I bought the RP701. I was going to say that it sounds better with headphones, than through the speakers. But then I discovered something extraordinary. Stay tuned. I knew a digital piano could not be as good as my acoustic Yamaha grand, which I love, but I needed something for our house in Mexico where we plan to spend half the year. It came via Amazon Mexico in a giant box, and it took us a few hours to assemble it with the help of some RUclipss. That was 3 weeks ago, and I’ve waited to write this review to make sure of what I am telling you. It sounded OK and I made a few changes using Piano Designer. More about that app later. It sounded OK in my cheap headphones. Then I tried my husband’s fancy noise cancelling Bose headphones (Quietcomfort 35 II, series 2). It sounded the same. But then I turned the power on in those headphones and WOW! It sounded incredible. It was great! Especially the bass. I thought maybe it was the volume, but it’s not. It just didn’t sound as deep and full through the speakers. This was OK with me, because one of the things I wanted the most was to be able to play with headphones on and not bother my husband with months of learning another Mozart Piano Sonata. When you plug in the headphones, it automatically turns the speakers off. But there is a setting to have the sound come through both the headphones and the speakers. Stu’s video reminded me of that. It’s called Speaker Auto Mute. I turned that from on to off. It’s one of the last functions you get to when turning the knob after pressing the settings button. With it set to off the sound through the speakers was great! Just like when using the headphones. So it wasn’t the fault of the speakers. But I have to keep the headphones plugged in to get the deep full sound through the speakers. If I unplug the headphones, it reverts to the just OK, but not great sound. This is all a mystery to me. If anyone has an explanation, I’d love to hear it. The sustain pedal was too hard to press. Sometimes I just played without using it at all. It’s getting better now. Maybe it’s getting looser or maybe my foot is getting stronger. I don’t know. You can change every little thing on the piano using the apps Piano Everyday and Piano Designer, but not the foot pedal. With those apps I changed the Ambience, Brilliance and Key Touch, but I couldn’t tell any difference with the other settings. These are terrible apps, and have the lowest ratings I’ve ever seen on any app, with a majority of 1 star. I’m sure people would give them no stars if they could. Even if you manage to get them paired with Bluetooth, they can crash, and you may not get them to pair again. When it comes to changing the settings they make a big deal saying don’t worry you can always go back to the factory settings. But there is there’s no guarantee that you will get them paired again. They are terminating the Piano Everyday App and replacing it with the Roland Piano App. I downloaded that and was impressed when it found my piano even though I didn’t do anything like turning on the Bluetooth. But it soon crashed. The Casio and Yamaha apps may be slightly better, but they still have pretty low ratings.
Hi there! Thanks so much for tuning in and sharing your insights about the RP701! It is quite interesting that the tone of the piano is changing when the headphones are plugged in. I have not personally experimented with this trick that you discuss in your comment, but, in any case, I am struggling to come up with a logical explanation as to why that might be happening. The only thing I can think of is that, if you have the headphones sitting close by when playing with this configuration, it is possible that some of the residual bleed from the speakers of the headphones are blending with the sound coming out the piano's speakers. I know you mentioned that the Bose headphones had wonderful bass. So, perhaps, even that little sonic bleed out the headphone's speakers is enhancing or adding to specific frequency bands that the RP701's built-in speakers are not prominently pushing out. Thanks again and all the best! :)
@@MerriamPianos Hi Stu. You are not going to believe this, but I challenge you to try it. It is not my husband's Bose headphones. There are 2 ways to get incredible sound from this Roland Piano. One way is to set Speaker Auto Mute to OFF and plug any wire into the headphone jack. Plug an adapter in with NO headphone. Plug any wire in without headphones attached. Play the bass notes. Aren't they great! What a rich full sound! It's wonderful. It's just coming through the speakers. Next pull the plug out of the headphone jack. Play the same thing. Not as good is it. If this doesn't work on the RP701 you have then my piano must be very different. I am using the Grand Concert Piano sound. The second way to get the great sound is to set Speaker Auto Mute to ON, which is the default, and listen with the Bose headphones plugged in and turned on. I would love to know what you find.
Just a guess here - but the piano has "3D Audio" turned on when running through headphones. I am wondering if you are finding a way to turn on this 3D Audio system and then forcing it through the two built-in speakers. This makes the sound coming out of the speakers sound different from the default sound, which you are saying is much more full and deep. I don't have an RP-701 yet, but I would definitely like to test this out when I get one. Again, this is just an idea, but my guess is that the Roland Piano is mixing the sound differently when it thinks it is going to be in headphones versus two speakers, and then running it through the speakers keeps those changes.
Thanks soooo much for the detailed review. Many reviews repeat what has been said. You guys took the effort to show the netty griddy of this piano. 10+ year durability, I am gonna buy one for my B'day 🎉
I feel like I'm owing Stu money for expanding my vocab. Sooo well-spoken, awh. I'm decided on my keyboard for weeks now and still keep on watching all his videos😄
Dear Stu, I can’t thank you enough for your comprehensive and detailed reviews. This one helped me to make the choice. Yours sincerely, happy RP701 owner :) Best of luck!!
Really great review, appreciate the line out and internal speaker audio recording. Its a complete and thorough review, and I absolutely love this format of review. The piano sounds amazing and pretty much ticks all the boxes but the action is quite noisy.
Thanks a lot for all those good reviews. Really helps me a lot in making a good buying decision and I also just love to watch them ;-). I wonder whether the Roland RP701 or Kawai CN-201 sound better with headphones on, because I will be practicing with headphones a lot. Thanks for any answers.
You're very welcome! Thanks for taking the time to tune in! Both Roland and Kawai have exceptional headphone systems. So, in my opinion, they are pretty on par in that category. It would ultimately come down to your preference between the core piano tones that each of these pianos offer. :)
I have the RP701 in Mexico, and a Yamaha Grand acoustic piano in the USA. We spend half our time in each place. Each time I go back to my real piano, I cannot believe how good it sounds. Even though I know it will sound better, it's still a surprise. And when I first play the Roland digital piano it sounds a little like a toy, but then I get used to it. I only use the grand piano sound, and I only play Mozart. I'm happy to have it because I can play with headphones and not annoy my husband. He says he is OK with hearing me play, but when I learn something new I'd rather feel free to learn it without anyone listening. There is one thing which is a fatal flaw, and if I had known it would be a problem, I wouldn't have bought this digital piano. It's the sustain pedal. It is very hard to push. I end up not using it at all. I am about 120 lbs and fairly fit, but I guess my foot is not as strong as needed for this. I have no trouble with my Grand piano sustain pedal. You can change every little thing about this digital piano that is electronic, but apparently this mechanical mechanism cannot be changed. If anybody knows how to loosen up this foot pedal, please let me know!!!
