The electronic keyboard market is a very competitive field with some major players including Yamaha, Roland, Casio, and Korg (among others). This is all good news for the consumer because what we are looking at are high-quality, feature-packed keyboards that offer incredible value for money.

However, one of the problems with all these keyboards and all their features is trying to choose the right one for you. In this comparison I have chosen the Yamaha PSR-E423 and the Casio CTK-5000, which go hand in hand in the medium-sized sector. I’ll go through some of the similarities and differences so you can gain a better understanding and hopefully make a better decision for yourself.

Keyboard

Both instruments have a 61-note keyboard with full-size keys. However, the PSR-E423 has organ-style keys while the CTK-5000 has piano-style keys. Although both keyboards are touch-responsive, which means you can vary the note depending on how much pressure you apply to the key, the PSR-E423’s organ-style notes will remain lit as long as you hold down the key. On the other hand, the CTK-5000’s piano-style keys will allow notes to fade out gradually.

The PSR-E423 has a polyphony of 32 notes while the CTK-5000 has 48. Polyphony is the number of simultaneous notes that can be played at the same time. In this context, the CTK-5000 is able to provide smoother and more natural transitions between notes.

sounds

Both keyboards have a similar specification when it comes to onboard sounds and tones. The PSR-E423 has 700 tones and the CTK-5000 has 670. These range from a grand piano to a triangle, and every other designed instrument in between. As with most instruments of this type, some are good, others not so much.

Similarly, both keyboards are extensively equipped with built-in rhythms and songs. The PSR-E423 has 174 rhythms while the CTK-5000 has 200. You can use them as backing to enhance your own playing. Similarly, the PSR-E423 has 30 songs while the CTK-5000 has 152. These are useful for playing lessons and for your own listening enjoyment.

Characteristics and Facilities

Both keyboards have digital effects available including reverb and chorus (PSR-E423 has 9 reverb and 4 chorus; CTK-5000 has 10 and 5) and both have a sequencer so you can put together and record your own compositions (both keyboards have 6 tracks). available with a 5-song memory). Additionally, the CTK-5000 has an SD card reader for added versatility so you can download/upload your own files.

You can connect headphones to the output of both instruments to practice in silence. However, only the CTK-5000 has line outputs for connection to an external PA or mixer system. For this reason, the CTK-5000 is more suitable if you want to use it in a live performance situation.

Another noteworthy feature, again with the CTK-5000 only, is the sampling function. With this you can record any audio sound input (maximum 10 seconds) and then play it back via the keyboard. This opens up a whole new range of creative possibilities and potential for fun.

Conclusion

As you can see, both keyboards are very similar in terms of specification. For home use, you basically can’t go wrong with either. The CTK-5000 lends itself a bit more to a live setting. However, the PSR-E423 has more onboard instrument tones and a lower recommended retail price. Ideally, the best thing to do is try both before you buy, but at least now, after reading this article, you should know what to expect.