Roland Digital Piano Actions | PHA-4, PHA-50 & Hybrid Grand | Digital Piano Actions Explained

If you’re diving into the world of Roland digital piano actions, you may have noticed that they have several different configurations going into models throughout their lineup. This is the case with other digital piano manufacturers like Kawai, Casio, Korg and Yamaha as well.

In this article and companion video instead of a digital piano review, we’re going to take a close look at the three most common Roland action designs featured in their 88-key digital pianos with weighted keys, as well as some synthesizers, stage pianos and workstations- the PHA-4 Standard Keyboard, PHA-50 and relatively new Hybrid Grand action. The Ivory Feel-G is still used in some models, but it’s largely been replaced by the PHA-4.

Roland of course also has some semi-weighted actions that they use in synths and certain keyboards, but for the purposes of this article, we’ll only be focusing on weighted key actions.

These are the three action designs circulating amongst Roland’s FP line, F series, RP series, HP series, GP series and flagship LX series. We’re going to cover the exact differences between these three action designs and provide a detailed breakdown of exactly what each action has to offer.

Roland Digital Piano Actions - Background

In terms of the hierarchy of these three key action designs, the PHA-4 (PHA stands for Progressive Hammer Action) is found throughout the lower half of Roland’s lineup in terms of pricepoint, the PHA-50 keyboard action is found throughout much of the upper half, while the Hybrid Grand is currently used exclusively in only the top two models of the LX series - the LX706 and LX708.

The PHA-4 and PHA-50 have been out for several years now, but are both still considered very relevant in the marketplace and some of the best actions available at various price points.

The Hybrid Grand is considered one of, if not the top digital piano action available before jumping to the full hybrid category with models like the Kawai NOVUS series or Yamaha Avant Grand series with their full acoustic piano actions.

What really separates these three keyboard actions and what are the characteristics that you can expect when you're playing on them?

Differences - PHA-4, PHA-50, Hybrid Digital

Pivot Length

The biggest single difference between all three of these actions isn't necessarily what you might expect, such as differences in the materials or hammer design, which also do exist. Instead, the biggest difference is actually the pivot length. What do we mean when we say pivot length? Pivot length is the distance between the front of the key to the point at where the key is hinged, which serves as the fulcrum.

The reason that this is such a huge factor here is that distance determines how much motion there is at the front of the key versus the middle of the key, and thus how much of a change in how the action feels depending on how far out or in on the action you happen to be playing. The longer the pivot length, the greater sense of control afforded to the player.

The PHA-4 has a fairly standard pivot length compared to the average digital piano action available for under $2,500, while the PHA-50 gets a little bit longer, before finally getting to the Hybrid Grand which boasts a pivot length that is on par with what you’ll find in some 6 and 7-foot grand pianos. All three of these actions have escapement and use a triple sensor, so while there shouldn’t be a difference in terms of the MIDI accuracy from a sensor standpoint, the player can manipulate the key with more accuracy with a longer pivot length, so the MIDI information will, in theory, be more accurate as the pivot length gets longer.

  

Materials & Construction

Now that pivot length is out of the way, we can come to materials. The PHA—4 hammer action is an all-plastic action, which means that the top key surface, the sides, and the hammer are all plastic. There are obviously some small metal electrical parts, but all of the critical materials here are plastic.

With the PHA-50 and Hybrid Grand action, the sides of the keys are made from wood, and this goes beyond aesthetics as it better simulates the dynamic feel of a grand piano key. It’s also arguable that the presence of wood also makes the action as a whole more durable.

Stabilizing Pin

The third key difference is the stabilizing pin, which is the pin right in middle at the top of all of the keys that sits and serves the same function as the balance rail pin does on a real acoustic piano. This pin allows you to align the key laterally and provides strength to ensure that the keys don’t twist or torque to one side or the other when force isn’t applied directly downward.

So essentially, the center pin protects the key and adds durability. There is no center pin present on the PHA-4, whereas there is on the PHA-50 and on the Hybrid Grand.

As a result, the PHA-50 and Hybrid Grand actions are going to be much more durable over a longer period of time.

Keytops - Materials & Finishes

The last key difference between the three actions is the finish on the keytops. The white keys on all three actions use very similar material, in fact, we think it’s actually the same. However, the black keys are definitely different.

The black keys on the PHA-4 have a satin finish with a slight texture that feels somewhat like a genuine ebony key. On the PHA-50 and Hybrid Grand, the texture is more visible, to the point that you actually see the wood grain. The result is a more pronounced texture that feels even more realistic.

 

The Playing Experience

PHA-4 Action

The PHA-4 is a little different than the others in that the static resistance on the PHA-4 is actually a little bit higher than the dynamic resistance, and this is definitely pronounced when playing this action right out of the box before it’s been worked in (most actions, but the PHA-4 especially requires a breaking in period.)

