Stu, thank you for this review. Also, thank you so much for your incredible series of intelligent and thoughtful videos through the years. I really enjoy watching them all, even though I am fully invested in my 1988 Roland Piano 3000s (using PianoTec 8) and my fabulous new Roland FP 30x!
Hi! Brent here! Thank you for tuning in and supporting the channel! We appreciate the kind words and support. Congrats on your new FP30X too! It is a wonderful piano with an amazing touch and tone. :)
Thank you for this great review! I've tried both the FP60x and the FP90x side by side in a store, and I happen to like the standard piano sound of the sampling engine in the FP60x more than the standard piano sound of the modelling engine in the FP90x, see also your Roland Tone Engine Comparison video ...
You're very welcome! You are certainly not the first to say that. Musical preference does not always come down to which instrument is more costly. Tone and touch preferences are deeply personal and there are a lot of factors at play. :)
I thought about FP-30X precisely a year ago, but there was a great promo for FP-60X and thanks to your videos I chosen it and I’m sooo happy. It’s a way better controlled with all these buttons and a display and (as far as I remember) it has 3 separate jacks for pedals (contrary to FP-30X). Plugged to a Mac with a simple printer-usb cable 😂 this piano is an unbelievably powerful instrument. Outstanding. And beautifully designed. 🤗 I can’t imagine are there any more functions that could be added … (maybe modulation wheel, but it’s a piano!). Hmmm, there is one function I miss: old FP-60 could turn pages with middle pedal and they removed this 😢 I can’t find it.
That is amazing to hear! Congrats on your FP60X! If budget permits, it is a meaningful step up from the already incredible FP30X! It is quite feature rich and provides an excellent sonic experience. Thanks again! :)
One more thing: I love 45 registration slots (32 are predefined by Roland, but can be changed) - thanks to huge possibilities of programming the sound (with Piano Designer or Ambience modes) you can save your favourite settings in piano’s memory, fantastic.
I’m considering this but I’m wondering when you will review the Yamaha P-525 so I can finally make my decision. As always, thank you for the awesome reviews!!!
Same! Also hesitating between the FP60X and P525 now. I played both, and the binaural sampling of the yamaha is just amazing. Also the action is way better than the P515. However, give the fact that (in europe) the P525 is 90% (!) more expensive than the FP60X and the P525, to me, isn't really as innovative and multifunctional for it's price bracket, I'd go for the FP60X. @@MerriamPianos Interested to hear your take! And as always, great review!!
I'd never considered this. Compared to my FP10 and the FP30X I like the graphic equaliser and, most important, a REAL volume control! Plus registrations/presets are nice to have too, as well as the upward facing speaker. All for (South Africa) around CAD500 more!
There are definitely some nice little premium features on the FP60X! Furthermore, the upward facing speakers really provide a wonderful sonic experience. :)
It's nice to see the FP-60X again. Functionally and weight wise the FP-60X is similar to the deleted Yamaha P-255, except it is a bit more up to date. Yamaha shot itself in the foot by killing its own best (plastic action) portable DP instead of updating it. I still play my P-255 every single day, and love it. Seems to me that the current alternatives to the FP-60X are the Kawai ES920 and Roland's own RD-88.
For sure! There are definitely some parallels between all of these models. The FP60X still holds up as a wonderful piano with a plethora of premium features for a player that is seeking more than just a stripped-down, streamlined model. :)
I am an absolute 'first step beginner' at tackling playing the piano (I've got an ancient Yamaha 'play-toy' PSR that I've been poking at). But boy, HOWDY...if I could afford it...this looks like the unit I would LOVE to upgrade to. I really would like to upgrade to something that I figure I would NEVER out-grow...and this looks like the one. {Somehow, I doubt that Santa is going to be leaving one of these under my Christmas tree....} I really like the fact that so much of it's offerings are accessible right there at fingure's touch, rather than having to rely on an app (on another piece of equipment I would have to buy, like a tablet that I don't have) like the FP30X.
The FP60X is certainly quite the powerhouse! For players seeking a feature-rich instrument with everything onboard and easily accessible, it is a very attractive option. My fingers will be crossed for you that Santa will leave one of these underneath your Christmas tree this holiday season. ;)
As great as any review can sound, and it's good to collect some educated opinions and get to know them beforehand, don't neglect trying the instrument in person, if at all possible. I had my choice too (a popular instrument), but ended up buying something very different after visiting some stores and trying.
Definitely agree, the FP60X is the lost prophet or the forgotten one. I have both the FP10 and FP60X. I chose the FP60X over the FP90X because I prefer the supernatural pianos to the modelled piano (I already have the Modart Pianoteq plugin in any case). The built-in speakers on the FP60X are indeed excellent, especially compared to the FP10 or 30X. For me though just having the user interface, registration memories, sliders to adjust things on the fly, quick access to sounds... fabulous machine. My only disapointment is the lack of conventional 5 pin MIDI din sockets and the ability to layer sounds both sides of a split. It would also be nice to have a bit more editing of sounds, particularly reverb and filtering. The ambience feature is ok, but too rigid and really only works with solo pianos.
