Casio Privia PX-S1100 Review: The Slimmest Serious Digital Piano

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

What Makes the PX-S1100 Different

Most hammer-action pianos are 280 to 300 mm deep. The PX-S1100 is 232 mm, and it weighs about 25 pounds, because Casio redesigned the action to fit a case this slim. It also runs on six AA batteries, which no Roland or Yamaha competitor does, and it ships with the WU-BT10 adapter that adds Bluetooth audio and MIDI.

The front panel is a gloss surface with touch-sensitive controls that light up when the piano is on and disappear when it is off. It looks clean on a desk and divides opinion in use.

Smart Scaled Hammer Action

Casio's slim action is graded, uses simulated ebony and ivory key textures, and senses velocity with a system Casio says adjusts hammer response by key position. In practice it plays lighter than the Roland PHA-4 Standard on the FP-30X and the Kawai RHC on the ES120, with a quick, slightly springy return that suits fast passages and feels less like a grand on slow, heavy playing.

Because the mechanism is short, leverage near the back of the key drops off. Compared with the CDP-S160 below it, the PX-S1100 action is more refined and more consistent across the range. It is a good action for anyone up to intermediate level; advanced players should try the Roland and Kawai alternatives before deciding.

Sound: The AiR Engine Earns Its Keep

The AiR engine on the PX-S1100 models string resonance, damper resonance and key-off resonance, so pedaled chords bloom and staccato notes have a natural release. Eighteen tones include three grands with different characters, electric pianos, organs, strings and bass.

192-note polyphony removes the ceiling that the CDP-S160 and Yamaha P-145 hit on pedal-heavy pieces. The two 8 watt speakers were redesigned for this model and sound fuller than the PX-S1000 they replaced, though they remain practice speakers; the engine deserves headphones or a monitor through the line outs.

Connections and Control

Two 3.5 mm headphone jacks, left and right quarter-inch line outputs, USB to Host for MIDI, a sustain jack and the dedicated SP-34 pedal unit port cover every use from practice to stage. Casio Music Space on iOS and Android gives on-screen control over Bluetooth MIDI, including the piano's touch response, resonance depth and lessons.

The touch panel works reliably once you learn its positions, but changing a setting mid-song without looking is harder than with physical buttons. The app solves most of that.

PX-S1100 or Roland FP-30X?

The FP-30X has the better action, more polyphony at 256 notes, stronger 11 watt speakers and USB audio. The PX-S1100 is slimmer by about 50 mm, lighter, runs on batteries, includes its Bluetooth adapter and costs a little more at the listing prices we checked. If you play at home and care about touch, buy the Roland. If the piano moves around or has to fit a tight space, the Casio is the smarter buy.

Within Casio's range, the PX-S3100 adds 700 tones, rhythms and a pitch bend wheel for the same action and engine, which only matters if you want an arranger-style instrument.

Setup and the Touch Panel

The PX-S1100 ships with the SP-3 sustain pedal, a music rest, the power adapter and the WU-BT10 Bluetooth adapter, which plugs into the USB Type A port on the rear. Pairing a phone for audio takes a minute; pairing for MIDI goes through the Casio Music Space app, which then becomes the easiest way to change tones, touch response and resonance settings.

The touch panel takes a few days to learn. The controls are invisible when the piano is off and light up as capacitive buttons when it is on, so there is no tactile feedback. Holding the Grand Piano button and tapping keys changes settings in the same way as other brands' hold-and-press systems. Most owners settle into using the app for anything beyond volume and tone selection, and a few never love the panel; it is worth trying in a store if you can.

On Stage, at Home and Over Time

Gigging players appreciate the PX-S1100 for three reasons: it weighs 25 pounds, it has true quarter-inch line outputs with a separate headphone pair, and it runs on batteries if a venue's power is unreliable. The slim case fits in a soft bag that would not take a Roland FP-30X. At home, the same slimness means it lives on a desk or against a wall on the CS-68 stand with the SP-34 pedals, looking far more like furniture than a typical slab piano.

Over time the Smart Scaled action is the thing that decides whether an owner keeps the PX-S1100 or trades up. Its lighter touch suits players coming from keyboards and anyone who values speed and a slim case; players who regularly practice on acoustic pianos sometimes want more resistance and the escapement feel that Roland and Kawai offer. The sound engine, polyphony and connectivity do not become limits for a long time, which is why the PX-S1100 holds its value well.

Strengths and Limitations

Alternatives to Consider

Roland FP-30X

Anyone who wants the complete mid-range portable: realistic action, generous polyphony, every connection

Read the Roland FP-30X review →

Casio CDP-S160

Beginners and casual players who need a light, slim piano that can run anywhere

Read the Casio CDP-S160 review →

Kawai ES120

Players who prize a warm, acoustic-like piano tone and a light, well-connected portable

Read the Kawai ES120 review →

Head-to-Head Comparisons

• Casio PX-S1100 vs Yamaha P-225 Compare →

Questions Buyers Ask