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#2231143 02/13/14 07:33 PM
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SebaGR Offline OP
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Hi everyone !
First of all thanks for reading my request
I've been looking for information about this all around the forum but didn't come up with anything and since the search engine isn't working too well i've managed with google.
Is Roland hp-506 worth upgrading from an F-120 ?
Since both are SN, I've been wondering about the PHAII vs PHAIV, and heard both good and bad things about IV, and 500's series sound quality.
I've almost decided to buy a roland 500's and pretty much 506 specifically, but i'm still open to recommandations if some of you rly think I should go for something else since I live in a pretty far-away-from-civilization and don't have the time right now to travel and go to a piano showroom wide enough.

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The F120 has the Ivory G keyboard,I think,not the PHAII. I think the PHAIV will be very different from Ivory G. It's lighter and more solid in feel. The 506 will have a much better and more powerful sound system, and a bigger range of pianos...but no MIDI in/outs,though - only USB.

So yes; very different, substantially better. This is reflected by its price which is about double that of the F 120.


Roland HP 302 / Samson Graphite 49 / Akai EWI

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SebaGR Offline OP
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Originally Posted by toddy
The F120 has the Ivory G keyboard,I think,not the PHAII. I think the PHAIV will be very different from Ivory G. It's lighter and more solid in feel. The 506 will have a much better and more powerful sound system, and a bigger range of pianos...but no MIDI in/outs,though - only USB.

So yes; very different, substantially better. This is reflected by its price which is about double that of the F 120.


Thank you very much, I've done some more research and will be upgrading to it soon.

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You should also consider to buy a HP505, would safe you a lot of money!

The improvements from the 506 are not big!


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Originally Posted by Hanseat
You should also consider to buy a HP505, would safe you a lot of money!

The improvements from the 506 are not big!


Yes! If you can still get one.


Roland HP 302 / Samson Graphite 49 / Akai EWI

Reaper / Native Instruments K9 ult / ESQL MOR2 Symph Orchestra & Choirs / Lucato & Parravicini , trumpets & saxes / Garritan CFX lite / Production Voices C7 & Steinway D compact

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Originally Posted by Hanseat
You should also consider to buy a HP505, would safe you a lot of money!

The improvements from the 506 are not big!


So the new PHAIV action is not a significant improvement?

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It is an improvement, but how much would I willing to pay for that extra felt? Maybe £30. Certainly not £300, which is the price difference between the models.


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Originally Posted by lolatu
It is an improvement, but how much would I willing to pay for that extra felt? Maybe £30. Certainly not £300, which is the price difference between the models.


The new action is just extra felt? Is the concert version in the higher end models pretty much the same too?

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Dr Popper, who was an early experimenter with the PHAIV said:

The feel [of the PHAIV] is very similar [to the PHAIII] with the exception of maybe being slightly heavier with a softer bottom. It's a VERY good action but the PHAIII is as well.

So a £30 rather than a £300 pound differential sounds more in order. However, the keybaord's not the only difference, of course.....the new Roland HP 506 lacks MIDI sockets wink


Roland HP 302 / Samson Graphite 49 / Akai EWI

Reaper / Native Instruments K9 ult / ESQL MOR2 Symph Orchestra & Choirs / Lucato & Parravicini , trumpets & saxes / Garritan CFX lite / Production Voices C7 & Steinway D compact

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To be fair, the actual RRP differential is only £50 - about in line with inflation, but a lot of places are discounting the old models a lot more, so you can get £250 - £300 off if you shop around. Stocks of the old models will probabaly be gone soon though. Another thing to consider is that the older models will be worth less on the second hand market, even if they're just as good as the newer ones.


Kawai CA95 / Steinberg UR22 / Sony MDR-7506 / Pianoteq Stage + Grotrian, Bluethner / Galaxy Vintage D / CFX Lite
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SebaGR Offline OP
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Originally Posted by toddy
Originally Posted by Hanseat
You should also consider to buy a HP505, would safe you a lot of money!

The improvements from the 506 are not big!


Yes! If you can still get one.


I would be spending 1800€ instead of 2000€, and if i would go for an hp-505, i'd ask myself again if it's rly worth to change my F-120 or wait a little longer for next series

Last edited by SebaGR; 02/17/14 11:32 AM.

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