Roland
HP-701
$1,500
Roland HP-701: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
10.0 Beginner 8.5 Night Practice 1.5 Portability 8.2 Touch Reality 7.3 Value
88 47 kg
Roland F-701 Review
Roland F-701: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
88 Keys 39 kg PHA-4 Standard
Bluetooth
Beginner
Scores
Where to Buy
MSRP
$1,649
Retail prices change, so check current pricing at retailers.
These buttons open retailer search results and may include affiliate tracking where available. Stock and listing status can change without notice.
How These Scores Were Calculated
Beginner
10.0| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 3.0 |
| Lesson Function | Yes | +1.5 |
| App Connectivity | Yes | +1.5 |
| Recording | Yes | +1 |
| Metronome | Yes | +0.5 |
| Transpose | Yes | +0.3 |
| Layer / Split | Yes | +0.3 |
| Preset Songs | 377 | +1.5 |
| Sound Variety | 324 sounds | +0.5 |
Night Practice
8.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 2.0 |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 | +2 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm, 3.5mm | +1.5 |
| Headphone Optimization | Yes | +1.5 |
| Key Action Quietness | PHA-4 Standard | +0 |
| Volume Control | Yes | +1 |
| Bluetooth Audio | Yes | +0.5 |
Portability
3.0| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 5.0 |
| Weight | 39 kg | -1.5 |
| Width | 1360 mm | -0.5 |
| Battery | No | +0 |
| Foldable | No | +0 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +0 |
Touch Reality
8.2| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Key Action Quality | PHA-4 Standard (grade 7) | +4.2 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +1.5 |
| Polyphony | 256 notes | +1.5 |
| Sound Modeling | SuperNATURAL Piano | +0.5 |
| Key Surface | ivory-feel | +0.5 |
Roland F-701 review verdict
This Roland F-701 review reads the published specifications from a comparison-first point of view: touch, sound, practice fit, value, and limits.
Roland F-701 is best read as a console digital piano for beginners and returning players. This review looks at weighted-key feel, sound, practice features, value, and realistic comparison points instead of treating the spec sheet as advertising copy.
Pros
- • Key count: 88 keys, a clear basis for digital piano comparison.
- • Touch: weighted hammer action, so the review stays focused on practice feel.
- • Quiet practice: Headphone practice support.
- • Connectivity: USB MIDI, Bluetooth and app support.
- • Use case: Its best fit is home practice.
Cons
- • Main limit: the need for maximum portability.
- • Furniture footprint should still be checked.
- • Nearby current models may offer a better match for some players.
Roland F-701 is a console digital piano that makes most sense when its strengths are matched to the right practice situation. The useful points are 88 keys, weighted hammer action, 256-note polyphony, 24W speakers, and a weight of 39 kg. In a digital piano review, those details matter more than broad claims about being the best digital piano overall. For home practice, this model can be a sensible candidate if the layout and feature set match the way the instrument will actually be used. It is still worth comparing as a current buying candidate. The fairest comparison is with models in the same price and use class, where touch, speakers, headphone practice, and connectivity can be judged side by side.
Roland F-701 evaluation points
Roland F-701 key action and touch
Roland F-701 uses a weighted hammer action. For a digital piano with weighted keys, the important question is not only whether the keys are heavy, but whether they help steady daily practice. The ivory feel key surface is a useful comfort detail. The specification lists 256-note polyphony; that is enough for ordinary pieces, while more layered playing or heavy pedal use benefits from a higher number. This makes the key action a practical comparison point rather than a decorative specification.
Who the Roland F-701 is for
Roland F-701 is most relevant for beginners and returning players. The main use case is home practice. Strengths: a more piano-like touch. Limits: the need for maximum portability. Buyers comparing digital pianos should also check the stand, pedal, headphone jack, app support, and local availability before deciding.
Roland F-701 sound and speakers
Roland F-701 offers 324 sounds and 24W speakers. That is the sound side of the review: enough variety for practice, but the real experience depends on speaker power, headphone use, and the room where it will be played. The headphone output supports quiet practice. For lessons, apps, or recording workflows, the useful connectivity is USB MIDI, Bluetooth and app support.
What to know before buying the Roland F-701
Before buying Roland F-701, compare it with nearby alternatives on touch, sound, portability, and value. The stand is included, which simplifies the purchase. A damper pedal is included, though some players may still want a fuller pedal unit. It is still worth comparing as a current buying candidate. For searchers looking for a Roland F-701 review, the practical conclusion is to treat it as one candidate in a digital piano comparison, not as a universal answer for every player.
