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