Casio PX S1000
Pros
- Realistic Touch
- Beautiful Sound
- Compact & Lightweight
- Battery Power Capability
- Bluetooth
Cons
- Terrible Pedal
- No Bluetooth MIDI
- Fingerprints On The Control Panel
To celebrate the 15 years anniversary of the Privia product line, Casio has launched two brand new portable digital pianos, the S1000 and the S3000. The S in the model name stands for Slim, as these two models are the slimmest digital piano on the market right now. They can run on batteries, which makes these pianos truly portable. You can play Mozart on the top of a mountain or rock a beat during picnic with family and friends. In this Casio PX S1000 review, I’ll explain why you don’t want to miss this one when shopping for a digital piano.
Casio didn’t just put together some old tech and call it a new model. You’d find a brand new design, key action, sound samples and many unique features on the PX S1000. It’s a truly amazing piece of instrument as well as technology, especially for the low price tag.
DESIGN
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The Look
The Casio PX S1000 is a portable digital piano.
From afar, the overall look is consistent to the Previa line. But when taking a closer look, it is clear that Casio has done something different to this model.
The piano is slim and futuristic. Casio is calling it Grand Elegance and I tend to agree on that.
The top panel of the PX S1000 is a glossy piece that’s similar to our mobile phone screen. Although it is definitely a fingerprint magnet, this panel is what sets this digital piano apart from other models on the market.
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Music Rest
While the main body of the PX S1000 has a modern design, the music rest however looks out of place. It doesn’t share the sleek style of the piano.
The good news is that the music rest is very stable and has no wobble when installed.
I also really like the angel of the rest. Reading sheet music is comfortable and it does a good job to hold any scorebook or printed sheets.
The music rest is pretty wide that you can easily display multiple pages at once. It’s also quite tall that any printed sheet music wouldn’t fold over the edge.
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Control
One of the distinctive feature of the Casio PX S1000 is the control panel.
When the piano is not switched on, you can only see the power button and the volume knob. All the other buttons are touch sensor, just like what we are used to on our mobile phone.
The buttons light up when in use and give you visual indicator as which function is being used at any given moment.
The touch sensors work pretty well. No pressure is needed to activate any of the buttons. A light touch with your finger tip would be enough.
The sensors are located beneath the text at the two light bars. This can be a bit tricky for first time users.
Due to the glossy panel, do expect fingerprints when you tap on the controls.
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Keys
The Casio PX S1000 has a complete 88 piano keyboard. The keys are made of plastic but does covered by synthetic Ivory/Ebony key tops.
These synthetic materials not only add extra textures to the keys but also help with grip and moisture absorption during long playing sessions.
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Size & Weight
Casio is calling their PX S1000 the slimmest digital piano ever. It is quite impressive to see the compact size and light weight of this instrument. You would have no problem carrying it around under your arms.
The Casio PX S1000 weighs around 11.2 kg (24.7 lbs).
It has the dimensions of 132(W) x 23(D) x 10(H) cm (52″ x 9″ x 4″).
KEY ACTION
To be able to fit the compact size and produce authentic piano touch, Casio has come up with a brand new key action, the Smart Scaled Hammer Action.
It successfully reduces the size without compromise on the touch quality. Unlike the previous Tri-Sensor II Scaled Hammer Action, this new action utilize only two sensors.
The magic is in the software. By keep track of each key’s location and movement, the software can intellectually determine what the pianist is trying to achieve and thus adjust the response.
As a result, this new key action offers good dynamic range of control and fast repetition is just as good as triple sensored actions.
It also offers quite unanimous touch along the length of each key. Only at the very end of the white keys would you notice a significant drop of responsiveness. For an action this compact in size, I would say Casio has done an excellent job.
Overall, the feel on the PX S1000 is authentic and quite close to an acoustic piano. The only complaint I have is probably the weight of this keyboard. It feels a little bit too light. But thanks to the impressive sensitivity, the light weight is easy to get used to.
SOUND
The Casio PX S1000 uses the AiR Sound engine but with a new set of samples. It produces much better sound quality.
