Casio Celviano AP-300 Review: The Traditional Cabinet in the Celviano Line

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

The Classic Celviano

Casio's Celviano range now spans the slim AP-S200 and AP-S450, the traditional AP-300 and AP-550, and the flagship AP-750. The AP-300 is the traditional cabinet at the entry of the line: rosewood or black finish, a soft-close sliding key cover, a movable top lid that opens to brighten the sound, three pedals, a 40 watt speaker system, 19 tones with a new concert grand sample, and the WU-BT10 Bluetooth adapter included. The listing confirms those; it does not publish polyphony or weight.

Action

The AP-300 uses the Smart Scaled Hammer Action shared with the AP-S200 and the PX-S1100: graded, textured, quick and on the lighter side. It is a comfortable action for beginners and intermediate players and it is the one place the AP-300 is clearly behind the AP-S450, which uses the Smart Hybrid Hammer Action with spruce-and-resin keys, and behind the Privia PX-870's Tri-Sensor action. In a console, where portability is not a reason to accept a lighter keyboard, that matters.

Sound and Speakers

The new concert grand sample through the AiR engine, with string and damper resonance, is a richer tone than the earlier Celviano grands, and the 40 watt speaker system projects it into a living room with authority. The movable top lid changes the tonal balance in the way a grand's lid does, which is a feature usually reserved for more expensive consoles. Eighteen further tones cover a second piano, electric pianos, organs, strings and harpsichord.

Polyphony is not published on the listing; Casio's specification should be checked before relying on a figure.

Panel, Apps and Connectivity

Illuminated touch controls vanish while playing; the Casio Music Space app over Bluetooth MIDI through the included adapter is the comfortable way to change settings. Bluetooth audio streams play-along music through the 40 watt speakers. USB to Host carries MIDI to a computer, and two headphone jacks sit under the keyboard. No USB audio recording is listed.

Assembly and Cabinet

The AP-300 assembles as a traditional console in about an hour with two people. The listing's weight figure appears to be an error; Casio's traditional Celviano cabinets are typically in the 90 to 110 pound range. The rosewood finish and upright proportions make it the most piano-like Celviano below the AP-550. A bench is not mentioned on the listing.

AP-300 Against the Alternatives

Against the AP-S450, the AP-S450 has the hybrid action, 26 tones and a four-speaker 40 watt system in a slimmer modern cabinet at a similar price; the AP-300 answers with the traditional look and the movable lid. Against the Casio PX-870, the PX-870 has the heavier Tri-Sensor action, documented 256-note polyphony and USB audio recording for less; the AP-300 has the better cabinet, Bluetooth and the newer grand. Against the Yamaha YDP-146, the Casio has the stronger speakers and the lid; the Yamaha has the CFX sample and a bench.

Buy the AP-300 when the cabinet and the speakers lead the decision.

Daily Use and Practice Features

The AP-300's soft-close cover and movable lid are the parts owners touch every day, and both work as intended: the cover glides shut without a slam, and the lid opens to brighten the tone for practice through the speakers. Duet mode splits the keyboard for teacher and student, two headphone jacks allow silent practice for two, and the Casio Music Space app over Bluetooth provides lessons, tone selection and settings on a tablet. A built-in recorder captures MIDI performances for playback. It is a console that is easy to live with, which is as important as any specification for a piano that stays in one room.

Long-Term Fit

Owners who chose the AP-300 for the room are usually content for years; the speakers and the lid keep it enjoyable to play through, not just on headphones. Advancing students may want the hybrid action, and the AP-550 is the traditional-cabinet Celviano that provides it. For an adult who plays for pleasure and wants a piano that looks the part, the AP-300 is a good match.

Strengths and Limitations

Alternatives to Consider

Casio Celviano AP-S450

Pianists who want the hybrid action and a four-speaker system in a slim modern console

Read the Casio Celviano AP-S450 review →

Casio Privia PX-870

Home players who want a console that sounds full through its own speakers for well under four figures

Read the Casio Privia PX-870 review →

Yamaha Arius YDP-146

Families who want the CFX sound, Bluetooth and a bench in an affordable Arius console

Read the Yamaha Arius YDP-146 review →

Head-to-Head Comparisons

• Casio Celviano AP-300 vs Yamaha Arius YDP-145 Compare →

Questions Buyers Ask