I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the Roland RP-102 lately, so I figure it’s about time to do a full review of this lovely digital piano.
Roland doesn’t have that many entry-level digital pianos and mainly known for professional-grade instruments that cost well over $1000.
I’m glad that Roland continues to expand its product range and release some beginner-friendly options as well.
After its release in late 2017, the RP-102 has become the most affordable console digital piano in Roland’s arsenal.
With its sub-$1000 price tag the RP-102 enters a very competitive segment of the market where there are a lot of good digital pianos available from other notable brands such as Yamaha, Casio, etc.
Knowing that Roland has packed some pretty cool technology into the RP-102, making it a highly-competitive piano in its price range for sure.
The Roland RP-102 is among our 5 favorite digital pianos under $1000 available on the market today.
Roland RP102 Specs
- 88-key fully weighted keyboard with Ivory simulation
- PHA-4 Standard key action with Escapement
- Touch Sensitivity: adjustable 5 types, Off
- Sound: SuperNATURAL Piano Sound
- 128-note polyphony
- 15 instrument sounds (4 pianos)
- 213 built-in songs (Piano Masterpieces: 40, Czerny: 100, Hanon: 20, Scale: 36)
- Ambience (10 levels), Brilliance (21 levels)
- Piano sound elements: Damper Resonance, String Resonance, Key Off Resonance
- Modes: Dual, Twin Piano
- Metronome, Transpose, Master tuning
- Speakers: 2 x 6 W (2 x 12 cm)
- Connectors: USB to Host, USB Update, Headphone jacks (2), Bluetooth 4.0 (MIDI)
- 137 x 41.3 x 97.7 cm (54.2” x 16.2” x 38.4”)
- 37.8 kg (83 lbs)
Check the availability and current price of the Roland RP-102 in your region:
Design
If we’re talking about console digital pianos they usually come in two styles.
“Contemporary cabinet” digital pianos are quite slim/compact and are designed to take up as little space as possible. They don’t attempt to mimic the look of an acoustic piano.
“Traditional cabinet” digital pianos are usually not as compact and better resemble the look of a real acoustic instrument.
Generally, the higher the price, the fancier and more acoustic-like the cabinet looks.
The RP-102 is considered to have a traditional style cabinet.
Compared to the Casio PX-870 or the Roland F-140R, which have a modern cabinet design, the RP-102 is only a few inches deeper, and have a more traditional vibe to its appearance.
Ultimately, it all comes down to which design works the best for you and your home interior.
| View on Amazon | Keys | Width | Depth | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 88 | 54.3" | 16.2" | 32.1" | 83.3 lbs |
 | 88 | 53.5" | 13.6" | 30.7" | 79.4 lbs |
 | 88 | 54.8" | 11.7" | 31.5" | 75.6 lbs |
 | 88 | 53.4" | 16.6" | 32" | 83.8 lbs |
 | 88 | 53.5" | 16" | 33.6" | 81.5 lbs |
 | 88 | 53" | 13.6" | 36.4" | 77.1 lbs |
The thing I like about the RP102 is that it looks very clean and minimalistic. There are barely any extraneous elements, which I’m sure many players will appreciate.
The build quality is great as expected from Roland. The side panels and legs are quite thick and feel very sturdy.
Keep in mind that the piano is quite heavy (83 lbs), so you’d better have someone to help you unbox and assemble it.
The assembly is nothing complicated and won’t take more than 30-40 minutes.
There are 6 pieces (main keyboard unit, side boards, rear board, pedal unit, music rest) that you’ll need to put together using a Phillips screwdriver and a screw set that comes with the piano.
The pedal board includes 3 piano-style pedals that are made of metal and replicate the feel of real acoustic piano pedals (Sustain, Soft, Sostenuto).
All three pedals support half-pedal operation, which will allow you to master your pedaling technique and play more advanced pieces.
The Roland RP102 is only available in a black finish, which is the most popular color anyway, so Roland didn’t bother to offer any other color options.
When it comes to controls, the RP-102 is very straightforward. There are only 4 buttons located on the left of the piano.
From the aesthetic/design perspective, it’s definitely a good thing.