For sure! The FP60X is quite the powerhouse and, especially recently with the addition of the FP-E50, gets lost in the shuffle a bit. It is certainly worth consideration though for customers seeking an enhanced sonic experience and an impressive feature offering. :)
Yes, that's a shame about the reverb. The other features are brilliant for a portable piano. It would be unusual to have more than two parts (for splits and simultaneous layers) on a portable piano. The RD-88 has 3 parts, but it's a stage piano, so more techie. I think it's great that you get upper & lower sliders and a mic slider on the FP-60X. That makes a huge difference on gigs unless you're playing piano the whole time. Some separate EQ/reverb controls for the mic would have been good, even if only in a menu. Here in Europe the FP-60X is very competitively priced.
@@SamStormsKBD Workstations are overly complicated if all you want is to relax and enjoy piano, not to mention expensive when you get into hammer action keyboards. Workstations don't come with built-in speakers, they usually take a while to boot-up and somehow you miss the simplicity and immediacy of a digital piano. Depends what you want it for, if you want to create multi-track compositions, synthesise new sounds and have thousands of voices, touch screens and use studio monitors, then yep a workstation might be the answer. I have a digital workstation, actually I've had a few including Korg Kronos, Yamaha Montage, Yamaha Motif XF, Yamaha Genos, Yamaha MODX.... but there's something about having a digital piano where all the distractions melt away but there's just enough to embelish your piano performance. 😊
We have had quite a few requests to cover this model, which we certainly intend on doing. However, we do have several other videos in the queue right now, so there is no set date to tackle the P525 at this time. Stay tuned though! :)
@@MerriamPianosAwesome, can't wait. I've been looking at your other videos on the p515 and roland fp's and was leaning toward the fp60/90 until i looked into the p525 which seems to address some of the static/dynamic key resistance concerns you had talked about in your p515 video
@@Kazzerra578 I couldn't try the P-525 yet, but there are other instruments with the same action (CLP-745...) and I think it feels great. Great choice for a lighter action. Personally I think the NWX on the P-515 feels superb too, even if it is much different.
@@lumpichuOne thing I learned when researching pianos is, there's always a feature/quirk that someone likes and another person dislikes and you just have to find the one that works best for you. Unless you're in a similar situation as me and this is your first 88 key weighted piano and you don't know what you like and none of the stores have what you're looking for. Thankfully we have channels like this one to help.
They are quite good in my experiences! Of course, they are not as extensive as standalone vocal processors, but, given that these effects are built-in to a piano, they are quite impressive.
The FP60X holds up as an incredible piano! When it comes to using VST plug-ins, there are many factors that can cause latency, including the CPU processing power of your machine. With that said, the FP60X's sensor system and MIDI tracking is exceptionally fast and accurate in my experiences. :)
Looking for some advice or direction. I'm a beginner piano player in my mid 30's, so likely never going to be very good. I bought a Yamaha P-125 when I first started two years ago. I was looking to upgrade mostly for better key action and overall better build quality. My ear is likely not good enough to notice subtle differences in the sound profile. I play with headphones on 95% of the time. My price range is $1,000 to 1,600, would something in this range be a noticeable upgrade, especially for someone who isn't good. I was looking at the FP60X and the new Yamaha 525 (previously 515), but would be open to any suggestions. Also, portability and weight are not a problem. I wouldn't be bringing it anywhere. Thanks for any suggestions.
Hi there! Thanks for your question! Firstly, I wouldn't write yourself off by any means. Players of any age can learn/practice and become a fantastic pianist. It all comes down to the amount of work and effort that is put into practicing of course. :) If you are using headphones 95% of the time, the FP30X might be an option worth exploring if you are considering the FP60X. The FP30X and FP60X have the same action (PHA4) and tone engine (SuperNATURAL). The main difference is the speaker system. The FP60X has a higher power, top facing speaker array. If you're using headphones primarily, you won't be accessing that particular feature that often. To that point, I would recommend prioritizing the action when selecting a digital piano. Beyond the FP60X, you may want to explore a model like the Kawai ES920. It has an excellent action and piano sound and isn't too much more expensive than the FP60X. Thanks and hope this helps! :)
I love my FP60x. My only issue with it is for the registrations I would love to save the exact ambiance (reverb) settings to each different registration, but it doesn’t seem to allow this. Whichever ambiance I choose at any given time, will apply to all registrations. If I want to switch registrations at a gig on the fly, I have to manually change the reverb settings each time. My other question is, do all the piano designer settings apply to all piano voices/registrations at all times? Or only the concert grand piano voice? Thanks a lot Stu for the great videos!
Hi! Brent here! Congrats on your FP60X! We're glad to hear that you are still enjoying it! There are of course some things this incredible piano can't do as you've pointed out, but they are small obstacles in most cases and outweighed by the immense feature offering of the unit. While I am not in front of the FP60X at the moment, I believe the piano designer settings are unique to the piano voice you are on, but I cannot confirm that at present. I'm going from memory. :)
1. You might be right that ambience is not saved, I made a mistake. 2. Info from the manual: «The Piano Designer function can be used to personalize the sound only with “PureAcoustic Piano sound engine” tones on the FP-90X, and only with “SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine” tones on the FP-60X. The settings are saved for each tone.» There are 4 SuperNATURAL tones in FP-60X: 1. Concert Piano, 2. Ballad Piano, 3. Mellow Piano, 4. Bright Piano.