But even once the PHA-4 has been broken in, there’s still about a 10-gram weight difference between what it takes to get the key in motion and what it takes to keep it in motion. This difference in weighting creates the perception of a deeper keybed, which is interesting to note.

Our observation is that for people who are more in the pop or jazz realm, this weight difference actually reduces the number of false strikes that are quite common if your playing isn’t 100% accurate. Or, if you plan on playing primarily with non-acoustic piano tone patches like electric pianos

 

PHA-50 Action

You don't have this weighting difference on the PHA-50, or the Hybrid Grand action for that matter. It’s actually quite noticeable when you play and also makes the PHA-50 better suited for classical music, as does the extra pivot length which offers greater control.

Secondly, you can actually feel the presence of the stabilizing pin as there is literally no give or lateral motion on the keys.

Aside from the durability benefits, the feel of the stabilizing pin is really just a personal preference but something to be aware of, especially if you’re a more heavy-handed player as you’ll be putting the keys under a great degree of physical stress.

 

Hybrid Grand Action

Moving to the Hybrid Grand action, and really, you can think of it as a stretched version of the PHA-50. The technology is the same, the only real difference is the longer pivot length that the Hybrid Grand possesses.

The result, as we mentioned above, is an even deeper sense of control, and in the hands of a skilled pianist, the amount of detail this action is able to coax more out of the new Roland PureAcoustic modeling technology sound engine (and Roland’s SuperNATURAL piano engine for that matter) is remarkable.

For our money, the Hybrid Grand action is among the top two digital piano actions currently available in this price range, with Kawai’s Grand Feel III operating as the only true direct competitor.

Model Rundown

Finally, let's do a quick rundown and cover exactly which musical instruments feature these three different key actions.

 

Models with PHA-4 Action

The PHA-4 hammer action keyboard is available starting with the Roland FP-10 (an unbeatable beginner/entry-level piano), and can also be found in the Roland FP-30X and Roland FP-60X, with the FP-90X as the lone holdout from the FP series.

You can also find the PHA-4 in the Roland RP-102, RP-701 and F-701, as well as the Roland RD-88, FANTOM-08 and even the upper mid-range HP-702 home digital piano.

  

Models with PHA-50 Action

The PHA-50 is available once we get into a higher price point. In terms of portable digital pianos, the aforementioned Roland FP-90X uses the PHA-50 (a great piano for gigs), as do the Roland RD-2000 FANTOM-8, though it’s a workstation and not portable per se.

From there, the PHA-50 is available in the Roland DP603, Kiyolo KF-10 (only available at select Roland dealers), the Roland HP704, and the entry model to the flagship LX series with the LX705.

Lastly, the PHA-50 is also currently the action of choice for Roland’s GP-607 and GP-609 digital grand pianos.

Models with Hybrid Grand Action

As mentioned above, the only two models to currently feature the Hybrid Grand are the LX-706 and LX-708 flagship home upright pianos - definitely two of the best digital pianos currently available due to their exceptional onboard speaker systems with powerful amplifier (called Roland’s Acoustic Projection system), cutting edge piano sound with limitless polyphony, and latest piano technology like Piano Designer, Bluetooth and extensive connectivity jacks.

We suspect that subsequent digital grand piano models in the future will get the Hybrid Grand, but Roland hasn’t announced any new grand models at this point so that might still be a way down the road.

Closing Thoughts

We hope this breakdown of the exact differences between Roland’s main actions has been helpful. As we said above, each action is well-built and well-regarded, but there are definitely some major differences between them.

Hopefully, this article has cleared up these differences. Stay tuned for another article breaking down the different Roland sound engines like the SuperNATURAL sound engine, SuperNATURAL piano modeling and PureAcoustic piano modeling. Thanks for reading!

The post Roland Digital Piano Actions | PHA-4, PHA-50 & Hybrid Grand | Digital Piano Actions Explained first appeared on Merriam Pianos

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Casio AP710 vs Roland HP702 | Digital Piano Review & Comparison

 

 The upper mid-range part of the home digital piano market has been increasingly popular over the last few years with families, adult beginners and experienced pianists who need a versatile practice instrument. 

The Casio AP710 vs Roland HP702 are two popular options in this category, and they happen to be priced close together in most markets as of recently. That said, they’re very different musical offerings, so we’re going to do an in-depth comparison for you here.

Both are 88-key weighted action home digital pianos with very nice grand piano sounds, solid actions and cabinetry offering great warranty coverage that won’t look out of place in a living room.

This comparison wouldn't really have been all that appropriate had we tackled it a year or 18 months ago because the AP710 was priced considerably above the HP702. This is no longer the case, and the price gap between these two pianos has shrunk.

