A Comprehensive Review on Casio PX-S3100 Digital Piano

Looking for a digital piano that ticks all the boxes? The Casio Privia PX-S3100 might be the answer. With its sleek design, robust sound engine, and approachable interface, it aims to please both novices and seasoned pianists.

After several months of playing, we are offering this comprehensive review.

Here, we’ll explain whether its features justify the price, giving you the insight to decide if the PX S3100 is the musical partner you’ve been searching for.

Key Takeaways

• The Casio PX-S3100BK stands out with its large library of tones, Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound engine for authentic sounds, and user-friendly design ideal for beginners.

• Key features of the PX-S3100BK include an intuitive interface with touch sensor controls, wireless connectivity, and app integration, as well as a Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard that closely mimics the feel of a grand piano.

• The PX-S3100 offers great sound quality with its improved speaker system and a wide array of built-in rhythms, providing versatility and creative possibilities for players of all skill levels.

Note: Throughout this article, we use the PX-S3100BK and PX-S3100 interchangeably because they refer to the same instrument model. The “BK” indicates black. However, the Casio PX-S3100 only comes with one color, black; hence, PX-S3100 is PX-S3100BK.

Introduction to Casio PX-S3100

The Casio PX-S3100BK digital piano is designed to offer an authentic piano experience with its comprehensive features and advanced technology. Its portable design and array of connectivity options make it an ideal choice for musicians of all levels looking for a high-quality digital piano experience.

Specifications of the Casio PX-S3100

• Keyboard: 88-key Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard with simulated ebony and ivory key textures

• Touch Response: 5 sensitivity levels, off

• Sound Source: Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source

• Polyphony: Maximum of 192 notes

• Tones: 700 built-in tones, including grand piano sounds

• Rhythms: 200 built-in rhythms

• Speakers: a 2-way, 4-speaker system for powerful and clear sound

• Amplifiers: 8W + 8W

• Connectivity: USB to Host, USB to Device, Bluetooth Audio, Bluetooth MIDI (with included WU-BT10 adapter), Damper Pedal, 2 Headphone jacks, Line Out (L/Mono, R), Audio In

• Dimensions: 52″ x 9″ x 4″ or 1,322 x 232 x 102 mm (W x D x H)

• Weight: Approximately 25 lbs (11.4 kg) without battery

• Casio PX-S3100 Release Date: October 2021

Overall Design

The Casio PX-S3100BK stands out in the PX-S series with its extensive library of 700 onboard tones, including:

• Acoustic pianos
• Electric pianos
• Organs
• Strings
• Synthesized pads
• etc.

This versatility makes it ideal for budding musicians who want to explore different styles and sounds, including MIDI songs.

Sound Engine

The PX-S3100BK’s Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source engine sets it apart from other digital pianos in its class.

This advanced technology is praised for its lively sound, including an enhanced resonance German concert grand piano tone, which promises to deliver an authentic playing experience.

But can it truly replicate a grand piano’s rich, nuanced sound? We’ll test that claim by focusing on recreating grand piano sounds.

Affordable with Quality

Designed with beginners in mind, the PX-S3100 offers an affordable solution for high-quality, authentic playability in a compact and user-friendly design.

This makes it an excellent choice for those dipping their toes into the world of digital pianos for the first time.

In addition to its vast tone library and advanced sound engine, the PX S3100 digital piano boasts a sleek, compact design, making it one of the most portable digital pianos on the market.

The lightweight design and user-friendly interface make it a promising contender in the affordable digital piano market.

But does the PX-S3100BK live up to its promises? Can it truly deliver a high-quality, authentic playing experience at an affordable price? In this review, we aim to answer these questions and more.

Sleek Design and Functionality of PX-S3100

One of the standout features of the Casio Privia PX S3100 digital piano is its design. It boasts a sleek design that resembles a concert grand piano. It completes with a glossy panel and a unibody chassis that is not much larger than the keys.

This gives the PX-S3100BK a premium feel, making it a stylish addition to any room.

Despite its premium look, the PX-S3100BK has some impressive features:

• Surprisingly lightweight, weighing in at 25 pounds (11.4 kg)

• Option for battery power, making it one of the most portable digital pianos available

• An added layer of convenience, especially for gig musicians on the move

Complementing its sleek aesthetic, the PX-S3100BK can be paired with the CS-68BK wooden stand for a more traditional look. However, it’s worth noting that the glossy finish may require regular cleaning to remove fingerprints and maintain its polished appearance.

