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Casio is one of the leading keyboard manufacturers and has been for some time. Since their humble beginning in 1946, this multinational company has specialized in various types of electronics including one of their leading lines, piano keyboards.
One of Casio’s recent piano keyboards for beginners is the Casio Privia PX-160. Individuals just getting started on the musical journey with a piano will enjoy this quality instrument for learning and playing.
You may wonder if this piano is the one for you. Hopefully, the following review will provide the guidance you need to make your decision.
Casio Privia PX-160 Overview
When you first look at the PX-160, a few things will be evident. First, for an entry-level piano, this keyboard is very nice looking. However, that’s not really paying this keyboard a compliment. Your color selections will include either gold or black. Both colors are appealing and will fit into just about any room in your home. The sleek keyboard features an elevated top where the components are housed that give the keyboard its functionality.
With an 88-key full-sized keyboard, the piano seems durable and well made. The body is made from plastic; however, it is mostly a one-piece construction. You will find this to be solidly built and does not feel flimsy. The piano has a simple, intuitive design that beginners will find helpful. The pianist will not need to run through menus to find the option they want. Everything is set from a set of very well placed, simple knobs right on the console.
With polyphony of 128 voices, this entry-level keyboard nears the standard of much more expensive keyboards. It is evident that Casio wanted to manufacture a piano to provide a way to beginners to have a quality instrument for learning. They were careful to keep outstanding quality and useful feature even at a low price point. The reliability and value that Casio put into this keyboard are usually only found in much more costly keyboards.
You will surely be impressed with the speakers that Casio included in this keyboard. Often, there is little bass response in keyboards that are inexpensive. With this keyboard, Casio did not disappoint with the quality speaker. The bass provides a full, even sound and has sufficient volume to do a good job in any environment even without external accessories.
Playing the Casio Privia PX-160
Beneath each key on this keyboard is a 3 sensor setup that is usually only found on model up to double the PX-160’s price. This setup provides a smoother translation of the pianist’s motion when striking the keys. This makes for more realistic expression when the pianist plays the keyboard. This feature is especially useful when notes are being played repetitively. You will find this to be a weak feature in many less expensive models.
The keys feature a surface that has and an ebony and man-made ivory finish. These materials make the keys feel like those found in an acoustic piano. While this may seem like a minor detail, this keyboard has a plethora of small details that add up to one fine keyboard. Keys such as these are unique and hard to find in keyboard that cost less than $1,000. So, you are fortunate to get such a fine keyboard for only $500.
The Casio Privia PX-160 adds professionalism because it is able to mimic the sound produced by an acoustic piano. Its excellent sound is created by the lifelike hammer reaction, the damper noise, along with the damper resonance. All these great features combine to give the keys a lifelike tone and feel.
Even a beginner is sure to notice the subtle difference made by each little detail. Casio takes time to make such a quality piano.
The material used to make the keys will absorb perspiration that comes from long, intense practice sessions. This great feature was noticed after just a few simple tests session. After about 15 minutes of playing, these keys were still very comfortable in comparison to other beginner keyboards.
As a final perk for keyboard enthusiasts is the fact that the PX-160 includes keys that are graded when noticed left to right. This feature makes the keys in the lower section have additional resistance than those keys located in the higher section. This makes it easier for the pianist to play with expression as the skill level increases. While most budget-friendly keyboards have noisy keys, you will notice that these keys are very quiet.
Overall, the Casio Privia PX-160 is probably the best, most pleasant keyboard that can be purchased at this price point. Anyone wanting to get starting with piano playing would do well to look at this piano. They will have a hard time trying to find a better value. In fact, from our reviews, we feel that a better alternative is not available.
Connection Options
The Casio Privia PX-160 offers the usual when it comes to connectivity. It includes a 1/4-inch audio out jack for adding a speaker externally. It has two headphone outputs useful for headphones when you want your practice session to be private. The ability to connect a tablet, computer, or other electronic device is made available with the MIDI cable connection. The ability to hook the standard piano pedals is also available. These are about all the connection options that are available, but this is adequate for the average user.
Sound and Tone
The Casio Privia PX-160 includes 18 unique sounds. You will most likely find some sounds are superior to other, but you can be sure that this feature continues PX-160’s trend of offering only the best options. You will find quality woodwinds, brass, and strings on this keyboard. There are also 4 Grand Piano tones: Mellow, Classic, Modern, and Concert. Additional sound options include organ, string, harpsichord, and electric piano. All these sounds are crafts and intended for use.
Other included features make the PX-160 an exceptional package. You have a layer and split function that lets you layer sounds to create more variety and texture. Also, you have the split feature to divide the keyboard into varying sounds.
The onboard metronome helps all pianists with timing and rhythm. Two players can enjoy using the duet mode by playing parts in the various octave ranges. When playing with other singers or instrumentalists, the key transpose is very helpful.
The Casio Privia PX-160 offers some awesome effects including the concert reverb, the chorus feature, and the brilliance changer. We think this is not quite enough added features, but you will surely find these useful. At this price point, it is not a game changer.
Casio Privia PX-160 Videos
Verdict
Overall, when you purchase the Casio PX-160, you are buying a piano that offers exceptional features and high quality to the market. This keyboard’s outstanding construction, lifelike sound quality, and a great feel make it a worthwhile combination for beginning pianists who want to get started and advance quickly.
The plethora of high-quality features at a very reasonable price make the Casio PX-160 a worthwhile keyboard.