Let’s start with a comparison of the sound engines.

 

Casio AP710 vs Roland HP702 - Digital Piano Sound Comparison

Roland HP702 Sound Specs

Roland’s SuperNATURAL Piano Modeling

Starting with the Roland, the HP702 uses some of Roland's more recent technology as it’s equipped with the SuperNATURAL Piano Modeling engine, making it the least expensive home digital piano from Roland to feature full piano modeling.

Piano modeling technology is an approach to sound that synthesizes all of the aspects of the piano sound in real-time, as opposed to a sample-based piano tone engine that triggers a recording of a real piano. Every aspect of the piano sound, including how you’ve engaged the pedals and a whole multitude of adjustable parameters like duplex scale, hammer noise, damper resonance, single note volume, single note character, single note tuning, key off noise, damper noise, soundboard type, key off-resonance, cabinet resonance, hammer response, full-scale string resonance and more are all generated via a series of algorithms.

Thanks to the OLED screen and intuitive layout, you won’t need to study the owner’s manual to get the hang of editing the parameters. You can find versions of this technology throughout the upper half of Roland’s lineup in models like the Roland HP704, the FP90X, and their entire flagship LX line.

The default tone is a very nice rendering of a concert grand piano, and there are a number of other nice piano category tones as well, all of which have limitless polyphony. Roland’s Headphones 3D Ambience feature enhances the experience when playing with headphones.

 

Non-Piano Sounds

The HP702 has a great selection of 324 total onboard sounds, and once you’ve moved passed acoustic piano tones, the polyphony comes in at 384 notes, which is still very powerful.

The core sounds are excellent, whether that’s electric pianos, strings or organs, but much of the 324 sounds come from the General MIDI 2 sound bank.

 

Dual Speaker System

In terms of the speakers, the HP702 is equipped with dual downward-facing speakers. The specs sheet looks a little underwhelming when you see that the speaker power is only 28 watts, however, the design is so good that these speakers are still very solid.

 

Casio AP710 Celviano Sound Specs

Casio’s Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Grand Sound Source

Flipping over to the Casio Celviano Series AP710, things get very different here. The AP710 is using Casio’s AiR grand sound source which is a sample-based engine complimented by resonance modeling engines that fill in certain areas of the sound.

There’s a C. Bechstein tag right on the front of the piano due to the presence of the C. Bechstein D282 concert grand piano sample set (Berlin grand), but it’s important to note here that the full C. Bechstein collaboration occurs with Casio’s Grand Hybrid Series grands where the action is also co-designed by Bechstein (it’s a more basic Casio action here.)

In addition to the Berlin grand, there are two additional high-quality sample sets of legendary pianos here with the Hamburg grand (Hamburg Steinway) and Vienna Grand (Bosendorfer). One of the chief appeals of the AP710 is these three core concert grand piano samples, all of which sound great and distinct from one another.

Polyphony is 256 notes so that’s also very strong.

Like with the HP702, the user is given quite a bit of additional control over the sound with access to some reverb engines with the Hall simulator, Brilliance, as well as other resonance simulators like Damper Resonance, String Resonance and more. There are also effects like Chorus and DSP for non-acoustic piano tones.

 

Non-Piano Sounds

The AP710 does not have the GMII bank built-in, so the total number of sounds is quite a bit less than the HP702 at 28 sounds.

Now, it’s important to keep in mind here that all 28 of these tones are core sounds, and in this case, they all happen to be very high quality and generally on par with the HP702.

Of course, if you need lots of sounds, the HP702 is the obvious choice here, but if you’re mostly focused on acoustic piano, this won’t matter.

 

6 Speaker System

The AP710 has a killer 6-speaker system, with a very robust 60 watts of output. While there’s not a direct linear relationship between rated power output and total volume with amplifiers, there’s no question that with more than double the rated power on the AP701 that it packs much more punch than the HP702.

The treble presentation is also much better on the AP710 courtesy of its 6 speakers, as is the overall clarity of the tone.

 

Overall Sound Comparison Impressions

The clarity of the AP710 is just undeniable, especially compared to the HP702. There’s just a more direct and more clear presentation of the treble and the upper mids on the AP710. The presence of those extra speakers and more power amplifier is making a big difference here.

Due to the three concert grand samples on the AP701, there’s also a greater variety in the character of the acoustic piano tones.

The HP702’s SuperNATURAL Piano Modeling is undoubtedly high-powered and complex, but the speaker/amplifier combination here isn’t able to coax out the full potential of the sound engine. In Roland’s higher-end digital pianos with the same engine, the speaker configurations are strong enough to maximize the sound engine.

That said, with some tweaking and time with the Piano Designer feature, this sound engine can be better optimized for its specific speakers, so if you go the Roland route, we’d recommend exploring this.

