Roland RD-2000 Review

The feel of the PHA-50 keybed is the central plus point

On the PHA-50, which combines wood and resin with escapement, reviewers often say it is "close to an acoustic even though it is built for the stage" and that "the touch is excellent and rewarding to play." The fact that it is the same keybed as the higher console models is also cited as reassuring.

The two engines, V-Piano and SuperNATURAL, give a wide range of sound

With 1,100 voices on board, the ability to cover everything from piano to electric piano, organ and synth in one instrument is well received. The V-Piano-based piano tones in particular are described by some as "dense for a stage instrument."

Direct, hands-on control with knobs and sliders

The knobs, sliders and buttons laid out across the front panel, which let you adjust voices and balance without diving into menus, are highly rated by players who use it live.

Solid build

On the body, which makes heavy use of metal, several reviews note the practical point that it "has the rigidity to be relied on even under hard use on the job."

No built-in speakers

Because the RD-2000 has no speakers, even casual playing at home requires an external amplifier or headphones. A common takeaway is that it is not suited to mainly practice-oriented use.

Comments that the panel display is hard to read

The low contrast of the display and panel lettering is repeatedly noted as hard to read unless you are in a bright location.

The manual and MIDI setup are hard to follow

When you want fine control over external sound sources, some say the supplied manual is too shallow and the setup takes effort. The takeaway is that, being feature-rich, it takes some familiarity to master.

Dissatisfaction with the feel of the sliders and the spacing of the controls

Some comments also note that the sliders feel a little cheap and that the controls sit close together, which is cramped for players with larger hands.