Great review as always! I decided to order a 60x and it just arrived. For some reason the front of the frame on mine is almost an ivory color, while the entire rest of the frame is white. Is this supposed to be like this? The one you're playing looks completely white, as do all of the ones I see in pictures. Trying to see if the one I ordered has an issue. Any help is appreciated! I can't get in contact with Roland
Thank you kindly and congrats on your Roland FP60X! It is a wonderful piano and I am confident that you will be very thrilled with everything it has to offer. :) Our floor units are all pure white, so I'm not too sure why the colour is different on yours. It may be best to connect with the dealer you purchased the instrument from. They should be able to help troubleshoot.
@@MerriamPianos thank you very much! I hope one day to be able to play as beautifully as Stu. And thank you very much for confirming my suspicions. That's very helpful! I wanted to buy it through you guys, but being in the US I assumed shipping and customs would be quite expensive. Next piano I'll definitely head up to you guys!
It would be nice if Stu could review or at least comment on new FP-10 ACR (polyphony 128 and slightly different sounds). It is part of FRP-2-ACR bundle. Michael
Hi Michael! The FRP2-ACR bundle is a Costco exclusive. With that said, it may be a bit tricky to cover it in a review. Thank you for the suggestion though! I will pass it on and, perhaps, Stu will have an opportunity to cover it in a pertinent upcoming video. :)
On the Roland official website it says that FP 60X has a 100 velocity sensitivity opposed to only 5 in fp30x. Is that really so? Can you really feel/hear the difference?
Hi there! Thanks for the question! This refers to the adjustable touch sensitivity. The FP60X does allow you to get a bit more refined in terms of the touch/feel. :)
@@MerriamPianos does it mean that you have more dynamic velocities in between piano pianissimo to forte fortissimo? How exactly does it work? In a regular midi key board or digital piano you have 3 to 5 dynamic velocities of a key. But here it states - Touch sensitivity: key touch - 100 types. I'm just simply trying to understand what that means and figure out wether this particular instrument is right for me. Cuz if this one really has 100 dynamic velocities of a key, it's closer to piano feel and expression possibilities as opposed to 5 dynamic velocities in Fp30x. This feature alone can be a selling point). Thank for you videos and time. Cheers 😉
Hi! Brent here! It really depends on context of use. If you're going to be using the piano primarily for piano practice, the FP60X would be the best bet as it has a richer sonic experience. If you need additional features and built-in sounds for production/performance, the RD08 would be the ideal choice. :)
I have watched so many of these videos trying to pick something. I am down to fp-60x, RP701, CN29, kdp75 or the fp-e50 and I am stuck this is a replacement for my 11 year old that's been playing 6 years on casio px-120. Any suggestions to narrow it down?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! While these are all excellent options, many of them are in different categories. For me, the CN29 would be the best piano-centric option. In addition to having a wonderful touch, the CN29 has the most authentic piano sound from this list (in my opinion). In terms of the best piano experience in a portable option (if portability is an important factor), the FP60X would be my top pick. However, if you are looking for an instrument with a very solid piano experience and richest selection of features, the FP-E50 is a heckuva lotta fun. At the end of the day, I think it would be important to narrow things down to the type of piano you are seeking. Thanks and hope this helps! :)
If you are seeking the highest quality action that Roland offers in a portable format, the FP90X is certainly worth considering. With that said, there is a big difference in the type of tone engine. The FP90X's engine is a full modelling engine, which yields a different sound. My recommendation would be to test it out in person if possible to determine whether you resonate with the tone and touch of the FP90X model. :)
Ciao Brent/Stu, è un pianoforte digitale evoluto con un ottima tastiera e molte caratteristiche che lo rendono ottimale anche per un uso live. Qui in Italia viene venduto a circa 1000,00 eur 400,00 eur in più rispetto a fp30x. Considerando il prezzo dell'fp30x, l'utilizzo di una scheda audio esterna e un paio di monitor si andrebbe a spendere molto di più del prezzo del FP60x che rimane pertanto un ottima scelta tutto compreso. Sul mercato a questo livello di prezzo e con queste caratteristiche non ha concorrenti. Il Kawai es520 pur essendo ottimo non raggiunge l'espandibilità di Roland FP 60X. Dipende sempre da quello che uno vuole. Ciao dall'Italia e al prossimo video.
Hi Roberto! Thanks so much for tuning in and sharing your thoughts as always! We appreciate it. :) You are absolutely correct! The FP60X sits in a price/offering gap quite nicely. There really aren't any direct competitors, particularly in terms of functionality at this price point. It holds up as a wonderful digital piano with a premium feature array.
You say the new Bmc modeling chip and the you say it's sampling not modeling, which is confusing. I was under the impression that ghe fp60 uses modeling. So which is it? Ghank u
The FP60X is a sample-based engine at its core (SuperNATURAL Piano). With that said, virtually all sample-based engines these days use some "modelling" technology to enhance the samples and allow for customization of the sound.
Please do a comparison of the Roland FPX60 and the Kawai ES120. I saw the comparison of ES120 to the FPx30, but there's a big price difference, the FPX30 is a lot cheaper. On Amazon, for example, the FPX30 is $699, the ES120 is $949, and the FPX60 is $999. For the same price, the comparison for a buyer is between the ES120 and the FPX60.
Hi! Thanks for the suggestion! We will do our best to tackle that. With that said, here in Canada, the ES120 and FP30X are right in line with each other in terms of price. Similarly, the ES520 and FP60X are quite comparable in terms of price as well.
