Casio CDP-S160 Review: Casio's Entry Digital Piano, and Who It Suits
Casio's CDP-S160 puts 88 weighted keys, 10 tones and battery power into a body only 232 mm deep. Here's who it suits, what owners and reviewers report, and how it compares with the Yamaha P-45, the Roland FP-10 and Casio's own CDP-S110 and CDP-S360.
By Shahadat Hossain Published Updated
Research-based review. We haven't played the CDP-S160. This review draws on Casio's published specs, owner reports and published reviews. How we researched this
Our verdict
Casio's entry 88-key piano: weighted Scaled Hammer Action II keys with three touch levels, 10 tones and 64-note polyphony, in a slim body that runs about 13 hours on six AA batteries.
The verdict
The CDP-S160 is the piano to buy when you want 88 weighted keys in a slim, light body and don't need much else. Casio lists its Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II with simulated ebony and ivory key tops and three touch levels, 10 tones with 64-note polyphony, and two speakers with 8 W + 8 W, in a body 1,322 mm wide and 232 mm deep that weighs 10.5 kg. It runs about 13 hours on six AA batteries, and a pedal, a music stand and the AC adapter come in the box.
Its limits are the extras: no screen, no Bluetooth, one mini jack for headphones and output, and 64-note polyphony. The Yamaha P-45 and Roland FP-10 are its closest rivals. The CDP-S360 is the same body with 700 tones, rhythms and 128-note polyphony, and the CDP-S110 is the same piano without Duet mode, the recorder or the three-pedal connector.
Best for: beginners, students and anyone short on space who want 88 weighted keys, a light piano they can move or play on batteries, and the option of three pedals later.
Skip it if: you want Bluetooth or sounds and rhythms to play along with (the CDP-S360), or Roland's PHA-4 Standard keys with escapement (the FP-10).
How we researched this
We haven't played the CDP-S160 for this review. It's built from:
- Casio US product pages for the CDP-S160 and CDP-S360, and Casio US pages for the CS-470P stand and the WU-BT10 Bluetooth adapter (every CDP-S160 spec on this page comes from them)
- Casio UK's CDP-S110 page and Casio's January 2022 announcement of the CDP-S110, CDP-S160 and CDP-S360
- Yamaha USA and Roland US spec pages for the P-45 and FP-10
- Published reviews (Piano Dreamers and PianoTone) and Amazon US owner reviews
- Amazon US listings, checked for current offers (we don't quote prices, because they change)
Read more about how we pick and review pianos.
Casio CDP-S160 at a glance
- Angle
- From above
- In red
The CDP-S160 on a desk, from above: one short row of controls, and a body barely deeper than the keys (photo: Casio)
Casio also makes the CDP-S160 in red (photo: Casio)
Key specs from Casio
- Keys
- 88, Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II, simulated ebony and ivory key tops
- Touch response
- 3 sensitivity levels, off
- Tones and polyphony
- 10 tones; 64 notes
- Effects and modes
- Reverb (4 types), chorus (4 types), layer, Duet mode
- Recorder
- 1 track, 1 song, about 2,500 notes
- Speakers
- 12 × 6 cm oval × 2; 8 W + 8 W
- Power
- 6 AA alkaline (about 13 hours) or the AD-A12150LW adapter
- Connections
- USB Type B (MIDI), audio in (mini), phones/output (mini), damper pedal, three-pedal unit
- Bluetooth
- None listed
- Size (W × D × H)
- 132.2 × 23.2 × 9.9 cm, without the music stand
- Weight
- 10.5 kg (23.1 lb)
- In the box
- SP-3 pedal, music stand, AC adapter
Take a closer look.
The CDP-S160's panel, close up in Casio's photo: a power button, the volume dial, a function button and the one-button recorder. Most settings are made by holding the function button and pressing a key; the keys are labeled for it.
Casio's diagram of the back panel: a USB Type B port for MIDI, the damper pedal jack, the connector for a three-pedal unit, one mini jack for headphones and output, a mini audio input and the 12 V power input.
Duet mode splits the keyboard into two halves with the same range, so a teacher and a student can play the same notes side by side (photo: Casio).
The CDP-S160 next to the CDP-S360 in Casio's matching photos: the same 1,322 mm body and keys, with the CDP-S360's screen and buttons across the middle of its panel.
