Video Review

Introduction to the Roland RP701 Digital Piano

Roland’s been a leader in home digital pianos for as long as home digital pianos have existed, and today, they boast one of the most diverse lineups in the business, spanning a huge range of quality levels.

The RP701 occupies an interesting place in Roland’s lineup, sitting at the very top of their mid-range options before making the jump to a truly high-end product. Roland’s really stepped up their cabinetry game in recent years, and this is perhaps no better exemplified than in the RP701 as it dutifully captures the classic elegance of an acoustic upright piano.

It doesn’t shy away from features either. The RP701 is packed with over 300 tones, over 70 unique rhythm and band accompaniment patterns, as well the latest in Bluetooth technology.

When you start adding all of these things up, it’s clear that the Roland RP701 is offering a total musical experience that is sure to fit a diverse set of needs.

Currently the top Roland model among the RP line, the 701 currently serves as an upgraded alternative to Roland’s entry-level RP-102 as well as their F701.

**Improvements over the RP5101 include**

• New cabinet design that looks more like a real piano
• Polyphony doubled to 256 notes
• More onboard tones
• Bluetooth Audio
• Greatly expanded internal song list
• Upgraded user interface

Roland RP701 Features Roland’s 88-note PHA-4 Standard Keyboard Action

The Roland RP701 Digital Piano brings back Roland’s staple PHA-4 Ivory action with escapement. PHA4 is a high-quality action, and while it may be featured in the lower half of Roland’s lineup, you’d be mistaken in calling this an ‘entry-level’ action.

You can also find the PHA-4 Standard Keyboard in the FP-30X and FP-60X, as well as the F701. There’s a synthetic touch texture on the keytops which is comfortable to play on, and it also features escapement to simulate the feel of a grand piano.

This action also utilizes a triple sensor meaning it’s capable of highly accurate MIDI output.

Roland RP701 Features Roland’s Renowned SuperNATURAL Piano Sound Engine

The RP701 also brings back Roland’s Supernatural Piano Sound Engine. Like the PHA-4 action, you’ll also find this sound engine all over Roland’s lineup. This version of the sound engine gives 256 notes of polyphony – more than enough for just about every application.

There are 324 onboard piano tones with tons of variety, and something that definitely makes the RP701 compared to similarly priced Yamaha and Kawai models that forgo a large selection of tones. All of this is run by a relatively powerful amplifier (24 watts), a two-speaker system, which is more than adequate for home use. That said, you can use the headphone port as a line out if the situation calls for more power.

Roland RP701’s Bluetooth MIDI Connectivity

One of the nicest upgrades with the RP701 is the inclusion of Bluetooth Audio, as this feature has traditionally been reserved for instruments at a higher price point. Bluetooth Audio turns your instrument into a large Bluetooth speaker for streaming music from a smart device.

With built-in MIDI over Bluetooth wireless connectivity, the RP701 can be easily connected to apps on a tablet or smartphone, such Roland’s own Piano Designer app, which allows the user to edit and customize the piano sound to an extensive degree, or other popular music apps such as Garage Band, Sheet Music Direct, or piaScore.

The RP701 also has an on-board option to connect USB memory to capture songs recorded with the onboard recording function, as well as an input jack, and two headphone jacks.

Notable Features

Something that really stands out is the vast improvement to the cabinet over the RP501. This a robust yet elegant cabinet that will not at all look out of place in a fine room. Roland’s done a heck of a job focusing on super high quality cabinetry over the past few years, and the RP701 certainly attests to this.

• Roland’s acclaimed SuperNATURAL Piano engine
• PHA-4 Standard 88-note action with escapement and ivory-feel keytops
• Onboard 24W stereo amplifier and two stereo speakers serve up rich, robust sound
• Headphone output lets you play at any time without disturbing others
• Compact and lightweight for easy transport
• Bluetooth wireless connectivity (Audio and MIDI) lets you use the F701 with popular apps
• Dual and split modes for duets and self-accompaniment
• A broad selection of non-piano sounds, including strings, voices, organ, drums, and more
• Metronome
• Twin Piano mode lets student and teacher play side by side in the identical octave range
• 30 internal songs
• USB-to-device memory slot lets you:
• Save songs recorded with built-in SMF recorder
• Play along with favorite songs in WAV or SMF format
• USB-to-host port lets you connect with your computer
• Integrated triple pedal system

Conclusion

The RP701 may be more of a niche instrument in Roland’s lineup given that only a few hundred dollars more propels you to the upper half of Roland’s lineup, but it nevertheless offers a great mix of tone, touch, technology, and appearance.

Roland RP701 Owner’s Manual

• [English] RP701 Owner’s Manual

Roland RP701 Related Resources

• New Roland Digital Pianos: Roland FP-30X, FP-60X, FP-90X, F701, & RP701 (Roland FP-X Series)