Casio Privia PX-780 Review 2023: Read This Before Buying (!)

Over the years, Casio have made a name for themselves by being one of the key manufacturers of quality keyboards and digital pianos at an affordable and competitive price. More specifically, the Privia line of digital pianos.

In this review, we take a look at Casio’s PX780 from the well-known Privia line. We closely inspect the instrument and we make note of its design, features, and our overall impression of this piano. So, without further ado, here we go!

Design

The Privia line are famed for being stylish instruments. The Casio PX-780 does not disappoint in this department due to its stunning and sleek design. It features smart and elegant cabinet, like its predecessor the Casio PX-770.

Casio remains the only manufacturer that features a cabinet style digital piano within the lower, or rather more affordable, price ranges.

The cabinet design is welcomed as it provides the user with the feeling that they are playing an acoustic piano. The cabinet also provides for a richer, deeper and more resonant sound.

Casio further stands out from the competition as the PX-780 features a sliding cover to protect the keyboard. A simple yet welcomed addition to an already stunning machine, the sliding cover not only looks good but also protects the piano from dust or any foreign objects being lodged in the keys.

The PX-780 features Ebony and Ivory key tops which provide it with a nice realistic feel.

The Casio PX-780 features and improved digital LCD screen that allows for the user to navigate through the different tones of the digital piano. The inclusion of a digital LCD provides for a much sleeker look as the piano is clattered by numerous different buttons and controls.

The LCD screen also makes it much easier to simply plug-and-play the instrument as users do not have to spend too much time going through the manual to figure out where certain controls or features are located. The interface is simple and straight forward to use.

The Casio PX-780 weighs in at 31.5 kg when fully assembled. Even by digital piano standards, this machine is incredibly light which makes it easy to move around and reposition. This model is definitely worth considering if portability is something one is keen on.

At just 53 inches long and 12 inches deep, the PX-780 is compact and easily fits into places where space may be an issue.

The Casio PX-780 comes in a stunning matte black finish. Unlike other Privia models such as the PX-770, this particular model is only available in one colour finish. Despite this, the sleek design and contemporary finish means that this model will accentuate any room it is placed in.

Keyboard

Featuring an 88-key fully weighted keyboard with simulated ebony and ivory keytops, the Casio PX-780 provides the player with a comfortable and realistic feel while playing. The main advantage of the simulated keys is that they do not make nearly as much unwanted noise as the plastic keys, not to mention they allow for better moisture absorption. 

The synthetic textured keys allow for smooth finger movement across the keyboard. The playability of the PX-780 is greatly aided by the inclusion of this and it truly feels like an acoustic piano when played. 

Though the keys feel extremely realistic, seasoned piano players will no doubt be able to feel a slight, but non-intrusive, difference on the keys.

Casio has made it a standard practice to include the Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action II keyboard in all their digital pianos under the $2000 within the Privia series. This is the same for the Casio PX-780.

The biggest advantage of this is that Casio is the only manufacturer that includes such an outstanding keyboard on a digital piano of this price. It is worth noting that the Yamaha Arius digital, which is in the same price range, does not include this feature. Casio stands out from the competition for this feature alone.

The Tri-sensor scaled hammer action keyboard provides a very realistic feel when played and easily rivals digital pianos of a much higher price range! The keys on the PX-780 are weighted so as to simulate an acoustic piano playing experience. Casio employs the use of real hammers rather than strings in the keys in order to achieve this.

Just like an acoustic piano, the keyboard on the PX-780 is also fully graded meaning the keys on the lower register are heavier than those in the higher registers i.e. the lower you go the heavier the keys, whereas the higher up the keyboard you go the lighter the keys become.

The dynamic Tri-sensor system allows for a more expressive playing whereby the velocity of each key will impact how loud the note sounds. This simply means that the loudness of the note will depend on how hard you hit each key.

At this price range, the Casio PX-780 features one of the best keyboards on the market and it very easily blows away competing models of higher prices!

Sound

The Casio PX-780 comes with a variety of in-built sounds, tones and effects. The Privia line is well known for delivering quality sounds that stand well above other digital piano ranges and the PX-780 is no exception to this.

The Casio PX-780 features an astounding 250 different sound instruments! For a digital piano of this price range, you will not find anything with a library more extensive than this.

A plethora of different sounds and instruments allows for the player to create interesting melodies as well as experiment with different sounds rather than the standard piano sound. Variety is the spice of life, and the Casio team ensure you have all the options you need.

The PX-780 also comes with 180 rhythms (drum patterns) across multiple music genres including jazz, Waltz and Latin. This feature is particularly useful as it allows for players to experiment outside of their comfort zones, and ultimately refine their musical abilities even further. 

Casio’s PX-780 features 128-note polyphony. This basically means that no notes will be cut off early regardless of how complex or intricate the piece being played. Generally speaking, it is easier for a piano to generate sound without cutting of notes if it has a higher polyphony.

With that being said, the PX-780’s 128-note polyphony is more than enough to accommodate beginners and seasoned players alike without any disappointment. 

