Roland GO:KEYS 3 vs GO:KEYS 5 sound comparison.

Because I could not find a comparison between the new Roland GoKeys 3 and GoKeys 5 I decided to make one myself. It's pretty basic, but maybe it'll give a idea of the difference in sound. To my ears, the 5 sounds fuller, especially when playing music with a lot of bass. Taking into account the extra connection possibilities, I decided to keep the 5.
UPDATE
The 5 (3 also?) has 50 available style slots, 256 patch/sound slots and 64 drumkit slots. I don't know how to check how much Wave memory there is.
No MIDI recording overdub (as the OG has), only on audio so a USB stick is needed in that case.
Differences as on 5 may and firmware 1.04 (what the 5 has and the 3 hasn't):
- Stereo out jacks, the speakers can stay on while connected (menu item). The headphones jack mutes the speakers no matter what (as on the 3)
- Better speaker system. Smaller in size (the round grill closer to center are the actual speakers) but the "boxed" system and the passive radiators make a ton of difference in the low-end and overal quality.
- Mic in and mic-on-headset combined with headphones jack in. Both sensitivities individually set in the menu system.
- Voice effects.
- Line in (mini jack)
- Expression pedal in
- 2nd USB host jack for Roland cloud dongle only. Able to power something through this port, who dares to try this?
- Somewhat different button layout (5 has no dedicated BT and metrome buttons, these are voice related).
- Wave expansions available on Roland cloud (3 has only Style - and Sound packs). Why?
- Am I missing something else?
#rolandgokeys3 #rolandgokeys5 #gokeys #roland

[@TheBestStuffForKids]

I just bought a Go:Keys5. I'm so glad I did and that you did this comparison.

[@Patric1976]

welcome!

[@YotamPiano]

Very nice and useful comparison mate, thumbs up from me. I wish the 5 was available in the super cool colors the 3 is, though :)

[@Patric1976]

Thanks! I must say that the white color looks really nice in reality! Only downside is that the button labels are a bit harder to read then on the dark blue 3.

[@gosampeinturemusique]

Great short review , thanks 👍🏻

[@charlielynes]

Superb video. Simple, informative, and engaging... and the accent is magnificent 🫡🍻

[@Patric1976]

Thank you very much! Maybe I'll make the accent "my thing" then 😁

[@markclarkemusic]

Thanks for posting this. Great info!

[@Michael0320]

Great comparison, thank you

[@Patric1976]

You're welcome!

[@oliverbones8966]

Very needed video mate thank you! You have an awesome accent too, please never apologies for that.

[@Patric1976]

Thank you very much. And I won't, promise 👍

[@davidsanchismonzo4668]

Great work, thanks!

[@Patric1976]

You're very welcome!

[@Kothag]

Thanks so much for this!

[@Patric1976]

You're very welcome!

[@PhilW222]

Surprising amount of difference, the 5’s speakers clearly superior.

[@Patric1976]

Yes to my ears also.

[@SirEsau]

For the price i thing Go Keys 3 is a better option for me. Thanks fot this video!

[@MelissaMay-hm1do]

Why do you want the 3? I am curious. I am leaning to 3 because of its smaller footprint for travel; but I am afraid I might wish I had the 5 for the additional ports and mic capability...

[@SirEsau]

Probably for you the 5 is better for compatibility and more quality in the sound

[@DaveToneMusic]

@@MelissaMay-hm1do Just a heads up on the size, the Go:Keys 3 and Go:Keys 5 are both 950 x 286 x 87mm There's no difference in the footprint so if you like the options on the 5 better then definitely go for that as it's exactly the same size. Good luck and have fun with whatever you decide.

[@JeanV1986]

Note that on both keyboards, you can change the equalizer. On my Go Keys 3, I setup slightly more bass and treble, and the sound is quite a bit clearer, but on bass heavy sounds, playing at loud volumes results in some distortion.

[@Patric1976]

Yes, for the comparison I turned off the EQ, but on some sounds I need to turn it down a bit because the plastic housing tends to vibrate along with the speakers sometimes.

[@sherij973]

Thank you for this review - and no need to apologise for your accent, embrace it. I’m looking to update my ‘carry around’ teaching keyboard and I do prefer boxed keys. I’m tempted to try go and try one out.

[@Patric1976]

Thank you very much! The keys are quite nice, I'm actually a classically trained pianist myself and I have no trouble controlling the velocity despite of them being unweighted. The OG GoKeys gave me a much harder time. The action of the Casio CT-S500 was also very nice and comparable to this one.

[@mattnorvell9477]

​@Patric1976 I had fun with the CTS 1000v (same as the CTS 500, but with the vocoder like effects). I ultimately returned the Casio and got the GoKeys 5. It has similar box style keys as the Casio, but where the Casio keys felt a bit spongy, the Roland keys feel excellent. I have much better expressive control with the Roland vs. the Casio, but that's just my opinion. I dont like the shallow key depth near the top of the keys. It's not awful, but key travel distance had to be compromised to make this keyboard so compact. The Casio is roughly the same size and suffers from the same problem.

