Casio PX310 Privia 88-Key Hammer-Action Keyboard

202 Tones. 120 Rhythms. ZPI Tri Element Sound Source with a 88-Key Scaled Hammer Action.

Overall User Ratings (based on 30 ratings)
  • Overall:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Sound:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Features:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Ease of Use:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Quality:
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Value:
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Manufacturer Support:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • The Wow Factor:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(30) (see rating details)
Submitted February 22, 2006 by a customer from yahoo.com

"Privia -> Casio breaks their keyboard mold, and thunders into the digital piano market."

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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Even though the sound quality may not be as "perfect" as a $2000-$3000 digital piano, for the price it is absolutely astounding. The digital piano feels just like a real piano and I'm very impressed with the difference in tones as you press the key harder or softer. The instruments take on a whole different dimension when you just add more pressure. The saxophone will take on a more full gurthy sound if pressed hard, and will be sweet and soft if pressed lightly. The 60's electric piano sound can be perfectly matched up with the sound that was used in Riders on the Storm by The Doors (very excited when I found this sound). All-in-all, for the price, you will not get a better digital piano experience. Casio, with this product will keep me coming back for more.
Sound
The sound quality is very good with this digital piano, beats anything in the price range. The sound on the grand piano for example has a different tone when you hit the keys hard to resemble the hard action of a piano, and when you play the keys softer, the sound and tone is soft and sweet. Even though the sound is still a little electronic when played through a $6000 Mackie system, after everything is equalized it sounds great.
Features
It has more features than the average pianist will ever need. The limitation of features comes in when you're trying to get some synthesized effects out of it. Though it is a digital piano, not a synthesizer. I'm overall very pleased with the features that are offered on this digital piano, and it worked out very well in the studio recordings I did with it. The best feature is the realism of the "hammer-action" I believe. It feels exactly like my Yamaha piano that was purchased 10 years ago.
Ease of Use
The digital piano is very easy to use if you're not getting into too many complicated things. Many of the different settings the keyboard has involve using a function key and a corresponding key on the digital piano which is not labeled. The book that comes with the digital piano has a very clear listing of what each function is on the digital piano and is very easy to understand. If you know what you want, just get used to which key offers your desired outcome and you're all set. A little more user friendly would've been nice, but you can't complain about the price.
Quality
This digital piano has a wonderful feel and is very lightweight with an innovative slim yet sturdy design. The key action is very well engineered and feels great. Though the shell is made of plastic, it all seems very solid from my experience so far. I had a previous casio product made less solid out of plastic as well, and it fell down a flight of stairs. It still works perfectly fine, and I'm assuming the construction of this more expensive digital piano is only of higher quality.
Value
This digital piano is, as I said earlier the best for the price. Casio has really done well with their Privia series rivaling Yamaha in quality in my opinion, but for basically half of the price.
Manufacturer Support
I haven't had to deal with the company regarding the Privia PX-310, but I have dealt with Casio regarding my past keyboard, and they were very helpful, very friendly, and quickly solved my problem.
The Wow Factor
The digital piano is very aesthetically pleasing as it has smooth lines, is very slim and compact while still offering a full 88-key keyboard with wonderfully weighted keys.

Musical Background:

Active Musician

Musical Style:

Acoustic Rock, Jazz, Swing
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Submitted January 29, 2006 by a customer from wsjennings.com

"Great sound, quality and price!"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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I am taking piano lessons, but have been playing around with one for about a year. I imagine I will have some time before I can grow out of this piano.
Sound
The grand piano voice is very natural as well as many others. Beautiful tones are made by layering voices, particularly the grand piano and electric piano #1. The speakers sound nice though they could be a bit louder. When playing with sennheiser 595 headphones, the sounds are TREMENDOUS. Haven't needed an amp yet, but will try one soon.
Features
Plenty of of options with variations, layers and splits.
Quality
Very nicely constructed. Though the shell is plastic, it is strong and probably has a lot to do with the light weight of the piano. I imagine it will be around for quite a while.
Value
From what I have heard, it beats anything under $1,200.
Manufacturer Support
N/A
The Wow Factor
I like it.

