The Casio PX-770 digital piano is the company’s most recent update in its furniture-style digital pianos. This piano replaces the once most preferred console digital piano under $700, the Casio PX-760.
Therefore, this upgrade comes with a redesigned cabinet, a new 4-layer piano sound, and some other improvements. In this Casio Privia PX-770 review, we are going to look at the piano’s features, pros, and cons, and give you a clear indication of what this new model is capable of accomplishing.
Features of the Casio PX-770 Digital Piano
Specifications
- 88-key fully weighted keyboard
- Simulated Ebony and Ivory key-tops
- Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II
- Three(3) types of Touch Sensitivity
- Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source
- 128-note Polyphony
- 19 instrument sounds with 5 pianos
- 60 preset songs and 10 additional User songs
- Damper Resonance and Hammer Response
- Modes: Split, Dual, and Duo
- Metronome, Transpose, Fine-tuning, Octave Shift
- Concert Play feature with 10 songs
- 2-Track MIDI Recorder
- 16 types of Temperament
- 8W + 8W (12cm x 2) Speakers
- Connectivity: Headphone jacks x 2, USB to Host, Sustain Pedal jack
- Dimensions: (W x D x H), 54.7†x 11.8†x 31.4â€
- Weight – 31.5kgs/69.4lbs
Casio PX-770 Digital Piano Design
In the package, the PX-770 comes with its integrated stand and, of course, a 3-pedal unit. As mentioned a bit earlier, this piano features a redesigned cabinet that has fewer seams and minimalistic design. Therefore, the Casio PX-770 digital piano now looks sleeker than its predecessor.
Just like in acoustic pianos, the PX-770 3-pedal unit simulates the functionality of Sustain, Soft, and Sostenuto. To prevent any dust percolation on the instrument while not in use, the PX-770 has a built-in sliding cover. You, therefore, won’t need to clean the piano frequently.
Other than that, the Casio PX-770 dimensions make it easy to fit it into a reasonably small space. And since it is a digital console piano, the PX-770’s weight makes it flexible to move around. The keyboard weighs about 69.4lbs when fully assembled.
On the control panel, the piano’s buttons are now to the left side, unlike the PX-760. The relocation gives the PX-770 a cleaner and less cluttered look. Although there are dedicated buttons for the main sounds and functions, you’ll still have to use some combinations to access most features and settings. You can find these combinations on the Casio Privia PX-770 user manual.
Unfortunately, the PX-770 doesn’t come with a display. However, there are labels above the keys to help you understand which keys to use for different settings. Additionally, once you change a setting, you’ll hear a beep sound (s) to indicate what you have currently selected.
Finally, on the piano’s design, the PX-770 is available in three different colors. That is Black, White, and Brown.
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Casio PX-770 Keyboard
The keyboard here features 88 fully weighted keys with both Ivory and Ebony simulation on the key surfaces. Not most digital pianos offer both the aforementioned key-top simulations within the PX-770’s price range.
The simulation provides a tight grip on the keys and prevents any slipping of fingers when they get moist. You can, therefore, play the PX-770 without such worries for an extended amount of time.
The action used by Casio on the PX-770 is known as the Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II. Therefore, the keys on the PX-770 use real hammers and not springs to create a mechanical movement and feel like in acoustic pianos. Similarly, keys on the lower register feel heavier, and they get lighter once you progress to the higher end of the keyboard.
For faster note repetition, the keyboard also features the triple-sensor detection system found on each key. Moreover, the Casio PX-770 digital piano has three levels of touch-sensitivity settings. It, therefore, means that the volume of the keys adapts to the intensity in which you play.
Otherwise, you can still turn off the touch-sensitivity feature if you want an even amount of volume regardless of how hard or soft you press the keys.
Winding up on the keyboard, you’ll hardly find a more realistic action such as Casio’s Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II in the same price range. So, this digital piano is a fantastic deal for the price.
Sound Quality
Casio used its proprietary sound engine on the Privia PX-770, which is known as the Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source. The sound engine has a superior capacity that gives you enough space to hold better samples, which results in a better sound. It is actually what the brand mostly uses on its high-quality keyboards.
The sounds available on the PX-770 are samples from grand piano sounds sampled at different tonal variations. The result is a seamless transcendence between pianissimo and fortissimo. If you compare it with its predecessor, the PX-760, then you’ll notice the piano tone on the PX-770 is more natural, with impressive resonance and decay.
The piano comes with 19 sounds, with 5 of them being piano tones. Here is their classification:
- 5 Grand Pianos (Concert, Mellow, Bright, Modern, Rock, Jazz)
- 4 Electric Pianos
- 2 Strings
- 4 Organs (Pipe, Jazz, 2 Electric Organs)
- Vibraphones
- Bass
- Harpsichord
If you wish to enhance your sounds, the Casio PX-770 digital piano features four types of both Chorus and Reverb sound effects. You can use them to simulate the acoustics of a Small Hall, Large Hall, Stadium, or a Room making the sound more expressive.
Like many in the same price range, the PX-770 has a maximum polyphony count of 128-notes. The count is more than enough, considering that this piano allows only two tracks for one song.
For the generation of sound, the PX-770 features 2 x 12cm speakers with 2 x 8W amplifiers. Although the PX-770’s sound can’t get as loud as an acoustic piano, it still offers you a decent and excellent sound quality.
Connectivity
Two ¼ inch stereo jacks – These are on the front panel of the PX-770, and you can use them to connect one or two pairs of headphones during your practice sessions. Similarly, you can use these jacks as Line Outs since the PX-770 doesn’t come with the Line Out jacks.
