Casio AP470 Review

We rated the Casio AP470 a 9.5/10! This Clavinova is a popular home piano with a sleek and shiny look, 2 grand piano sounds, and weighted, textured keys with triple-sensors. I ended up taking just a half of a point off of this model, because of its smaller onboard recorder, and overly mellow bass end in this particular speaker system.

Casio AP470 Overview

The Casio AP-470 is a well-known home digital piano that was first released in February 2019. It’s quite similar to the Casio PX-870, which we reviewed several months ago, except that it’s got a few more acoustic piano voices inside. 

Features

A Keyboard with Triple-Sensor Action 

This keyboard has 88 textured, touch-sensitive keys with triple-sensor action. This triple-sensor action is extremely accurate, resulting in a responsive playing experience. This keyboard is the second edition of Casio’s Scaled Hammer Action, meaning that this keyboard has received updated action since Clavinova’s before this one. 

Casio’s technology does a good job at replicating the feel of an acoustic piano. The weighted keys that get progressively heavier as you move up the keyboard. I believe that both beginners and upper-intermediates will enjoy the heavier Scaled Hammer Action II. Although the action isn’t as heavy as say, Roland FP-30’s, it’s still really nice. 

This instrument also has something called hammer response curves. These 4 options allow you to adjust the amount of time you wait between hitting the key, and the instruments response. 

AiR Sound Engine 

The AP-470 Celviano includes tones such as electric pianos, grand pianos, harpsichord, organ, strings and more. 

Lovely Grand Piano Sounds

The grand piano voices inside of the AP-470 have a key off simulator, which makes the samples sounds more realistic.  The NY Steinway sound is new to this model, and sounds more convincing than other grand piano tones previously used. The second grand piano sample (the European Grand) is equally as high-quality. 

In this video, Mirriam music compared a Roland to this model. You can hear the grand piano tones from the AP-470 here.

2-track Recorder, WAV recording

While this instrument doesn’t have nearly as much recording space as the PXS5000 does, it’s still nice to have a recorder onboard, no matter how big or small. This model has a 2-track MIDI recorder that holds 1 song, as well as a WAV recorder that can hold a single track.  

High-Quality Effects, Concert Play/Library

Chous, volume sync EQ and brilliance are some of the effects available inside this model. You can also access some stunning hall effects via the hall simulator in the Concert Play library.  

Side note: In case you haven’t read out Casio reviews before, Concert Play is a Casio-exclusive library that allows pianists to play along with a digital orchestra. These internal songs are a great way to make your practice feel like something big.

Headphone Mode 

Casio’s headphone mode is a newer feature that “reproduces the natural diffusion of acoustic piano tones” (Web.Casio.com).

3 Color Options in a Timeless Design

This model comes in gloss black, matte white, and brown. The design is simple yet elegant, so the piano will fit nicely into any room.  

4 Speaker System

Though it doesn’t feel as bassy as it could be, The AP-470’s 2-way 4-speaker system is plenty enough sound for the novice pianist. This speaker system has 40 watts total. 

Other Features:

• Half-pedaling

• Octave Shift, multiple temperament options
• Preset songs
• USB and Bluetooth connectivity
• Split
• Layer
• Open lid setting that makes the instrument sound, well like an open-lidded piano!
• Casio Music Space App compatibility
• A triple-pedal unit with real brass pedals

Specifications

Sourced from Amazon.com 

• Weight: 138 pounds
• Dimensions: ‎60 x 22.25 x 21.75 inches 
• Effects: 23

Who is it suitable for?

The Casio AP470 is best suited for those looking for a serious home piano. Sound explorers who are looking for loads and loads of backing tracks and tones won’t find themselves very happy with this non-nonsense workhorse of an instrument.  Celvianos, as a general rule, are much too heavy to move long distances, so it’s best to keep the AP-460 as a home, studio, or classroom instrument. 

The AP470 in Action

This owner review and demo by pianist Jeremy See will help you get a second opinion, and a better feel for sounds the instrument.

Customer Reviews

The Casio AP-470 was rated 4.2 stars on Amazon.com. The buyers were overwhelmingly happy with both the look and sound of the instrument. Some constructive criticisms that I read about are that it could be made easier to assemble (the pedals are difficult to attach) and some of the effects are difficult to find without the user manual (the interface could be more intuitive).

Pros and Cons

Pros

• This model is aesthetically pleasing
• The grand piano samples are stunners 
• Casio has updated their sounds more recently than their competitors- So you get more realistic sounds that will serve you well, for longer

Cons

• Not as many levels of touch sensitivity as other Casio’s
• The speaker system isn’t very loud
• It’s a lot heavier than the PX-870 with not that many more features
• The keys make a bit more noise than other digitals 
• The finish on the pedals could be thicker/ of a higher quality 

Comparable Instruments

The AP-470 is remarkably similar to the PX-870 model we previously reviewed here. You can get a portable PX-870 for about $1,2000. 

If you love Casio instruments but are looking for something more portable, consider trying out one of the keyboards we previously reviewed, such as the Casio Privias from the PX-S line.

The Privia line offers more portable instruments than the Celviano. The PX-S most similar in price to the AP-470 is the PX-S6000. This digital piano has hundreds more sounds, a bigger internal recorder, and a ¼ inch mic input. The scaled hammer action in the model we reviewed today is significantly different from the new hybrid action in the PX-S5000 and up. 

Quick View 

Casio AP470: Conclusion

In conclusion, the AP470 makes for a wonderful home piano with a natural, responsive feel. Even though I wish it had a bigger recorder and more bass to the sound, it’s still one of the best economical starter pianos you can find for under $2000 on the market right now.  Thanks so much for stopping by BestPianoKeyboards, and for sticking with me until the end! 

Music quote of the week: 

“Music – that’s been my education. There’s not a day that goes by that I take it for granted.” -Billie Joe Armstrong 

9.5Expert Score

We rated the Casio AP470 a 9.5/10! This Clavinova is a popular home piano with a sleek and shiny look, 2 grand piano sounds, and weighted, textured keys with triple-sensors. I ended up taking just a half of a point off of this model, because of its smaller onboard recorder, and overly mellow bass end in this particular speaker system.

PROS

• This model is aesthetically pleasing
• The grand piano samples are stunners
• Casio has updated their sounds more recently than their competitors- So you get more realistic sounds that will serve you well, for longer

CONS

• Not as many levels of touch sensitivity as other Casio’s
• The speaker system isn’t very loud
• It’s a lot heavier than the PX-870 with not that many more features
• The keys make a bit more noise than other digitals
• The finish on the pedals could be thicker/ of a higher quality