"IF THE PRIVIA PX-800 HAD THE NAME 'YAMAHA' OR 'ROLAND' INSTEAD OF CASIO, PEOPLE WOULD BE SNAPPING IT UP. THIS IS FANTASTIC SLEEP" submitted July 27, 2009
By a customer from videotron.ca
Overall
Sound
Features
Ease of Use
Quality
Value
Manufacturer Support
The Wow Factor
Musical Background: adult beginner working hard to become a serious hobbist
Music Style: classical, rock, jazz, folk, broadway
Sound:
The sound it that of a far more expensive piano and the name Casio would not be the first come that comes to mind. While the sound isn't perfect (even 2 perfectly tuned acoustic pianos will sound differently) it has been well sampled. My home it sounds like an acoustic piano, I have had neighbors ask me when did get my grand. I play with open windows. The speakers can be attached so the sound will bounce off a wall, I attached them to face forward.
Feature:
This DP came with no extra accessories and it has the usual basic sounds of grand piano(s), strings, organ, drums etc. Someone looking for lots of bells and whistles will be disappointed. If you want a great sounding DP this is for you.
Ease of Use:
I am mainly using it for the piano sounds though I have layered a couple of other sounds the small LCD screen shows song or tone, etc. you are playing, but it is too small to be really useful. I found there to be no real learning curve other than becoming to playing on full sized piano keys. Most key boards DO NOT have white keys that are the standard 6" length. The manual is easily understood and the English and French are grammatically correct.
Quality:
The PX-800 arrives in a long, narrow heavy box. In my case the box was damaged rather badly (it had been handled by both Puralator and UPS). But due to the fantastic packing done at the factory the was NO damage to any of the parts. The DP is solidly packed and in the instructions it shows how to use the packing material as a base to assemble it. The fit and finish are first class and ALL the holes for the screws attachments line up perfectly. No cosmetic or other blemishes of any sort. Other companies could learn from Casio re packing/shipping. It does take 2 people to assemble it, but the instructions are very clear and easy to follow. The pedal bar at first glance does seem weak, but once attached to the body it is sturdy enough, though I wouldn't use it as a foot rest. The pedals work well (I have a heavy foot)and are responsive.
Value:
The value for your dollar is fantastic! It has the sound and touch/feel of a DP that would be retailing in the 2K area. If it was manufactured by almost any other company, it would be rated as a must have. Casio has done a great job developing its current line of DP's and I have absolutely no buyer's remorse for purchasing it. In the past 5 months I have tested many models from other companies that cost significantly more and the sound and touch in several cases was very disappointing. People have to stop looking at just the name of a DP or give in to the pressure of sales staff. The PX-800 fits a niche for those of us who have limited budgets, small homes or children just starting out in lessons, plus have I said it before it has great sound and playability.
Manufacturer Support:
While researching this DP I had to contact Casio about several things which their websites didn't explain. I sent 2 e-mails, which to this day, have gone unanswered (shame on you Casio!). I then contacted Casio Canada by phone and after a couple of false starts found 2 very helpful techs who answered my questions. At one point a tech had to call me back and did so in less than 24hrs. If it was for the unanswered e-mails I would have rated the support as a 9.
The Wow Factor:
This does have the look of a "piece of furniture" and is not very portable, but it can be moved easily from room to room or up/down stairs. The design is clean and simple and it has a small footprint while at the same time being solid. There is a sliding dust cover to protect the keys.
Overall:
The PX-800 has all the features I need/want and I have no intention of replacing it for a long time to come. If the day comes where the sound(s) DP's was exactly the same as that of an acoustic grand the I might have to seriously think about it. Until then, I am more than satisfied with my Privia. If, this DP was lost, stolen or damaged beyond repair I would replace it with another Privia of the same series. Believe or not, since I have begun playing on it my musical ability has improved; I'm told I sound smoother and more expressive. What have noticed is that my hands/fingers are less tired or cramped after a long (for me)2hr. session, also, I find easier to locate the keys needed compared to when I played my LK-270. What I like the most is the smooth, solid, heavy touch of the keys, pedals that responed well. My only minor quibble is that it lacks the same type of info screen that most portable keyboards have and no duet mode.
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