@@JitinMisra I compared it to ca 701 and decided to go with Roland. Kawai has a bit more realistic piano sound but the downs are too bassy for me, the headphone output sounds muffled and overall I preferred Roland interface and feel.
I have the LX6 and I hope there is a software update soon as registered saves along with start up saves are lost when the piano powers off under ver 1.05. This was also confirmed by the store on all their LX floor models. How that got past Roland's development testing I'll never know. I'm also having some volume issues with black keys and some weird tone issues on some rapid playthroughs around c4/c5 keys. Sounds amazing but there are some kinks I'm hoping are not hardware issues.
You bring up an extremely important point that is never discussed with these digital pianos. Is there a path to upgrade deficiencies in the firmware? There is not on the Yamaha DGX and it's very disappointing. It does have provisions for saving any modification to a specific voice. However the user interface is very kludgy, cumbersome, and often confusing which is extremely irritating. Additionally the firmware included with the models sent to the UK appears to be better than what was fist sent to the US.
Congrats on your LX6! The new LX models are fantastic and yield an amazing touch and tone. With that said, I'm sorry to hear that you are experiencing some glitches/issues with the system. Roland is usually quite good about finding these bugs and releasing software updates. Fingers crossed the issues you're experiencing are able to be corrected soon!
Wow! the tonal quality of these new digitals is stellar. After bragging about combining the Voice of the DGX wwith Pianoteq Pro, I have now created a completely silent DGX voice and play the Pianoteq New York Steinway combined with the Pianoteq Petrof Mistral at about 50% level. The reason is that the treble section is much more satisfying than when a DGX voice are mixed in. This Roland LX-5 sounds great.
The LX5 is quite impressive on the tonal front! It is a spectacular sounding piano. And that is a very cool and innovative "best of both worlds" solution! Thanks for tuning in and sharing! :)
No worries at all! Thanks for tuning in and congrats on your LX5! They are wonderful pianos and I know you will be thrilled with what it has to offer. :)
@@sharingmattersKawai CA701. I just bought a brand new Kawai GL40 Grand but I might get a KawaiCA901 for some silent practice as I live in a small apartment and the Kawai GL40 Grand is very powerful (too powerful for my apartment). How are you liking your Roland? I have a Roland FP60X as well just in case I want to bring it along
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! I'd have to check in with Stu as to whether there is sheet music for the piece. I am not familiar with that particular piece, but I do agree that it is quite beautiful! :)
Great review. Faster response has been needed and I hope that tec trickles down the product line quickly. Across multiple industries, response time is constantly neglected, but the impact is significant when digital is simulating analog.
Thank you so much! Absolutely! I must say that it really does make a big difference! The overall response and feedback from the sensor system, tone engine, and speaker system is very impressive with these new LX models. :)
Great review! I really like Roland digital pianos. I want to buy a Roland digital piano. The problem is that I am undecided on which to choose between the Roland fp 90x, Roland lx 5, Roland lx 6 or Roland lx 9. The piano will be used to play classical and jazz music. The piano will be used in a small room. Advice is welcome.
Thanks so much! We're glad you enjoyed it. The FP90X versus LX model conversation is a fairly easy one. If you require portability and plan on travelling/gigging with the instrument, the FP90X is the most logical choice. If the piano is going to live in one place in the home, the new LX models offer more musically given the fact that they are more recent models that utilize the most cutting-edge tech from Roland. From there, it really comes down to budget. The higher up the chain you go, the more premium the features are. The LX9 is an absolute powerhouse with a wonderful grand piano-like action, powerful speaker system, and highly-detailed/customizable tone engine.
They are both exceptional pianos. It really comes down to a matter of personal preference. The Kawai CA701 has a warmer tone and an all-wooden key action. The Roland LX5 has a more neutral, balanced voice and a composite plastic/wood key action. In either case, you're getting an amazing musical experience. It really just comes down to which tone and touch combination the player prefers.
I considered CA701 but I picked LX5 because the lows on Kawai are bassy, people complain about the quality issues plus there are hardly any settings. In Roland you dont have that problem. Kawai has amazing action but Roland is close to it. And Roland has an amplification on a headphone output.
I'm looking at purchasing the LX-705 from Lowry's. For a while I thought that they were the same. The start of your review had me super excited. Sigh. I was looking for a review of the 705.
That is exciting to hear! The LX705 is a great value buy right now. You can check out our review of the LX705 here: ruclips.net/video/EBGlzBFaK1Y/видео.html
You're very welcome! I don't know the exact time, but I think it is only a few seconds at most. Going entirely from memory, I would say that it takes roughly 5 seconds or so. :)
Hey Stu, I was just about to finally purchase the LX708 but now wondering if this new series is where I should head. Has the technology improved that much in these new models, that I should go in that direction? Love your videos. Mark
Hi Mark! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in and writing in with your question! The new LX series pianos are fantastic. For me, the most meaningful update has been to the sensor system. The new sensor system's operating rate and ability to capture and render a player's performance nuances are a meaningful improvement from the already impressive LX700 series instruments.
Even though the touch screen / capacitive buttons look cleaner, I prefer physical buttons and knobs. I can see how many other people would prefer the clean look though.
I can certainly understand that! I tend to agree with your sentiment. I love the clean aesthetic of the touchscreen, but I am someone that is used to physical buttons and knobs.
I think it's also something to consider for individuals who are visually impaired or blind. I think capacitive buttons might be a real struggle for them as it's not something that can easily be adjusted or manipulated using touch alone.
You should then consider Nord Grand or something similar. I love the aesthetics of this interface. Much better than Kawai's large touchscreen or Yamaha's panel.