I have been watching so many review/advice videos on digital pianos from a lot of different people--yours are by far the best!!! The online price for an ES520 is $1399 here.
Please be so kind of to ask Tsu if the 90x is as good and preferable for him .. Once he mentioned that there are a few remarkable differences that make him prefer ph4 😮
Brent here! I know Stu is a huge fan of the PHA4 action, but he has also used the Roland RD2000 quite a lot in the past, which has the same PHA50 action as the FP90X. At the end of the day, it is up to the player to make the decision for themselves as everyone has different preferences when it comes to tone and touch. With that said, the FP90X is an absolute powerhouse with a fantastic action in my opinion. :)
@@MerriamPianosI agree. FP-90X is a great piano. It was the best I had and I regret selling it. The only reason that I would not buy it again is its weight (and perhaps all the features and buttons I do not need). Michael
@@mfurmanwhat exact device are you using to weigh the piano keys? I have a Kawai GL10, YamahaP515, CasioGP510 and a Roland FP60X right now and I would like to weigh the keys. Thank you
@@gustavogo2915 Please search the Internet for “Gram Weights Solid Brass - Measuring Key Weight Regulating Touch Piano Keyboard”. These sets are use by piano technicians to regulate acoustic piano actions. I actually use a simple set. Michael
@@gustavogo2915 By the way, weighing the keys and getting one number is far from sufficient for comparison. What you would need at least, is a chart of resistance depending on the position of the key. For example, one action can be lighter after the initial movement, other can remain the same. It just feels and is different. Some special machine would have to be used, probably only the manufacturers in their R&D (if at all) go to such details. But it can be a hint.
When I click the various links, they direct me towards our own Merriam Music webstore, so I'm not sure why they are redirecting towards Amazon on your end.
My measurements show that PHA-4 action needs 61-64 g to move C4. I had a few digital pianos with PHA-4 (tested even more) and it was always above 60g Michael
I just purchased the FP-60x, and unfortunately I don't like it that much. it's a nice piano, but the keys seem to not bounce back quick enough, so it's not really ideal for fast pieces.
Hi there! We're sorry to hear that you are not enjoying the FP60X. The PHA4 is a heavier action, so it does not have as much key bounce/return speed as some lighter actions, such as the RHC action from Kawai's ES120 or ES520 model. With that said, the benefit of a heavier touch is greater dynamic/expressive control. Sometimes, it is also a matter of becoming familiar with a new instrument's feel, which can take a few weeks.
The FP60X is a dumb product in my opinion. Unless there's a huge discount tipping the price really close to the 30X, it makes no sense to pay for the 60X and get the same action as the FP-10/30X 🫤. Even though there're great functionalities, it all falls apart with the most important part of a Piano; actually playing it.
The FP60X is a bit of an in between in terms of the category it falls in. With that said, the sonic experience and feature offering it provides is quite impressive. For players that prioritize built-in sounds/features and speaker power/fidelity, it is still a very compelling option. :)
I just recently got one of these and I absolutely LOVE it!
Congrats! The FP60X is a heckuva feature-rich piano! I know you will be thrilled with what it offers! :)
Thanks Stu! Also it's nice to hear that you gig with some of the gear you review!! 👍
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for tuning in! I'll be happy to pass along the kind words to Stu on your behalf. :)
Stu, thank you for this review. Also, thank you so much for your incredible series of intelligent and thoughtful videos through the years. I really enjoy watching them all, even though I am fully invested in my 1988 Roland Piano 3000s (using PianoTec 8) and my fabulous new Roland FP 30x!
Hi! Brent here! Thank you for tuning in and supporting the channel! We appreciate the kind words and support. Congrats on your new FP30X too! It is a wonderful piano with an amazing touch and tone. :)
Hands down you are the best when it comes to pianos!!!!
Thanks so much! We appreciate those incredibly kind words! :)
Thank you for this great review! I've tried both the FP60x and the FP90x side by side in a store, and I happen to like the standard piano sound of the sampling engine in the FP60x more than the standard piano sound of the modelling engine in the FP90x, see also your Roland Tone Engine Comparison video ...
You're very welcome! You are certainly not the first to say that. Musical preference does not always come down to which instrument is more costly. Tone and touch preferences are deeply personal and there are a lot of factors at play. :)
I got this piano the other day thanks to your videos and it’s really nice 👍
We're really happy to hear that! Congrats on your FP60X! Enjoy! :)
As always, a very great review. I have a Roland VR-09, but l recently bought the Kawai ES-920 which supercedes my expectation.
Thank you kindly! Congrats on your ES920! It is a total powerhouse! :)
I thought about FP-30X precisely a year ago, but there was a great promo for FP-60X and thanks to your videos I chosen it and I’m sooo happy. It’s a way better controlled with all these buttons and a display and (as far as I remember) it has 3 separate jacks for pedals (contrary to FP-30X). Plugged to a Mac with a simple printer-usb cable 😂 this piano is an unbelievably powerful instrument. Outstanding. And beautifully designed. 🤗 I can’t imagine are there any more functions that could be added … (maybe modulation wheel, but it’s a piano!). Hmmm, there is one function I miss: old FP-60 could turn pages with middle pedal and they removed this 😢 I can’t find it.