One of the biggest advantages of the PX-780 is the inclusion of Casio’s award-winning AiR (Acoustic and Intelligent Resonator) sound system. The revolutionary AiR system has a greater memory capacity which results in better quality audio output as well as more accuracy when playing. 

 

The lossless audio compression system allows for a clearer sound quality without any distortion or crackling noises. While the beginner player may not necessarily be too concerned about the audio processor, it is nevertheless a crucial factor worth taking into consideration.

The Casio PX-780 comes with several in-built effects that allow the user to edit and tailor the sound and tones to their preference. Featuring reverb and chorus, the use of these effects is a sure-fire way of creating stunning piano tones.

Reverb, simply put, mimics the acoustic surroundings of a particular room/space. There are four reverb levels available and these can greatly improve the sound of your tone if employed in the right manner.

The chorus option it recreates the effect of several sounds being played simultaneously. This would make it seem as if several piano layers are being played at the same time. The chorus effect also comes in four different pre-sets for quick and easy use. 

With two 20 W amplifiers, the Casio PX-780’s sound system ensure that the digital piano will stand out in its surrounding space without being drowned out. However, take note that it is still note as loud as an acoustic piano and it may not be as audible if played in an ensemble/orchestra.

Features

Modes

A variety of different modes come available with the Casio PX-780. Like many of the digital pianos in the Privia range, the PX-780 features the Duet Mode option. 

The Duet Mode feature is very simple and straight forward to use and to understand. This essentially splits the keyboard into two equal halves with same chromatic scale i.e. either side of the keyboard will sound exactly the same.

The duet mode is greater for collaborations between two players during performances, and it is also extremely helpful when it comes to teaching the piano to someone else. The main advantage being that the duet mode option means that you do not need to make use of a second piano.

The Casio PX-780 also contains the Split Mode function and it is a straight-forward as the name suggests. Essentially, the keyboard splits into two equal parts and allows for the user to load two different sounds on either side of the keyboard. For example, the left-hand side could be playing a string instrument while the right plays a piano sound.

The split mode option allows for the impression that there are two instruments being played simultaneously. This opens up a world of different options

Another noteworthy function is the Layer Mode option. This nifty function allows for two different sounds to be played at the same time one just one key. The player could therefore load a piano sound with and organ sound, or perhaps a string sound.

Layering provides for richer musical performances and compositions and this allows for piano pieces to really stand out. Additionally, it provides the solo player with greater room for experimentation.

Transposing, Octave Shifting & Tuning

The Casio PX-780 comes with an in-built transposing function. In simple terms, transposing allows for the user to either lower or raise the pitch of the entire keyboard by way of shifting the pitch through semi-tone steps.

The main advantage of the transpose function is that it allows for the user to quickly change keys without much of a fuss. 

This feature is not a new development, it is now common practice for most, if not all, digital pianos to include this function regardless of how expensive of affordable the piano in question may be.

The in-built fine tuning provides the option of being able to tune the pitch of the piano in 0.1hz steps. The standard keyboard has a pitch of A4 = 440 Hz, the fine-tuning option allows for the user to change this to their preference.

Though beginners may not necessarily see the necessity in changing pitch and tuning, seasoned and intermediate players can attest to the importance of such a function. It is therefore a welcomed feature even though it is not a brand-new innovation.

Recording and playback

The Casio PX-780 allows for seamless musical recording of your performances or your practice sessions.

The Casio PX-780 is a big step up from its predecessor, the PX-770 in terms of its recording functions. While they are essentially very similar, the PX-780 is has more improvements that we shall discuss below.

Firstly, the PX-780 features a 17-track recorder and has the memory capacity to store up to five songs. This is a massive step up from the PX-770 as the latter could only store two songs before. This means that users can achieve more with the PX-780 due to the larger Registration Memory Recorder.

What a 17 track recorder means is that up to 17 instruments can be played simultaneously. This provides limitless possibilities in terms of musical composition, arrangement and even performance.

Another great improvement is the fact that user can now record audio straight from the piano. This is a big improvement from other Privia models such as the PX-160 and the PX-770 as these models did not accommodate for audio recordings.

This function allows for the user to record WAV audio files. Therefore, live recordings of your playing can easily be made. WAV is a lossless audio format that provides a great amount of information and detail in the audio track. This can be converted to mp3 and sent to friends.

Another new feature of this digital piano is the fact that you can now plug in a microphone into the piano and record the vocals! The user can record the vocals alongside the piano, or even separately. Once recorded, the vocals can be exported to a flash drive in high quality WAV audio format.

The Casio PX-780 further features MIDI recording functionality and allows for the digital piano to be used as a MIDI controller. This feature allows for the manipulation of the piano sound in you Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) of choice. This is no doubt a major requirement for all music producers.

The Casio PX-780 does not require for the user to install any new drivers. This allows it to live up to its plug-and-play title as tech savvy players don’t have to worry about these technical details.

The Casio PX-780 is a worthwhile investment for any producer or recording artist as recording and creating music has never been easier or more straight forward.

