Casio Privia digital pianos have a reputation for providing some of the best value for money around. They aren’t usually the cheapest, but they tend to be amongst the most affordable, offering such high-quality.
In this review, I’m looking at the Privia PX-770, a beginner-friendly digital piano with professional quality.
The PX-770 is a full-size digital piano with weighted keys and a sleek wooden three-pedal cabinet/stand. It delivers the key elements of a good digital piano (sound and feel) without going too far beyond the beginner price range.
Final verdict on the Casio PX-770
The PX-770 is great value for money. It provides some genuinely gorgeous piano sounds and a realistic feel for a reasonable price. The controls can be slightly annoying, but you soon forget that when you start playing. Overall, if you just want a realistic piano experience, it’s fantastic.
What I like
- Fantastic piano sounds.
- Realistic scaled hammer-action keys.
- Ebony/ivory feel.
- Built-in recorder.
- Nice cabinet.
What I don’t like
- Fidgety controls.
Why you should trust me
I’m a producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist with over 20 years of experience in the music industry.
As a professional pianist, I’ve played and tested everything from a Bösendorfer Imperial concert grand piano to budget-friendly beginner keyboards.
Contents
Use these jump links to navigate to the desired section of the review.
Sound quality 4.5
The PX-770 is powered by the AiR (Acoustic Intelligent Resonator) processor. Casio gave the technology a substantial overhaul before the release of the PX-770 and now has three times more memory than previous versions.
The grand piano voices were sampled with four levels of dynamics for a more natural and expressive sound. The sound engine also mimics the mechanical noises of a real piano, like pedal noise. Overall, the sound quality is outstanding and would compete with most competitors, especially the grand pianos.
The PX-770 has a max polyphony of 128 notes, which isn’t as high as it could be, but it’s unlikely to cause problems for most players. There are 19 voices in total, including acoustic and electric pianos.
Built-in speakers 4.5
Two 8-watt amplifiers and built-in speakers deliver pretty impressive sound. The speakers are two 4.7-inch woofers and two 1.5-inch tweeters.
Keyboard feel 4.5
This area is one where the PX-770 shines for its price. It has tri-sensor, scaled hammer-action keys with simulated ebony and ivory feel. The weight of the keys is very good, and the progression from heavy to light feels authentic.
When you add the simulated ebony and ivory feel, it gives the whole playing experience extra realism. The texture of the keys prevents them from getting too slippy if your hands sweat while playing, too.
Features 4.0
Digital pianos of this kind aren’t typically packed with features because the primary goal is to mimic a real piano. But, the PX-770 has a few great features to mention.
Modes
Split mode lets you split the keyboard into two zones that have different voices. Using Layer mode is good for practices with a bass sound in the left hand to improve technique. You can layer sounds to create new dual voices, which is often good for cinematic sounds.
Duet mode is perfect for students of all ages who learn the traditional way with a piano tutor. It splits the keyboard into two identical zones so each player can play in the same range.
Metronome
Typically, when people buy a digital piano like the PX-770, they are serious about piano. Serious in the sense that they are learning theory, scales, and so on.
A built-in metronome is ideal for daily practice routines, from basic scales to advanced bebop turnarounds. It will help develop your rhythm and timing immensely.
Built-in effects
The PX-770 comes with 11 built-in effects. There are three effect types that include four reverbs, four chorus effects, and three brilliance effects.
It’s not the most comprehensive range of effects to choose from, but they are more about enhancing the realistic piano sound than creating crazy sounds. The available selection helps polish your sound, taking it from a living room to a concert hall sound.
Recording
You can record your own song or even just your practice session, up to approx 5000 notes. The PX-770 has a built-in two-track MIDI sequencer and 60 internal songs.
In use 4.0
The layout of the PX-770 is very minimal because there aren’t many buttons to deal with. The buttons it does have are neatly tucked away to the left of the keys, which works quite well.
You have a power button, volume control, function button, and controls for the metronome, recording, and sound selection.
While there aren’t many buttons, it does get a bit fidgety because there is no screen. In order to use many of the functions, you have to hold the function button then press another button (all combinations are explained in the manual).
With no screen, it’s sometimes hard to judge/remember which setting you are on or how many times to press a button to get the setting that you want.
Aside from the somewhat fidgety controls, there can be no complaints about the PX-770 at home. It’s a great-looking piano that won’t spoil the look of your living room, or anywhere else you put it. As far as being a good digital piano to learn on, there are few better for the same price.
If you are looking for something as a gigging musician, the PX-770 is too big and bulky to be realistic.
Build quality 4.0
The build quality is really nice, right down to the small details. If you take a step back, you can see that it’s not just a good-looking piano; it looks like a piece of well-made furniture.
It’s not as bulky as some more expensive digital piano consoles, but it’s solid wood; you’d have to try pretty hard to damage it.
The cabinet has a sliding key cover. It’s not just to look neat and tidy, it keeps dust away from your keys. The stand is a three-pedal unit that gives all the feeling of sitting at a real upright piano.
Despite my complaint about the functionality of the controls, the buttons feel great.
Connectivity 4.2
The PX-770 has USB connectivity, making it easy to connect to your computer or other devices. If you have a laptop, it’s easy to plug in and record to your DAW.
There are two 1/4-inch headphone outputs that are ideal for quiet piano lessons. The headphone outputs also double as main outputs if you want to go directly to a mixer.
Compared to other digital pianos
Despite being older than some competitors, the PX-770 is still one of the best beginner digital pianos around. It’s a pretty solid all-rounder. But, if it’s not quite right for you, here are some excellent alternatives.
Casio PX-770 vs PX-780
For just a little more money, you can get the same playing experience with more versatility. More sounds, more functions, and still has that AiR sound engine.
Read the full Casio Privia PX-780 review
Casio PX-770 vs Yamaha YDP-105
The Arius YDP-105 is one of the most popular digital pianos. I like certain aspects of each better than the other, but it’s a close call; it might come down to which grand piano sound you like more.
Read the full Yamaha Arius YDP-105 review
Casio PX-770 vs Korg B2SP
The Korg B2SP is a cheaper option that still delivers a high-quality performance. It’s not as good as the PX-770, but if your budget is tight, it’s a great buy.
Read the full Korg B2 (B2SP) review
Who is the Casio PX-770 best suited for?
The PX-770 suits players of all levels. It’s cheap enough to be worth the investment for any beginner who’s serious about learning, and it has enough quality to keep advanced players happy.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon
