Roland LX706 | Digital Piano Review | Roland LX Series Luxury Digital Upright Pianos

 

Roland’s LX line has been with us for several years now, and the current lineup of three models strongly serves as Roland’s home digital piano flagship models and is without question among the finest digital pianos currently available.

While the value proposition of the entry into the LX700 series, the LX705, and the LX708 top model are very clear, sometimes the model in the middle - the LX706 - can be overlooked.

In this article and companion video, we’re going to do a deep dive into this Roland piano that perhaps didn’t always get as much attention as it deserves, though we suspect that may change. In fact, for a good number of people investigating options in this class, the Roland LX706 upright digital piano might actually be the best overall option when considering its specific combination of high-quality performance, aesthetics and price.

 

Roland LX706 Digital Upright Piano - Background

As we mentioned above, there seems to be a tendency for the LX-706 to sometimes get overlooked. In fact, the first time we took a look at Roland's most recent incarnation of the LX series, even we skipped over the LX706.

Now, this wasn't at all a slight against the LX706, but rather an expression of what our customers were telling us, as most of the people shopping with us were opting either for the LX705, or if they were going to make the jump, they were going all the way to the LX708 since it was only marginally moree expensive than the 706.

For a fairly modest price increase, the Roland LX708 offers an 8-speaker system as opposed to the 6-speaker system on the LX706, more powerful amplifiers and a taller cabinet.

This brings us to 2022, and as everyone is well aware, we’re living in a time of extreme inflation. The piano industry has not been immune to this and as a result, we’ve experienced a series of significant price hikes on many products, to the point that LX708 is now quite a bit more expensive than the LX706 costing almost as much as a new piano of the acoustic baby grand variety.

The LX706 now occupies the price point that the LX708 did when we first reviewed the series. This being the case, we suspect that the LX706 is going to start getting a lot more attention, especially from folks in the market looking to keep the budget well under $10,000, whether that’s Canadian or American currency.

Let’s start by discussing everything sound related to the LX706.

 

Digital Piano Sound

Roland’s PureAcoustic Piano Modeling

The LX706 is loaded up with Roland’s newest and most advanced piano sound engine with the PureAcoustic Modeling Ambience Technology engine.

Modeling technology refers to the real-time creation of piano tone that is not dependent on the playback of a sample. This means that we’re working with a computer model that’s taking into account many sound-related factors such as the striking of the string by a hammer, cabinet resonance, soundboard type and even the mechanical sounds that the pedals make.

This gives the user an immense level of control to go in and tweak a number of parameters to further shape the piano tone to their preference.

That said, this engine sounds pretty darn great right out of the box, to the point that many users won’t ever even feel the need to get in there and edit the tone.

 

American & European Grands

The PureAcoustic engine features two core grand piano patches. While Roland hasn’t specified which two pianos they used for inspiration and simply refers to the two presets as American and Europe, their website shows photos of a Hamburg Steinway and New York Steinway so it’s safe to assume that these are the instruments these presets were modeled after.

The European and American Grands have very different characters, which is welcome as it gives us a lot of variety to work with. Starting with the European Grand, and the kind of depth and sustain we’re hearing means that they’ve definitely modeled a 9’ concert grand piano. Switching over to the American Grand, and that’s definitely the case here too.

Interestingly, between those two sounds the American sound is slightly more open and sounds a little less blended than the European, nor is the American sound as thick.

Roland has made significant efforts in recent years to increase the dynamics of their sound engines, and what we mean by that is the variations in tone between playing loud and soft. Roland was known for being a step behind Kawai in this regard, but now we would definitely put them on a level playing field.

 

PianoDesigner

As we mentioned above, there’s a crazy amount of user control available with this tone engine, similar to the level of control you get with some VSTs like Pianoteq.

With that in mind, there are actually three levels of editing that you can get into depending on how deep you want to go. For those looking at it simply there’s the My Stage feature, which is really a set of presets with different configurations of the parameters.

If you want to go a layer deeper, you can directly edit 6 bigger picture parameters - PureAcoustic Ambience, Key Touch, Brilliance, Master Tuning, Temperament, and Hammer Response.

Finally, if you really want to go down the rabbit hole, there’s the Piano Tone Edit button, and this gets quite intense, allowing you to edit things like Single Note Character, Single Note Volume, Single Note Tuning, Soft Pedal Manipulation, Damper Noise, Soundboard Type, Cabinet Resonance, Key Off Resonance, Full Scale String Resonance, Duplex, Hammer Noise, Key Off Noise, and Lid height.

 

Polyphony

Another thing that’s very notable about this engine is that the polyphony is limitless on all piano category tones.

Is this really necessary? Not really, since anything over about 96 and up is going to be fine for solo piano playing anyway, but it does show just how powerful this sound engine is.

 

Other Sounds

Moving out of the acoustic piano tones, and things shift over to a more conventional tone generator delivering 256 notes worth of polyphony across more than 300 total sounds.

Roland’s electric pianos are probably the best in the industry with the most realistic playing experience, and the organs would also be in that conversation. In fact, all of the core sounds are of professional quality, and once you get past those, we move into the General MIDI 2 bank, which is why the total count is so high.

Navigating the various sounds is quite easy on board, but it’s even easier on a smart device via the new Roland Piano App, which replaces the somewhat clunky Piano Every Day app.

 

Acoustic Projection Speaker Sound System

The LX-706 features a powerful 6-speaker system referred to as the Acoustic Projection Sound System.

The 6 speakers consist of a pair of large cabinet speakers with speaker box, a pair of slightly smaller near-field speakers with speaker box, and finally a pair of tweeters.

The total amplifier power is a robust 74 watts, and Roland has done an excellent job of integrating the speaker system into the cabinet of the instrument, resulting in some very organic-sounding cabinet resonance.

While the speakers may be even better on the LX-708, this is nonetheless a serious hi-fi setup.

 

Keyboard Action

Hybrid Grand Keyboard

Whereas the LX705, like most other higher tier Roland digital pianos, uses the PHA-50 action, the LX-706 receives the more advanced action that only otherwise goes in the LX-708 - the very exclusive Hybrid Grand Keyboard with wooden siding.

What makes this action more advanced than the beloved PHA-50? Something that isn’t talked about as much as it should be in the digital piano space - is pivot length.

The logic here is that the closer a digital piano’s pivot point is to that of a real piano (generally a grand piano), the closer the sense of motion and control is going to be to that of an acoustic piano.

We’ve gone in and measured, and the Hybrid Grand action is boasting a pivot length that matches most 7-foot grand pianos. In fact, the Hybrid Grand has a longer key pivot length than any other digital piano action as it’s even slightly longer than Kawai’s much revered Grand Feel III.

The end result is an action that is arguably the best digital piano key action outside of the actual acoustic piano actions used in the Hybrid instruments from Kawai and Yamaha.

The keys feel very even regardless of where you play them, and advanced techniques typically reserved for acoustic piano actions are possible here, making even advanced classic repertoire totally possible.

 

Stabilizer Pin

Another feature worth highlighting is the presence of a stabilizer pin, a vertical pin that sits in the middle of every key near the back.

This has the same effect as the balance rail pins do on an acoustic piano which is to provide torsional stability. This means there is no lateral motion when playing this action, and also ensures excellent long-term durability.

 

Escapement, Triple Sensor & Textured Key Tops

Another thing that needs to be highlighted with this action is the presence of escapement, which is a recreation of the same physical feeling one gets when playing an acoustic grand piano action.

The Hybrid Grand action is also loaded up with a triple sensor meaning the MIDI output and dynamic potential of the action are very good.

Like the PHA-50, there are also Ebony and Ivory feel textures on the top of the keys here which provide a good sense of glide while also absorbing skin oils.