I’m especially happy with the base notes. While the previous samples from Casio is somewhat mudded and boxed, the base on this new sample sounds strong and crystal clear.
It has all the details you would find on an acoustic piano. That includes String resonance, damper resonance, damper noise and key-off simulation.
The result is a truly authentic reproduction of acoustic concert grand pianos.
The PX S1000 is equipped with two 8 watt speakers. While they are not exactly powerful, they do produce a loud enough sound that can fill a medium sized room.
The sound quality of these speakers are especially good. I honestly didn’t expect these 8 watt speakers to produce such detailed piano sound.
The speakers are backward facing. As long as you leave some room between the piano and the wall, the sound should bonce back off the wall and creates an envelope effect.
FEATURES
For an entry level portable digital piano, the PX S1000 is packed with features.
It has built-in Bluetooth for media streaming. You can playback any music on your smart device to the piano. This is especially useful if you have a recording of beats or rhythms that you can play the piano along with.
The Bluetooth however is only capable of streaming. It does not have Bluetooth MIDI, which means you still need cables to connect the piano with smart devices.
All the acoustic simulated effects can be adjusted. These are the String resonance, damper resonance, damper noise and key-off simulation.
This is quite a rear feature on such entry level model. Not only can you turn on and off the effects, you can also adjust the strength of each one to truly customize the sound to your liking.
The Casio PX S1000 can also be powered by 6xAA batteries. It make the piano truly portable. You can take it anywhere you want and don’t have to worry about power supply.
The piano can last about 4 hours of play on batteries. I’m very happy that Casio chooses to use standard AA batteries. They could have developed their own battery and charge a hefty price for it.
The PX S1000 also features 192 maximum polyphony notes. This is more than enough for any beginner or intermediate pianist.
Here’s a list of features on the Casio PX S1000:
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- Sound:
- Grand pianos x 3
- Rock piano
- Jazz piano
- Electric pianos x 4
- Organs x 4
- Harpsichords
- Strings x 2
- Vibraphone
- Polyphony: 192
- Touch Response: 1-5, off
- Reverb settings (each with 20 levels):
- Standard Hall
- Opera Hall
- Berlin Hall
- British Stadium
- Modes:
- Layer mode: two instrument sound simultaneously
- Duet mode: split the keyboard to identical halfs
- Recording:
- 1 song with 2 tracks
- 1 Demo songs and 60 piano songs
- Headphone jack x 2
- USB to Host port
- Sound:
- Line out x 2
- Audio in
ACCESSORIES
Like many entry level portable digital pianos, the Casio PX S1000 comes with a simple footswitch functioning as the damper pedal. It doesn’t support half pedaling and it doesn’t feel like a piano pedal at all.
It is highly recommended to purchase a proper pedal unit for the PX S1000. The three pedal unit from Casio, the SP-34 has all the pedals you would find on an acoustic piano. It has damper, soft and sostenuto and all of them supports half pedaling. Alternatively, you can find good quality third party pedal unit as well.
Depends on the bundle you choose, you might also need a stand and bench for the PX S1000. If the piano is mainly for home use, you can find the CS-68P stand from Casio designed specifically for the PX S1000. You can also use an X stand or Z stand for portability.
To carry the piano around, Casio has design a carrying bag for the PX S1000. It fits the piano precisely and has two separate bags for the music stand and pedal unit. Since the PX S1000 is so lightweight, you can easily carry it on your shoulders.
As with any digital piano, a good pair of headphones is always recommended.
The speaker system on the PX S1000 is weak but has good quality. For home practice, I don’t feel the need for any external monitor/speaker to fully utilize the AiR sound engine and the new piano samples.
Casio has develop an app called Chordana Play that’s available on both android and iOS. You can use it to customize the piano, control the various functions and have fun learning songs the modern way.
Unfortunately, you can not connect your smart device via Bluetooth to use the Chordana Play app. It still requires a cable to connect the USB port on the piano to your devices. Since most modern smartphones and tablets use USB type C port, you would probably need a USB type B to type C cable for the job. But there are still enough device out there using Micro USB port. So make sure you get the right cable.