USB to Host Terminal – You can use it to connect the piano with your PC and exchange MIDI files, data, etc. For this to happen, you’ll need an A-to-B USB cable, which you’ll have to purchase separately.
Once connected to your PC, the Casio PX-770 can be used as a MIDI controller for receiving and sending MIDI data to your computer. Additionally, with your phone connected to the PX-770, there are various music apps for both Mac OS and Windows to expand the piano’s capabilities further. One app that stands out is the new version of Casio’s Chordana app. It is compatible with the company’s newly released digital piano models.
The app is available in both Android and iOS devices, and it comes with 198 songs that offer visual guidance of the right keys needed to play.
Extra Features of the Casio PX-770 Digital Piano
Concert Play – This feature allows you to play the PX-770 along with the recordings of a live orchestra, hence the name. Available are ten(10) tunes, each consisting of 2 parts (i.e., a piano part and an orchestra part).
Built-in Songs – The built-in media library on the Casio PX-770 digital piano consists of 60 different piano songs. With these sounds, you have the privilege to practice each hand separately, change the tempo, or just listen to them, among other options. You also have the approval to load 10 User Songs (MIDI) from your PC into the PX-770.
Metronome – This helps you practice your rhythm while keeping a steady beat. It also helps you manage your time in practice.
Transpose – The Transpose allows you to shift the keyboard’s pitch in semitone steps.
Fine-tuning – With this function, you can adjust the overall pitch of the PX-770’s keyboard in 0.1Hz steps.
Octave Shift – You can use the octave shift function to change the piano’s pitch in steps of an octave.
Temperaments (16) – On the PX-770, you’ll find 16 different types of Temperaments to choose from for your specific style of play. The 16 are:
- Equal
- Pure Major
- Pure Minor
- Pythagorean
- Rast, Kirnberger 3
- Hijaz
- Bayati
- Saba
- Dashti
- Mean-Tone
- Werckeister
- Gurjari Todi
- Segah
- Chandrakauns
- Chahargah
Benefits of Owning the Casio PX-770 Digital Piano
One of the benefits of owning the PX-770 is the fact that it doesn’t demand too much for storage. The piano is compactly built and can seamlessly fit into any small apartment. Therefore, you get to save on space and still own an impressive upgrade.
Once you purchase the PX-770, it comes with the 3-pedal unit supporting the simulation of all the pedal functionality in acoustic pianos.
Ebony and Ivory simulation on the PX-770’s key surfaces provide you with a proper grip of the keys. Also, the key-tops absorb any moisture from your fingers and prevent them from slipping.
Furthermore, the Concert Play feature offers the assistance of playing alongside the recordings of a live orchestra. This feature will familiarize you with the concept of a live performance, hence boosting your confidence.
Reasons You Should Buy the Casio PX-770 Digital Piano
One of the obvious reasons to purchase this musical wonder is if you are seeking an upgrade from the PX-760 console digital piano.
Considering its overall features and the fact that it is an upgrade, the Casio PX-770 price is relatively affordable. Not many within the same price range come with such features and accessories all together.
Another reason to get this digital piano is the fact that it features one of the most responsive and realistic keyboard actions in the market. The Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II has one of the best feels and response that we have ever sampled in the price range.
Who Is the Piano For?
With the Four Hands mode available on the PX-770, learners can sit with their instructors and learn quickly. Additionally, with 60 in-built preset sounds, the beginners are still offered an advantage to learn on the PX-770.
However, when Casio released this upgrade, it was and still is dedicated to professional pianists and intermediate players alike. To them, it offers a better option for practicing their scores in their homes or studios. So, for better use of the instrument, we recommend it to intermediate players and pros.
For the beginners, they’ll have to play on the PX-770 under their instructor’s supervision. This might enable them to exhaust the piano’s potentials accordingly.
Buyers Guide
The Casio PX-770 digital piano comes with a cabinet that acts as a stand and three(3) pedals, which means you won’t have to spend extra cash on such accessories.
For a digital piano under $2000, the PX-770 is a reasonably decent enough digital piano. Some of the other accessories that come with this piano include:
- Music Rest
- AC Power Adapter
- Scorebook with Concert Play songs
- Owner’s Manual
Pros
- Impressive keyboard
- Affordable upgrade
- Concert Play feature
- Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Engine
- 128-note polyphony
- Compact design
- 19 fantastic sounds
- 2-track MIDI Recorder
Cons
- Lacks a display
- Lacks an audio recorder
- No USB to Device terminal
- Fewer sound customization options
Is Privia PX-770 Good?
The Casio Privia PX-770 is one of the best 88-key digital pianos on the market for those looking for a low-cost digital piano. This digital piano combines realistic feel and touch keys, high-quality sound, multiple upgraded instrument voices, and a sleek lightweight design at an affordable price.
Final Thoughts
One thing we loved about the Casio PX-770 digital piano is the value for money that it comes with. It’s because most digital piano upgrades come bearing high prices as a result of improved features and build quality.
However, the piano is affordable and still has the essence of an upgrade both in its build and features. The grand piano sounds together with effective key action, provide you with an authentic piano playing experience.
There’s also the 128-note polyphony count that allows you to play some of the most complex music pieces on the PX-770.
Other than the in-built song library and the different sound effects, the PX-770’s body also enhances the sound quality of the piano. The cabinet style design makes the sound more vibrant and more resonant.
So, that concludes our review, and we hope to have assisted you in making a viable decision on your purchase.