Who the Casio CDP-S160 is for, and who should skip it
Casio pitches the CDP-S160 at students, hobbyists and pianists who need a piano in a small space. Here's who it suits.
Who it's for
+Beginners and students who want 88 weighted keys: a scaled hammer action, in Casio's words, with three touch-sensitivity levels.
+Anyone short on space: 232 mm deep and 10.5 kg, light enough to move between a desk and a table.
+Players who want battery power: about 13 hours on six AA alkaline batteries, Casio says.
+Teachers and families: Duet mode gives two players the same range side by side, and the one-button recorder plays back what you just played.
+Anyone who may want three pedals later: the SP-34 pedal unit or the CS-470P stand adds soft and sostenuto pedals, and half-damper.
Who should skip it
–Anyone who wants Bluetooth: Casio lists none for the CDP-S160, and the CDP-S360 is the CDP that takes Casio's WU-BT10 adapter.
–Anyone who wants sounds and rhythms to play along with: there are 10 tones and no rhythms; the CDP-S360 has 700 tones and 200 rhythms.
–Anyone recording or playing through a PA: there's one mini jack for headphones and output, and Casio lists MIDI over USB but no USB audio.
Pros
- +88 weighted keys with 3 touch levels
- +10.5 kg and 232 mm deep
- +About 13 hours on AA batteries
- +Duet mode and a one-track recorder
- +Takes a three-pedal unit with half-damper
Cons
- –64-note polyphony
- –No Bluetooth
- –One mini jack for phones and output
- –10 tones, no screen
Keys, sounds and speakers
Keys: Casio's Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II, with simulated ebony and ivory textures on the key tops, which Casio says stop fingers slipping. Touch response has three sensitivity levels or off. It's Casio's entry action, also on the CDP-S110 and CDP-S360; the Privia PX-S1100 has Casio's Smart Scaled Hammer Action instead.
Read more
Sounds: 10 tones with 64-note polyphony: three grand pianos (standard, mellow and bright), three electric pianos, harpsichord, strings, pipe organ and jazz organ, as Casio's app screen lists them. Any two can be layered, with four reverb and four chorus types, and Casio lists equal temperament plus 16 other scales.
Speakers: two 12 × 6 cm oval speakers with 8 W + 8 W, the same amplifier power Casio lists for the CDP-S110 and CDP-S360, against the 6 W × 2 that Yamaha and Roland list for the P-45 and FP-10.
Batteries, pedals and connections
Power: six AA alkaline batteries, which Casio rates at about 13 hours, or the AD-A12150LW AC adapter in the box. Casio rates the CDP-S360 at about 4 hours on the same batteries.
Read more
Pedals: the SP-3 in the box is a footswitch for sustain. A second connector takes Casio's SP-34 three-pedal unit, or the CS-470P stand with three pedals fixed to it, for damper, soft and sostenuto pedals; Casio lists half-damper only with the three-pedal unit.
Connections: one stereo mini jack for headphones that doubles as the output, a stereo mini audio input for playing along with a phone, and a USB Type B port that Casio describes as class compliant: it sends MIDI to a computer, phone or tablet with no drivers. Casio lists its Casio Music Space app for iOS and Android. There's no Bluetooth listed, and Casio's WU-BT10 adapter page doesn't include the CDP-S160.
Everything else: a recorder that keeps one song of about 2,500 notes, Duet mode, a metronome, transpose of 12 semitones either way and tuning from 415.5 to 465.9 Hz. The body is 1,322 mm wide, 232 mm deep and 99 mm high without the music stand.
Casio CDP-S110 vs CDP-S160: what's different
Casio announced the two together in January 2022, with the CDP-S360. They share the keys, the 10 tones, 64-note polyphony, the speakers, the battery life and the body. Casio's spec pages show what the CDP-S160 adds:
| Spec | Casio CDP-S160 | Casio CDP-S110 |
|---|---|---|
| Duet mode | Yes | None listed |
| MIDI recorder | 1 track, about 2,500 notes | None listed |
| Scales | Equal temperament + 16 more | None listed |
| Three-pedal connector | Yes (SP-34, CS-470P) | None listed |
| Half-damper | With the three-pedal unit | None listed |
| Colors | Black, red | Black, white |
| Keys, tones, polyphony | Scaled Hammer Action II, 10, 64 | Same |
| Speakers, batteries, weight | 8 W + 8 W, about 13 hours, 10.5 kg | Same |
Which to buy: on Amazon US, the CDP-S160. When we checked, Amazon US had the CDP-S110 only from a single third-party seller, so it has no button here, and Casio's US site lists the CDP-S160 rather than the CDP-S110.