WHO IT’S FOR
The Casio PX S1000 is a very versatile digital piano. It is best suited for beginners as well as intermediate players.
As a portable digital piano, the PX S1000 is an excellent choice for gigging musicians. It is so compact and lightweight that the journey to the venue no longer makes you sweat.
It is also a great choice for home use with limited space. The compact size means you can set it up anywhere in your home. The sleek and futuristic design makes it a nice addition to your home decor.
Thanks to the battery power capability, the Casio PX S1000 can also be used in various events. You can bring it to a picnic, perform in an outdoor wedding or show off your skills in the middle of the city square. The possibilities are indeed endless.
CONCLUSION
The Casio PX S1000 is a worth model to celebrate the 15 years anniversary of Casio’s Privia product line.
It offers authentic touch close to an acoustic piano. The piano sound is nothing short of excellence through both headphones and internal speakers. It is overall a joy to play on the PX S1000.
Without compromising on the piano experience, Casio is able to make the PX S1000 the slimmest portable digital piano on the market. It’s super compact and lightweight. The battery power capability compliments well to the portability.
The modern design, touch sensor controls and various advanced features makes the PX S1000 a complete package.
To top it off, the Casio PX S1000 sells for $599. I feel it sets a new standard for entry level digital pianos. There no longer needs to be a compromise for low price.
Overall, the Casio Privia PX S1000 is a great digital piano and I highly recommend it.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
OTHER OPTIONS
Casio PX S1000 vs. Kawai ES110
The Kawai ES110 is slightly more expensive than the Casio PX S1000. But consider the proper piano damper pedal included in the ES110, I would say these two are similarly priced.
The RHC key action on the ES110 has been praised by many to be the most realistic key action at this price range. Although it doesn’t feature synthetic Ivory/Ebony like the Casio does, the Kawai does feel slightly more authentic to play.
The Kawai uses samples from its own concert grand, the EX. The reproduced sound is pretty good and more on the mellow side. But the new sample from Casio does sound better to my ear. The Casio is a lot more bright and the bass notes are not as boxed as the Kawai.
The Kawai however takes samples from each individual key. This is a big advantage over the Casio.
They have similar internal speakers. The Kawai is equipped with two 7 watt speakers while the Casio has two 8 watts. But the Casio does a better job with its speakers to produce more detailed and authentic piano sounds.
They both have Bluetooth. But the Casio only has Bluetooth for media streaming while the Kawai has Bluetooth MIDI. One major difference in application is that you can use Kawai’s app by connecting your smart device via Bluetooth but you need USB cable to use Casio’s piano app.
The Kawai ES110 is bigger and heavier than the Casio, but not by much. We are talking about a few centimeters and one extra kilogram. Casio does enhance its portability with battery power capability, which the ES110 doesn’t support.
Overall, they are both excellent digital pianos. I like the Kawai for its better touch and Bluetooth MIDI and I like the Casio for its better sound and the battery power capability.
You really can’t go wrong with either of these two. So choose the one that’s best suited for your need.
For more details about the Kawai ES110, click here for my full review.
Casio PX S1000 vs. Roland FP-10
The new Roland FP-10 is retailing at around $500, which makes it slightly cheaper than the Casio PX S1000.
However, unlike the Casio, the FP-10 feels more like a cut down version of the FP-30 instead of an innovative product.
The keys on the FP-10 also feature synthetic Ivory/Ebony surface. The PHA-4 Standard key action from Roland is bit heavier than the Casio. Personally I prefer the touch of the PX S1000 more.
The Casio with its new sample sounds a lot better than the Roland. It’s brighter, more detailed and closer to an acoustic piano.
There is also a significant difference in polyphony number. The Casio has a maximum polyphony of 192 while the Roland has only 96.
They both have weak speaker but the FP-10 is much weaker. It has two 6 watts compared to the two 8 watt on the PX S1000.
They both have Bluetooth but the FP-10 does not have line out port and it does not have internal recording capability.
