🎹Roland DP603 vs Kawai CA58 Digital Piano Comparison, Review & Demo🎹

[@manuelcreinhardt]

These reviews are absolutely fantastic!! I know that Merriam Music has to sell pianos but the reviews still have some honesty ans great information that you don't find often in these kind of vids. Outstanding playing, very jazzy what appeals to me personally. This man knows his stuff and thats why I really enjoy watching him. Planing to get my first piano, watching reviews and seeing/touching a few in stores, hands down I go for a Kawai. This CA-58 seems to be a great deal if you want to save the 1000USD/EUR needed to get the CA-78/79. You don't get the fancy touch-screen and the better action but hey, its 1000 bucks.

[@Stephen_Banyra]

You are absolutely the best of all the KZbin piano reviewers. Man, you can really play! Your observations and off-the-cuff comments are valuable. Thank you.

[@MerriamPianos]

Glad you like them! Much appreciated Stephen. -stu

[@ayoungethan]

Technically, modelling takes very little memory but does require a very fast and powerful processor optimized for low latency throughput. The relatively low price of small powerful processors today that operate at low temperatures (so don't need a noisy or expensive cooling system) enables this technology. Sampling requires massive amounts of fast data storage, so has also benefited from price decreases and performance increases of fast storage (eg solid state) space. Having used and researched both, it is my opinion that they complement each other very well. These are great reviews.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for the depth on this comment ayoungethan! It's pretty crazy how far things have come for both technologies, and how inexpensive they can be constructed for. Really enjoyed your thoughts on this! -stu

[@jamesdrake1534]

After watching this review I seriously have started to consider buying a more expensive piano for myself and my kids instead of an entry-level RP / KDP / YDP digital piano. I'm really enjoying to watch any of your YT reviews on pianos. I found them even more entertaining then Netflix ;) Amazing job!

[@samwang5831]

I for one like the Roland sound, it is pleasant to my ears and distinctly different. What Kawai does slightly better is that 1. the lower velocities are more readily reflected in the output. This may be useful for players who want to be more expressive, 2. The resonance sound is closer to an accoustic piano. As for the sound output dont rely on the wattage figures. New Class D amp are well over 90% efficient while the traditional Class A amp are less than 50%. Loudness is measured by decibels, not watts consumed. You dont judge the top speed of your car by its gas consumption! AFAIK only Roland shows the loudness in decibels. As always, rely on your ears.

[@cyndi2342]

For years, I have been addicted to an acoustic piano. These need mobile technology, no tuning, and a great wide range of sound. I know the pianos are installed with a natural sound of a real piano, recorded note for note. I have ten-year-old Roland. Combining bass notes give those sound effects rather than wireless technology from a cell phone. Does either of these pianos still have the ability to adjust the notes of the keyboard up or down when playing in one key and sounding in a different key? I find both have great sound depending upon what is playing. They both require electric power, unlike the acoustic my mom played during power outages. Better get a solar power source for that higher wattage piano. I see they are compatible with IOS iPads and Androids. That is a nice feature for eliminating heat. Is there just a keyboard to carry? My Roland weighs 100 pounds. Are the pedals virtual or does one need to check if they are polarized (pedal up on Roland holds notes but stops sustaining on other pianos)? Some pedals come with a polarization switch. Maybe that defaults to an acoustic piano action? If they have midi in/out, what is the best software to do layering? Would it be nice if phones use voice commands rather than needing to be handled at end of a sound effect?

[@elizabethvhwong]

The sound from Roland is more vivid this time. ^^

[@actie-reactie]

Thanks for once again a good review 👍

[@alla9859]

First review seemed kind of objective. This follow-up, with all due respect, seems as though Roland asked to be more promoted. Granted, the first review was not showcasing the sounds accurately and it called for another video focusing on better audio, but this video seems like a consorted effort to make Roland look good or better. And yet, there seems to be some consensus in that the Kawai sounds better in both videos.

[@sonofabe]

This is my exact dilemma! How do I choose?! To complicate things, the closest I've found to a DP603 in stores is an HP704. Roland DPs are hard to find! For piano reasons, I prefer the CA58 for the action and tone+sound. The 704 (which has the same action system and sound modeling as the 603) is almost as good for my tastes. It should be an easy decision, but I have limited space and I greatly prefer the modern aesthetic of the DP603 cabinet. If I go for looks and choose the Roland, how much will I regret my decision?? Specifically, is DP603 similar to the HP704 in sound and volume? I'm concerned about its smaller speakers. I need bass!

[@benjaminsmith2287]

CA58 is a nice sounding instrument. This Roland is nice enough but, maybe you're just connecting to the Kawai more. There's a lot of music coming out of the C58.

[@salvorametta8592]

Kawai best sound !!

[@herbiehusker8468]

To my untrained ear, the Roland sounds more electric or synthesized while the Kawai sounds more acoustic.

