[img]http://images.jr.com/productimages/CASPX555CS.PNG?CELL=380,380&QLT=67&FTR=3&BGCOLOR=FFFFFF&CVT=jpeg[/img]

I'm surprised that this new Casio arranger isn't already being discussed here since they are in the stores currently and the new Privias have been a hot topic on other keyboard forums. I had a chance to play the new PX-555 yesterday and I was simply blown away by it. This is the best digital piano of any I've played in recent memory. The action is on par with any I've played, including my own Motif ES 8, and the new triple-layer ZPI stereo acoustic piano sound is equally stunning. I think this lightweight and relatively inexpensive keyboard is going to make a believer out of jaded piano professionals (like myself) about Casio keyboards.

The actual specs aren't anything ground-breaking:

# 128 Tones and 128 GM Tones
# 120 Rhythms
# MIDI In/Out
# 8 Digital Effects
# 80 Built-in Songs
# USB Port
# Smartmedia Card Slot for memory card use
# Split Play functions
# 32 Note Polyphony
# Mic Terminal with Volume Control
# Stereo Sampled Piano Tones
# Auto Harmonize
# Auto Accompaniment
# 120 One-Touch Presets
# Lesson Function
# Song Memory (tracks x songs) 2 x 2
# Pitch Bender wheel
# Tuning and Transpose
# Metronome
# Includes AC Adapter and keyboard stand

Also from Casio:
The PX-555 includes a built-in library of 80 favorite tunes from piano classics to Jazz to better help you learn to play, as well as 120 rhythms. The auto accompaniment feature allows players to select from three different accompaniment modes: CASIO CHORD, which enables play of fully formed chords with one finger, FINGERED CHORD, which enables full chord play in the accompaniment range of the keyboard, and FULL-RANGE CHORD, enables chord play anywhere on the keyboard.
The PX-555 also features a large Backlit LCD, a Song Recording mode with a 5,200 note capacity, a USB port for saving and downloading songs, a Smart Media card slot for easy song storage, eight digital effects and a MIDI in/out port.

That's all marketing-speak... bottom line is that arranger functions are minimal and simplistic, and I suspect that the 32-voice polyphony gets eaten pretty quickly if you try to play any serious piano over the accompaniment. I played around with the arranger section a little and it's very basic... a little too basic IMHO. There are better arrangers available easily.

What grabbed me was the feel of the keybed and the stereo piano sound coming from the internal speakers... highly addictive. Casio claims this is the lightest hammer-action digital piano on the market currently, and I think they are right. The stand is included. I can't say enough about how good the piano sound is - you'll have to play it yourself.

This is where Yamaha/Korg/Roland are missing the mark and Casio has stepped up and delivered: the new PX-series Privias are serious digital pianos first and foremost. At $899 list I'd be content if the PX-555 was nothing but a great digital piano, but the other sounds are very good also. The arranger features are almost an afterthought, but at least we now know that a lightweight low cost 88-note arranger is not too much to ask for. Believe me, I'm already thinking of ways to use this on stage.

[This message has been edited by Esh (edited 10-02-2005).]