Casio Casiotone CT-S1From real comments

Name: Casio Casiotone CT-S1
Rating: 3.2 (47 reviews)

Verdict distilled from 47 mentions across 13 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment73%

PROS 73%

CONS 27%

Rank based on 47 mentions across 13 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

You want a lightweight, portable piano-like keyboard for practice or travel
You value realistic acoustic/electric piano and organ sounds at a low price
You're a beginner or gigging musician who doesn't need 88 weighted keys

What users love

Impressive sound quality for the priceKey factor0 mentions

Strongly positive

Great value for moneyKey factor0 mentions

Strongly positive

Beginner-friendly and funNotable0 mentions

Strongly positive

Portable and travel-friendlyNotable0 mentions

Strongly positive

Attractive minimal designNotable0 mentions

Strongly positive

Good key action and touch sensitivity0 mentions

Strongly positive

Deep customization options0 mentions

Widely praised

Skip this if...

You dislike function-button menu navigation and want a screen-based UI
You need built-in Bluetooth or USB-C charging instead of AA batteries
You need more than 61 keys or built-in drum beat creation

What users complain about

Confusing function-button menu systemNotable0 mentions

Frequently criticized

AA battery power instead of USB charging0 mentions

Frequently criticized

Sound and MIDI glitches0 mentions

Frequently criticized

Limited to 61 keys0 mentions

Generally negative

Higher pricing outside the US0 mentions

Frequently criticized

Bluetooth requires extra-cost dongle0 mentions

Generally negative

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice

1Mid

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive~$199 · 1.9× cheaper

Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive~$199 · 1.9× cheaper

Touch-sensitive dynamics

Long-term favorite / durability of appeal

Sweet, low-gain tone quality

High price versus clones

Deluxe loses some original character

Limited mid control

2Mid

Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay~$199 · 1.9× cheaper

Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings

Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay~$199 · 1.9× cheaper

Musical analog tone

Long-term reliability and board loyalty

Simple, intuitive controls

High price point

Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable

Distortion at high settings

3Mid

Wampler Tumnus Deluxe~$199 · 1.9× cheaper

3-band active EQ for tone shapingTransparent, amp-enhancing toneGreat for stacking with other pedalsHot switch benefit not obvious at lower gainPossible popping noise on switch changeDidn't stand out for one user's amp

Wampler Tumnus Deluxe~$199 · 1.9× cheaper

3-band active EQ for tone shaping

Transparent, amp-enhancing tone

Great for stacking with other pedals

Hot switch benefit not obvious at lower gain

Possible popping noise on switch change

Didn't stand out for one user's amp

4Mid

Wampler Paisley Drive~$199 · 1.9× cheaper

Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions

Wampler Paisley Drive~$199 · 1.9× cheaper

Transparent tone

Versatile across genres

Works well across many guitar types

Two-channel routing complexity

Dry signal bleed-through

Inconsistent demo impressions

5Mid

Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz~$199 · 1.9× cheaper

Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns

Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz~$199 · 1.9× cheaper

Articulate sound

Great with extended-range guitars

Strong overall tone quality

Price concerns

6Upper

Strymon Flint~$349 · similar price

High-quality vintage reverb voicesExceptional tremolo tonesLong-term reliability and board permanencePrice seen as steep by several buyersV1 vs V2 tonal disagreementReverb considered only average by some

Strymon Flint~$349 · similar price

High-quality vintage reverb voices

Exceptional tremolo tones

Long-term reliability and board permanence

Price seen as steep by several buyers

V1 vs V2 tonal disagreement

Reverb considered only average by some

7Upper

Origin Effects Deluxe61~$349 · similar price

Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb

Origin Effects Deluxe61~$349 · similar price

Authentic amp-like tone

Excellent low-to-mid gain drive

Underrated favorite among owners

High price point

Limited gain-staging flexibility

No built-in reverb

Best value

8Premium

Behringer Poly D~$599 · 1.6× pricier

Authentic Minimoog-style soundExceptional price-to-value ratioJuno-style stereo chorusEnvelope release click/popEarly MIDI local-off feedback bugParaphonic, not fully polyphonic

Behringer Poly D~$599 · 1.6× pricier

Authentic Minimoog-style sound

Exceptional price-to-value ratio

Juno-style stereo chorus

Envelope release click/pop

Early MIDI local-off feedback bug

Paraphonic, not fully polyphonic

9Mid

Walrus Audio 385~$199 · 1.9× cheaper

Unique, distinctive toneTube-amp-like breakupVersatile tonal rangeHigh gain gets flubby or fuzzyPrice considered steepShared EQ and gain-switch limits channel independence

Walrus Audio 385~$199 · 1.9× cheaper

Unique, distinctive tone

Tube-amp-like breakup

Versatile tonal range

High gain gets flubby or fuzzy

Price considered steep

Shared EQ and gain-switch limits channel independence

10Mid

JHS Morning Glory~$199 · 1.9× cheaper

Transparent, natural toneFavorite always-on board pedal for manyExcellent for stacking with other pedalsHigher price than typical overdrive pedalsNo built-in remote footswitchCan compress and clash with higher-gain pedals