 

Additional Features

Cabinet & Finish Options

The LX706 features a gorgeous cabinet with seriously impressive carpentry. In fact, the LX series cabinets arguably feature the nicest carpentry in the class.

In terms of the finish options, the LX-706 is available in your choice of Charcoal Black, Dark Rosewood, or Polished Ebony for an additional cost.

 

Connectivity

The LX-706 features the standard array of connectors one would expect from a high-end home digital piano.

Running down the list we have dual headphone jacks, USB Type A and B, a stereo mini line in and 1/4” L/MONO, R output jacks.

The LX-706 is also equipped with both Bluetooth MIDI and Bluetooth Audio, meaning you can take advantage of the 706’s excellent speaker system by streaming music directly from a device through the piano.

 

Other Functions

The LX-706 is loaded up with almost 400 built-in songs including the Roland Piano Masterpieces and a large stable of lesson music.

It also has a built-in 3-part MIDI recorder so pianists can record their practice sessions or do some arranging, as well as all of the standard features one would expect like a metronome, transpose, twin piano, split, layer etc.

 

Closing Thoughts

Given everything the Roland LX706 has to offer, and most importantly, the fact that it’s also equipped with the same core features as the LX-708, namely the PureAcoustic engine and exclusive Hybrid Grand action, with the large price difference now in effect it seems like a safe bet that it will increase in popularity.

Sure, there will always be those who want to go all the way and get the superior speakers and cabinet only found in the LX-708, but the fact remains; the LX-706 is one of the single nicest home digital pianos on the market, period.

Thanks for reading!

The post Roland LX706 | Digital Piano Review | Roland LX Series Luxury Digital Upright Pianos first appeared on Merriam Pianos

2359 Bristol Cir #200, Oakville, ON L6H 6P8

merriammusic.com

(905) 829-2020

Roland FP-30X FAQ | Features, Performance, And Overall Value | Digital Piano FAQ

 

The Roland FP-30X is easily one of the single most popular 88-key digital pianos currently on the market, known for its killer combination of key touch, piano sound, features, connectivity, portability and very reasonable price point.

Now, if you’re considering the FP-30X and are in the midst of research, there’s a chance that very specific questions about this piano have come up in your mind, the answers to which aren’t readily apparent in the FP-30X’s marketing literature, specs sheets or various online piano reviews.

Fortunately for you, we’ve scoured the internet and created this Roland FP-30X FAQ - compiling the 12 most commonly asked questions. In today’s article and companion video, we’ll be providing answers to these commonly asked questions to help fill in the missing pieces of your research.

Roland FP-30X FAQ - 12 Most Commonly Asked Questions

FAQ #1: What is the Difference Between the FP-30 and FP-30X?

First of all, we have done a video on this exact question over on our YouTube channel, where we go through every detail point by point. If you want a super in-depth breakdown, we’d recommend checking that video out.

But to quickly summarize, Roland has improved in several areas with the FP-30X that are very meaningful. For one, they’ve upgraded the sound chip architecture to Roland’s new BMC chip which is able to render a far more complex version of the SuperNATURAL piano sound engine - the improved sound quality is easily apparent when playing the FP-30 and the FP-30X side-by-side even though the amplifier power is the same.

Secondly, courtesy of the new BMC chip, the polyphony has been doubled from 128 to 256 notes. Thirdly, they’ve added 1/4” line outputs which is a huge deal as it firmly establishes the FP-30X has a gigging option for professionals and means no more messing with the headphone outputs. Number four, Bluetooth audio has been added to the mix as well.

Finally, the FP-30X also adds a built-in USB audio interface which is going to be a really nice bonus for anyone working with DAW software.

As you can see, to call the FP-30X an improvement over the FP-30 would be a grand understatement. 

FAQ #2: What Does the USB Audio Interface Do?

The built-in USB audio interface allows you to transfer audio information directly from your FP-30X to a DAW without the need for an external audio interface. This cuts down on additional gear and clutter in your workspace.

 

FAQ #3: Is the Roland FP-30 Digital Piano Discontinued?

Yes, the FP-30 is technically discontinued and the FP-30X is its replacement. Roland does not overlap production when a new model replaces an older model as you see in other industries, such as video game consoles for example.

This means that when you’re doing research, be sure to include the “X” in your searches to ensure you are in fact learning about the FP-30X as opposed to the FP-30.

While Roland is no longer manufacturing or shipping FP-30s, you can most definitely still find them on the second-hand market.

 

FAQ #4: How much does the FP-30/FP-30X Cost?

How much is the FP-30X versus the FP30? As is typically the case with new models, there has been a price increase with the FP-30X, in this case, by around $100 USD in most markets.

The exact cost will depend on your geographic region, but in general, an increase of $100 USD can be expected.

 

FAQ #5: Does the Roland FP-30X have MIDI?

The answer here is another “yes”. Virtually, all modern digital pianos work on a MIDI-based framework, meaning that the signals that the keys send to the tone generator are all based on MIDI language.

Most digital pianos and keyboards are built in a way that allows you to externalize MIDI information to both send and receive said information with other devices. The FP-30X has both Bluetooth MIDI and USB Flash Drive MIDI.

 

FAQ #6: Is the FP-30X Good for Beginners?

The answer to this question is an emphatic "Absolutely." Of course, this needs to be considered within the context of affordability and budget. If you’re comfortable in the price range of the FP-30X, it’s without question a fantastic option for beginners.

If you’re working with a budget in a lower price range, there are still a number of 88-key weighted action digital pianos available that will also be fine for a beginner starting piano lessons.

Why is the FP-30X a fantastic beginner option if the budget allows? Most significantly, because of the presence of Roland’s excellent PHA4 Standard action (also found in the more expensive FP-60X) - the top key action available in the price in our opinion here at Merriam Pianos due to its triple sensor, escapement, adjustable touch sensitivity and ivory feel key tops.

Add in a great piano tone, speaker system, multiple connectors, features like split, twin piano, transpose and metronome, compatibility with education apps, included damper pedal (sustain pedal) and the option to add the KSC-70 keyboard stand and KPD-70 triple pedal unit, all of which adds up to an incredible total package.

 

FAQ #7: Does the Roland FP-30X have Weighted Keys?

The Roland FP-30X most definitely has weighted keys. If you’re not familiar with the concept of weighted keys, it essentially means that the keys are designed to replicate the weighting of an acoustic piano key in terms of how much force the player has to provide to get the key in motion.

You’ll probably hear piano teachers or people you know with piano experience harping on the fact that the digital piano you choose needs to have weighted keys if you’re serious about learning piano. This is because weighted keys are necessary to learn the nuances and sense of control necessary to play an acoustic piano.

 

FAQ #8: Does the FP-30X Come with a Music Stand?

The FP-30X (and all FP-X series portable digital pianos) ships with a free plastic music stand (sometimes called music rest) in the box.

It’s lightweight, easily removable, and can definitely accommodate standard sheet music and music books.

 

FAQ #9: How Do You Connect the Roland FP-30X to a Computer?

There are two ways to connect the FP-30X to a computer. The first way is through a standard USB cable, and this is going to be the most stable method. Simply plug one end of the cable into the USB port on the FP-30X, and the other end into the USB port on your computer, which results in a MIDI connection.

If your computer is Bluetooth enabled, you can also connect wirelessly via the FP-30X’s Bluetooth MIDI function.

 

FAQ #10: How Do You Record On the FP-30/FP-30X?

The FP-30X has an internal USB audio connection, so you can record audio information (WAV) directly to a DAW by simply connecting via a USB cable. The FP-30 doesn’t have this feature, so to record to a DAW, you’ll have to use the headphone jack to run a splitter that then runs a 1/4” jack into an external USB audio interface.

