Roland RD 2000 VS FP 90
Roland is a manufacturer that has made so many great pianos and they do carry the options for a wide range of users from beginners or students to those who professionally use the instruments such as with their popular Roland RD 2000 Vs FP 90. These portable and reliable pianos are perfect for seasoned players but may not be for the same type of application. If you wonder which of them will be the better option, let’s see the comparison below.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- How Digital Piano Works
- What are Roland RD 2000 and FP 90
- How are the Design of Roland RD 2000 and FP 90
- How are the Keys in Roland RD 2000 and FP 90
- How are the Sound Engine in Roland RD 2000 and FP 90
- What else Roland RD 2000 and FP 90 can offer
- Roland RD 2000 Vs FP 90
Digital Pianos
There are so many musical instruments invented throughout human history and many of them are still familiar today as well as widely played and learned by people from all around the world. Since most of them are traditionally made, the sound they make is also acoustic based on the physical movement of its related parts. In modern days, many of these instruments are electric or digital meaning that they need electricity to produce sound.
Piano is the grand example of this acoustic turned digital which also adds a lot of versatility into the instrument itself. Digital or electric pianos are usually cheaper than the acoustic one as well as easier to maintain and transport or store. Many of us are buying a digital piano because it is overall more convenient to opt. Of course not everyone thinks the same but it is the charm of different minds. Regardless of the level of skill, digital or electric pianos are ideal for a wide range of users.
For those who are not yet familiar about how the instrument can produce sound while there is no hammer or strings inside, it is because the sound is stored in the system already. Digital piano, keyboard, or synthesizers produce their sound in the same manner by delivering the sound that has been programmed to produce, digitally. The difference between them usually revolves around key action and the type of sound they can make or the sound shaping technology which lets you tweak them automatically.
The variants labeled as digital piano are usually designed to mimic the acoustic one and thus they are focusing on the natural sound and natural response of the keys. Do note that any features or characteristics can be overlapping despite the instrument comes in different labeling such as Roland RD 2000 Vs Roland Fantom 8 which are not specifically categorized as digital piano but have an amazing keys action which actually feels natural and among the best hybrid keys in the market.
To make the sound, it is depending on input just like your computer’s keyboard that shows you any number or character you typed. Digital pianos are the same, they send a signal to the computer inside when you press the key which then responds to some sort of action or in this case a sound. The sound may be based on modeling or samples recorded into the memory. How good the sound can be? It depends on the recording and any technology used by the manufacturer to preserve/modify the sound.
| Roland RD 2000 | FP 90 | |
|---|---|---|
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| Product Dimensions | 55.6 x 14.5 x 5.6 inches | 52.8 x 15.4 x 5.4 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 47.1 pounds | 52 pounds |
| Shop now at Amazon | Check price | Check price |
About Roland RD 2000 and FP 90
There are so many options to consider when it comes to digital pianos because companies can design their products according to the market or the demand itself. They can be good for a wide range of players but not everyone will need the same thing or focusing on the same aspects which is why there are various types and purposes of these digital instruments. Just like most products however, the more you pay, the more they can offer too.
Digital pianos are available in a wide range of prices and capabilities along with various named brands in the market. Roland for example is well-known for their high-quality sound and they also made some of the best or top options for either budget or professional-grade pianos. This company always released new, interesting pianos too that surpass the predecessor and offering new technology that they currently have in hand. Depending on what you are aiming to, they surely have the option ready.
If you are in the market for top digital pianos and ready to invest some, Roland RD 2000 and FP 90 are two among the best they currently have. What’s so unique about them is that both are now being the flagship of each line making sure you get some of the top technology this brand is proud of. They are not exactly the same however because we are sure you already know that FP 90 is a high-end digital piano while RD line is meant for professional, stage use.
The core of Roland RD 2000 and FP 90 are not far apart from each other but since they are meant to be used in different setup, they are also quite different. What’s so similar will be the feeling from their keys since they use the same technology and in this part the two are equally amazing. We do think what put them apart is anything related to sound modification because RD 2000 will be more capable here, in addition to the ideal interface to support the musician’s access.
Roland RD 2000 and FP 90 Design
While FP 90 is a digital piano by type, no one will stop you from carrying it to gigs or live performances since it is still portable. We are kind of surprised to see that it is actually bulky as well and almost the same as RD 2000 physically. Housing wise they are made very sturdy so we have no complaint whatsoever besides their weight that clocks around 50 lbs. The FP 90 is available in black and white finish or can be added with a table setup for home use.
What’s noticeably different from the two is their interface. As you can see, the stage piano RD 2000 is very complex in a glance and while the two have a dedicated small display in the middle, the layout is very much different with RD being richer with buttons, knobs, as well as faders. However, just like most stage pianos, it doesn’t have a built-in speaker like FP 90 so we will need to plug some output device to listen to the sound.
Roland RD 2000 and FP 90 Keys
Moving to the most important part, let’s see what the Roland RD 2000 and FP 90 can offer and as it has been mentioned above, one of the best parts of these pianos is their keys and this is because they are using the same technology called PHA-50 which is also among the most realistic in the market. They are a 88-keys hybrid or wood and plastic combination structure with ivory or ebony simulation surface. This technology is working really well as it mimics grand piano experience.
Inside the structure these plastic and wood are using weighted hammers that are differently designed depending on the keys to reproduce the mechanical movement that you can find on acoustic pianos. In experience they are very good and feel very responsive too. What’s interestingly different is that FP 90 allows you to adjust the sensitivity within 1-100 range which we personally never see on any pianos and even the RD 2000 only comes with 5 types and offsets.
Roland RD 2000 and FP 90 Sound
Next let’s talk about the sound engine on both pianos and here the Roland RD 2000 and FP 90 are also similar with a noticeable difference. As a stage piano, the RD 2000 is coming with V-Piano and SuperNATURAL hybrid modeling and the first technology is what allows this piano to shape the sound to how you want them and to give an example of how Roland is very confident about how good the sound is, they made the first 10 acoustic piano presets based on this engine.
On the other hand FP 90 only uses the famous SuperNATURAL which can be found in many other Roland’s pianos. The one used here is a sound modeling so it is not entirely based on samples and what this technology does is recreating the sound to the complex behavior with hundreds of elements involved in the acoustic instrument. This method allows players to get that rich, complex sound, complete with overtones and just the way you play it.
Roland RD 2000 and FP 90 Features
Lastly on the features part, we want to talk about what RD 2000 is very capable of and it is the sound shaping part. Both pianos have the Piano Designer but you can do more on the RD 2000, for example the modulation function to provide a variety of effects. It also provides more control over your sound with 8 assignable knobs, 2 modulation, 9 faders, pitch bends, and many more sound effects to try. We can even create 8 zones with effective splitting and layering on the piano.
Roland RD 2000 Vs FP 90
There are so many good digital pianos to consider such as Roland RD 2000 and FP 90. These pianos are very similar, sound really good, and perfect for a wide range of players but, the RD 2000 is designed more for professionals and those who probably compose their own sound especially on stage since it has the function and freedom to do so. FP 90 sounds similarly good too with the same keys but it doesn’t offer the level of functionality RD 2000 has.
Conclusion
Depending on which sounds more ideal for you, our choice can be very different but, if you only need a good piano that can be used for live performance, FP 90 is more affordable but if you are also focusing on sound shaping, the RD 2000 gives more in the setup.
