-year warranty, which helps you purchase with peace of mind

cons

  • Keyboard isn't weighted
  • No key touch sensitivity
  • No built-in lesson or learning functions
  • It has only 10 levels of polyphony, so players are likely to hear clipping when playing overlapping notes, rhythms, and effects
  • Sound quality is poor and the keyboard creates a background hum or buzz that is distracting
  • Key behavior can be inconsistent, repeating the same notes or producing other notes that haven't been played/pressed

An Alternative Product to Consider

plixio product

It's worth noting that there are two very similar Plixio 61-key keyboards on Amazon. This one has a more playful, colorful display, with easily accessible buttons for rhythms and sound effects.

The other one has a less colorful, more streamlined interface, for a slightly more mature look. It has more features as well, including
  • 2-way speakers
  • 200 rhythms
  • 200 instrument tones
  • Record and playback functions
  • Split keyboard function
  • USB connectivity

Both Plixio 61 key keyboards are extremely similar in price, but the “adult” model has a USB port that enables a much wider range of capabilities and functions, so it may be worth choosing it instead.

 Either of these Plixio 61-key keyboards, however, suffers from some issues that cause concern. They appear to have quality control issues that cause some features and functions to not work, the key behavior is inconsistent, there is a likelihood that it will produce a hum or buzzing sound, and 10 levels of polyphony is so low that it's likely to harm the playing experience. 


Instead, you may want to consider the Hamzer 61-key Digital Music Piano Keyboard. 

Like the Plixio 61-Key Digital Electric Piano Keyboard, the Hamzer has a lot of appealing features. In fact, both keyboards have:

  • 61 keys
  • Compact and lightweight, very similar in size
  • Can be powered with the included AC adaptor or 6AA batteries
  • LCD display
  • Sheet music stand
  • 61 keyboard percussions
  • Sync and accompaniment fill-in
  • Vibrato and sustain functions
  • Tempo adjustment
  • Accompaniment volume and master volume can be adjusted independently
  • Has a microphone/audio in port
  • Has a headphone jack
Hamzer 61-Key Digital Music Piano Keyboard - Portable Electronic Musical Instrument - with Stand & Microphone

However, the Hamzer 61-key Digital Music Piano Keyboard also has a lot of features to help a beginner have fun learning to play the piano, including:

  • Full-size keys
  • 255 instrument tones
  • 255 rhythms
  • 64 levels of polyphony
  • Integrated learning functions
  • Record and playback capability
  • Comes with a microphone

The Hamzer only has 24 demo songs vs. the Plixio's 60, and isn't the best-sounding digital piano on the marketplace. However, it's priced competitively to the Plixio, and gives an improved and more reliable experience. And the addition of full-size keys is important for learning, while the microphone and built-in recording features are a lot of fun. It's an excellent alternative to the Plixio 61-Key Digital Electric Piano Keyboard.

Plixio 61 Key Keyboard Electric Piano with Lesson Mode

Conclusion

The Plixio 61-Key Digital Electric Piano Keyboard is an inexpensive keyboard with performance inconsistencies and a frequent buzz.

However, even at this low price range, it's not something you have to put up with.  There are keyboards, even affordable ones designed for children, that don't have these quality concerns.

Giving kids a better keyboard increases their enjoyment while playing, and increases the likelihood that they will stick with their practice.

Plixio 61-Key Digital Electric Piano Keyboard & Sheet Music Stand - Portable Electronic Keyboard for Beginners (Kids & Adults)

Plixio 61-Key (click image for more info)

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