The Casio wins another point with its battery power capacity.
Overall, while the Roland FP-10 is certainly worth its price, the extra $100 of the Casio PX S1000 is definitely worth it for its superior sound, polyphony and features.
For more details about the Roland FP-10, click here for my full review.
Casio PX S1000 vs. Yamaha P125
Another similarly priced portable digital piano is the Yamaha P125.
The GHS key action on the Yamaha is unfortunately not very good. It lacks the authentic feel and is not nearly as responsive and expressive as the Casio.
The sound of the Yamaha comes from its own world famous concert grand, the CFIIIS. I think it’s on bar with the samples on the Casio. They both sounds great through headphones.
The Yamaha has two 7 watt amplifiers and they drive four speakers. While it has two extra speakers, I still find the sound quality on the Casio slightly better.
The main advantage of the Casio PX S1000 over the Yamaha is the feature. Bluetooth and battery power capability can be decisive purchasing reasons depending on your need.
I would recommend the Casio PX S1000 over the Yamaha P125. It has better key action, internal speakers and a lot more useful features.
For more details about the Yamaha P125, click here for my full review.
Leave a comment to let me know what you think of this review. And if you happen to have some experience with the Casio PX S1000, please share with us in the comment below.
I’ve had the Casio fir over a year now. I find 3 problems. First on battery power it cuts out completely when playing quite hard and loud, as if it resets, the power just goes off, it comes on again after pressing the power switch. I thought it was vibration, Casio don’t know what it is. The second problem is that the Play fir Piano app will not connect to the newer Android 11 phones, again Casio don’t know why. But the piano is brilliant in every other respect
Hi Paul TW,
Thank you very much for your feedback and sharing your experience with us.
Hi Wei,
I spent quite a while debating between the FP-30, the ES110, and the PX-S1000 for my room. I had seen people on Reddit and Youtubers like James Pavel Shawcross criticize the PX-S1000 action as “unplayable” because of the stiffness towards the back of the keys. However, my room is very cramped, and it would be difficult to fit the extra 6 cm of depth in the space I have that would be required of the other models I was considering. I therefore bought the PX-S1000 (it was available on Amazon Prime, which was not true of the others), in part from reading your review, and I don’t regret it. The stiffness at the back of the keys wasn’t too bad, so long as you’re at least a few cm away from the fallboard. It was a very nice compact option for the living situation that I’m in, and I would recommend it to anyone who needs that additional slimness.
Hi Hanfei,
Thank you very much for your feedback and sharing your experience with us.
I think “unplayable” is a bit hash for the PX-S1000. It is a bit stiff at the back end but that’s perfectly acceptable considering the compact size of the piano.
Thanks so much for the comprehensive reviews! I had almost decided on the Casio PX-S1000 prior to visiting your site, and I’m confident that’s the piano for me after reading about the Korg and Kawai models. I had even wondered about the angle of the stand, and you explained everything clearly, as well as helping me understand the difference in pedals. Really appreciate it!
Hi Lauren,
Thanks a lot for your kind comment. Really glad that my review has helped you.
Once you get your brand new S1000, do come back and share with us your thoughts on it.
Hi, have you found some of the keys on the casio pxs1000 to be more bouncy and noisy compared to other keys, have found that on mine, sent two back and all three have had this,
Hi Michael,
I’m really sorry to hear that. I haven’t encountered or heard any complaints like the one you described, nor could I find anything related on the internet.
Maybe this is just a bad batch. I would probably get my money back and purchase the Casio PX S1000 from another dealer. See if that makes any different.
If you still run into issues with this model, you might have to consider another model.
Hope this helps and let me know how it goes.
I’m interested only on piano play , should i buy the s1000 or casio 770 px?
First of all, it depends on if you need the portability. I always recommend console style over portable if you don’t need to move the piano around. That given said, the s1000 is about 200 dollars cheaper and about 2 years newer than the 770.
Personally, I find the sound and action of the s1000 better than the 770 and for a lower price, it’s the one I would pick between the two.
