Yamaha P121 Vs Roland FP 10
Digital pianos can be an alternative to the acoustic instrument because they are more compact and affordable. Many good pianos, like the Yamaha P121 Vs Roland FP 10, are also affordable. These pianos suit beginners and experienced players who want a reliable instrument to polish their skills or perform their music. While sharing some similarities, there are also differences that you may want to know before making the decision, so let’s see what they can offer below.
In this comparison, we will talk about the following:
- What are the Yamaha P121 and Roland FP10?
- How is the Design of Yamaha P121 and Roland FP10?
- How is the Key Action in Yamaha P121 and Roland FP10?
- How is the Sound Quality of Yamaha P121 and Roland FP10?
- What are the Features of Yamaha P121 and Roland FP10?
- Which Digital Piano to Buy?
Yamaha P121 | Roland FP 10 | |
---|---|---|
Product Dimensions | 43.86 x 11.61 x 6.54 inches | 15.94 x 11.1 x 54.45 inches |
Shipping Weight | 32.2 pounds | 27 pounds |
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About the Yamaha P121 and Roland FP10
The piano is one of the most popular musical instruments in the world, and many are interested in learning it. However, acoustic pianos are expensive and require proper maintenance that only some are willing to provide. Moreover, the instrument takes up quite a lot of space in your house. On the other hand, a digital piano is more compact and affordable, making it more accessible for most people. While it may not be as authentic as the real piano, a digital piano is versatile for beginners and professional musicians. Read also: Yamaha P121 Vs Yamaha P125.
Yamaha and Roland are some of the most well-known digital piano makers, with plenty of models to choose from. You can find entry-level pianos to those chosen by professionals to perform their music. If you don’t want to spend much yet need a reliable instrument for home use or performance, the Yamaha P121 and Roland FP10 are two ideal options. These pianos are similar but different, and the most notable difference is the number of keys because the P121 is a compact model with only 73 keys.
The overall quality of the Yamaha P121 and Roland FP10 is very similar, but other differences may affect your decision, such as the key action and sound engine. We do like the keys on FP 10 because it is a full-size piano, but the sound engine is better on the P121, so this model may be better for professionals or traveling musicians who want a compact yet rich instrument.
Yamaha P121 and Roland FP10 Design
Before checking the others, let’s see the unit first. As mentioned above, one of the main differences between the Yamaha P121 and Roland FP10 is the design because P121 is a 73-key piano. At the same time, FP10 is a full-size 88-key piano, meaning it is wider in dimension. Build quality is good, but the P121 has more features; hence the control panel is a bit more complicated. Neither of these pianos is heavy, but using a carrying bag when transporting the instrument is best. Both pianos have a matte finish which is prone to scratches.
Yamaha P121 and Roland FP10 Key Action
It is necessary to consider the key action when buying a digital piano because it affects the playing experience. Since the Yamaha P121 and Roland FP10 come from different companies, the key action also varies, with P121 using Yamaha GHS keys and FP10 using Roland PHA4 keys, aside from the fact that P121 only has 73 keys. Both key actions are the essential technologies of each company, yet they are also different. Yamaha GHS is known to be light and easy to play; it is good but less authentic than the higher key actions from the company.
The PHA4 is generally the better key as it feels more solid. This key action features matte black keys and escapement, which are absent in GHS keys. If you want more authentic piano keys, we recommend the Roland FP10.
Yamaha P121 and Roland FP10 Sound Quality
Next is the sound quality, which relies on the sound engine and onboard sound system. This is where Yamaha P121 shows its place compared to FP10 because this model already comes with a Pure CF sound engine, the technology that samples Yamaha’s famous concert piano, and many people love the rich sound it produces. The Pure CF also has 192-note polyphony, so you won’t run out of notes to play. As for the built-in voices, this piano has 24 voices with several acoustic and electric piano variations. Read also: Yamaha P121 Vs Yamaha P45.
On the other hand, the Roland FP10 uses the SuperNATURAL sound engine, also available on many different pianos from Roland. This sound engine is known to produce good sound quality, but the FP10 only has 96-note polyphony and 15 built-in voices, so it may be limiting for experienced players who want to play more complex songs or want more sounds to meet their music preferences.
Yamaha P121 and Roland FP10 Features
Next, we want to see what you can find on Yamaha P121 and Roland FP10. Like most pianos, you can use these pianos in dual and duo modes. Dual mode is layering two voices from different instruments to enrich your sound, while the duo splits the keyboard into two parts with the same pitch so two people can play side by side. The FP10 lacks the split mode on the P121 to split the keyboard into two parts and play a different voice for each part. This feature is only available for P10 via the app.
Yamaha P121 Vs Roland FP10
The Yamaha P121 and Roland FP10 are good pianos for the price, but they have many differences that may affect your decision. First, the P121 is a compact 72-key piano, while the FP10 is a full-size 88-key piano. Second, the P121 uses GHS, which is generally less impressive than the PHA4 from Roland regarding playing experience. Third, P121 is geared towards experienced players and professionals with a better Pure CF sound engine, higher polyphony count, and built-in voices. In addition, the P121 is more compact and has a built-in split mode.
Conclusion
The decision is yours because we may have different applications and preferences. However, if you prefer a full-size piano, the FP10 has the clear advantage of having 88 keys and full seven octaves. On the other hand, if you prefer the richer sound and more voices to play or will often travel with the piano, the more compact P121 has the clear advantage of being narrower and lighter. Both pianos are excellent for their price, and you should choose based on what you want from the instrument.