But having fewer buttons also means that it’s not as easy to get to settings and sounds very quickly. Luckily, the RP-102 is pretty light on features, so it shouldn’t be a problem.
There are a Power button, two volume buttons, and a Function button.
All settings, functions, and sounds of the instrument can be accessed by pressing the “Function” button with one of the piano keys.
There aren’t any labels under the keys, so initially you’ll have to refer to the manual to see which keys need to be pressed to access a certain parameter.
The great thing is that you can use Roland’s free app on your mobile devices to control the functions of the RP-102 and do many other cool things (more in the ‘Connectivity’ section).
Keyboard
The PHA-4 Standard is the keyboard you’ll find in the RP-102 and some other entry-level digital pianos from Roland.
However, I wouldn’t call the action a basic one; it’s actually one of the most realistic keyboard actions you can get at this price point.
The RP-102 has 88 fully weighted keys that utilize a gradually weighted hammer system designed to reproduce the feel of an acoustic piano action.
The RP-102’s keyboard can boast some impressive technology, which is normally found in higher priced instruments.
In particular, the PHA-4 keyboard uses a 3-sensor detection system designed to capture each key press and interpret fast note sequences more accurately.
It’s definitely a nice thing to have, but the difference isn’t always that noticeable compared to good 2-sensor actions (like Kawai’s RHC or Yamaha’s GHS), which handle fast note repetitions just fine.
Escapement mechanism is another feature of the PHA-4, which simulates the subtle clicking sensation felt on a grand piano when you press a key about half way down.
When it comes to the surface of the keys, the PHA-4 provides a lovely Ivory simulated material on top of the white keys instead of plain smooth plastic surfaces that can be quite slippy on hot days.
It’s also worth mentioning that the main improvement over the previous (3rd) generation of Roland’s actions, the PHA-4 actions have become very quiet and produce very subtle clicking noise compared to some slightly noisier keyboards (Casio, Kawai).
Sound
You’ve probably heard of Roland’s proprietary SuperNATURAL sound modeling technology, haven’t you?
If not, it’s a system of modeling algorithms that simulates the behavior of an acoustic piano (interaction of its thousands of elements) and recreates the sound from scratch rather than simply play back the sound (samples) previously recorded from an acoustic piano.
Keep in mind, that although the RP-102 features the SuperNATURAL sound engine, it uses samples (just like the majority of digital pianos do nowadays) and doesn’t offer any modeled sounds, which are available in Roland’s flagship models like the FP-90, HP-603, etc.
Nevertheless, the RP-102 uses some sophisticated modeling algorithms to add certain elements to the “raw” sound recorded from a 9-foot grand piano to make it more realistic and live.
These elements include string resonance, damper resonance, and key off simulation, which are integral components of piano sound.
The RP-102 doesn’t have many sounds onboard and is mainly designed to be used as a piano alternative.
There are 4 different piano tones sampled from a concert grand piano.
I believe they’re recorded from the same piano and after some magic happening during the post-recording, they were turned into 4 different tones (Concert, Ballad, Mellow, Bright).
The main Concert Grand piano tone is probably the one you’ll use most often.
It has a distinct character and provides a very rich, resonant sound complete with natural resonances found in a real piano.
As some have noted the tone is quite bright, which sometimes get to the stage where it sounds almost percussive, but to me, that’s quite an exaggeration.
First of all there are four different piano tones for your to choose from.
Plus, you can always adjust the brightness of the sound within -10 – 10 range using the “Brightness” setting.
Overall, I’m more than pleased with the sound of the RP-102, which will actually blow many of its competitors out of the water.
Polyphony
Speakers
The sound system of the RP-102 is nothing exceptional but does its job. There are two 12 cm speakers (2 x 6W), located on either side of the piano.
The speakers have enough juice to fill a living room and allow you to experience a fairly good degree of realism.
For self-monitoring or performing in small to medium-sized spaces, you wouldn’t need anything else, though a good set of external speakers will allow you to get the most out of the RP-102 in terms of sound quality and volume, especially if you’re going to perform at a hall in front of many people.
I was actually a bit surprised that Roland decided to equip the RP-102 with such a (relatively) low-power speakers.
