The Casio PX800 Digital Piano Review and Help for Mac Users

We've researched the Casio PX-800 Digital Piano and have listed best up-to-date information for you, right here in this article.

If you don't have time to shop around for the best deals yourself, you're in luck. We've done all the legwork for you so you don't have to!

Read on and judge for yourself.

We think that the Casio PX800 Privia Digital Piano not only sounds fantastic, but it will look great in any home.

The Casio PX800 Privia is just the right size for any size room big or small, so if you are limited on space, this is the one that will not only look great, but it will be easy to move.

It also looks better than its competition because you don't have to deal with the unsightly cables hanging all over the place or the cold metal legs. With the Casio PX800, you not only have the beautiful wood casing, but the cables can be hidden.

• The Price - Best bang for your buck. More affordable than its competition like Yamaha and Kawai.
• The Look - A full size keyboard and a custom wood stand with a 3-pedal unit gives the PX800 a well designed, stylish appearance.
• The Sound - Exceptional Quality. The PX800 contains a large 40 watt (20w per side) sound system that effectively recreates the sound of a Grand Piano.
• Ease of Use - The USB-MIDI functionality is extremely easy to use.
• The Latest Technology: Revolutionary tri-element AIF sound source (Acoustic and Intelligent Filtering System), 128 polyphony (giving you a more natural sound, SD card, USB connections.
• Time to assemble - It will take you from 30 minutes to 1 hour at most to assemble!
• Mac Users - Casio products are usually only compatible with Windows, but this piano can be Mac compatible with a plug-in (found below). When set up to be compatible with the Mac, it is an excellent input device for Apple's GarageBand.

• The Look - Some of the Wood is not real wood but it's in places that you don't really see too much like underneath the keyboard and the back.
• The Feel - The keys don't feel as good as real ivory keys.
• The Sound - The weighted hammer action causes a little noise which can be heard when the volume is turned down low.
• Stability - Could be a bit wobbly on a thick padded carpet.
• Lack of Quality - Most of the wood parts are built with sturdy high quality wood, but the manufacturer didn't keep the quality going when building the sliding keyboard cover or support bar for the pedals. They are veneer.
• Mac Users - USB - midi connection is not compatible with Mac. It doesn't have actual midi connections, only the usb-midi connection.

» But there IS a solution: Published in "Google Code" there is the a custom built driver/plug-in that will solve the problem.

Instructions to download a plugin:

Go to: http://code.google.com/p/casiousbmididriver .

1. Download the binary driver
2. Extract it and open the disk image.
3. Copy the CasioUSBMIDIDriver.plugin file into your Library/Audio/MIDI Drivers folder.

Your keyboard should now work.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

Extremely Satisfied, May 31, 2009

By Melanie (Illinois)

I bought this digital piano to replace an older model after extensive searching on the internet. I must say, so far I have not been disappointed. I have only used the piano on the grand piano setting, but the sound quality is outstanding and it feels and plays almost exactly like an acoustic piano. I have been playing piano for 20+ years, and love how it sounds.
The pedals also function well. I was a little nervous about the looks of the piano, but it fits in nicely with my contemporary decorated apartment, and if you want something that doesn't take up a lot of space, this is great, because it extends very little off the wall while still boasting a full size 88-key keyboard
If I could change anything about this, I would say that some of the wood is a little cheap looking, especially the bar at the bottom with the pedals, and it's a little frustrating having so little room on the top (I haven't found a lamp that I can easily use on it), but I would definitely purchase it again for the sound/feel, and it is a great value for the money.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

A good purchase, December 6, 2008

By Mark Heneghan (Virginia)

I played the piano from the age of about 5 up to around 15 or so, now returning after a further 25 years. I searched the net to find a decent piano which would not take up much space and would still perform to a high level, as well as look good. I am very happy to have made this selection. The sound, the touch of the keys, the pedals are all very authentic to me. I had been a little worried about any possible digital sound that might not sound like hammers on strings, but there was no need to worry. Now I am playing again those same pieces I used to play as a kid, and thanks to youtube I am finding inspiring good video performances which are pointing to new music for me to learn in the future, such as Debussy'd Clare de Lune and Schuberts Ave Maria. All in all an excellent purchase and I highly recommend it.