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Casio WK-245 Digital Piano Review

greyscale of a person playing the piano

Image via Pixabay

For decades, the name Casio has been synonymous with high-quality electronic keyboards and digital pianos at a wide variety of price ranges. Many a musician has gotten his or her start pecking away at an inexpensive, undersized Casio; their first key to unlocking the magical world of music. For this review, we've decided to take a closer look at the Casio WK-245 digital piano, and, rather than compare it against digital pianos from other manufacturers, we've instead decided to see how the Casio WK-245 stacks up against other offerings from the Casio line.

Comparison Table

Preview Product
Hamzer 61-Key Portable Electronic Keyboard Piano with Stand, Stool,... Hamzer 61-Key Portable Electronic Keyboard Piano with Stand, Stool,... Shop now at Amazon.com
Casio CTK-2550 61-Key Portable Keyboard with App Integration/Dance... Casio CTK-2550 61-Key Portable Keyboard with App Integration/Dance... Shop now at Amazon.com
Alesis Recital – 88 Key Digital Electric Piano / Keyboard with Semi... Alesis Recital – 88 Key Digital Electric Piano / Keyboard with Semi... Shop now at Amazon.com
Casio CT-X700 61-Key Portable Keyboard Casio CT-X700 61-Key Portable Keyboard Shop now at Amazon.com

What Is The Casio WK-245 Digital Piano?

The Casio WK-245 is a price-conscious, entry-level digital piano that includes enough features and capabilities to grow with a beginner pianist as he or she advances. However, those looking to replicate a full-size 88-key keyboard will need to look elsewhere, as the Casio WK-245 conserves space and price by offering only 76 keys.

Product Specs

The features and specs make the Casio WK-245 a solid mid-level offering at a budget-friendly price. It includes 600 different tones, 180 built-in rhythms, and a maximum 48-note polyphony, which means the Casio WK-245 can produce 48 notes simultaneously. The WK-245 also features an impressive six-track onboard recorder with five-song memory, as well as an onboard sampler, making the Casio WK-245 a capable all-in-one workstation. However, it also includes a USB/MIDI port-to-host connection that can be used to connect the Casio WK-245 to a Mac or Windows PC, without the need to install additional drivers.

Pricing

Available for about $200, the Casio WK-245 is by no means the least expensive Casio model we looked (that distinction goes to the CTK2400) but it also is far from the most expensive, with high-quality, professional-level digital pianos easily running into the thousands of dollars. This makes price one of the most important features of the Casio WK-245.

How It Compares

As stated above, instead of comparing the Casio WK-245 against similar models from other manufacturers, we've decided to take a closer look at Casio's offerings, seeing how the Casio WK-245 contrasts against more- and less-expensive models within the venerable Casio line. For this review, we also took a look at the following Casio models:

  • Casio CTK2400 61-Key Digital Piano
  • Casio Privia PX-860 88-Key Digital Piano
  • Casio PX760 Privia Digital Home Piano


Casio WK-245 Digital Piano

Hamzer 61-Key Portable Electronic Keyboard Piano with Stand, Stool,...
Hamzer 61-Key Portable Electronic Keyboard Piano with Stand, Stool,...
  • Flawless, authentic range of sound: Built-in speakers offer tremendous sound, complete with 255 Timbres, 255 rhythms, 61...
  • Integrated learning system: Designed for beginner to intermediate-level use, this multi-function keyboard piano features...
  • Deluxe effects & features: Ideally suited to master finger control, this portable piano keyboard allows for play of...
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Number of Keys

At just 76 keys, the Casio WK-245 lacks the full 88-key set available on other keyboards. While this may not affect many users, those looking to learn on a full-size keyboard will want to look elsewhere.

Features

The Casio WK-245 comes with 600 built-in sounds, 180 built-in rhythms, and an on-board 6-track recorder/mixer with 5-song capacity. The Casio WK-245 even includes onboard sampling, meaning that there will be no shortage of ways to express and explore your creativity, and the USB/MIDI port allows you to connect your Casio WK-245 to a computer for even more recording and sharing options.