Secondly, on both pianos, you can record MIDI files wirelessly via various apps available for Android and iOS

Thirdly, both pianos have basic internal recorders that can be activated with the press of a button (further instructions are available in the owner’s manual here.)

 

FAQ #11: How Do You Connect the Roland FP-30x to Bluetooth?

The first step to connecting your FP-30X to a device via Bluetooth is to ensure that the Bluetooth MIDI connection is actually turned on. To turn the connection on, hold the function button and press the lowest A - this turns the Bluetooth function on.

Next, press and hold the function button until it starts to blink in a blue color. From there. launch the Piano Every Day app on your Smart Device. The app will automatically begin searching for a piano, and shortly after the FP-30X will appear which you can select.

Once connected, you can start using all of the various features of the Roland Piano Every Day and Piano Designer apps. You can also navigate and control the various functions and sounds of the instrument through your Smart Device, easily scrolling through various grand piano, synthesizer and electric piano sounds (the e-piano sounds are especially nice.)

Apps like Apple’s Garageband and others that offer arranger keyboard-like functionality are also accessible.

 

FAQ #12: Is the FP-30/FP-30x Good or Live Performances?

The FP-30 was certainly capable of being used as a performance instrument, but it wasn’t ideally or particularly suited for this purpose.

The various upgrades to the FP-30X make it a much more capable performance instrument, especially with regards to the upgraded polyphony and of course, the inclusion of discreet 1/4” outputs meaning no messing around with adapters is the biggest reason why the FP-30X is a legit performance instrument.

The build quality and overall durability were already present with the FP-30, but these improved features take it one step further.

 

Roland FP-30X FAQ - Wrap-Up

We hope this article covering the top 12 Roland FP-30X FAQ has been helpful. Stay tuned for more entries in this series where we’ll cover other Roland instruments such as the Roland FP-90X, as well as instruments from other manufacturers such as the Yamaha P-125, Kawai ES-120 (coming soon), and Casio PX-S1100.

The post Roland FP-30X FAQ | Features, Performance, And Overall Value | Digital Piano FAQ first appeared on Merriam Pianos

2359 Bristol Cir #200, Oakville, ON L6H 6P8

merriammusic.com

(905) 829-2020

Casio PX-160 vs Roland FP-10 | Digital Piano Comparison

Hi and welcome to another piano comparison article. In this piece, we'll be comparing Casio PX-160 vs Roland FP-10. These are two darlings of the entry-level 88-key digital piano space, and certainly two instruments that our customers love.

The PX-160 really elevated the entry price range when it came out and caused other companies to play catch up. Roland's FP-10 was in many ways Roland's direct response to the PX-160.

Yamaha (particularly the Yamaha P45 and Yamaha P-125, huge sellers on Amazon), Kawai, and Korg also had their own musical instrument responses, but we're focusing on this comparison in our piano review today.

Also check out our individual reviews for the Casio PX-S1000 & Roland FP-10 review.

Discontinued Model: The Casio PX-160 has been replaced by the PX-S1000 and the CDP-S350.

Casio PX-160 vs Roland FP-10 - Sound Engine Comparison

Let's start by comparing the sound of these two instruments, and we've really got a good match-up here as far as grand piano sound is concerned.

Casio has in the past been a brand that's somewhat associated with the very entry-level portion of the market, but when the PX-160 digital piano hit the market a few years ago, it redefined what a $600 CAD digital piano should be delivered to the marketplace.

The PX-160bk is using Casio's Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source (Acoustic and Intelligent Resonator), which is essentially a sample-based sound engine with some additive synthesis on top to add some of the extra nuances like after-touch, string resonance, and damper resonance, among others.

Overall, the PX-160 is generating a pretty authentic and satisfying concert grand piano tone, particularly when you're listening through headphones. It was the top piano sound for the category in our opinion for a few years easily.

It has 128-note polyphony and an onboard speaker system with a wattage of 8 watts per side.

When we flip over to the FP-10, it's important to remember that we're now looking at a newer instrument that actually arrived in response to the PX-160.

Roland has put their SuperNATURAL piano engine into the FP-10 and that unlocks all sorts of value to piano players who are aware of Roland's technology. It has a slightly lower polyphony of 96, but this only becomes an issue if you're doing a lot of layering. For solo piano playing, 96 notes are still fine and the SuperNATURAL Sound Engine is very nice.

The speakers on the FP-10 are a little weak at 6 watts per side, so the best way to enjoy the FP-10 is with a good quality set of headphones.

At first, listen between the two, they sound pretty close. The more you listen, you start to pick up some differences. The FP-10 in the extremities of the range delivers a slightly more authentic sound and timbre, closer to that of a real piano.

There's a certain clarity to the sound that we're hearing on the FP-10 that starts to get a bit distorted and not quite as well constructed on the PX-160.

Both pianos have a decent selection of other sounds, including some nice electric piano sounds (e.piano), as well as others like synths, harpsichord, and string ensemble.

Overall, we do have to give Roland slightly higher points as far as expressive sound quality is concerned, but this was expected since the FP-10 is the newer instrument.

 

Digital Piano Action Comparison

The action on these two instruments is probably the most impressive thing about each one. Both of these hammer action keyboards have triple sensors, which means that you're getting accurate MIDI output touch sensitivity that goes beyond what most digital keyboard actions were capable of, say 10 years ago when dual sensor actions were the norm.

The fact that you're getting the PHA-4 Standard Keyboard in the FP-10 for this price point is somewhat mind-blowing because the PHA-4 ivory feels key action from Roland is one of the most reliable and well-liked plastic actions out there.

Casio has put the Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II with simulated ebony and ivory keys in the PX-160, and this was definitely the best action available for the price when the PX-160 came out.

So, the match-up between these two actions is pretty subtle. It's hard to say one is objectively better, so we'd recommend trying both out yourself.

That said. one thing we noticed is that the PHA-4 has a less lateral motion on the keys, and thus less mechanical noise. This won't matter for most styles of music, but if you're tackling some more advanced classical rep, the extra motion can be problematic.

The PX-160 isn't marketed as an advanced practice instrument anyway, but it's something worth noting in our side-by-side comparison here.

Both pianos have a moisture-absorbing texture on the keys which is nice, but one other difference is that the PHA-4 keyboard has escapement. Escapement replicates the sensation you get when playing an acoustic grand piano, and it can make playing fast passages for experienced players easier.

That's it for the comparison of these high-quality actions. Let's move on to some features and connector specs.

 

Features & Connectivity

The first feature difference between these two we'll point out is that the PX-160 has two 1/4-inch stereo outputs that are separate from the headphone jacks. This is great if you want to connect to an amplifier or stereo for[ some sound reinforcement, or if you were actually thinking about using the PX-160 as a gigging stage piano instrument.

The FP-10 on the other hand has a single headphone output and not a discreet line out. So, for people who are considering this for some type of a gigging keyboard, having the mini jack as the only output is a bit limiting.

The PX-160 also has an optional triple pedal unit (SP-33) matching keyboard stand (CS-67 Stand). The FP-10 also has the option for a matching stand (KSCFP10 Stand), but it does not have a port for a triple pedal. They both come with a basic sustain pedal, but the PX-160 has the advantage of offering triple pedal flexibility.

We'd highly recommend if you're thinking about the FP-10, go with the DP-10 damper pedal with half-pedaling as an add-on accessory.

Both come with their own built-in music stands, though these music rests are probably only going to be able to handle a pretty light book.

One feature that favors the FP-10 is the Bluetooth MIDI connection allowing for wireless connection to apps, like Roland's Piano Partner 2 for iOS and Android.