That is amazing to hear! Congrats on your FP60X! If budget permits, it is a meaningful step up from the already incredible FP30X! It is quite feature rich and provides an excellent sonic experience. Thanks again! :)
What is the app where you get sheet music and can turn the page with a pedal ( with the fp30)? That is awesome thank you!
I just bought this one yesterday after seeing many of your reviews. Thanks! Greetings from Mexico!
Hello from Canada! Congrats on your FP60X! It is a fantastic piano. You'll be very pleased with what it offers musically. :)
Dónde la compraste amigo mexicano?
One more thing: I love 45 registration slots (32 are predefined by Roland, but can be changed) - thanks to huge possibilities of programming the sound (with Piano Designer or Ambience modes) you can save your favourite settings in piano’s memory, fantastic.
Absolutely! It is an incredibly handy feature! :)
You're excellent! Tks & congrats for the video!
Thanks for watching! We appreciate it. :)
I’m considering this but I’m wondering when you will review the Yamaha P-525 so I can finally make my decision. As always, thank you for the awesome reviews!!!
Thanks for the suggestion! We don't have a release date yet for the P525 review, but we will do our best to tackle that in the near future. :)
Same! Also hesitating between the FP60X and P525 now. I played both, and the binaural sampling of the yamaha is just amazing. Also the action is way better than the P515. However, give the fact that (in europe) the P525 is 90% (!) more expensive than the FP60X and the P525, to me, isn't really as innovative and multifunctional for it's price bracket, I'd go for the FP60X. @@MerriamPianos Interested to hear your take! And as always, great review!!
The equivalent to the Yamaha p525 is the Roland fp90x.
@@philipsuykens8987The equivalent to the Yamaha p525 is the Roland fp90x.
I'd never considered this. Compared to my FP10 and the FP30X I like the graphic equaliser and, most important, a REAL volume control! Plus registrations/presets are nice to have too, as well as the upward facing speaker. All for (South Africa) around CAD500 more!
There are definitely some nice little premium features on the FP60X! Furthermore, the upward facing speakers really provide a wonderful sonic experience. :)
It's nice to see the FP-60X again. Functionally and weight wise the FP-60X is similar to the deleted Yamaha P-255, except it is a bit more up to date. Yamaha shot itself in the foot by killing its own best (plastic action) portable DP instead of updating it. I still play my P-255 every single day, and love it.
Seems to me that the current alternatives to the FP-60X are the Kawai ES920 and Roland's own RD-88.
For sure! There are definitely some parallels between all of these models. The FP60X still holds up as a wonderful piano with a plethora of premium features for a player that is seeking more than just a stripped-down, streamlined model. :)
Great, useful and a pleasant video, about the world I hardly know..
Thank you kindly! We're glad you found it helpful. :)
I am an absolute 'first step beginner' at tackling playing the piano (I've got an ancient Yamaha 'play-toy' PSR that I've been poking at). But boy, HOWDY...if I could afford it...this looks like the unit I would LOVE to upgrade to. I really would like to upgrade to something that I figure I would NEVER out-grow...and this looks like the one. {Somehow, I doubt that Santa is going to be leaving one of these under my Christmas tree....} I really like the fact that so much of it's offerings are accessible right there at fingure's touch, rather than having to rely on an app (on another piece of equipment I would have to buy, like a tablet that I don't have) like the FP30X.
The FP60X is certainly quite the powerhouse! For players seeking a feature-rich instrument with everything onboard and easily accessible, it is a very attractive option. My fingers will be crossed for you that Santa will leave one of these underneath your Christmas tree this holiday season. ;)
As great as any review can sound, and it's good to collect some educated opinions and get to know them beforehand, don't neglect trying the instrument in person, if at all possible. I had my choice too (a popular instrument), but ended up buying something very different after visiting some stores and trying.
Thanks to you I have made the best buys ever in my life .. the truth is I like to meet you guys in person to show you my gratitude 💝..
That is quite the compliment and one that we sincerely appreciate! If you're ever in the Greater Toronto Area, please stop by one of our showrooms! :)
@@MerriamPianos I live in a Latin country thank you very much though
Merriam Music channel will always be very inspirational Piaano Players
Thank you so much! We appreciate that immensely. :)
Definitely agree, the FP60X is the lost prophet or the forgotten one. I have both the FP10 and FP60X. I chose the FP60X over the FP90X because I prefer the supernatural pianos to the modelled piano (I already have the Modart Pianoteq plugin in any case). The built-in speakers on the FP60X are indeed excellent, especially compared to the FP10 or 30X. For me though just having the user interface, registration memories, sliders to adjust things on the fly, quick access to sounds... fabulous machine. My only disapointment is the lack of conventional 5 pin MIDI din sockets and the ability to layer sounds both sides of a split. It would also be nice to have a bit more editing of sounds, particularly reverb and filtering. The ambience feature is ok, but too rigid and really only works with solo pianos.
For sure! The FP60X is quite the powerhouse and, especially recently with the addition of the FP-E50, gets lost in the shuffle a bit. It is certainly worth consideration though for customers seeking an enhanced sonic experience and an impressive feature offering. :)
Yes, that's a shame about the reverb. The other features are brilliant for a portable piano. It would be unusual to have more than two parts (for splits and simultaneous layers) on a portable piano. The RD-88 has 3 parts, but it's a stage piano, so more techie. I think it's great that you get upper & lower sliders and a mic slider on the FP-60X. That makes a huge difference on gigs unless you're playing piano the whole time. Some separate EQ/reverb controls for the mic would have been good, even if only in a menu.
