Casio Privia PX-S5000 Digital Piano

Product Overview:

The Casio Privia PX-S line of musical instruments hit the market only a few years ago with the release of the PX-S1000 and PX-S3000 to much success. Both of these were recently upgraded to the S1100 and S3100 respectively, and it appeared as though the line was going to stand at 2 models strong.

Not so fast – not only is the line expanding, but it’s more than doubling in size with the release of three brand new upper-level models, filling a void in Casio’s lineup that was certainly puzzling since competitors like Roland, Yamaha and Kawai all have larger portable lineups.

The Casio Privia PX-S5000 is the next step price-wise from the feature-laden PX-S3100, but the spec sheet actually shows it’s more of a direct successor to the PX-S1100 in that the focus of the instrument is on piano sound, touch and portability (option for battery operation) while light on features and frills. The new PX-S6000 and PX-S7000 stage pianos complete the newly expanded line.

With Casio’s new Smart Hammer Hybrid Action –  a superior action incorporating wood for better feel and durability – the PX-S5000 is aimed at folks who like everything the PX-S1100 has to offer but are looking for a professional quality action. While the sound engine appears to be the same on paper, it has been specifically tailored to optimize the capabilities of the new Smart Hybrid action, resulting in noticeably superior sound quality.

Anyone familiar with Casio knows that they tend to offer the best overall value in every class where their products are represented. The PX-S5000 looks to be another entry in this tradition.

Piano Action:

There’s no question that the biggest highlight of the Casio Privia PX-S5000 and the main reason someone would jump past the PX-S1100 is the action. Casio’s brand-new Smart Hybrid Hammer Action Keyboard features an upgraded mechanism that better resembles the feel of an acoustic piano.

Remarkably, Casio has managed to use the exact same extremely thin chassis as the PX-S1100 to house the action here. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another portable digital piano with an action of this quality available in such a compact, lightweight frame.

The white keys here are made from a combination of high-quality wood and resin for a more authentic feel and better overall durability, and there’s a simulated ivory texture on top. The black keys in turn have a simulated ebony texture.

Casio has also incorporated its 88-Key digital scaling technology, which simply means that the keys are all grade-weighted and touch-sensitive.

If max portability and great action are key, the PX-S5000 is a very unique offering that doesn’t have a true analogue in the market.

Piano Sound:

Casio Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source is well regarded in the industry for how well it captures the essence of a grand piano, particularly with regard to how dynamic it is.

The sound engine is sample-based, built around 3 distinct grand pianos, consisting of 4 sample layers in each case. From there, Casio’s Acoustic Simulator is applied to synthetically fill out certain other acoustic properties not captured by the sampling – string resonance, damper resonance, key action noise, damper noise and more.

Polyphony is very strong with 192 notes, meaning performers won’t have to worry about running out of notes, and this of course also speaks to the processing power of the engine. A dual, 16-watt speaker system delivers clear high-end and great bass response.

There are 23 on-board preset tones, including a nice mix of electric pianos, synths, and organs, all of which are high quality and quite consistent across the board, and there are a number of effects options as well such as a Hall Simulator, Reverbs, Surround Sound, Chorus, Brilliance and DSP effects.

On paper, this looks like exactly the same sound engine used in the PX-S1100 and PX-S3100, however, Casio has refined the sound engine to maximize the extra potential of the Smart Hybrid action, resulting in an even richer, more dynamic sound.

Connectivity:

The PX-S5000 covers all of the basic connectors a professional would need for live performance; dual ¼” L/MONO, R outputs are present, as well as USB Type A and B.

There are also dual headphone outputs, a jack for a damper pedal and another jack for the optional triple pedal system.

Lastly, Casio also includes at no extra charge their WU-BT10 Bluetooth adapter which simply plugs into the piano and provides Bluetooth MIDI and Audio connectivity. This adaptor totally opens up the functionality of the PX-S5000 and allows for easy wireless MIDI connectivity to apps, such as Casio’s new Music Space app.

Notable Features:

The most notable thing about the PX-S5000 is something we alluded to already – the specific combination of size and action quality. The PX-S series instruments have the slimmest cabinets on the market, and at a mere 25 lbs, they’re as lightweight as it gets.

Getting a wooden hybrid action in such a small frame is a true achievement, and offers a pairing of portability and touch that is unrivalled.

New Smart Hybrid Hammer Action Keyboard

• Multi-Dimensional AiR Sound Source
• 192 note polyphony
• Contemporary Design with Touch Surfaces
• Dual Speaker System with 16 Watt Amplifier
• 23 Built-in Sounds
• Bluetooth Audio & Midi
• Compatibility with the new Casio Music Space App
• Only 25 lbs
• Dual Headphone Jacks
• 2 ¼” line outputs (L/Mono, R)
• Metronome
• MIDI recorder & file playback
• Music stand
• Standard basic sustain pedal
• Optional SP-34 3-pedal unit add-on accessory