Hi team, i am torn between this one and CA 701, same price in France, which one will you choose ? As a plus, I would like to have styles and accompagnements, seems that LX 5 does not have that on board right ? Guarantee, 5 years Kawai vs 10 years Roland in France. Thanks a lot for your help and your excellent reviews !
Hi! Brent here! While the LX5 is an excellent instrument, I would say that the CA701 is a slight step up in all regards. The LX6 and LX8 models would be more comparable to the CA701 and CA901 models in my opinion. Thanks for tuning in! We're glad you have found our videos helpful! :)
Try it yourself in a store. I travelled a few hours to do it. It is worth it as you spend a lot of money on such gear. I was surprised that I preferred Roland. Despite what I read online.
You're very welcome! It really comes down to a matter of subjectivity. But, with that said, the 8-speaker array of the AP750 is very impressive in my opinion. While the LX5's four-speaker system is quite impressive itself, I would personally give a slight edge to the AP750.
try them yourself, if possible. Advises and internet sounds can be really misleading. Normally I would but Nord Grand but the sound on headphones was poor and the action was so loud I wouldn't be able to play it in a room with a other people.
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Not really 😊 I am actually happy with RD-08 but I am just curious if Roland started to put Digital Audio Interface in its HP and LX digital pianos.
The LX5 has the same PHA50 core action as the FP90X. With that said, the sensor system has been improved with the new generation of the action featured on the LX5.
I don't like the see through/open concept cabinet of the LX-5. I didn't realize that the LX-9 also had a similar concept until I saw the picture on the Roland website. Not quite as visible, I guess. Well done video - as always. Is there a video where you show the difference in recorded sound between the line in and just an open mic?
Thanks for tuning in! We appreciate it. While we sometimes feature both the line-in and onboard speaker sound in videos, we don't have a video on the LX5 that showcases both. With that said, it is tough to properly render the onboard speaker sound given that most microphones will colour the sound in one way or another, not to mention the fact that the room the piano is being played in will also have a sonic impact as well.
Can you compare these to the FP-90x or are they just totally different instruments? I’m not sure how to judge them, ie is the price difference down to the housing, or? I want to buy one of these EP’s but to learn to play at home but so much choice out there.
I got FP-90X a couple of years ago, when it was released. I traded it for another digital piano 10 months later. I think that it is an absolute overkill for anyone who just wants to learn to play piano. PHA50 action was nice but most of FP90X were redundant for me. Michael Ps. These are not Electric Pianos (Rhodes and Wurlitzer are) - these are digital pianos
Opinions vary, but I found the FP-90x to be very inferior to these high end cabnet models which generally sound very nice. The FP-90x leaves you trying to find an actually good voice. Others may disagree, but that's my opinion as a Pianoteq user.
I will certainly pass on the suggestion to our production team, but we generally compare pianos within the same category (i.e. console vs console or portable vs portable). With that said, there is certainly some overlap between the FP90X and LX5. However, the LX5 has the latest-and-greatest technology, which includes an updated tone engine, sensor system, and speaker system. But, it all comes down to context of use. Naturally, the LX5 is not really a "giggable" instrument (unless you're really strong or have a crew of roadies)!
I compared in the store and i can say that they are using PHA50 on both but key feel is not the same. LX 5 has a initial resistance when you press the key that F-90x doesn't have.
It is really a matter of subjectivity. For me, the Roland LX9's action is exceptional, which would give it the edge of over the CLP885. But, it all comes down to personal preferences as both of these pianos offer considerably different tones and actions.
It is a matter of personal preference of course. They're both solid pianos. I would personally give a slight edge to the LX5 due to the action in particular. Roland offers some of the most authentic feeling actions in my opinion. :)
The same. Better action, not-so-glossy keys and way better sound, especially through headphones. I think Yamaha has a large market share through teachers and schools but I would go for Kawai if I haven't purchased LX5.
The GP310 has a slightly heavier action and the default piano sounds are generally a lot brighter sounding than the LX5. With that said, the LX5 has a wonderfully balanced tone and a very rewarding action. It also has escapement, whereas the GP310's action does not.
I tried both on headphones and the Casio GDP-310 was miles behind with a weird action and ugly sound. And it comes from a happy user of a basic Casio CDP-110 which I enjoy playing on.
Hi! Brent here! It really depends on what you are prioritizing. The sensor system in the new LX models is incredible and makes a meaningful difference in the capturing and rendering of performance details. However, the LX706 does have a superior action and speaker system than the LX5. My recommendation would be to test out both pianos in person to discover which musical performance you connect with more. :)
@@MerriamPianos Thanks for aswer, i want to buy it as gift and i am guitar player so my experince at pianos is zero :-) main target should be feeling of playing closet o real piano. Piano will be placed in small room and my girl will play on it mostly at evening .. so on headphones. Thanks one more time
@@sharingmatters LX-706 :-) becasue prize.. i got great discount for it. its was just for 1400 usd as used .. but conditions is great and i have just small scrach on top ,, my wife love it 🙂
Hi there! I responded to your other comments with some suggestions. :) The basic difference is that the FP series instruments are more geared towards piano playing and at-home practice opposed to gigging. However, the FP60X and FP90X have some crossover to a gigging stage piano. The RD instruments are specifically designed for stage use. While they are rich in features, they don't have particularly powerful speakers (or speakers at all in the case of the RD2000). The context of use would ultimately define what the best option would be.
What I noticed while listening and changing the tempo of the youtube speed to 1.5 is that the sound got unnatural and this would mean for me that the sound is somewhat artificial also while playing normally. Other Piano recordings especially acoustic pianos or high end digital pianos don't have that effect while playing 1.5 speed. Could you comment on that?
