There are some brand names that immediately come to mind when we think of keyboards: Casio is one of those names.
Since the 1980’s, Casio has been creating fun keyboards with all kinds of cool features, and in recent years, they have ventured into the area of top-of-the line digital pianos. Whether you are looking for something that is small and simple, or a full-size keyboard that is fully loaded with features, Casio most likely has just what you need.
If you’re in the market for a Casio keyboard, you may be wondering which model is going to be best for you. It will all come down to your playing needs, and your budget. Thankfully, Casio has keyboards to cover most categories, from beginner to professional models.
In this comprehensive guide on the best Casio piano keyboard, we cover a few of our favorite Casio models, including the best for beginners, the best with weighted keys, the best full-size keyboard, and the best deal on a Casio.
Our Picks:
Best Deal on a Casio Keyboard
The WK-245 keyboard has 76 touch-sensitive keys, and loads of cool features, including 600 built-in tones, 180 rhythm and accompaniment patterns, and 48-note polyphony. It has a large, backlit display that makes it easy to read notation and fingering. It also offers reverb and chorus digital effects, a five-track recorder, audio inputs for MP3 players, and many other great features.
If you are a beginner, you will love using the Step Up lesson system, which can be used alongside your regular lessons. You can plug it in with the power supply (included), or take it anywhere and use it with batteries (not included).
Best Casio Piano Keyboard 88 Keys
The PX-160 Privia has 88 touch-sensitive keys with tri-sensor scaled hammer action. This means that each key has three sensors to give you an amazing performance. The hammer response feature works much in the same way as the hammers inside an acoustic grand piano. The keys have simulated ebony and ivory textures, so they have the feel of real piano keys.
This is a keyboard that is loaded with features, and gives you the full keyboard that you need to play the most complicated pieces. It features a number of sounds, including string ensembles, electric pianos, grand pianos, and many more.
Best Casio Workstation
If you are looking for a digital keyboard piano that has the same sound quality as a concert grand piano, look no further than the DGX-660.
While no digital keyboard is going to give you an authentic grand sound, this is probably as close as you are going to get to the real thing. This keyboard is ideal for beginners and professionals, with an authentic piano touch and 88 weighted keys. It also offers some pretty terrific functions, including audio recording and playback. The
Damper Resonance gives this keyboard a truer sound than others, and you can even connect it to your computer through USB. When you want a keyboard that is going to last for several years, and grow with the user, this is definitely an option you will want to consider.
Best Casio Keyboard for Beginners
The CTK-2550 is a 61-key keyboard that comes in a bundle package with a keyboard stand, headphones, a USB cable, and a power supply, so you will have everything you need to start playing as soon as you take it out of the box. It has 400 built-in tones, as well as 100 auto-accompaniment rhythms. I even has a dance music mode with 50 built-in rhythms.
This is a great little keyboard to use when you want to explore your creative side. It also has the Lesson Lite learning system that helps to make learning how to play the piano a lot more fun.
Credits
What is Casio?
Long before Casio developed keyboard technology and got into marketing musical instruments, it was known as a manufacture of LCD watches and pocket calculators. Then, they made their first foray into music with the Casio Melody-80. This was a pocket calculator that let you use the keyboard to make music. This may not have been much more than a fun toy, but it led the way for Casio to dive right into the world of music.
Since this time, Casio has continued to manufacture quality calculators, but they also build some of the most popular piano keyboards in the world. Until Casio came onto the scene, the only home keyboards were organs, which were big and bulky, and couldn’t recreate very many instrument sounds. Casio, along with Yamaha, saw that there was a need for a smaller version that had more features, which was created by changing the analog circuitry to chips.
In 1981, the first Casio keyboard, the Casiotone 201, was released to the world. This keyboard was compact and inexpensive, proving that keyboards didn’t have to be huge and costly. From here, Casio began to develop all kinds of new features that could only be made possible with the use of digital technology, including record and playback features, one-touch auto-accompaniment, auto-play, sampling technology, and more.
Today, Casio not only creates some of the best keyboards in the world, but they also create other instruments, including digital drum kits, digital guitars, and even digital wind instruments.
Best Casio Piano Keyboards
(Summary Table)
What Makes Casio Keyboards Different?
Casio keyboards are different because they are created using a combination of great aesthetics, functionality, and technology. Rather than having 88 keys like a regular digital piano, most Casio keyboards have 49, 61, or 76 keys, and they do not have the hammer action that you find in pianos. The keys are much like those of a synthesizer or organ, made of plastic and very smooth.