Thanks for writing in! Of course, it is very difficult to compete with the magic of an acoustic grand piano, but, as you've addressed, there are some conveniences that come along with a digital piano. Having the option of practicing with headphones is quite appealing, particularly in situations where you are living with someone else. In terms of the sustain pedal, that is a bit surprising to hear. Have you had a technician inspect the instrument? In my experiences, the RP701's pedals aren't overly stiff or difficult to push down.
Thanks, Stu, for your digital piano content! I ordered the RP701 recently after using all your videos for most of my research :) Hope to get it in around 2 weeks! It will be a massive upgrade from my old 60key Yamaha keyboard with non-weighted keys from 2008! It's the only thing I've known since I started learning keyboard when I was a kid.
Top ! If we play with our eyes closed on a rp 701 and a fp 30x, will you hear a big difference in sound quality when the technical sheet is identical? If it is to pay more because there is the price of the furniture, I choose the 30x. Does my reflection make sense? Thank you and sorry, my English is very bad.
I would love to see a video that compares this to the Yamaha YDP164 and the Casio AP470. It would be a get comparison since they are all the same price in USD.
Excellent review Stu. I sure look forward to your reviews. Btw, Stu, I really enjoy your arrangement of Moonlight in Vermont with Stu Mac. Do you by any chance sell your arrangements?
The speakers are similar to the RP501 in that they are ported back into the cabinet (the whole design is sealed, though - it's just routing the sound past the action and into the empty space above it), giving it a nice secondary resonance space for the lower frequencies. It's why a 6 inch speaker in a small ported cabinet doesn't sound as good as the same speaker in a large sealed cabinet. This is exactly how your car speakers work. I find the sound to be acceptable. Which is a hard bar to reach at this price-point. It really can be played as-is without using external speakers.
Waiting for this review. Thank you. Most likely will be ordering it. For the price, it has everything that K and Y have for over $2000. It is going to be an upgrade from my aging Kawai ESX which is over 20 years old.
I'd say it doesn't quite, as Roland is still using their most basic action even in a piano of this price class. The PHA-4 competes very well amongst other entry-level actions, but falls behind what Yamaha and Kawai offer at this level. Particularly Kawai, as you can get the Grand Feel (wooden keys, seesaw action) starting with the CA49. The RP701 does sound very good though. I think Roland has finally really nailed the piano tone in their non-modeling Supernatural engine.
@@Kyuuketsuki02 which proves his point. Rp701 is $1499 and CA49 is $2099. Nothing in this price range can be matched in the roland by the y and k companies
Has anyone tried hooking up their digital piano (via amplifier) to distributed mode loudspeakers? In my mind this seems like a good idea, to get closer to that authentic acoustic sound. Imagine if you had a set of stereo dml's made out of two piano sound boards (just one in mono would be cool too, but more is more).
Thanks, Stu. I would love to see a shootout video between this and Hp702 to see what you really get for the 50% price difference (at least in my country)
Save your money. The real upgrade comes with the 50 series action and that's $2600. The only problem is, that's exactly where the top end competitors are and their high end actions are simply superior. IMO, the RP4 action is ok, but not at the level that I would pay more than $1500 for. So this hits a nice sweet spot where you want an upgrade over the cheap junk and cant afford something that's a professional tool. But if I had $2500-$3000 to spend, I'd probably not be looking at Roland. On the other hand, if I only had $1500, I'd not be looking at Yamaha.
@@classicalear The best actions in the 2-3K range are from Kawai, currently. The 2-3K range is kind of a no-man's land of mediocrity in many ways as it represents far less money for the various manufacturers than their boutique models. For instance, Roland puts the same action in pretty much everything from $700-$3000. Yamaha is slightly better, but you don't get good keys until their higher end piano lines. Korg has a very nice higher end action, but their SV line is a stage piano and expensive, IMO. Kawai has their CA49. It has a very good next level action. But it's really a piano with a few extras added. The CA59 is where the technology isn't stripped down and it sounds and works like a proper digital piano, IME. Better speakers, better cabinet, better interface, and more sounds. This could sit in your living room for a decade and still be a great piano even when it gets old, as the technology is advanced enough to where our poor human ears are going to always think it's "good enough".
@@classicalear The GH3X (Graded Hammer 3 which escapement) action in is is plastic but not dissimilar from the other higher end actions. If you need wood, the NWX ( Natural Wood with...) is the next step up. Whether it has wood on the sides (almost every "wood action", it's just veneer) or fake ivory on the tops isn't as important as the action underneath. In a piano, it is the weight of the hammer that brings the key back up, so inherently, an action that pushes a hammer to a sensor but then the hammer has no backwards force aside from a spring on the return is going to feel a bit odd. Most digital keyboards in the 2K+ range make an attempt at it, with varying degrees of success, since unless you are replicating an actual action, which is $1000+ alone in parts and labor to produce for the manufacturer (before markup), compromises have to be made. IME, the GH3X is similar to the better actions found in the Roland and Kawai upper end models, but it's a $3-4K decision at that point, and you need to just try them. I *do* know that I can't stand the feel if the non X models, though. It just feels fake and plastic to not feel the action having a certain amount of rebound and bounce to it. YMMV, of course. Some people don't miss it at all. The least expensive Yamaha I know of with one of the X type actions is the P-515, which is easy to locate and try out (~1600 market price). Some people think it's a bit heavy, though. The CLP 735 is very similar to the CVP 701 in terms of action, but with less features and toys. So try that out as well if you are on a budget. ruclips.net/video/JqDojhfHU7g/видео.html This is a good review of the other main 3 makes in this price range, but Yamaha and Kawai have a same action with less features entry level option as well if money is tight. ( CA 49, CLP 735 )
Great review. Is the only substantial difference between the RP701 and the F701 the difference in sound resonance due to the dissimilar cabinet designs?
