Simple - it's price/value is the best at this price range. It beats the other offerings from Yamaha, Roland and Korg not only in keyboard action, but functionality (if you of course ever end up using them all). Yes, there are those that have even better action, samples and sound....but then if you were looking to pay $2,000, would be looking at this review?

Sound
Obviously having the best samples available is the best foundation for any decent sounding keyboard. However, that's nothing if the speakers are bad. Like playing a CD through laptop speakers. Thankfully Casio have equipped the 400R with good enough speakers, although play the orignial piano samples through Sennheiser open air headphones or a decent amplifier system, and it really comes alive. The other non-GM voices are also pretty good too. Another writer's suggestion to layer grand piano and stereo piano was spot on too.

Features
This is not a true work station or professional synthesizer. But it does have most of the basics needed to do some amateur sampling and recording. If you are primarily getting it for piano sound and feel, you really can't go wrong - it is very, very good for that. One thing which I would change in a heartbeat is the ability to alter the metronome volume independently of the main volume.

Quality
It appears to be a solid if not lightweight unit. Whilst this makes it easy to move around and stow, some… read more of the casing does feel a little too plastic; particularly when compared to the many metallic Roland and Korg (heavier) casings. But then again, you can't have it both ways. It is a Casio, whose reliable products always seem to last for years....just think of how long the watches and calculators hang around in draws for years and still work. The hammer-action keyboard quality is up there with Roland, Yamaha and Korg.

Value
At this price, the keyboard beats the 'big three' hands down without compromising on the action of the keyboard. If you want to use the PX-400R mainly for piano sound and feel, have the ability to stow it easily out of the way when needed, and do a little more with it for learning, then this is the keyboard.

Manufacturer Support
My keyboard has shown any problems yet. I went to the Casio website and it seems they have put all the necessary support functions on there. The only thing I would like to find is an update to some of the keyboard samples/voices.

The Wow Factor
This is not a super-sexy keyboard - it doesn't have a functional 'wow-factor' over anything else on the market at this price range (OK, maybe the key action). The fake wood strip is aesthetically appalling! Although it does look tidy in silver, it's not cloaked in sexy black. More 'girl next door' sexy than 'super model' sexy.

Musical Style:
Jazz, Blues, Lounge read less