Casio CT-X700 vs Yamaha PSR-E373: Best Beginner Keyboard?

When parents or adult beginners walk into a music shop in India looking for their very first keyboard, the sales pitch almost always boils down to a two-horse race: the Casio CT-X700 and the Yamaha PSR-E373. For decades, these two giants have battled for dominance in the ₹12,000 to ₹14,000 price bracket. At this price point, you finally get the one feature that is absolutely non-negotiable for learning properly: touch-sensitive keys.

I have recommended both of these keyboards to countless students and hobbyists over the years. They are both excellent instruments that will comfortably carry a beginner through their first few years of Trinity or Rockschool exams. But under the hood, their sound engines, built-in features, and approach to Indian rhythms are surprisingly different. If you are about to drop ₹13,000 on your first instrument, here is exactly how the Casio CT-X700 compares to the Yamaha PSR-E373, and which one you should actually bring home.

The Touch Sensitivity Requirement

Before diving into the differences, let's establish why these two specific models are the starting point. Cheaper keyboards (like the Yamaha PSR-F52 or Casio CT-S100) do not have touch-sensitive keys. On a touch-sensitive keyboard, if you press a key softly, it plays quietly; if you strike it hard, it plays loud, just like a real piano. If you try to learn on a non-touch-sensitive keyboard, you will never develop the finger control or expressive dynamics required to actually play the piano properly. Both the CT-X700 and PSR-E373 have 61 touch-sensitive keys, making them legitimate learning tools rather than just toys.

Casio CT-X700: The Power of the AiX Sound Source

Check current price of the Casio CT-X700 on Amazon →

For a long time in India, "Casio" was synonymous with cheap, toy-like sounds, while Yamaha was considered the "professional" choice. The CT-X series completely shattered that stereotype. Casio introduced their "AiX Sound Source" processor into this budget line, and the results are frankly astonishing for the price.

The acoustic instruments on the CT-X700—specifically the grand pianos, electric pianos, and strings—sound incredibly rich. They have a depth and resonance that punches way above the ₹12,000 price tag. When you hold a chord on a grand piano patch, the decay sounds natural, not abruptly cut off by a cheap digital envelope.

What the CT-X700 gets right for the Indian beginner:

• Incredible Piano Tones: The default grand piano sound is arguably the best in its class. It is bright, responsive, and highly motivating for a beginner to practice on.
• Dedicated Indian Tones & Rhythms: Casio has tailored this heavily for the Indian market. It includes specific harmonium, sitar, and tabla tones, along with built-in Keherwa, Dadra, and Garba rhythms. If you want to play Bollywood or devotional songs, this is a massive advantage.
• Step-Up Lesson System: The built-in screen and lesson functions actually show you which fingers to use and grade your performance, which is a neat bonus if you don't have a teacher yet.

Yamaha PSR-E373: The Legacy of Super Articulation

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Yamaha has dominated the beginner keyboard market in India for years, and the PSR-E373 is their latest refinement of a winning formula. It uses Yamaha's AWM (Advanced Wave Memory) stereo sampling, but they added "Super Articulation Lite" voices to this specific model.

Super Articulation is a technology borrowed from Yamaha's ₹1 Lakh+ arranger keyboards. It allows you to trigger specific instrument nuances—like the squeak of a guitar string or the breath of a saxophone player—by pressing a dedicated button while playing. While the piano sounds are slightly softer and more mellow than the Casio, the guitars, brass, and synth leads on the Yamaha are incredibly expressive and fun to play.

