Of course, every musician just wants the best digital piano ever made. But when budget realities intervene, they usually have to pick something that gives them quality for about $1000. While Yamaha may be the name to contend with in digital pianos, Casio digital pianos are often far better value for money. This doesn't mean that you just get the basics. It means that you get beautiful sound, beautiful cabinetry, rock solid build quality and a wonderful keyboard action. Let's look at two of Casio's latest in its Celviano range - the AP620 and the AP220.
The AP620 at $1400 is a winner. There is just no other way to put it. For the price, you get an aesthetically pleasing darkwood cabinet, a matching bench that could probably easily seat a sumo wrestler, and speakers built in that go much farther than any other piano you're likely to happen on at this or any price range. That this is the perfect piano to buy when on a budget is reflected in the way every retailer out there keeps running out of stock on it. And Casio has a hard time keeping up with demand. The amazing thing about the AP 620 it is that it actually manages to replicate the sound of an acoustic piano very closely. The dynamics are unbelievable. For instance, when you strike the keys, the sound doesn't just get louder - the whole timbre changes like it would on a real piano, getting more metallic. The keyboard action is pretty beautiful, and is far improved over what Casio's previous models used to have. You don't get just pianos either (of which there are many varieties) - you get organs, bagpipes, synthesizers, pads, wind instruments, violins, drum loops and arranger accompaniments. The AP620 has 128 note polyphony (which means that you can play that many notes on any one instrument at a time), and there is a 16 track sequencer or recorder. Do you wish to use your new digital piano to learn to play? The SD card song playback function will easily let you listen to the songs you're trying to play first. For the money, there is simply no better a piano you can buy.
Sometimes though, those on a budget are really on a budget. If your budget won't stretch beyond $1000 and you would prefer something even lower priced than the AP620, you still are in luck - with the AP 220 at your service. This is a handsomely finished cabinet piano with a great bench that sells for a mere $900. Certainly, there are pianos out there that cost less and look even more beautiful. But pianos are to play, and not to look at. And you can't go wrong with Casio digital pianos as far as the sound is concerned. For instance, the AP220 comes with a 16 watt amplification system built into the cabinet. That is unbelievably full-bodied sound for your money - better than any Yamaha on the market. It comes more instruments, a better and quieter keyboard action, twice the polyphony and better sound than any Yamaha on the market too. Even if you are an accomplished pianist, you won't find the AP220 limiting you. It is a generously endowed piano for the price.
