AZ Piano Reviews

  • Tim
  • Erik
AZ PIANO REVIEWS – The #1 Most Trusted Digital Piano Review & News Blog in the world! LOWER PRICES than Amazon and internet music stores! Free ship, no tax on most items. Don’t order anywhere until you check with Tim & Erik Praskins 1st! Email us at tim@azpianowholesale.com or call 602-571-1864
AZ PIANO REVIEWS – The #1 Most Trusted Digital Piano Review & News Blog in the world! LOWER PRICES than Amazon and internet music stores! Free ship, no tax on most items. Don’t order anywhere until you check with Tim & Erik Praskins 1st! Email us at tim@azpianowholesale.com or call 602-571-1864
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UPDATED REVIEWDecember 1, 2018 – Casio PX860 digital piano – The Casio Privia PX860 ($999US internet price) is now discontinued and replaced by the new and noticeably improved PX870. 

There are many piano stores, web sites, along with Amazon right now still selling PX860’s because they have not all been sold out yet but the new PX870 just came out so that’s the better one to buy.  

Please read my detailed review describing the big advantages of the PX870 at the following link: Casio PX870 Review

Casio PX860 digital piano
PX860 satin black

PX860 Review: I have played this new PX860 quite a bit and the sound upgrades over the previous model are impressive including more realistic instrument sounds which are taken from Casio’s pro piano keyboard called the PX560. These sounds include noticeably improved strings, harpsichord, organs, and electric pianos and put them into the PX860, which is a very nice upgrade. Another interesting feature Casio has created is their new reverb settings call Hall Simulation which gives the stereo acoustic piano sound a more spacious effect such as you would hear in a large concert hall or church where there is natural echo that occurs when playing an instrument. It’s a very good sounding feature and adds to the sonic presence of the acoustic piano sounds and makes the piano more enjoyable to play depending on the kind of music you are playing. 

I have heard these kinds of effects before in other higher priced digital instruments and they can add to the realism of piano playing, but these effects are not always necessary especially with pop, jazz, or other types of non-classical or traditional piano music.

Casio PX860 digital piano
Casio PX860 brown

A big advancement not offered on other digital pianos in this price range is the 256-note polyphony piano sound processing technology. Even the respected Yamaha AvantGrand digital grand piano selling for approx $15,000 has a maximum 256-note polyphony technology which makes Casio’s achievement pretty special in my opinion at only $999. More polyphony note processing power helps to keep notes from electronically dropping out when playing difficult & musically complex passages along with layering 2 sounds together and using the damper pedal. Also, like many name brand digital pianos including Yamaha, Kawai, and Roland, the PX860 offers the “half-damper” pedal sustain feature with pedal resonance effect which helps recreate the real acoustic piano pedaling  damper/sustain sound for more intermediate to advanced piano music. For those students and recreational players who are at the beginner skill level, they will have something to grow into and not need to trade out of this piano for a long time, if ever.

Casio PX860
Casio PX860

Kawai CE220 digital pianoAs actual grand piano sound reproduction and key action goes, the PX860 is impressive and upgraded in noticeable ways over its competition such as Yamaha in this price range. Although no digital piano that I know of actually sounds exactly like a real acoustic grand piano (I play real acoustic grand pianos and know what I’m talking about), the PX860 may give you the impression that you are playing a real acoustic piano more than other brands and models do in this price range…and that’s what really counts. The dynamic range of volume & tonal change when playing the keys is noticeably wider than Yamaha or Korg and allows for a greater range of musical expression which is always important, especially if you are taking lessons from a good teacher or you are at a higher playing skill level. The sonic quality of the Casio’s new piano sound is really good across the entire keyboard and something which can be enjoyed no matter what type of music you play.  If you are able to spend more money and/or are at a higher playing skill level (or want to be), then I would suggest you also consider the Kawai CE220 digital piano ($1899 internet price – above left pic).