Here in Europe the FP-60X is very competitively priced.
But MIDI and advanced layering you'd get on a workstation, not a digital piano. Maybe you should look for those
@@SamStormsKBD Workstations are overly complicated if all you want is to relax and enjoy piano, not to mention expensive when you get into hammer action keyboards. Workstations don't come with built-in speakers, they usually take a while to boot-up and somehow you miss the simplicity and immediacy of a digital piano. Depends what you want it for, if you want to create multi-track compositions, synthesise new sounds and have thousands of voices, touch screens and use studio monitors, then yep a workstation might be the answer. I have a digital workstation, actually I've had a few including Korg Kronos, Yamaha Montage, Yamaha Motif XF, Yamaha Genos, Yamaha MODX.... but there's something about having a digital piano where all the distractions melt away but there's just enough to embelish your piano performance. 😊
@@midinotes Yeah each category has its ups and downs. I want a digital piano purely for piano. For layering and stuff I'll use my DS
Hello friends at merriam, do you know when you guys will get a chance to test out the new yamaha p525?
We have had quite a few requests to cover this model, which we certainly intend on doing. However, we do have several other videos in the queue right now, so there is no set date to tackle the P525 at this time. Stay tuned though! :)
@@MerriamPianosIt is already available in Canada
@@MerriamPianosAwesome, can't wait. I've been looking at your other videos on the p515 and roland fp's and was leaning toward the fp60/90 until i looked into the p525 which seems to address some of the static/dynamic key resistance concerns you had talked about in your p515 video
@@Kazzerra578 I couldn't try the P-525 yet, but there are other instruments with the same action (CLP-745...) and I think it feels great. Great choice for a lighter action. Personally I think the NWX on the P-515 feels superb too, even if it is much different.
@@lumpichuOne thing I learned when researching pianos is, there's always a feature/quirk that someone likes and another person dislikes and you just have to find the one that works best for you. Unless you're in a similar situation as me and this is your first 88 key weighted piano and you don't know what you like and none of the stores have what you're looking for. Thankfully we have channels like this one to help.
I'm interested in the capabilities of the Roland FP60x for playing vocalists. How good are the microphone effects?
They are quite good in my experiences! Of course, they are not as extensive as standalone vocal processors, but, given that these effects are built-in to a piano, they are quite impressive.
Great. Hopefully you can review the Roland GO:KEYS 5 that just came out. Like a 61 key synth version of FP-E50.
Thanks for the suggestion! We will do our best to tackle that review for you. :)
Great sales promotion. It sounds like your really enjoy the instrument. Is there any latency when combined with Pianotgeq?
The FP60X holds up as an incredible piano! When it comes to using VST plug-ins, there are many factors that can cause latency, including the CPU processing power of your machine. With that said, the FP60X's sensor system and MIDI tracking is exceptionally fast and accurate in my experiences. :)
Rockin 💗💢👍👍
Thanks so much!
Looking for some advice or direction. I'm a beginner piano player in my mid 30's, so likely never going to be very good. I bought a Yamaha P-125 when I first started two years ago. I was looking to upgrade mostly for better key action and overall better build quality. My ear is likely not good enough to notice subtle differences in the sound profile. I play with headphones on 95% of the time. My price range is $1,000 to 1,600, would something in this range be a noticeable upgrade, especially for someone who isn't good. I was looking at the FP60X and the new Yamaha 525 (previously 515), but would be open to any suggestions. Also, portability and weight are not a problem. I wouldn't be bringing it anywhere. Thanks for any suggestions.
Hi there! Thanks for your question! Firstly, I wouldn't write yourself off by any means. Players of any age can learn/practice and become a fantastic pianist. It all comes down to the amount of work and effort that is put into practicing of course. :)
If you are using headphones 95% of the time, the FP30X might be an option worth exploring if you are considering the FP60X. The FP30X and FP60X have the same action (PHA4) and tone engine (SuperNATURAL). The main difference is the speaker system. The FP60X has a higher power, top facing speaker array. If you're using headphones primarily, you won't be accessing that particular feature that often. To that point, I would recommend prioritizing the action when selecting a digital piano.
Beyond the FP60X, you may want to explore a model like the Kawai ES920. It has an excellent action and piano sound and isn't too much more expensive than the FP60X. Thanks and hope this helps! :)
I love my FP60x. My only issue with it is for the registrations I would love to save the exact ambiance (reverb) settings to each different registration, but it doesn’t seem to allow this. Whichever ambiance I choose at any given time, will apply to all registrations. If I want to switch registrations at a gig on the fly, I have to manually change the reverb settings each time. My other question is, do all the piano designer settings apply to all piano voices/registrations at all times? Or only the concert grand piano voice? Thanks a lot Stu for the great videos!