Hi Stu, almost addicted to your reviews. Amazing stuff. Here's a silly question though.. what volume do you generally play the F701 and RP701? Is there a difference between the two? As a pianist, is there a volume that's too low, too loud, just right?
Thank you for this amazing detailed review, I have question and I would appreciate it if you answer it.. Between Yamaha YDP 164 and Roland RP701 which one do you recommend the most?
Researching digital pianos for my wife. We had a Kawai ES100 (I think) before but we left it to our students in Indonesia and are looking for a new one now for our home. This really looks/sounds good for the price. Since it's new, I assume it's future proof for our children for a few years at least?
I bought a new RP701on Amazon Mexico and have it here in a little town in Mexico. There is one thing which is a fatal flaw, and if I had known it would be a problem, I wouldn't have bought this digital piano. It's the sustain pedal. It is very hard to push. The middle pedal is much easier to depress, but I need to use the right pedal. I am about 115 lbs and fairly fit, but I guess my foot is not as strong as needed for this pedal. I have no trouble with my Grand piano sustain pedal in Chicago. I doubt that there are any piano technicians here in this little town. Now I would like to try some lube on the pedal, and can get Aladdin Teflon Lubricant Magic Lube or DuPont Dry Film Anti-Seize Lubricant Aerosol on Amazon Mexico. Would either of those be OK? I also want to know how to get to the pedal mechanism. We assembled the piano ourselves with the help of a RUclips, but now that it is together I don't know what to do to be able to see the mechanism that I need to spray. Can you tell me how to expose the right part? Thanks for any information you can give me.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Congrats on your RP701! They are excellent pianos with a great touch and tone. I would recommend having a Roland-certified digital piano technician inspect the piano and attempt the adjustment; otherwise, you risk voiding the warranty. I have found Roland's post-sale to support to be excellent. I would reach out to Roland directly to see what their recommendation is and what options are available to you.
The action sounds exactly like a typical upright piano if you've ever heard one with the strings muted. It's just that the 90db+ coming out of the thing buries it/there is no headphone option on an acoustic. That said, the return is a far larger factor. Some pianos are noisy, but no real piano will have a loud "thunk" when the key is released. I find it inoffensive compared to most of the others.
Hi there! I don't have much experience with using portable power for digital pianos, so, unfortunately, I can't really comment with any authority on the matter. Perhaps, one of our helpful community members here will be able to chime in with some insights.
Hi Stu. I just bought an RP701 and I’m amazed how bad it sounds. There is no way mine sounds similar to an acoustic grand. Some of the instruments, like the harp do not sound at all like a harp. Is there any way it could be just the unit, something repairable? I can’t even imagine what a pain it will be to get it back in the box to return it. I’m so disappointed. I used the piano designer but it didn’t help very much. It’s digital, there shouldn’t be issues like that. Could it be a lemon? Do you have any tips for me? I bought it from Sweetwater who I’ve dealt with for years. I love your detailed reviews and demos so I’m asking you first.
Hi - Brent from Merriam Music here. I am very sorry to hear that you are not fully-satisfied with your RP701. Unfortunately, without getting to hear the instrument in person, it is difficult to assess whether there is something faulty with the tone engine or speaker system or whether this is a matter of just not liking the tone the instrument produces. My suggestion would be to test out an RP701 floor model at a piano showroom to see if the sound and issues you experience is the same or different. This should help establish what the issue is.
@@MerriamPianos thanks for responding. I feel bad about asking you about the issue since I bought it somewhere else. The only way I could check it out was online. I live in Dyersburg, TN. The nearest music store is 9n Memphis, 75 miles away. That isn’t too great a distance but I don’t have any personal transportation. Not whining, just sayin’. I also noticed the flanging doesn’t do anything and when the display shows two instruments I still only hear the piano. I’m going to call Sweetwater’s help line to see if they can help me. The salesman thinks I’m crazy since he hasn’t had any problems with Roland in over 20 years. This is turning into a nightmare Christmas gift to myself. Maybe we can do a zoom or face time and I can put my iPad so he can hear it. Thanks again, Brent. Wes
Merriam Piano, Do you know whether the cabinet material in the RP-701 is upgraded over the F-701? I ask because they are 20 lbs different in weight, which is not explained by a slightly different cabinet design. For example, the F-107 and RP-107 are similar cabinet designs but weight within 3 lbs of one another. Thanks for any light you can shed on the this significant, 25%, difference in weight.
Hi! Brent here! The materials are the same, but the RP701 is a far larger cabinet, hence the difference in weight. The RP107 and F701 are more streamlined cabinet designs.
Another great review. I don't quite agree about not needing dedicated line outputs, this due to the weakness of the internal speakers. 2x12w isn't much for a home digital piano. It's more what you'd expect from one of the cheaper portable digital pianos. I consider 2x20w the minimum for this category of instrument, and 4 speakers is desirable. The action is a good selling point, and so is the BMC chip but right now, the KDP-120 and YDP-164 are less expensive and would be more up to the task of filling a living room or class room with sound, which is traditionally the job of an upright piano. Update: it sounds like Stu is really whacking those keys. Could this be because he yearns for more power on this instrument? Maybe the 60-70% volume trick isn't enough in this case. Well, it's still a nice sounding piano, and very attractive in the (LA) light oak finish. I would consider recommending this piano to students.
Part of it is definitely aesthetic. The RP701 is very comparable to the F701 musically aside from the cabinet. Some people prefer a digital piano that resembles an acoustic piano as closely as possible, hence the larger cabinet. There may very well be some other considerations and reasons for the larger cabinet in the overall design though.
@@MerriamPianos Yes, I suppose. The extra space can be useful for putting a laptop and other bits. Maybe the larger cavity is part of the speaker cabinet design.
I feel like I'm hearing a metallic timbre to it like some other people say but it sure is a vote in this thing's favor that Stu seems to just want to get lost in it.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Beauty is in the ear of the behold when it comes to tone. Everyone will have different tastes and preferences when it comes to the sound of a piano. With that said, as you can see from Stu's reaction to the RP701, it is certainly a piano that you can get lost in. :)
Even though I am only a casual player, that down-stroke PHA4 key noise is a mood killer. The line out recordings are great but those key bed thumps ruin the speaker recordings.
