Casio CTK 496 is truly a rare find, with 100 preset songs that can teach you how to play the instrument with ease. It’s a compact replacement for bulky pianos or organs and is sure to become a part of your entertainment. It allows a polyphony of 12 tones, which makes it a more versatile instrument, since it can play up to 12 keys at the same time.

Compared to other electronic keyboards, the Casio CTK 496 keyboard has 61 keys: a very rare feature for such an affordable price. Its 61 keys are full size and therefore would not be a problem for those just starting to learn the instrument.

For me, I was captivated by the simplicity of this product and the very realistic piano sound effect it is capable of producing. Other than this, I found its sound quality to be comparable to other products of its ilk, although it may not sound quite the same as a $4000 keyboard.

the use of a casio ctk496 is recommended for:

• people who want to play their music privately or otherwise
• those who consider it necessary to have MIDI functions for their music playback
• everyone who wants to improve their gaming skills with the use of sound effects
• people who need an affordable yet fully functional electronic keyboard
• beginners who want to better learn and apply various synthesis techniques

Features of this product include:

• a song bank with a hundred songs you can play
• preset rhythms and tones
• automatic accompaniment that you can use while playing the keyboard
• a headphone jack that allows you to play it even in a common area (such as bedrooms, apartments, or at home where other people may be disturbed by your music)
• a microphone jack that lets you sing while you play
• MIDI functionality

I find it satisfactory even if it does not come with a power cord at the time of purchase. It was quite easy to find one as the specs meet the standards for its type. I may be exaggerating, but I’m pretty sure this keyboard can give you the best family entertainment even on a tight budget.

The only problem I found with this product is that it does not have touch sensitivity, however this does not make it any less effective for creating good quality sounds. I think I might be exaggerating, since I have quite a bit of experience with musical instruments. Since this is so, I would suggest this particularly for beginners, although I still think even advanced keyboardists would find the Casio CTK 496 worth every penny.

The Casio CTK 496 keyboard can also be battery operated and surprisingly lasts long even on just 6 AA batteries. Since this unit is lightweight and easy to use, I think you may enjoy using this instrument as much as I do.