Casio CDP-130BKC5 Digital Piano Review:
Updated 01.12.2016
Sound
I recently played this piano and I was very surprised at how crisp the grand piano sound is. The speakers are excellent, and give a very rich and mellow sound (especially in the bass).
One of the main features I look for when testing out digital pianos is how well the sound performs from the very lowest note, right up to the top. Some of the cheaper lesser known models struggle in this area, but not the Casio.
Yamaha have always been a make I’ve looked to and purchased over the years, but I did also once own a Casio about a decade ago. If I’m being completely honest, I wasn’t very impressed by that Casio’s sound, but things have certainly changed over the years and this is not the case any more.
To see and hear exactly what I mean, take a look at this vid:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_yXT6-6QHs
Touch and feel
The Casio CDP-130BKC5 has what they call ‘scaled hammer action’. This is basically the same as what Yamaha call ‘graded hammer standard’. It means that the keys are heavier in the bass, and get lighter as you go up to the treble and the higher notes. This gives the effect of playing a real acoustic piano.
Being able to buy a piano for so little money that has this scaled hammer action is very impressive, and it certainly makes a huge difference. I have played the piano for over 25 years, and I’m very particular when it comes to choosing something that feels and plays like a real acoustic piano.
The Casio CDP-130BKC5 not only delivers a very realistic grand piano sound, but it also feels like one. The keys certainly bounce back at you like they should, allowing experienced players to play fast pieces without any sticking of the keys.
Here’s a great example:
Price
At around £300, this piano is an absolute bargain! When I first played this piano, I got the price mixed up and thought it was a lot more. I would have happily paid a lot more if I hadn’t have been reminded of my error by the shops owner!
On average, most beginners spend anything from £200-£400 on a piano. So this is perfect for anyone starting out. However, an experienced player would also enjoy this piano, and wouldn’t be disappointed. Sure, most experienced players spend a lot more, but it just goes to show you that you don’t have to!
Summary
‘Extremely surprised’ would be the best two words I would use to describe this digital piano. I’ve played lots of pianos recently, and there are some in this price bracket that really don’t cut it. But this is certainly not the case with the Casio CDP-130BKC5.