The PX-160 requires a wired connection via USB connectivity as it has no Bluetooth connectivity. The PX-160 has a 2-Track recorder with Playback while the FP-10 has no on-board recorder. Both pianos have a Metronome, Duet Mode, and Twin Piano Mode with Transpose (shifts the pitch in semitones.)

 

Closing Thoughts

To sum everything up here, it's not exactly an apple-to-apple match-up that we're dealing with after all. The actions are both great, though the PHA-4 has an advantage on paper with the escapement and an advantage in practice with less lateral movement. Both would be great MIDI controllers with a DAW though.

The acoustic piano sound for the most part is quite comparable, though we do hear more detail and authenticity on the FP-10 side.

The PX-160 has a lot of practical pluses in other areas though. The addition of the triple pedal, the 1/4-inch outputs, and a better visual layout are all check marks.

So, there are some differences here that make it a little bit hard to tally up exactly which one is going to come out on top as a better option for pianists. In the end, it really is going to depend largely on your use case.

Thanks for reading and click here to shop for more digital pianos.

The post Casio PX-160 vs Roland FP-10 | Digital Piano Comparison first appeared on Merriam Pianos

2359 Bristol Cir #200, Oakville, ON L6H 6P8

merriammusic.com

(905) 829-2020

Yamaha P45 vs Roland FP-10 Digital Piano Review, Comparison, & Demo

 

 Welcome to another piano comparison at Merriam Music. Today, we are comparing the Yamaha P45 vs Roland FP-10, two absolute titans of the entry-level market, both with tons of fans and lots of potential shoppers all around the world.

This comparison has been requested many times by our readers and viewers so we're happy to cover it here, and in the accompanying video. In a part of the market that also has compelling options from Casio (Privia and CDP series) and Korg, the P45 and Roland FP-10 still manage to be among the best sellers, the P45, particularly on Amazon.

We'll be comparing the actions, sound engines, and main features to see exactly how these two oft-compared pianos stack up to one another.

 

Opening Thoughts

These two pianos are very similar in some respects, the most obvious being price. These are both priced in the United States for under $500, and in Canada, both are available for under $750. Visibly, they appear to be very similar in terms of their size and stature.

At a quick glance, you might think to yourself, "Well, the Yamaha P45 and the Roland FP-10 are essentially equal offerings from two different companies, and, I've always gone Yamaha before, so I'm not really missing anything by not taking a serious look at the Roland,"  This is where you would be very wrong.

Hiding under the hood of these two instruments are some remarkably different specs that ultimately result in divergent musical experiences. Let's start by checking out the sound engines.

Piano Sounds: Yamaha P-45

The piano sound consists of some different aspects when we're in the digital piano realm. The first factor is of course the computer that functions as the tone generator. The second aspect is the onboard speakers. We'll start by checking out the sound on the Yamaha P45 88-key digital piano first. Right away it's clear, even in spite of its affordable price tag, that it's a pretty responsive piano.

P-45 Advanced Wave Memory (AWM)

The P-45 features the Advanced Wave Memory (AWM) stereo sampling sound engine here. The grand piano sound is certainly on the brighter side, but that's fairly expected since apes the timbre of their real pianos. Yamaha tends to have a brighter, clear sound on both their acoustic pianos as well as digital pianos.

 

Speaker System

The speakers on this are 6 watts apiece, so it's a total of 12 watts of power. For an instrument of this price and size, that's plenty. In fact, it's hard to build an instrument that's this light with much if any more power.

The speakers on the P45 are on the bottom of the instrument, so they are downward-facing. The sound quality is good, but you do get a better playing experience when playing with headphones.

 

64-notes Polyphony

We're getting 64-note polyphony here on the P45 which is definitely quite dated considering what most other options in the price point are offering.

In terms of other instrument sounds, the P-45 has 10 on board. Accessing them is really easy with a very user-friendly interface. There are a couple of nice electric pianos, organs, strings, harpsichord, and vibraphone. The pipe organ is particularly nice.

 

Piano Sounds: Roland FP-10

Let's now move over to the FP-10. If you're a Yamaha person and have never thought of a need to look outside of the Yamaha lane for a product, this particular matchup should give you some pause. We try and be as objective as possible in these reviews, but to be honest, the FP-10 blows the P-45 away in virtually every respect.

96-notes Polyphony

The FP10 has a polyphony of 96 versus 64. This 32-note difference gives the Rolan d a bit of an edge, especially if you're going to be doing some layering, but it's also indicative of a more complex tone generator. 

The FP10 has a polyphony of 96 versus 64. This 32-note difference gives the Roland a bit of an edge, especially if you're going to be doing some layering, but it's also indicative of a more complex tone generator.

 

Super Natural Piano Sound Engines

The FP-10 is using Roland's SuperNATURAL Piano Sound Engine, and it's actually incorporating and allowing you to access and tweak all kinds of synthesis parameters such as damper resonance, string resonance, and others. The SuperNATURAL sound engine is available in different levels throughout the Roland lineup, but even this more basic version has a lot going on.

Objectively, you can argue that there's just more technology going on here behind the piano tone itself. But then we get into the number of tones, and instead of 10, as long as you're using the piano partner app wirelessly, you're given access to more than 30 on the FP-10, including some really nice synths. The quality is definitely higher across these other tones as well. 

 

Speakers

In terms of onboard speakers, you're not getting much of an improvement. They're literally the same with 12 watts of power on both. Still, it's pretty hard not to come away feeling that the FP-10 is delivering a much more realistic piano tone, that also happens to offer more polyphony and more sounds.

 

Piano Action: Graded Hammer Standard vs PHA-4

Now let's talk about action because if you are a parent enrolling your child in piano lessons, the action is probably going to be the most important thing to get right to ensure that the new student is building good habits right away.

Fortunately, we're dealing with two weighted action digital pianos here with full-size graded hammer actions, which is crucially important if you actually intend to learn piano.

Yamaha's Graded Hammer Standard (GHS)

The action on the P-45 is Yamaha's Graded Hammer Standard or GHS for short. This is an action that Yamaha has been using on their instruments for quite some time. There are things that are likable about it, and others that are undoubtedly drawbacks at this point in time.

The GHS action has polished white keytops, so that gives it a good grip in some situations, but it also makes it a little less comfortable to play in more humid situations. Fortunately, there's a matte finish on the black key which feels nice.

It's missing escapement, but for somebody who has never played piano before, this will be a non-factor. But if you are using this as a practice instrument and going back and forth between it and an acoustic, it would be a little more helpful to have both instruments with escapement for familiarity.

The other thing about the action which is a bit of a knock against it is the presence double sensor. If you had any intention of using this as a MIDI controller, and you were wanting to trigger some really high-quality samples on a DAW, the double sensor does not really deliver a particularly accurate MIDI output for professional use. For beginners, it shouldn't really matter, but of course, it will be less sensitive than a triple sensor action.

Some positives are the weighting which feels good, as is the repetition speed. They also use this action in the Yamaha P125.

 

Roland's PHA-4 Standard Keyboard Action

Over to the FP-10. If there's one thing that set's the FP-10 apart from everything else in the class, it would be the action. The PHA-4 Standard Keyboard Action that the FP-10 has is the same action that Roland puts on their RP-501, F-140, FP-60, and FP-30, which in the case of the RP-501, is an instrument that's 3x the price of the FP-10.

That's an incredible value that you're receiving on the FP-10 for this price because it's not some stripped-down version of the PHA-4. You are getting a triple sensor for better touch sensitivity, escapement and nice ivory feel on the keys.

On paper and in practice, despite both being weighted key actions, the PHA-4 simply outguns the GHS action as a borderline high-end action available at an entry-level price.

 

Yamaha P45 vs Roland FP-10 | Features & Connectivity

There's quite a bit of overlap between these two when it comes to features and optional accessories.

