Casio CTK 3500 vs CTX 700: Features, Pros and Cons, and How to Choose


Casio CTK-3500 61-Key Touch Sensitive Portable Keyboard with Power Supply,Black
Casio CT-X700 61-Key Portable Keyboard

In this head-to-head battle royale, we review two of Casio’s most popular digital pianos – Casio CTK 3500 vs CTX 700.

Table of Contents

If you’re wondering which is the better model for your situation, check out our comparison of the specs, features, and pros & cons, and our opinion on who each model is best suited for!

Casio CTK 3500 VS Casio CTX 700 Specifications Compared

Specification

Casio CTK 3500

Casio CTX 700

Cell Casio CTK-3500 61-Key Touch Sensitive Portable Keyboard with Power Supply,Black Casio CT-X700 61-Key Portable Keyboard

Keyboard

61-key touch-sensitive keyboard

61-key touch-sensitive keyboard

Number of Polyphony

    48 notes

    48 notes

Number of Sound Present

400

600

Number of Rhythms Present

100 built-in rhythms and 46 [12/34] world rhythms

195 world rhythms and 41 rhythm variation

Dance Music Mode

Yes

No

Practice Features

Lessons, Metronome

Lessons

Amplifiers and Speakers

2 W + 2W and 3.9” x 2

5 W and 4.7” x 2

Weight

7.5 pounds

9.5 pounds

Connectivity Options

Audio In and  USB to Host

Audio IN and USB to Host

Accessories

Music Stand, AC Adapter

Music, Chord Book

Cell  

​Major Similarities Between Casio CTK 3500 VS Casio CTX 700

An obvious similarity between the Casio CTK 3500 and the CTX 700 is that both of them are 61-key touch-sensitive keyboards.  This quality ensures enhanced musical expression, similar to an acoustic piano. On these keyboards, the harder you press the keys, the louder the sound is produced. This gives the player a chance to take control of the keyboard and create music as they please.

Another feature common to the CTK 3500 and CTX 700 is the number of polyphony they have. Both of them have 48 notes of polyphonies, which allow you to play several individual melodies simultaneously.

The digital pianos also provide MIDI connection via USB to Host. This lets you connect your keyboard with MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) ports to any external device (PC, android phone, iPhone, etc.). Because of this connectivity option, you can transfer and share your music pieces for instant feedback or changes. This makes the whole process of connecting the piano to your computer (or any other electronic device) a lot easier.

The CTK 3500 and CTX 700 also come with a sustain pedal input. So, you won’t have to buy it separately and will save your money, too. With this element, your music will sound more in-tuned. The pitch sound will vibrate until the pedal remains pressed.

The keyboards also incorporate metronome and transposition, which are important tools in music. A metronome is a learning tool that creates steady beats, allowing musicians to play rhythms perfectly.  On the other hand, a transposition lets you produce a variety of notes up or down with a continuous interval.

Casio CTK 3500 and the CTX 700 operate with batteries, allowing you to play them at any part of the house. You can use these digital pianos outdoor as well. Since both of them are compact and lightweight, you can carry them with you anywhere you like.  The piano models do not pose any travel restriction, making it an ideal travel companion.

Casio CTK-3500 61-Key Touch Sensitive Portable Keyboard with Power Supply,Black
Casio CT-X700 61-Key Portable Keyboard

​Major Differences Between Casio CTK 3500 VS Casio CTX 700

The CTK 3500 is a basic keyboard than the CTX 700. The former has fewer number of sounds and rhythms. For instance, the CTK 3500 has 400 tones, while the CTX 700 has 600 of them. When it comes to rhythms, the CTK 700 has 195 of them, while the CTK 3500 contains only 46 along with 100 built-in rhythms.

Casio CTK 3500 has a variety of educational features such as Lesson Lite, Scoring System, and Voice Fingering Guide. Other than this, there is also a lesson for learning the piano using the left hand, right hand, and both hands. These features make the CTK 3500 perfect for beginners. However, the educational feature is absent from the Casio CTX 700. As we said, the CTX 700 is not an entry-level piano like the CTK 3500.

The CTX 700 also has 20 reverb types and 10 chorus types. However, there are only 10 reverb types in the CTK 3500. The CTX 700 has more sound options as it contains 41 rhythm variations, 310 music preset types, and 160 songs. The CTX 700 also comes with a chord book, which is useful if you are learning to play chords on the piano. The CTX 700 also features an arpeggiator (arpeggios). This allows you to play one chord at a time rather than letting you play all of the notes simultaneously. This key feature is missing in the CTK 3500.

Also, Casio CTX 700 offers an output line connection, which means it has additional power to connect to loud sound equipment.  With the CTK 3500, you get a pitch bend wheel, but it’s not present with the CTX 700.  The latter also has more powerful speakers (5W) and amplifiers (4.7” x 2) as compared to the speakers (2W + 2W) and amplifiers (3.9” x 2) of the Casio CTK 3500.

While the CTX 700 has more features than the CTK 3500, it is heavier comparatively. Casio CTX 700 is 9.5 pounds while the CTK 3500 weighs up to 7.5 pounds.  

Casio CTK 3500 Summary

Casio CTK-3500 61-Key Touch Sensitive Portable Keyboard with Power Supply,Black

Major Features

FEATURE

DESCRIPTION

Excellent Sound Library

The Casio sound engine is quite impressive. It may not sound professional, but it has high-quality sounds that make the music practice worthwhile. The CTK 3500 features 48-voice polyphony, which allows you to play a range of musical notes all at the same time.