 If you have not heard of the Kawai Piano company before (Ka-WHY- phonetic pronunciation), they are a famous world class Grand Piano manufacturer and the CE220 has features the Casio does not have including an actual acoustic real wood piano hammer key action, which can make a big difference to players and students, but you would need to have the extra money to invest in that model. If you want more info on the Kawai CE220 go here: Kawai CE220 Review

Casio PX860 digital piano
PX860 satin brown oak

With regard to new features over previous models, Casio has included a new music library that consists of 10 orchestra classical songs (plus more you can download from an internet site) which you can play along with using the piano sounds. The 10 songs are in an audio wav format (recorded from live orchestra) and sounds just like a real recording of the instruments as you would have in a regular CD. The new songs are independent in their sounds and format (the piano itself does not have these sounds) but you can interact with them by playing along. The 10 songs are standard classical music and although they are fun to play along with and do sound good, you would need to be able to read music (or play by ear) and play along at the song skill level so that you could interact with the music properly. Y

ou can slow down the songs, mute either right or left hand playback sound for live playalong and do a few other things with the orchestra accompaniment which are all fun to do and helpful for learning. It’s a nice feature and certainly sounds good but there are only the 10 built-in songs available and they’re all in the classical category which is certainly good but I also like other styles of music too. 
You pretty much have to know how to read music at a bit more advanced sight reading level to play them accurately, but it’s still good to have for some people who will be able to use it and at the very least you can pretend that you know what you are doing:).

Casio PX860 digital pianoAnother impressive feature to me is the fact that Casio has included “wav file” audio recording in this model. What that means is that you can record yourself as an audio recording (CD quality) and save it to a USB flashdrive in the piano. Then you can take that recording in the flashdrive and plug it into your computer and email that song to your friends and relatives to let them hear it on their computer just as you played it! Beyond that, you can import that music into computer music programs for music education, composing, song arranging, etc for further musical interaction and even turn the wav file recording into an MP3 to play as an iTune on your iPad or iPod.

Casio PX850 digital piano
Open lid speaker projection

One interesting & innovative feature I like is a new piano lid audio projection system (see pic on left). Simply put, you can physically open the top lid on the PX860 into an open position like a little grand piano would do so the sound is projected toward you for a more realistic listening & playing experience. The internal 40 watt 4-speaker sound system is heard more like a baby grand would be with an open angled lid. The overall sound on this model can be quite loud and big so there is no need to attach external speakers in my opinion and the volume will easily fill up a big room. I have not seen this sound projection system before in any regular digital piano and although in essence it seems like a simple thing to do, this interactive cabinet gives the player more piano sound depth than some other digital pianos and can make the piano more exciting to play.

Casio PX860 digital piano
Other PX860 features include all kinds of powerful sound generation technology with piano string and damper pedal resonance, string harmonics, longer pedal decay sustain time than in previous Casio models,
and a wide range of piano sound dynamics (as I mentioned earlier) for a variety of tonal color in your playing as compared to some other digital pianos under $1500. There are 18 impressive instrument sounds including electric pianos, harpsichord, organs, strings, etc, which are definitely a cut above the rest in terms of realism. There is also split & layering of tones, key touch sensitivity adjustments to personalize your playing, duet keyboard function allowing for two people to play at the same time, and other useful features including two stereo headphone jacks for two pairs of headphones for private practice, stereo 1/4″ audio outputs for connection to an external sound system (not many pianos have this feature in this price range), and a control panel positioned above the keyboard for easier access to buttons as opposed to being put on the left side of the keyboard like other digital pianos.

iPad piano music app
iPad piano music app

Also, as with all new Casio digital pianos, the PX860 can connect directly with an iPad or laptop computer using its high speed class compliant USB MIDI connection which allows for instant connection with external computer devices without the need of downloading drivers or having to convert a MIDI signal to USB. Since kids are growing up in the “iPad world” I recommend to all piano students that they utilize the exciting Apps available for tablets (and iPad in particular) to enhance their playing and practice experience which will make them better students and better musicians overall. Besides that, it’s super cool to do and when you’ve experienced the interaction of the Casio PX860 with an iPad and what it can musically and educationally do for you, you’ll be amazed at all the possibilities!

Casio PX860 digital piano

The Casio PX860 is impressive for what it does at its price and offers people a fairly realistic acoustic piano playing experience in an affordable low price range. I have known Casio of Japan to be very good musical instrument company for over 30 years and they have produced some good digital pianos in the past, but they have finally come out with a winner in this price range. Also, judging from the significantly improved quality of Casio’s other pianos including the PX160, PX360, PX760, and PX780, I am fairly confident that the reliability of these pianos will be good, especially given the fact Casio has a long 3 year parts & labor factory warranty with in-home service on their new models.