They both come with an included music rest, footswitch style sustains pedals, and power adapters for the power supply.

Both are available with a matching keyboard stand for an additional cost, though neither one has an option for a 3 pedal unit.

 

Bluetooth MIDI vs USB to host port

Now, a big difference between the two is that the FP-10 has built-in Bluetooth MIDI connectivity. The Yamaha P45 does have a USB to host port, so you can hook this up to a computer and output MIDI to it, but it's really nice being able to do things wirelessly.

 

Headphone Jacks

Neither one of these instruments has official audio line-outs. They both are equipped with headphone jacks though,  so you can use the headphone output to connect to an amplifier.

Both pianos have all the basics covered like a metronome, dual mode, duo mode, and transpose. 

Closing Thoughts

Here are some closing thoughts and general takeaways on the comparison here. First of all, you may just have a subjective preference between the tone P-45 or the tone of the FP-10. There's nothing invalid about that.

But beyond that, the FP-10 really does pack an objectively superior piano sound, both in terms of specs and how it works in practice, and the same can be said about the piano action. The Bluetooth Connectivity for connecting to Apple and Android devices might be a big deal too.

That said, the P-45 is a tried and true instrument, and the fact that it's almost impossible to find in stock really says something.

Thanks for reading and be sure to check out the accompanying video to hear these 2 in action! Visit Merriam Music for more piano reviews and article

The post Yamaha P45 vs Roland FP-10 Digital Piano Review, Comparison, & Demo first appeared on Merriam Pianos

2359 Bristol Cir #200, Oakville, ON L6H 6P8

merriammusic.com

(905) 829-2020

Roland FP-30 vs Roland FP-10 Digital Piano Comparison

 

 Today we’ll be comparing the specs and performance of two entry-level models of the Roland FP lineup as we see how the FP-10 and FP-30 compare.

We’ll cover all of the critical differences between these two pianos that really do much of the heavy lifting for Roland’s digital piano lineup considering how affordable they both are so that hopefully if you’re looking within this general category for your next instrument, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision.

With that in mind, we’ll jump in to see exactly how the piano actions of these two pianos measure up to one another.

Discontinued Model: The Roland FP-30 Digital Piano has been replaced by the FP-30X, please see our YouTube review here.

 

Piano Action: Roland FP-30 vs Roland FP-10

This will actually be the easiest and most straightforward part of our comparison because the action utilized in both pianos is literally exactly the same.

PHA-4 Standard Keyboard Action with Escapement

Roland puts the PHA-4 Standard Keyboard action with escapement and ivory touch into both the FP-10 and the FP-30, and there’s really no difference between them.

The PHA-4 hammer action is equipped with a triple sensor, although some of the marketing literature doesn’t necessarily make that very clear. This means both pianos will have exactly the same MIDI accuracy and touch sensitivity, so the real differences are going to come down to sound-related aspects and some of the features.

Interestingly, you’ll also find the PHA-4 action in the next model up in the FP series – the FP-60. Roland also uses it in the F-140R, the RP501R, and the RP-102.

Basically, it’s the go-to Roland action for their beginner and mid-range lineup. This means you would need to spend almost three times as much money as the FP-10 before you got any sort of meaningful improvement in the action.

For people out there who are focused on a good-feeling practice instrument or something that’s going to deliver the best touch in as portable and as inexpensive a package as possible, it’s really hard to dispute that either instrument, but especially the FP-10 as delivering fantastic value.

We’ve got a lot of experience with this action over at Merriam Music, and it’s an action that we’re very fond of it.

It’s not at all a clunky action so there isn’t an overabundance of mechanical noise or anything like that, it hits the key bed a little bit harder than say a comparable Casio, Kawai, Korg, or Yamaha action.

 

Key Texture

We really like some type of texture on the keys when it comes to digital piano actions as it adds some extra grip, which is especially helpful in more humid playing environments. The ivory feel here actually winds up absorbing a little bit of that extra moisture that sometimes gets generated.

The escapement, feature or some people call this let-off, is a simulation of the feeling you get on a real acoustic piano when the hammer comes off the knuckle. When you’re playing in the softer dynamic ranges such as pianissimo, the escapement is a nice feature to have. It actually adds a lot of authenticity to the experience.

There’s no question we’ve got a great-feeling action here that we would say is well suited for contemporary repertoire, and it works really well for jazz. For somebody just starting out in the classical world, we think you’d have no issues working up to medium difficulty repertoire with this action until you might want to consider an upgrade to an acoustic piano or high-end digital piano.

 

Piano Sound: Roland FP-30 vs Roland FP-10

Now we’ll be able to get into some real differences between the FP-10 and the FP-30. Let’s start with the speakers.

 

22-watts vs 12-watts Speakers

The FP-30 has 22 watts of speaker power while the FP-10 has 12. Given the FP-10’s size and price, those 12 watts actually give quite a bit of horsepower – certainly more than what any of us were expecting the first time we sat down at one.

There’s actually a fairly decent amount of body and depth to the sound, along with some adjustable reverb settings. It’s probably only going to be sufficient for situations where you’re really playing by yourself or maybe playing along with one other person as it’s not enough sound to fill up a medium room nor would it be enough for a performance situation.

Ideally, you might want to get the amplifier setup going or invest in a solid set of headphones to take advantage of the SuperNATURAL sound engine that the FP-10 is equipped with.

 

FP-30's SuperNATURAL Piano Sound Engine

The FP-30 is also equipped with the SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine, but there is a slight difference in the chipset between the FP-10 and the FP-30.

 

96 vs 128 Polyphony

The FP-10 has 96-notes of polyphony, whereas the FP-30 has 128. What does that actually mean for someone playing both pianos? For starters, you will hear a slight difference in the richness or complexity of the tone. The FP-30 sounds a little bit thicker, and you can especially hear that difference once you compare the treble ranges.

Unless you’ve got them side by side comparing the default grand piano tone though it’s going to be pretty hard for an average listener to tell the difference between these two in terms of the piano sound that it produces aside from the extra volume the FP-30 has at its disposal.

 

Onboard Sounds

When it comes to the sheer quantity of the different types of sound presets that each instrument has on board, there are about three times the number of tones on the FP-30 than on the FP-10. There are a few more acoustic pianos, electric pianos, and definitely more in the generic “other” category which is going to include things like strings, pads, vibes, synths, etc.

 

Features & Connectivity

Bluetooth MIDI

When it comes to features and connectors, both pianos are equipped with Bluetooth MIDI. Roland makes a few of their own music apps which both pianos are compatible with, and while they work with both Apple iOS and Android devices, things seem to run a little bit smoother with Apple devices. Bluetooth wireless technology isn’t a given in the price range, so kudos to Roland here.

Roland’s Piano Partner 2 and Piano Designer are compatible with both pianos, but you’re given more parameters to work within Piano Designer on the FP-30.

There are of course other great apps out there such as Garageband as well.

 

Standard Functions

Standard functions like a metronome and twin piano mode are covered on both instruments, but while the FP-30 also has Split, the FP-10 does not.

In terms of other features, the FP-30 has a recorder function and the ability to playback USB audio (SMF, WAV) through the USB flash drive on the back while the FP-10 doesn’t have either one of those functions.

 

Headphone Jacks Differences

Another difference – we’ve got two headphone jacks, a 1/4-inch, and 3.5-mil on the FP-30 to choose from while the FP-10 has a single 3.5 mil headphone output.

Neither instrument has a line out to connect to an amp, so you’ll need to use the headphone port if you plan on doing that.

 

Pedal Systems

Another important difference has to do with the pedals, and this is probably going to be one of the biggest deals for people with piano experience or who plan on taking piano lessons. The FP-10 does not have a port for the three-pedal unit option, whereas the FP-30 does.