Demo Video
Source:
Merriam Music Watch on YouTube ↗
Specifications
| Keys | 88 |
| Key Action | PHA-4 Standard |
| Polyphony | 256 notes |
| Sounds | 324 |
| Weight | 39 kg |
| Speakers | 24W (×2) |
| Bluetooth | Audio + MIDI |
| Key Surface | Ivory Feel |
| Sound Modeling | SuperNATURAL Piano |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm, 3.5mm |
| Headphone Optimization | Yes |
| USB MIDI | Yes |
| Line Out | No |
| Lesson Function | Yes |
| App Connectivity | Yes |
| Recording | Yes |
| Metronome | Yes |
| Transpose | Yes |
| Layer / Split | Yes |
| Preset Songs | 377 |
| Battery | No |
| Foldable | No |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 1360×345×781 mm |
| Stand Included | Yes |
| Pedal Included | Yes |
Spec terms are explained in the glossary. Glossary →
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Recommended Accessories
🪑
Stand
Stand included
A sturdy X-stand or furniture-style stand is essential if one isn't included.
🎧
Headphones
Closed-back headphones with good bass response make practice sessions more enjoyable.
🎹
Sustain Pedal
The included pedal is usually basic. A half-damper pedal upgrade is worthwhile for expressive playing.
💺
Bench
An adjustable-height bench helps maintain proper posture during long practice sessions.
Where to Buy
MSRP
$1,649
Retail prices change, so check current pricing at retailers.
These buttons open retailer search results and may include affiliate tracking where available. Stock and listing status can change without notice.
How It Compares
F-701 vs RP-107
The F-701 and RP-107 score very similarly across the main review axes. The RP-107 costs $349 less.
Roland RP-107 →F-701 vs YDP-S55
The F-701 scores higher in quiet practice. Choose the F-701 if quiet practice matters most.
Yamaha YDP-S55 →F-701 vs CLP-725
The F-701 scores higher in portability, while the CLP-725 is stronger in piano-like touch. The F-701 costs $51 less. Choose the F-701 if portability matters most.
Yamaha CLP-725 →Related Guides
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Read more →What reviewers say online
A synthesis of recurring points from price-comparison sites, Amazon reviews, music-store staff videos and forum threads. Not a star-rating average — we read across multiple reviews and pulled out the points that came up repeatedly.
The Roland F-701 packs the same PHA-4 Standard keybed as the popular FP-30X into a shallow, space-saving console. Across specialist and retailer reviews, most voices praise its honest, pleasant piano tone for the price and its slim design that sits easily against a wall, while some note that its built-in speakers and rigidity fall a step short of larger consoles.
Praised most often
-
A slim, space-saving design
Several reviews rate the shallow depth, which fits comfortably against a wall, as modern and easy to live with. Comments about everyday life often note how little it dominates a room as a piece of furniture.
-
The dependable touch of the PHA-4 Standard keybed
Reviews call the graded feel, heavier in the bass and lighter in the treble, along with the resistance partway through the keystroke (escapement), natural for the price. Since it is the same keybed as the portable FP-30X, most voices find it reassuring as an entry instrument.
-
An honest piano tone derived from SuperNATURAL
On Roland's SuperNATURAL piano engine, many reviews say the sound has density for the price and suits practice. With 324 voices and Bluetooth audio, it is described as easy to use for practising along with songs.
Common cautions and criticisms
-
Not the body of sound of a larger console
Because the built-in speakers are fitted into a slim cabinet, some note that the bass and the spread of resonance are harder to achieve than on larger cabinet models. There is also the view that in a large room, pairing it with headphones is the realistic approach.
-
A gentle evolution over the previous model
Several measured comments say that anyone upgrading from the older model (F-140R) expecting a dramatic leap will find it lacking. The main updates are generally seen as the added Bluetooth audio and the slimmer body.
-
The cabinet is a step less rigid than larger models
Being slim and light, it is also noted as not having the solid feel of a large, sturdy console. This is a relative judgement, on the premise that it is enough for everyday home use.
By source
-
Specialist review sites
Specialist sites such as PianoDreamers tend to group the F-701 and RP-701 as a gentle, steady evolution, praising the slim design and PHA-4 touch while framing the scope of the update as modest.
-
Retailer reviews & videos
Retailer reviews such as Merriam Music and Sweetwater tend to stress practical points: dependable as a first console for the home, and space-saving enough to be easy to place.
-
Head-to-head comparisons (vs RP-701 / FP-30X, etc.)
In play-offs against other models, the keybed is treated as the same dependable PHA-4 across the line, with the F-701's point of difference framed as its slim cabinet.
Net take
On balance, the F-701 earns steady marks in international reviews as a slim console that is easy to place. Its honest piano tone, dependable PHA-4 touch and space-saving cabinet sit at the centre of the praise, making it an easy candidate for those who want to set a piano comfortably against an apartment wall. If you value body of sound and the presence of a larger instrument, the higher HP range with its fuller speakers becomes a comparison candidate.
We do not compute a numeric star average. The points below are recurring themes we identified by reading across multiple reviews.
Sources & transparency
This page is written by the operator, who has run the piano-learning site Piano Juku since 2017, based on published manufacturer specifications. We are not a retailer or tied to any maker — every model is compared by the same criteria. About the operator
- Last verified
- Data referenced from
- Manufacturer official
How the 5-axis scores are calculated
We do not aggregate user reviews or star ratings (see methodology for why).
Spot a mistake or have a question about what's on this page? Let us know and we'll review it.
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Roland F-701