🎹 Casio PX-S5000 vs Roland FP30X - Digital Piano Review & Demo 🎹

[@alexchoo7190]

I bought my piano a year ago but I still love to watch your reviews.😊🎉cheers

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you so much for the support and for tuning in! We appreciaie it immensely! :)

[@Svarthok]

You do a great job Stu! I like all of your videos, I always learn plenty watching them. I also appreciate how eloquent you are, using a very inclusive language. We need more of that. Moreover, after circa five-six years of looking at pianos, thoughts of bying one, watching you (and a few other youtubers) I finally, at the tender age of 40, decided to buy my very first piano. First ever instrument, actually. And it just happened to be a FP30X. That was two days ago. I am having a blast plying on it, but it is VERY hard! I can't wait to improve my skills over the years. Again, thank you for all the great content, and the nice community you have created here! 🙂

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi Jon! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks so much for tuning in and for your kind words! I will certainly pass them along to Stu. :) And congrats on your Roland FP30X. They are wonderful pianos with a fantastic touch and tone engine! I know you will be thrilled with what it offers for many years to come!

[@realkoko-loco]

Thanks, Stu. I think that you are the best reviewer of anything--literally anything. You have a fantastic presentation style with regard to speech rate, diction, and temperament. Combined with your intense knowledge, experience, and playing skill, every thoughtful video is a gem. You're truly a master. 👏

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi Jason! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks so much for tuning in and writing in! I will be happy to pass along your kind words to Stu! Happy playing and all the best! :)

[@okay1904]

100% He is consistently at the top of his game. But I think he makes some instrument sound much better than they actually are because of his brilliant playing. And I must give it to him, he covers such a wider range of popular instruments from the key brands (with exception of Korg).....

[@javierojuel]

In Europe you can buy the Roland Fp30x for about 680€ and the Casio PX5000 for 1150€ that it's the price for the Fp60x. In Europe the Roland has a great price point with very good sound, features and action for the price

[@MerriamPianos]

There are some important differences in pricing from region to region that will factor into the equation for some shoppers. In either case, both of these pianos offer excellent options that pack a lot of value and quality for their respective price points. :)

[@thalescatao]

Much easier to see what you're actually playing from the top view camera. Great man Stu

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for tuning in! Glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@Nutroastman]

You are an excellent reviewer due to you thoroughness and general expertise. I really enjoy watching you and learning what to look for along with what may or may not be important. Thank you for your hard work to help us find the 'right one'.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thank you for the support and kind words. I know Stu appreciates them immensely. All the best and happy playing! :)

[@volodymyrgunin]

always great reviews! love it thank you

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks a million! We appreciate it! :)

[@Transterra55]

On the acoustic piano sounds, the Roland has a beautiful clarity in the midrange, and the Casio has a fullness throughout the entire range. Both are extraordinary for the price--this is a difficult choice, so I would have to play each one to see which action I preferred. Thanks for an excellent, thorough video.

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! We're glad that you enjoyed it! It is always a good idea to test and compare instruments in person as the musical experience is not just aural/sonic. There is a deep connectivity between the touch and the resultant tone that should be taken into account whenever possible. :)

[@evadahlgren6389]

@@MerriamPianos about the connection: for me playing on f30 feels more organic then on mp7se, like more control over the sound.

[@BaritoneUkeBeast4Life]

Thank you Stu for this excellent video. I have been obsessed, watching all your Casio PX-S series and Roland FP X series over and over. I just started learning piano for the first time, this past Friday, and bought my first keyboard, the Donner DEP-20. It is really nice, but I really want something more professional I can grow into, since I plan on staying with this fun hobby for many years, both as a creative outlet, as well as learning a skill I can be proud of. I know that Roland, Kawai, Casio, Kord, and Yamaha are the big dogs in the Piano and keyboard world. After watching all your reviews to almost the point of memorization, I have narrowed down my choice to return and replace my Donner with either the Roland FP60X which I am drooling over, or the base model Casio PX-S5000 since they are only $50 US dollars different. I love everything about the Roland, but since the Casio is only a month old and the new kid on the block, I know it's causing a lot of buzz I am afraid I am missing out if I don't go with the Casio. My question to you Stu is this, I know this video compares the Casio PX-S5000 with the Roland FP30X but if you only had one digital piano in your collection, would you choose the Casio PX-S5000 or the Roland FP60X which is closer in price than the FP30X.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in and writing in with your question! Naturally, at the end of the day, the answer to your question is a highly-subjective one. If budget is not a huge concern, I would certainly opt for the FP60X over the FP30X. The sonic experience to the player from the top-facing speakers is much nicer in my opinion. As for the PXS5000 to the FP60X, it is a bit of a trickier decision. I would recommend making your way to a showroom to compare these models to see which one you resonate with more. For me personally, I am probably a little more partial to the tone of the PXS5000, but I am a massive fan of the PHA4 action from Roland so would probably give a slight edge on the action front to the FP60X. Thanks and hope this helps! :)

