Roland HP 704 Full Review: The Best Upright Pianos

Roland HP 704

The Roland HP 704 is not just another digital piano; it’s a testament to Roland’s commitment to quality, innovation, and the pursuit of the perfect sound.

This review dives deep into the features, sound quality, and overall experience of playing the HP 704, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of what makes it stand out in the crowded digital piano market.

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Roland HP 704 Full Review: The Best Upright Pianos

Roland HP 704: Aesthetics and Design

Roland HP 704

The HP 704 boasts a modern, sleek cabinet design, reminiscent of Roland’s flagship LX range. Its appearance is both elegant and contemporary, ensuring it fits seamlessly into any living space.

The available finishes include Charcoal Black, Dark Rosewood, Light Oak, White, and Polished Ebony, catering to diverse aesthetic preferences.

Roland HP 704: Key Action: Where Tradition Meets Innovation

Roland PHA-50 action

One of the standout features of the HP 704 is its PHA-50 Keyboard. This wood and plastic hybrid structure is progressively weighted with escapement, offering a tactile feel that closely mimics that of an acoustic piano.

The longer, wooden, ebony, and ivory feel keys provide both the look and touch of a traditional instrument, allowing for nuanced play, whether you’re tackling simple melodies or complex compositions.

Roland HP 704: Sound Quality

Roland HP 704 in lounge with woman

The HP 704 employs Roland’s SuperNATURAL modeling engine, renowned for its ability to reproduce a rich and dynamic acoustic piano sound.

The HP704 also includes a large versatile library of non-piano sounds such as electric piano, strings, organ, and more.

The SuperNATURAL sound engine gives you an intimate and customizable connection with your keyboard. Each note can be shaped to respond to your touch and dynamics with the tone and harmonic accuracy you desire.

The multichannel speaker system, consisting of 2 x 25W + 2 x 5W speakers, further amplifies the depth and richness of the sound.

The four speakers are configured as two pairs inside the instrument, and each pair is optimized to deliver superior sound reproduction across the piano’s vast dynamic range.

From the noise of the hammers to subtle shifts in tone, this piano captures every detail, ensuring an expressive and immersive playing experience. Whether you’re playing or streaming music, you’ll hear every note in immersive, crystal-clear sound.

Headphones can be used with the piano so that you can practice silently and not disturb others around you.

Investing in professional headphones will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the Roland HP 704’s onboard sounds and focus on your piano practice completely. The headphones in the guide below are excellent choices:

The Best Headphones for Piano Practice & Recording (Top 8)

Roland HP 704: Features Galore

  • Internal Sounds: The HP 704 is packed with 324 internal sounds, offering a wide range of tonal possibilities.
  • Polyphony: Enjoy unlimited polyphony, ensuring no note drop-offs even during complex passages.
  • Connectivity: The inclusion of Bluetooth Audio and MIDI is a game-changer. It allows seamless integration with the Piano Every Day app, enhancing the learning and practice experience.
  • Music Streaming: You can stream music through the piano’s internal speakers, transforming the HP 704 into a Bluetooth speaker or playing along with your favorite tracks.
  • Warranty: The HP 704 comes with a 10-year warranty, a testament to its durability and Roland’s confidence in the product.
  • Extra Features: Other notable features include the Twin Piano mode, USB to Computer connectivity, and the Piano Designer, which lets you customize the sound to your liking.

Roland HP 704: Perfect for All Skill Levels

Whether you’re a beginner looking for a solid start or an expert seeking a reliable practice instrument, the HP 704 is versatile enough to cater to all skill levels.

Its responsive key action and authentic sound ensure that the player makes no compromises, regardless of their proficiency.

Roland HP 704 Price

Roland HP 704 comes with a 2-year warranty at Sweetwater

Specifications

The Roland HP 704 Weighs 61.0 kg (134 lbs 8 oz) including the piano stand.

