I went to Guitar Center where they had this on display along with the PX300 and PX100.

The stereo grand piano sounded excellent in my opinion. There was a $1600 Yamaha digital that sounded a little better, but it had better onboard speakers too. I was really impressed with the grand piano sound.

The feel of the keys were as good, in my opinion, as any of the other digital pianos they had at Guitar Center.

The $799 included stand and onboard speakers.

None of the other voices were any better than the voices I get on my PSR3000.

If you want the feel of a piano, the sound of a piano, and you don't want to spend more than $1000, I think this is the way to go.

The best way to go, would be to get a Fatar or M-Audio 88-key controller, a laptop, speakers, and sampling softare. But this will cost much more money, and it will look terrible in your living room.

I plan on getting one for my daughter for her 4th birthday. I'll have to ask Dano about a price.

By the way, the PX300 didn't sound nearly as good. I'm not sure if the piano sample was inferior or it was merely that the onboard speakers are inferior. The PX100's keybed is clearly inferior to the other two higher models.

Beakybird

Hi Beakybird

I have a PX-400R for the money I didn't think I could go wrong with it. The keys do have a good feel too for the price.

I'm also considering a PSR 3000 and I briefly tired one about 6 months ago. Seems like things like the Cool Voices and sweet sounds are far better than anything in the PX-400R.

What's your take on those compared to the Casio?

In my opinion, the only place where the PX400R shines compared to the PSR3000 is in the piano. Superior piano sound, real piano feel.

The electric piano I tried, was as good as the PSR3000's. The organ I played was pretty good - not as good as the Cool! Organ. The strings didn't sound as good. Woodwinds, saxes, and horns were inferior.

The PSR3000 far surpasses the PX400R in accompaniment.

Comparing the two keyboards is a little like apples and oranges.

The PX400R is perfect for getting a great piano into your home for less than $1000. An extra plus is you get the other voices and some accompaniment feature.

The PSR3000 is a great arranger for gigs, home, and studio.

A PSR3000 owner will never be satisfied with the instrument as a substitute for a piano.

A PX400 owner will never be satisfied with the instrument as an arranger keyboard.

Beakybird

In music stores, the new model from Casio to replace the PX-400R is now the PX-555R which we just received yesterday. Same price, same features, just a new silver color instead of the bronze color. I've been told that the PX-400 will be the "big box" non music store version and the PX-555R will be the music store model. It sounds the same, just a marketing change I guess. List price is $1099 and the selling price with Stand is still $799.00


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George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California

You said it best when you wrote:

A PSR3000 owner will never be satisfied with the instrument as a substitute for a piano.

A PX400 owner will never be satisfied with the instrument as an arranger keyboard.

I'm on that page too with what you said. When I looked at the PSR it just was too small a keyboard, since my music background was with piano. But the Casio just doesn't have the accompainment that I want and have come to depend on playing most gigs. Still not sure what I'm going to buy but am in the market for either a PSR 3000 or a Roland G70. I've mentioned in other posts that what I'm looking for I already have at home the Yamaha cvp107, but it's just not portable.

hmm I saw one of these at sam's club a few days ago for $650-699 I believe... hmm not %100 sure.. it had a Microphone attached to it. I think it was making that same glitch as the wk 3500 when changing banks with the chord accompimant it had a slight midi delay... nice piano feel, couldn't get volume very high and so noisy there hard to tell what u got.. I only messed with it 15 minutes but I wasn't real impressed with it.. I think the wk 3500 had better sounds..for 1/2 price $350 ish..

Its nice for someone who wants to just leave a piano set up in one spot. the key feel etc is good. I could see a piano teacher using it or sitting in a small church.. or maybe a resturant or something where they have music every night since they have an attached mike for a singer...

[This message has been edited by Timo1 (edited 04-23-2005).]

Sam's Club does sell it for $699 with a bench. I bet we could get at least as good of a price out of George Kaye or Dano without supporting Walmart.

Sam's Club sells a PX400. I don't know how this differs from the PX400R.

I would never buy this piece for it's accompaniment function. For me, that feature is just a toy.

I have never tried the WKs, but I would be positive that the piano sample on the PX400R is better.

When I played it at Guitar Center, I had some relative quiet, and I was impressed with the piano sample. Definitely better than my PSR3000's piano sample.

Beakybird

beakybird ...

hmm your probally right the piano is better on the 400... I didnt think the horns guitars and strings were as good as 3500 but really hard to tell at sam's club.. soo noisy.

I Have both the PSR3000 and a PX400R.
I purchased the PX400 to replace a Techhnic NK920 and I must say I am somewhat dissappointed with it.
I was hoping to get a good piano sound and key feel which I must admit I got but find the other voices fall short of what I expected.
So when I got some funds from the sale of a house I joyfully purchased the PSR3000.
Is there any way I can connect the two together and use the best of the two including the PSR3000 accompaniments and songs.
Cousin Ken

Well for $800 or less you get:

1). Excellent piano action
2). A great stereo piano sample
3). A somewhat attractive piece of equipment for a living room or den.

That is all I need from it.

Beakybird