Casio CDP-S360BK

The Casio CDP-S360BK is particularly well-suited for beginner to intermediate pianists who want to learn on an 88-key hammer-action keyboard while having access to a wide variety of sounds and accompaniments. With 700 sounds and 200 rhythms, it’s more like an arranger keyboard than digital pianos that focus solely on a few piano sounds. At 232 mm deep and weighing 10.9 kg, it’s suitable for both home use and regular travel.

Key Features

• 88-key Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II with three sensitivity levels, for learning and practicing on a hammer-action mechanism.
• 700 sounds and 200 rhythms with automatic accompaniment, allowing you to play the piano and explore different styles without adding other instruments.
• 6-track MIDI recorder, useful for building arrangements part by part or listening back to your performance.
• Measures 232 mm deep and weighs 10.9 kg, making it easier to set up and transport than a cabinet-style digital piano.
• Compatible with the SP-34 pedalboard and the CS-470P stand to upgrade the setup to a three-pedal configuration.
• Bluetooth Audio and MIDI are available with the optional WU-BT10 adapter, particularly for using CASIO MUSIC SPACE or streaming backing tracks from a mobile device.

Is this keyboard suitable for learning to play the piano?

The CDP-S360BK features the 88-key Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II. Its hammer-action mechanism and three sensitivity levels provide a keyboard suitable for working on dynamics, unlike a lightweight keyboard without a hammer-action mechanism.

Duo mode divides the keyboard into two sections with the same range, which can be useful during a lesson when a teacher and student play side by side. The metronome and 152 built-in songs—including 50 practice phrases—round out the features designed for independent practice.

What can you do with the 700 sounds and accompaniments?

The 700 sounds include pianos, organs, harpsichords, strings, winds, and percussion. The Layer and Split functions are used to layer sounds or distribute different sounds across the keyboard.

The 200 rhythms add automatic accompaniment in various styles. The 310 Music Presets, the arpeggiator with 100 types, automatic harmonization, and the 32 registrations are especially useful if you want to quickly set up multiple configurations and play with accompaniments rather than sticking solely to a piano sound.

The pitch bend wheel adjusts the pitch of the notes while playing. It’s particularly useful with synthesizer, guitar, or wind instrument sounds.

Can you record multiple parts without a computer?

The built-in MIDI recorder has 6 tracks and can store up to 5 songs, with approximately 12,000 notes per song. This allows you to record multiple parts separately and play them back together, which is useful for working on an arrangement or reviewing your performance.

This is a MIDI recording—that is, performance data—and not a standalone audio recorder designed to directly produce a file of your performance.

Is it practical for a small room or for travel?

The CDP-S360BK measures 1,322 x 232 x 99 mm without the music stand and weighs 10.9 kg. Its shallow depth makes it easy to set up on a stand in a bedroom, living room, or workspace where a freestanding piano would take up more space.

The two 13 x 7 cm speakers feature 8 W + 8 W amplification, allowing you to play without additional speakers. A stereo mini-jack PHONES/OUTPUT jack is provided for headphones or external audio output.

The instrument runs on the included AC adapter or six AA alkaline batteries, with a claimed battery life of approximately four hours. This battery power option can be useful for practice sessions or on-the-go use when no AC outlet is available nearby.

What do you need to add to use Bluetooth?

Bluetooth is not built directly into the CDP-S360BK. It requires the Casio WU-BT10 adapter, sold separately and connected to the USB Type A port.

Bluetooth Audio is used to receive music from a smartphone or tablet and play it through the piano so you can play along. Bluetooth MIDI Low Energy transmits MIDI data via a compatible app, such as CASIO MUSIC SPACE. It is not the same as Bluetooth audio output, which is used to send the piano’s sound to wireless headphones.

Which accessories are included, and which are optional?

The CDP-S360BK comes with an SP-3 pedal, a music stand, and the AD-A12150LW AC adapter. It can therefore be used immediately after setup without any additional required purchases.

To set up a three-pedal configuration with sustain, soft, and sostenuto pedals, it is compatible with the SP-34 pedalboard, sold separately. Half-pedal control is supported with a compatible three-pedal unit. The CS-470P stand is also available separately to transform the portable piano into a stationary setup.

What type of musician is the CDP-S360BK best suited for?

This model is particularly well-suited if you want to combine an 88-key hammer-action keyboard, learning features, and the capabilities of an accompaniment keyboard all in one instrument. It is therefore well-suited for a student or amateur who wants to switch between piano practice and playing accompanied pieces, use different sounds, or record multiple tracks.

For a pianist primarily focused on the acoustic repertoire who rarely uses rhythms, the hundreds of sounds, or the arrangement features, a significant portion of the CDP-S360BK’s features will go unused.