Is there a huge difference between this and the FP 30x? The only real difference that I see (other than obviously the stand and pedals) is a slightly bigger speaker on this one. Do they sound different?
Same chip. Same speakers. One with plastic cabinet, one with mdf (wood). I also have the older FP30. The RP series definitely sounds better. And I think the keys are a bit heavier too.
Struggled between these two too. Chose the Roland. Great display and interface. Piano Designer can be accessed directly on the interface. Piano Every Day app on Android (CN29's app for IOS only). And I really really love the Jazz Scat. So much fun! 😅
Did anyone ever tried to pair Bluetooth headsets like Air Pods with the piano? Maybe with some kind of adapter? I really don’t understand why a new generation piano doesn’t come with the option of Bluetooth audio output…
Hi there! The issue with Bluetooth headphones is that there is latency between when the key is struck and when the sound is heard. This makes them not a viable option for use with digital pianos. This is the same for digital pianos that are $500 and $20,000. Hopefully, this issue gets resolved in the future and wireless headphones are a more viable option for use with digital pianos. :)
Can someone please compare the sound of RP701 vs FP60X (using internal speakers)? I know they are different types of instruments but I would really like to know :-) Thanks
Hi there! Thanks for the suggestion! We will do our best to tackle that, but, as you mentioned, we generally focus on comparing pianos of the same profile (i.e. portable versus console units). Thanks again and all the best!
@@craigbroadfoot1851Maybe it's going to get better over time, but they are just not there yet, IMO. It's a shame Roland ditched the SuperNATURAL piano sounds in their their top of the line range and replaced them with these half-baked PureAcoustic models.
@@tinfoilhatlover3660 Interesting. I haven't heard it in person, but I've listened to plenty of demos and reviews through audiophile speakers and headphones, including the ones on this YT channel. The European Grand #1 patch is the only one that sounds decent to my ears, but it still comes across as artificial, dull, and somewhat lifeless. I realize there are many layers of complexity that make up the tone and are supposed to make it rich and sophisticated, but I'm often left with the impression that I'm hearing a synthesized instrument as opposed to an acoustic piano. The SuperNATURAL piano sounds cleaner, warmer, and more realistic to me, and with some of those My Stage presets played through the BMC chip (as demonstrated in Stu's review of the FP-60X) it comes pretty close to a nicely EQ'd Steinway.
@@george0t there is no debate as to sampled instrument emulating a nicely recorded piano on a stereo track foing it better then modelling for now. i myself used the garritan cfx plugin for recording as it is hard to beat honestly. But that isnt the point with the lx series. The point is that it is a 3d emulation of a acoustic piano playing experience, and that come very close to a real grand, from haptic feedback, to sympathetic resonance, unlimited polyphony, hearing the sound being divided corectly trough the 8 speaker system is amazibgly satisfying to me. The patch do not sound the same at all as trough headphobe where they sound horrible. The only other digital that does this is the avant grand series and kawai novus.
The strike sounds too bell-like, harsh and tiring to the ear. 600 euros for a box and no line out, compared to the fp30. Hmm. Needs that review against the kawai cn29...
Why can't anyone figure out how to make a keyboard that isn't so obnoxiously clicky and loud? I really thought someone would have solved this problem by now.
Haha I definitely agree with that sentiment! Stu is awesome and we're very fortunate to have his talent and encyclopedia-like knowledge about pianos! :)
I bought the RP701. I was going to say that it sounds better with headphones, than through the speakers. But then I discovered something extraordinary. Stay tuned. I knew a digital piano could not be as good as my acoustic Yamaha grand, which I love, but I needed something for our house in Mexico where we plan to spend half the year. It came via Amazon Mexico in a giant box, and it took us a few hours to assemble it with the help of some RUclipss. That was 3 weeks ago, and I’ve waited to write this review to make sure of what I am telling you. It sounded OK and I made a few changes using Piano Designer. More about that app later. It sounded OK in my cheap headphones. Then I tried my husband’s fancy noise cancelling Bose headphones (Quietcomfort 35 II, series 2). It sounded the same. But then I turned the power on in those headphones and WOW! It sounded incredible. It was great! Especially the bass. I thought maybe it was the volume, but it’s not. It just didn’t sound as deep and full through the speakers. This was OK with me, because one of the things I wanted the most was to be able to play with headphones on and not bother my husband with months of learning another Mozart Piano Sonata. When you plug in the headphones, it automatically turns the speakers off. But there is a setting to have the sound come through both the headphones and the speakers. Stu’s video reminded me of that. It’s called Speaker Auto Mute. I turned that from on to off. It’s one of the last functions you get to when turning the knob after pressing the settings button. With it set to off the sound through the speakers was great! Just like when using the headphones. So it wasn’t the fault of the speakers. But I have to keep the headphones plugged in to get the deep full sound through the speakers. If I unplug the headphones, it reverts to the just OK, but not great sound. This is all a mystery to me. If anyone has an explanation, I’d love to hear it.
The sustain pedal was too hard to press. Sometimes I just played without using it at all. It’s getting better now. Maybe it’s getting looser or maybe my foot is getting stronger. I don’t know. You can change every little thing on the piano using the apps Piano Everyday and Piano Designer, but not the foot pedal. With those apps I changed the Ambience, Brilliance and Key Touch, but I couldn’t tell any difference with the other settings. These are terrible apps, and have the lowest ratings I’ve ever seen on any app, with a majority of 1 star. I’m sure people would give them no stars if they could. Even if you manage to get them paired with Bluetooth, they can crash, and you may not get them to pair again. When it comes to changing the settings they make a big deal saying don’t worry you can always go back to the factory settings. But there is there’s no guarantee that you will get them paired again. They are terminating the Piano Everyday App and replacing it with the Roland Piano App. I downloaded that and was impressed when it found my piano even though I didn’t do anything like turning on the Bluetooth. But it soon crashed. The Casio and Yamaha apps may be slightly better, but they still have pretty low ratings.