Nevertheless, more power doesn’t necessarily make the sound much louder or better. It’s the quality of the speakers that matters.
At the same time, pianos with more powerful speakers tend to sound fuller and more rounded thanks to more wattage capacity.
For example, the similar priced Roland F-140R, which has two 12W speakers, does sound a bit bigger and richer, even though they share the same sound engine.
Features
The RP-102 is fairly light on features and offers a bare minimum of what an intermediate player may need.
The good news is that you can easily expand the number of digital features by using Roland’s free app for iOS and Android devices called Piano Partner 2, which pretty much compensates for all the lacking features (see ‘Connectivity’ section).
I find this approach quite reasonable as it allowed Roland engineers to keep the piano simple and let players focus on the “piano playing” component.
At the same time, those who want some extra stuff (e.g., recording features, rhythms, teaching games, etc.) can access that in a matter of seconds using the PP2 app.
Modes
In addition to a regular “Whole” keyboard mode, there are two other Modes that will allow you to use the keyboard more effectively.
Dual Mode allows you to layer two instrument sounds and play them together whenever you press a key.
Although you can’t adjust the volume balance between the tones using the piano’s controls, the Piano Partner 2 app will provide that option.
Twin Piano (aka Duo Mode, Partner Mode) is another useful mode that splits the keyboard into two equal sections with identical pitch ranges.
So you basically have two 44-key pianos next to each other with two middle Cs.
You can use the Twin Piano function with your tutor or teacher for effective practice (two players can play the same notes at the same time).
Recording and Playback
The RP-102 doesn’t have a built-in MIDI recorder, but you can still record your songs using the PP2 app.
It’s also worth mentioning that the RP-102 has a pretty extensive music library with over 200 preset songs.
You can play them back, play along, and use them for practice.
The PP2 app will add additional functionality such as start/stop, part muting, metronome on/off, etc.
- Listening: 9 songs
- Piano Masterpieces: 40 songs
- Easy Piano: 8 songs
- Czerny: 100 songs
- Hanon: 20 songs
- Scale: 36 songs
Metronome and Other Functions
A built-in metronome has an adjustable beat, tempo, and volume so you can easily choose the right settings depending on your needs.
Master tuning function allows you to change the standard pitch (A440) in 0.1 Hz steps to match the pitch of another instrument or recording.
Transpose function can be conveniently used to shift the pitch up and down in semitone steps.
Connectivity
When it comes to connectivity options, the RP-102 offers all the essentials including a USB to Computer port (type B), two headphone jacks and a USB to Device port (type A).
The headphone jacks have different plug types (one is 1/8” mini jack, and another one is 1/4” standard jack) so you’ll be able to connect your headphones without using any adapters regardless of which plug type they have.
The USB type B port is commonly used to connect a digital piano to a computer to transfer MIDI data, which makes it possible to control various music-making and learning apps such as GarageBand, FlowKey, etc.
There are actually hundreds of apps that you can use together with the RP-102 in various fun and creative ways.
Just don’t forget to purchase an A to B USB cable that doesn’t come with the piano.
But first check if your device supports Bluetooth, because if it does, you can wirelessly connect the RP-102 to your smart device and take advantage of all those MIDI-compatible apps available in App Store and Google Play.
For its digital pianos, Roland has created an app called Piano Partner 2, which opens up a whole set of digital features including songs, rhythms, Flash Cards game and more.
In addition, the app gives you access to a bunch of extra sounds, Split mode, MIDI-recorder, and a bunch of other features that are not available directly from the piano.
Finally, Piano Partner 2 provides access to all of the RP-102’s functions and settings via an intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
Keep in mind that the USB type A port, which is also called update port on the RP-102, can only be used to do firmware updates and cannot be used to play songs from a USB drive.
Accessories
Since the RP-102 is a console digital piano, it comes with pretty much everything you need to start playing right away. It includes an integral stand, a 3-pedal unit, a keyboard cover, so you don’t need to buy any of those separately.
The only accessories you may want to consider purchasing separately are a bench (you need to sit on something, right?:) and a pair of good quality headphones.
When it comes to benches, there are a lot of good options available on the market today. Just pick the bench you like, check the reviews, see if it fits your budget and you’re all set.