The design of the PX-S3100BK is not just about aesthetics. It also incorporates several functional features, such as illuminated touch sensor controls, which are only visible when the piano is powered on.

This thoughtful design feature contributes to the sleek, minimalist look of the PX-S3100BK while enhancing user experience.

Overall, the PX-S3100BK strikes a balance between sleek design and functionality. It’s compact and lightweight yet doesn’t compromise aesthetic appeal or user-friendly features.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, the PX-S3100’s design is sure to impress.

User-Friendly Interface and Controls

One of the PX-S3100BK’s major selling points is its user-friendly interface.

The piano features touch sensor controls, which maintain a clean design as they are only visible when the piano is powered on. This feature adds to the piano’s premium feel while ensuring that the interface remains clutter-free.

The top panel of the Privia PX S3100 digital piano is dynamic and context-aware. It’s equipped with a backlit LCD display that presents essential controls and removes unnecessary ones, further enhancing user experience. This feature helps to keep the interface simple and intuitive, making it easy for beginners to navigate.

In addition to its touch controls, the PX-S3100BK comes with two assignable knobs for real-time sound alterations and adjustments. This feature gives players more control over their sound, allowing them to tailor their performance to their preferences.

Pedal

The PX-S3100BK includes a footswitch pedal, which provides pianists with more expressive capabilities.

While the footswitch is adequate as a damper pedal, it is not ideal due to its slippery nature. You may purchase an optional sustain pedal SP-20 for a better playing experience, especially for more advanced players who want to add more nuance to their performances.

To truly mimic an acoustic grand piano experience, Casio also offers a three-pedal unit SP-34 that can be plugged into the PX-S3100.

Interface

The PX-S3100BK’s user-friendly interface and controls are clearly designed with the players in mind. They make it easy for beginners to get started while also providing more advanced players with the flexibility they need to customize their sound.

Moreover, the PX-S3100 offers 96 registrations, allowing players to save their favorite songs with customized settings.

The PX-S3100BK’s interface and controls undoubtedly contribute to its overall user-friendly experience.

Whether you’re a beginner or a more advanced player, you’ll find the interface intuitive and the controls flexible enough to cater to your needs.

Wireless Connectivity and App Integration

Users can wirelessly connect Bluetooth MIDI devices and software, enabling them to play music and audio files through the PX-S3100BK’s stereo speaker system.

This feature allows users to experiment with different sounds and styles, further enhancing the PX-S3100BK’s versatility and providing an opportunity to learn MIDI songs.

Casio Music Space App

The PX-S3100BK is also designed to seamlessly integrate with the free Casio Music Space App, a versatile piano app for iOS and Android devices. This app provides tools such as:

• a graphical piano roll

• audio file learning features

• PDF score viewing

• interactive piano lessons

This integration enhances the learning experience and creates fun practice sessions, making it an excellent feature for beginners.

The wireless connectivity and app integration of the Casio PX-S3100 digital piano are clear indicators of its modern design. These features make the piano more versatile and user-friendly, catering to the needs of today’s digitally savvy players.

Whether you’re a beginner looking to learn with interactive lessons or an experienced player wanting to experiment with different sounds, the PX-S3100BK’s wireless connectivity and app integration have got you covered.

Sound Quality Assessment

Sound quality is paramount when it comes to digital pianos. The PX-S3100BK boasts an improved speaker system that delivers clear, accurate sound.

The 4-speaker system of PX-S3100BK enhances the listening experience significantly with an incredible boost to frequency response, volume, and articulation, delivering exceptionally true-to-life piano tones. This superior sound quality will impress even the most discerning of ears.

Sound Engine and Polyphony

The Casio PX-S3100 digital piano’s sound is centered on its Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source. This advanced technology, with its hybrid sample/modeling system, creates rich and natural piano sounds.

The digital piano also offers an impressive 192-note polyphony for complex performances and sound layering, providing players with a truly authentic piano experience.

The sound quality in the PX-S3100 is further enhanced with cleaner highs and more detailed lows.

Effects

Players can also customize their experience through adjustable parameters such as string resonance, damper resonance, and key on/off noise. This level of customization allows players to tailor the sound to their liking, adding another layer of versatility to the PX-S3100BK.

This digital piano also features a significant variety of effects processing options. These options amplify the player’s customization ability, allowing for a wide range of sound possibilities.