Casio CDP-S160 vs CDP-S360: what the CDP-S360 adds
The CDP-S360 has the same 1,322 mm body and the same keys, with an arranger keyboard's extras, at 0.4 kg more. From Casio US's spec pages:
| Spec | Casio CDP-S160 | Casio CDP-S360 |
|---|---|---|
| Tones | 10 | 700 |
| Rhythms | None listed | 200, with auto accompaniment |
| Polyphony | 64 | 128 |
| Screen | None listed | Backlit LCD |
| Pitch bend wheel | None listed | Yes |
| Recorder | 1 track, 1 song | 6 tracks, 5 songs |
| Bluetooth | None listed | Optional WU-BT10 (audio and MIDI) |
| Speakers | 12 × 6 cm × 2, 8 W + 8 W | 13 × 7 cm × 2, 8 W + 8 W |
| Battery life (6 AA) | About 13 hours | About 4 hours |
| Weight | 10.5 kg | 10.9 kg |
Which to buy: the CDP-S160 if you only want a piano and long battery life; the CDP-S360 if you want sounds and rhythms to play along with, a screen, or Bluetooth through Casio's adapter. Both take the SP-34 and the CS-470P stand.
Older Casio CDP models: CDP-100, CDP-120 and CDP-130
Before the slim CDP-S pianos, Casio sold the CDP-100, CDP-120 and CDP-130, and the CDP-S line itself began with the CDP-S100, CDP-S150 and CDP-S350. Casio's January 2022 announcement introduced the CDP-S110, CDP-S160 and CDP-S360 as the new CDP-S models, with the CDP-S360's polyphony raised from 64 to 128 notes.
We found no Casio US product page for any of the older models; the CDP-S160 and CDP-S360 are the CDP pianos Casio US lists today. If you're weighing a used older CDP against a new CDP-S160, compare the old model's spec sheet in its manual on Casio's support site with the tables on this page.
What owners and reviewers report
We haven't played the CDP-S160, so here's a summary of what published reviews and owners report, paraphrased; none of it is a spec.
Read more
The labeled keys and the slim body get the most praise. PianoTone singles out the labels printed above the keys, which make the key-and-button settings easy to find without the manual, and finds it easy to carry. Piano Dreamers praises the slim body as sturdy for its weight and rates the grand pianos and electric pianos good enough for practice. Amazon US buyers mostly describe it as a good first piano for a small home, and mention the weighted keys, the sound and the textured key tops.
The action divides opinion. Both reviews note that the short keys can be harder to play toward the back, and that some players find the black keys lighter than the white ones. Piano Dreamers sees that as a drawback for classically trained players; PianoTone says it rarely notices it.
The common complaints are the extras. Reviewers mention the 64-note polyphony, the lack of Bluetooth and line outputs, settings made through key combinations with no screen, and speakers that suit practice more than a room full of people. Piano Dreamers points readers who want more to the CDP-S360.
Casio CDP-S160 rivals: Yamaha P-45 and Roland FP-10
At the entry level, the CDP-S160's closest rivals are the Yamaha P-45 and the Roland FP-10: 88 weighted keys, a few sounds and two speakers each. The differences are the key action, the weight and the extras.
| Spec | Casio CDP-S160 | Yamaha P-45 | Roland FP-10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key action | Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II | GHS (Graded Hammer Standard) | PHA-4 Standard, with escapement |
| Touch response | 3 levels, off | Hard, medium, soft, fixed | 5 types, fixed |
| Polyphony | 64 | 64 | 96 |
| Sounds | 10 | 10 | 15 on the panel (36 in Roland's app) |
| Speakers | 8 W + 8 W | 6 W × 2 | 6 W × 2 |
| Batteries | 6 AA, about 13 hours | None listed | None listed |
| Bluetooth | None listed | None listed | MIDI |
| Depth and weight | 232 mm, 10.5 kg | 295 mm, 11.5 kg | 258 mm, 12.6 kg |
Yamaha P-45
Pick it if you'd rather have Yamaha's GHS action, which Yamaha makes heavier in the bass and lighter in the treble, as on an acoustic piano. Yamaha lists 10 voices, 64-note polyphony and 6 W × 2 speakers, at 11.5 kg, with no battery power.
