List Price: $449.99
Sale Price: $299.95
Today's Bonus: 33% Off
- 76-Key Full Size Keyboard Workstation
- 670 Tones and Programs
- 48 Polyphony, 10 User Tones and 200 Rhythms
- USB MIDI Class Compliant
- Audio In and Mic Inputs
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I recently purchased the CASIO wk-6500 because my Yamaha PSR model(which I've had for several years)started with problems.I originally looked at the new Yamahas, but the changes they made were like starting at square one againso I looked at all the keyboards in the store. I am very impressed with what this Casio can do. At first I had to adjust to the different ways Casio finds "voice=sounds", also "style"is now Rhythm, but these are simple enough changes to adjust to. This past week was the first time I used this to perform with and it was great! The grand piano sounds beautiful and layered with strings(which I can adjust) was just perfect.(My Yamaha's were all preset layers) There are many pre-set intros and endings so I can really sound fab without really trying. My biggest adjustment was the regisration setting,to save what I had created. Once I figured that out, the rest was a breese. I love the Octave change capability with one easy step, too.There is also a custom mixer! Really easy to work with. I have to say overall. I'm a happy little musician! Oh! I forgot to say you can download from the internet with USB and use an SD card to save on!Buy Casio WK6500 76 Key Touch Sensitive Workstation Keyboard Now
It's interesting how this thing is so unknown. It looks like a piano, it sounds like a piano, and it feels like a piano.First the sound: It sounds oh-so-sweet. I'm pretty sensitive to audio quality. The built-in speakers are surprisingly good, putting out some exceptionally full lows, clean highs, and even impressive thumps from the percussion section. I was planning to plug this into my component system, which I also use for my V-Drums, but the built-in speakers sound so good I just use them (of course it doesn't go loud enough to replace a separate amp/monitor system, but who would expect it to).
The keys feel effin good. This is as good as you'll find without paying for weighted keys, and it gets pretty darn close to those anyway. (Just because another review mentions this, the audible knock from the key mechanism is far from excessive; no more than you'd get from any keyboard).
It also LOOKS great. All-black with subtle electronic controls, for a true piano-like grace plus a modern touch. I love looking at it.
Between the looks, the key feel, and the clean sound, it's a piano. It might not be all big and stuff, but it's a piano.
The built-in instrument and effects possibilities are surprisingly vast. The instruments themselves are very well sampled, quality stuff. Lots of effects with lots of customizable settings for each. I haven't played with the sequencer so I can't comment on that.
The display and button layout is pretty intuitive. Make sure to activate AutoResume, or else all settings revert to their defaults when you power off. USB to PC (Win7 x64) gets recognized immediately, no hassles, no drivers. The manual is quite readable.
Quips:
It's not nearly as heavy as it looks. This could be a good or bad thing, depending. I like heavy things because they feel like higher quality. Who wants to pay for empty space? This actually has a lot of visible empty space in its underside. Oh well. If I had to travel with it I'd obviously appreciate the light weight.
Like many keyboards, no pedal = no sustain, so order a pedal. I think every keyboard should include a sustain button on the panel, and I'm mystified as to why they still don't. I MacGyvered a solution out of a small piece of rolled-up tin foil shoved into an audio adapter (small-to-big headphone adapter, the foil shorts the connection). Unplug to deactivate. Also makes a good conversation starter ("Dude, why's there tin foil sticking out of your board?" "It keeps the government from listening to my music." "Oh. Kay.")
The Amazon specs are a little hazy on the exact port types, so here they are:
DC power (adapter included)
Battery compartment: 6 D-size batteries
USB (Standard-B)
SD / SDHC Card Slot
Sustain pedal (1/4" audio-type)
Phones (1/4")
Mic In (1/4")
Audio In (1/8")
Audio Out Left (1/4")
Audio Out Right (1/4")
All the audio jacks are phone-type. There are no RCA-type ports.
My conclusion is that this is an awesome deal. It has it where it counts, along with all the bells and whistles, for a great price. But no sustain button! I mean, seriously, in this day and age... Okay anyway, for reals, get this PIANO. You'll not be sorry.
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I must say that this keyboard is still unnoticed! yes I got this keyboard when it was launched and now I would ascertain that this keyboard elevates itself to the professional level.I wanted to buy YAMAHA, but none of their keyboards stand a chance when it comes to a sub 400$ price range. First thing to notice is its great design, there is no fancy coloring going on its just all black with plenty of buttons to make the workflow easier. The touch sensitive keys are just breeze to play on, they really give the feel of playing on a conventional piano. The info Display screen is very good. Its nice big and bright with white light.