While you need the KSC-70 designer keyboard stand for the KPD-70 triple pedalboard to function, just having that as an option will be a huge deal for some people.

At the very least with the FP-10, you’re going to want to upgrade yourself to the DP-10 Roland sustain pedal since it only includes a basic switch pedal in the box. A proper damper pedal makes all of the difference.

Both instruments come with a music rest for your sheet music as well as a power adapter.

 

Closing Thoughts

So, we’ve covered all of the key areas where these instruments are similar and where they depart from one another. The one that’s probably going to be the biggest sticking point for a lot of folks is the fact that the FP-10 doesn’t have the triple pedal option.

Both instruments are extremely good value, and for folks that just need as good action in as affordable and compact a package as possible, the Roland FP-10 will really stand out here.

If some extra sounds, more speaker power, a few extra features, and that triple pedal option are important, the FP-30 is well worth the extra few hundred dollars.

If there’s one area we’d like to see improved in the future, it would be to have each instrument have a dedicated line output as a traditional stage piano or synthesizer does.

Thanks for reading! Visit Merriam Music for more piano reviews and Articles. Also, visit our Youtube Channel for more in-depth piano covers.

The post Roland FP-30 vs Roland FP-10 Digital Piano Comparison first appeared on Merriam Pianos

2359 Bristol Cir #200, Oakville, ON L6H 6P8

merriammusic.com

(905) 829-2020

Yamaha P125 vs Roland FP-30 Digital Piano Comparison & Demo

 

Welcome to another piano comparison here with us at Merriam Pianos. In this piece, we'll be comparing two titans of the under $1,000 portable digital piano category as we look at the Yamaha P125 vs Roland FP-30.

Thousands of these instruments wind up in homes all around the world every single year as best sellers in the beginner to intermediate category (especially on Amazon for the P125) thanks to the combination price, unintimidating user-friendly minimalistic design, and musical punch they pack.

They are very different musically, however, which is why we'll be comparing the sound engines, actions, and other important features to see what kind of musical experience each of these 88-key digital pianos has to offer.

We also have in-depth individual Roland FP-30 and Yamaha P125 reviews, as well as reviews of other similar pianos from Casio, Kawai, and Korg.

Let's start by comparing the sound engines. 

Discontinued Model Notice: The Roland FP-30 has been replaced by the new Roland FP-30X. See our review on YouTube here.

Yamaha P125 vs Roland FP-30 Piano Sound

Polyphony

Let's start with the FP-30bk. The FP-30 has a polyphony count of 128 notes and 22 watts of speaker power courtesy of the dual 11-watt speaker system.

That 128-note polyphony is certainly an improvement over what you get on the Roland FP-10 with 96 notes, but it's a spec that most people shouldn't be too concerned with since it just refers to the maximum amount of notes a sound engine can play at once.

We're drawing attention to it here because the P125 has 192 notes, and that might lead people to believe that the P125 then has a more complex piano tone made up of more sample layers.

That's actually not the case here, and when you look at the waveform that the P125 with their Pure CF Sound Engine (sample of the CFIIIs Concert Grand Piano), versus the FP-30 and its SuperNATURAL Piano Sound engine, there's actually a more nuanced, such as a more believable damper resonance and string resonance, going on with the FP-30's tone.

 

Speakers

Part of this is probably also due to the speakers, as the Yamaha P125 has a noticeably weaker amplifier with 14 watts of total power (though it's a 4 speaker system with 2 tweeters). The extra speaker power from the FP-30 is just adding extra warmth and presence, especially in the lower register.

Now, all of this being said, there's very seldom a right and wrong when it comes to the type of piano sound you prefer, and these two engines do sound distinctly different.

Despite the P125 not sounding as warm or complex as the FP-30, some people will absolutely still prefer the brighter sound of the P125, which is quite representative of Yamaha digital pianos in general. Check out the video review above to hear exactly how both pianos sound.

 

Acoustic Piano Sounds

Moving on from the acoustic piano sounds, both of these instruments are nicely equipped with a good selection of presets Neither one has the full general MIDI 2 sounds, but you're still getting 24 sounds with the P125 and 35 on the FP30.

 

Electric Piano Sounds

Now, let's dive into some electric piano sounds. In some ways, for a keyboard player, the electric piano sounds can be even more revealing in terms of the level of authenticity than the acoustic piano tones.

In general, both pianos do a great job with their e-piano tones, particularly the P125. Things like organs, strings, and synthesizers are all quite nice here too.

 

P-125 Additional Sound Features

A couple of other things worth mentioning - the P125 has a couple of other cool sound-related features including a Table EQ, Sound Boost mode, Stereophonic Optimizer, and Intelligent Acoustic Control.

Let's move on to the action.

 

Roland PHA-4 vs Yamaha Graded Standard Piano Action

FP-30 PHA-4 Standard Keyboard

The FP-30 uses Roland's PHA-4 Standard Keyboard with Escapement and Ivory Feel. This is the same action with weighted keys that Roland puts in the FP-10 and more expensive FP-60, as well as some other models like the F140R and RP501R.

It's essentially Roland's staple mid-range hammer action that they deploy throughout the lineup until you get into the high-end portion of their offerings.

It's a very well-known, proven, and well-liked action out in the marketplace that also happens to be quite durable, and boasts triple sensor detection for a high degree of accuracy. There's a nice micro texture on the black keys and an ivory texture on the white keys, both of which add some extra grip by absorbing moisture.

 

Escapement Feature

The escapement feature is quite nice as it helps improve repetition speed - this is definitely something gigging musicians will notice and appreciate.

 

P-125 Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) Key Action

The P-125 is using Yamaha's Graded Hammer Standard key action, or GHS for short. This is an action that's been on the market for quite a while, and it's probably one of the least advanced parts of the P125 with a dated dual sensor, though there is some adjustable touch sensitivity to accommodate different playing styles.

The action feels solid in the sense that there's not a lot of mechanical noise, and part of that is due to the fact that it's a more simple design than the PHA-4. There's no escapement on the GHS, and while there is a matte finish on the black keys, there's nothing on the white keys, meaning your finger can get slippery when moisture develops.

But you feel really sure-footed under, this action, and it can be quite forgiving. And there's not a hands-down winner between the two, as they do feel quite different.

Generally speaking though, the GHS is probably due for a bit of an update, so we wouldn't be surprised to see Yamaha coming out with some type of an update to that action in subsequent P-series models in the near future.

 

Features & Connectivity

The P125 has a couple of very cool features that we like about it. First of all, it's got built-in quarter-inch stereo outputs which make it very easy for you to be plugging into amps and PAs without eating up a headphone jack - a great feature for the price range.

This is a key connector for gigging musicians that is not present on the FP-30, where you'll have to settle for one of the headphone outputs as your line out.

The P125 and the FP-30 are both available with matching keyboard stands, as well as 3 pedal units. They both also come with pretty basic sustain pedals of the footswitch style, but we would actually highly recommend upgrading them, regardless of which piano you choose. The upgraded damper pedal options from each manufacturer are just so much more substantial.

One of the things that the Yamaha is missing that the P125 has is the Bluetooth connection. The P125 does not have any Bluetooth MIDI, but it does have a USB connection, so you can connect to an iOS device (iPad, iPhone) for music apps like the Yamaha Smart Pianist App that way.

The P125 has a really well-done onboard auto-accompaniment function. There are quite a few rhythms on here to choose from.

Rhythms are accessible via Roland's Piano Partner 2 app, but they are not built-in directly on-board like the P125.

Beyond that, we've got kind of the normal complement of all of your basics, like transpose, metronome, split mode, layer mode (duo), and Twin Piano Mode. Both of them have the ability to do that quite nicely.