I think altering the playback speed is going to affect virtually any instrument's voice to make some of its tonal elements and qualities sound unnatural. With that said, tone is a very subjective matter, so every set of ears will have a different opinion as to which digital pianos sound natural or unnatural in the first place. The only comment I can really make about digital piano tones and playback speed adjustment specifically would be that slowing the speed down would probably expose the sustain, decay, and harmonic qualities of a sound more than speeding up the playback speed would.
@@MerriamPianos Of course changing the speed changes the tone quality but the the better the sample quality is the better is the overall sound and amazingly very good samples sound pretty good even with faster speed. Please compare it with some of your excellent videos of top pianos. I had the impression that the piano sound here is somewhat artificial while listening in normal speed. So I compared it with 1.5 speed and it sounded horrible. Please have a listen.
Great vid. I can't really compare because I don't have an LX5 or LX9, however for me I really liked the 1960s Steinway S I tried. I also tried a Mason & Hamlin CC. What a sound. Still would like to try these digital pianos out for my self🎹🎶
I've played several different ones at the big piano store in Denver that has now closed. I can tell you, only the very best most expensive models come close to Pianoteq Pro. From a bang for the buck point of view, Pianoteq or some other virtual piano is probably the way to go.
@@JoeLinux2000 I prefer the real thing because I don't need to turn on a device or have to listen threw headphones to hear a real piano. The action was prity good too. It was soled to someone else. To each their own🎹🎶
Thank you kindly! The new LX models are quite impressive and definitely represent the most cutting-edge digital piano technology on the market. I hope you get a chance to test them out in person! :)
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 But what is the real thing? It wouldn't be fair to compare a digital piano with a high end acoustic piano. The "grand piano" patches on DPs are sales gimmicks in a sense, because digital pianos are purchased mainly for replacing dilapidated family uprights and for transporting to modest gigs and rehearsals. Much more important than having a specifically "grand" patch is having any good quality patch, and also how well the patch is harnessed to the action, the cabinet and the sound system. I still wonder about NV5s which has a Shigeru SK-EX (grand) patch and a genuine Kawai upright action. It seems like a mismatch, but supposedly it works. For general piano practice/creative playing, I'd rather do this on a (not-too-cheap) acoustic piano, but I have limited space and I move home every few years. Also, if I could only own one piano at a time, it would have to be digital anyway, so I could practise at night and take it to gigs.
Looks great , sounds great..... only one problem, I just love the shigeru sound of the kawai too much....but the keys of the ca 701 and 901 , are very light.....
I can certainly understand where you're coming from! It is not too uncommon to fall in love with the touch of one piano and the tone of another. With that said, I would tend to prioritize touch when it comes to digital piano shopping given that it is the invariable element of the instrument's design.
@@MerriamPianos agree! I own the mp11se and didnt find anything else that comes close , for sound an touch.... ofcourse I didnt try every dig.piano but around that price range quite a few.... thanks for your reply!
i just purchased GP9 .. it's beautiful instrument with an incredible audio system and great action. the irony is that of course I will never use it with it's internal sounds, I always play on it just controlling my Garritan CFX vst which is far superior than the roland piano sounds. Though of course it's great.. but still far away from the top VST's
Congrats on your GP9! It is an incredible piano as you've discovered. It has a great touch, tone, and speaker system. I can certainly understand your sentiments regarding high-end VST pianos of course. There are some incredible sample libraries out there with highly-detailed sample sets. :)
Congrats, sounds like one of the best pianos to use as a midi controller. Have you compared the internal speakers of the GP9 vs studio monitors when using VSTs? I wonder how the internal speakers differ and perform comparing the internal sounds of the GP9 and using VSTs. If you have to EQ, if it sounds right, and how different to conventional 2.0 speakers (such as monitors). Cheers
@@segundacuenta726 piano sound requires a lot of bass, so subwoofer is always a must, even large monitors doesn't give a good impression without a subwoofer. GP9 has an excellent sound system designed for piano sound. I don't really feel any major difference in how the GP9 audio system handles it's own sounds vs Garritan or any other high end VST. They all sound great, but the internal sounds are very basic in comparison to what you get while using Garritan of VSL VST's.
@@straizysThanks for replying. Have you heard or tried a 2.1 setup vs the GP9 internal speakers for VSTs? I think I saw a few years ago, the Ravenscroft owner demo the VST with a Focal setup that was 2 speakers and a subwoofer, I think that was like 5000$ (the 2 monitors plus the sub). If you had to throw a number of how good or expensive external speakers would have to be to compete with the GP9 speaker, how much would you say? In any case, the GP9 (or GP6 with external speakers or for those with only headphones use) is probably the best as a Midi controller, short of going to Yamaha Disklavier ENpro grands with their high definition midi and sensors.
@@segundacuenta726 personally I don't think GP9 has speakers which can compete in quality with even 3000$ 2.1 monitor system. But it's authentic in it's own way. If you want pure quality for the money of course best is to get VPC1 and some high end Adam or Genelec system. In my case it's more than that, I run home concert venue , a lot of value of GP9 is also in it's looks.
It isn't a matter of the LX5 being better than the GP510. It is simply a different piano with a different musical experience. The GP510 sounds brighter and has a heavier key stick/action than the LX5. WIth that said, both pianos provide an amazing musical experience that is appropriate for even high-level playing. :)
I may be a little biased, but I find the tone of the Rolands to be so artificial, sounds like an electronic bell, i don't know... Maybe it is just because I know it is not natural, I can't tell...