JHS Morning Glory~$199 · 1.9× cheaper

Transparent, natural tone

Favorite always-on board pedal for many

Excellent for stacking with other pedals

Higher price than typical overdrive pedals

No built-in remote footswitch

Can compress and clash with higher-gain pedals

You are here

17Upper

Casio Casiotone CT-S1~$379

Impressive sound quality for the priceGreat value for moneyBeginner-friendly and funConfusing function-button menu systemAA battery power instead of USB chargingLimited to 61 keys

Casio Casiotone CT-S1~$379

Impressive sound quality for the price

Great value for money

Beginner-friendly and fun

Confusing function-button menu system

AA battery power instead of USB charging

Limited to 61 keys

Versatile
1. Wampler Paisley Drivearrow_upward6
2. Wampler Tumnus Deluxearrow_upward6
3. Walrus Audio 385arrow_upward5
Great value
1. Behringer Poly Darrow_upward12
2. Casio Casiotone CT-S1arrow_upward6
Transparent tone
1. JHS Morning Gloryarrow_upward8
2. Wampler Tumnus Deluxearrow_upward8
Expensive
1. Origin Effects Deluxe61arrow_downward3
2. Walrus Audio 385arrow_downward3
3. Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrivearrow_downward4
Board staple
1. Strymon Flintarrow_upward8
2. Mad Professor Deep Blue Delayarrow_upward5
Stacks well
1. Wampler Tumnus Deluxearrow_upward7
2. JHS Morning Gloryarrow_upward6

Overall Impression

Sound quality and portability consistently wow users. Commenters repeatedly praise the CT-S1's acoustic piano emulation, electric pianos, and organ sounds as remarkably realistic for the price, with some saying it sounds better than expected or comparable to Korg. Its light weight, battery operation, and compact size make it easy to travel or gig with, while the built-in speakers and touch-sensitive keys add to a satisfying, portable playing experience for both beginners and experienced pianists.

The menu and control scheme frustrates many users. Multiple commenters criticize the lack of a screen and the reliance on function-button plus key-press combinations to access sounds and settings, calling it unintuitive, confusing, and overly dependent on the manual. Some report accidental sound-bank glitches or difficulty finding functions, feeling the interface requires 'programmer' level knowledge rather than simple, discoverable controls.

Power and connectivity choices divide opinion. Several users are frustrated that the CT-S1 uses AA batteries instead of USB charging, viewing it as outdated for a modern device, and note that Bluetooth requires an extra-cost dongle. Others report MIDI-related issues, such as sustain not holding notes properly or sounds cutting short when using it as a sound module with external keyboards, though core playability remains well liked.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?

music_noteImpressive sound quality for the priceKey factor

11 mentions

Strongly positive

Many users say the acoustic piano, electric piano, and organ sounds are remarkably realistic and exceed expectations for the price point. Some go so far as to say it sounds better than a real piano or rivals more expensive brands.

@anonymike8280

I'm not an much of a keyboardist. I used the keyboard to work out (bang out?) chord progressions for songwriting purposes the same way someone else might use a guitar. I have a Casio CT-S1 in addition to my 88-key keyboard with a weighted, graded action. Here's my review and my general observations.\n\nConsider your purposes first. I wanted acoustic piano emulation above all. The Casio CT-S1 provides acoustic piano emulation. It allows you to do a lot of digital things, such as select different instruments and tones. You can move the range up and down. It is nicely portable and runs on batteries. The best feature is the AiX tone engine. People have said, the Roland ZenCore tone engine which Roland uses on its 61-key keyboards is better. It probably is slighty better, but not by much. In any case, you are not going to get anything like a real piano tone out of any 61-key keyboard in the low hundreds price range. I can't speak to the pricier ones because I know nothing about them. I can't speak to how any of these keybaords would sound played through a good sound system either. I do know that people gig with them.\n\nThe action of the CT-S1 is either near semi-weighted or, you could call it, marginally semi-weighted. The keys are touch sensitive, and that is a good thing. You can turn off the touch sensitivity if you don't want it. With a keyboard without touch sensitivity, you're stuck. Again, do your research and consider your purposes. Arrangers keyboards and piano emulators are not the same thing. I didn't want red. I didn't get red, I got black. You can get white, red or black.\n\nDid I tell you, someone in my apartment complex tossed a Yamaha PSR-E273 arranger keyboard? It's okay but not touch sensitive. I cleaned it up and got a power supply. Now I'm trying to find someone to give it too. No luck yet. If my songwriting and musicianship evolves and I can use an arranger keyboard, I'll get exactly the one I want. Get exactly what you want. The price difference is less than getting tooth pulled.

Casio Casiotone CT-S1chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

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Who wins on what (similar price)

Versatile

Great value

Transparent tone

Expensive

Board staple

Stacks well

auto_awesomeOverall Impression

Casio Casiotone CT-S1From real comments

Buy this if...

What users love

Skip this if...

What users complain about

Overall Impression