Over the last couple of weeks I have demoed the Casio WK-110 and Yamaha NP-30. My impression of both was surprising to me.

The NL-30 looks good, has 76 keys, weighs 12 lbs, has midi and several sounds.

To me, the feel of the keys was not pleasant nor was the piano sound. Actually none of the sounds impressed me in other than a negative way.

I remember seeing a post someplace that through external speakers it sounded as good as any of the other Yamaha keyboards.

However the sound of the PSR-E403 sitting right next to it was much better.

It may be ok as a midi keyboard controller, if you like the keys.

At $299, I think this will be a sleeper for Yamaha, especially when compared to the WK-110 for $100 less.

This was a major surprise for me, as I have never been a fan of Casio. This keyboard is attractive to the eye, weighs 15 lbs, has a pretty good key feel, but most importantly the sounds. The sounds that interest me anyway are quite good. Much better than the NP-30.

The piano, vibes, funk piano, and some others, I didn't try them all, were really outstanding. This thing will sell like mad to all categories of players, IMHO.

The rhythms were very well constructed, although the tonal quality from what I could tell in the little that I checked out that feature didn't sound as good as the PSR's.

For $199 I can see this as a good keyboard for beginner piano students, to take along on a trip, for an arranger keyboardist who wants 76 keys to improve his piano chops and I feel that we will see a number of these pop up in public on piano gigs. Yep, you heard me correctly. I am seriously thinking of getting one myself for when I am playing piano in a 10 piece band where I don't need all the other stuff on my Tyros 2.

One major con on the WK-110 is it only has USB to midi. As I understand it, it will not work as a midi keyboard controller.

Both keyboards just have a headphone jack for output.

I will probably test them both out with my speakers when I have time to see how they sound that way.

Here is a clip I found on YouTube on the Casio. I wish I knew what these people were saying, but I don't speak Spanish. The interesting thing to note here is that it appears to be a TV show and it's set up in a band who is using what appears to be Marshall stacks or something on that order. Normally a very unlikely combination

It is obvious though that at the end of the guy talking about and playing the WK-110, he has both thumbs up.

Don't bypass at least trying the WK-110. I think for what it is, it will surprise you too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwSpJLnkTi4

One other thing, the WK-110 is at Guitar Center's and Radio Shack, among other stores making it very accessible to the public.

[This message has been edited by Scott Langholff (edited 10-28-2007).]

Unlike the PSR S900...

I went down to Guitar Center in P'cola yesterday, Scott, and was disappointed that NO high end (or even what I'd call mid-line, like S900) arrangers were on site at all. Sad...

Yes, Diki, isn't it simply amazing with the population of this area with all the interconnected towns that have grown together into one, and GC thinks nobody here would be interested in a PSR-S500,700, 900 etc?

They are all special order. They will not git one in for you just to try. Although, I think you can return it within 14 or 30 days.

The closest dealer I know of in the Florida panhandle area is in Mobile, AL:
http://www.andysmusiconline.com/

You can get a manual (.pdf in English) from here.
http://world.casio.com/emi/download/en/manual/

p.49 talks about using the USB for midi control of Computer software on a PC. (only) So if you want to use it as a Controller for another board it looks as though you'd have to midi thro' it back out of the PC to the other KBoard. Not too bad if you're a home user I suppose. More fiddly for travelling players (need to take laptop)?

John

Thanx John!

Here are a couple of sound demos:
http://www.casio.com/products/Musical_Instruments/Portable/WK-110/

Eric

Then again, for the NP-30 there is the possiblilty of using it as a midi keyboard controller with, in my case the Tyros 2.

Here are some pics and posts on this subject. One setup even shows a bass pedalboard being used.

I definitely want to try the NP-30 again using my speakers. It's just that the sound coming out of it's built in speakers just sounded, I don't know, I just couldn't connect with what I was playing and what I was hearing is the only way I can think to explain it.
http://www.yamahapkowner.com/forum/index.php?topic=8123.0

I think you may have to register to be able to see the pics in the above forum.

Scott,
I have sold many NP-30's at my store. I too agree that the internal speakers don't make the piano sound very good. However, when I plug it into an external system, the piano really comes to life. All of the customers I demo this too are given a chance to hear it both ways. My comment is that the internal speakers, one on each end of the keyboard are fine for practicing, but to really heara the grand piano at it's best, use an external amp.


------------------
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California
818-881-5566
www.kayesmusicscene.com

Scott,
Squeak_D bought an NP-30 some time ago.
Haven't seen him on in the forum for a while, but if you search the site you will find his reviews.

[This message has been edited by trident (edited 10-29-2007).]

Scott,
A quck view at the Casio specs on the site, (surprisingly this keyboard is not listed at the European site), show an "HL sound source", which is what early Casio Privias were using, and what my 13 year old Casio is using. Their specs are very similar. The current one is the "ZPI sound source" found on Casio Privia and WK 3000 and above.
But if it sounds good to your ears, I think you can't get wrong for that price, it costs less than a good keyboard case.