Once the player is satisfied with a specific setting for a song, the player can leverage one of the registrations to save the settings that can be easily retrieved later. This is super convenient.

Considering its sound library and effects section, the PX-S3100BK exceeds expectations for its price point and offers a strong value proposition.

Casio clearly put a lot of thought into the sound quality of the Casio PX-S3100 digital piano, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a high-quality digital piano at an affordable price.

Hands-On Experience with the Keyboard Action

One key factor contributing to a digital piano’s authentic feel is its keyboard action. The Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard on the PX-S3100BK provides a realistic playing experience with its fully weighted keys, ebony and ivory textures, and authentic piano sound.

The scaled key action replicates the key weights of an acoustic piano. The keys are heavier in the bass section and lighter in the treble section.

Despite lacking escapement, the dual sensor system in the keys provides a responsive playing experience. This feature ensures that each keystroke results in an accurate sound reproduction, adding to the authenticity of the playing experience.

The textured keys provide a balanced grip and glide, conducive to varied playing styles and extended practice sessions. This feature enhances playing comfort, making the PX-S3100BK an excellent choice for long practice sessions.

Items Worth Noting

• I felt a subtle lightness in the black keys throughout my playing exercises across the entire keyboard. This discrepancy may affect the authenticity of the playing for certain players. We consider it a minor issue, but it is worth noting for those seeking a truly authentic piano feel.

• Due to its compact design, the PX-3100 has a shorter key length than acoustic pianos, which may be challenging for some players, especially those who perform more complex classical pieces. This is something to consider if you’re a classical pianist. Yet, this is unlikely to be a significant issue for most players.

Built-In Rhythms & Vintage Sounds of Casio PX-3100

The PX-S3100 is not just about offering an authentic piano experience. It also features a wide range of built-in rhythms that cater to various musical tastes and styles. This adds a layer of versatility to the piano, making it an excellent choice for gig musicians’s stage piano and for those looking to experiment with different musical genres.

The rhythms on the PX-S3100 encompass a global span and history of popular music, including drum kits:

• Authentic acoustic drums

• Vintage drum machine with vintage drum machine sounds

• Extensive collection of percussion instruments

• Sound effects

This broad variety of rhythms will inspire creativity and enhance your performance.

Equipped with 200 onboard rhythms, the PX-S3100 provides musicians an extensive selection to enhance their performances. Whether you’re a beginner looking to add rhythm to your practice sessions or an experienced player wanting to experiment with different rhythms, the PX-S3100 has you covered.

Accompaniments for Different Genres

The built-in rhythms of the PX-S3100 are more than just a collection of beats. They’re a tool for inspiration, creativity, and expression. Whether you’re practicing alone or jamming with friends, these rhythms are sure to enhance your playing experience.

Overall, the built-in rhythms of the PX-S3100 add a layer of creativity and versatility to the piano. They offer a world of possibilities for musicians of all levels, including:

• Jazz rhythms for a smooth and sophisticated sound

• Latin rhythms for a lively and energetic feel

• Pop rhythms for a catchy and modern vibe

• Rock rhythms for a powerful and dynamic performance

These rhythms make the Casio PX-S3100 digital piano an even more attractive option for those seeking a versatile, user-friendly instrument.

Pros and Cons of the Casio PX-S3100 Digital Piano

After an in-depth review, it’s clear that the Casio PX-S3100BK offers a lot of value for its price.

It offers a range of advanced features typically found on more expensive models, suggesting good value for its price. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, the PX-S3100BK offers a high-quality, versatile playing experience that’s sure to impress.

Summary

The Casio PX-S3100 is an impressive digital piano that offers a lot of value for its price. From its sleek, compact design and user-friendly interface to its high-quality sound and versatile built-in rhythms, the PX-S3100 is a versatile, user-friendly option that’s sure to impress both beginners and experienced players alike.

Whether you’re a beginner looking for an affordable, user-friendly digital piano or an experienced player seeking a versatile, high-quality instrument, the PX-S3100BK is an excellent choice.

The wide range of rhythms and accompaniments enables musicians to play a band at their fingertips.

It’s a digital piano that delivers on its promises, offering a high-quality, versatile playing experience at an affordable price point.

Alternatives:

• 10 Best Digital Pianos

• Yamaha P125

• Kawai ES120

• Roland FP-30X

• Pianos for Small Spaces