How would you campare the PX s1000 to Roland FP30? From all videos on YouTube I’ve tried to compare I like Roland sound, sounds fuller some way I like it.
I’m planning to use external speakers (KEF LSX) They are active wireless speakers. Could I stream the Casio directly through them with Bluetooth?
The Roland FP30 is very similar to the FP10. So if you like the sound of Roland, you should check out the FP10. I think it offers better value than the FP30. Especially when you plan to use external speakers, the weaker built in speakers on the FP10 shouldn’t be a deal breaker to you.
As for the Bluetooth speakers, be careful about the latency. You will notice a slight delay from pressing the keys and hearing the sound. This could be very annoying and ruin your playing experience. Thus Bluetooth speakers as well as Bluetooth headphones are not recommended for digital pianos.
Thank you for a great review.
I’ve owned a Yamaha DGX650 since 2015, but it’s on a fixed stand and I was looking for something more portable so I can occasionally escape to a quiet room in the house.
Thre’s so much choice and I originally narrowed it down to one of three but your review has changed my mind. I will buy the PX S1000 next week as it has the best mix of quality, features and portability for my price range.
Thanks again.
Hi Stephen,
Thank you for your kind comment. I’m glad my review has been helpful to you.
Do come back and let is know your experience of the PX S1000.
Thank you very much for this review. It is very much useful. But i have a question please , how to make sure that the casio px s1000 i’m going to buy , has the new set of samples?
Hi Mido,
The PX S1000 comes with a pre-installed sound sample. It is the new set of sample I mentioned in this review. You don’t have to worry about that.
Thank you very much bro
You are always welcome Mido.
If you do get the PX S1000, do come back and share with us your thoughts about this digital piano.
Bad news , i did not find casio px a1000 in my area and also they do not know when it will be available
But i found kurzweil ka 120, what do you think about it?
I don’t have any experience with that particular model. If you are looking for portable models, do check out the Kawai ES110, the Casio PX 160, the Roland FP-10 and the Yamaha P-125.
Or go here to find my TOP 5 best digital pianos under $1,000 in 2019.
Hi, thanks for your reviews. I’m a new “DIY” piano learner. i’m using a budget psr e353 61 not weighted keys but i want to upgrade asap to a digital piano. i viewed a LOT of reviews and i’m considering roland fp10, roland fp30 and casio px-s1000. here in italy they cost respectevely 360€ (fp10), 530€ (fp30) and 540€ (px-s1000). usually px s1000 is compared to fp10 because fp30 costs more in other countries but here fp30 and px-s1000 cost about the same. most people prefer fp30 action, especially thanks to longer keys (it seems px-s1000 is a bit harder to play near the end of the keys) and better speakers. but i like px-s1000 too for compact design and features, even if it lacks bluetooth midi. any suggestions? after this purchase i don’t really know if i’ll ever upgrade again, so i want to make the right choice!
Hi.
I’m quite a beginner too (two years of practice), come from France and I tried many digital and acoustic pianos. I liked more the PX-S1000 than the FP-30 (the texture of keys and keys and the sound without a headphone).:)
thank you for your reply. in the end i purchased fp10 online for 399€. i managed to try px-s1000 in a local shop and a fp60 (fp10 and fp30 were out of stock). while i like a bit more roland action, i have to admit px-s1000 really looks a much innovative product and i think it’s a better and more complete product overall. the texture on keys is really evident while on the fp10 is just cosmetic. but i decided to save 100-150€ because i’m really a beginner (2 months of practice) so i think i’ll eventually upgrade later. i have to admit px-s1000 really catched me for its design.
Which key action do you prefer? The one from PX-S1000 or PX-870?
I actually do like the one on the PX S1000 better despite its compact size. Casio did something with the software that makes it very responsive and expressive.
How does it feel when playing near the fallboard? I’ve seen plenty of people raises concerns of short pivot. In your opinion, is that an issue?
Casio did a surprisingly good job here. Only at places right next to the fallboard would you feel significant decrease in responsiveness.
In my opinion, the Casio PX S1000 is comparable to other portable digital pianos on the market.