Looks like Roland has changed quite a few features for their HP 300 series. I never liked the action on the HP 201, and looks like that's gone - the HP 302 sports the PHA II w/escpmt (like the HP 203). Also, the HP 302 seem to now include the same cabinet like the HP 207 that allows for the keyboard cover to close part way to hide the digital controls. One thing that's very basic on the HP 302 is the whimpy speaker system. Roland plays it up by saying how little power it consumes. Got to love those marketing folks.

The HP 305 seem to be roughly equal to the old HP 207 except the 300 series have new sound engine, the the 305 does not have piano designer or the LCD display. I am guessing the did away with they layering (3 or 4 dynamic sampling layers in the HP 200 line with new sound engine but not sure).

Looks to me the middle of the road HP 305 is more well rounded than the old middle of the road HP 203. I liked the HP 203 a lot, but don't care for the sound in the high and low ends of the piano from its built-in speakers (Headphones sounds great). I didn't have a chance to try the PHA III w/escpmt keyboard on the V-Piano, and would like to hear any comments on how it's different from PHA II w/escpmt. I'm guessing the HP 307 is getting the same action as the V-Piano.

I've played the HP-307 a few times and was very impressed - it's a really beautiful sounding instrument, extremely responsive, with a very playable action.

When using the V-Piano -esque 'Piano Designer' function I notice that the sound automatically returns to the first piano sound, suggesting that only this sound uses the modelling technology. This is not necessarily a negative thing however, as the tonal character can be adjusted quite considerably.

Ah, as usual, the other sounds (electric piano, organ) are also excellent.

I liked it. I liked it a lot!

Cheers,
James
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So, there might only be one VPiano like acoustic sound on the HP307?
Any idea which one it is of the current and VPiano Evolution ones?
Did you notice if the improved expressiveness and dynamics are available on more than this one piano sound?

theJourney, I'm afraid I haven't tried the updated V-Piano in order to compare the two.

However, I do not believe the HP-307 piano sound is entirely modelled, but rather a combination of sampling and modelling. Please don't quote me on that though - it's purely conjecture on my part.

Perhaps someone already at or going to NAMM can test the new HP-307 and confirm whether the piano designer options (adjusting the angle of the lid etc.) are available on sounds other than piano1. Of course, there could be a good reason for this, however it suggested to me that the V-Piano modelling technology were limited to the first piano sound.



Well, I'm not a terribly good pianist, so it's really not my place to say either way. I recall that I liked the first piano sound the most though...but then I also spent quite a lot of time with the Rhodes/Wurly sounds which were terrific.

Sorry I cannot offer more detailed analysis.

Cheers,
James
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Hi James,

What about the touch ? Is it exactly the same as the V piano one ? Have you tried the CA93 too to compare the two ?

sieg66, I believe both the V Piano and the HP-307 utilise the same PHAIII keyboard action. I assume that the touch is identical, however I'm afraid I have not done a side-by-side comparison between the two.



I wrote the English language owner's manual for the CA93/CA63 so am obviously quite familiar with the new CA models.

Comparing the CA93/CA63's new 'RM3 Grand' keyboard action with Roland's PHAIII is rather tricky. As you'd expect, I really like the KAWAI action, yet as a non-piano player (my fingers are not terribly strong) I found the PHAIII easier to play.

Please note that this is just my personal opinion - I'm not suggesting that either keyboard action is any better or worse than the other. They both feel very nice, and will no doubt have their fair share of plaudits and critics.

Cheers,
James
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So many Japanese electronics English language user manuals were horribly written, seemingly written by the actual engineers and/or the engineers who don't function well in English. The Denon English language user manuals for their receivers are notoriously bad in this respect. You often wonder what the heck is the manual trying to say, and I'm an engineer! I've never read any Kawai manuals, but I can say the Yamaha manuals are close to just as bad as Denon. It's good to see Kawai has someone who is fluent in English writing its manuals!

Well, I used to be fluent, however now I fear that my English is almost as bad as my Japanese.

Cheers,
James
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Does anyone know how much the 302/305 will cost in the US?

James, when you're saying that you fear that your English is as bad as your Japanese, it sounds like you're not a native Japanese. Where are you from then?

Andree,

No, James isn't a terribly popular name in Japan.
I'm British, born and bred in Norwich, Norfolk - the pride of East Anglia.

Cheers,
James
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And rightly so...off shopping to Norwich this very afternoon. Beautiful Cathedral too. Shame about the football team!

Steve

Don't worry Steve, my beautiful Canaries will be playing your grotty Tractor Boys this time next year.

Actually, perhaps you ought to worry - we're looking bloody unstoppable at the moment!

Anyway, back to the thread...

Cheers,
James
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Never mind the thread...Tractor Boys certainly aren't mine...although not very interested in football I like to see Norwich do well. I fear their little purple patch will be short-lived. I live in Lowestoft (not an admission that comes easily to anyone) and half the town likes Norwich, the other half likes Ipswich.

Anyway, as you say, back to the thread...the PHAIII v PHAII. I liked them both and personally I don't think the III is an improvement as such...it does feel perhaps slightly more percussive. The GH3 on my Clavinova is nice too but more damped with a much softer keybed. I actually believe that the PHAIII refers more to the quick repetition possible with it...perhaps it has more sensors as per GH3. But like I say, in terms of feel some might prefer PHAII (my Roland guy says some people prefer PHAII). I would congratulate Roland on the escapement...it is very subtle so quite an engineering achievement. The only question it poses is...why?! Yes it is more piano-like but does not contribute at all to its expressive potential nor the player's control in my opinion. I also prefer Yamaha's synthetic ivory to Roland's.

Steve

I played the PHAIII on the V-Piano for an hour at least. Yes it's nice, fast repetitions possible, but it's not as weighted as I want. I am used to the Renner action in my Seiler upright and I'm in search for something similar in weight. I hope in the new RM3 by Kawai. These digital piano actions make me feel that I'm loosing my technique...

Thanks James for your reply. So it seems like the new kawai keyboard is actually heavier than the old awa pro 2 one.

Regarding ph3, I tried v-piano and IMAO it's very similar to pha2, juste the way the escapement work is different, and the fact that you can repeat sound without having to release the key as much as with ph2. I don't find the touch so good though. It's realy pleasant, but not as natural as awa pro keyboard (especially awa pro 1, which despite some slugginesh is very piano-like.