[@nigo1787]

when he put the "european" tuning, whatever that means, it sounds a lot better. I think the Kawai sounds better but I wonder what this supernatual thing is capable of and what it's like to live with

[@nicojar]

There absolutely no way you could make the difference between modelling and sampling on a youtube video quality, sorry mate, but this is placebo thinking ;)

[@ayoungethan]

Also some other reviewers (such as Tim at AtoZpiano) say that Roland is using some more modern amp and speaker tech that operates at much higher efficiencies (more power/sound and less heat per unit of power). If you compare the power consumption specs per dB (not per watt!) this should confirm or dispute this idea. My understanding is that the Rolands have very low power consumption compared to other DPs in large part due to more efficient soeakers and amps, both (like how an LED bulb provides same or greater brightness of an incandescent at a fraction of the power)

[@samwang5831]

Strictly speaking sound level should be measured in decibels, not watts. The amp output is just the consumption figure. As you rightly point out different amplifiers have different efficiency levels, and so comparing watts can be misleading

[@rolexmarcelo3218]

The DP-603 must have been the console piano where Roland derived the FP90x from. They just updated the piano modelling to pure acoustic and voila (!) it's the FP90x.

[@MerriamPianos]

There are certainly a lot of parallels between the instruments! That is for sure. :)

[@claude5125]

Thanks for your work. My fist piano was a Roland. I changed it for an acoustic one. Roland ans Kawai are really good quality instrument… Like Yamaha… Casio is not bad at all, but not as good à the 3 others. For me,, i would buy a Kawai, because of the touch… don’t forget also that Kawai build also acoustic piano., not Roland. They « transfer » or synthetize the sound of their own piano.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi Claude! You're very welcome! We're happy to hear that you have been enjoying the videos! Thank you for sharing your insights and happy playing! :)

[@someguyfromarcticfreezer6854]

Are these better than my Kawai CN 39 piano? It hard to tell by headphones, I have always dream to have one of the best piano but I have only budget to get Kawai CN 39, I usually get disposable to 2,000 - 2,500 dollar pianos (I know real pianos cost much more and electrical piano doesn't need maintenance).

[@wayne3077]

I looked at this review hoping to answer some questions that I have knowing that the DP603 was replaced by the HP704. I currently have a Roland FP-10 and am looking to upgrade into something that I can grow into. I've not seen Merriam/Stu review any of the HP or LX models of the Roland family (yet) and hope they might consider some reviews before I purchase. Many of the reviews that I DO read from primarily American and Australian merchants seen to bias toward the HP704 vs any of the LX models. If anyone reading has any thoughts, I'd be interested in them.

[@Erainia]

The Kawai sounds HUGELY better than the Roland, the Roland sounds super synthetic and fake to me

[@jobsucks]

I feel the same way. But I haven’t actually listen to either tone engine in person. Only comparison I have is through these comparison videos. I suspect being in front of the actual instruments will be a completely different experience. I can hardly wait to get into a showroom and “test drive” and couple of different models

[@robbolden9871]

Was just wondering..does the phone or tab need to stay on to enable the piano to continue with the sounds? Looks like it could suck battery life out of the phone or tab while in use.

[@RafaelGrigorian]

Great review! However Kawai and Onkyo partnership starts from CA78 not CA58

[@fredericqiu]

cn39 ca49/59

[@yukchiwu9350]

I just went to the shop and made comparison between CA58 and DP 603. I prefer DP 603 instead of Kawai in terms of key action and sound. Anyway, it is quite personal. The fact is both are good enough and comparable to each other.

[@СветланаЛобода-я5п]

Roland 💯🥳

[@franmorr1966]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@claytonroot806]

Asthetically, I find the Roland to be quite frankly ugly with it's tacked on music rack and the upside down automotive trunk closure arcs. To my ear, the Kawai sounds more accurate as a representation of an acoustic piano. With today's processing power and inexpensive memory enabling VERY high quality sampling, it is my opinion that the days of piano "modelling" are coming to a close. Therefore, Kawai CA58 for the win, although my wife and I are considering the Kawai CA99 so this comparison is less relevant to our goal.

[@corolex]

Clayton Root I can't decide between CA79 and CA99 for the same reason you don't like the roland, the tacked on rack. What is your opinion between these two and why would you prefer the CA99? Thanks

[@claytonroot806]

@@corolex The SOUND Board is a big reason for choosing the CA99, along with the higher specification amplification/speaker system, the extra voices onboard, and we prefer the aesthetic look of the CA99 which appears more like a real upright piano rather than a digital model. Yes, the price is higher but still nowhere near the realm, nor the weight, of a decent acoustic piano. We haven't actually seen/heard/played a Kawai CA99 yet but one is in transit to our local dealer and should arrive in about a week.

[@corolex]

@@claytonroot806 thanks, after spending time comparing I went with the CA99 for the looks even though I usually play with headphones so speakers won't matter. Between the two the CA99 is a complete instrument not a chopped off grand piano

[@someguyfromarcticfreezer6854]

CA99 labelled as best digital piano in 2020, my only question is: where do you work to get that budget? (everybody have cars and boats in that price range).

[@wayne3077]

I looked at this review hoping to answer some questions that I have knowing that the DP603 was replaced by the HP704. I currently have a Roland FP-10 and am looking to upgrade into something that I can grow into. I've not seen Merriam/Stu review any of the HP or LX models of the Roland family (yet) and hope they might consider some reviews before I purchase. Many of the reviews that I DO read from primarily American and Australian merchants seen to bias toward the HP704 vs any of the LX models. If anyone reading has any thoughts, I'd be interested in them.