It gets a little bit more complicated when it comes to choosing the right headphones for your instrument.
Headphones
Headphones come in very handy when you want to practice in private, focusing solely on your playing and not disturbing others nearby.
Moreover, a good pair of headphones will provide a clearer and more detailed sound compared to the onboard speakers.
Check out this guide to learn how to choose the best-sounding headphones for your digital piano.
Summary
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Traditional style cabinet | Not easy to navigate (without the app) |
| Amazing fully-weighted action with Ivory feel keys | Not the most powerful speakers |
| 4 realistic grand piano tones with string and key off resonanance | A lot of features are not built in and only available through the app |
| Proprietary SuperNATURAL sound technology | Few options for sound customization (effects, settings, etc.) |
| Over 200 preset songs | |
| Bluetooth MIDI connectivity | |
| Budget-friendly |
At this price point, the Roland RP-102 is definitely one of my favorite instruments I’ve played so far.
In fact, a friend of mine who works as a salesman in one of the local music stores in Bruges told me that a lot of people end up liking the RP-102 more than other digital pianos in this price range after having played them side by side.
The pianos share the same keyboard and the same sound engine, so they’re pretty much identical when it comes to piano playing.
The only difference is that the FP-30 offers slightly more features (rhythms, MIDI-recorder) and has more powerful speakers.
As for the lack of extra features, the PP2 app solves that problem at once, so it’s hardly a deal-breaker.
However, you might still want to consider the FP-30, especially if you don’t necessarily need a furniture cabinet design and have a tight budget (the FP-30 cost considerably less than the RP-102).
Though it’s also important to remember that if you go for the FP-30, you’ll probably need to separately buy a stand and pedals, which can cost you another $50-200 depending on the type of stand and pedals you choose (furniture style or X style, single pedal or triple pedal board).
Ultimately, it comes down to the type of piano you’re looking for: a portable gig-friendly keyboard or a home digital piano housed in a sleek, traditional-looking cabinet.
Feel free to leave your comments in the section down below. I’d love to know what you think about the new RP102 and its main competitors. Do you have your favorite digital piano in the sub $1000 category?
Check the availability and current price of the Roland RP-102 in your region:
Alternatives
For more information about how the Roland RP-102 compares to other digital pianos in this price range, please refer to our Best Home Digital Pianos Under $1000 guide.
Roland RP-102 vs Casio PX-870 (Full Review)
Hi. Thanks for the review. I am hesitant between the f140 and the rp102, merely on aesthetics and sound power. However, i believe there is a big difference between these two and the f30: as far as I understand, PP2 on f30 has fewer features – it DOES NOT unlock multiple voices, does not record, and does not have the diary practice log function. For that reason I am considering buying the f30. Maybe you can check if this difference applies to other markets and edit the review accordingly, because you make the case that the f30 is equivalent to the rp102 and I think that they hold different values because of PP2.
Hey Vasco, thanks for your comment! Indeed, Piano Partner 2 app when used with the FP-30 doesn’t unlock additional tones as it does with the RP-102 and the F-140R pianos, BUT it does record and does have diary practice log functionality.
So, at the end of the day the difference is not that huge, and for people who don’t care for extra tones, this may not be that big of a deal at all. But yeah, it’s always nice to have a bunch of different tones other than acoustic pianos to play around with.
Actually, compared to its competitors, the FP-30 offers quite a good selection of built-in sounds, and those additional tones available with the PP2 app would just be a bonus, but as you pointed out you won’t be able to unlock those with the FP-30 (only the RP-102 and the F-140R).
I had a typo in my comment above. I meant “For that reason I am considering NOT buying the fp30”. PP2 is a veey convenient app and its implemmentation on the rp102 ans f140 is top-notch while in the f30 it lacks some features. Moreover I wrote f30 throughout the comment when obviously I meant fp30. Sorry for that.
Hi Lucas, what do you think between Rloand RP102 and Casio Px870 in term of sound?
Thank you.
Hi Lucas,
Thanks for the great reviews and In depth information. It is really helpful and makes things so much clearer.