[@MelissaMay-hm1do]

@@mattnorvell9477 helpful commentary since I am stuck between a GoKeys and a Casio...Thank you

[@KatieBerryBooks]

Perfect! Thanks for this!! I am so looking at both. The 5 sounds so much better, though. And your accent isn't terrible. 🙂

[@Patric1976]

Nice! And thank you 😄

[@Dr-Stu]

Bedankt Patric!

[@Patric1976]

Alstu!

[@aseomg]

The speakers can remain on while using the output jacks? Good to know...because that was not stated in the Go Keys manual. Appreciate the upload! 😎

[@Patric1976]

Yes they can. Just like the OG can. Thanks!

[@JeanV1986]

Great comparison, thanks! I am pretty happy with the sound coming from my GoKeys 3, it is much better than the first Go keys I had. But indeed, the 5 is much better still. It seems like it has not only a passive radiator for better bass, but also a better speaker altogether.

[@Patric1976]

Thank you! It's defintately a step up from the "OG". More predictable key action, more sounds, split/dual... Only thing missing is MIDI recording overdub (no big deal since it can be done with internal audio, but still....).

[@mattnorvell9477]

Can you import .MID files from a USB?

[@doordedeur]

Other videos only mentioned that the 5 only has better speakers and connectivity than the 3. But according to the comments there are more differences, that make the 100 bucks extra for the 5 even a no-brainer.

[@Patric1976]

Yes, I'll make a summary of the differences in the description.

[@hackerbuff]

Thank you. Great accent btw.

[@Patric1976]

Haha. Thanks!

[@MelodicEgghead]

Great video! These new keyboards don't allow the record function where you can layer a song together?

[@Patric1976]

Thanks! They do when using the internal (to USB) audio recording feature. Then you can record layers .

[@MelodicEgghead]

@@Patric1976 Hmmm but if I just turn on the keyboard using batteries or whatever, can't I just hit record and the record another instrument over the first one etc.? And practically layer a part of song? And with the mic input, I can layer my own voice and layer harmonies right?

[@Patric1976]

@@MelodicEgghead Yes, you can record over the previous recording, but you can't edit afterwards. But it keeps the old recordings, so if you change your mind you can go back. But if you're on say layer 9 and you decide to change layer 5 you're in trouble Hmm.. record the mic. Makes sense, have to check if it does that.... ..... Yes it does record the mic!

[@MelodicEgghead]

@@Patric1976 Yes, if you check my Roland Go keys videos, that's what I do, I layer them, but they can't be edited after you are done recording that specific layer. So that's good to know that it can be done with this keyboard!!! Thanks a bunch!

[@Sound.b581]

I have read that the Go:keys 5 can also import the Wave Expansions that are the same as srx banks on the xv line. Do you know or can check for me how much it can be expanded before it runs out of memory space? I am very interested in the 5 but i want to know if it has enough memory so i can add 2-3 Wave expansions + my own soundbanks from zenology pro to it. There is no mention of how expandable it is which is the reason why i haven't bought one yet.

[@Patric1976]

I wish I could. I didn't succes in importing expansions I "found" on the internet and buying them just to try is a bit to pricey.... Indeed it does nog really give a clue on how much memory there is.

[@tufif]

The patches that sound so different, do they sound the same if they're both plugged in?

[@Patric1976]

I can't check that anymore (the 3 has gone back to the store), but I suspect they do as the engine is the same.

[@42Crows]

Does it respond to MIDI? Can only see a TX channel in the menu.

[@Patric1976]

Just checked that one out. Yes it does, through USB ofcourse. Reaper identifies it as "Roland Digital Piano" and it responds to channel 4 (can't find how to change that).

[@hiriwarikihana1283]

Man this an awesome product for the entry level market best by far imo. As a working musician (Guitarist) thats been wanting to dabble in keys for a while its been hard to try find something decent to learn on whilst also future proofing and looking for something thats also gigable but not ridiculously priced lol my natural inkling is to just shell out and get something way above what id need 😂 the gear lovers curse i spose. This is an awesome option 👌

[@Patric1976]

Yes it is! One might think they price it like this hoping to lure people into buying the expensive Fantom series once they're hooked! For the features I think it's a steel!

[@GregH.252]

I noticed on Roland Cloud the 5 has Wave Expansions, Style Packs, and Sound Packs - but 3 can only use Style Packs and Sound Packs.

[@Patric1976]

Oh really, that's interesting 🤔 I have not explored those possibilities yet. I hope adding patches and stuff can also be done using USB. Or maybe the extra USB can power something like a Polyend Tracker. That would make a nice portable setup, especially with the line-in de GoKeys has.