[@BaritoneUkeBeast4Life]

@@MerriamPianos Hi Brent, thank you for the advice and quick response. I don’t know if my nearest Guitar Center has the new Casio PXS5000 on display to try out yet, but I will check it out if I can. They are the only music store in my area. UPDATE: my local music stores by me, Guitar Center, and two local mom and pop music stores, don't have any of the digital pianos I want to try available for me to demo, without me going over an hour into the city, which is not an option for me. Guitar Center's manager explained to me that they don't have the new Casio Privia, models, the Roland FP X series, the Kawai ES series or even the older Yamaha P515 out for display and demo due to them needing to sell all their floor models to make money. So I have 0 places to try and compare any of the digital piano's I am interested in. I have to choose one online based solely on every KZbinrs opinions that I trust, take a gamble, and hope my decision is the right one and stay with it like it or not, for the next 5 years.

[@ArcticWolves]

@@BaritoneUkeBeast4Life what did you end up deciding on? I am kind of in the same boat but if you can try even a FP-10 at costco or a FP30X at guitar center you will have your answer when it comes to the FP60X for how the keys feel. As for the Casio PXS series I don't think there is anything that compares to the 5000/6000/7000 as far as touch is concerned. I have called all around trying to find a demo model to play just to make sure I am making the right choice. The only other option is to buy the piano try it out for 30 days and if you don't like it return it back to the store and get something else. Guitar Center has a nice 45 day return policy so keep that in mind.

[@BaritoneUkeBeast4Life]

@@ArcticWolves Hey ArticWolves, Awesome name, wolves and foxes are some of my favorite animals ever! Anyway I took a chance with the Roland FP-60X after trying the Roland FP 30X in person, and funny enough I did purchase it from Guitar Center. They had a 15% off sale the week of Black Friday. I absolutely love the Roland it is a thing of beauty and handles like a dream for me. I really like the PHA 4 action and it is very responsive. I ended up playing with the equalizer and the My Stage settings to get the perfect piano sound for me. I like the Heritage Hall ambience environment and I usually play with headphones as not to disturb anyone else in my household so I picked up the Sennheiser HD 599 SE open ear headphones from Amazon for half price during Cyber Monday. I have been playing and practicing consistently about 2 hours daily.

[@cmtwei9605]

Very logical analytical review. The Roland FP-30x came out in 2021 so as we're turning into 2025 it's going to be 4 years, so is the next upgrade to be expected soon? What's the typical product cycle for Roland?

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi there! We haven't received any official notice from Roland yet regarding an FP30X update. With that said, the usual product cycle for a digital piano model is approximately 3-5 years.

[@VictorHuang88]

Very impressed with what Roland can deliver at this price point -- especially the action.

[@mfurman]

I was not that impressed with PHA-4 after using it (in FP-10, A-88 mkII and FP-30X) for approx. 10 months. In each case (I mean all three keyboards listed in previous sentence) it developed certain type of clicking noise. I got FP-90X last October - I liked PHA50 but a couple of weeks ago I tried again Yamaha P-515 (rented it for a week) and as a result I traded in FP-90X for P-515. I am out of Roland camp for good. What inspired me to do it was playing five different acoustic pianos and realizing that PHA50 did not prepare me to play acoustic piano at all.

[@Micxhxael]

@@mfurman Would you say the P-515 prepared you for acoustic a bit more? Though my price range is limited to the FP30x area, I’m curious.

[@mfurman]

@@Micxhxael NWX action of P-515 (that I though in the past to be heavy - it is 85g on middle C) is faster and better action than PHA50 if someone wants to get ready to play acoustic pianos as well, I think. It will prepare me better for acoustic piano playing. Ps. The piano sounds of P-515 are definitely better than what even FP-90X gave me.