Warranty

Casio offers a one-year warranty on its keyboards and digital pianos, excluding the batteries and case. In other reviews, we have found this to be at the lower-end of coverage periods, with some other manufacturers offering 3-year and even 5-year warranties on their digital pianos.

Pros

  • 600 built-in sounds, 180 built-in rhythms
  • 6-track on-board recorder with 5-song capacity
  • Budget-friendly price
  • 48-note maximum polyphony to prevent dropped notes
  • Can be operated by battery or included AC adapter

CONS

  • 76 keys is 12 keys short of a full 88-key keyboard
  • Twice as expensive as the Casio CTK2400
  • Does not have nearly the sound quality or keyboard feel of the Casio Privia models we looked at


Casio CTK2400 61-Key Digital Piano

Casio CTK-2550 61-Key Portable Keyboard with App Integration/Dance...
Casio CTK-2550 61-Key Portable Keyboard with App Integration/Dance...
  • Dance music Mode w/50 built-in dance music rhythms
  • Chordata play app integration
  • 48 note polyphony
Shop now at Amazon.com

The Casio CTK2400 61-key digital piano is designed to be lightweight, compact, and available at a beginner-level price. Despite its entry-level design and price tag, this Casio does manage to deliver enough worthwhile features to keep beginners entertained as they work their way through that challenging early period, and it includes enough capabilities to grow with them; at least for a time.

Number of Keys

With only 61-keys, the Casio CTK2400 falls far short of offering a full set for learners, though the keys are full-sized and some users may prefer the smaller size and increased portability of the overall digital piano.

Features

Despite its budget-friendly price tag, the Casio CTK2400 includes a variety of features that will keep beginners entertained and won't hamper your creativity. Like the Casio WK-245, the Casio CTK2400 includes 48-note maximum polyphony. It also features 400 different tones, 10 different digital effects, 150 rhythms, 110 built-in songs, and a 2-second sampling time.

Warranty

Casio offers a one-year warranty on its keyboards and digital pianos, excluding the batteries and case. In other reviews, we have found this to be at the lower-end of coverage periods, with some other manufacturers offering 3-year and even 5-year warranties on their digital pianos.

Pros

  • Comes with over 400 tones, 10 digital effects, 150 rhythms, and 110 built-in songs
  • Two 10-cm stereo speakers with two 2W amplifiers
  • Can be powered by included 9.5V DC adapter or by 6 AAA batteries
  • 48-note polyphone is the same on models costing twice as much

CONS

  • 61-key keyboard is compact but won't suit those trying to learn on a full 88-key keyboard
  • Keys lack the weighted design and acoustic-piano-like feel found on more expensive models
  • Sound quality is sufficient only for at-home, private use


Casio Privia PX-860 88-Key Digital Piano

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Alesis Recital – 88 Key Digital Electric Piano / Keyboard with Semi...
Alesis Recital – 88 Key Digital Electric Piano / Keyboard with Semi...
  • A Digital Piano That’s Tailored to You - Feature-packed Electric keyboard with 88 premium full-sized semi weighted...
  • Premium Sounds - 5 voices (Acoustic Piano, Electric Piano, Organ, Synth, and Bass), built-in FX: Chorus, Reverb, and two...
  • All The Right Connections - ¼” sustain pedal input (pedal not included), ¼” stereo headphone output for private...
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The Casio Privia PX-860 represents a jump from entry-level designs to a high performer. It includes a full 88-key Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II, one of the best-feeling and most-responsive keyboards we've tried on any digital piano.

Number of Keys

As one might expect from a digital piano in this price range, the Casio Privia PX-860 includes a full 88-key keyboard with exceptional weight and responsiveness.

Features

The PX860 is focused on recreating the feel, sound, and even appearance of an acoustic grand piano with the greatest degree of authenticity possible. Therefore, while you will find high-end features like a whopping 256-note maximum polyphony and Casio's proprietary Acoustic and intelligent Resonator (AiR) sound processor, you won't find hundreds of different voices or an onboard sampler.

