Casio PX-S1100 vs Yamaha P-225
Quick Verdict
Choose the Yamaha P-225 for the better grand piano sample with VRM Lite resonance, the slightly more consistent action and the stronger software bundle. Choose the Casio PX-S1100 for the slimmer, lighter case, battery operation, Bluetooth MIDI through the included adapter and a lower price at the listings we checked. These are the two slimmest serious portables, and the Yamaha edges it for sound while the Casio edges it for practicality.
| Spec | Casio Privia PX-S1100 | Yamaha P-225 |
|---|---|---|
| Key Action | Smart Scaled Hammer Action | GHC (Graded Hammer Compact) |
| Sound Engine | Casio AiR with string and damper resonance | Yamaha CFX sample with VRM Lite |
| Voices | 18 | 24 |
| Polyphony | 192 notes | 192 notes |
| Speakers | 2 x 8 W | 2 x 7 W, two-way |
| Bluetooth | Audio and MIDI via included WU-BT10 adapter | Audio |
| USB | USB to Host (MIDI) | USB to Host (MIDI and audio) |
| Pedals | Sustain pedal included; SP-34 triple pedal optional | Sustain footswitch included; LP-1 triple pedal optional |
| Weight | 24.7 lb (11.2 kg) | 25.4 lb (11.5 kg) |
| Form Factor | Ultra-slim portable, battery capable | Portable slab, slim depth |
The Slim Portable Face-Off
Both pianos exist because their makers designed compact actions to fit cases under 280 mm deep. The Casio is the slimmer at 232 mm, the Yamaha is 272 mm, and both weigh around 25 pounds. Both have 192-note polyphony, resonance modeling, line outputs and Bluetooth audio. The differences lie in the sample, the action's character, the connections and the price.
Action
Casio's Smart Scaled Hammer Action and Yamaha's GHC are both short-mechanism graded actions. The Casio has textured key tops and a quick, slightly springy return; the Yamaha has smooth keys and a marginally heavier, more even feel. Neither has escapement, and both sit below the Roland FP-30X and Kawai ES120 for realism. Between the two, players tend to split on taste rather than quality.
Sound
The P-225's CFX concert grand sample with VRM Lite is the more refined tone, with damper and string resonance and a long natural decay. The PX-S1100's AiR engine also models string and damper resonance and its three grands are warm and pleasant, but the Yamaha has the edge in detail through headphones. Both have 192-note polyphony. The Yamaha has 24 voices, the Casio 18.
Speakers
Both use small speakers: 2 x 8 W on the Casio, 2 x 7 W two-way on the Yamaha. The Casio's redesigned system is a little fuller; the Yamaha's tweeters are a little clearer. Neither fills a living room, and both have quarter-inch line outputs for a proper speaker.
Connectivity
The Casio's included WU-BT10 adapter provides Bluetooth audio and MIDI; the Yamaha has Bluetooth audio only, so its Smart Pianist app needs a USB cable. The Yamaha carries audio over USB; the Casio's USB is MIDI only. The Casio has two headphone jacks, the Yamaha one. Each has a feature the other lacks, and the one you need decides it.
Power, Weight and Size
The PX-S1100 runs on six AA batteries for a few hours, which the P-225 cannot. It is 40 mm slimmer and about a pound lighter. For a piano that moves between rooms, goes to gigs or has to fit a shallow desk, the Casio's physical advantages are real.
Apps and Extras
Yamaha's Smart Pianist is the richer app, with the Piano Room, chord charts and a full on-screen panel. Casio Music Space covers settings, lessons and touch response over Bluetooth MIDI. Both makers sell matching stands and three-pedal units: the CS-68 and SP-34 for the Casio, the L-200 and LP-1 for the Yamaha.
Stage and Travel Use
Both pianos have quarter-inch line outputs and are light enough to gig, but the Casio is the better traveler. Its 232 mm depth fits a bag that the Yamaha will not, it runs for a few hours on six AA batteries if a venue's power is doubtful, and its two headphone jacks let a second musician monitor. The Yamaha counters with USB audio for direct recording into a laptop and a lighter touch on the wallet. For a busker or a touring singer the Casio wins; for a home recordist the Yamaha does.
Panels and Daily Operation
The Yamaha uses physical buttons and hold-and-press key combinations, with Smart Pianist over a USB cable as the friendlier alternative. The Casio uses an illuminated touch panel that disappears when the piano is off, with the Casio Music Space app over Bluetooth MIDI as the friendlier alternative. Owners who dislike touch controls should handle the Casio in a store first; owners who want a wireless app connection will find the Yamaha's cable requirement dated.
Long-Term Ownership
Both keep up with an improving player for years thanks to 192-note polyphony and resonance modeling, and both have the same long-term limit: a compact action that advanced players eventually want to replace with a full-depth one. The Casio's path leads to the hybrid-key PX-S7000; the Yamaha's to the wooden-key P-525. As current designs with strong brand recognition, both resell well, which makes either a low-risk purchase.
Pedals and Three-Pedal Options
Both ship with a switch-type sustain pedal that offers no half-pedaling. Casio's SP-34 three-pedal unit plugs into a dedicated port and gives soft, sostenuto and half-damper pedals; it attaches to the CS-68 stand but can also be used free-standing on the floor, which is unusual and useful on a desk setup. Yamaha's LP-1 three-pedal unit requires the L-200 stand. For a player who wants proper pedal technique without a furniture stand, the Casio's arrangement is the more flexible. Both pianos also accept a single half-damper pedal, Casio's SP-20 or Yamaha's FC3A, through the sustain jack.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the Yamaha P-225 if the sound through headphones is what you care about and the piano stays at home. Buy the Casio PX-S1100 if you need the slimmest, lightest, battery-capable piano with Bluetooth MIDI and a lower price. Both are strong; the difference is whether tone or convenience leads your list.
Casio Privia PX-S1100
Pros
- Slimmest full hammer-action piano in its class at 232 mm deep
- 192-note polyphony and AiR engine with resonance
- Bluetooth audio and MIDI through the included WU-BT10 adapter
- Quarter-inch line outputs and two headphone jacks
Cons
- Smart Scaled action is lighter than Roland PHA-4 and Kawai RHC
- Touch-sensor panel is invisible until powered and takes getting used to
- Speakers are small for the engine's quality
Yamaha P-225
Pros
- CFX concert grand sample with damper and string resonance from VRM Lite
- 192-note polyphony handles layered, pedaled playing
- Dedicated line outputs plus a headphone jack
- Bluetooth audio and USB audio built in
Cons
- GHC action is lighter than the actions on the Roland FP-30X and Kawai ES120
- Speakers are small for the sound quality on offer
- Three-pedal unit and stand sold separately
Who Should Buy Each
Casio Privia PX-S1100
- Space is the constraint and you want more than an entry-level engine
- You want Bluetooth MIDI for apps without a cable
- You gig or busk and want battery operation with real line outs
Yamaha P-225
- You want the best piano sound in Yamaha's portable range below the P-525
- You need line outs for a stand mixer, PA or interface
- You play layered or pedal-heavy pieces that exhaust 64-note pianos
Quick Decision Guide
| If you want the finer grand piano sample | Choose Yamaha P-225 |
| If you want the slimmest, lightest piano with battery power | Choose Casio PX-S1100 |
| If you want Bluetooth MIDI for wireless apps | Choose Casio PX-S1100 |
| If you record over USB audio | Choose Yamaha P-225 |
| If price matters | Choose Casio PX-S1100 |
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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