I am a complete novice and have started private lessons 3 months ago. I am keen to buy a piano but am confused if I should buy a beginner one first and then upgrade or something more advanced from the onset. My husband thinks you buy these things once and then stick to it so he is pushing me towards higher models. But I am not sure I shud commit so much investment upfront.
I am a bit old school and traditional in music (classical and jazz) as well as look and feel of the instrument so aesthetic value is also of consideration for me. My questions are:
1. Do u think I shud buy something from Yamaha CLP or Rolland HP series or start with something more basic ?
2. Are these 2 comparable? I feel Rolland HP 605is Better value for money with more speakers / and featured (Bluetooth) though not sure I will be using other features ? But I went and saw Yamaha CLP and liked it very much.
3. Is it better to start with something more basic but with a feel of and look of a piano ? What would u suggest.
Really appreciate your views and response
Thanks
Hey, since the price range you’re talking about is pretty wide, I’d recommend going to a big music store and trying out instruments in different price ranges to see how much of a difference these pianos make compared to each other. That will hopefully help you narrow down your list of potential candidates, or at least it will give you a better understanding of which price range to look at.
These days entry-level digital pianos can get pretty realistic as well, so chances are you’ll find something relatively inexpensive and suitable for your needs and experience, but again it’s hard to recommend something in particular since we’re looking at a wide range of options in different price categories.
Lucas, how do you think a RP102 would survive a move to another state? Is the build quality good enough to handle this? I’d consider a portable piano but with two cats in the house I think it would be good to have a keyboard cover. This is my primary reason for looking to a console piano but still need something I can move relatively easy. Thanks!
Hello Scott, I don’t think it would a problem to move the RP102 or actually any digital piano provided you package it well and handle with care. Most console digital pianos are made from particleboard, so you need to be careful to not accidentally bump it into something sharp, which may lead to cracks/scratches. For the most part, though, these aren’t extremely fragile.
Also, if there’s a possibility, you could consider ordering the piano after you’ve moved to the new place. That way you can avoid dealing with transportation whatsoever.
I recently bought the Roland Rp 102 digital Piano, after checking out a few other’s. Wanted a Good looking small ish & easy to assemble, at a reasonable price. I Absolutely love this Piano it has also got Bluetooth & I’ve got the Roland Partner 2 App onto my Android phone & it has connected. Also will be trying out other Piano Apps soon. Highly recommend the Roland Rp 102.
Hi Lucas
Thanks for the review. Very thorough !
I have purchased an RP102 and have a comment re: MIDI functionality which may be relevant for potential RP102 buyers:
I wanted to use the MIDI to host port to connect to my DAW (reaper) on my desktop but also to MIDI apps on my cell phone. I simply want to play back some accompaniment for a choir from a MIDI file that I have on my computer. However, I didn’t get any app to connect with the RP102 via the cell phone but at least managed to send MIDI data via reaper to the keyboard – but the sounds that are played back are different.
This is a comments I got via the music shop from the Roland representative:
“Unfortunately there is no MIDI implementation for the RP102 as it is not MIDI controllable. The manual does have a sound list however it is not controllable with MIDI PC# commands.”
This is somewhat disappointing and hard to believe as the manual reads:
“If you have a DAW program on your computer, or if you have SMF data, you can use a commercially available USB cable to connect the RP102’s USB Computer port to the USB port of your computer and do the following. (DAW: music production software (sold separately), SMF: song files)
– SMF data played back on your DAW can be sounded by the RP102.
– MIDI data can be transferred between the RP102 and your DAW, letting you produce and edit music in a variety of ways.”
If you have any suggestions for (android) apps that you know that work wit RP102 / ideas / links to blogs on this topic / or MIDI program list for the instruments I’d very much appreciate it if you could share those resources here !
Thanks
Jochen
Hi Jochen, thanks for sharing your experience. Just to clarify, sending MIDI data to a DAW works fine, but the problem is when you send the MIDI data back to the piano to play back some external MIDI files using the RP-102’s built-in sounds?
If so, that’s indeed very strange, especially considering what they claim in the manual. Have you tried referencing that part of the manual when communicating with their support?