[@Instrumental-Covers]

@@mfurman Hi Michael. When I was testing the FP90X vs P515 specifically for you (the day I took a decibel meter to the store to measure the amount of noise level each action made), I felt the PHA-50 was more artificial than the NWX action (the name stands for "Natural Wood with Escapement"). The PHA-50 was quieter, but felt "cushioned" and sluggish, giving me a similar feel as if I try to run on sand. I also tried to detect the alleged heaviness of the NWX static weight, but it actually felt lighter than the PHA-50 under fast repetition. My perception is that the PHA-50 is a premium keyboard action, but not exactly an action that properly replicates the feel of a real piano action. I also took a relative of mine to the store, he plays guitar and knows nothing about digital pianos, he can't even play a chord. I asked him to touch the PF90X vs the Kawai CA49 and he immediately preferred the CA49 and said the FP90X was "too heavy". His verdict is just from a person that plays no piano at all, but I still agreed with him that the Kawai CA49 feels much more responsive and pleasant to play than the PHA-50.

[@mfurman]

@@Instrumental-Covers Thank you! You have articulated my feelings about the action of these two digital pianos very well. When checked with weights NWX is heavy but when played (especially faster pieces) you do not feel it and the precision and repetition speeds are better. PHA50 feels relatively comfortable but I realized that it was not what would help me to play better. I disagreed with you in earlier (much earlier) discussions but I kept in mind what you said and after gaining more experience with acoustic pianos I reviewed my opinions, agreeing with you. It was an evolution for me and it came with time and experience. Thank you.

[@themastermind4967]

Great video Stu as always. I watch almost every review you put out, always very informative and I enjoy listening to your playing. I chose the Roland FP 60 X, the action,speaker output, features and sounds are amazing. I am also enjoying the updated piano application. It is true what you have mentioned about the PHA 4 action, it feels close the the action you get on an acoustic (upright) piano, so its one of the features I really appreciate on the Roland. Looking forward to your next video.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks so much for taking the time to check out our review/comparison videos and support our channel! We appreciate. Congrats on your FP60X! They are wonderful pianos on all fronts (action, tone, features, etc.). I know it will serve you well for many years to come! :)

[@BawdProductions]

Another great review! I studied on a Steinway piano for decades, yet in the past 20 years I have yet to use one in a live setting.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you kindly and thank you for tuning in! We're glad to you enjoyed it! :)

[@antonioperillo1182]

Roland has a better definition of sound and more round in every range of keyboard, expecially listening to acoustic grand piano voices. Thanks to the Supernatural tech and a powerful 11 w x 2 internal loudspeakers that no other piano has. Compliments to Roland engineers! 👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@MerriamPianos]

The SuperNATURAL tone engine offers some impressive piano tones to say the least! :)

[@antonioperillo1182]

@@MerriamPianos Exactly Stud, perfect!!!

[@antonioperillo1182]

The Supernatural engine technology is superlative!!!!!

[@Fretless1]

Thank you Stu Really appreciate your videos Very informative and helpful 👏

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks a million for tuning in! We appreciate it! :)

[@alexgoico]

I wish you would do a video where you played different types of music, some hard and rhythmic, some really soft, some pop, rock, some classical.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you for tuning in and for the suggestion! I will pass along the feedback to our production team. :)

[@randypiano11]

Another great reivew Stu! I'm still happy with my PX-S3100

[@MerriamPianos]

Congrats on your new PXS3100! Thanks for watching and happy playing! :)

[@islandtony5009]

Isn’t the PX-S5000 more in line price wise with the FP-60X in Canada? I know the price of the FP-30X has shot up here since it came out by 20% but the Casio is $400USD more than the FP30X on American websites, and only $100 USD cheaper than the FP-60X

[@MerriamPianos]

We have not yet received our first shipment of Casio PXS5000 pianos, so I am not completely sure as to what the final Canadian retail price will be, but we are anticipating to be in the neighbourhood of the FP60X (but slightly less).

[@Zoco101]

I kind of agree, but perhaps the important features are more similar between the two pianos in the review (such as no screen) or perhaps Merriam didn't have an FP-60X handy. I would enjoy hearing more about the FP-60X - it happens to be the only portable piano I would consider buying if mine stopped working.

[@islandtony5009]

@@Zoco101 I owned both an FP-30 and PX-S1100 - ended up selling both because the user interfaces are so awful to use - given the 5000 has the same UI as the 1100 and is close in price to the FP-60X (which has a spectacular user interface) - I think Casio will have a tough time in that price range…

[@DRT813]

​@@islandtony5009what did you get instead?

[@islandtony5009]

@@DRT813 I had a Yamaha CK88 for ages; amazing stage piano and awesome value; I've since switched to the Yamaha YC61 for organ (play mostly organ in my band); waterfall semi weighted keys etc

[@madisonsinclair5123]

Wow, am I lost. I assume stew is using some kind of app to access the casio's sounds, as opposed to the convoluted key presses necessary to access them directly from the board?