Hi! Brent here! Congrats on your FP60X! We're glad to hear that you are still enjoying it! There are of course some things this incredible piano can't do as you've pointed out, but they are small obstacles in most cases and outweighed by the immense feature offering of the unit. While I am not in front of the FP60X at the moment, I believe the piano designer settings are unique to the piano voice you are on, but I cannot confirm that at present. I'm going from memory. :)
1. You might be right that ambience is not saved, I made a mistake.
2. Info from the manual: «The Piano Designer function can be used to personalize the sound only with “PureAcoustic Piano sound engine” tones on the FP-90X, and only with “SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine” tones on the FP-60X. The settings are saved for each tone.» There are 4 SuperNATURAL tones in FP-60X: 1. Concert Piano, 2. Ballad Piano, 3. Mellow Piano, 4. Bright Piano.
I found another info in manual: ”Ambience Type is saved in registrations only for the FP-90X.” 🤓
Can the equalizer be used separately for the mic input?
Hi there! No, I don't believe it has any bearing on the microphone input. It is exclusive to the piano's tone engine.
Great review as always! I decided to order a 60x and it just arrived. For some reason the front of the frame on mine is almost an ivory color, while the entire rest of the frame is white. Is this supposed to be like this? The one you're playing looks completely white, as do all of the ones I see in pictures. Trying to see if the one I ordered has an issue. Any help is appreciated! I can't get in contact with Roland
Thank you kindly and congrats on your Roland FP60X! It is a wonderful piano and I am confident that you will be very thrilled with everything it has to offer. :)
Our floor units are all pure white, so I'm not too sure why the colour is different on yours. It may be best to connect with the dealer you purchased the instrument from. They should be able to help troubleshoot.
@@MerriamPianos thank you very much! I hope one day to be able to play as beautifully as Stu.
And thank you very much for confirming my suspicions. That's very helpful! I wanted to buy it through you guys, but being in the US I assumed shipping and customs would be quite expensive. Next piano I'll definitely head up to you guys!
Hi. Can i load in 60x additional timbres using apps?
You can't import additional instrument sounds onboard the FP60X, but you can use it as a MIDI controller to control VST instruments. :)
@@MerriamPianos In 60x many GM-sounds. They are bad. How many state solid sounds? And in FP-E50 GM sounds have?
It would be nice if Stu could review or at least comment on new FP-10 ACR (polyphony 128 and slightly different sounds).
It is part of FRP-2-ACR bundle.
Michael
Hi Michael! The FRP2-ACR bundle is a Costco exclusive. With that said, it may be a bit tricky to cover it in a review. Thank you for the suggestion though! I will pass it on and, perhaps, Stu will have an opportunity to cover it in a pertinent upcoming video. :)
On the Roland official website it says that FP 60X has a 100 velocity sensitivity opposed to only 5 in fp30x. Is that really so? Can you really feel/hear the difference?
Hi there! Thanks for the question! This refers to the adjustable touch sensitivity. The FP60X does allow you to get a bit more refined in terms of the touch/feel. :)
@@MerriamPianos does it mean that you have more dynamic velocities in between piano pianissimo to forte fortissimo? How exactly does it work? In a regular midi key board or digital piano you have 3 to 5 dynamic velocities of a key. But here it states - Touch sensitivity: key touch - 100 types. I'm just simply trying to understand what that means and figure out wether this particular instrument is right for me. Cuz if this one really has 100 dynamic velocities of a key, it's closer to piano feel and expression possibilities as opposed to 5 dynamic velocities in Fp30x. This feature alone can be a selling point). Thank for you videos and time. Cheers 😉
@merriampianos I’m trying to decide between this one FP60X and the RD08…thoughts??
Hi! Brent here! It really depends on context of use. If you're going to be using the piano primarily for piano practice, the FP60X would be the best bet as it has a richer sonic experience. If you need additional features and built-in sounds for production/performance, the RD08 would be the ideal choice. :)
@@MerriamPianos perfect! It’s really for private home play, practice and enjoyment. Not that it wouldn’t ever be played publicly. Thank you!
You have to use a switch to turn off the speakers to use headphones?!
No, the speakers automatically disengage when headphones are plugged into the headphone output connector.
@@MerriamPianos Whew!
I have watched so many of these videos trying to pick something. I am down to fp-60x, RP701, CN29, kdp75 or the fp-e50 and I am stuck this is a replacement for my 11 year old that's been playing 6 years on casio px-120. Any suggestions to narrow it down?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! While these are all excellent options, many of them are in different categories. For me, the CN29 would be the best piano-centric option. In addition to having a wonderful touch, the CN29 has the most authentic piano sound from this list (in my opinion). In terms of the best piano experience in a portable option (if portability is an important factor), the FP60X would be my top pick. However, if you are looking for an instrument with a very solid piano experience and richest selection of features, the FP-E50 is a heckuva lotta fun. At the end of the day, I think it would be important to narrow things down to the type of piano you are seeking. Thanks and hope this helps! :)
@@MerriamPianos I ended up with a F701, thanks for the videos and help deciding.