Casio PX860 digital piano
Casio PX860 closed key cover

It is important to note that the PX860 piano does not have built-in drum rhythms, automatic chords, music styles, hundreds of instrument sounds, multi-track General MIDI recording & composing or other fun features that can be useful to some people (such as is on the Casio PX780), but it was not designed to be that way. The PX860 is focused primarily on piano playing and is a satisfying instrument for its price that can handle many playing skill levels. If you want some additional interactive features you can easily connect to an iPad as I already mentioned and experience some very cool interactive piano technology that way which both adults and children will enjoy. This digital piano has a big, loud, bold piano sound which can replace a regular upright piano along with enough digital features to make the learning and piano playing experience fun and gratifying for most people seeking a quality instrument in a low price range. Speaking of low prices, in the distant past I would have also recommended that people consider buying a good used acoustic or digital piano at a lower

Casio PX860 digital piano
under-mounted speakers & USB’s

price instead of a new one. However, the digital pianos out now like the Casio PX860 are so improved and relatively inexpensive that it makes buying a used acoustic or digital piano almost a non-issue in my opinion, and I play & own acoustic pianos in my studio. Plus, you take a risk when you buy a used piano because it comes “as is” and you get no factory warranty and you take a big risk it will work properly, and stay in tune properly if its an acoustic piano (yearly tunings can easily cost $100 or more depending where you live). So these days, generally speaking, used digital or acoustic pianos would not be a good option unless you know exactly what you’re getting and the price is very low.

casio
People I know of who have purchased and received their Casio PX860 really like it and they tell me it exceeds their expectations for its price, and it’s always good for me to hear right from the people who own them.
However for some people, the Casio brand may not have the prestigious piano name of a Yamaha or Kawai because those companies make highly respected acoustic pianos which professionals and piano teachers play. But name itself seldom tells the real story and that is certainly true in this case. 

So don’t let the Casio name fool you into thinking this piano is not worthy of your consideration because in my opinion the PX860 is the “real deal:).” When it comes to cutting edge digital electronics and reliability, Casio deserves respect and at the end of the day it’s all about you and your family experiencing the joy of playing music on a good piano. So no matter what you decide to purchase, do your research and make sure it’s a good piano at a good value.

PX860 Keyboard

Overall I believe the new upgrades in this PX860 are very good, and the PX860 offers even more for the money than its competitors in the same price range. As I mentioned earlier,the PX860 is very popular because it has a big piano sound utilizing some advanced digital sound technology with 256-note polyphony processing power, a
Casio PX860 digital piano
responsive ivory/ebony feel key action that’s by far the best in its price range and feels great (at least it does to me), is fairly easy to use, had lots of cool features that most other pianos in its price range do not have, and it looks attractive in its sleek contemporary cabinet. It seems to be difficult for its competitors to come up with a model that really gives the PX860 some competition in this same price range at $999. The new HALL effects simulators, new concert strings, vintage electric pianos, and organ sounds as well as other features are quite unique and you will notice the control panel in the left picture which is located above the keys instead of over to the left side of the keyboard as is the case on a a few Yamaha models in this price range. I really like when the functions and buttons can be accessed more easily and intuitively above the keyboard as opposed to the side of the keyboard. The PX860 does a very good job of this especially considering its lower internet price.

Casio PX860 digital piano
There are other high quality digital pianos out there in other brands in this lower price range, but in my opinion for $999US internet price, the PX860 furniture cabinet model cannot be beat for what it does and excels over its competition in many ways.
This model is really for people who really want a piano and not too much else. If you really just want to play piano and enjoy piano music with a few extra features (bells & whistles) and you want to stay near $1000, then the Casio PX860 may be the perfect instrument for you. I can also help people with getting lower prices than Amazon sale prices as well as internet stores and local stores on the new PX860 and other popular brands & models. Contact me before doing anything and I will be happy to help you get what you want and give you helpful advice.  