[@MerriamPianos]

Yes, as you can see from the video, Stu has a cell phone connected where he is accessing the partnering apps for each piano. :)

[@zjaeger1800]

Hey Merriam! 27:12 amazing, that the key action of the PH4 has a triple sensor and escapement whereas the more expensive Casio has none of those. Does it mean as a logical result, that you're able to play more delicate / more like a Grand Piano? Or does the Casio solve this issue by an exceptionally good programmed tone-producing algorithm by just measuring the accelarion of pressed keys?

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The Casio PXS5000 does have a very sophisticated dual sensor system that does help compensate for a lack of a third system. With that said, both of these fine instruments have amazing expressive potential in the right hands. Different players will gravitate towards different models depending on their specific playing style and technique. Hope this helps! :)

[@zjaeger1800]

@@MerriamPianos alright, I can imagine. ty!

[@Roberto-qb2dj]

Stu, mi colpisce molto come suoni!! passi da un genere all'altro con grandissima facilità e dinamismo. Mi piace molto il tuo pianismo. Per quanto riguarda il confronto fra questi due pianoforti digitali, considerando il solo pianoforte principale, Casio suona molto bene. Soprattutto nell'ottava centrale. I toni medi sono più difficili da campionare e rappresentano l'aspetto meno gradevole a livello di sensazioni uditive rispetto ad un pianoforte acustico. Grazie per questi bei confronti. Aspetto con impazienza il test di Kawai es120. Ciao dall'Italia.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks so much for tuning in Roberto! I will be sure to pass on your kind words about Stu's playing directly to Stu. :) I'm glad you found the video enjoyable! You can expect video reviews/comparisons featuring the ES120 to hit the moment we receive our first shipment of them from Kawai. Thanks again and all the best!

[@ps3301]

Will there be a review on kawai es120?

[@MerriamPianos]

Absolutely! We are still awaiting our first shipment of ES120s from Kawai, but you can bank on a video review very soon after we receive them. :)

[@iamharrypottah1916]

I want to upgrade from my Yamaha P45 and I am thinking about the fp30x, Casio pxs3100 or a Yamaha p125. My budget is around 600 to 800 dollars. Please recommend one of the three. I have heard the piano tone of all of the three, but I am not able to try the action.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi there! Personally, I would say that the FP30X has the best action of the three. However, if you're looking for a plethora of built-in sounds and features, the PXS3100 is definitely worth consideration. It is a very personal and subjective experience at the end of the day.

[@TheBuddyKeys]

Your comparisons are great!

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you! We appreciate that immensely. :)

[@pianowhizz]

The Casio samples sound like they only have about 3 layers - less dynamic range? In Australia the Casio PX-S5000 is double the price of the Roland FP-30X, so not in the same price tier. Can you compare the Yamaha P-S500? I’m guessing it will blow these two away - in action, sound, and features. BTW nice Toccata in D minor - always a winner :)

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi Richard! Brent from Merriam Music here! I have heard of some very large price gaps in other markets between piano models that are comparably priced here in Canada. We do our best to tackle as many models in our comparison and review videos as possible, but, as you can imagine, it is difficult to cover every single one. With that said, we will definitely add the Yamaha to the list of potential candidates for upcoming videos. :)

[@WoodworkerDan]

Thanks for the excellent video. Based on your previous videos, I purchased the FP 30X and I am very happy with my piano. I am getting ready to purchase a second piano because I split my time between two locations, and I was tempted to buy the Casio because I'm tight on space, but after seeing the two instruments side by side I am going to buy another FP 30X.

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! If you have found a tone and touch that you connect with in the FP30X, it definitely makes sense to keep things consistent. Happy playing and thanks for tuning in! :)

[@illusionyx907]

An each review as a good 5 star movie...)))

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you kindly! We appreciate that immensely. :)

[@domTT]

I don't know if things are getting more expensive nowadays, for new releases product, the FP30X is a lot cheaper even with the full set of original stand and 3 pedals set, comparing to PXS5000 where I am at.

[@MerriamPianos]

We have heard that there are some larger price disparities in other markets than here in Canada. With that said, the general trend industry-wide has been price increases from manufacturers which have been necessary to compete with inflation of material costs as well as the rising costs of shipping containers.

[@darrenshebell3563]

Is it me or is the Casio missing some bass response. Like the samples mic cut off the low end?

[@MerriamPianos]

The Casio grand tone leans on the brighter side, which contrasts the warmer profile of models like the ES120 or FP30X. With that said, there are adjustments that can be made to get more bass response out of the main grand sound. :)

[@So-.]

