Korg SP 280 Vs Roland FP 30
When it comes to digital pianos, Korg and Roland are two of the most reputable brands in the market. They both offer a wide range of high-quality pianos suitable for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players. Today we’ll be comparing two of their most popular models: the Korg SP 280 Vs Roland FP 30.
In this comparison, we will talk about the following:
- What are the Korg SP 280 and Roland FP 30?
- How is the Design of Korg SP 280 and Roland FP 30?
- How is the Sound Quality from Korg SP 280 and Roland FP 30?
- How is the Key Action in Korg SP 280 and Roland FP 30?
- How is Connectivity in Korg SP 280 and Roland FP 30?
- How is the Price of Korg SP 280 and Roland FP 30?
- Korg SP 280 Vs Roland FP 30
- Which Digital Piano to Buy?
| Korg SP 280 | Roland FP 30 | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Product Dimensions | 61.57 x 18.89 x 11.14 inches | 55.24 x 17.24 x 12.01 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 41.8 pounds | 50.6 pounds |
| Shop now at Amazon | Check price | Check price |
About the Korg SP 280 and Roland FP 30
The Korg SP-280 is a portable digital piano with a full-sized 88-key keyboard with weighted hammer action. It has 30 different sounds, including three different pianos, two electric pianos, a harpsichord, two organs, strings, choir, and guitar. It also has built-in effects like reverb and chorus, as well as a metronome and a headphone jack. The SP-280 is designed for musicians who want a high-quality keyboard that is easy to move around and suitable for both practice and performance.
The Roland FP-30 is also a portable digital piano with a full-sized 88-key keyboard with weighted hammer action. It has 35 different sounds, including a variety of grand pianos, electric pianos, organs, strings, and more. It also has built-in effects like reverb and chorus, as well as a metronome, USB connectivity, and Bluetooth compatibility. The FP-30 is designed for musicians who want a high-quality keyboard that is easy to transport and suitable for both practice and performance. Read also: Korg LP 180 Vs Roland FP 30 here.
Design and Build Quality
Both the Korg SP 280 and the Roland FP 30 are well-designed and built with quality materials. The Korg SP 280 has a sleek and slim design with a weighted 88-key keyboard. This piano weighs around 42 pounds with the stand. On the other hand, the Roland FP 30 has a more compact and portable design with a weighted 88-key keyboard as well, but is lighter at 31 pounds. While the SP 280 is heavier, some of the weight is due to the stand that comes with the package.
Sound Quality
One of the most important aspects of any digital piano is its sound quality. The Korg SP 280 and the Roland FP 30 both offer exceptional sound quality, but there are some differences between them. The Korg SP 280 uses its own proprietary sound engine, which offers a warm and rich sound. On the other hand, the Roland FP 30 uses the highly-acclaimed SuperNATURAL sound engine, which delivers a more realistic and expressive sound.
As for the polyphony or the number of notes a digital piano can produce at the same time, the Korg SP 280 has a maximum polyphony of 120 notes, while the Roland FP 30 has a maximum polyphony of 128 notes. While the difference is minimal, it can make a difference when playing complex pieces with multiple notes.
Key Action and Touch Sensitivity
The key action and touch sensitivity of a digital piano are crucial to how well it feels and responds to the player. The Korg SP 280 features a natural weighted hammer action keyboard, which offers a more realistic feel. The Roland FP 30, on the other hand, features the highly-acclaimed PHA-4 Standard keyboard, which offers a more responsive and accurate touch. Both keyboard actions are some of the best in the price range.
Connectivity
Both the Korg SP 280 and the Roland FP 30 offer a variety of connectivity options. They both have USB ports, MIDI compatibility, and headphone jacks. The Roland FP 30 also features Bluetooth connectivity, which allows for wireless connection to smartphones and tablets.
Price
Price is always an important factor to consider when purchasing a digital piano. The Korg SP 280 is priced around $700, while the Roland FP 30 is priced from $560 – $800. While the difference in price is not significant, it may be a deciding factor for some buyers. In addition, the FP 30 is already discontinued so it can be cheaper yet more difficult to find. Check our other comparison in: Korg LP 180 Vs Casio PX 770 here.
Korg SP-280 Vs Roland FP-30
Here are some of the key differences between the Korg SP-280 and the Roland FP-30:
- Keyboard Action: Both the Korg SP-280 and the Roland FP-30 feature an 88-key keyboard with weighted hammer action, but they use different technologies. The SP-280 uses Korg’s Natural Weighted Hammer Action while the FP-30 uses Roland’s PHA-4 Standard Keyboard.
- Sound Quality: The Korg SP-280 has 30 different sounds including three different pianos, two electric pianos, a harpsichord, two organs, strings, choir, and guitar. The Roland FP-30 has 35 different sounds including a range of grand pianos, electric pianos, organs, strings, and more. The Roland FP-30 uses Roland’s SuperNATURAL sound engine, which aims to produce more realistic and nuanced sounds than the Korg SP-280.
- Polyphony: The Korg SP-280 has a maximum polyphony of 120 notes, while the Roland FP-30 has a maximum polyphony of 128 notes. This means that the Roland can sustain more notes at once, which can be helpful when playing more complex pieces.
- Extra Features: The Roland FP-30 has some extra features that the Korg SP-280 does not, including Bluetooth connectivity for wireless audio streaming and MIDI connectivity, as well as the ability to use the Piano Partner 2 app for additional features and functions. The Korg SP-280 does not have Bluetooth connectivity, but it does have line outputs and MIDI connectivity.
Conclusion
Both the Korg SP 280 and the Roland FP 30 are excellent digital pianos that offer high-quality sound and touch sensitivity. However, they do have their differences in terms of design, sound quality, key action, polyphony, connectivity, and price. Overall, the best digital piano for you will depend on your personal preferences and needs.