Casio PX780
Casio PX780

* I also recommend the Casio PX780 digital piano ($899 internet price) as I believe it’s one of the best buys of 2017 in the under $1000 price range for a digital piano…even over the Casio PX860 in a few ways. This is because it has the identical key action and internal 40 watt audio power as the PX860 (but not the same speaker projection system), and also has many more useful features (some people call them “bells & whistles”) for educational purposes and fun. Instead of 256-note polyphony memory chip found in the PX860 which certainly offers a great piano sound with more organic acoustic elements than the PX780 (along with the sound lid projection system), the PX780 has the 128-note polyphony piano memory chip, but with many more useful digital features. 

But even more expensive Roland digital pianos up to $2000 use the 128-note polyphony chip, because for the vast majority of players & students, that is normally sufficient. I recommend you also read my review of the PX780 at the following link: Casio PX780 Review

If you want more info on new digital pianos and LOWER PRICES than internet sales, Amazon, Bundles, and store discounts, please email me at tim@azpianowholesale.com or call direct at 602-571-1864.

Want More Information? Search other posts using these Labels: - best digital pianos, Casio, Casio Privia, low price, PX860, PX870 under $1000

50 Responses

  1. Hi Tim,

    How would you compare Casio p860 with Yamaha CLP 525/535? I am concerned with the tone and color and overall playing experience compare with acoustic piano. Thanks!

  2. Considering those other pianos are a LOT more money than the PX860, normally you don't compare pianos that way. However in my opinion the new Casio PX860 is substantially better than the Yamaha CLP525 and nearly equal to the much more expensive Yamaha CLP535 in many ways. However the Yamaha does offer more than the Casio in some ways but the Yamaha is more than twice the price…not a fair comparison. The better comparison would be between the Yamaha CLP535 and the new Roland RP401R and in my opinion the RP401R is the better piano in terms of piano playing realism and features

  3. Thank you for the comments and recommendation and I have just read your comprehensive review on Roland rp401r. I think I will need to find a chance to try them out and decide to go for lower price or enhanced performance.

  4. I have the choice between a PX-860 and a (new) PX-850 with an external subwoofer at the same price. I am only interested in touch and sound. Since the action and key coating will be the same, do you think I will get better sound from having the subwoofer, or from the upgraded samples.

  5. There is typically no need for a sub woofer on this piano. It has a loud full sound all by itself. If the piano sound samples are upgraded in the PX860 (and they are), then why would you think the new piano sound samples would not be better than the old model PX850? I made that clear in my review. Perhaps you should read my PX860 review again.

  6. Hi, Tim! I appreciate your reviews. Many pianists here in Brazil too. I would like to answer a question, it was not said in his review: the key system px-860 is the same as the px-5s Thank you?.
    Paulo Sérgio

  7. Hi Tim, thank you, your reviews helped me a lot in deciding which digital piano to buy. I am just wondering if the slightly cheaper model Casio Px760 has the same key action as px 860? I don't really need much of the additional features, but i really want to have a key action that closely resember an acoustic piano (as much as possible in this price range). Thank you for your time.

  8. Hi Tim, I love your reviews! After reading through your introduction of the Casio PX860, makes me want to give it a go and bring one home with me. But then again, I've already had my heart set on buying Roland F130R, are there any stronger reasons that I should take a step back and give Casio PX860 a chance? I'm actually purchasing the piano for my 5 year old daughter who's just started playing. If the lessons go well in the next 3 or 4 years, I might opt to buy an upright accoustic. Please can you give me some further advice? Thank you very much.

  9. Hmm should I get a S52 (new model) or the new PX-860?

    I think they're both good.
    But I want something that's overall good with sound, and touch/ feeling.

    I am learning La Campanella and the piano I have currently isn't good because it doesn't have graded hammer action. It's just soft touch. And this piece has a lot of fast repeated notes. Not to mention I can't afford a grand piano so I need a digital piano that does the job.

    I guess Casio is good because of the tri-sensor action but I heard that Yamaha is also good.
    Which one would you recommend?

    Thanks!

  10. Yamaha and Casio are both good but the Yamaha will have a stiffer key action than Casio, only 2 key sensors per key (3 sensors allows for better sensing of faster key repetition), and a smaller tonal dynamic range as compared to Casio. The S52 is essentially the same piano as the Yamaha YDP162.