[@Dr-Stu]

I contacted Roland about what it can/can't load. They both can load .svz files from Zenology Pro, so you can save any patch you want from there on your PC/mac and load it to either go:keys via USB.

[@Patric1976]

I just watched an Andertons video where they say it can also be done via USB 🎉

[@Patric1976]

And it can. Just imported a free style-pack via USB stick.

[@Dr-Stu]

@Patric1976 cool! can it do a single patch by itself or just packs? Also is it being loaded to a specific user slot or being directly loaded(& housed) from the USB?

[@ChrisT-O]

I think, the main difference between them are the loudspeakers, they are much better in the Go:Keys5. But if you off the loudspeakers and use the same external loudspeakers with both, they will sound likely the same.

[@Patric1976]

Yes they probably will.

[@mattnorvell9477]

Has anyone found a way to play .MID files from the Web on the new GoKeys 3/5? It seems you can only import .WAV, and not .MID.

[@Patric1976]

Hook it up to a DAW, but it's not multitimbal then. Hope Roland will add this feature later.

[@ProFleer-ep4wq]

TBH the sounds on the Go:Keys 3 are already pretty incredible. Can’t imagine the Go:Keys 5 sounding even better. Anyway, ordered as well.

[@Patric1976]

Nice! Should you use headphones or external speakers the sound is the same ofcourse.... Have fun!

[@andrewober-reynolds9184]

I'm interested in the Roland go keys 3 I'm torn between the dark red and the midnight blue but right now I'm leaning towards the midnight blue

[@maciejpatek2141]

I bought Go Keys 5 midnight one ! Highly recommend over Keys 3 :)

[@mattnorvell9477]

Has anyone else heard a popping sound coming from the speakers when playing piano in the lowest octave? I thought my GoKeys 5 was a defective, so I exchanged it, and the replacement keyboard has the same popping sound when playing (mostly when piano tones in the lowest octave). The popping is faint but noticeable. I dont hear the popping with headphones.

[@Patric1976]

Yes, I do hear it. Also with other sounds. At first I thought it's resonance of the housing, but it's probably just the speaker system not fully able to cope with the low freq.

[@dddddddd9870]

do they have registration banks and how to quick change them in live?

[@Patric1976]

You can setup presets under the 5 keys (piano, e. piano, strings, etc) and change them to anything you want. They won't change with the scenes unfortunately....

[@user-wl3bp5ll2i]

What is the tampo range of the rhythm of Roland's Go: Kids 5&3!

[@Patric1976]

5-300bpm. Crazy wide!

[@jenslempke7501]

More treble/high frequencies om the 5. Probably just the speakers. Same Zencore engine (PCM/VA Structure)

[@Patric1976]

Yes but also definitely more bass. It really is noticable when using the GoKeys as a Bluetooth speaker or playing one of the internal rhythms. I should have done that on camera but now the 3 is already in its packaging.... Furthermore indeed exactly the same engine, menues etc. Only additional entities concerning the extra connections. And of course the voice stuff....

[@Odogwubeats]

Are you able to use a pedal on the 3 as well?

[@Patric1976]

Yes, but only a sustain pedal.

[@Odogwubeats]

@@Patric1976 thank you

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

Wouldn't they sound exactly the same if you using the line-out to a PA system with the same patch on both? I'm trying to find out what the differences between the 3 & the 5 are, but so far this is what I've heard: ^ The Go Keys 5 allows you to load Roland Wave expansion ZenCore sounds. These would be sounds with an entirely different sample, not just making new sounds using the onboard rom samples The Go Keys 5 has additional ports which include a port for an expression pedal The Go Keys 5 has better quality speakers than the Go Keys 3. Anything else? I'd also like to know more about what ZenCore sounds can be loaded on these keyboards vs other Roland ZenCore synths like the Fantom, Fantom 0, Juno X, Jupiter X, etc. Has anyone compared the features to the Yamaha MX? On the surface, they look similar, but are much cheaper.

[@Patric1976]

Yes, they probably would sound the same.... Those are the differences and some more. I've made a list in the description.

[@Robin_0011]

WHat about the original Roland Go keys, what's the difference

[@Patric1976]

Quite a lot. Only thing the OG can do more is overdub on MIDI recordings. All the rest the 3 or 5 wins hands down, except the 3 has no line in and the OG does

[@Robin_0011]

@@Patric1976 Thank you!

[@ConeyIsland1952]

speakers are different in between both keyboards

[@michaelbenge2388]

I think the speakers on the 5 are superior.

[@Patric1976]

Also to my ears: no doubt!

[@bobbymobay]

I like more music than talking. But the 5 sounds better. More playing than talking.

[@Patric1976]

Thanks, there're other video's for that.

[@rickmcquillis6626]

I preferred the sound of the 3 over the 5. 🎶🤔