Musical Background:

Hobbyist

Musical Style:

blues, rock, pop
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Submitted October 24, 2006 by a customer from aol.com

"The Ideal Alternative Piano"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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I can't imagine every needing to buy another keyboard. This is the perfect back-up to my piano.
Sound
No, it doesn't sound like my grand piano -- but its sound is as good or better than all of the other digital keyboards I test-drove, at several times the price.
Features
I bought the Casio PX310 so I could practice regularly while my "real" piano was in store for a couple of months (sold one house, had to wait to move into the next one). I didn't want any fancy features AT ALL, and was delighted to find that I could just sit down and play without having to learn anything complicated. We've moved now, and there is no way that I will follow through with my original plan to sell it. It fits nicely in a spare room, and I have fallen in love with three things that my grand piano cannot provide: I can practice with headphones -- wonderful when starting work on a new piece, practicing the same tiny sections over and over (which used to result in a miserable spouse), or for playing in the middle of the night; I can record myself (not always wonderful); and it fits neatly into the boot of the car, so the fact that few hotels these days have pianos is no longer a problem.
Ease of Use
I am not a natural techie, and the fact that one can just sit down and play was a great boon.
Quality
It seems to be quite sturdy, and well finished.
Value
From the research I did before buying, the PX310 represents outstanding value.
The Wow Factor
It is quite attractive, and certainly has greater aesthetic appeal than I would have asked from a keyboard.

Musical Background:

Piano student

Musical Style:

Classical
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Submitted July 24, 2007 by a customer from yahoo.com

"A nice sounding keyboard with a GREAT action for the price."

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
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It feels REAL GOOD. thats why I bought it. 32 note polyphony. You have 10 fingers on yours hands. This about playing 12 note chords 3 times with the sustain pedal down. If you play a song like that, okay then, you might want a 128 Polyphony keyboard. But overall you will be fine with this one. If you want a pretty decent sounding "grandpiano" sound, with nice epiano sounds, want a Good expensive feel, and a SLAB (it feels sooo small.) this is your keyboard. If you are a pianist and need a cheap keyboard to practice on, but have access to a real piano, this is your keyboard. Why do I say that? Because this sound will not replace a true piano, or again a more expensive keyboard. a 4 year old should be able to pick it up fine. Its about that heavy. I give it a 8. good price. good feel. Its what I was looking for.
Sound
You can tell that it is not an expensive keyboard. you get what you pay for. Nevertheless the sounds are pretty decent if thats not all you are looking for. The only sounds that Im really refering to are the piano sound. It sounds sampled and somtimes fake. the e-pianos sounds fine.
Features
Its really nice for the price. Again, if you are looking for a digital piano, this is very good for the buy. Its competitor is in my opinion the yamaha and the m-audio Prokeys 88.
Ease of Use
If you are good with common sense or were born in the last 30 years, you will have no problem with it.
Quality
I like the feel of this keyboard, and that is the reason I bought it. I play piano. Piano is my thing. Im moving to Europe for a year as an exchange student and wanted my own piano to not drive ANYONE crazy for playing passages over and over again, etc. I was looking for a slab digital piano for a real decent price, and after SERIOUS looking, I settled for this one. If you like pianos with a harder action, settle with this one. Ive touched the others. Yamaha is significantly softer than this one (which made me not buy it) and the M-audio which I really was going to get, has the black keys indented in the keyboard, so they stick low and yes you can play it much easier that a real piano, but thats not what I want it for. I want a realistic feel. This piano does not feel cheap for the price.
Value
I was able to get the keyboard off a shop.com for 440 plus handling to a grand total of $499. If you think about it if you are shopping for these keyboards, you will get what you pay for. We all want the $ 2500 keyboards, but its just not going to happen. This keyboard will give you what you pay for, and it is better overall than its competitors
The Wow Factor
Who wants a 599 keyboard lol. Its very nice for the price. its really all I need. However If I wanted to throw away a lot of money, or just found a need to get something better, I obviously would have. its real nice for the price dont get me wrong.

Musical Background:

Professional student musician

Musical Style:

Classical and Jazz piano, and any color of the rainbow lol
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Submitted April 23, 2006 by a customer from gmail.com

"Quality from Casio?! It's not a lie anymore!"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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I don't expect to buy another keyboard (although maybe a vocorder), unless this one breaks or gets stolen, ever.
Sound
Still put it through a mixer, but the weighted key GM plays beautifully, much better than the CTK-571.
Features
Quick tone switching, Volume dial (not slider!), free damper pedal, all I wish it had was a pitchbend whammybar.
Ease of Use
Once you learn the interface, it is the easiest thing to manipulate. However, it's a bit of a pain to learn, although very well thought out and economic.
Quality
Would need a hardcase for road use, (don't want a drumset falling on it) but it is well made, no loose parts, reliable sound, well made input/output bits. Treat it like a guitar- don't smash it against things, but it can bump around and fall occasionally without dying.
Value
If they keep up this high quality stuff, Roland & Technic do not stand a chance.
Manufacturer Support
Impossible to find english user manuals online (i bought the display model from the store, and they forgot the manual), but german is close enough, right?
The Wow Factor
The 310 and 555 have the most appeal to me, as I use them for the GM features not available in the 300 or 700 models. It basically combines all the fun crap from the toy keyboards casio made in the 90's with the quality and clarity of tone available from an actual piano.