  11. difficult decision. I like both models but they do different things and certainly have different cabinets. The Roland has more digital technology but the Casio has a larger piano sound. They simply have different tone and key action personalities and you could be happy with either one

  12. I bought the Yamaha P105 two years ago. In most respects I still like it; however, I have concerns about the durability of the key assemblies. Although I'm playing about 90% light classical (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, etc…) I had to have one key repaired because I could hear something was wrong underneath. I have another key that seems like it's doing the same. It sounds like little pieces of plastic wear down. Can you please comment on the durability of the keys on the PX-860? Thank You.

  13. Hi Tim, thank you for the reviews! They are super informative. My 5 year old daughter has just started taking piano lessons and we are shopping for a piano for her to practice on. Nobody in our family plays piano, or knows much about musical instruments. I've been reading a lot and have my eyes set on Yamaha YDP 162, until I come across your reviews. Is realism key action is the most important factor for beginner? Which one do you think is better for a young piano beginner, the YDP 162, or this PX860?

  14. Either piano would be a good choice but the newer Casio PX860 offers more piano playing authenticity and features in my opinion, and is considerably less money too. Key action realism is somewhat personal when it comes to deciding what a person make like better, but I much prefer the Casio in terms of weighting, movement, and dynamic range of tonality.

  15. Hi Tim, i am stuck between casio px 360/860. Which one do you reccomend for someone starting piano lessons? 860 is $10 more expensive in where i live.

  16. Hi Tim,

    Thank you for your reviews, they are very helpful! You seem to think highly of the Kawai ES100 and the Casio PX860. I used to be a high level piano player (Grade 8 level) but haven't played for years and would like to get back to playing. I am looking for something that is closest to the feel of a real acoustic piano, under $1500 budget. Would you recommend the Casio PX860 or Kawai ES100? How about the Yamaha DGX650, would that be a contender too? Thank you so much!

  17. I have the same question…. Tim, can you please comment? I appreciate your opinion and it would help in making a decision.
    Thanks in advance. Merry Christmas/Happy New Year!
    Jay-Q

  18. The Casio PX860 is much more expressive with bigger piano dynamic range than the older Yamaha YDP181 along with having quicker moving key action and fuller sound in my opinion. Casio also has more upgraded connectivity features and USB

  19. How about the comparison of the px 860 and the px 780? Would you consider the 780 still a best buy of 2016 over the 860?

  20. I want an new piano, choosing between the ydp 142 and the px860 which is he better piano, looking for sound touch and the playing experience overall? forget the bells and whistle, just the simple cut to the bone piano thruth…? every danish piano seller, has tld me the yamaha ydp 142 is the better choice, due to build quality, feal, touch, sound and just overall experience….

  21. Although I like both pianos, the Casio has the more realistic piano sound with a wider dynamic tonal range along with a more responsive key action with better key weight, and much bigger, fuller, bassier sounding internal speaker system. The PX860 also has an intuitive user control panel and more usable functions. The PX860 is very popular is the US and is available in more places.

  22. Hi Tim, I know that the PX780 has much more features than the PX860, but the PX860 is suppose to be a better model over the PX780.
    I like the PX860 better than the PX780, but I'm really curious about the educational features that you can see in the PX780.
    I want to learn, and if you were someone willing to learn, what would be your choice if both PX780 and PX860 were in the exact same price? Please, give us one example of the educational features that the PX780 has and the PX860 don't.
    Thank you very much!

  23. The key actions are identical and so is the piano sound chip. However there is much more control over the piano tone in the PX560 along with different ways to customize the PX560 piano sound and save those changes into memory buttons. The PX560 is more flexible with piano sound but the internal speaker system is not near as powerful or full sounding as in the PX860.

  24. Although I like the Yamaha YDP142 digital piano, there is no comparison of that model to the Casio PX860. The PX860 is in a different league altogether offering a more realistic piano playing experience along with a higher level of built-in digital features and internal speaker system.

  25. Hi Tim,

    Thank you for the great review! I'm having a difficult choice deciding between the casio privia px 860 and the Yamaha Clavinova CLP525. I am definitely a beginner and know very little about piano's so I thougt maybe you could help me. I actually really want to buy an accoustic piano but, at the moment, this is not possible for financial and practical reasons.

    Thank you fot your input!

