Casio Privia PX-770 Review: Console Feel Without the Console Price

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

A Slim Console, Not a Portable on a Stand

The PX-770 is a proper furniture piano: a one-piece cabinet with a sliding key cover, a three-pedal base and a fixed music rest, in black, brown or white. At about 70 pounds it is manageable for two people and the cabinet is only around 300 mm deep, so it fits against a wall in a small room.

That makes it the direct competitor of the Yamaha YDP-105. The Casio costs about the same, has a more advanced action and sound engine, and loses the Yamaha's included bench.

Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II

Three sensors per key let the PX-770 register repeated notes before the key fully returns, which matters for trills and fast repetition. The keys are graded and use Casio's simulated ebony and ivory texture, which gives a grip that plain plastic keys lack.

In weight it is a touch lighter than the Yamaha GH3 and Roland PHA-4 Standard but heavier than the slim Smart Scaled action on the PX-S1100. It is a comfortable, accurate action for lessons through intermediate level.

AiR Engine and Speakers

The AiR engine gives the PX-770 string resonance and damper resonance, and the grand piano tone is warm and even. Nineteen tones include grands, electric pianos, organs, strings and a harpsichord. Concert Play adds ten orchestral recordings you can play along with, and the Music Library holds 60 classical pieces with separate hand parts for practice.

Polyphony is 128 notes, enough for most repertoire and double the YDP-105's 64. The two 8 watt speakers fire from under the keyboard and are the weakest part of the package: fine for practice, thin for a living room. The PX-870 doubles the speaker count and power.

Connectivity

USB to Host is class compliant for MIDI to computers and tablets, and Casio's Chordana Play for Piano app gives on-screen control over that cable. There is no Bluetooth, no USB audio and no line output, which is normal at this price for consoles but worth knowing if you record.

PX-770 or PX-870?

The PX-870 shares the action and engine and adds 256-note polyphony, a four-speaker 40 watt system with a lid simulator, and audio recording to a USB flash drive. If the piano will be played through its speakers in a living room, the PX-870 is worth the extra. If it will mostly be played on headphones in a bedroom, the PX-770 delivers the same touch and tone for less.

Against the Yamaha YDP-105, the PX-770 is the stronger instrument in action, engine and polyphony. The Yamaha's bench and brand familiarity are its remaining arguments.

Assembly and Placement

The PX-770 arrives as a keyboard unit, two side panels, a back board and a pedal unit, and two people assemble it in about 45 minutes. The pedal cable routes up the inside of a side panel to the underside of the keyboard. Assembled, it is roughly 55 inches wide, 12 inches deep and 31 inches tall, which makes it one of the shallowest consoles available and easy to fit in a bedroom or along a hallway wall.

The sliding key cover is a real advantage over the folding lids on the Yamaha YDP-105 and YDP-146: it disappears into the cabinet rather than standing up behind the keys, and it keeps the top panel clear for the music rest. No bench is included, so budget for one; an adjustable bench is a better investment than the fixed benches bundled with some competitors.

Practice Features and Who It Suits Long Term

Casio's Music Library stores 60 classical pieces with the left and right hand parts separated, so a student can mute one hand and play along with the other at a slower tempo. Concert Play adds ten orchestral recordings to accompany, and the two-track recorder captures practice as MIDI for playback. Through the Chordana Play app over USB, the same features appear on a tablet screen with notation.

The PX-770 suits a student who will play mostly on headphones or in a small room and whose teacher wants three pedals and a responsive action from the first lesson. The Tri-Sensor action and 128-note polyphony give it a longer useful life than the Yamaha YDP-105. Owners who move on usually do so for speakers, not touch or tone, which is exactly the gap the PX-870 fills. If the piano will be played for family and guests through its own speakers, buy the PX-870; if it will be a practice instrument, the PX-770 is the better value.

Strengths and Limitations

Alternatives to Consider

Casio Privia PX-870

Home players who want a console that sounds full through its own speakers for well under four figures

Read the Casio Privia PX-870 review →

Yamaha Arius YDP-105

Families who want a proper three-pedal upright for lessons without portable-piano clutter

Read the Yamaha Arius YDP-105 review →

Casio Privia PX-S1100

Players who want a serious, slim, wireless-ready piano that still travels easily

Read the Casio Privia PX-S1100 review →

Head-to-Head Comparisons

• Casio Privia PX-770 vs Yamaha Arius YDP-105 Compare →

Questions Buyers Ask