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0:00 - Video Introduction on the Roland GP9
0:28 - Video Overview
0:55 - Spec Rundown
5:51 - Piano Sound Review
10:20 - Stu’s Take
17:19 - Final Thoughts
Hello! Today we’re back with our first comprehensive look at the brand new Roland GP9 - the flagship model of their revamped GP digital baby grand series.
Today we’ll look to answer the question; is the GP9 good enough to flip acoustic piano shoppers over to the digital realm, or are we really just looking at a piece of expensive eye candy?
Video Overview
The GP9, which replaces the GP609, has been touted as a modern masterpiece of acoustic engineering and digital wizardry. Roland has totally rebuilt the modeling-based tone engine, added multi-channel amplifiers, and redesigned the action by outfitting it with a brand-new key detection system.
So, how close does the GP9 get to the real thing? It of course has the gorgeous aesthetic of a grand piano, but does it truly recreate the singular musical experience of a grand piano? Let’s find out.
Spec Rundown
Piano Sound
The GP9 has the top version of all of the core components Roland makes, i.e., the top tone engine, action, speakers, amps and cabinetry. With the release of the GP line, Roland has also changed their naming conventions with regard to specs, unifying different components under the Piano Reality banner.
With that, the new sound engine is being referred to as the Piano Reality Modeling Concert Sound Engine, and this is a direct update to the PureAcoustic modeling engine. This new engine is improved in a number of ways, but perhaps most significantly in that it’s offering multi-channel output for extremely high fidelity.
The tone engine is presented by 8 digital amplifiers, driving 8 speakers and 3 distinct speaker boxes with a rated power output of 150 watts.
We’re of course also looking at limitless polyphony on acoustic piano sounds, and 324 sounds in total. You’re of course given a massive amount of editability of the piano tone as has been the case with Roland models for a while now.
Action
The new Piano Reality Hybrid Concert Keyboard is an upgrade to the Hybrid Grand action and features a rewritten key detection algorithm to increase the speed of accurate detection. It also boasts one of the longest key lengths of any digital piano action and features a mix of wood and plastic.
The mechanical noise has been reduced, and the stabilizer pin remains a critical feature of the action, making advanced classical repertoire well within this action’s capabilities.
Roland has also included the new Haptic Key Vibration feature which recreates the natural passive resonance that would occur through non-musical parts of the piano.
Features & Connectivity
The GP9 features easy Bluetooth MIDI and Audio integration, USB ports, ¼” line output, stereo mini line in and dual headphone ports.
Roland is also offering a large and growing library of online songs accessible through the Roland Cloud service. Of course, all standard features like Split, Metronome and Transpose are included as well.
The control surface is very low profile but intuitive, and the high gloss polyester finish is of the highest quality possible.
Musical Impressions
The two core piano patches are the Concert and Studio pianos, and odds are most players will spend the majority of their time playing with these two. The Concert piano has a real NY Steinway character, whereas the Studio piano has a more German character.
It sounds great through headphones, but the ultimate experience is when you play through the powerful on-board speakers which really do create a grand piano sound stage. Even playing around with the music rest affects your experience of the tone.
In terms of realism, both the bass and upper treble truly sound like a real acoustic piano, and while everything in between doesn’t get quite as close, it’s still fantastically realistic across the range.
The action is easily among the best available, and the Haptic Key Vibration effect is very apparent and adds another layer to the experience.
Final Thoughts
As to whether the GP9 is capable of scooping up acoustic piano customers, we think the answer is yes - The musical experience is authentic enough, especially when paired with the maintenance and convenience advantages only a digital piano can offer.
Truly an incredible achievement by Roland. Give us a visit to try one for yourself!
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