That is certainly fair. It is a matter of subjectivity and personal preference of course. There are some massive advantages to modelling of course (more accurate tracking of a performer's expressivity/articulations, more customization of piano sounds, no sample looping/more accurate sustain/decay properties), but there are some aspects of high-quality sampling engines that are sonically superior to some ears. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and tuning in! :)
Same here - and I'm a massive Roland fan (keyboards, samplers, synths, got me about 30 ot them), but the piano sounds ring artificial when played solo (they do sound good in a mix though, you've got to admit).
About 30 years ago, one of the theater companies I work with had a Roland digital piano (no idea what model), and it really turned me off to Roland. The action was clunky, and the piano tones were awful! A few years later, we replaced it with a fairly basic, but very nice Kawai digital piano that served us very well for many years. But I have to say, your recent videos showcasing these new Roland pianos have really made me think twice. I just wish we had a Roland dealer closer than four hours away so I could try them out for myself.
I'd say that Digital Pianos technology made huge leaps in advance over the last 5-6 years. A Digital Piano from before that, even if a flagship basically still used the same technology from the 90's... I could be wrong though... But the difference in quality between, for example... A Yamaha P45 and a FP30X is HUGE.
The latest offerings from Roland are exceptional and certainly worth considering! The modelling and sensor technology in the latest LX and GP models in particular are beyond impressive. Thanks so much for tuning in! I hope you have an opportunity to demo these pianos in person as they are quite rewarding to play. :)
The top line Rolands in a case sound very good, and are on par with Pianoteq. They aren't better sounding than Pianoteq, other than being self-contained.
Tonal preference is a very subjective matter of course. Not every player will resonate with the LX5's sound, but it should be said that these new Roland modelling engines are very customizable. Thanks so much for tuning in and sharing your thoughts!
Great piano sounds but... the screen is ridiculously small with horrible utilitarian UI. I'm not saying it needs a huge screen with full color menus and whatnot, but for $4000, I need a better interface
Every player will have different needs and wants of course. There is the option of using the piano in conjunction with the Roland Piano App though, which can make up for the smaller onboard screen.
Excellent playing of improvisations on surprising and tasteful chord progressions. I wonder if you ever practiced Dohnanyi's finger independence exercises. With proper management you could be performing all over the world but then you will have to agree to live like a well to do gypsy ... but a gypsy none the less. It's not for everyone. It is disappointing that Roland chose to use a tiny dot matrix screen when there are considerably less expensive digital pianos that use colorful LED touch screens with excellent resolution.
I will be sure to pass on your kind words to Stu on your behalf! Stu is a very seasoned player with lots of touring experience, so he is certainly no stranger to that lifestyle. ;)
The Roland Screen is upfront, directly in front of your face. The screen is the last thing I would be concerned with. Eventually all the better digitals will be controlled with a tablet.
Thank you for the playing there's always a lesson I learned in this songs
Thank you so much for tuning in! We're glad you enjoyed it! :)
The concert grand is amazingly realistic and so beautiful.
It really is! Roland has generated an impressive piano tone with the new LX5! :)
True. I have just played it in a store. It blew my mind 🎉
@@sharingmattershow does this compare to Kawai ca series ?
@@JitinMisra I compared it to ca 701 and decided to go with Roland. Kawai has a bit more realistic piano sound but the downs are too bassy for me, the headphone output sounds muffled and overall I preferred Roland interface and feel.
Fantastic video again Stu.
Great versatility and tone quality.
I love that Stu never says the same thing about the instruments he reviews! Wonderful 😊
Hi! Brent here! Thank you kindly for tuning in! I'll be happy to pass on your kind words and feedback to Stu! :)
I have the LX6 and I hope there is a software update soon as registered saves along with start up saves are lost when the piano powers off under ver 1.05. This was also confirmed by the store on all their LX floor models. How that got past Roland's development testing I'll never know. I'm also having some volume issues with black keys and some weird tone issues on some rapid playthroughs around c4/c5 keys. Sounds amazing but there are some kinks I'm hoping are not hardware issues.
You bring up an extremely important point that is never discussed with these digital pianos. Is there a path to upgrade deficiencies in the firmware? There is not on the Yamaha DGX and it's very disappointing. It does have provisions for saving any modification to a specific voice. However the user interface is very kludgy, cumbersome, and often confusing which is extremely irritating. Additionally the firmware included with the models sent to the UK appears to be better than what was fist sent to the US.
Congrats on your LX6! The new LX models are fantastic and yield an amazing touch and tone. With that said, I'm sorry to hear that you are experiencing some glitches/issues with the system. Roland is usually quite good about finding these bugs and releasing software updates. Fingers crossed the issues you're experiencing are able to be corrected soon!
Didn't you say you bought the LX-5?
You have a 10-year warranty. Use it :)
Wow! the tonal quality of these new digitals is stellar. After bragging about combining the Voice of the DGX wwith Pianoteq Pro, I have now created a completely silent DGX voice and play the Pianoteq New York Steinway combined with the Pianoteq Petrof Mistral at about 50% level. The reason is that the treble section is much more satisfying than when a DGX voice are mixed in. This Roland LX-5 sounds great.
The LX5 is quite impressive on the tonal front! It is a spectacular sounding piano. And that is a very cool and innovative "best of both worlds" solution! Thanks for tuning in and sharing! :)
How do you connect the piano to Pianoteq? USB to host - iPad - audio interface - headphones/speaker?
