Learning online at home is very popular and the CT-S1 has been designed with this in mind. Connect your phone, tablet or computer directly with USB and enjoy music learning apps and games. Learn with Chordana Play It might have a very competitive price tag, but any fears that the Casiotone CT-S1 is a ‘cheap’ keyboard are dispelled the moment you start playing it. Using Casio’s advanced AiX sound technology, the CT-S1 boasts an expressive grand piano tone that sounds like an instrument twice its size (not to mention twice the price). Newly developed Bass Reflex speakers and Surround Sound mode mean a richer, more dynamic tone that complements the excellent sound quality. The CT-S1 is an entry level keyboard that you’ll enjoy playing and listening to over and over again. Hassle Free Connections -Every Time

I would be much happier if Bluetooth come as standard, but it’s an optional extra right now. In use 4.8 The PSR-E373 is a feature-rich portable arranger keyboard. It’s a lovely keyboard, but for complete beginners, the Casio CT-S1 is better. The app makes learning fun and easy with notation and piano rolls. You can even use the app to loop audio or change key. It’s an ideal practice companion. Built-in effectsIn fact, the more time you spend with the CT-S1, the more you realise what a well-thought-out keyboard it is. Need a metronome? You’ve got one. Want to record yourself playing? One button press is all it takes. You even get a music stand, though not one that looks particularly attractive or feels like it could take an awful amount of weight. Like one or two other beginner keyboards, the CT-S1 has the potential to act as a rehearsal keyboard for a more advanced player. I’m not suggesting you should buy it for that purpose, but it does sound good enough to be a reliable, lightweight substitute. Build quality 4.7 And then there are the speakers, which - we’ll admit - sound far better than we thought they would, even at higher volumes. There’s little or no evidence of distortion; in fact, if you connect up a smartphone (either via the audio input or Bluetooth adapter) they’re good enough to be used for music listening, too. You can, of course, play along with any steamed- or wired-in audio - a very welcome feature. The other thing I like is the design; it’s simple and not intrusive. The speaker bar is smooth; there are no chunky, outdated, in-your-face speaker grills. Keyboard feel 4.5

Fortunately, your favourite setup can be saved for easy recall later on, as can your favourite tones. Performance & Verdict You can cycle through variations on each tone with repeated presses of the aptly named Tone Variation button, or select further tones (listed in the manual but not on the unit itself) with a combination of button and note presses. It’s possible to layer tones, too, and adjust the relative volume of the layers. It’s at its best as a practice keyboard at home, and it’s very light, so moving it around the house won’t be a problem, even for younger kids. As I said above, it can be battery-powered, so you can easily take it anywhere with you. Tone-wise, the piano is the headline act, but the unassuming top panel also contains dedicated sound selection buttons for two electric pianos, organ, ‘keyboard’ (the default is a harpsichord), synth and the mysterious ‘others’.Roland's take on the portable keyboard concept features 61 keys, more than 500 sounds, onboard Bluetooth and a Loop Mix feature.