Hi there! Thanks so much for tuning in and sharing your insights about the RP701! It is quite interesting that the tone of the piano is changing when the headphones are plugged in. I have not personally experimented with this trick that you discuss in your comment, but, in any case, I am struggling to come up with a logical explanation as to why that might be happening. The only thing I can think of is that, if you have the headphones sitting close by when playing with this configuration, it is possible that some of the residual bleed from the speakers of the headphones are blending with the sound coming out the piano's speakers. I know you mentioned that the Bose headphones had wonderful bass. So, perhaps, even that little sonic bleed out the headphone's speakers is enhancing or adding to specific frequency bands that the RP701's built-in speakers are not prominently pushing out. Thanks again and all the best! :)
@@MerriamPianos Hi Stu. You are not going to believe this, but I challenge you to try it. It is not my husband's Bose headphones. There are 2 ways to get incredible sound from this Roland Piano. One way is to set Speaker Auto Mute to OFF and plug any wire into the headphone jack. Plug an adapter in with NO headphone. Plug any wire in without headphones attached. Play the bass notes. Aren't they great! What a rich full sound! It's wonderful. It's just coming through the speakers. Next pull the plug out of the headphone jack. Play the same thing. Not as good is it. If this doesn't work on the RP701 you have then my piano must be very different. I am using the Grand Concert Piano sound. The second way to get the great sound is to set Speaker Auto Mute to ON, which is the default, and listen with the Bose headphones plugged in and turned on. I would love to know what you find.
Just a guess here - but the piano has "3D Audio" turned on when running through headphones. I am wondering if you are finding a way to turn on this 3D Audio system and then forcing it through the two built-in speakers. This makes the sound coming out of the speakers sound different from the default sound, which you are saying is much more full and deep. I don't have an RP-701 yet, but I would definitely like to test this out when I get one. Again, this is just an idea, but my guess is that the Roland Piano is mixing the sound differently when it thinks it is going to be in headphones versus two speakers, and then running it through the speakers keeps those changes.
@@irishboyjason Have you tried it with yours? How was it?
This channel seriously has the best reviews.
Thanks soooo much for the detailed review. Many reviews repeat what has been said. You guys took the effort to show the netty griddy of this piano. 10+ year durability, I am gonna buy one for my B'day 🎉
i thought the 10 years+ is only for pianos with pha 50 action.
701 has pha4
Bought this today stu...June is Roland month in South Africa, got a very nice discount as well...This piano is pure levels🔥🔥🔥🔥
I feel like I'm owing Stu money for expanding my vocab. Sooo well-spoken, awh. I'm decided on my keyboard for weeks now and still keep on watching all his videos😄
I saw this piano today and thought it stood out better than some more expensive models. The action and the few sounds are very satisfying.
Been waiting for this review!
Dear Stu, I can’t thank you enough for your comprehensive and detailed reviews. This one helped me to make the choice. Yours sincerely, happy RP701 owner :) Best of luck!!
A hint of emotions in this music and in this review. Superb.
Really great review, appreciate the line out and internal speaker audio recording.
Its a complete and thorough review, and I absolutely love this format of review.
The piano sounds amazing and pretty much ticks all the boxes but the action is quite noisy.
Thanks a lot for all those good reviews. Really helps me a lot in making a good buying decision and I also just love to watch them ;-). I wonder whether the Roland RP701 or Kawai CN-201 sound better with headphones on, because I will be practicing with headphones a lot. Thanks for any answers.
You're very welcome! Thanks for taking the time to tune in! Both Roland and Kawai have exceptional headphone systems. So, in my opinion, they are pretty on par in that category. It would ultimately come down to your preference between the core piano tones that each of these pianos offer. :)
I have the RP701 in Mexico, and a Yamaha Grand acoustic piano in the USA. We spend half our time in each place. Each time I go back to my real piano, I cannot believe how good it sounds. Even though I know it will sound better, it's still a surprise. And when I first play the Roland digital piano it sounds a little like a toy, but then I get used to it. I only use the grand piano sound, and I only play Mozart. I'm happy to have it because I can play with headphones and not annoy my husband. He says he is OK with hearing me play, but when I learn something new I'd rather feel free to learn it without anyone listening. There is one thing which is a fatal flaw, and if I had known it would be a problem, I wouldn't have bought this digital piano. It's the sustain pedal. It is very hard to push. I end up not using it at all. I am about 120 lbs and fairly fit, but I guess my foot is not as strong as needed for this. I have no trouble with my Grand piano sustain pedal. You can change every little thing about this digital piano that is electronic, but apparently this mechanical mechanism cannot be changed. If anybody knows how to loosen up this foot pedal, please let me know!!!
Thanks for writing in! Of course, it is very difficult to compete with the magic of an acoustic grand piano, but, as you've addressed, there are some conveniences that come along with a digital piano. Having the option of practicing with headphones is quite appealing, particularly in situations where you are living with someone else. In terms of the sustain pedal, that is a bit surprising to hear. Have you had a technician inspect the instrument? In my experiences, the RP701's pedals aren't overly stiff or difficult to push down.
Thanks, Stu, for your digital piano content! I ordered the RP701 recently after using all your videos for most of my research :) Hope to get it in around 2 weeks!
It will be a massive upgrade from my old 60key Yamaha keyboard with non-weighted keys from 2008! It's the only thing I've known since I started learning keyboard when I was a kid.
Buying this. Very excited. Great review!
Top ! If we play with our eyes closed on a rp 701 and a fp 30x, will you hear a big difference in sound quality when the technical sheet is identical? If it is to pay more because there is the price of the furniture, I choose the 30x. Does my reflection make sense? Thank you and sorry, my English is very bad.
I would love to see a video that compares this to the Yamaha YDP164 and the Casio AP470. It would be a get comparison since they are all the same price in USD.
I am considering either AP470 or RP701 too....
All 3 would be a great comparison. AP470 vs RP701 vs YDP164. All the exact same price in USD.
@@likelam did you end up deciding? I am in the exact same dilemma
Same here
@@sarafoxy I got the RP701 due to the fact that it has more practical functions, and has better sound modeling technology than AP470.
Just brought it today. Great instrument! Sturdy and well build.
Kids love it.
Would it be good as an intermediate piano player?
Excellent review Stu. I sure look forward to your reviews. Btw, Stu, I really enjoy your arrangement of Moonlight in Vermont with Stu Mac. Do you by any chance sell your arrangements?