I have just purchased this wonderful digital piano. Thank you for the presentation. I would have bought it from you but I live in Poland
No worries at all! Thanks for tuning in and congrats on your LX5! They are wonderful pianos and I know you will be thrilled with what it has to offer. :)
@@MerriamPianos if you were to choose for yourself between LX5, 701 Kawai or Yamaha 745, which would you pick? :)
@@sharingmattersKawai CA701. I just bought a brand new Kawai GL40 Grand but I might get a KawaiCA901 for some silent practice as I live in a small apartment and the Kawai GL40 Grand is very powerful (too powerful for my apartment). How are you liking your Roland? I have a Roland FP60X as well just in case I want to bring it along
In this particular Model, the PHA50 is a good action and also expected to be used in this price range.
Great Overview!
The PHA50 is an excellent action and has been further enhanced in this new model by the updated sensor system, which is extremely impressive! :)
@@MerriamPianos I was so surprised when testing it in a store how quick the response is - milliseconds faster than on any other piano.
Any chance there's sheet music for the piece you played at 2:10 that's available, Stu? :). Such a beautiful piece played on an amazing instrument!
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! I'd have to check in with Stu as to whether there is sheet music for the piece. I am not familiar with that particular piece, but I do agree that it is quite beautiful! :)
Awesome! Thanks Brent!
@@MerriamPianos any chance regarding getting the music sheet? :)
Do you know if roland will update new version of the dp603 ? I would love that new sensor and sound generator in smaller form factor
Hi there! We have not heard any updates on that front from our Roland reps, but you can bet that we'll be keeping you in the loop if we do. :)
I bet a lot of us watch these reviews more for the music playing than the pianos themselves. 😄 Cheers from Brazil.
Thank you so much for tuning in! I certainly understand the sentiment. Stu's playing is quite captivating to say the least! :)
We love the gear :) But still, playing a lot.
I'm just here for Stu's playing
It's always great.
Ditto
Thank you kindly for watching! We appreciate it. :)
Ain't we all.....
Same
Great review. Faster response has been needed and I hope that tec trickles down the product line quickly. Across multiple industries, response time is constantly neglected, but the impact is significant when digital is simulating analog.
Thank you so much! Absolutely! I must say that it really does make a big difference! The overall response and feedback from the sensor system, tone engine, and speaker system is very impressive with these new LX models. :)
I was surprised by how responsive it is leaving other brands behind in this price range.
Great video, thanks Stu.
You're very welcome! Thanks a million! :)
suena muy bien me gusta, yo tengo el roland gp3 , suena diferente pero estoy muy contento .
Congrats on your GP3! The GP3 is a fantastic digital grand with a great touch and tone to match its wonderful aesthetic. :)
Great review! I really like Roland digital pianos. I want to buy a Roland digital piano. The problem is that I am undecided on which to choose between the Roland fp 90x, Roland lx 5, Roland lx 6 or Roland lx 9. The piano will be used to play classical and jazz music. The piano will be used in a small room. Advice is welcome.
Thanks so much! We're glad you enjoyed it. The FP90X versus LX model conversation is a fairly easy one. If you require portability and plan on travelling/gigging with the instrument, the FP90X is the most logical choice. If the piano is going to live in one place in the home, the new LX models offer more musically given the fact that they are more recent models that utilize the most cutting-edge tech from Roland. From there, it really comes down to budget. The higher up the chain you go, the more premium the features are. The LX9 is an absolute powerhouse with a wonderful grand piano-like action, powerful speaker system, and highly-detailed/customizable tone engine.
Thank you for your answer.
This or Kawai CA701? Looking for a light coloured (wife deciding the colour) digital piano and this and Kawai is on my shortlist.
They are both exceptional pianos. It really comes down to a matter of personal preference. The Kawai CA701 has a warmer tone and an all-wooden key action. The Roland LX5 has a more neutral, balanced voice and a composite plastic/wood key action. In either case, you're getting an amazing musical experience. It really just comes down to which tone and touch combination the player prefers.
I considered CA701 but I picked LX5 because the lows on Kawai are bassy, people complain about the quality issues plus there are hardly any settings. In Roland you dont have that problem. Kawai has amazing action but Roland is close to it. And Roland has an amplification on a headphone output.
@@MerriamPianos At the end of the day we are lucky to pick between these two wonderful instruments. Either one is a masterpiece.
I'm looking at purchasing the LX-705 from Lowry's. For a while I thought that they were the same. The start of your review had me super excited. Sigh.
I was looking for a review of the 705.
That is exciting to hear! The LX705 is a great value buy right now. You can check out our review of the LX705 here:
ruclips.net/video/EBGlzBFaK1Y/видео.html
Thanks! Very tempting. Quick question: how long does it take from when you turn on the piano until you can start playing?
You're very welcome! I don't know the exact time, but I think it is only a few seconds at most. Going entirely from memory, I would say that it takes roughly 5 seconds or so. :)
Modeled pianos are very fast compared to sampled pianos.
Hey Stu, I was just about to finally purchase the LX708 but now wondering if this new series is where I should head. Has the technology improved that much in these new models, that I should go in that direction? Love your videos. Mark
Hi Mark! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in and writing in with your question! The new LX series pianos are fantastic. For me, the most meaningful update has been to the sensor system. The new sensor system's operating rate and ability to capture and render a player's performance nuances are a meaningful improvement from the already impressive LX700 series instruments.
Which one have you picked?
Even though the touch screen / capacitive buttons look cleaner, I prefer physical buttons and knobs. I can see how many other people would prefer the clean look though.
I can certainly understand that! I tend to agree with your sentiment. I love the clean aesthetic of the touchscreen, but I am someone that is used to physical buttons and knobs.
I think it's also something to consider for individuals who are visually impaired or blind. I think capacitive buttons might be a real struggle for them as it's not something that can easily be adjusted or manipulated using touch alone.