27:18 Action

[@MerriamPianos]

:)

[@Maximgurman]

Hello! Its some hum noise I can hear in headphones. Guess it came from you mics?...

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for letting us know. Its possible that there was some noise captured in the microphone feeds when recording the video.

[@Justin_collier]

Hey stu, hope all is well. I need advice. I hope it won’t bother you if this is a little long of a comment. You’ve seen many of mine as i am a fan of your playing and hope to meet you in person one day if I’m ever in Canada. I’ve been looking for a keyboard to use so i don’t have to keep lugging my mp7se around that has batteries, and that’s easy to move due to my issues with sciatica where i can just sit it down anywhere and play. The Kawai has outdated pad sounds and i want something to where i can tether them to each other so i can just use the kawai as a master controller if i wanted to, so i can open up my options better. Is there any advice you can give me that may help? I’ve been looking for almost two years but don’t have the thousands for a NORD but the nord has the better pads and synths. Any advice would be appreciated 😀 I looked at the Roland ds88, but then i was like ehhhhh don’t know. I also like that you can choose the colors on the Casio and the gui also.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for your support of our channel. I know Stu and the rest of the team really appreciate it immensely. :) While the DS88 is a very solid instrument, you may find a model like the Roland FP-E50 and RD88 to be more versatile and affordable options to do the job you're looking for. They're super portable, have a great triple sensor action (which makes them excellent controller pianos), and have a lot of crossover between a digital piano and synthesizer. The inclusion of the Zen-Core technology in these models is quite exciting! Thanks again and hope this helps. :)

[@楽士-l4h]

always thankyou！😄 some sounds of ＲＯＬＡＮＤ have gaudiness ＣＡＳＩＯ is a sound calming down . your performance is splendid,too.🎵😌🎹

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! Thanks for taking the time to check out the video! :)

[@hyperseah]

In my country, the PX-S500 is almost double the price of the FP30X. Even though the Casio looks attractive, the Roland is a no-brainer.

[@MerriamPianos]

The price gap between certain models, including these two, is wider in some markets. Naturally, that will impact the decision making process for customers.

[@amanshrestha2147]

Px5000 maybe expensive due to its wood action which both px1100 and px3100 lacked

[@hyperseah]

@@amanshrestha2147 There is no wood action. It is plastic keys with wooden side panels.

[@amanshrestha2147]

@@hyperseah if that's the case then fp 30x is alot better sound wise. Taking px5000 over fp30x would be a no brainer considering px5000 costs twice as much.

[@hyperseah]

​@@amanshrestha2147 * I made a mistake, it seems like the FP-30X has plastic / metal hammers. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqXPhXibftaekKM

[@paulmartin3372]

Why comparing models at different price points

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi there! It is important to note that, in different countries/regions, the price gap between certain models can be quite different. Here in Canada, the gap between these two pianos is not as significant as it is in other countries from what I've heard.

[@paulmartin3372]

@@MerriamPianos nearly double the price in Europe

[@antonioperillo1182]

The comparison of these two digital pianos put in evidence the higher level of Roland fp30x, about my opinion. Surely Casio has obtained bettering in this new pxs5000, but not enough for a competion with Roland fp30x. Besides this latter is sold at a cheaper price and with much more internal voices. For me Roland fp30x is NUMBER ONE, THE BEST IN THE WORLD!!!! 👍👍👍👌👌👌👌

[@MerriamPianos]

Every player will have their tonal and touch preference between these two models. In either case, they are both excellent digital pianos that pack a lot of value! :)

[@antonioperillo1182]

@@MerriamPianos Hallo Stud, I was forgetting, my best compliments for this new professional review rich of details and tech aspects. I follow you always from Italy! 😊👏👏👏👌👌👌👍👍

[@m3rc743]

I believe the fp30x's successor is close considering there's always a 5 year gap every generation i presume?

