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I would estimate that I play with headphones 70% of the time. When I'm not using headphones, I'm reliant on the DP's speakers. I've heard, but not researched, about people using software through their computer, and external speakers, to improve the sound quality (more acoustic like?). I'm wondering if I want to "go there", and if it's worth it given I would use it somewhat infrequently.

Is there an easy to grasp reference of how it works, of the software choices, what's needed, etc?

Can you alternatively use only speakers (amp and speakers)? Which may be easier than a computer (I like it simple).

Note - I do not want it louder, just more acoustic like (different, if better to me). I have a Roland HP603. I'm generally very happy with its sound, but I want to know what I don't know...and if it's relatively easy to improve sound quality, might be worth it (as I get more seriously into enjoying the piano).

At the moment, there is no digital keyboard (even with top high price) in the market with internal sounds and speakers that better sounding compare to external quality speakers and top piano virtual software. In this situation your keyboard will be connected through midi (real midi or usb midi) at the back of your keyboard to pc and pc to external audio interface (for better sounding instead of internal sound card from PC). After this route, you will never go back. But some people dont want to mess around with this, so its up to you to decide. For me midi + pc + audio card + speakers or headphones is the only way. I like this freedom to choose different things. Every time I play on most expensive Yamaha Avantgrand n3 I am more in love with midi and the rest for much lower price. Lots of people who has for example avantgrand, still connect it to PC for better sounding piano.
But for live stage with band, keyboard itself with own sounds is still more practical.

For Piano software I warn you that this is a story without end. I like this way, but maybe you dont. They grow and with every new piano on the market they sound more and more realistic. There are many many piano VSTs out there, and for the start digg in this forum, you will find lots of informations and different opinions about them. Check pianos demos from company sites for example, VSL, Garritan, Synthogy ivory, Modartt pianoteq, Galaxy instruments, VI labs, Cinesamples, etc etc... Some pianos have standalone program options and some require other program, for example NI Kontakt is a standard program to play lots of piano and other instrument libraries. I know, it sound complicated for the moment, but really its not, it is fun.

Yes, you may get a significant improvement using the DP's built-in sounds, and improving the loudspeaker system.

you don't say what headphones you're using. If they're good ones (translates to "cost $100 or more"), you're hearing pretty much what the built-in sound generator is producing. If not, start chasing this will-o-the-wisp by getting better headphones.



That DP has the Roland "Supernatural Modelling" sound generator. IMHO, it's pretty good. I haven't tested it against Pianoteq, or one of the "sampled piano" software pianos.

From Roland's website:



Those speakers, and that power, _cannot_ give you "acoustic-like sound". For one thing, they don't have enough low-bass response. For another, they can't play as loud as an acoustic, and that limit on loudness creates some problems with the _perceived_ quality of the bass. [See "fletcher-munson curve" for a discussion.]

If you like the HP603's sound through headphones, a pair of "powered monitor" loudspeakers (with considerably more power, and 7" or 8" woofers) would be able to give you a similar sound. That is, they'll let you hear everything the built-in sound generator can produce.

Something else you might consider:

. . . Add a subwoofer to the existing speaker system.

A "consumer-grade" powered subwoofer, with an 8" woofer, might make a substantial difference. Some people here have done that, and found it worthwhile.

If you don't like the built-in sound through headphones, larger speakers won't help. In that case, you have only one path forward:

. . . Investigate software pianos.

I don't know of a single source that explains what the options are. Read this forum for a while, you'll get a good view of the terrain.

You might also visit the Pianoteq website. There are good discussion of their technology, and the User Forum is worth looking at.



+1, unfortunately.<g>

Hi Charles,

I like the sound through the headphones (they're monitor headphones, brand might be Samson). If I went the route of powered monitor loudspeakers with woofers, I'm assuming I plug these into the input jacks for speakers, and they're ready to go, unless the headphones are plugged in (or I unplug them to use headphones...either way that sounds straight forward). I'm not an audio buff but I'll start exploring.

Thanks (fellow canuck ;-)

If your DP has "Line Out" jacks, connect those to the inputs of the powered speakers. ["powered speaker" = amplifier + loudspeaker in one cabinet.]

If the DP only has headphone jacks, connect a stereo headphone jack (probably using a "splitter cable") to the inputs of the powered speakers. Headphone jacks aren't exactly at "line level", but you can adjust the volume of the DP to make things work OK.

This is what is listed in the specs:

DC In jack
Input jacks: Stereo miniature phone type
Output (L/Mono, R) jacks: 1/4-inch phone type
USB Computer port: USB B type
USB Memory port: USB A type
Phones jack x 2: Stereo miniature phone type, Stereo 1/4-inch phone type

Those are "Line Out" jacks.