You should then consider Nord Grand or something similar. I love the aesthetics of this interface. Much better than Kawai's large touchscreen or Yamaha's panel.
Hi Stu,
Have you ever considered releasing an Album ? Or a separate channel just for playing? I'm here just for the music
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Stu has released an album, which you can check out at the following page:
www.stuharrison.com/
Hi team, i am torn between this one and CA 701, same price in France, which one will you choose ? As a plus, I would like to have styles and accompagnements, seems that LX 5 does not have that on board right ? Guarantee, 5 years Kawai vs 10 years Roland in France. Thanks a lot for your help and your excellent reviews !
Hi! Brent here! While the LX5 is an excellent instrument, I would say that the CA701 is a slight step up in all regards. The LX6 and LX8 models would be more comparable to the CA701 and CA901 models in my opinion. Thanks for tuning in! We're glad you have found our videos helpful! :)
Try it yourself in a store. I travelled a few hours to do it. It is worth it as you spend a lot of money on such gear. I was surprised that I preferred Roland. Despite what I read online.
Thanks for the great videos! Which piano would you rate as better, the Roland LX 5 or the Casio AP-750? Especially when it comes to the speakers..
You're very welcome! It really comes down to a matter of subjectivity. But, with that said, the 8-speaker array of the AP750 is very impressive in my opinion. While the LX5's four-speaker system is quite impressive itself, I would personally give a slight edge to the AP750.
Thank you for the answer! This will definitely help me in my decision making.
try them yourself, if possible. Advises and internet sounds can be really misleading. Normally I would but Nord Grand but the sound on headphones was poor and the action was so loud I wouldn't be able to play it in a room with a other people.
I would just like to fully understand if this digital piano has Digital Audio Interface 😊
Michael
You will buy again?🎹🎶
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Not really 😊 I am actually happy with RD-08 but I am just curious if Roland started to put Digital Audio Interface in its HP and LX digital pianos.
Hi there! Yes - the LX5 does have a USB audio interface according to Roland's spec sheets.
@@MerriamPianos Thank you for confirming!
The action is not the same as fp90x and liked more than lx9 because of the initial resistance of the keys that makes me fail less notes.
The LX5 has the same PHA50 core action as the FP90X. With that said, the sensor system has been improved with the new generation of the action featured on the LX5.
It is a bit easier to play it. You are right.
Hi Stu & Crew.
It's a nice spot, it looks like you have some natural light from the window. Have you planned some interviews yet?
Thank you kindly! We appreciate it. :)
We will likely be doing more interview and Q&A style videos in the future. Stay tuned!
I don't like the see through/open concept cabinet of the LX-5. I didn't realize that the LX-9 also had a similar concept until I saw the picture on the Roland website. Not quite as visible, I guess. Well done video - as always. Is there a video where you show the difference in recorded sound between the line in and just an open mic?
I just saw it. Strange that the designer would leave a big gap like that.
Thanks for tuning in! We appreciate it. While we sometimes feature both the line-in and onboard speaker sound in videos, we don't have a video on the LX5 that showcases both. With that said, it is tough to properly render the onboard speaker sound given that most microphones will colour the sound in one way or another, not to mention the fact that the room the piano is being played in will also have a sonic impact as well.
Can you compare these to the FP-90x or are they just totally different instruments?
I’m not sure how to judge them, ie is the price difference down to the housing, or?
I want to buy one of these EP’s but to learn to play at home but so much choice out there.
I got FP-90X a couple of years ago, when it was released. I traded it for another digital piano 10 months later. I think that it is an absolute overkill for anyone who just wants to learn to play piano. PHA50 action was nice but most of FP90X were redundant for me.
Michael
Ps. These are not Electric Pianos (Rhodes and Wurlitzer are) - these are digital pianos
Opinions vary, but I found the FP-90x to be very inferior to these high end cabnet models which generally sound very nice. The FP-90x leaves you trying to find an actually good voice. Others may disagree, but that's my opinion as a Pianoteq user.
This is definitely going to sound a lot better than the 90x
I will certainly pass on the suggestion to our production team, but we generally compare pianos within the same category (i.e. console vs console or portable vs portable). With that said, there is certainly some overlap between the FP90X and LX5. However, the LX5 has the latest-and-greatest technology, which includes an updated tone engine, sensor system, and speaker system. But, it all comes down to context of use. Naturally, the LX5 is not really a "giggable" instrument (unless you're really strong or have a crew of roadies)!
I compared in the store and i can say that they are using PHA50 on both but key feel is not the same. LX 5 has a initial resistance when you press the key that F-90x doesn't have.
Is the lx-9 better than Yamaha Clp 885?
It is really a matter of subjectivity. For me, the Roland LX9's action is exceptional, which would give it the edge of over the CLP885. But, it all comes down to personal preferences as both of these pianos offer considerably different tones and actions.
I dont like Yamahas muffled sounds… I picked Roland
Thanks!!!
You're very welcome!
I was going to buy Yamaha Clavinova 745 but found this. Do you thing it is better than the Yamaha?
It is a matter of personal preference of course. They're both solid pianos. I would personally give a slight edge to the LX5 due to the action in particular. Roland offers some of the most authentic feeling actions in my opinion. :)
The same. Better action, not-so-glossy keys and way better sound, especially through headphones. I think Yamaha has a large market share through teachers and schools but I would go for Kawai if I haven't purchased LX5.
how would this one compare to a casio gdp-310?
The GP310 has a slightly heavier action and the default piano sounds are generally a lot brighter sounding than the LX5. With that said, the LX5 has a wonderfully balanced tone and a very rewarding action. It also has escapement, whereas the GP310's action does not.
