Help deciding on new digital piano under $1000 USD?
I had a PX-3000 and really enjoyed the keybed despite the upper end stiffness and the wide range of samples available. My biggest grip with it was the sound, being new to piano the keybed wasn't so much an issue for me as it is for some. Now however with the release of the PX-S3100 I like what I see on paper but am reading the keybed is even more stiff which combined with the lack of availability in the US has got me looking elsewhere. What if any DP has the versatility of the PX series combined with a solid piano experience and the wide range of samples? Also really would like to have the BT midi capability as well. Perhaps I am searching for a Unicorn so if the upper end were to increase bit in recommendations I'm somewhat flexible. Thanks much ya'll!
Posted Nov 14, 2021, 2:44 PM UTC
Have you checked sound with quality headphones? There is no slab DP with good built-in speakers, so external speakers are the first thing one should consider - but good external speakers tend to cost 5x+ as much as quality headphones.
Also practically all built-in engines compare poorly to VSTs these days. But connecting a NUC plus keyboard + display + audio interface isn't so handy.
If you want many sounds, check stage pianos e.g. RD88, SL X Piano, Vox Continental, SV2...
pop is karrect, there is no slab with good in built speakers, it's a physical impossibility.
I thought I'd update this since I decided in the RD-88. The action feels s bit lighter than my deceased PX-S3000 and less like a clunky lever experience. It's smooth and consistent rather than so stiff at the fall board. I dig it. The controls are well thought out and while there is some menu digging for things overall it's rather accessible as opposed to the Casio which requires much digging and memorizing of number for recalling saved configurations. The sounds are better overall and have a much more natural character. Organs are much more organic, far less synth sounding by and large. Piano is great and while there seems to be less variation through those presets the ease of making use of EQs and compression opens up a wide range of tonal adjustment at your fingertips. Overall while it's not a massively different quality level it's akin to the difference between a nice car and an Audi. Subtle perhaps in some ways but palpable and refined. Not that I own an Audi but I thought perhaps a good analogy. Perhaps better still, a Taurus 1911 compared to a Colt 1911 Completion SS sidearm: same overall shape and purpose but one just is a much more refined piece of kit.
Then perhaps built in speakers not with standing 4 a good keypad experience combined with a very good and broad sample set as well as usability with that be something like the rd88 you mention? I just watched a brief video on it and I have to say I'm impressed. Bearing in mind that that really doesn't take all that much LOL....