Warranty

Casio offers a one-year warranty on its keyboards and digital pianos, excluding the batteries and case. In other reviews, we have found this to be at the lower-end of coverage periods, with some other manufacturers offering 3-year and even 5-year warranties on their digital pianos.

Pros

  • Top-level reproduction of acoustic grand piano sound and feel
  • Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II blows away the competition in terms of acoustic-like weight and sensitivity
  • Comes with three built-in pedals

CONS

  • Many multiples the price of lower-end models
  • Does not offer many of the digital features found on less-expensive alternatives


Casio Privia PX-760 Digital Home Piano

Casio CT-X700 61-Key Portable Keyboard
Casio CT-X700 61-Key Portable Keyboard
  • 61 full-size touch-responsive keys
  • 600 tones, 195 rhythms
  • Class-compliant USB-MIDI
Shop now at Amazon.com

As the name suggests, the Casio PX-760 is one notch below the PX-860 we looked at above. For those who don't need quite the high-end performance (and high-end price tag) of the PX-860, the PX-760 offers many similar features for a couple of hundred dollars less, making this a strong mid-range offering for novice to advanced learners.

Number of Keys

Not only does the Privia PX-760 include a full 88-key keyboard, it also features Casio's highly acclaimed Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II, which does a magnficent job of recreating the feel of an acoustic grand piano, making this a wonderful offering for those learning to play an acoustic piano but who do not have the room at home (or space in their budget) for an actual acoustic grand piano.

Features

The Casio Privia line of digital pianos is focused on replicating the sound and feel of an acoustic grand piano, something it does remarkably well. However, this also means that it lacks some of the digital features found on the less expensive models. Similarly, given its slightly lower price point, the Privia PX-760 also lacks some of the features found on the PX-860. For example, while the PX-860 has a maximum polyphony of 256 notes, the PX-760 is capable of playing 128 notes simultaneously, which, by way of comparison, is half that of the PX-860 but about 3 times the max polyphony of the Casio WK-245.

Warranty

Casio offers a one-year warranty on its keyboards and digital pianos, excluding the batteries and case. In other reviews, we have found this to be at the lower-end of coverage periods, with some other manufacturers offering 3-year and even 5-year warranties on their digital pianos.

Pros

  • Remarkably authentic acoustic-piano-like experience at a reasonable price
  • Includes Casio's Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II, same as on the more-expensive PX-860
  • A great mid-level digital keyboard for those learning to play the acoustic piano but who do not have one in the home on which to practice
  • Utilizes Casio's proprietary Acoustic & intelligence Resonance (AiR) sound processor, same as on the PX-860
  • Comes with 3 built-in pedals

CONS

  • Does not include some of the high-end features of the PX-860, like 256-note max polyphony
  • Still many hundreds of dollars more than the Casio WK-245
  • Only includes 18 tones as compared to hundreds on the Casio WK-245

Conclusion

girl playing piano

Image via Pixabay

Not surprisingly given Casio's legendary name and decades of prominence in the digital piano industry, we found each of the models we looked at to be worthy offerings for their target demographics. Unlike some manufacturers who tend to focus more on either the higher or lower end of the performance (and price) spectrum, Casio has managed to deliver quality digital pianos with a range of features at a wide variety of price points.

For those who are just beginning to play piano or who are not as serious about being able to transfer their playing skills onto a full-size acoustic piano, the Casio WK-245 and CTK2400 are feature-rich, budget-friendly offerings that will more than serve the needs of most casual amateur musicians. However, one should not expect the sound quality on these lower-priced digital pianos to match that of their more expensive siblings, and those musicians who start off as beginners but continue to improve may be looking to upgrade sooner rather than later.

In the end, for delivering a quality design and numerous features at an extremely reasonable price point, we've decided to give the Casio WK-245 an overall rating of 4 stars out of 5. While some users may prefer to save about $100 and go for the smaller CK2400 or some may prefer to shell out more cash for the more acoustic-like sound and feel of the Privia models, the Casio WK-245 fulfills its role as midway stop between those two extremes.

Last update on 2021-02-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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