@@MerriamPianoshow important is the escapement and what are your thoughts on playing the GP310 without escapement?
I tried both on headphones and the Casio GDP-310 was miles behind with a weird action and ugly sound. And it comes from a happy user of a basic Casio CDP-110 which I enjoy playing on.
Hello :-) is beeter buy new LX-5 or older LX-706 ? prize is almost same.. thanks a lot
Hi! Brent here! It really depends on what you are prioritizing. The sensor system in the new LX models is incredible and makes a meaningful difference in the capturing and rendering of performance details. However, the LX706 does have a superior action and speaker system than the LX5. My recommendation would be to test out both pianos in person to discover which musical performance you connect with more. :)
@@MerriamPianos Thanks for aswer, i want to buy it as gift and i am guitar player so my experince at pianos is zero :-) main target should be feeling of playing closet o real piano. Piano will be placed in small room and my girl will play on it mostly at evening .. so on headphones. Thanks one more time
@@radekpoboril374 what was your pick?
@@sharingmatters LX-706 :-) becasue prize.. i got great discount for it. its was just for 1400 usd as used .. but conditions is great and i have just small scrach on top ,, my wife love it 🙂
I’m wondering if anyone might explain to me the differences between Roland’s FP and RD series? Particularly the two I’m comparing, FP60X and RD08…
Hi there! I responded to your other comments with some suggestions. :)
The basic difference is that the FP series instruments are more geared towards piano playing and at-home practice opposed to gigging. However, the FP60X and FP90X have some crossover to a gigging stage piano. The RD instruments are specifically designed for stage use. While they are rich in features, they don't have particularly powerful speakers (or speakers at all in the case of the RD2000). The context of use would ultimately define what the best option would be.
@@MerriamPianos thanks a ton!
What I noticed while listening and changing the tempo of the youtube speed to 1.5 is that the sound got unnatural and this would mean for me that the sound is somewhat artificial also while playing normally. Other Piano recordings especially acoustic pianos or high end digital pianos don't have that effect while playing 1.5 speed. Could you comment on that?
I think altering the playback speed is going to affect virtually any instrument's voice to make some of its tonal elements and qualities sound unnatural. With that said, tone is a very subjective matter, so every set of ears will have a different opinion as to which digital pianos sound natural or unnatural in the first place. The only comment I can really make about digital piano tones and playback speed adjustment specifically would be that slowing the speed down would probably expose the sustain, decay, and harmonic qualities of a sound more than speeding up the playback speed would.
@@MerriamPianos Of course changing the speed changes the tone quality but the the better the sample quality is the better is the overall sound and amazingly very good samples sound pretty good even with faster speed. Please compare it with some of your excellent videos of top pianos. I had the impression that the piano sound here is somewhat artificial while listening in normal speed. So I compared it with 1.5 speed and it sounded horrible. Please have a listen.
Is there any news about the HP series?
We have not received any updates from Roland at this time, but we will certainly keep you posted if we do. :)
Great vid. I can't really compare because I don't have an LX5 or LX9, however for me I really liked the 1960s Steinway S I tried. I also tried a Mason & Hamlin CC. What a sound. Still would like to try these digital pianos out for my self🎹🎶
I've played several different ones at the big piano store in Denver that has now closed. I can tell you, only the very best most expensive models come close to Pianoteq Pro. From a bang for the buck point of view, Pianoteq or some other virtual piano is probably the way to go.
@@JoeLinux2000 I prefer the real thing because I don't need to turn on a device or have to listen threw headphones to hear a real piano. The action was prity good too. It was soled to someone else. To each their own🎹🎶
Thank you kindly! The new LX models are quite impressive and definitely represent the most cutting-edge digital piano technology on the market. I hope you get a chance to test them out in person! :)
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 When electric power goes out, most digitals are no good at all.
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 But what is the real thing? It wouldn't be fair to compare a digital piano with a high end acoustic piano. The "grand piano" patches on DPs are sales gimmicks in a sense, because digital pianos are purchased mainly for replacing dilapidated family uprights and for transporting to modest gigs and rehearsals.
Much more important than having a specifically "grand" patch is having any good quality patch, and also how well the patch is harnessed to the action, the cabinet and the sound system.
I still wonder about NV5s which has a Shigeru SK-EX (grand) patch and a genuine Kawai upright action. It seems like a mismatch, but supposedly it works.
For general piano practice/creative playing, I'd rather do this on a (not-too-cheap) acoustic piano, but I have limited space and I move home every few years. Also, if I could only own one piano at a time, it would have to be digital anyway, so I could practise at night and take it to gigs.
Looks great , sounds great..... only one problem, I just love the shigeru sound of the kawai too much....but the keys of the ca 701 and 901 , are very light.....
I can certainly understand where you're coming from! It is not too uncommon to fall in love with the touch of one piano and the tone of another. With that said, I would tend to prioritize touch when it comes to digital piano shopping given that it is the invariable element of the instrument's design.
@@MerriamPianos agree! I own the mp11se and didnt find anything else that comes close , for sound an touch.... ofcourse I didnt try every dig.piano but around that price range quite a few.... thanks for your reply!
@@actie-reactiemp11se is amazing. Similar to CA701. But I went for LX-5 as it has 300 sounds available.
i just purchased GP9 .. it's beautiful instrument with an incredible audio system and great action. the irony is that of course I will never use it with it's internal sounds, I always play on it just controlling my Garritan CFX vst which is far superior than the roland piano sounds. Though of course it's great.. but still far away from the top VST's
Congrats on your GP9! It is an incredible piano as you've discovered. It has a great touch, tone, and speaker system. I can certainly understand your sentiments regarding high-end VST pianos of course. There are some incredible sample libraries out there with highly-detailed sample sets. :)
Congrats, sounds like one of the best pianos to use as a midi controller. Have you compared the internal speakers of the GP9 vs studio monitors when using VSTs? I wonder how the internal speakers differ and perform comparing the internal sounds of the GP9 and using VSTs. If you have to EQ, if it sounds right, and how different to conventional 2.0 speakers (such as monitors).
