JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Keyboard and Piano Forum Yamaha vs. Casio

I had a Yamaha PSR550 keyboard, 61 keys, about 3 years old. I liked the basic piano sound a lot, and the light synth touch, but I wanted 76 keys for lower bass notes. Looking around on-line, I thought a Yamaha DGX305 would fill the bill. Every music store had it for $399. I expected it to be similar to what I had, only better. I bought one without playing it very much in the store. They made a big deal out of their "portable grand," but when I set it up at home, I was shocked at how bad it sounded. I had to return it. I tried out several Yamaha keyboards, and all of them sounded like crap to me. From middle C down into the low end of the bass notes, it had this overly-resonant, metalic, nasally harpsichord tone quality that I found repulsive. What has Yamaha done? My old cheap PSR550 had a wonderful piano, as well as hundreds of other voices. I don't know what they were thinking at Yamaha to go with that kind of tone on their newer keyboards.

I blamed myself for going cheap. I tried out a lot of other keyboards over a couple of hours, trying to find a sound, feel, and price I liked. I always thought Casio was a cheap-toy brand name, but they have put out an electric piano that I like a lot. The model is the Privia 400R (no stand) or 555R (with stand). It's 88 keys, weighted, with real piano feel, and close to real piano sound. The tone is a little too pure, it lacks the natural phasing of real 3-string keys, but the overall tone is very nice. The touch can be set to light, normal, or heavy (or off). Nice Stereo Piano, and an assortment of other piano settings, some great electric piano sounds, lots of other stuff. It's good looking as well. Fairly simple interface, not all cluttered up with extra crap. I love it. $799. Great deal.

Obviously, "real" keyboard players go for more expensive, exotic gear, but I'm not much of a keyboards person, more of a singer and guitar player, but I've been writing all my songs on piano lately so I wanted better than what I had without spending $1200/up.

My only complaint is that on certain notes, the speaker covering (fabric over a gridwork of some kind) resonates and buzzes, sounds like distortion but it's not. If I push down on the speaker cover with my hand, it doesn't buzz. I can work around it but I wish there was a way to fix it...

I'm not a keyboard player.

At best, I pound chords.

I wanted something that would have a variety of canned drum and base lines, the capability to add my own fills, and the ability to simulate strings and wind instruments. Of course, I wanted it as a piano too. It had to have a decent sound to it.

I went to the store having done some research on Yamaha keyboards and expected to walk out with one. I played a couple Yamahas and played a couple Casios. All models had similar features. The only real difference was in the sound. To me, there was no comparison - I walked out with a Casio.

Can't swear it would work for everyone - but for me it was just what I needed.

Scott


[This message has been edited by scott59 (edited 05-26-2006).]

I would also go for one of the latest CASIO models. I have a Casio WK-3700 my self and I am very very happy with it.

So many features and wonderful sound...today I would buy it again, if I had the chance.

Now...the latest models are WK-3800 and WK-8000 and they have now USB ports included.


More information on the biggest CASIO Fanpage http://www.casiologie.de

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Greetings Joerg

For Yamahas, which I have had two, one now, you should go with the pro series, and like mine, it was just under $900. Model S08. Has many of the flagship "Motif" sounds. (minus the recording workstation). The pianos are great in fact. Very pro sounding, with seceral styles ot choose from. Small grand, even a Pro K simulation! Like being on stage at a concert! Also has the feel as close to a grand as it gets. NO speakers. Need a system to go into. But way ahead of the home models mentioned. Worth putting it through a stereo setup. Or Keyboard amp. I go though a small PA for rehearsals. Ask Iggy how it sounds. I compared them to the Roland and Korg, (ones in the same price range). His is a Yamaha S80, and that also is a pro series and one of the best. Both are like the Motif (just without the workstation sequencer. Sam Ash is where I got mine, and it was listed at near 12 or 13 hundred. Sells for around 1000. Hung around a while, came back, and got them to sell it for 859.! Floor model, but just out for a week, as I saw it come out then.

John

It simply depends on what you are going to use it for. For a novice keyboard player or songwriter who wants all the cool accompaniments, Casios do the job quite nicely. Hold down one note, and the keyboard takes off playing a whole intro, verse, fill and end. Very impressive. Great for songwriters with limited playing skills. You can amaze your friends and family. The Yamaha PSR and YPG series pretty much do the same thing for the same price.

But,…… and this is important. What brands of keyboards do you see a professional use on stage? Roland, Korgs, Kurzweil for sure, but Yamaha dominates the market from the early DX7’s to today’s Motifs. Ever see a Casio? Nope. That should tell you something.

Another point to consider is resale value. Much easier to sell a used Yamaha than a Casio. If you are just going after great sound at an entry level, try the Roland Juno D. It’s about $550.00 easy to use and sounds great. But YOU have to play it, it won’t play itself.

Iggy
www.badbetsy.com

I have to consider myself in agreement with Scott on the Casio.
Even though Yamaha's bigger line of keys might be sought out more by musicians, the drum sounds on a Casio are a lot more real. As well as the other sounds.
I have a Casio CTK-411.
I also have a Yamaha PSS-50. It's a tiny keyboard that has some of those canned percussive sounds to practice on.
Fun feature on it to where I can finger both bass and drum.

Matt