Casio CDP-S100From real comments

Verdict distilled from 38 mentions across 12 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment71%
PROS 71%
CONS 29%

Rank based on 38 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want an affordable 88-key hammer-action piano for beginners
  • You value portability and battery-powered use for casual gigs
  • You like a textured key surface over slippery glossy keys

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need loud, punchy default volume without workarounds
  • You require long natural sustain for expressive acoustic-style playing
  • You need rock-solid long-term key durability for heavy daily use

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
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
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
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
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
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Budget
Casio CDP-S100
Great value for moneyImpressive sound for the priceTextured, non-slippery keysDefault volume too lowNoisy key actionShort, dry sustain
Casio CDP-S100
Great value for money
Impressive sound for the price
Textured, non-slippery keys
Default volume too low
Noisy key action
Short, dry sustain

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Sound quality impresses for the price, especially in person. Multiple commenters describe the CDP-S100 as sounding beautiful or amazing given its roughly £399/$399 price, with some preferring it to the Yamaha P45. However, the limited 10-tone sound engine omits instruments like clarinet and vibraphone, lacks layer-volume balancing, and one user found the tone dropped off quickly or came across as thin in the bass, especially on complex chords due to 64-note polyphony limits.

The textured hammer-action keybed is a standout feature for many. Buyers repeatedly praise the textured, non-slippery key surface compared to older slippery Casio keys, and call the weighted action satisfying and close to a real piano feel. Still, some found the action clatters louder or swings more than rivals like the Yamaha P45, and one long-term player described it as fairly clunky, needing adjustment for fast runs and trills.

Volume, sustain, and reliability draw the most criticism. Several owners report default volume is too soft even at max settings, requiring workarounds that sacrifice touch sensitivity, and note sustain is extremely short and dry, unsatisfying in gig use. A handful also report durability concerns, including a key reportedly dying after an hour and sticky keys from cheap rubber parts on a related older Casio model, raising longevity worries.

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