The tones are just amazing, about 650 to choose from amazing rhythms. It is also possible to create user tones and custom rhythms with much of ease. It is very easy to switch between the various tones by storing the tones in the Bank Keys. The 16 track to record on, saving the recorded song to an external memory card happens with a touch of a button!
If Beginners or Hobbyists (like me) are looking for some fine piece of instrument with a minimal budget in mind, just pick this Casio am sure you would love it!
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I got this keyboard in a package deal [Keyboard, Stand, Headphones, USB/Midi Cable, Learning CD] So ill address all of those as well at the end.WK-6500: I could type a whole lot here but ill try to keep it simple.
Just for reference, I'm just an average young adult who enjoys playing piano, that's it. Don't play concerts, teach, or use for professional audio circumstances. I just play and enjoy it, sometimes use it for videos I edit, and occasionally post to YouTube but more on that later. I will say if you do play concerts, teach, or anywhere in between than this will more than cover your needs for that. The keyboard itself looks beautiful. A lot bigger to my eyes going from and old "kiddie" keyboard with lights and stuff [61 keyed]. Sleek look, good design, and all around beauty. The interface is pretty simple and has more than enough options for whatever your needs are. Tons of tones, rhythms, beats, etc that you could want and I think you can even upload more if for some reason you would need that. It's definitely aimed at the Beginner Semi/Pro level users. Keys feel just like a real piano. Weighted enough that if you played on a normal grand piano it would feel natural. Speakers sound nice and loud and have great quality. Backlighting is great! Easily can see the menu's and having a LED on the "Play/Pause" button that lights to a beat is a nice touch. Also glowing RED record button is always a plus to know when you're recording or not. You can easily record and store songs, and even layer what like 17 tones or something ridiculous like that? Plenty of customizable options that should exceed everyone's needs. Ports are always a plus and this thing has 'em. Sustain works properly, Headphone jack is always preferred for not disturbing others. USB Midi port, Line out, Mic in, and even a 3.5mm Jack for plugging in your Mp3 player which I have to say sounds amazing playing along or just using it as speakers to listen to your music if you need haha. Don't know what else I can say but it's definitely worth every penny and more. The recording quality is absolutely amazing, though I have heard if you try to save to SD card slot and then transfer it may not work as well. But again if you really wanted quality you would know this and at least use "headphone" out port or finally the best LINE OUT since that's what it's for. All I can say is if you get this... you will not be disappointed.
Stand: Standard stand. Works well. Easy to assemble. Holds it up nice. Not much else to say. I needed a new one and a package deal came with it so that's that.
Headphones: This was the funny one. The box it came it looked like Amazon or whomever ships this product got a gang together to play soccer with it in the back before shipping it out to me. Which is fine I'm glad someone got more use outta it than I would have. The second I opened the headphones the right ear plastic broke on the inside (as you would expect only the left ear worked). You might as well strap two rocks to your ears and it would be more comfortable than these things. I had fun snapping them in half and throwing them away within 60 seconds of receiving the headphones in the box. I didn't expect any more. Maybe both ears working at least? I would have preferred some iPod headphones instead TBH. But again if you buy a keyboard with "Free Headphones" expecting more than a paperweight than you deserve the disappointment that follows. I use my professional audiophile headset with this keyboard and it sounds absolutely beautiful.
USB Cable: Works. Nice quality. FREE :) Best part. This I actually got use outta.
CD: I teach myself so I didn't need it but I'm sure it may have some useful information for those who need it. Never used it so wouldn't know.
Final thoughts: If you like playing piano and want the closest thing in Keyboard form. You've found it. All reviews are spot on being 5 stars.
Addressing a "Accompany" mode "issue" I saw in another review. *Facepalm. It's not a defect of the keyboard. Chord mode doesn't let you use multiple keys simultaneously so of course a few 'dont respond since it's not designed that way. But honestly if you're buying a keyboard as expensive as this and cant play the chord yourself than I would suggest something a lot lower down the line than this. Chord mode does work perfectly though. I use it when I am experimenting with keys and want to free up my left hand and just hit 1 note over 3/4 but of course it sounds weird since it's computer generated chords and not them being played by hand. Feel as if that review botched the final star count for this product when it was a misunderstanding. If I could give it 10 stars to compensate I would.
John Green