[@MerriamPianos]

We have not received any notice from Roland on that front yet, but you can bet that we'll keep you in the loop if we do. :)

[@vspatmx7458]

we need casio 7000 VS ROLAND 90X * * * *

[@MerriamPianos]

You can expect that to be in the cards very soon! ;)

[@vspatmx7458]

thanks buddy @@MerriamPianos

[@okay1904]

I spent about two hours recently reviewing the Yamaha P125A and the Roland FP30X, at Andertons in the UK, through the same high end Roland keyboard amp. Why? We have a Casio CTK 6200 - 5 octave semi weighted in church, and a lot of bias against Casio, so I thought it good to look at what could be a replacement. With no apologies, in spite of any deficiencies, the Roland FP30X is the best sounding instrument at this price point. I tried out one Casio in the store, it was such a disappointment, I will not bother ever again - what were they thinking - it sounded sub standard, and on that note when last did anyone ever see a Casio, on the live stage, of a major performing artist or their backing musicians? if this is all one can afford, Roland is what to buy. But its not perfect. The action on the Roland is fantastic. And the sound is dynamic.... punchy, modern. If you want something warmer and vintage - get the Yamaha P125, but it will not light any fires, ok will get the job done, but nothing special. If only I could have the Yamaha and the Roland, cos there are about 4 patches on the Yamaha I wish I could add to the Roland, and the Roland would be perfect....

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts on the P125A and FP30X! I do agree that the Roland FP30X is extremely difficult to compete with at this price point. It is an impressive instrument with a great tone and touch. It sounds especially good through a nice Roland KC amplifier. ;) With that said, Casio makes excellent products as well and their new PXS instruments are fantastic in my opinion. At the end of the day though, touch and tone comes down to a matter of preference. Every player will have their preferred models. :)

[@circedge]

They both sound pretty artificial, especially the Casio in the lower registers, but Roland seems to disguise it a little bit better with the reverb.

[@SWATTECHNOLOGIES]

I bought the Roland RD88 for several reasons, my familiarity with Roland technologies and terminologies, the large number of sounds to work with, weight and Stu's review of the playing feel. He was spot on with that, I LOVE the action on that keyboard. But, regarding the piano sounds, if you’re looking for authenticity in piano sounds, you really need a VST like VSL or Pianotech. The piano sounds on keyboards like these work good for gigging and recording in mixes, but alone they show their limitations so don’t buy these for the piano sounds.

[@MerriamPianos]

For those used to more "pure" sampling-based engines such as those offered in Kawai and Yamaha models, I can understand the sentiment. With that said, tonal preferences are highly subjective and will always be a matter of preference. Furthermore, as Joseph has very kindly suggested, VSTs also open the floodgates into a whole new realm of piano possibilities. There are some wonderfully authentic piano VSTs out there right now. :)

[@Instrumental-Covers]

The PX-S5000 can run on 6 AA alkaline batteries for about 4 hours. It also has 2 amplifiers, rated 8 watts each. In addition, turning on a digital piano and playing nothing consumes about 4-5 watts on its own. So, the question is: can you play the PX-S5000 at full volume using batteries and be pumping 16 watts from the amplifiers for 4 hours? Let's do a calculation: 6*1.5v=9 volts. If Power=volts*amps (P=V*I) and you assume the PX-S5000 uses about 4 watts when turned on and play nothing (reasonable estimate), then 16 watts + 4 watts = 20 watts needed to pump out those 16 watts of amplifier power. That means 20 watts = 9volts*I (current). So, you need I=20/9≈2.2 amps continuously delivered for 4 hours. Now, an alkaline battery is not meant to deliver that much amperage as they are intended for low-current applications. According to some charts, a good alkaline battery (let's say, Energizer) would produce a little over 1AH (Ampere Hour) under that load, meaning that 1AH=2A*x, x=1/2 hours. So, you can expect the batteries to last less than 30 minutes in these conditions. Roland states in their website that their digital pianos consume, in real-life conditions, about 1-2 watts from the amplifiers. The most likely scenario is that the PX-S5000 consumes about 5 watts on batteries at full volume: 4 watts from turning it on and about 1 watt from the amplifiers. I have measured my DGX-670 and it consumes 5.4 watts after being turned on and about 6.6 watts at full volume. The idea that somehow you can get from 6 AA batteries a whopping 20 watt power running continuously for 4 hours is just not possible. Rated amplifier power and Power consumption are two separate measurements. 🔊🔉🔈

[@karlgant8953]

I have a casio px-3000 which I would guess has similar if not the same battery electronics as the 5000. Are you saying if I load up the battery compartment and turn the piano on I will be lucky to get a half hour of sound out of it?

