Roland RP102 Review: The Starter Model of the RP Series

Roland RP102 Review

Update July 2023: The Roland RP102 has been discontinued and replaced by the new RP107 and F107 models.

You can read our in-depth review of the new instruments here.

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:

US: ( What Retailer to Buy From )
Sweetwater Guitar Center Amazon

Design

Roland RP102 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.

Roland RP102 interior

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.

Roland RP102 specs size

Ultimately, it all comes down to which design works the best for you and your home interior.

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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.

Roland RP102 box

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).

Roland RP102 pedals

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.

Roland RP102 buttons

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.

Roland RP102 keyboard

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.

Roland RP102 hammer action

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.

Roland RP102 PHA-4 Standard

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.

Roland RP102 supernatural

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.

Roland RP102 piano tones

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.

  • Along with the piano tones, the RP-102 offers a bunch of other instrument sounds including:
  • 2 Organs (Pipe, Combo Jazz)
  • 2 String sets (Symphonic, Epic)
  • 2 Electric Pianos (Tremolo, Pop)
  • Harpsichord
  • Vibraphone
  • Soft Pad
  • Jazz Scat
  • Celesta

Polyphony

Roland RP102 polyphony

What is Polyphony?

Polyphony is the number of notes a digital piano can produce at the same time.

Most contemporary digital pianos are equipped with 64, 128, 192 or 256-note polyphony.

You may wonder how it is possible to have 32, 64, or even 128 notes playing simultaneously, if there are only 88 keys and we never play them all together.

First of all, many of today’s digital pianos use stereo samples, which sometimes require two notes for each key played.

Furthermore, using the sustain pedal, sound effects (Reverb, Chorus), dual-mode (layering), and even the metronome ticking sound take up additional notes of polyphony.

For example, when you depress the sustain pedal, the earliest played notes continue to sound while you’re adding new ones and the piano needs more memory to keep all the notes sounding.

Another example of polyphony consumption is when you’re playing along with a song playback (can also be your own recorded performance) or auto-accompaniment.

In this case, the piano will need polyphony not only for the notes you’re playing but also for a backing track.

When you reach the polyphony cap, the piano starts to drop the earliest played notes to free up memory for new notes, which in turn affects the quality and fullness of the sound.

You’ll rarely need all 192 or 256 voices of polyphony at once, but there are cases when you can reach 64 or even 128 note limits, especially if you like to layer several sounds and create multi-track recordings.

So it’s very desirable to have at least 64 notes of 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.

Roland RP102 speakers

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).

Roland RP102 features

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.

Roland RP102 layering

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.

Roland RP102 duo mode

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.

Roland RP102 built-in 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

Roland RP102 metronome

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).

Roland RP102 usb ports jacks

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.

Roland RP102 Review

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.

Roland RP102 bluetooth

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.

Roland RP102 app

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

Roland RP102 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.

In most cases the headphones included with Amazon bundles are cheap and don’t offer great sound quality and comfort.

Summary

Roland RP102 Review

 

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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 RP-102 wasn’t a totally new model to me since it’s basically a cabinet version of the hugely popular Roland FP-30, which I’m well familiar with.

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:

US: ( What Retailer to Buy From )
Sweetwater Guitar Center Amazon

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)

 

 


Roland RP-102 vs  Roland F-140R  (Full Review)


Roland RP-102 vs  Yamaha YDP-144 (Full Review)

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