The weight of our Yamaha P-120 keys was roughly the same as our Young-Chang grand piano around the middle of the keyboard, but the Young-Chang is heavier at the bottom end and lighter at the top end in comparison. IOW, the P-120 wasn't nearly as "graded" as the real thing. Grading on a real piano I can always feel, DP grading is almost always more subtle IMO.

They don't sell any models with PHAIII keys in my area. I have sent emails to the local stores informing if they'll sell the RD-700NX or FP-7F when they become available.

The FP-7F looks very interesting. So, basically, the FP-7F has the same keybed/action/keys etc. as the RD-700NX? And the main difference between the FP and the RD series is that an RD is more like a synthesizer and the FP is more basic like a piano, am I right? I think the FP-7F may be a better choice for me, since I don't need all the extra features on the RD-700NX.

I have a Roland 307 with the PHAIII keyboard. Except for the Avant grand and the Kawai CA93 this is the best digital piano I have come across for sound and action overall, in my humble opinion. That being said I don't have an acoustic and I am very interested in classical music. My conclusion is digital piano + classical music = okay UNLESS you are an observant person and start to notice the little things then it becomes very unsatisfactory. But my main complaint is sound. The key action is very good and actually better than the majority of upright acoustics I looked at in my budget.

Why not look at the Kawai CA93?

None of the shops in my area sell Kawai instruments. So I wouldn't be able to play it before I buy it.

I think it is OK to say "I like Roland's PHA-III key action beter then Yamaha's GH action". But each company makes a wide range of digital pianos. Each company makes pianos I'd never recommend for advanced classical work. For example the Roland FP-4 (Alpha key action) is not up to the task at all.

That said. I think many people might like the keys on the Roland RD700. But some people think they are way to light. At this level it is all a matter of opinion.

My opinion: I still like the Yamaha P155. But if I wanted ligher action I'd look at a new Kawai or wait foe the new version of the FP7. But if you happen to like Yamahas more first keys then you are lucky because the P155 costs less and is available today from about 10 zillion retail outlets.

One thing I've notice is that a good pianist can make good music even on an old clunker upright. The experienced player learns to adapt. It is beginners like me that need a perfect action. Just last night I was at a Kawai digital and moved to play at a Kawi grand that was in the same room. Moving back and forth I found the grand, even if it was slightly out of tune to have vastly better tone but the Kawai "CN" digital was easier to play by quite a bit. The reason is that the digital keys are made of precision parts at the factory and don't need to be so complex as there are no strings.

Actually, I would say the reason is that there is a helluva lot more to playing the acoustic piano well than playing a digital piano and that if you are learning and playing almost exclusively on a digital then it will be hard to play or play well on an acoustic. You can play a digital piano with your fingers but an acoustic piano you have to play with your ears.

I find it very interesting as well.


Except for the fake wood on the sides of the NX keys, I believe most here think that is the case.


The main difference sound-wise is the SN EPs in the NX that are missing in the FP. Both have SN APs and the tonewheel organ (?) and a bunch of other sounds. So the NX is more of a full-featured stage piano, the FP more of a digital piano. I really want the internal speakers and music rest on the FP, but the NX has a much nicer user interface. I'm really torn here.

dewster, with how particular your tastes are with respect to the sound of a digital piano (e.g. the DPBSD), why are you so interested in internal speakers? I'm just curious -- I've personally never played a single stage piano with even mildly acceptable internal speakers. Do you play with headphones most of the time and the speakers are just a nice-to-have or something like that?

I play on an RD700GX, and if I were forced to part with either my SuperNatural expansion board or my Mackie HR Monitors, I bet I'd give up the former first...

About action weights:

I got the chance to play a Steinway grand today (in the performance room of the local branch library, I'm guessing it's about 6 and half feet). The action was much lighter than my Celviano AP65 I use with my mac and VI pianos. It was about the same as my PSR-S910 arranger kb.

At practice this evening I mentioned this to my jazz duo partner (him on sax, me on arranger kb). He has a grand and an upright. He played my Celvi and PSR and said both were lighter than his grand but heavier than his upright.

So my ranking by weight (light to heavy):
SS grand and PSR
Celvi

His ranking:
His upright
my PSR
my Celvi
his grand

Kinda shows you might be surprised when you sit down at any kb.

Incidentally, all the acoustics and my Celvi are much easier to control dynamically than the PSR.

You use the word adapt while I would say that the experienced player has more control. I feel it really helps one's playing to play on pianos that are not forgiving. If you drive a Mack truck every day, you'll appreciate the handling of a sports car.

Well, today i had the chance to play a Kawai Grand (at our church, which we were helping to clean, heh-heh...). I've been practicing on a Casio WK-200, which is NOT a good digital keyboard. Just recently started working on my classical pieces again.

It was EASIER to play on the Kawai than on my toy keyboard, I made fewer mistakes, and it didn't really mess me up at all, practicing on the Casio.

Admittedly, I noticed that I'm not playing with weight and it was more work for sure, but oh, what a pleasure! How beautiful the sound and feel of a quality grand is!

I was a bit taken aback by the volume, but it wasn't so bad, because we were in a very large room with not very good acoustics.

All in all, a yummy treat, and it made me feel better about my having to practice on my Casio.

They're handy. And if they don't cost too much, add too much weight, take up too much room in the DP enclosure, sound too horrible, etc. then I'll gladly take them. One situation where good enough is the enemy of the perfect.

I want the speakers too. I'm wondering whether there might be a small market for a keyboard-less tone generator/amp/speakers, that could be used with a speakerless digital piano or MIDI controller on the odd occasion. Something like that Sonic Cell with small speakers.

Greg.

Yes, you are correct - it was an oversight for me to
neglect to mention the needs of jazz/pop keyboardists. I was referring only to the needs of classically oriented pianists.

That's interesting! I wonder if the site is accurate? The way it's worded would suggest to me that the extra key sensor is supposed to be a feature of GH (or GHE) in general, which we know isn't the case. Unless of course Yamaha are now introducing this across the board, effectively making everything above GHS a GH3 action?

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail.html?CNTID=5012844

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/Cont...amp;CTID=205700

Jonathan, I wonder what DP you have? The reason for asking is that on my DP the note sounds before the key is fully depressed, and also it can be repeated without being fully released. Some DP's will even allow the note to be replayed before the previous note is silenced.

Even so, I suspect that you're right and that I, as a beginner, am 'overplaying' as I find it very difficult to play a range of dynamics other than quite loud. Maybe all beginners suffer that, but it could be a DP doesn't help in this aspect of learning?