    Kind regards,
    Kim

  26. I tried Yamaha CLP525, I can't say it's better than Casio PX850.. It seems, PX860 has a better sound than PX850.. Yamaha has only better furniture but doesn't help the sound of the piano…Regarding to the price…, it's again Casio PX850..or PX860..

  27. Hi Tim:
    How you compare Kawai KDP90 vs. PX860? Price are similar, read your review about KDP90, and feel you like it more on Key action and sound. I am debating between these two models. Thanks very much.

  28. Actually I like both models. The Casio has some benefits as well as the Kawai. If you are still considering these models and have not bought one yet, please email me and I will give you more info. Thx

  29. Hi Tim,
    Thank you for all your hard work, your reviews are extremely helpful. I'm trying to decide between PX-860 and PX-780. (Maybe even PX-760). From your reviews, I understood that they have the same key action — does that mean they are the same in terms of an authentic acoustic piano experience? I'm playing at an advanced level and I'd really like to buy a digital piano that offers an authentic experience, without spending so much on an acoustic piano (I'm an university student). Thanks in advance!

  30. Hi Tim,

    Love your reviews. Thank you for your time and effort!

    It's time to upgrade our old CDP-220R. I was leaning toward the PX-860, but found a used Roland RG-1F nearby for the same price. I can't find any reviews of this mini grand, and I know there is some risk buying used. But if it checks out, is it a much better instrument than the Casio? (the only reason I'd take the risk) Primarily concerned with piano function and sound. Just don't have room for an acoustic.

    Thanks!

  31. The Roland is an older model and that's why there are no reviews. The Roland RG1F certainly has a stronger internal speaker system and upgraded cabinet, but it has an older piano sound and key action. It's a matter of personal taste and need

  32. Hi Tim,

    I love your reviews,

    If I will buy Casio Privia PX-160 will I get the same sound as that PX-860 and also touch. Im so particular with touch and sound. Thank you

  33. Hi Tim
    Thank you for the thorough reviews.
    I would like to relearn how to play the piano after many many years.
    After some research and reading your excellent reviews, I'm deciding between the Roland F140 and Casio PX860. A digital piano that will fit in my small house.
    In your Casio review, you don't discuss the headphone experience as you do in the Roland review.
    I imagine practicing quite a bit with headphones and would appreciate your opinion on the difference between the two pianos while wearing headphones.
    Thank you.
    Mike

  34. Hi, thank you very much for your in depth and wonderful reviews! I am considering a digital piano in the $1000 range. Like you, I am mainly considered with key feel and realism to a grand. I am a beginner, playing for about 6 months now with lessons. I have had the pleasure of playing much of my time on a Steinway grand and have fallen in love with it. This Grand piano is at my church and I need something at home.

    I am definitely not at a point in my life where it will be an option for me to purchase such an instrument, but maybe hope to get close with a digital.

    So far, I have read your reviews for Kawai KDP90, Casio PX860 and
    Yamaha YDP 143.

    Out of the 3, which would you say has the best key feel and is the closest feeling to the action and feel of a grand piano? My thoughts are that it could be the Casio, but just wanted to get your opinion.

    I would also like to play the different models at a store to compare them, which I am seeking to do.

    Thanks!

  35. Hi, would you recommend the AP-460 or PX860? I read both of your reviews (along with other ones I have eliminated… Thank you for helping me with my decision process), it seems like they are pretty much the same quality. Thank you!

  36. Thank you very much for your excellent review of the PX-860! I have read that the pedals on this piano are slightly shorter than normal and I'm curious about your opinion about the ways (if any) in which the pedaling experience is affected. What do you think of the build quality of the PX-860 compared to that of the the Yamaha YDP series and perhaps the Roland RP series? Thank you very much for your help!

  37. Hi, i discovered this site yesterday and i am blown away with the information that you post here, im about to buy my first digital piano, one question i have with this Privia PX 860 is the PEDAL FUNCTION , i know it supports HALF Pedaling, but my main question is, Do the built in pedals support Continous PEDALING? (I mean like a real acoustic piano) . I hope you see this question because ive searched in other sites and in this site as weel and i cant find an exact answear.Have a nice day and thank you again for such a wonderfull site!

  38. Great site you have Mr. Praskins, between the Casio px860 and the Roland rp401 at the same price. Which one would be a better buy for just piano key action and sound? Thanks!

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