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#657604 - 09/05/08 01:14 AM
Casio Privia or Williams Encore
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Full Member
Registered: 04/08/08
Posts: 37
Loc: California
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I'm deciding between the Casio PX-110, PX-120 or the Williams Encore digital piano. I tried a few of the keyboards at Guitar center and narrowed it down to these. I wouldn't mind paying a little more and get the PX-120 if the 128 polyphony makes a big difference. My current keyboard is a basic 61 key Yamaha which is my first and only keyboard so I would like to upgrade to 88 weighted keys.
I don't need any of the fancy stuff like the usb connection or flash drive on there. Just something basic and sounds great. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.
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#657606 - 09/05/08 09:23 AM
Re: Casio Privia or Williams Encore
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Full Member
Registered: 07/31/07
Posts: 340
Loc: Austin, TX
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The action of the PX-120 is, in my opinion, the reason to get it over the other models you are considering. The sound is also better (imo). The high polyphony # on the PX-120 is also a guaranty you will never get notes dropped (and you will feel less the need to upgrade any time soon). In addition to the bench, consider a good (stable) stand that will put the keys at the right height, and a pedal as well because the cheap plastic ones are not satisfying at all. They can't stay in place and are nowhere close in feeling like a regular piano pedal. To me, if it fits your budget, the PX-120 is a no brainer.
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#657607 - 09/05/08 07:58 PM
Re: Casio Privia or Williams Encore
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Full Member
Registered: 04/08/08
Posts: 37
Loc: California
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Thanks for the replies. Actually I have a piano bench and a table already. I will get the sustain pedal that looks like the piano kind.
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#657608 - 09/05/08 08:22 PM
Re: Casio Privia or Williams Encore
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Full Member
Registered: 07/31/07
Posts: 340
Loc: Austin, TX
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Make sure it is compatible with the DP you will get. There are no standards.
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#657609 - 09/07/08 11:56 PM
Re: Casio Privia or Williams Encore
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Full Member
Registered: 04/08/08
Posts: 37
Loc: California
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I'm sure the table will fit just about any keyboard, made it myself, its a table rather than a stand. The bench, I measured a real piano bench and made one, even has padding.
The PX-110 has the ZPI while the PX-120 has the AIF. Does anyone know the difference between the ZPI and AIF sound chip?
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#657610 - 09/08/08 12:45 AM
Re: Casio Privia or Williams Encore
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Full Member
Registered: 07/31/07
Posts: 340
Loc: Austin, TX
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Here is what I get from the Casio web site. AIF stands for Advanced Intelligent Filter technology, is the Casio's latest sound processing system. It is supposed to sound "more realistic". I don't know what ZPI stands for. They describe it as 3 elements sound ship. Casio Digital Pianos (DPs) with AIF offer the 3 layers piano sounds as the ZPI equipped ones (PX-110, 310 ...). The Casio web site says about the PX-110 "Three different dynamic levels (samples) per key" The AIF DPs have 180 piano samples 11 MB stored in ROM (180 might be 60 x 3 levels). In comparison, my Yamaha P-120 had 22 MB of Piano samples. If I compare the Piano#1 of each DP (PX-320 that I now own vs. P-120), I would say that they are both very good, with the P-120 doing a better job on sustained notes (you can hear the loops more on the PX-320). I would bet the PX-120 is the same. AIF seems to apply to the voices/timbres and not just piano. Casio refers to sympathetic resonance capabilities only for AIF equipped DPs.
One important more important thing between the PX-110 and PX-120 is the action. And you need to try - there is no substitute - to know which one you prefer. I tried the PX-110 and I did not care for it. Then I tried the PX-120, and I considered replacing my 4 years old P-120 with this lighter Casio. The keyboard on the PX-120 is silent compared to the PX-110. And it feels better as well to me. I ended up with the PX-320 because of a less than $550 delivered deal (gone) on the Internet. I would have been just fine with the PX-120. The USB, Registration slots, SD Card reader, more advanced recorder and additional voices on the PX-320 are bonuses that I and my little one will probably use in the future.
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#657611 - 09/08/08 01:55 AM
Re: Casio Privia or Williams Encore
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500 Post Club Member
Registered: 08/28/08
Posts: 595
Loc: Lakewood, CA
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The ZPI chip is the sound source of the older Casio Privia DP. It is also used in the WK3300, WK3800, and WK8000. I am impressed with the sound quality of the ZPI vs the AIF. I had been comparing a PX-575 which has the ZPI with the PX-120/320 which have the AIF. They are in close proximity in the Guitar Center I sometimes go to. I like the piano sounds better on the PX-575. I think they sound richer and fuller. Unfortunately, this piano has only 32 units of polophony and with 620 tones, layering just a few tones, notes drop out quickly due to the limited poly. If you want to layer sounds, the 320 is the best bet, unless you look at Roland.
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