Casio Privia PX-770 vs Yamaha Arius YDP-105
Quick Verdict
Choose the Casio PX-770 for the better action, the better sound engine and double the polyphony at a similar price. Choose the Yamaha YDP-105 if you want a bench included, the Yamaha name and a traditional upright look, and your student is in the first year or two of lessons. On the instrument itself the Casio is ahead; on the package the Yamaha is more complete.
| Spec | Casio Privia PX-770 | Yamaha Arius YDP-105 |
|---|---|---|
| Key Action | Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II | GHS (Graded Hammer Standard) |
| Sound Engine | Casio AiR | AWM Stereo Sampling |
| Voices | 19 | 10 |
| Polyphony | 128 notes | 64 notes |
| Speakers | 2 x 8 W | 2 x 6 W |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| USB | USB to Host (MIDI) | USB to Host (MIDI) |
| Pedals | 3 pedals built in, half-damper | 3 pedals built in |
| Weight | 69.5 lb (31.5 kg) | 82.7 lb (37.5 kg) per listing |
| Form Factor | Slim console with sliding key cover | Upright console with bench |
Entry Consoles Compared
These are the cheapest three-pedal consoles from Casio and Yamaha, and they are priced within a few dollars of each other. Both have 88 graded hammer keys, built-in speakers, three pedals, two headphone jacks and USB MIDI. The Casio uses the Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II and the AiR engine with 128-note polyphony; the Yamaha uses the GHS action and AWM sampling with 64-note polyphony, and it includes a bench.
Action
The PX-770's action has three sensors per key, which registers fast repeated notes more reliably, and simulated ebony and ivory textures on the key tops. The YDP-105's GHS has two sensors and smooth plastic keys. In weight they are similar, with the Casio feeling slightly more refined and the Yamaha slightly lighter. For a student past the first year the Casio's three sensors and textures are a real advantage.
Sound and Polyphony
The Casio's AiR engine models string and damper resonance, so pedaled chords have depth that the Yamaha's AWM sample lacks. The Yamaha's grand is clean and well balanced but belongs to an older generation of sampling. The Casio offers 128-note polyphony to the Yamaha's 64, which matters once a student plays sustained, layered passages. The Casio has 19 tones, the Yamaha 10.
Speakers
Both use two downward-firing speakers: 2 x 8 W on the Casio and 2 x 6 W on the Yamaha. Both suit a practice room and neither fills a living room. The Casio is marginally louder and fuller.
Cabinet and Extras
The Casio has a sliding key cover that disappears into the cabinet; the Yamaha has a folding lid. The Yamaha includes a bench; the Casio does not. Both have three pedals with half-damper on the sustain, dual quarter-inch headphone jacks and a fixed music rest. The Casio adds a 60-piece Music Library with separate hand parts and Concert Play orchestral recordings.
Connectivity
Both connect over USB MIDI with a cable; neither has Bluetooth or USB audio. Casio's Chordana Play and Yamaha's Smart Pianist apps work over the cable. Both record MIDI internally.
Assembly and Placement
Both ship as cabinet parts and take two people under an hour. The Casio is about 70 pounds, the Yamaha about 83. The Casio's cabinet is shallower, which helps in a narrow room.
Practice Features for Students
The Casio's Music Library stores 60 classical pieces with separate hand parts, so a student can mute one hand and play along slowly, and its Concert Play recordings add ten orchestral accompaniments. The Yamaha offers 10 voice demo songs and 10 preset piano songs. Both have Duo modes for teacher and student, dual headphone jacks and metronomes, and both record a performance internally for playback. For self-directed practice the Casio's library is the more useful.
Room, Cabinet and Everyday Use
The Casio's cabinet is about 300 mm deep with a sliding key cover that disappears into the body, which keeps the top panel clear and the keys covered without a lid standing up. The Yamaha's cabinet is a little deeper with a folding lid, and it comes in rosewood or black with a bench that matches. Both have fixed music rests and two front-rail headphone jacks. In a narrow hallway the Casio fits better; in a traditional living room the Yamaha looks more like a piano.
Upgrade Paths
A Casio PX-770 owner who outgrows the speakers moves to the PX-870, which keeps the action and adds 256-note polyphony and a 40 watt system; the action rarely becomes the reason to move. A Yamaha YDP-105 owner who outgrows the polyphony or the sound moves to the YDP-146 or YDP-166, which add the CFX sample and, on the 166, a better action. The Casio's path costs less because the action does not need replacing; the Yamaha's path costs more and gains more.
Headphone Practice for Families
Both consoles have two quarter-inch headphone jacks on the front rail, which is the feature parents use most: a child practices in silence while a sibling sleeps, and a teacher listens on the second pair. The Casio adds a Headphone Mode that adjusts the sound for headphone listening; the Yamaha's Stereophonic Optimizer does a similar job on the YDP-105. Through headphones the Casio's AiR resonance is clearly audible on pedaled chords and the Yamaha's plainer sample is clean but flatter. For a piano that will be played on headphones most evenings, that difference shows up every day.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the Casio PX-770 if the student will progress and you want the better action, engine and polyphony for the money. Buy the Yamaha YDP-105 if you want a complete package with a bench, a traditional look and the Yamaha badge, for a beginner in the first years. If the budget can stretch, the Yamaha YDP-146 and Casio PX-870 both improve on these in different ways.
Casio Privia PX-770
Pros
- Three-sensor action with simulated ebony and ivory keys
- Three built-in pedals with half-damper support
- Sliding key cover and slim cabinet
- Concert Play recordings and a 60-song music library
Cons
- Only 8 watts per side for a console
- No Bluetooth or USB audio
- 128-note polyphony trails the PX-870's 256
Yamaha Arius YDP-105
Pros
- Furniture-style cabinet with three pedals and a bench in the box
- GHS graded action at the lowest Arius price
- Dual headphone jacks for teacher and student
- Nothing to assemble beyond the stand and bench
Cons
- Same 64-note polyphony and ten voices as the portable P-45
- No Bluetooth or USB audio
- Speakers are modest for a console
Who Should Buy Each
Casio Privia PX-770
- You want a furniture piano with a key cover for a living room
- Exam repertoire needs soft and sostenuto pedals
- You prefer a three-sensor action for accurate repetition
Yamaha Arius YDP-105
- You want a piano that looks like furniture and stays in one room
- A student needs all three pedals for exam pieces
- Two people will use headphones at once
Quick Decision Guide
| If you want the better action and sound engine | Choose Casio PX-770 |
| If you want a bench included | Choose Yamaha YDP-105 |
| If the student plays pedal-heavy intermediate pieces | Choose Casio PX-770 |
| If you prefer a sliding key cover and a shallower cabinet | Choose Casio PX-770 |
| If a traditional upright look matters most | Choose Yamaha YDP-105 |
FAQ
About This Comparison
Mandrillis Team
The Mandrillis editorial team researches and compares audio and music gear using manufacturer documentation, verified specs and real buyer feedback, so you can make a confident purchase without wading through marketing claims.
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