Usually, things related to MIDI implementation are covered in a separate file that you can download along with the manual. In case, of the RP102, there’s the MIDI Implementation file that you can find here. The tone list specified there only mentions the 15 built-in sounds, but most Roland digital pianos are still compatible with GM1/GM2 standards and include those sounds, even though you can’t access them directly.
So, the RP102 and other Roland pianos should be able to play back external MIDI files using its internal GM2 library. There are also instructions in that file on how to turn the GM1/GM2 system on (maybe that will be easier to do from the computer rather than an Android phone…).
I don’t have an RP102 at hand to try this, but I’m very curious about how this plays out, so please give us an update on whether you manage to make it work.
What speakers would you recommend to get the most out of the rp102? I am buying it and was curious in case I decide to upgrade it. Thanks!
Hi Richard,
Have you checked out our Keyboard Amplification Guide yet?
Hi Lucas
i wonder if you have good advice for me please. I use flowkey for lessons and connect my RP102 via USB to the laptop. i encounter low piano sound quality and latency issues using the midi sound ON funtion in flowkey which would allow me to hear lesson and piano sound via laptop soundoutput/headphone. because of the issue i turned off midi sound and use headphones from piano and headphones from laptop at same time which is not convenient. i dont want to use the piano nor the laptop loudspeakers.
is there a SW solution that can help me to get flowkey sound and my midi sound played well and at same time flowkey via my laptop soundoutput/headphone ?
thank you
Hi Oktay,
We just discussed a similar issue here. See the comment by Mario Bianconi (June 07, 2020) there and the responses. Hope that helps.
thanks lucas.
yes mario had exactly same issue just with a tablet instead of laptop. it happens that all HW mixer and audiointerfaces are sold out in my country so i was wondering if i can find a sw solution to mix my midi usb sound with the sound from flowkey. at same time i need the midi sending to flowkey for my courses. basically using midi for a)flowkey and b)creating realistic sound with no latency via another sw-app.
i tried before the midi sound enabled within flowkey but it is useless due to latency and sound quality. hope you can guide me.
Hi Lukas.
Thanks for the great and detailed review!
Do you know where the Roland RP-302 fits in the Roland lineup? It’s within the same price range but I don’t find much information about it as the RP102, RP501 and F140.
I wonder if it’s worth considering also.
Hi Raz,
This model seems to be available only in certain regions (Asia, I believe). That’s why there’s little information about it online. Based on the specs, the RP-302 is almost identical to the RP-501, except it uses an older key action design and lacks built-in rhythms. So yeah, it’s definitely worth considering, but if you get a chance I’d also try the newer PHA-4 Standard action to see if the difference is deal-breaker for you.
Hope this helps.
Yes, thats really helpful! Thank you for checking on that!
Great review!
Do you have any feedback about use of “Finale” songwriter with my 102 for printing out notation of my original stuff? Thanks!!!
Hi Lucas,
Thanks for your excellent and detailed reviews! I’ve been knee-deep in your site for some days now.
I’m trying to decide between the FP-30 and the RP102. On one hand, I’m looking for a console type of piano to have at home (portability is not a big plus), and if I add the stand and pedal add-ons to the FP-30, it’ll end costing more than the RP102.
On the other hand, I’m worried about the low powered speakers you mention. Would it make a difference in an apartment room? Doesn’t the “furniture” of the RP102 compensate by adding resonance?
Thanks!
Hi Eli,
For an apartment room, the speakers on the RP102 should be more than enough (volume-wise). The FP-30 would sound a bit louder at max volume, but you’d probably never use it at that volume anyway, so the difference is not huge. What I like about the RP102 is that it comes with a keyboard cover which may not seem like a big deal, but when you own a portable keyboard dust can become an unpleasant factor as it gets on and between the keys (unless you use a dust cover which looks pretty ugly). Another cool thing about the RP102 that’s not available on the FP-30 is that you can ‘unlock’ dozens if not hundreds of additional sounds when you use Roland’s Piano Partner 2 app.