The speakers are similar to the RP501 in that they are ported back into the cabinet (the whole design is sealed, though - it's just routing the sound past the action and into the empty space above it), giving it a nice secondary resonance space for the lower frequencies. It's why a 6 inch speaker in a small ported cabinet doesn't sound as good as the same speaker in a large sealed cabinet. This is exactly how your car speakers work.
I find the sound to be acceptable. Which is a hard bar to reach at this price-point. It really can be played as-is without using external speakers.
Amazing review, you are a total master of music, a true artist!
Waiting for this review. Thank you. Most likely will be ordering it. For the price, it has everything that K and Y have for over $2000. It is going to be an upgrade from my aging Kawai ESX which is over 20 years old.
I'd say it doesn't quite, as Roland is still using their most basic action even in a piano of this price class. The PHA-4 competes very well amongst other entry-level actions, but falls behind what Yamaha and Kawai offer at this level. Particularly Kawai, as you can get the Grand Feel (wooden keys, seesaw action) starting with the CA49.
The RP701 does sound very good though. I think Roland has finally really nailed the piano tone in their non-modeling Supernatural engine.
@@Kyuuketsuki02 which proves his point. Rp701 is $1499 and CA49 is $2099. Nothing in this price range can be matched in the roland by the y and k companies
Been waiting for this. Thank you very much. Can you do a comparison between this and Kawai? CN29 perhaps?
Wish I could have bought it from you guys but I'm in the USA. Mine comes tomorrow, thanks guys!
Has anyone tried hooking up their digital piano (via amplifier) to distributed mode loudspeakers? In my mind this seems like a good idea, to get closer to that authentic acoustic sound. Imagine if you had a set of stereo dml's made out of two piano sound boards (just one in mono would be cool too, but more is more).
Thanks, Stu. I would love to see a shootout video between this and Hp702 to see what you really get for the 50% price difference (at least in my country)
Save your money. The real upgrade comes with the 50 series action and that's $2600. The only problem is, that's exactly where the top end competitors are and their high end actions are simply superior. IMO, the RP4 action is ok, but not at the level that I would pay more than $1500 for. So this hits a nice sweet spot where you want an upgrade over the cheap junk and cant afford something that's a professional tool. But if I had $2500-$3000 to spend, I'd probably not be looking at Roland. On the other hand, if I only had $1500, I'd not be looking at Yamaha.
@@plektosgaming who would you be looking at in the 3k range?
@@classicalear The best actions in the 2-3K range are from Kawai, currently. The 2-3K range is kind of a no-man's land of mediocrity in many ways as it represents far less money for the various manufacturers than their boutique models. For instance, Roland puts the same action in pretty much everything from $700-$3000. Yamaha is slightly better, but you don't get good keys until their higher end piano lines. Korg has a very nice higher end action, but their SV line is a stage piano and expensive, IMO.
Kawai has their CA49. It has a very good next level action. But it's really a piano with a few extras added. The CA59 is where the technology isn't stripped down and it sounds and works like a proper digital piano, IME. Better speakers, better cabinet, better interface, and more sounds. This could sit in your living room for a decade and still be a great piano even when it gets old, as the technology is advanced enough to where our poor human ears are going to always think it's "good enough".
@@plektosgaming Thank you! I know it's more expensive, but would love your thoughts on the CVP-701 if you have any!
@@classicalear The GH3X (Graded Hammer 3 which escapement) action in is is plastic but not dissimilar from the other higher end actions. If you need wood, the NWX ( Natural Wood with...) is the next step up.
Whether it has wood on the sides (almost every "wood action", it's just veneer) or fake ivory on the tops isn't as important as the action underneath. In a piano, it is the weight of the hammer that brings the key back up, so inherently, an action that pushes a hammer to a sensor but then the hammer has no backwards force aside from a spring on the return is going to feel a bit odd. Most digital keyboards in the 2K+ range make an attempt at it, with varying degrees of success, since unless you are replicating an actual action, which is $1000+ alone in parts and labor to produce for the manufacturer (before markup), compromises have to be made.
IME, the GH3X is similar to the better actions found in the Roland and Kawai upper end models, but it's a $3-4K decision at that point, and you need to just try them. I *do* know that I can't stand the feel if the non X models, though. It just feels fake and plastic to not feel the action having a certain amount of rebound and bounce to it. YMMV, of course. Some people don't miss it at all.
The least expensive Yamaha I know of with one of the X type actions is the P-515, which is easy to locate and try out (~1600 market price). Some people think it's a bit heavy, though. The CLP 735 is very similar to the CVP 701 in terms of action, but with less features and toys. So try that out as well if you are on a budget.
ruclips.net/video/JqDojhfHU7g/видео.html
This is a good review of the other main 3 makes in this price range, but Yamaha and Kawai have a same action with less features entry level option as well if money is tight. ( CA 49, CLP 735 )
Does FP-30x with its BMC + SuperNatural sound the same? How do they differ on paper and to an ear?
Great review. Is the only substantial difference between the RP701 and the F701 the difference in sound resonance due to the dissimilar cabinet designs?
Yes, besides the cabinet design itself, of course, and the difference in price.
Awesome review, as usual.
Desperately looking for any good review on Yamaha Clavinova CLP-725 as well. It is within the $2000 budget I am willing to spend.
Thank you for another excellent review! Is it possible to get a comparison of the noise of the actions (muted sound) of the HP704 and CN39?
Hi Stu, almost addicted to your reviews. Amazing stuff. Here's a silly question though.. what volume do you generally play the F701 and RP701? Is there a difference between the two? As a pianist, is there a volume that's too low, too loud, just right?
Thank you for this amazing detailed review, I have question and I would appreciate it if you answer it.. Between Yamaha YDP 164 and Roland RP701 which one do you recommend the most?
Ur mom
Thanks for great reviews! Any plan to bring DGX670 in? 😊
Researching digital pianos for my wife. We had a Kawai ES100 (I think) before but we left it to our students in Indonesia and are looking for a new one now for our home. This really looks/sounds good for the price. Since it's new, I assume it's future proof for our children for a few years at least?
Would this model be considerably better than a last gen. Yamaha Arius YDP-163?
Is there any other piano in this price range...Yamaha, Casio, Kawai that you would recommend as equal or better in sound and function?
