Casio PX-S3100

T
his year, Casio has
upgraded the popular
PX-S series digital
pianos, bringing them
up to date with
Bluetooth
connectivity, a
redesigned speaker system and
more. The PX-S3100 is the more
capable instrument of the two,
boasting a broader range of onboard
sounds and more opportunity for
tone-shaping in the effects
department than its little brother, the
PX-S1100. Coming in at 232mm in
depth, it’s the slimmest digital piano
on the market, and at 11.4kg it’s
one of the most portable options too.
The PX-S3100 delivers a
fantastic collection of 700 onboard
sounds. The stars of the show are the
24 piano voices, which offer
variations on the standard concert
grand (the ‘mellow’ setting is
particularly impressive) alongside
genre-specifi c options for pop, jazz,
rock and even ambient music. The
voices offer an admirably faithful
recreation of an acoustic piano’s
tone, down to minute details like
string and damper resonance and
mechanical action noise, which can
be tweaked in the Music Space app.
Aside from the piano tones,
there’s a varied selection of sounds
that includes electric pianos, organs,
strings, guitars, basses, synths and
sound FX. There’s also a ton of
possibilities for effects processing,
the most useful being a pretty
sophisticated reverb alongside
chorus, fl anger and more. Thanks to
a newly implemented speaker system
powered by dual 8W amplifi ers, the
PX-S3100 sounds noticeably better
than its predecessor. The dynamic
recording and playback system that’s
useful for both composition and
practice. For players who fi nd it
helpful to play along with a backing
track, there are 200 onboard
rhythms and auto-accompaniment.
These, along with almost every
other feature, can be tweaked from
the Music Space app, which hooks
up to the piano via the included
Bluetooth adapter and gives useful
functions like a score viewer, piano
roll and concert simulator.
The PX-S3100 is a brilliant
choice for any amateur pianist
moving out of the beginner bracket
seeking more functionality and a
decent sound, or gigging musicians
in need of a stage piano that’s
portable, reliable, and good value.
range is broader, there’s more
presence and defi nition, and the
bass response is improved.
So far, so good. It’s not all roses,
though. When it comes to the piano’s
action, feel and playability, the
PX-S3100 is decent enough, but
doesn’t quite stack up against other
contenders in this price bracket,
such as Roland’s FP-30X. Perhaps
due to slight compromises made in
achieving the piano’s compact form
factor, the action is a touch less
natural-feeling than we’d like.
However, that’s not to say the
PX-S3100 isn’t responsive to play.
For anyone other than experienced
pianists, the action’s not likely to be
an issue, and certainly doesn’t
outweigh the piano’s many plusses.
Speaking of which, we were
particularly taken with the piano’s
design. Sleek, modern and stylish,
the look of the PX-S3100 hits all the
right notes, with the smooth,
touch-sensitive backlit interface
putting many-buttoned competitors
like the Yamaha P-125 to shame.
On top of its impressive
aesthetic, the Casio’s outstanding
array of features is where it really
hits a home run. The headline here
is the Bluetooth connectivity, which
spans both audio and MIDI, giving
you oodles of possibilities. There’s
also a 3-track, 5-song MIDI
THE PROS & CONS
+
Upgraded speakers
make a noticeable
difference to sound
Bluetooth audio and
MIDI connectivity is
genuinely useful
Battery power and
portability means
you can take it
anywhere you like
-
Action is not quite
up to scratch for
pro-level players
FM VERDICT
8.4
An impressive bundle of
features in a slim, stylish
and portable package that
exceeds competitors in all
areas but one
A brilliant choice for any
amateur pianist moving out
of the beginner bracket
Casio PX-S3100 | Reviews
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