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Joined: Nov 2009
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Greetings. I'm purchasing my first digital piano for classical music learning and I'm considering a Roland HP-203, which I found for an excellent price ($1,999 plus shipping and a $200 gift card) at J&R ( www.jr.com), an authorized Roland dealer. Besides the better finish and the speakers in HP-207, are there other advantages to consider this one? Also, how does it compare against HP-201 and DP990? Should I be considering other manufacturers for the $2000 - $2700 price range? Thanks in advance for any help.
Roland HP-207 Alfred's All in One Adult Piano Course Book 1
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The HP-207 is in a different class than the HP-203. Sound, touch, and more content make the HP-207 an easy purchase to justify. If you can afford the HP-207 don't look back. 5 years from now the extra $ you spent will not be missed, but the experience you will get over the HP-203 will erase any second guessing. Good luck
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Thanks, Stephen.
Since you work with several manufacturers, let me ask you for an opinion. Besides the V-Piano, are there other DP options I should be considering in that price range?
Roland HP-207 Alfred's All in One Adult Piano Course Book 1
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I actually have the 203 and am very happy with it, but I can still tell you that you should absolutely try out the Yamaha and Kawai entry in this price class as well!
Online discussions will never tell you which one feels right to *you*. Good luck with the search.
aim for the moon - if you miss, at least you'll be among the stars.
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I wonder whether the difference between the HP203 and the HP207 really justifies the huge price diference. The major plus of the HP207 is the better speakers. Otherwise: The sound is the same (by headphones) and the touch is the same (except for the ivory imitation). The plus in contents is minor, if I remember corectly this is mainly some additional drawbar organs. In addition, the piano sound is tweakable, which is not possible with the HP203.
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I saw your other thread on the Acoustic Piano Forum. An acoustic piano is all but out of the question if you live in an apt. building. An acoustic piano can be heard a block away, and you'll have the neighbors at your throat. Most acoustic uprights today have a middle silencing pedal that shifts a felt strip over the stings to muffle the sound, but playing in that silenced mode is unnatural and unsatisfying. Furthermore, this makes no sense, because you can't use the acoustic piano in the normal way, and so you're paying for an instrument you can use.
In addition, there are numerous disadantages with an acoustic. It weighs a ton, and you'll need movers just to get it into, or out of, your house. You'll need to get it tuned twice a yr., at ~$90-$150 per tuning. Repairs for sticking keys and buzzing strings are common, at ~$100 per service call.
As you've noticed, digitals are already approaching acoustic pianos in performance. An HP-207 is a marvelous instrument, essentially a concert grand for only $3000, but you can get good digitals for less than $1000, for example, the Casio PX 800 and the M-Audio DCP 200, both $900 from amazon.com. Either would have grand piano-like performance.
I'm an experienced player, who grew up with classical lessons and acoustic pianos only, as there were no digitals back then. I quit in high school and didn't play for 20 yrs. Since restarting as an adult, I've bought 5 pianos, the first acoustic and the rest digital, as follows: a top-of-the-line acoustic upright, bought for ~$6000 in the early 1980's (a similar model today would be in the ~$20,000 price range); a Korg C-800, bought at a piano dealer in 1989 for $1700; a Casio AP-24, bought sight-unseen online in 2005 for $700; a Korg SP-250, bought sight-unseen online in 2006 for $900; and my current piano, a Williams Overture, bought sight-unseen online in 2009 for $600.
You can see from the above that I've gone to less and less expensive pianos, even as I've gotten more experienced and more advanced in my playing: ~$20,000(~$6000) ---> $1700 ---> $700 ---> $900 ---> $600. I find the $600 Williams okay for playing anything, from jazz improvisation to big concertos.
Last edited by Gyro; 11/30/09 12:58 PM.
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Gyro,
You make some very interesting points.
Tell me this; what company makes Williams electronic pianos?
Are they an independent company, or is the Williams essentially a "stencil piano" made by a big manufacturer?
Best regards,
Snazzy
Semper Gumby: Always flexible \:^)
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Thanks, Stephen.