 

With this piano, you also get hundreds of tones and rhythms that sound like both classical and electric pianos. Also, there are reverb effects that help you transform the texture of your songs.

Educational Pack Bundle

As a beginner’s keyboard, Casio CTK 3500 is packed with step-up lessons, making piano learning fun and easy. The educational function is indeed great for new learners as it aids in their piano journey.

 

At the start of a piano-learning process, you can begin from learning the hand positioning, figure placement, and finger movement through features such as Lesson Lite, Scoring System, and Voice Fingering Guide. When learning piano basics, you will be guided at every step. In case you play a wrong note, it will be pointed out by the piano instantly. In other words, you will be able to track your performance and improve your skills as you go along.

Dance Music Mode

One of the best features of the CTK 3500 is the Dance Music Mode. It is packed with 50 integrated dance rhythms and dance music effects. You can use them to mix different songs and create your own set of dance songs.

 

All you have to do is click on the “dance music” button to make the most of the Dance Music Mode.

Cost Effective

Casio CTK 3500 is available at an economical price range, which is a great offer for a beginning pianist. It has all the amazing features of a beginner piano and that too at an affordable price range. This factor makes the piano a great investment for all novice learners.

The piano ticks all the right boxes and will last for years to come. At the price of about $139, you can’t beat this instrument. It’s worth the price.

Pros and Cons of Casio CTK 3500

Pros

  • 61-key touch-sensitive keyboard
  • Cost-friendly
  • Compact and portable
  • Step-up educational lessons
  • A wide range of rhythms, effects, sounds, etc.
  • Feature Dance Music Mode
  • Clear and easy-to-operate LCD screen
  • Best for beginners

Cons

  • Non-weighted keys
  • Not ideal for advanced or professional players
  • Lack onboard recording function

The Bottom Line

Casio CTK 3500 is one of the best digital pianos for beginner players. It has awesome educational features that make the piano-learning a fun experience. The integrated step-up lessons assist the beginner pianos to a great extent. They can learn to play the piano in a short amount. Plus, they don’t feel so intimidated starting their piano journey.

The piano is also light and compact. This makes it easier to carry the piano with yourself wherever you want, without any trouble at all.

Casio CTX 700 Summary

Casio CT-X700 61-Key Portable Keyboard

Major Features

FEATURE

DESCRIPTION

Terrific Sound Quality

The stand-out feature of the CTX 700 is the unique AIX sound source. The AIX sound source is an innovative technology that lacks in its competitors. This creates excellent-quality sounds similar to that of an acoustic piano.  

 

Casio CTX 700 also features a variety of in-built tunes, sounds, rhythms, and styles, allowing you to play a variety of songs. The expanded library lets you play classic and popular songs of your choice. The produced songs are of the highest quality.

Loud and Better Speaker and Amplifier

The CTX 700 has an advanced speaker and amplifier.  Because of the high-quality speaker and amplifier, we see why the digital piano produces such a terrific voice quality.

 

Unlike most Casio pianos, this model has a 5 W of an integrated speaker and a 4.7” x 2 amplifier. This allows you to create good music and loud sounds. You can insert an aux cable and benefit from the highest-quality music for as long as you want.

Offers Connectivity

Casio CTX 700 has a USB-MIDI port that connects seamlessly to any Mac, PC, android, or iOS devices. You won’t need any specific drive or installation to transfer and share your data. With an option of MIDI recorder, you can store and play up to 5 songs, 6 tracks, and save 40,000 notes for each note.

 

The piano also comes with music rest that is designed to support tablets. You will also find a built-in smartphone shelf where you can place your external device while you play the piano. The piano also comes with a music stand which is tablet-supported.

Integrated Songs and Lesson System

With a huge library of songs and a lesson system, this piano is a good choice to practice your music every day.

 

If you are not sure how to play the inbuilt songs, you can use the Step-Up Lesson System of the CTX-700 and learn to play these (and many other) songs in no time at all. That’s not all. The model also showcases proper fingering and notation that guides you to play the songs correctly.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • 61-key full-size touch-responsive keys
  • Includes useful accessories (adapter, batteries, chord book, etc.)
  • Compact and portable
  • A massive library of songs, rhythms, etc.
  • Powerful AiX Sound Source
  • Support MIDI to USB Host
  • Bright, backlit LCD display
  • Terrific built-in speakers and amplifiers

Cons

  • Not completely ideal for beginners

The Bottom Line

The CTX 700 is a perfect keyboard for professionals to use for jams and at gigs. It has a variety of integrated tunes, songs, rhythms, allowing you to create a massive range of songs. The instrument has an integrated drum kit and sound effects, letting you enhance music in a variety of ways. There’s also a learning feature that players can use for daily practice.

The piano is also available at a cost-effective price range despite being a professional instrument.

Is the Casio CTK 3500 and CTX 700 Still Worth Buying Today?

Is the Casio CTK 3500 and CTX 700 still worth buying this today? Check out the updated review and demo videos by Jeremy See:

Conclusion

In our opinion, the Casio CTK 3500 is best for complete beginners, while the Casio CTX 700 is more suited to intermediate or advanced players (even professionals can enjoy playing the CTX 700). Depending on your purpose and learning level, choose accordingly!

Maurice

I am intrigued by how music affects the brain. I created this site to share my fascination with music in general and piano keyboards in particular.

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