Cheers
@@segundacuenta726 piano sound requires a lot of bass, so subwoofer is always a must, even large monitors doesn't give a good impression without a subwoofer. GP9 has an excellent sound system designed for piano sound. I don't really feel any major difference in how the GP9 audio system handles it's own sounds vs Garritan or any other high end VST. They all sound great, but the internal sounds are very basic in comparison to what you get while using Garritan of VSL VST's.
@@straizysThanks for replying. Have you heard or tried a 2.1 setup vs the GP9 internal speakers for VSTs? I think I saw a few years ago, the Ravenscroft owner demo the VST with a Focal setup that was 2 speakers and a subwoofer, I think that was like 5000$ (the 2 monitors plus the sub). If you had to throw a number of how good or expensive external speakers would have to be to compete with the GP9 speaker, how much would you say? In any case, the GP9 (or GP6 with external speakers or for those with only headphones use) is probably the best as a Midi controller, short of going to Yamaha Disklavier ENpro grands with their high definition midi and sensors.
@@segundacuenta726 personally I don't think GP9 has speakers which can compete in quality with even 3000$ 2.1 monitor system. But it's authentic in it's own way. If you want pure quality for the money of course best is to get VPC1 and some high end Adam or Genelec system. In my case it's more than that, I run home concert venue , a lot of value of GP9 is also in it's looks.
É melhor que o Casio GP 510?
It isn't a matter of the LX5 being better than the GP510. It is simply a different piano with a different musical experience. The GP510 sounds brighter and has a heavier key stick/action than the LX5. WIth that said, both pianos provide an amazing musical experience that is appropriate for even high-level playing. :)
@@MerriamPianos tks
OMG it sounds like Tori Amos’ Imperial!!!!! 😱
:)
I may be a little biased, but I find the tone of the Rolands to be so artificial, sounds like an electronic bell, i don't know... Maybe it is just because I know it is not natural, I can't tell...
That is certainly fair. It is a matter of subjectivity and personal preference of course. There are some massive advantages to modelling of course (more accurate tracking of a performer's expressivity/articulations, more customization of piano sounds, no sample looping/more accurate sustain/decay properties), but there are some aspects of high-quality sampling engines that are sonically superior to some ears. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and tuning in! :)
@@MerriamPianos thank you
Same here - and I'm a massive Roland fan (keyboards, samplers, synths, got me about 30 ot them), but the piano sounds ring artificial when played solo (they do sound good in a mix though, you've got to admit).
I'm just here for Stu's hairstyle
It is a hot topic apparently.
I'm sure the piano is great but the tone was in the fingers of the player 😅. Wow is all I can say.
There is definitely a lot of truth the old adage of "tone is in the fingers." We're glad you enjoyed Stu's playing! :)
Stu gra jak Trzystu ;)
:)
About 30 years ago, one of the theater companies I work with had a Roland digital piano (no idea what model), and it really turned me off to Roland. The action was clunky, and the piano tones were awful! A few years later, we replaced it with a fairly basic, but very nice Kawai digital piano that served us very well for many years. But I have to say, your recent videos showcasing these new Roland pianos have really made me think twice. I just wish we had a Roland dealer closer than four hours away so I could try them out for myself.
I'd say that Digital Pianos technology made huge leaps in advance over the last 5-6 years.
A Digital Piano from before that, even if a flagship basically still used the same technology from the 90's...
I could be wrong though... But the difference in quality between, for example... A Yamaha P45 and a FP30X is HUGE.
The latest offerings from Roland are exceptional and certainly worth considering! The modelling and sensor technology in the latest LX and GP models in particular are beyond impressive. Thanks so much for tuning in! I hope you have an opportunity to demo these pianos in person as they are quite rewarding to play. :)
The top line Rolands in a case sound very good, and are on par with Pianoteq. They aren't better sounding than Pianoteq, other than being self-contained.
The digital shine is quite noticeable. Very disappointing for a keyboard in this price range.
Tonal preference is a very subjective matter of course. Not every player will resonate with the LX5's sound, but it should be said that these new Roland modelling engines are very customizable. Thanks so much for tuning in and sharing your thoughts!
Great piano sounds but... the screen is ridiculously small with horrible utilitarian UI. I'm not saying it needs a huge screen with full color menus and whatnot, but for $4000, I need a better interface
Every player will have different needs and wants of course. There is the option of using the piano in conjunction with the Roland Piano App though, which can make up for the smaller onboard screen.
@@MerriamPianos Good point, thanks
Excellent playing of improvisations on surprising and tasteful chord progressions. I wonder if you ever practiced Dohnanyi's finger independence exercises.
With proper management you could be performing all over the world but then you will have to agree to live like a well to do gypsy ... but a gypsy none the less. It's not for everyone.
It is disappointing that Roland chose to use a tiny dot matrix screen when there are considerably less expensive digital pianos that use colorful LED touch screens with excellent resolution.
I will be sure to pass on your kind words to Stu on your behalf! Stu is a very seasoned player with lots of touring experience, so he is certainly no stranger to that lifestyle. ;)
The Roland Screen is upfront, directly in front of your face. The screen is the last thing I would be concerned with. Eventually all the better digitals will be controlled with a tablet.