Hi,
I love mellow sounds and I have a dilemma whether to buy the Roland RP-102 or the Yamaha YDP-164 or even the Yamaha YDP-S54. Can you help please by keeping in mind I do not like bright piano sounds? Thanks
Hi Massimo,
The YDP-164 and YDP-S54 share the same sound engine, so they will sound exactly the same (through headphones). Roland pianos are known for their relatively bright sound, so Yamaha might be a better option if you want a mellower sound, but then again most digital pianos come with several different piano presets such as bright, mellow, classical, etc. Also, I’d definitely recommend listening to demos before opting for a specific model, especially if you’re looking for a mellower sound.
Hi Lucas and thanks for your reply. In the meantime I bought the Yamaha P-515 and extremely happy with my purchase 🙂
Regards
Hey, thanks for these great reviews! I am a beginner e-piano player, but have played every now and then on acoustic piano’s. Now, looking for my first own piano, I want to stay close to the feeling of a real “heavy” piano. Now I am struggling deciding between de Yamaha YDP143 and Roland rp102. Could you help me out with the following questions?
For the Roland rp102, I am concerned about the weak speakers, how bad is it? Will this be an issue, when the piano will only be played in the living room anyway? Also, does the rp102 have Line Outs? So I can connect it with my own speakers when needed? Moreover, how do you navigate through the different modes if you don’t want to use the app?
I have played the Roland rp102 in the store and I was amazed by the heavy, silent ivory key touch, and noticed this is an important element in deciding for which piano I wanna go. Is the key touch of the Yamaha ydp143 similar? Does it make noise?
Thanks a lot!
Hey Bente,
First of all, are you specifically looking for the YDP-143 model? This model was discontinued in 2019 and replaced by the newer YDP-144.
Speaker-wise I think these two are comparable, but as with most entry-level and even mid-range digital pianos, don’t have your expectations too high. While you probably won’t have issues with the volume (they can get pretty loud), the sound is nearly not as detailed as when you’re listening through headphones, which is what I prefer for these kinds of instruments.
The RP102 doesn’t have dedicated line outs but you can use one of its headphone jacks to achieve the same. For navigating the instrument, you’ll mostly be relying on button + key combinations as described in the Design section of the review.
The feel of the keys on the YDP-143 will be somewhat similar (in that they are also fully-weighted keys) but also different since all key actions from different manufacturers feel different. I consider Yamaha key actions to be pretty quiet, maybe even more so than Roland’s.
Hey Lucas,
thanks a lot for your quick feedback! Indeed, I meant the YDP144.
Very unfortunate about the boxes, not so exciting to play piano only with headphones.. Are you planning to do a review on Roland’s new rp701 soon? Would be interested! (good alternative to the rp102?)
Best
Hey, apologies for not replying sooner. We definitely plan to review all new Roland models in the nearest future, so stay tuned!
Hi lucas,
F140r is sold cheaper(cheaper by usd100) than rp 102 here as f140r has been discontinued since the newer version of it has been recently released, the f701. My q is if u were me, which of these 2 u will pick based on my scenario n whether it is OK to buy a product that the manufacturer has alrdy discontinued it? Tx
Hey John, apologies for my late reply.
Well, if you can get the F-140R significantly cheaper than the new F701, I’d say go for it. I don’t have a problem with buying a model that has just been discontinued. In fact, when this happens, you often can get a pretty good deal on the discontinued model without losing out too much in terms of sound quality or playability.
Hey thanks for the great review. Just to check, is it possible to connect the piano to air pods pro as opposed to plug in speakers? Cheers!
Hey Simon, Air Pods Pro are wireless, aren’t they? Digital pianos don’t really work well with wireless headphones. Even if you manage to connect them to the piano, latency will become an issue and there will be a noticeable delay between when you press a key and hear the sound you played.
Hi Lucas, thanks for the awesome review! I’m trying to decide between the FP30x and the RP102 – which is on sale for about 200 dollars cheaper than the FP30x (with stand). My intention is to play and practise piano on something that feels authentic and natural as playing an acoustic, as I am classically trained (10+ years) and no longer living at home. I don’t know a lot about recording / making music and I’m not sure I will have the intention to later down the line – but you never know. I know the speakers are slightly different between the models, but for someone who has an ‘ear’ and can feel the nuances in music I wonder which one you’d recommend out of the two?
Thank you 🙂
I did not noticed that my rp102 has half-pedal function