Metronome

The Casio PX-780 features a dedicated metronome function.

For those that may be unfamiliar, a metronome allows for the user to keep in time while playing by providing them with a basic click track to play along to. The user sets the tempo (BPM) and the metronome helps them keep in count.

This is an essential function in terms of improving speed and playing ability.

Connectivity

The Casio Privia lines are well known for their very versatile connectivity options and as such, the PX-780 does not deviate from this either.

The Casio PX-780 allows for seamless and straight forward USB MIDI connectivity as the user need not install any drivers, and simply require a USB – MIDI cable which is inexpensive and easily available for purchase.

The USB – MIDI connectivity function allows the Casio PX-780 to be used a MIDI controller without having to make use of any other devices. What this means is that as long as it is connected to your device, you can use it create drum patterns and basslines without any struggle.

The Casio PX-780 can also be connected to devices such as iPads without needing to pay around with settings. This allows for beginners to use the piano in conjunction with learning apps.

The Casio PX-780 also features a headphone jack input. This allows for quiet practice, or recording, sessions. We have already noted that the PX-780’s keyboard is extremely quiet. The use of headphones will practicing allows for almost total quiet. This is a massive win for those who enjoy late night jam sessions or are concerned about being too loud.

However, one drawback which we noticed is that when the headphones are unplugged, the piano may still think they are connected therefore you get no audio. Unfortunately, some users have reported that they have to unplug the headphone jacks several times in order for the audio to work as it should.

This is however seems to appear on a case-by-case basis as a large majority of users have no issue with this at all.

The Casio PX-780 also includes the standard Line Out R, L/Mono connection option. This allows for connection to external sound devices such as amplifiers, PA systems and even mixer boards. This means that it can be recorded directly in a studio, or it can be amplified during large performances.

Accessories

Pedals

The Casio PX-780 features the inclusion of three piano pedals. These are built into the design of the piano therefore giving it an eve closer look and feel to that of a real acoustic piano.

The three pedals cover sustain, sostenuto and soft just like those of an acoustic piano. The biggest advantage of the inclusion of these three pedals is that users do not have to purchase any external pedals. This in turn saves on the amount of money they need to spend.

The inclusion of the pedals is not a new feature as they were present in the Casio PX-770. However, this is nevertheless welcomed as we note that the purchase of good quality external pedals of a similar build could set you back at least $160.

Stand

The Casio PX-780 comes with its own stand and when assembled the device stands about 33 inches off the ground.

The stand features a beautiful cabinet design that in turn provides a deeper and more richer sound. While some users have mentioned that they are not partial towards the resonant sound produced as a result of the cabinet, it is worth noting that this in-fact mimics more of an acoustic piano sound.

Seeing as the PX-780 digital piano features its own in-built stand, users need not worry about spending more money on an external stand.

Case

The Casio PX-780 is housed in a lovely matte black finish and included is a sliding keyboard cover. As mentioned in the design section, this provides the digital piano with ample protection from any external debris being introduced into the keyboard.

Ultimately, this simple addition will help sustain the piano for a greater duration of time.

Headphones

While some manufacturers include certain accessories such as headphones in their digital piano bundles, the Casio PX-780 does not come with headphones included.

That being said, these are usually extremely inexpensive and can be purchased online or even locally at any decent music retailer.

Some headphones worth looking into are included below. These are cost effective options that will deliver a crisp sound without much sound being distorted or corrupted:

Please note that these are merely recommendations based on what we have previously used. It is advised that users take some time to research and look into which headphones would best suit their needs. With that being said, the accessories suggested are perfect for beginners and professionals a like. 

Summary

Summary

The Casio PX-780 scores highly in all the above-mentioned areas. All-in-all, it is extremely difficult to find any reason not to purchase this piano. For its price tag, it goes above and beyond and completely blows away the competition.

As we have noted, some pianos worth double this price do not house some of the features found within the Casio PX-780. For this reason alone, the price-tag is completely justified, and it is a worthwhile investment should you have the financial ability to pay for it.

Alternatives

Casio PX-770 (full review)

The Casio PX-770 is the predecessor of the Casio PX-780 i.e. it is an older version of this model. With that being said, it may be a great cost-effective alternative to the PX-780 as it comes with many of the same features including a very similar design as well three in-built pedals.

However, apart from the difference in price, the PX-780 very easily outperforms the Casio PX-770 in terms of its design and playability as the former has been improved greatly. Not to mention the Casio PX-770 only contains 19 instrument sounds, a major step back from the 250 sounds found in the newer PX-780.

Yamaha DGX-660 (full review)

A more affordable alternative comes from a competing manufacturer. The Yamaha DGX-660 is an 88-note weighted keyboard just like the Casio PX-780. It makes use of hammer action just like the PX-780 and mimics the feel of an acoustic piano. Furthermore, if features and easy to read LCD which allows the user to load scores.

It also comes with its own piano stand. However, it is not nearly as stylish as the PX-780’s design and some users have commented that the design of the stand comes across as amateurish