 

Closing Thoughts

Let's do a quick summary here of the comparison between these two pianos. In terms of the speakers, the FP30 wins here by virtue of its extra power, even though it's using a 2 speaker system versus a 4 speaker on the P125 which does result in some extra clarity.

In terms of the tone engines, the FP30 is using the SuperNATURAL engine with 128 polyphony, versus the Pure CF engine with 192 notes of polyphony on the P125.

Then we've got the P125's GHS action with no texture on the white keys and no escapement, versus the PHA-4 where we've got a nice texture, escapement, and a triple sensor. They both come with music rests and power adapters (power supply) and are available with matching stands and triple pedals (KPD-70 and KSC-70). The P125 has a discreet AUX out, whereas the FP30 does not, but the FP30 has Bluetooth, and the P125 does not.

We hope this comparison of the Yamaha P45 vs Roland FP-30, two immensely popular musical instruments has been helpful. Thanks for reading!

The post Yamaha P125 vs Roland FP-30 Digital Piano Comparison & Demo first appeared on Merriam Pianos

2359 Bristol Cir #200, Oakville, ON L6H 6P8

merriammusic.com

(905) 829-2020

Roland F140R Digital Piano Review and Demo | Piano Apps, Bluetooth, Smartphone Connectivity

Introduction

The Roland F140R is a home digital piano with a wide range of features, sounds, and top-notch key action. It's a true musical instrument that's well suited to both beginners as well as intermediate hobbyists, and sure to wind up on thousands of musicians' wishlists this year. It's also an extremely affordable instrument given that it delivers virtually the same 'guts' as the RP501r at several hundred dollars more.

The sound categories include high quality grand piano, electric piano, organ, string, and synthesizer patches, the action is Roland's well-liked PHA-4 action with triple-sensor for high-resolution sensing and a graded hammer action. The features include drum sets with intelligent accompaniment and different rhythm styles (essentially your own backing band to play along with), a 3-pedal system with full sostenuto function, transpose, dual and duet modes of playing, and SMF playback through its USB port.

It's most commonly offered in Contemporary Black, although there is a white satin finish available as well, which makes it highly adaptable to most living spaces. We hope you enjoy this video review and accompanying article, and good luck with your shopping!

Roland F140R Digital Piano Review Video Transcription

Hi, everybody and welcome to another digital piano review here at Merriam pianos. My name is Stu Harrison, and today we're going to be talking about Roland's ultra-popular F140R Digital Home Piano. We love this instrument. We're going to be talking about that beautiful cabinet that comes in. We'll be covering the action, the supernatural sound. We're going to be talking about all the connection options it has through its Bluetooth function, and of course, who it might be just a perfect solution for at home. If it's your first time in the channel, please do subscribe. We'd love you to come back for more videos in the future and we do our best to reply to every single comment that you leave. Thanks again for joining us. Let's get started right away.

Sound and Tone Engine

We're going to talk about the sound on the Roland F140R digital piano first. And when we say sound, I guess there's a few components that go into that. We're talking about the stereo speakers and the amplifier but we're also talking about the tone engine, which is kind of the computing side of things that takes your physical input and translates that into an audio signal that we then wind up hearing. The Roland F140R is equipped with their SuperNATURAL piano sound engine, and this is something that's been in the works being developed, being evolved for many, many years now. Roland's really quite good at producing piano tone and other tones with the supernatural piano sound engine. And it's kind of an interesting blend of both a set of samples and then adding extra synthesis on top to add the detail like the sound of the hammer hitting the strings and sound of the damper coming back down or the sound of the pedals.

And all of those are actually something you can manipulate within the Piano Designer app music score apps that you can hook up with Bluetooth. And I will show you how to do that a little bit later when we start talking about the wireless connectivity. So, the supernatural sound engine is inside the F-140R. We've got a 128 note polyphony, which even by today's standards is pretty solid. If you're just going to be doing piano playing on its own as a solo player and you're not, sort of, sending all kinds of extra Midi signal back through it, 128 is usually pretty sufficient. It's hard to max that out unless, of course, you're doing some really intense classical playing or you've got sort of multiple tracks going within a sequencer. So, 128 is fine. You've got your SuperNATURAL piano tone. I find the supernatural sound, and this is just on the default tone, by the way, tends to have really crisp, well-rendered trebles and upper parcels. The bass is really very clear. Nice strong attack.
And of course, it's equipped with several different types of acoustic piano in there as well. It sort of rounds out that attack. So, you've got a few different sample sets to choose from. You've got the Piano Designer app in which you can modify settings like key-off resonance, damper resonance, or hammer resonance, or adjust the master tuning and even mess with the semitones if you want to. Of course you can save your settings so once you find something you love, you don't have to rebuild it every time. Being driven by that tone engine is 26 watts worth of sound, or sorry, 24, it's 12 watts per side, which delivers a surprisingly full sound, and in a normal-sized room, comes somewhat close to the authentic tone of a real acoustic grand. And I would say for a small room and even for a medium room that isn't super padded, that produces a pretty decent, pretty respectable amount of tone overall.
I do think that when you first start to hear it lack is when you get down into the bass and you really try and drive some thicker harmonies. You can tell that there's a bit of presence there that you do get on some of the higher-level Rolands that maybe is not quite there on the F140R. But you have to keep in mind the price point and, of course, what this compares to. And in that respect, I think the F140R is really well balanced. Even at max volume, this isn't breaking up or distorting. So, I think it's every part of the design is really well paired. So, there's no weak link anywhere in the tone generation chain, I guess we could call it. It's got a very...we'll just get to some E-piano sounds here. I really, really loved the roads on here. There's a beautiful treble going on left and right. I don't know if you can hear that at home.

Some really, really beautiful course effects. So, lots of variety on there. And in fact, when you pair it up with the Piano Partner 2 app, it gives you access to over 300 additional tones. So, it's got the entire general Midi 2 soundbank in there in addition to all the supernatural sounds as well. So, 128 note polyphony, we've got 24 watts of power, and all of that being driven by the supernatural piano engine with about 2 dozen, sort of, really high-quality, well-crafted tones in addition to the general MIDI soundbank. So, that's all for sound. We're going to splash the specs up there for you to take a look and we're going to move on to action.

PHA-4 Key Action

The action in the Roland F140R is called the PHA-4 standard keyboard action with escapement and with ivory touch. This is exactly the same action that Roland is now putting in all of their FP series except the FP-90 which is using the PHA-50. It also is going in the RP-501 and the F140R. It's a really fun, satisfying action to play, very, very effortless in terms of feeling like there's lots of response and touch sensitivity. And as your key is sort of hitting the bottom there. It's a little bit of a harder bottom than you'd expect out of, say, a Kawai digital, but in some respects that almost allows your finger to sort of bounce off the bottom and you wind up feeling like this action is a little more effortless and overall a great playing experience.

The action has that ivory texture on it, it's right in the name, and it's pretty cool. I actually think they've done a nice job of creating a texture, which is it doesn't distract, it doesn't feel overdone and gives it a great key touch. But visually, it makes it feel like you're playing on a bit more of an elegant action and you actually do appreciate the texture that it gives you. The black key also has a texture or maybe you'd call this a micro-texture, Roland calls it ivory feel. It doesn't really simulate the ebony key at all. But it does give a bit of grip so that it's matched with the white key. That's also really nice.
Another thing that I will say about the PHA-4 action, because I've played on many of these, both on instruments that I've owned as well as what we've seen throughout the store, is they're super durable. So, whether or not you like the feel of them, whether or not it's giving you, you know, accurate enough response, which, you know, everybody's going to have a different situation.