How do you record direct audio from the piano? I would really appreciate your answer!!😢
The headphone output can double as a line out. ;)
Ahhhhhhhhhh..... finally
I bought a new RP701on Amazon Mexico and have it here in a little town in Mexico. There is one thing which is a fatal flaw, and if I had known it would be a problem, I wouldn't have bought this digital piano. It's the sustain pedal. It is very hard to push. The middle pedal is much easier to depress, but I need to use the right pedal. I am about 115 lbs and fairly fit, but I guess my foot is not as strong as needed for this pedal. I have no trouble with my Grand piano sustain pedal in Chicago. I doubt that there are any piano technicians here in this little town. Now I would like to try some lube on the pedal, and can get Aladdin Teflon Lubricant Magic Lube or DuPont Dry Film Anti-Seize Lubricant Aerosol on Amazon Mexico. Would either of those be OK? I also want to know how to get to the pedal mechanism. We assembled the piano ourselves with the help of a RUclips, but now that it is together I don't know what to do to be able to see the mechanism that I need to spray. Can you tell me how to expose the right part? Thanks for any information you can give me.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Congrats on your RP701! They are excellent pianos with a great touch and tone. I would recommend having a Roland-certified digital piano technician inspect the piano and attempt the adjustment; otherwise, you risk voiding the warranty. I have found Roland's post-sale to support to be excellent. I would reach out to Roland directly to see what their recommendation is and what options are available to you.
Hi Stu, how is this one comparing to the HP704?
Wondering the same ...
wondering the same
@@bryanmeng5349 nobody has able to answer my question regarding my confusion. So I just took an acoustic piano straightaway
Reading the specs won't hurt. Modelling vs Sampling. Different key action. More speakers.
Nailed that action noise.
The action sounds exactly like a typical upright piano if you've ever heard one with the strings muted. It's just that the 90db+ coming out of the thing buries it/there is no headphone option on an acoustic. That said, the return is a far larger factor. Some pianos are noisy, but no real piano will have a loud "thunk" when the key is released. I find it inoffensive compared to most of the others.
Are you planning to compare it with the Yamaha YDP164?
Looking forward to the fp-90x review
Is it have same engine with fp 30x?
(Basically Fp30x with cabinet)
When will you do the Roland FP-90X?
What is the best way to power it outside with a portable power bank? Something fairly small and inexpensive.
Hi there! I don't have much experience with using portable power for digital pianos, so, unfortunately, I can't really comment with any authority on the matter. Perhaps, one of our helpful community members here will be able to chime in with some insights.
Hi Stu.
I just bought an RP701 and I’m amazed how bad it sounds. There is no way mine sounds similar to an acoustic grand. Some of the instruments, like the harp do not sound at all like a harp. Is there any way it could be just the unit, something repairable? I can’t even imagine what a pain it will be to get it back in the box to return it. I’m so disappointed. I used the piano designer but it didn’t help very much. It’s digital, there shouldn’t be issues like that. Could it be a lemon? Do you have any tips for me? I bought it from Sweetwater who I’ve dealt with for years. I love your detailed reviews and demos so I’m asking you first.
Hi - Brent from Merriam Music here. I am very sorry to hear that you are not fully-satisfied with your RP701. Unfortunately, without getting to hear the instrument in person, it is difficult to assess whether there is something faulty with the tone engine or speaker system or whether this is a matter of just not liking the tone the instrument produces. My suggestion would be to test out an RP701 floor model at a piano showroom to see if the sound and issues you experience is the same or different. This should help establish what the issue is.
@@MerriamPianos thanks for responding. I feel bad about asking you about the issue since I bought it somewhere else. The only way I could check it out was online. I live in Dyersburg, TN. The nearest music store is 9n Memphis, 75 miles away. That isn’t too great a distance but I don’t have any personal transportation. Not whining, just sayin’.
I also noticed the flanging doesn’t do anything and when the display shows two instruments I still only hear the piano. I’m going to call Sweetwater’s help line to see if they can help me. The salesman thinks I’m crazy since he hasn’t had any problems with Roland in over 20 years. This is turning into a nightmare Christmas gift to myself. Maybe we can do a zoom or face time and I can put my iPad so he can hear it.
Thanks again, Brent.
Wes
What’s the diff between f701 and rp701? I’m a beginner, trying to build a hobby for retirement. The both look wonderful to me.
Button layout, cabinet design and, apparently, the sound within the cabinet
Merriam Piano,
Do you know whether the cabinet material in the RP-701 is upgraded over the F-701? I ask because they are 20 lbs different in weight, which is not explained by a slightly different cabinet design. For example, the F-107 and RP-107 are similar cabinet designs but weight within 3 lbs of one another. Thanks for any light you can shed on the this significant, 25%, difference in weight.
Hi! Brent here! The materials are the same, but the RP701 is a far larger cabinet, hence the difference in weight. The RP107 and F701 are more streamlined cabinet designs.
@@MerriamPianosHas Stu done a side-by-side comparison between the RP 701 and the RP 107? I would love to hear his thoughts. Thank you
Another great review.
I don't quite agree about not needing dedicated line outputs, this due to the weakness of the internal speakers. 2x12w isn't much for a home digital piano. It's more what you'd expect from one of the cheaper portable digital pianos. I consider 2x20w the minimum for this category of instrument, and 4 speakers is desirable.
The action is a good selling point, and so is the BMC chip but right now, the KDP-120 and YDP-164 are less expensive and would be more up to the task of filling a living room or class room with sound, which is traditionally the job of an upright piano.
Update: it sounds like Stu is really whacking those keys. Could this be because he yearns for more power on this instrument? Maybe the 60-70% volume trick isn't enough in this case.
Well, it's still a nice sounding piano, and very attractive in the (LA) light oak finish. I would consider recommending this piano to students.
Why is it so deep though? They keys seem to pivot very near the fallboard, so I'm guessing inside the cabinet it's mostly empty space?
Part of it is definitely aesthetic. The RP701 is very comparable to the F701 musically aside from the cabinet. Some people prefer a digital piano that resembles an acoustic piano as closely as possible, hence the larger cabinet. There may very well be some other considerations and reasons for the larger cabinet in the overall design though.