Read our Yamaha P-45 review, which also covers the newer P-145.
Check price on Amazon for the Yamaha P-45 (opens in a new tab)
Roland FP-10
Pick it if the key action comes first. Roland lists PHA-4 Standard keys with escapement and ivory feel, 96-note polyphony and Bluetooth MIDI for apps, at 12.6 kg, with no battery power.
Read our Roland FP-10 review, or see how the FP-10 and P-45 compare.
Check price on Amazon for the Roland FP-10 (opens in a new tab)For the wider brand picture, our Casio vs Yamaha keyboard comparison and our Roland vs Casio digital piano comparison set the CDP-S160 against each maker's range.
Accessories for the Casio CDP-S160
The CDP-S160 comes with a music stand, the SP-3 pedal and the AC adapter. These are the stand, pedals, bench and headphones we'd add; our guides to keyboard stands, sustain pedals, piano benches and headphones for a digital piano compare more.
Casio CS-470P stand
Casio’s wooden stand made for the CDP-S160 and CDP-S360, with damper, soft and sostenuto pedals fixed to its crossbar.
Casio SP-34 pedal unit
For a stand without pedals: Casio’s portable three-pedal unit for the CDP-S160’s pedal-unit connector, with half-damper.
On-Stage KB9503B bench
Our bench guide’s pick for home practice: rated for 330 lb, with hydraulic-assisted height from 17 to 22 inches.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x headphones
Our headphones guide’s simple first pair: closed-back with a 3 m cable, and it fits the CDP-S160’s mini jack.
For a dust cover or a felt key cover, measure the piano first; our digital piano accessories guide explains what to check.
Casio CDP-S160 FAQ
Is the Casio CDP-S160 good?
For a beginner or student, yes, by its specs and reviews: Casio lists 88 weighted keys, 10 tones, 8 W + 8 W speakers and about 13 hours on batteries, at 10.5 kg. Reviewers praise its labeled keys and slim body, but note its 64-note polyphony, the lack of Bluetooth and keys that are harder to play toward the back.
Is the Casio CDP-S160 weighted?
Yes. Casio lists 88 keys with its Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II, a weighted hammer action that Casio scales like a piano's, with three touch-sensitivity levels and simulated ebony and ivory key tops. It's Casio's entry action; the Privia PX-S1100 has the Smart Scaled Hammer Action.
What's the difference between the Casio CDP-S110 and CDP-S160?
The CDP-S160 adds Duet mode, a one-track MIDI recorder, 16 alternative temperaments and a connector for Casio's three-pedal unit, with half-damper. Otherwise Casio's specs match: the same keys, 10 tones, 64-note polyphony, 8 W + 8 W speakers, about 13 hours on batteries and 10.5 kg.
What's the difference between the Casio CDP-S160 and CDP-S360?
The CDP-S360 adds an arranger keyboard's extras to the same body and keys: 700 tones, 200 rhythms, 128-note polyphony, a backlit screen, a pitch bend wheel, a six-track recorder and optional Bluetooth. The CDP-S160 runs longer on batteries, about 13 hours against 4, and weighs 10.5 kg against 10.9 kg.
Does the Casio CDP-S160 have Bluetooth?
No. Casio lists no Bluetooth for the CDP-S160, and its WU-BT10 adapter page lists the CDP-S360 but not the CDP-S160. The CDP-S160 connects to a computer, phone or tablet by USB: Casio describes the Type B port as class compliant, sending MIDI with no drivers.
Can the Casio CDP-S160 run on batteries?
Yes. Casio rates it at about 13 hours on six AA alkaline batteries, and the AC adapter comes in the box. That's far longer than the CDP-S360, which Casio rates at about 4 hours, and the Yamaha P-45 and Roland FP-10 list no battery power.
Sources
Shahadat Hossain
Founder of PianoRanked. I research this review from the makers' published specs, owner reports and published reviews — no paid placements, no brand partnerships.