Where the PSR-E373 shines:

• The Key Action: Yamaha's synth-action keys have a slightly smoother, more premium "travel" to them. While neither feels like a real weighted piano, the Yamaha keys are a bit quieter mechanically and feel slightly more solid under the fingers.
• USB Audio Interface Built-In: This is a massive hidden feature. You can connect the Yamaha directly to your laptop via USB, and it will transmit audio, not just MIDI. If you want to record yourself playing directly into GarageBand or FL Studio without buying a separate audio interface, the Yamaha does it out of the box.
• DSP Effects: Yamaha includes 38 types of Digital Signal Processing effects (reverb, chorus, distortion). The effects sound highly polished, allowing you to heavily customize the sound of your patches.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Sound Quality (Pianos vs Synths)

If your primary goal is to play classical piano pieces or traditional pop ballads, the Casio CT-X700's AiX processor produces a slightly more realistic, resonant grand piano. However, if you love playing guitars, brass, synth leads, and experimenting with effects, the Yamaha's Super Articulation Lite voices and superior DSP effects make it the more versatile "band" instrument.

Indian Tones and Rhythms

Casio wins this round easily for the Indian market. While Yamaha has Indian models (like the PSR-I500), those cost significantly more. In the ₹13,000 bracket, the Casio CT-X700 comes pre-loaded with a dedicated bank of high-quality Indian instruments and rhythms that are perfect for Bollywood covers and bhajans. The standard PSR-E373 is much more western-focused.

Build Quality and Usability

Both keyboards are mostly plastic and fairly lightweight. The Yamaha feels marginally better put together, specifically the physical feel of the keys themselves. However, the Casio's interface, with its dedicated category buttons and numeric keypad, is slightly faster to navigate once you get used to it.

Summary Comparison

Here is how the two most popular beginner keyboards in India stack up.

Feature	Casio CT-X700	Yamaha PSR-E373
Estimated Price (India)	₹12,000 on Amazon - ₹13,000	₹12,500 on Amazon - ₹14,000
Number of Keys	61 (Touch Sensitive)	61 (Touch Sensitive)
Total Tones / Voices	600 (AiX Sound Source)	622 (AWM + Super Articulation)
Indian Tones & Rhythms	Yes, dedicated bank included	Very limited (Western focused)
USB Connectivity	MIDI only	MIDI + USB Audio Interface
Best For	Piano learners, Bollywood covers	Future producers, pop/synth players

The Final Verdict

If you are an absolute beginner whose main goal is to learn traditional piano, or if you want to play Indian music and Bollywood covers, the Casio CT-X700 is the better buy. The AiX piano sounds are stunning for the price, and the dedicated Indian rhythms make it incredibly fun for local styles right out of the box.

However, if you are a teenager or young adult who eventually wants to get into music production, or if you plan to record yourself playing covers for YouTube, the Yamaha PSR-E373 is the smarter long-term investment. The fact that it doubles as a USB Audio interface saves you ₹10,000+ if you want to start recording into a laptop, and the Super Articulation voices provide endless creative inspiration.

You cannot make a "wrong" choice here. Both keyboards are certified workhorses that will easily last you 3-5 years of practice before you outgrow them and need an 88-key weighted piano.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these keyboards feel like a real acoustic piano?

No. Both have "synth-action" or "spring-action" keys. They are unweighted and very easy to press. A real piano has heavy, weighted wooden keys. While they are touch-sensitive (meaning volume changes based on how hard you hit them), they will not build the finger strength required for advanced classical piano.

Can I use these keyboards for Trinity or ABRSM Grade exams?

Yes, but only up to a certain point. Most exam boards allow 61-key touch-sensitive keyboards for Grade 1 to Grade 3. Beyond Grade 3 or 4, you will be required to practice and perform on an 88-key fully weighted digital or acoustic piano.

Do they come with a stand and a sustain pedal?

Usually, no. In India, they are shipped in the box with just a power adapter and a music rest. You will need to buy an X-stand (around ₹1,000) and a basic sustain pedal (around ₹800) separately. Sometimes retailers bundle them during sales.

Can I connect headphones to practice silently?

Yes, both models feature a standard headphone output jack. When you plug in headphones, the built-in speakers are automatically muted, allowing you to practice at 2 AM without waking up the house.

Which one is better for FL Studio or Ableton Live?

The Yamaha PSR-E373 has a significant edge here. While both can send MIDI data to your DAW to trigger virtual instruments, the Yamaha also sends audio over the same USB cable, acting as its own audio interface. The Casio only sends MIDI.