@@MerriamPianos Yes, I suppose. The extra space can be useful for putting a laptop and other bits. Maybe the larger cavity is part of the speaker cabinet design.
Can somebody please tell me what the music/song at 08:05 is? 🥹🙏 It's so beautiful...
I would have to check in with Stu as to what piece he is playing there, but I do agree that it is quite beautiful! :)
@@MerriamPianos I'd love to hear the answer! 🌼 Stu's playing is always delightful but this part really is something else 😍
I feel like I'm hearing a metallic timbre to it like some other people say but it sure is a vote in this thing's favor that Stu seems to just want to get lost in it.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Beauty is in the ear of the behold when it comes to tone. Everyone will have different tastes and preferences when it comes to the sound of a piano. With that said, as you can see from Stu's reaction to the RP701, it is certainly a piano that you can get lost in. :)
Even though I am only a casual player, that down-stroke PHA4 key noise is a mood killer. The line out recordings are great but those key bed thumps ruin the speaker recordings.
You can't really hear it when you're playing, and if you're recording you should be using line out anyway.
No complaints from my family. Actually the sound of my fingernails hitting the keys are louder than the down-stroke noise.
@@jodybiztube - perhaps the recording was overly sensitive. Maybe Stu needs nail extensions to compare. 🙂
@@guyjordan8201😅
I play classical guitar too, so I never trim my right fingernails all the way. A bit annoying while playing piano.
Is there a huge difference between this and the FP 30x? The only real difference that I see (other than obviously the stand and pedals) is a slightly bigger speaker on this one. Do they sound different?
Same chip. Same speakers. One with plastic cabinet, one with mdf (wood). I also have the older FP30. The RP series definitely sounds better. And I think the keys are a bit heavier too.
It would be really nice to sea this in a comparison between a Yamaha or Kawai product🎹🎶
Can someone tell me whats the most realistic sound settings for this piano? im going crazy cuz i cant find the best one
Does this model have built in Rhythms in it.?Thanks
Yes, but you need to use the Piano Every Day app. Android/IOS.
Jody Rondonuwu ok..ThankYou
I see the 500 for $usd 1200 at costco. And the 701 is $usd 1500. Is it worth $300 extra for the 701?
Can anyone please give the height of this without the music rest? Can't find that anywhere.
Kawai cn29 or roland rp701?
Struggled between these two too. Chose the Roland. Great display and interface. Piano Designer can be accessed directly on the interface. Piano Every Day app on Android (CN29's app for IOS only). And I really really love the Jazz Scat. So much fun! 😅
Roland RP 701 or Yamaha YDP 164?
I always like to hear if it sounds like a non digital piano.
Only pre order currently
Did anyone ever tried to pair Bluetooth headsets like Air Pods with the piano? Maybe with some kind of adapter? I really don’t understand why a new generation piano doesn’t come with the option of Bluetooth audio output…
Hi there! The issue with Bluetooth headphones is that there is latency between when the key is struck and when the sound is heard. This makes them not a viable option for use with digital pianos. This is the same for digital pianos that are $500 and $20,000. Hopefully, this issue gets resolved in the future and wireless headphones are a more viable option for use with digital pianos. :)
I agree with Scott Pulver
Can someone please compare the sound of RP701 vs FP60X (using internal speakers)? I know they are different types of instruments but I would really like to know :-) Thanks
Hi there! Thanks for the suggestion! We will do our best to tackle that, but, as you mentioned, we generally focus on comparing pianos of the same profile (i.e. portable versus console units). Thanks again and all the best!
Anyone here could tell me which one is better? RP701 or HP704?
About 2000$ difference
SuperNATURAL + BMC > PureAcoustic
Current LX models are a mixed bag of bad (or mediocre) sound and excellent design.
I’m surprised as I love the V Piano and would have thought modelling technology would have moved on by now..
I have a lx708 and trough the speaker system it is a near perfect emulation. Not so much trough the direct output
@@craigbroadfoot1851Maybe it's going to get better over time, but they are just not there yet, IMO. It's a shame Roland ditched the SuperNATURAL piano sounds in their their top of the line range and replaced them with these half-baked PureAcoustic models.
@@tinfoilhatlover3660 Interesting. I haven't heard it in person, but I've listened to plenty of demos and reviews through audiophile speakers and headphones, including the ones on this YT channel. The European Grand #1 patch is the only one that sounds decent to my ears, but it still comes across as artificial, dull, and somewhat lifeless. I realize there are many layers of complexity that make up the tone and are supposed to make it rich and sophisticated, but I'm often left with the impression that I'm hearing a synthesized instrument as opposed to an acoustic piano. The SuperNATURAL piano sounds cleaner, warmer, and more realistic to me, and with some of those My Stage presets played through the BMC chip (as demonstrated in Stu's review of the FP-60X) it comes pretty close to a nicely EQ'd Steinway.
@@george0t there is no debate as to sampled instrument emulating a nicely recorded piano on a stereo track foing it better then modelling for now. i myself used the garritan cfx plugin for recording as it is hard to beat honestly.
But that isnt the point with the lx series.
The point is that it is a 3d emulation of a acoustic piano playing experience, and that come very close to a real grand, from haptic feedback, to sympathetic resonance, unlimited polyphony, hearing the sound being divided corectly trough the 8 speaker system is amazibgly satisfying to me. The patch do not sound the same at all as trough headphobe where they sound horrible.
The only other digital that does this is the avant grand series and kawai novus.
The strike sounds too bell-like, harsh and tiring to the ear. 600 euros for a box and no line out, compared to the fp30. Hmm. Needs that review against the kawai cn29...
why does the pianosound in this video sound worse than in this video?
m.ruclips.net/video/sEp468NNTO0/видео.html
Why can't anyone figure out how to make a keyboard that isn't so obnoxiously clicky and loud? I really thought someone would have solved this problem by now.
Shame its so deep, no need in this day and age! Shame they assume everyone uses apps!
Tin sound.
The 701 didn't sound very good at all to my ears...
"Prof" Stu.... definately.....
Haha I definitely agree with that sentiment! Stu is awesome and we're very fortunate to have his talent and encyclopedia-like knowledge about pianos! :)
The more I listen to it the more it sounds too metallic. Totally do not like the sound of it.