Casio has made a bold design choice with the successor to its PX-160 model: The Casio PX-S1000 honors the genre of portable pianos with its slim appearance while also enhancing proven qualities.
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Casio has made a bold design choice with the successor to its PX-160 model: The Casio PX-S1000 honors the genre of portable pianos with its slim appearance while also enhancing proven qualities.
Starting at the end of October 2021, a newer model will replace the PX-S1000. While in the same design, the new Casio PX-S1100 comes with improvements in piano sound and speaker system. A Bluetooth function for MIDI and audio is also on board. The larger PX-S3000 model also gets a make-over – the new model here is the PX-S3100.
More compact than ever: The PX-S1000 weighs 11.2 kilos and measures 132.2 x 23.2 x 10.2 centimeters (W x H x D). This makes it even more compact than the already rather slim Casio PX-160. At first glance, the S1000 almost looks like a simple master keyboard intended for computer use only. You would hardly expect it to have built-in speakers!
The Casio PX-S1000 is available in either black or white – it looks really chic with its glossy surface finish. The control panel is strikingly different: the power button and the volume knob are the only conventional elements, seven illuminated touch buttons control the rest.
All of this emphasizes the slim look and contributes to the overall stylish impression of this portable piano. In fact, the Casio PX-S1000 also won the recent “Red Dot Award” design competition in the prestigious “Product Design” category.
As is usual with portable pianos, Casio offers an optional matching stand (CS-68) and a triple pedal unit (SP-34) for the PX-S1000. This makes the PX an inexpensive alternative to a home piano. The SC-800P transport case is optionally available for mobile use, which thanks to straps also works as a backpack. An external power supply (included) or alternatively six AA batteries ensure the Casio PX-S1000 never runs out of power.
Casio offers a decent sustain pedal optionally, but you can also use universal digital piano pedals. The Casio PX-S1000 technically supports the half-pedal function, but this is impossible with the included damper footswitch.
Casio has developed a completely new keyboard for the PX-S1000. The mechanics are lighter and about 20% smaller than in previous models. Nevertheless, it is a fully-fledged hammer-action keyboard with graded weighting and an improved ivory surface. This keyboard is one of the best in this compact entry-level class.
The Smart Scaled Hammer Action with heavier key weights in the bass and lighter ones in the treble contributes to a proper piano playing feel. The repetition is quite good and the roughened key tops provide a good grip. With five dynamic curves, the player can adjust the touch sensitivity to suit their taste.
As in the previous model, the S1000 offers 18 sounds with a focus on acoustic and electric pianos as well as organs. The polyphony of 192 voices is ample for a model in the price range below 1000 Euros. Casio’s larger PX-S3000 model also falls within this price range – it has significantly more sounds and extended features such as automatic accompaniment and editable effects.
The 2 x 8 watts built-in speakers sound pleasantly powerful and are low-noise. They emit sound both to the front and the rear through openings in the casing. You can also add a new virtual surround effect. Of course, the impression varies slightly depending on the set-up, but the perceived dimensionality of the sound adds a nice vividness to the speaker signal. The effect only affects the speaker sound – the line output and the headphone signal remain unaffected.
The three main concert grand piano sounds are variations of the same multisample, ranging from “natural and muted” to “open and assertive”. Casio’s familiar clean sound, balanced across the entire keyboard range, comes with well-realized dynamics. In comparison to its predecessor, the S1000 features upgrades in string and damper resonances as well as regarding the simulated mechanical noises of a grand piano.
You can adjust five of the sound parameters in four intensity levels or switch them off completely. This lets you tune the grand piano sound to your own preferences – not forgetting the equally valuable brilliance control. All in all, a flexible and expressive grand piano sound that conveys even more brilliance and authenticity than that of the previous model.
Adding to two other good acoustic pianos for rock and jazz are the vintage classics Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer electric pianos. Moreover, the FM pianos with their crystalline sound – typical of 80s pop music – are also a joy to play.
Even more sounds: four organs including a church organ and Hammond, two string ensembles, vibraphone and harpsichord as well as a double bass. All of these range from satisfactory to good. However, the bass is exclusively used as the only split sound. You are free to layer all other sounds while adjusting the volumes for the lower and upper sounds. Further, there is a reverb and a chorus effect with four types each.
The PX-S100 is slightly different to operate compared to the PX-160. The main sounds of the “Grand Piano” and “Electric Piano” categories are directly accessible. The same goes for the integrated metronome, the song player, and the recorder. Most other functions require the use of key combinations.
For example: “Sound Mode” plus C2 or C#2 is used to increase or decrease the seven-stage brilliance. Keyboard sound, as well as MIDI and audio song volumes, are adjusted with “Function” plus D5 to G5. Holding down the “Grand Piano” and “Elec. Piano” buttons, then pressing a piano key lets you select one of the other sounds as an Upper 1 or Upper 2 sound (in the layer). If you want to use all the available features, you should consult the supplied “Keyboard functions list”.
60 integrated MIDI songs, mainly classical piano pieces, with separable right- and left-hand voices – this is familiar from the PX-160. The PX-S1000 also features the integrated two-track MIDI recorder with storage space for 10 songs. In addition, the “Duet” function, which divides the keyboard into two independent sections, allows student-teacher exercises.
And there is also the global memory function for all individual settings, familiar from the predecessor. However, the Portable Piano does not offer real registration memories. These can be found in its big brother, the PX-S3000, although here they are indispensable: This more expensive model offers 700 sounds, an automatic accompaniment function with 200 styles, and an audio recorder.
New is also the possibility to play back audio material via the speakers or the headphone jacks – either using audio input or Bluetooth. There is even a “Center Cancel” function which suppresses the principal voice so the player can take over. You can further adjust the reverb effect for audio songs.
The PX-S1000 now also supports Casio’s free “Chordana Play for Piano” app for iOS and Android. The app is compatible with all current Casio digital pianos. If you use a tablet with this app installed, the control function lets you operate the PX-S1000 much more conveniently. In addition, the app itself offers a note display for the integrated MIDI songs, a MIDI player, and an audio player.
There is more to the PX-S1000 than excellent grand piano sounds and a decent keyboard. The new Casio also impresses with its extremely compact design and extensive features. In addition to important standard functions such as practice songs and MIDI recorder, the super-slim portable piano also offers Bluetooth audio, app-controlled operation, and flexible sound tuning for its A-pianos. Casio also brings an elegant look to the entry-level price segment with a new design. A convincing appearance.
Available since: 04.2019
Keyboard: 88 keys, Smart Scaled Hammer Action
Polyphony: 192 voices
Sound generation: Sampling
Included accessories: Power supply unit, music stand, single foot switch as sustain pedal (optional sustain pedal and triple pedal)
Piano app: Casio Chordana Play for Piano (free of charge, available for iOS & Android)
Manufacturer: Casio
Henrik Bruns
There is more to the PX-S1000 than great grand piano sounds and a decent keyboard. The new Casio also impresses with its extremely compact design and extensive features.
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