Does anyone know if this keyboard has a fender rhodes sound ? Or at least very close to it ? Thx
Hi there! Yes - there are several e. piano sounds on the piano, some of which sound quite close to a Rhodes sound. :)
Is the fp 90 x worth the upgrade
If you are seeking the highest quality action that Roland offers in a portable format, the FP90X is certainly worth considering. With that said, there is a big difference in the type of tone engine. The FP90X's engine is a full modelling engine, which yields a different sound. My recommendation would be to test it out in person if possible to determine whether you resonate with the tone and touch of the FP90X model. :)
Ciao Brent/Stu, è un pianoforte digitale evoluto con un ottima tastiera e molte caratteristiche che lo rendono ottimale anche per un uso live. Qui in Italia viene venduto a circa 1000,00 eur 400,00 eur in più rispetto a fp30x. Considerando il prezzo dell'fp30x, l'utilizzo di una scheda audio esterna e un paio di monitor si andrebbe a spendere molto di più del prezzo del FP60x che rimane pertanto un ottima scelta tutto compreso. Sul mercato a questo livello di prezzo e con queste caratteristiche non ha concorrenti. Il Kawai es520 pur essendo ottimo non raggiunge l'espandibilità di Roland FP 60X. Dipende sempre da quello che uno vuole. Ciao dall'Italia e al prossimo video.
Hi Roberto! Thanks so much for tuning in and sharing your thoughts as always! We appreciate it. :)
You are absolutely correct! The FP60X sits in a price/offering gap quite nicely. There really aren't any direct competitors, particularly in terms of functionality at this price point. It holds up as a wonderful digital piano with a premium feature array.
You say the new Bmc modeling chip and the you say it's sampling not modeling, which is confusing. I was under the impression that ghe fp60 uses modeling. So which is it?
Ghank u
The FP60X is a sample-based engine at its core (SuperNATURAL Piano). With that said, virtually all sample-based engines these days use some "modelling" technology to enhance the samples and allow for customization of the sound.
clarifying that@@MerriamPianos
Please do a comparison of the Roland FPX60 and the Kawai ES120. I saw the comparison of ES120 to the FPx30, but there's a big price difference, the FPX30 is a lot cheaper. On Amazon, for example, the FPX30 is $699, the ES120 is $949, and the FPX60 is $999. For the same price, the comparison for a buyer is between the ES120 and the FPX60.
Hi! Thanks for the suggestion! We will do our best to tackle that. With that said, here in Canada, the ES120 and FP30X are right in line with each other in terms of price. Similarly, the ES520 and FP60X are quite comparable in terms of price as well.
I have been watching so many review/advice videos on digital pianos from a lot of different people--yours are by far the best!!! The online price for an ES520 is $1399 here.
Please be so kind of to ask Tsu if the 90x is as good and preferable for him .. Once he mentioned that there are a few remarkable differences that make him prefer ph4 😮
Brent here! I know Stu is a huge fan of the PHA4 action, but he has also used the Roland RD2000 quite a lot in the past, which has the same PHA50 action as the FP90X. At the end of the day, it is up to the player to make the decision for themselves as everyone has different preferences when it comes to tone and touch. With that said, the FP90X is an absolute powerhouse with a fantastic action in my opinion. :)
@@MerriamPianosI agree. FP-90X is a great piano. It was the best I had and I regret selling it. The only reason that I would not buy it again is its weight (and perhaps all the features and buttons I do not need).
Michael
@@mfurmanwhat exact device are you using to weigh the piano keys? I have a Kawai GL10, YamahaP515, CasioGP510 and a Roland FP60X right now and I would like to weigh the keys. Thank you
@@gustavogo2915 Please search the Internet for “Gram Weights Solid Brass - Measuring Key Weight Regulating Touch Piano Keyboard”. These sets are use by piano technicians to regulate acoustic piano actions.
I actually use a simple set.
Michael
@@gustavogo2915 By the way, weighing the keys and getting one number is far from sufficient for comparison. What you would need at least, is a chart of resistance depending on the position of the key. For example, one action can be lighter after the initial movement, other can remain the same. It just feels and is different. Some special machine would have to be used, probably only the manufacturers in their R&D (if at all) go to such details.
But it can be a hint.
why do you have only amazon affiliate links? Where are the links to your own online shop.
When I click the various links, they direct me towards our own Merriam Music webstore, so I'm not sure why they are redirecting towards Amazon on your end.
@@MerriamPianos The four links I clicked in the description took me to Amazon. Do the links redirect based on the country you're in? I'm in the US...
My measurements show that PHA-4 action needs 61-64 g to move C4.
I had a few digital pianos with PHA-4 (tested even more) and it was always above 60g
Michael
Thanks for sharing that info! We appreciate it. :)
I just purchased the FP-60x, and unfortunately I don't like it that much. it's a nice piano, but the keys seem to not bounce back quick enough, so it's not really ideal for fast pieces.
Hi there! We're sorry to hear that you are not enjoying the FP60X. The PHA4 is a heavier action, so it does not have as much key bounce/return speed as some lighter actions, such as the RHC action from Kawai's ES120 or ES520 model. With that said, the benefit of a heavier touch is greater dynamic/expressive control. Sometimes, it is also a matter of becoming familiar with a new instrument's feel, which can take a few weeks.
The FP60X is a dumb product in my opinion. Unless there's a huge discount tipping the price really close to the 30X, it makes no sense to pay for the 60X and get the same action as the FP-10/30X 🫤. Even though there're great functionalities, it all falls apart with the most important part of a Piano; actually playing it.
The FP60X is a bit of an in between in terms of the category it falls in. With that said, the sonic experience and feature offering it provides is quite impressive. For players that prioritize built-in sounds/features and speaker power/fidelity, it is still a very compelling option. :)
Have you compared the speakers sound directly? It's "only 4W", but the difference in quality is enormous.