Since you work with several manufacturers, let me ask you for an opinion. Besides the V-Piano, are there other DP options I should be considering in that price range? You could look at the Yamaha CVP-407, CVP-409 and CVP-509, perhaps CLP-380 as well. Look also (beside HP207) at the Roland HPi-7Sand Roland LX-10. And also Kawai CN42, Kawai CP177.
P-85 cheap plastic imitation; not because of sound, but weight.
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\Since you work with several manufacturers, let me ask you for an opinion. Besides the V-Piano, are there other DP options I should be considering in that price range? You could look at the Yamaha CVP-407, CVP-409 and CVP-509, perhaps CLP-380 as well. Look also (beside HP207) at the Roland HPi-7Sand Roland LX-10. I don't think any of these units are available in the OP's stated price range. He gave a range of $2000 to $2700.
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\Since you work with several manufacturers, let me ask you for an opinion. Besides the V-Piano, are there other DP options I should be considering in that price range? You could look at the Yamaha CVP-407, CVP-409 and CVP-509, perhaps CLP-380 as well. Look also (beside HP207) at the Roland HPi-7S and Roland LX-10. I don't think any of these units are available in the OP's stated price range. He gave a range of $2000 to $2700. We all like to dream.
P-85 cheap plastic imitation; not because of sound, but weight.
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There is a sound difference between the HP-207 and HP-203. Brochures do nothing but confuse people. You cannot hear a brochure. Play both models and then make your choice. Your ear and heart will tell you which piano is yours.
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There is a sound difference between the HP-207 and HP-203. Brochures do nothing but confuse people. You cannot hear a brochure. Play both models and then make your choice. Your ear and heart will tell you which piano is yours. With headphones you will hear no differences.
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Thanks, Stephen.
Since you work with several manufacturers, let me ask you for an opinion. Besides the V-Piano, are there other DP options I should be considering in that price range? If you would concider the v-piano, then also look at Roland's RD700GX. The "700" has the "good" key action and ivory tops and has lots of piano sounds inside and some ability to modify the sounds but costs 1/2 as much as the v-piano. Unless you are recording I don't see the point of such fine control over the sound as the v-piano allows. And if you do need that level of control you can get that in software. Neither the v-piano nor the RD700 have speakers or amps so you get to select whatever meets your needs. But be sure and budget at least another $250 or much more
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From previous post: I'm purchasing my first digital piano for classical music learning and I'm considering a Roland HP-203, which I found for an excellent price ($1,999 plus shipping and a $200 gift card) at J&R ( www.jr.com), an authorized Roland dealer. Is $1999 a good price for the HP203? Does anyone know of it being sold for less?
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You could also consider the Yamaha CP-300 professional stage piano, with an incredibly robust built-sound system, and highly recommended by players in the know....especially me. Beautiful graded hammer action, with the built in speakers giving the illusion that you are seated in front of a real grand piano. Wow! That sounded so good, I nearly went out and bought another one! Seriously...it is a seriously terrific instrument, and well worth taking the time to try out. Good luck with your search. Snazzy
Semper Gumby: Always flexible \:^)
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[EDIT] Sorry, posted in the wrong thread.
Last edited by PianoPeter73; 12/03/09 10:56 AM.
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I know of it being sold for more... way more. Seriously, Steinert & Sons was selling it for 3,349 in Boston.
Roland HP-207 Alfred's All in One Adult Piano Course Book 1
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I did buy the HP203 for $1999 yesterday in the Los Angeles area. I am the type of person that I always want to know if I could have got a better deal. I know it's kind of crazy, but that's me.
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I don't think it is crazy. You are just worried about your hard earned money. Though I have to say that one should do that before the purchase, otherwise it could become a case of self inflicted torture.
Roland HP-207 Alfred's All in One Adult Piano Course Book 1
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I'm also wondering if I should be buying a HP 203 now, since the new models are on the way. I can get it for a really good price, 1490€ new. Since I don't have a weighted keyboard, so the other option would be to buy something really cheap right now and wait for the new Rolands to arrive. The problem is, I don't know whether the prices will be good and when they will be available.
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