Another difference between Casio keyboards and many other brands is the fact that most Casio keyboards are lightweight and portable. They can be used pretty much anywhere, and they don’t miss a beat when it comes to sound quality, not to mention numerous cool effects and features, including color LCD displays, keyboard expression pads, etc.
Whether you are a beginner or a professional musician, there is sure to be a Casio keyboard out there that is perfect for your playing needs. Many beginners like the models that have illuminated keys, which are great learning tools. Other features for beginners include learning aids, including the Step Up Lesson system, Lesson Lite, and Music Challenge. Other brands are now incorporating learning tools into their keyboards, but Casio is the leader in this technology.
Casio Piano Keyboard Reviews
This article was created to help you to learn more about the various types of Casio keyboards so you can figure out which is the best type for your particular playing needs. While there are far too many Casio keyboards to talk about in a single article, there are some models that stand out above the rest, including the four that we are reviewing here.
WK-245 : Best Deal
There are keyboards, and then there are music workstations. The WK-245 is both a portable keyboard and a music workstation. It is compact and lightweight, so you can take it anywhere, weighing in at less than 16 pounds and measuring just 50 inches long by 18 inches wide.
This is an attractive keyboard that has a silver finish rather than black, so it will look great on stage. It has 76 keys, so it is almost a full keyboard, and because it is small, it is easy to reach the keys at both ends. It may not have a full 88 keys, but it has more than enough to play most types of music.
This keyboard is also loaded with some pretty great features, seeing as how it is a workstation as well as a keyboard. For starters, it has 600 built-in voices (instrument sounds), including stereo grand piano sounds. The Casio AHL (Acoustic & Highly Compressed Large Waveform) sound source system, which lets the keyboard sense your touch to match it with the proper piano sample, and copy your playing style. There are also 180 rhythms, along with reverb and chorus digital effects, and it can be connected externally with a class compliant USB MIDI port. This means you can connect to a variety of external devices, including computers and iPhones.
Another feature we love is the five-track recorder. In fact, this is what really makes this keyboard a workstation. It has a music sequencing feature that will let you save all of your recordings to the keyboard’s internal memory. So, you can use the rhythms and voices to create your own masterpieces, and save them to play back later. At a price of around $200, this is a keyboard that is really going to give you your money’s worth. Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced player, there are going to be features that you are sure to love.
PROS |
|---|
cons |
|---|
Summary
If you want to be able to have a keyboard and workstation in one but you don’t want to spend a whole lot of money, the WK-225 is a great option. This is a fun keyboard that lets you experiment and grow as a musician.
When it comes to the best Casio keyboard at a low price, this ranks among the highest. The WK-225 has more than enough features to keep intermediate players busy, and to help beginners learn proper playing techniques.
PX-160 Privia : Best Casio Piano Keyboard 88 Keys
If you are looking for the best Casio keyboard with 88 keys that isn’t going to cost a fortune, the PX-160 Privia is one that comes to mind. This keyboard gives you almost true grand piano sounds, which have been carefully recorded from the sound of a real acoustic, nine-foot concert grand piano, at four different levels.
Casio uses their proprietary sound source, AiR (Acoustic and Intelligent Resonator) to create a sound that has the absolute best dynamics. AiR simulates damper resonance when you are using the damper pedal. You may not be playing a real grand piano, but it will sound like you are.
Another awesome feature of the PX-160 Privia is the new string ensemble sounds. These are rich sounds that sound great alone or when they are layered with other voices, including grand piano, electric piano, and harpsicord voices. You will enjoy split and layer capability that lets you play the bass notes with your left hand and have two layered tones from the right hand. The powerful speaker system lets the various instruments sound rich and clear, just as they should. The speaker system is ported to the back and open to the front, so it even sounds great when placed up against a wall.
If you wish to practice without being disturbed by outside noises, or disturbing others, you can use headphones. If you are working with an instructor, you can both use headphones, since there are actually two headphone jacks.
This is also great if you want to use an amplifier; of course, the speaker system makes an external amp unnecessary in most cases. The PX-160 Privia has class-compliant USB connectivity, so you can connect it to both Windows and Mac computers, as well as to other devices, and you don’t have to download any drivers.
