Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards RD-700 still a good choice?

Hello all,

I'm sorry for the questions but in my general area where I live I don't have any store that has the FP-5, RD-700 and the P-250 in the same place.
What about the RD-700, not 700sx? I've been reading a lot of user reviews on the RD-700 and can not hardly find any bad ones.
1) How do you compare both the Roland RD-700 and FP-5?
2) How do you compare the RD-700 to the P-250?

Also, due to the fact that the RD-700 has no speakers, you would have to put the speaker for the RD-700 directly in the middle of the piano (floor or up higher) wouldn't you? What I mean is that if you put the speaker to the left or right of the piano then it is going to sound wierd while you play to hear music coming from a different direction then the actual piano. Right?

Help.
Jack

From what i have gathered, the P250 is in another league.

I personally REALLY like the RD-700 but the new sx is definately better. The P250 is also (in my opinion) a better sounding/feeling board but this is VERY subjective and everyone will give a different answer.

As for speaker placement, you can use a mono speaker and place it in the center, BUT most if the samples used in the keyboard were captured in stereo using two mics placed some distance apart. You should also place the speakers wide enough to represent the same sound that was in the original recordings (~6'- 8' wide, ~0'- 3' feet behind the keyboard, and anyware ~0'- 1' above, and at least 6" away from any hard surface such as a wall).

NOTE:

The positions I listed above are to my taste. You may get better results using different positions.

Rodney

I agree. I'd take the RD700. The samples are better. The action is better. And most importantly, it's expandable.

IMHO, the Yamaha graded hammer boards are still the best in the digital realm, and Yammies are built like tanks. That said, their feel is firmer than others'. If you're a synth player, go Roland. If you're a piano player, go Yammy.

____________
Yamaha P-80, P-200 (sold to by>), Bachmann GRPT140

I'm a piano player. I find the Roland action to be more realistic.

SteveY,

This is the first time I've heard Roland's action is more realistic. Could you give some details? (I like learning and am just looking for info.)

I don't know that anyone can definitively say that one action is more realistic. It's all subjective. I just want to provide some balance here. There are a lot of P120/P250 fans on this board. Personally I'm not crazy about either one (sounds, action, etc.). It's fine that you like the Yamahas. I lot of people that I respect would agree with you. All things being equal, I happen to prefer the Roland tone/touch. I find them to be more versatile, and yes, more realistic. But on a digital (especially), it's very difficult to seperate the tone from the touch. In other words, the tone influences how you experience the touch, and vice versa. Everytime I play a P250, I always feel like the tone could cut glass. I'm sure that poisons the action for me. Perhaps if I liked the tone, I'd appreciate the action more?

SteveY,

I really do know what you mean. I played my P-80 for almost four years before learning from Cobs that the touch sensitivity settings were an illusion!

I've read on a forum somwhere that Roland's actions are contructed differently, and I think that ProPianoguy likes to tout the escapement feature.

I like the positiveness of the graded hammer boards, but am always glad to learn about other perspectives. And the digital piano world is always changing.

All the best,
DavidH

SteveY,

Just came across some 700sx demos. Must say that the sound is terrific: http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35135&page=2&pp=10

I'm still holding out for the graded hammer feel, tho;-)

What i actually meant by that, was the P250 is better than the RD-700, but on par with the RD-700SX.

I don't know if "tout" is the right word. But I do like the feeling of the Roland action with the escapement. It IMO feels more natural than the Yammie action. Different Strokes though.......
Only your fingers and ears can make up your mind....And If I was a seriously rich guy...I would have my Bosey Imperial alongside my RD700sx with an Estonia upstairs in my HUGE Bedroom.......And I am a digital guy.


Just my $.02
PPBC

Guys,

Excellent info and help...Thanks. I'm seriously thinking about the RD-700, but 2 things...

1.) I hate the fact that you have to get an external speaker.

2.) They're not that easy to find on the internet anymore. I have found a package deal with the P-250 and kraftmusic.com for $2050. But with the $1799 price tag on the RD-700 at the few websites that still offer it, the whole package comparable to the P-250 package would cost more money.

Thanks guys

If I recall correctly, Roland refers to "graded hammer action" as "progressive hammer action" (same thing, different marketing term), which the RD700 does have.