Product Review: Roland FP-10 – Portable Piano

With the FP-10, Roland enters a price range that was completely dominated by Yamaha in the last few years. If you wanted to get something “reasonable” for around 400 euro, you simply couldn’t get past the P-45. However, central features of a digital piano excel in the Roland FP-10 – and so the cards are reshuffled.

The Roland FP-10 offers – as usual in its price range and category – a stable as well as lightweight chassis. It is as compact as possible and had to endure the red pencil as a constant companion in terms of equipment during the development phase. A proven means of defying the price pressure is to concentrate on the essentials: For a piano, these are piano sound and keyboard. And with the Roland FP-10, the manufacturer has found a more than proper solution for both.

In any case, costs were cut regarding the included accessories. Instead of a proper sustain pedal, you get a small foot switch. The half-pedal function of the FP-10 can hardly be controlled with it, but a suitable sustain pedal is available as an optional accessory for around 30 euro. The Roland DP-10 is a good choice. Also, a stand (KSCFP10) is offered as an optional accessory, which is the norm for portable pianos.

SuperNatural Piano: Authentic Piano Sound

Roland’s SuperNatural sound engine is the quality feature of even the smallest FP. The first notes played on the FP-10 already create a good feeling – sound and response via keyboard work very well. The “Grand Piano 1” grand piano sound offers all the technical sound requirements a digital piano should have – you can access it any time through the only direct selection button.

Especially the Sympathetic Resonance and Damper Resonance contribute to the overall good sound through the detailed reproduction of the string resonances. As does the progression of the string vibration in the final notes. Thanks to the Key-Off effect, the sound can be played in a well articulated manner – it is also a real pleasure in terms of dynamics. The polyphony of 96 voices is not necessarily ground-breaking, but still completely sufficient for playing the piano – a higher count than that of the Yamaha P-45 mentioned at the beginning.

Best keyboard in the entry-level class!

Even experienced piano players will feel right at home on this entry-level piano. The keyboard of the FP-10 benefits from the larger Roland FP-30 and FP-60 models: The “PHA-4 Standard” keyboard provides direct touch sensitivity. Keys do not play too smoothly and offer a pleasant counterweight to the fingers. In addition to the Ivory Touch surface, this keyboard is equipped with let-off simulation and very effective graded hammer action.

Not only the price is right, but also the quality – an absolute recommendation, especially for beginners who want authentic piano touch sensitivity. The moisture-absorbing surface (Ivory Feel) on the white keys is also not a given in the price segment.

The Roland FP-10 is very easy to use

Actually, you do not need to do much to the FP-10 as long as you sit down to play the SuperNatural Piano. The volume control via two illuminated touch buttons is perhaps a bit awkward, but still is manageable. The headphone jack on the back of the case (which I personally don’t like, but is quite common in this price range) turns off the built-in speakers.

More comfort and functions with Piano Partner 2

The really minimally equipped control panel may give the impression that the FP-10 only has few functions to offer. Reality is far from that, but to comfortably use features such as split, layer or twin piano (for four-handed playing), the app Piano Partner 2 is recommended. Roland offers the app free of charge for iOS and Android, both for tablets and smartphones.

Here, the FP-10 connects via Bluetooth MIDI and you can very easily not only switch the sounds, layer or set splits, but also be invited to piano exercises. Saving sounds or settings is not possible, but the mere existence of an app is already a plus point, because it makes the FP-10 relatively easy to use.

Of course, all imaginable software instruments in Garage Band, Korg Gadget or modules (or whatever) can be controlled easily via Bluetooth MIDI.

And how does the Roland FP-10 sound?

Of course, in terms of quality the SuperNatural Piano is beyond any doubt. But the 14 other “Tones” do not need to humble themselves either. Strings or synthesizer pads are wonderful partners for sustained keyboard sounds, and if the piano sound needs a little assertiveness, a crisp electric piano can always be added.

The built-in speakers authentically bring the piano sound across. It’s amazing how the dynamics are reproduced via the finely tuned cabinet. However, the real qualities only come into play via headphones. Here, as mentioned, Grand Piano 1 is a real treat. But the other piano sound, electric piano and pad sounds are also very usable – the Roland FP-10 can even be used as a stage keyboard.

Conclusion: Recommendation (not only) for beginners

The most important thing – great piano sound and a keyboard to “match” it – make the Roland FP-10 an absolutely recommendable purchase. The “Best Buy” award in the category “Portable Piano under 500 Euros” is well deserved by the Roland FP-10 – read more in the electric piano test 2019: The best entry-level digital pianos.

Thanks to Bluetooth MIDI and the useful “Piano Partner 2” app, there’s only one thing left to say: There is nothing missing on Roland’s smallest piano – as long as you don’t expect too much from the built-in speakers. Beginners and advanced users will enjoy the FP-10 for years to come.

Roland FP-10 – Overview

Available since: 01.2019
Keyboard: PHA-4 Standard with graded hammer action, pressure point simulation and Ivory feel
Polyphony: 96 voices
Piano app: Roland Piano Partner 2 (available free of charge for iOS/Android)
Accessoires: keyboard stand (KSCFP10), sustain pedal (Roland DP-10)
Manufacturer/Distributor: Roland

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