Musical Background:

hobbyist, recording tech, elitist, braggart

Musical Style:

Shoegazer, crappy jazz, alt-rock
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Submitted November 22, 2006 by a customer from aol.com

"TELLING LIKE IT IS"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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Hey, with the PX 310 and my laptop and the videos and the Band In Box program I can learn to play a hell of a lot faster and a hell of lot cheaper then taking lessons! Total cost for the keyboard and videos and Band In A box is about $1200. Match that against the cost of lessons for 3 years and paying $5,000 and more. Hey it's not rocket science!
Sound
At last, a piano I can learn with! This is an awsome instrument to learn on. It was on sale for under $500 and at that price it's a great learning tool. To be honest I didn't think much of Casio as a keyboard maker. I was all Yamaha because of the piano like sound. But after hearing the PX-310 at the store, wow, it was better than my old Yamaha. Also, with this keyboard I won't need piano lessons. Nope, with my laptop and Bank In A Box software and a library of piano videos I will learn an year's worth of lessons - in one month.
Features
Probably the most useful feature, in terms of learning, will be the ability to record and play back. On track 1 I can record the left keys then play back and work out the melody on the right side. Using the video's I can learn stuff I WANT TO LEARN - Not the boring abstract stuff you get from piano teachers. Wow when are they ever going to learn how to teach!
Ease of Use
Hmmmm are the option buttons intuitive? Nope, yah have to read the instruction manual and start pushing buttons. Would help if they included examples. If you're buying this piano for your kid, you will have to learn the buttons then show him/her how to work it. BUT! once you understand how the buttons work, it becomes easy. Frankly, the manual sucks. So you write your own manual - after you figure out how to use all the buttons. Yah, you need to make up a manual that makes sense to you!
Quality
For the price? AWSOME SOUND AND QUALITY. I WILL USE THIS KEYBOARD FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. This keyboard is my ticket to learning how to play like a pro - and it will be fast! Not the years and years of taking lessons. Yep, within an year I expect to play like freaking Liber-Crochie!!
Value
There is a lot of good stuff out there for low bucks. The PX 310 is one of the best. If you want the high qual stuff then shell out the $2,000. For a beginer, save your wuad until you're up high on the learning curve.
Manufacturer Support
No experiece working with this outfit. But if the manual is anything like what I should expect, then it must suck too!
The Wow Factor
The PX-310 look really kewl in the corner. I have a lamp over it and a place to put my laptop behind it so I can take lessons from Band In A box and learn all those kewl piano riffs and the blues runs. I can play the videos on my laptop and learn to quickly pickup on hand positions and learn what turns me on. Sure beats taking those stupid lessons from a music store!

Musical Background:

Hobby

Musical Style:

R&B, ROCK, BLUES
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Submitted December 16, 2006 by a customer from gmail.com

"Light, but solid, with excellent piano feel keys"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Well, because of the keys and the lack of second pedal I kept the casio and returned the ypg625. I have connected to my computer and with a software piano (akoustic piano) now I also get an amazing sound. I will keep it for years to come.
Sound
The default grand piano is a bit to bright for me. Even after lowering the brilliance, still there was something unnatural about it. No improvment through quality headphones. However the Mellow Piano voice was like a very good natural upright, which I ended up playing most time. Speakers are good, but not as good as yamaha ypg625 which I evaluated in the same time (which also had slightly more natural sound too). The keys have a slighty heavier feel than ypg625. I like this a lot.
Features
Well it has almost all the features of ypg625, but without the lcd screen and the dial wheel and a lot less buttons to get them. so you need the manual to use them initially. I don't need them anyways (auto acco, etc). NO METRONOME!!! - this is serious! especially for practicing with headphones I had to connect my computer to line in with a metronome software
Ease of Use
if you just want piano is simple. If you need more you need to read the manual. After a few days though you feel pretty confortable. Still a clumsy old timer, button saving interface, but usable.
Quality
Seems well made. Rock solid keys and core. the shell is plastic, but still very nice.
Value
I think it is a very good deal. though ypg625 is close with wood stand, better look, usb, screen, and a more natural sound (but lighter keys).
Manufacturer Support
they responded quickly to my question
The Wow Factor
it is very elegant. yes, you will like it!

Musical Background:

Hobbyist 8 years

Musical Style:

Classic
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Submitted July 13, 2006 by a customer from wp.pl

"The changes are comming in keyboards market"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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Sound
Best sound for the price
Value
I would say 15, I am sure company is going to make banch of money with this product. As a piano teacher I have already recommended it for 2 students.
The Wow Factor
with the $1500 2ghz dual core laptop with decent external sound card and a software that I already have it beats everything that is avaiable on market today

Musical Background:

Active Musician

Musical Style:

Classical, Jazz
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