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for tuning in and for the detailed analysis on the science/mathematics of the correlation between battery power and wattage. :)

[@Instrumental-Covers]

​@@karlgant8953 No, you will get abut 4 hours of sound out of it, according to Casio's specifications. What you will not get is 16 watts out of its amplifiers for 4 hours running on batteries. This is a little bit like the lumen output of LED flashlights and the number of operating hours. If you go to Amazon, you see flashlights with "10,000 lumens", "last 12 hours"... and they come with 3 AAA batteries. Typically, LED lamps produce about 100 lumens per watt, which means you need 100 watts to produce 10,000 lumens... do you really think you can get 100 watts out of 3 AAA batteries? To put it in perspective: my soldering iron consumes 40 watts and melts solder flux. Do you think 3 AAA batteries can operate a soldering iron for 4 hours? Or 100 watts to run a 10,000 lumen flashlight for 4 hours? The thing here is to understand the difference between what a lightbulb is capable of producing (in terms of lumens) and what is consuming with a specific power source. What the specs are not telling you is: the voltage and current required to extract 100 watts from a LED. You might need a completely difference power source to get those flashlights to be that bright. The same goes for amplifiers: they might be able to produce 8 watts maximum under certain conditions (with a certain distortion level), but you need a proper power supply. Do you need a lot of power to play piano loud? Not really. As I mentioned earlier, about 1-2 watts is enough power, which batteries can provide adequately in this case. If you look at the Casio PX-S6000/7000 specs, they say that the machine uses 3W*2 + 3W*2 under battery power using 8 AA batteries. So, Casio is saying that you get a maximum of 12 watts output from 8 AA batteries. The most likely scenario is that you get 12 watts maximum from the batteries for a few minutes, then it starts gradually dropping form there, a bit like those LED flashlights that get very bright with a fresh set of batteries and get dimmer and dimmer. Well, in the case of the Casio electronics, the voltage cannot drop below a certain point before it gets inoperable. I invite you to watch the video titled "How loud is 1 watt?" It will clarify common misconceptions regarding the wattage needed to play music at comfortable levels.

[@Instrumental-Covers]

@@MerriamPianos Thank you for your feedback and generous comment :)

[@zjaeger1800]

Hey, nice to c you again :-) Im an electrical engineer btw, and your assumption is on point

[@dirkkeersmaekers4343]

The 5000 is more in the price range of the Fp-60X.

[@MerriamPianos]

It is in that general ballpark for sure, but it also depends on the market. There have been some pretty different pricing gaps between some manufacturers in different parts of the world as of late.

[@Fretless1]

Hi Stu Both units here have their strong points However, What do you think about manufacturing a digital piano that has only one piano sound But...... All, and I do mean all of the memory is dedicated to that piano sound to create the most realistic piano sound ever? I'm talking sampled with the best mics, all 88 notes start to finish with a standard MIDI out so you can connect to another digital unit for the other sounds My personal opinion is that they waste so much memory on sounds most of us never use Example, my Roland RD-88 with "3,000" sounds......how many do I use?......Not many I'm just thinking that a real acoustic piano only has one sound Just a thought 🤔 Again Thank you for all your information All the best Dave

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi Dave! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in and for your kind words! I definitely understand the sentiment and there are some manufacturers and models that align themselves more with that sentiment by eliminating as many "bells and whistles" as possible in order to invest as much money, time and energy in the core piano experience. With that said, no two piano shoppers are the same, so there is a reason why so many variants with different feature sets exist.

[@Instrumental-Covers]

There is a video of Luigi Bruti from Dexibell, who was a former Roland engineer and the inventor of the V-Accordion, where he explains that Roland sampled their pianos only for 1-1.5 seconds... think about it: the SuperNatural piano (not the modeling one) is sampled from a real piano for only 1-1.5 seconds. But if you sit in a mediocre piano and play a note, it will sound for probably a minute... a mediocre piano. The rest of the Roland piano sound is the resonance effects and artificial things they add. I guess that's why Roland sounds kid of artificial.

[@mfurman]

Dave, I very much agree with you. zit sounds silly but one of the contributing factors that made me return FP-90X was that it had features that I would never use. Moreover, I did not use its sounds at all and just used it as a MIDI controller for piano VSTs and as Digital Audio Interface. Yamaha P-515 (I prefer NWX action to PHA50) has two good piano sounds and this is all I need (plus my VSTs). I do not need any sounds apart from main piano sounds. The rest is a complete waste. I have no idea why we cannot have a digital PIANO (and only piano).