While better speakers MAY make the internal piano sound of the NP-30 sound better (if not good), nothing addresses how awful that key-bed is.

The only thing piano-like about it is that it has 88 keys! And few of us play to the extremes of an 88 note-er. Might as well just get a plastic 76...

I realize that for just a few hundred dollars, you can't expect too much, but I feel that most of us here probably have FAR better grand piano sounds in our arrangers, so looking at an 88 note CONTROLLER keyboard in that price range offers choices that are far more flexible, AND probably a FAR better action.

JMO... yada yada yada

[This message has been edited by Diki (edited 10-29-2007).]

The NP-30 has 76 keys.

Whoops, forgot that!

Anyway, I played one briefly, went 'yuck!' and moved on quickly. But it MIGHT make a good 76 controller for a PSR player that was used to ultra-lightweight feeling keys...

But a sad compromise for a piano player... IMO

Oh, and I'm curious... Why do Yamaha think their customers need THIS, but don't need ANY 76 arrangers? Here's the perfect key-bed (nice and light and cheap) to stick in a 76 S900, for instance....

Diki,

I didn't like the NP-30 any more than you did...the action was just okay.

A very well made keyboard nevertheless....and cleverly marketed...selling very well.

Real piano playing requires weighted hammer action...anything else is a very poor compromise, including your G70.

I sent back my sample NP-30...too frustrating playing piano pieces on such a light action... real piano touch is vital for me... a 76 note semi weighted action is just too...wimpy.

Ian

Amazing reading this that you happy with the super light 61 key action on the S900?



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 10-29-2007).]

I do like the key action...better than the T2, actually.

The PSR-S900 isn't a digital piano nor would I play it as one...it's an arranger with a piano sound as only one of it's many sounds.

Weighted action doesn't lend itself well to most other sounds, as you are probably aware.

The S900 does what I want very well...it's inexpensive, light, and sounds exceptional..the SA voices are awesome...no one else comes close...no one.

But, it is not a digital piano.

I may look at a CP-33, but that won't be till I'm back to work full time.

Ian

I played the Casio at Target today for a few minutes. It sounds really good. I was surprised. I wouldn't hesitate to buy it for something to play at home, or even for the piano sound on stage. But bear in mind, I am not a piano player. I don't like weighed action.
I didn't try any other sounds.
I played one style, an 8-beat and it sounded maybe a little better than my old WK arranger.
DonM

If Casio would upgrade their chord recognition system, they would be a very serious threat.

Ian

Hi Don

Thanx for your report verifying what I heard. I wondered if I had gone daft.haha I've never cared for Casio keyboards, no offense meant, just a personal preferance. But, this little sucker is surprising for what it is. Not every sound on it was terrific and by a long shot at that, but, they must have a development person or team that like to make sure the keyboard/combo type instruments sound decent. As I mentioned earlier I liked the piano, vibes were exceptional compared to what I've heard on all other makes, there is a Rhodes type sound that I really liked. There was an organ sound or 2 that was decent. The accordian sounded like crap, there might have been some usable guitars, but I didn't spend much time with voices other than what I mentioned. I actually think the piano sounds better than the other and more expensive Casio's sitting there.

If that thing still sounds good through my Eon's, I will be extremely tempted to get it.

The keyfeel, was I guess what you'd call semi-weighted. A rather light touch. For me having more of an organ background it feels real good. For a piano player, it would be an individual thing. Definitly much better than the NP-30 though in all ways, and for $100 less.

My bet is there will be more people on this forum with one of these than you'd normally expect.

Yes, Ian, I agree, if they stuck in just a little more quality sounds, they'd have a big winner. However, Casio isn't dumb, they know the money to be made is in what they make not for the "pro" market if we can call it that.

In a nutshell, just a major surprise.

Interesting, I was just going to edit my post and noticed there is no edit icon. I refreshed twice and it's stil not there.

I'm wondering if my computer is doing goofy things, if the SZ program is messed up, or if we no longer have that option.

Anyway, the thing I was going to mention, besides the different uses I mentioned earlier, this, for some people may be a cheap way to have a light weight back-up keyboard.

I have added the NP30 as a lower keyboard below my Tyros 2. For this purpose it's perfect. Very lite. Very slim Graded action piano type keys. 76 keys. This NP30 is idea and cost effective as a dummy board to trigger the accompaniments of the T2. I now have the full T2 for right hand melody. Price delivered inc Adaptor £169

I have seen pictures of your setup on YPKO...very cool!

Ian

Its a shame the T2 keys have to be supplemented with another KB...
Yamaha needs to address the keyfeel in some of their arrangers, at one point I considered the he S900 but the toyish lightweight keyfeel was a big DEAL breaker for me ... Roland is way ahead on keyfeel no doubt.