PROS |
|---|
cons |
|---|
Summary
If you want a keyboard with 88 keys, but you aren’t ready to spend upwards of $1,000, you really should check out the PX-160 Privia. This has a full keyboard, and it is loaded with features that will help you to create amazing music, or if you are a beginner, to help you learn how to play better.
WK6600 : Best Casio Workstation
The WK6600 is another workstation keyboard that is loaded with awesome features, including 76 touch-sensitive keys with two levels of touch sensitivity. This is a great keyboard workstation for beginner- to intermediate-level musicians, with hundreds of built-in tones and accompaniments. You can even customize the accompaniments with the tone and rhythm editor feature.
If you are into creating your own music, this is a workstation that has the features you need to take your songs to the next level. The built-instruments are as true to life as you will find in a keyboard at this price range, and they won’t sound fake or hollow.
This keyboard has most of the features you would expect to find in a more expensive model, including reverb, chorus, tremolo, rotary, phaser, chorus, reflection, auto pan, enhancer, delay, filter, compressor, and ring modes. These effects can come in pretty handy when you are using this workstation without the aid of a computer.
All of these effects can be used live, rather than having to find them in various music editing programs. Whether you are doing live recording or post-production editing, you will be pleased with the effects.
Weighing in at just under 16 pounds, the WK6600 is lightweight and portable. In fact, it is nearly five pounds lighter than the popular WK7600, and it measures 46.7”L X 15.7”W X 5.9”H. This keyboard can be powered either by the wall adapter that is included, as well as by six D cell batteries (not included). It is easy to transport, and just as easy to set up right on the keyboard stand that is included in the bundle package.
This is a keyboard that is easy for anyone of any skill level to use, although it may not be the best choice for absolute beginners without a lot of production experience.
PROS |
|---|
cons |
|---|
Summary
If you need a decent keyboard and a workstation, you can save a lot of time and effort by combining the two and getting something like the WK6600. This keyboard workstation has all of the effects that you need to create your music, and then some.
CTK-5500 : Best Casio Keyboard for Beginners
The CTK-5500 is a 61-key keyboard that is fun and easy to use, with 400 great tones and 150 rhythms to play around with. There is even a dance music mode that lets you play and remix electronic dance music. This is one of our favorite keyboards for beginners, because it is not too small, yet not a full keyboard, which can be overwhelming for many. Also, it has loads of features that are designed for beginners, including the Lesson Lite learning system that makes learning to play the piano fun and easy. It comes with an adapter, or you can get some batteries and take it with you anywhere.
There are built-in speakers, so you don’t have to worry about plugging into an amplifier (unless you have an urge for really loud music), and you are going to enjoy great sound quality. You can also connect a pair of headphones so you can play without being disturbed, and without disturbing others.
The all-new dance mode is something that you are going to have loads of fun with, creating and remixing electronic dance music with ease. You will be able to choose from 50 styles of EDM, using the lower keys to choose drum beat variations, bass lines, and synthesizer parts.
While anyone can use this keyboard, it is geared towards beginners. In addition to using the Lesson Lite learning system, you can also connect the keyboard to your iOS or Android device so you can use the free Chordana Play app, which uses both the display and your phone screen to help you learn how to play all of your favorite tunes. All you have to do is connect your device to the CTK-2550 audio input jack, and you will have a huge library of music right at your fingertips. Transfer your favorites to the keyboard, so you can use them even when you aren’t connected to another device.
PROS |
|---|
cons |
|---|
Summary
If you are interested in learning how to play the piano, you don’t necessarily need to have a full size, acoustic piano to learn on. Often, many people prefer to start out on a smaller keyboard, such as the CTK-2550, because it is easier to use, and loaded with features that help with the learning process.
An Alternative Product
Another Casio keyboard you may be interested in is the PX350, which has a full keyboard with scaled hammer action, touch sensitive keys. This keyboard has the AiR technology that Casio is famous for, along with 128-note polyphony.
There is a true to life grand piano sound, because it uses over three times as much memory as its predecessor. It is loaded with features, including 250 built-in instrument sounds, 180 drum patterns, and a 17 track recorder. This is a great keyboard for players of all levels.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the great keyboards from Casio. All of them are great for all piano players, from beginner to professional, with some having better features for beginners and others having the technical features that professionals want to have in a studio and stage keyboard. When the time comes for you to invest in a new keyboard, any of these Casio models will suit your needs perfectly.