[@Fretless1]

@@MerriamPianos Thanks Brent

[@Fretless1]

@@Instrumental-Covers Interesting.....thanks

[@Instrumental-Covers]

I often hear the phrase "sound is in the ear of the beholder", but that phrase is, itself, a half truth. Some digital pianos are simply better built than others. Take, for example, the Kawai ES120 and the Novus NV5S: they both have the samples of the same concert grand SK-EX, but they have different engines. The level of resolution of the SK-EX Rendering (NV5S) is much higher than the level of resolution and detail of the Harmonic Imaging engine (ES120). The Casio PX-S5000 has the "Hamburg Grand" and the Yamaha CP88 stage piano has also the "Hamburg Grand". After listening to Stu play the "Hamburg Grand" recreated by Casio and also (in other videos) the "Hamburg Grand" recreated by Yamaha, I come to the conclusion that the CP88 has more resolution, partials, longer decay and nuances in the sample than the PX-S5000. My ears are telling me something that must have a physical, measurable basis. In the same way that a person should be able to appreciate the increased level of resolution, detail, nuances, shades and color in the sample of the NV5S over the ES120, a person should also be aware that not all digital pianos succeed equally in recreating a certain sound.

[@MerriamPianos]

While it is easy to get caught up in measurable and quantified specifications such as a speaker's frequency response range or the sample/bit rate of a sample or the number of adjustable parameters that a digital piano possesses, at the end of the day, the "beauty", "value" or "superiority" of an instrument's sound will always come down to context. Even lo-fi 8-bit samples may be preferred over the highest quality samples captured with the highest number of expensive microphones in the world's most expensive concert hall or recording studio within certain circumstances. It is more of a case of "if the shoe fits". The right sound is not necessarily the most quantifiably superior. While many consumers and players will find value in these quantifiable specifications or details, to some artists or creators, all sound has value. This concept is not as prevalent within the realm of classical music, but, it is frequently exemplified within genres such as alternative, pop or rock. I would even suggest that this notion and these seemingly "obsolete" or "inferior-quality" sounds and sonic elements are finding their way more and more in TV and film scores and soundtracks. Ultimately, no one, even those that possess the most extensive product knowledge within the industry, is the arbiter of sonic value. Our community members use their instruments in a plethora of ways. Our mission is to educate people on the differences between various instruments and models opposed to compelling or prescribing what the best options are. The "best piano" is the piano that best fits the musical needs, preferences and circumstances of the player.

[@Instrumental-Covers]

@@MerriamPianos While it is true that any sound has the potential to be useful in a specific context, that doesn't deny that a particular sound can be objectively regarded as superior in quality, particularly emulations of acoustic sounds. These are two different things that should not be confused: usefulness of a sound in a particular context and sonic qualities of an emulated acoustic sound. Stu recently compared the PX-S1100 main piano tone with the PX-S5000, and concluded that the PX-S5000 had a superior piano tone. He said he heard "way more detail" coming from the PX-S5000 than the PX-S1100. That is exactly what I am referring to. I hear way more detail coming from the Yamaha CP88 over the PX-S5000. I don't think anybody is forcing or prescribing others which piano to choose. However, a discussion of which piano sound is rendered more accurately is part of a healthy conversation and should not be confused with the usefulness/application of sounds in a specific context.

[@bobbiemiles-foremaniii8747]

I think to a certain level that's true. But it's not like you can just racking up specs forever and the piano is going to keep getting better and betterer There has to be a point where its enough processing power etc

[@Instrumental-Covers]

@@bobbiemiles-foremaniii8747 I agree with you in practice. But my point is different from what you expressed, though. What I am saying is that not all digital pianos have the same level of acoustic piano authenticity, and we should not walk away from that fact by simply saying "Everybody has a personal preference and sound quality is subjective". You probably agree that a Shigeru Kawai SK-EX sounds better than a Kawai K-15 upright piano. Nobody would say "piano sound is personal preference" and expect no objective difference between the two. So, why should we believe there is no objective difference in sound quality between different digital pianos? Casio does not have bad piano sounds anymore (they used to), but they still have a way to go to get to the level where Yamaha and Kawai are. This becomes more evident when you do direct comparisons against a real piano. If you listen to Francesco Parrino (extremely popular KZbin channel) playing a Steinway B and compare it to the Casio PX-S5000 vs Yamaha CP88 "Hamburg Grand", you can hear the Yamaha CP88 sounds closer to the Steinway than the PX-S5000 does.

[@higgy7762]

@@Instrumental-Covers it's easy : a freshly boiled lobster has definitely more olfactory nuances than a pack of frozen industrial shrimps - that's (physical) facts. When Amercians spill half a bottle of Ketchup over that lobster - it's 'personal taste' :=>>

[@ivoboers9185]

Oh men what to buy. Spend couple hundred more to buy these, Or go for a 500/600 euro piano?

[@MerriamPianos]

It is always a tough decision! With that said, the best bet is to try to get into a showroom to do some testing in person to help narrow things down. :)

[@ivoboers9185]

@@MerriamPianos thanks for answering. Great content! Keep it up 👍