And there’s no doubt that some folks are going to prefer Roland’s approach to the sound here given how different the modeling approach sounds from a sample-based approach.

Casio AP710 vs Roland HP702 Digital Piano Action - Tri-Sensor vs PHA-4

Both pianos boast actions with triple sensors, so that important box for folks looking for an accurate and responsive action is checked. That said, the weighting and physical feel of the two actions is quite different.

Key Weighting

The AP701’s Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II keys are weighted exactly 55 grams, both in terms of their static and dynamic weight, with static weight referring to the amount of weight required to get the key in motion, and dynamic weight referring to the weight required to keep the key in motion.

On the HP702’s PHA-4 Standard Keyboard action, the dynamic weight is the same as the Casio action, but the static weight is about 10 grams heavier, and this creates a pretty stark difference in the feel of these two actions with the Casio action feeling lighter and shallower.

 

Key Escapement

The AP710’s Tri-Sensor action does not feature an escapement sensation, whereas the HP702’s PHA4 action does. Escapement is the unique mechanical effect a grand piano action has, and in theory, allows for faster repetition speed.

When combined with the heavier weighting, the PHA4 feels a little more substantial and the sense that you can dig into it more.

 

Textured Key Tops

Both piano actions have textured simulated ebony and ivory keys, and this is a big plus because the keytops absorb moisture from the player's fingers, and provide a good just the right combination of grip and glide.

Yamaha’s GHS action, found on popular models like the YDP-144, does not have any texture on the keytops and can lead to the keys being too grippy in certain playing situations for example.

 

Action Wrap-Up

Both of these actions are popular, well regarded, and can be found on models throughout each manufacturer’s lineup including the Casio Privia and Celviano digital pianos, as well as Roland’s FP and RP series.

We personally prefer the PHA4 action overall due to it’s meatier feel and escapement feature, but your mileage may vary.

 

Connectivity - Audio In/Out, Bluetooth, MIDI and Additional Features

Bluetooth & MIDI

A pretty significant difference between these two pianos from a connectivity standpoint is that the Roland HP702 is equipped with Bluetooth ver 4.0 technology, offering both Bluetooth MIDI and Bluetooth Audio. This makes connecting with Roland’s Piano Every day app or streaming music from your smart device a breeze.

The AP710 doesn’t offer any Bluetooth functionality, so you’ll have to use a cable to connect to a smart device or computer to send and receive MIDI files. If that wireless Bluetooth connection is important, this could of course be a deal breaker.

 

Other Connector Ports

Aside from missing Bluetooth, the AP710 is fairly well equipped from a connectivity standpoint for a home-based digital piano with USB to host, a USB flash drive, MIDI in and out, dual headphone outputs, a L/MONO, R line in, L/MONO, R line out jacks and a port for the AC adaptor.

The HP702 is virtually the same except that the line-in is a stereo mini.

 

Additional Features

Both pianos have quite a bit going for them in terms of additional features, including great built-in music libraries. The AP710 has a library of 60 songs, and you can adjust the tempo and isolate right and left-hand parts, while the HP702 has a whopping 392 songs, many of which are popular piano etudes, exercises and the Roland Piano Masterpieces. 

The AP710’s offers Casio famous Concert Play feature which allows you to play along with an orchestra recording, while both pianos cover staples like duet mode (twinpiano on the HP702), transpose and a metronome.

Both pianos also feature built-in MIDI recorders as well as Audio recording/playback (WAV format). Both also have built-in triple pedal systems (damper, sostenuto and soft) and beautiful cabinet designs and built-in key covers.

The AP710 is available in Black, while the HP702 is available in 4 finishes - Charcoal Black, Dark Rosewood, Light Oak, and White.

Final Thoughts

We’ll sum up our final thoughts on the Casio AP710 vs Roland HP702 here as such; the biggest highlight of the AP710 is the three beautiful grand piano patches paired with the powerful 6-speaker system and 60 watts of power.

If you’re intending on using your piano almost exclusively for playing acoustic piano music and you’re not going to be using headphones primarily, the Casio AP710 is going to offer an excellent playing experience for the price. The action is solid, and with a triple sensor on board, you’re going to get very accurate triggering if you’re working with VSTs in any capacity.

On the Roland side, you've got an instrument with modern updates like Bluetooth connectivity, very extensive sound editing capability, as well as tons of onboard sounds and a robust music library. We prefer the PHA4 action overall, and if you’re going to be playing with headphones a lot of the time, this critical deficiency in comparison to the AP710 becomes moot.

We hope this comparison has been helpful. Another great option in the category to consider would also be the Kawai CN-301, so add that one to your wishlist to check out as well. 

 The post Casio AP710 vs Roland HP702 | Digital Piano Review & Comparison first appeared on Merriam Pianos

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