One thing that can't be debated is how reliable and how well-made those actions are. So, if you're putting it into situation where it's going to get a lot of abuse, you can be sure that this is not something you're going to be having to bring back for warranty claims, which I always love being able to tell that to customers and really feel like I'm being honest about that advice, you will not regret and you will not find tech problems with the PH-4 action. So, we're going to throw some specs up about the action and then we're going to move on to all of the different ports and the connectivity options including Bluetooth. So, thanks for sticking with us. We'll be back in a second.

Features, Connectivity, Ports

Okay. So, last thing we're going to cover is the various sort of ports and connections that the instrument has. And of course, what you can do with the Bluetooth. Roland has installed Bluetooth connections or Bluetooth connectivity for smartphones and iPads on virtually their entire lineup of digital pianos, which is great. Thank you, Roland. And I've actually got a smartphone here and we're going to hook it up right now just so you can see at home how easy it is to actually use this because people sometimes know that it's there, but there's an intimidation factor in actually trying to get it working and feeling like it's always going to be complicated. This is not complicated. Even to set it up the first time only takes about 30 seconds. And then once it's connected the first time, going back to the instrument, again and again, is literally just the press of one button, which is awesome.
So, the first thing you need to do when you get the F140 digital piano is to enable the Bluetooth, and granted, there's nothing intuitive about this, you kind of just have to know this and you can look it up in the instruction manual or you could just watch this video. So, you need to press the function or activate the function button, which is pressing the metronome and the split button down at the same time. We're going to do that. And then you're going to see the F for function come up. And then there's a variety of functions which you can scroll through with your plus and your minus keys. You want to go to F15, which is actually whether to turn the Bluetooth radio on or turn the Bluetooth radio off. We want to make sure that it's on.

So, you press the start-stop button to enter function 15, and then you can use the plus and minus to simply indicate whether you want it on or whether you want it off. In this case we definitely want it on. Then you press the start and stop again to get back to the F15. Now, you're going to go to F16, which tells the instrument what the mode that you want the Bluetooth in. And so, there's the potential to have just the MIDI or the audio.

And so, you can choose to have one or the other, or you can have both turned on at the same time. I don't really personally know why you wouldn't just have both turned on at the same time, but I'm sure there are some circumstances if you have multiple devices in the room and you only want it to be pairing to one and you have others that are competing for the pairing. Yeah, I could see why maybe you would need to have those differentiated. But for most people, I think the safe thing is to just have both turned none. So, you're going to want to put the function on F16 now. You're going to press the start-stop button to enter that F16 function and then it looks like we want to put it on, it looks like a P-N or I guess that could be an A, but I think it's N. And that seems to turn off on both the audio and Bluetooth. So, we'll keep it on that.

Once that's done, you would go to an app. And the app that I really, really like to use is called BLE-Midi. I believe it's a free app, and it makes it very easy for you to connect. So, I don't know if you can see that on the camera. If not, we'll just get, you know, some B roll later, but I can see my F140R is right there and it's connected.

So, that whole thing that I just did, you literally only have to do just one time. After that, all you do is you just go into whatever app you're going to use. And in this case, I've got the Roland Piano Partner 2 app open and this now gives me access to all of the different function areas that Roland packs in this app. It's a free app and it literally acts as like a companion to this instrument, unlocks all sorts of functionality that otherwise would be really difficult, or impossible actually, to access just through the onboard buttons systems. So, we've got rhythm. And in fact, this comes with 21 different rhythms built right in. So, the F140R actually has this onboard rhythm feature which is generically referred to as intelligent accompaniment, which I think is really cool. It's also worth mentioning that the rhythm function / onboard rhythm accompaniments is also accessible without the app directly from the keyboard's own interface.

Super easy to use, very intuitive in terms of how you control it, which is great. The app also has built-in piano masterpieces with sheet music that you can play along with, which is also a ton of fun. At the time we did the review, the sheet music pages were also available in physical form packaged in the box. And it's got the various lesson, like method books from Hanon and Czerny that have the repertoire for the method books also built into here. So, you can use this to hear back, as a reference point, what you're supposed to be working on. It's got flashcards and it's got the ability to use this as a wireless recorder from the instrument. So, tons and tons of stuff that you can get out of this Piano Partner 2. And of course, the most basic, but sometimes the most useful function on here is just as a remote control for picking the sounds and the key and the tones that you want on this. And switching between single-mode, split mode, dual-mode, or twin piano mode, all of which have separate and very, very useful functions.

You've got the metronome function in here. And, of course, your master volume is also in there. So, it makes it very easy to select the different categories of sounds. As we said, this thing is equipped with the general MIDI Bank 2 soundbank, which includes over 300 sounds, including organ, electric piano, and many more. So, tons and tons of stuff kind of just buried just below the surface on the F140R. Now, let's talk about the rest of the instrument. It comes with its own key-cover, its own stand, it's integrated right in (it also has stabilizer steel 'tabs' that extend out of the bottom of the legs of the stand...most people don't realize they're there). So, you can't separate the F140 from its stand. If you're looking for something like that, just go by the FP-30, very, very similar in terms of its overall capability but you come in a slab.

Otherwise, it's coming in this all-in-one cabinet format. And this kind of annoyed me when I first saw this come out. Now, I really like it, to be honest. And this cover, this key cover that also acts as a music stand, so it goes down really quite smoothly and it's very easy to get up as well and it kind of just locks in place and you've got a nice wide music stand that functions at. It's really great. It comes in two colors as well. This is the classic block. It also comes in a satin white. On the back, you've got a 3.5 mil input and a 3.5 mil output. That's in fact how you're hearing this instrument today. We've just taken a straight line out of the 3.5. You've got two different headphone jacks on this, both the quarter-inch and 3.5. They also give the headphones 3d Ambience Effect, which creates some extremely satisfying multi-dimensional sound experiences when playing the F140r. It also makes private practice less intimidating by giving you privacy without sacrificing the experience. And then you've got USB memory port (USB Type A) and USB computer port (Type B) in and out as well, which allows for wav playback, midi file playback, and wav recording.

Pedal System

The F140 comes with a triple pedal system, which is also very handy. And these triple pedals, I know at least one or maybe all three are what they call continually sensing. So, as you've got the sustain pedal down, you can actually be half peddling and it's constantly detecting where you are on pedal instead of only being, sort of, a basic closed circuit-open circuit type of situation. So, for people who are more finesse players or are starting to do some work with classical, you might find that to be useful as well. So, that basically wraps up most of the functionality on the F140 digital piano.

Comparisons

What is this going to compare well in the marketplace? I know that Kawai's KDP110 is something that's going to compare very well. Yamaha's YDP144, 143, those models are going to be compared pretty frequently to this strictly because of the price. So, if you can get it, you know, if you are somebody who is looking for a first instrument, but you've got the budget to go a little bit more than entry-level and you're looking for something that's going to have a really satisfying action, I think of this kind of as a prosumer type of, you know, piano level for people who shop cameras and TVs and are used to that segment of the market I just referred to, this is great.
Try and get to a store where you could maybe compare this to a KDP110 digital piano or compare it to the YDD140 series. I think you're going to be really pleased with what you find. And like I said, our experience over the last year or two with this model with our customer base has been resoundingly positive, not a single warranty claim has come back from this instrument. And everybody who gets it loves it.

Anyway, thank you much for watching. Be sure to watch the video where all we do is give you some playing samples of the Roland F140R digital piano, and I hope it's been helpful. Good luck with the shopping. We'll see you back for another review shortly. I'm Stu Harrison here at Merriam Pianos.

Browse all Roland Digital Pianos.


The post Roland F140R Digital Piano Review and Demo | Piano Apps, Bluetooth, Smartphone Connectivity first appeared on Merriam Pianos

2359 Bristol Cir #200, Oakville, ON L6H 6P8

merriammusic.com

(905) 829-2020