Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Bye Bye RD700NX ...hello RD800 (with a Vpiano grand)

Hi Dr Popper, did you actually get your hands on PHA4 or is this what you are hearing out there?

OT: I tried and like the CP4 action. Yes quite realistic. However, Im not sure what defines realistic anymore or what realistic is compared to knowing that acoustic piano action seems like snowflakes - no two alike.

I am looking at my 700NX here, and looking at that RD800 photo ... I think there is some cost-cutting going on for the RD800's shell.

Hmm, yes, does look a bit like the "Juno D" version of an RD. I suspect that's where they're saving the weight.

I can see what you are saying.

Certainly looks like there's more plastic. In which case, I don't really know how they've not managed to shave more weight off, especially if Yamaha can manage that with a wooden keybed.

I'm super curious about this new action. It seems like they changed the things that kind of make Roland actions distinct. If they only changed them a little bit, they could have a serious winner on their hands. I can't wait to get my fingers on one and try it out.

Interesting, what's it competing with from Yamaha the CP4? it's more expensive than that, but might be better for piano purists.

One good aspect of the action is that it produces "less audible noise." As we all know, Roland actions tend to be pretty loud.

Video from Sweetwater. Not much, but still... That upright sound is corny! Had hopes for something more useful than a stupid saloon piano.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ9kOdH_gSY

Is this confirmed or wishful thinking?

It's confirmed. I got the info from Roland's site:

"The PHA-4's authentic hammer-action mechanism produces less audible noise than previous designs......"

Wow! Only $2,499. I was expecting closer to $3k. What's odd is the RD700NX is still $2,699.00

http://www.kraftmusic.com/roland-rd-800-digital-piano.html

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RD800

Good Keyboardmag video:

Roland RD-800

Nice!

Hearing by the sound of the video... the keybed is pretty noisy and clicky!

That's good to hear, I didn't see it in the RD800 description.


Can't say it is that obvious to me, except for the glisses.

Just noticed, Roland specs sheet says: "Actual weight can vary slightly from that indicated due to the fact that wooden parts are involved."

I'm sure this refers to the bed on which the action mechanism sits. I think for most stage pianos (maybe all digitals) it's particle board.

Things they should have fixed but don't appear to have:
Case is way too long, way too heavy, funky shape encourages your grip to slip and drop it, PCM (=looped & stretched) sound banks, potentiometer based data entry (rotary encoders are the best).

New things I don't really care about:
SN clav, SN upright, some kind of SN V-Piano, color screen.

Things that the NX really needs, did they do it with the 800?:
Better reverb (pretty horrible), MIDI to WAV, MIDI record.

I guess I'll play with one when I eventually encounter it in my travels to GC (less and less these days, the whole musical equipment scene is so weird and full of deathly boring products) but it doesn't seem like a compelling upgrade to the NX. And heavier feeling keys is directionally incorrect IMO.

Someone is going to catch an end white key moving that thing around, and it's gonna be sad panda day for them when it happens ...

Oh man they moved the plugs to the reverse slant side, total pita.

Yep I've played it briefly ... as I said it's right up there with the best around.