Philistine

I like the 3-pedal unit.  I had it on my 310, so I'm used to it.  To me it's worth it both because of the half-damper (continuous in Pianoteq--I think) as well as it adds a bit of rigidity/stability to the stand.

I find the sostenuto pedal useful when using layered/split tones like strings, etc. to sustain long notes while still being able to play new notes without overlap.

Still have never used the soft pedal.  I wish it were configurable as a generic midi controller.

So I ended up getting the 560.  Got a great price on a floor model, with new stand and 3-pedal unit.

Enjoying it very much so far.

--Philistine

Thanks.  It'll probably be a month or so before I'd be getting either one--so hopefully I can find a 560 (or 360, at least) to try.  I keep going back and forth. 

Appreciate the input.

--Philistine

Thanks Scott.  That's great to hear about the input.

The difference in piano sound is my main nagging concern with the 700.  Given my 11-year stint with my last Casio, I tend to hold on to them for a while, so I'd like to have the best sound I can get. 

I have played around on the 700 at GC, and I agree it is good (substantially better than my 310, unsurprisingly....)  I haven't been able to find a 560 to play--or a 360 which I understand also has the newer piano sounds.  I'm itching for a reason to get the 560, but my fiscal sense keeps nagging me.  I posted over in the 560 forum with a little more info--essentially from a realistic standpoint, I'm probably not likely to use a lot of the feature of the 560 (or I could recreate them in VSTs).  If the piano sound were substantially inferior, that'd be a deal-breaker, but my understanding is that the difference is pretty small.  I was happy enough with the 310's piano sound (supplemented with Pianoteq, mostly to extend the decay time) and the 700 sounded good when I played it.

I appreciate your thoughts.

--Philistine

I'm looking to upgrade my 11-year-old PX-310.  I'm considering either the CGP-700 or PX-560.

I like the "gee-whiz" semi-synth aspects of the 560--but I'm concerned that I'm not going to actually use them enough to warrant the extra $500 (with stand) over the CGP-700. 

I have my 310 hooked up to the computer and have a decent collection of VSTs that I hardly use.  As it is, I use plain piano probably 90% of the time (internal sound mixed with Pianoteq), and other than that will either use a single layer or split, often internal sounds, occasionally VSTs.  Either the 700 or the 560 looks like it will make layers/splits both easier and 2 sounds per layer, opposed to 1 on my 310, which I think I will use.  I'm doubtful I'll use the editing of Hex Tones on a regular basis.  While the sounds look cool, VSTs already give me more sounds than I can reasonably use anyway. 

I'm also not likely to edit (or use) auto-arrangements--I could probably count on 1 hand the times I used them on the 310.

I like the idea of an expression pedal--but not sure it's a must-have.  MIDI jack are nice, but not crucial.  I do have concerns about the fact that there's only a 3.5mm audio-in on the 700 instead of two 1/4" jacks.  I asked about that in the 700 forum--anyone know whether the sound will be degraded by using 2 1/4" monos out of my audio interface to a single 1/8" jack using a Y-cable?

Main pluses of the CGP-700 are the speaker-stand and the price.  Would like a little better sound than just internal speakers, but I don't really have a convenient place to put monitors.

How much better is the piano sound on the 560 than the 700 with AIR?  I have tried out the 700 at GC, and it's definitely a step up from the 310.  (After 11 years, you'd hope so...)  Haven't been able to find a 560 to try out.

Convince me that I NEED the 560.  Then come over to my house and convince my wife that I need it, too....

Thanks!

--Philistine

I'm looking to upgrade my 11-year-old PX-310.  I'm considering either the CGP-700 or PX-560.

First -- On the CGP-700 how does the 3.5mm audio-in sound?  Right now I have the outputs from my audio interface hooked into the inputs on the 310 to hear pianoteq, VSTs, mp3s etc. from the computer as I play (either through headphones or internal speakers).  That works fine, and the sound is good.

Would the 3.5mm audio in on the CGP-700 sound comparable using a two mono 1/4 to stereo 1/8 Y-adapter?

Second - I'm debating whether I'd get the extra $500 (including stand) use out of the 560 over the 700.  Although I like the "wow cool" of the 560, I'm dubious that I'd do editing on it, and I'm more likely to do synth sounds/editing through VSTs.  I like the idea of the extra speakers in the 700's stand (I don't really have a great place to put monitors where I have my piano).  How much difference does AIR make to the piano sound of the 560?

Thanks!

--Philistine