FeatureDetails
Polyphony

Piano: Limitless (solo playing using ‘Piano’ category tones)
Other: 384
Size (including piano stand, when folding down the music rest):Width: 1,377 mm (54-1/4 inches)
Depth: 468 mm (18-7/16 inches)
Height: 1,113 mm (43-7/8 inches)
TonesTotal 324 Tones
KeyboardPHA-50 Keyboard: Wood and Plastic Hybrid Structure, with Escapement and Ebony/Ivory Feel (88 keys)
PedalProgressive Damper Action Pedal (Damper pedal: capable of continuous detection
Soft pedal: capable of continuous detection/function assignable
Sostenuto pedal: function assignable)
SpeakersCabinet + Near-field Speakers: 12 + 2.5 cm (5 + 1 inches) x 2 (Coaxial Speaker)
Spatial Speakers: 5 cm (2 inches) x 2
25 W x 2
5 W x 2
HeadphonesEffect: Headphones 3D Ambienc
Touch ResponseKey Touch: 100 types, fixed touch
Hammer Response: 10 types
EffectsBrilliance, Ambience
Piano DesignerLid
Key Off Noise
Hammer Noise
Duplex Scale
Full Scale String Resonance
Damper Resonance
Key Off Resonance
Cabinet Resonance
Soundboard Type
Damper Noise
Single Note Tuning
Single Note Volume
Single Note Character
Internal SongsUS: Total 392 songs
Other: Total 382 songs
Listening: 15 songs
Ensemble: 30 songs
Entertainment: 20 songs
Easy Piano: 10 songs (US only)
Do Re Mi Lesson: 30 songs
Lesson: 287 songs (Scale, Hanon, Beyer, Burgmuller, Czerny 100)
Data PlaybackStandard MIDI Files (Format 0, 1)
Audio File (WAV: 44.1 kHz, 16-bit linear format, MP3: 44.1 kHz, 64 kbps – 320 kbps, requires USB Flash Memory)
RecorderStandard MIDI Files (Format 0, 3 parts, Approx. 70,000 notes memory)
Audio File (WAV: 44.1 kHz, 16-bit linear format, requires USB Flash Memory)
BluetoothAudio: Bluetooth Ver 3.0 (Supports SCMS-T content protection)
MIDI: Bluetooth Ver 4.0
FunctionsMetronome (adjustable Tempo/Beat/Down beat/Pattern/Volume/Tone)
Registration
Dual
Split
TwinPiano (with Individual Mode)
Transpose (in semitones)
Speaker volume and headphone volume
Volume limit function
Panel Lock
Auto Off
ConnectionsDC In jack
Input jacks: Stereo miniature phone type
Output (L/Mono, R) jacks: 1/4-inch phone type
USB Computer port: USB B type
USB Memory port: USB A type
Phones jack x 2: Stereo miniature phone type, Stereo 1/4-inch phone type
AC Adapter
Compatible AppsPiano Designer App
Roland Piano App

FAQ

Roland HP 704 vs. Yamaha CLP 745

Yamaha’s CLP series uses their CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial grand piano samples, resulting in high-quality, authentic piano sounds. It also has a Natural Wood X (NWX) keyboard with synthetic ivory and ebony keytops.

The Roland HP 704 offers 384-note polyphony, which is more than sufficient for complex piano pieces and layering additional sounds. The CLP 745 from Yamaha provides 256-note polyphony, which is still ample for most musical scenarios.

Roland HP 704 vs. Yamaha CLP 735

Like the CLP 745, the CLP 735 also uses the CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial samples for its piano sound. It features a GH3X (Graded Hammer 3X) keyboard with synthetic ivory and ebony keytops.

The CLP 735 from Yamaha provides 256-note polyphony, which is still ample for most musical scenarios.

Roland HP 704 vs. LX 705

One of the most noticeable differences between these models is the cabinet design. The LX series, including the LX 705, often features a more luxurious and grand piano-like cabinet design, with premium finishes and elegant detailing.

The LX 705 also comes equipped with a more robust and sophisticated speaker system compared to the HP 704. This results in a richer and more immersive sound experience.

Due to the differences in cabinet design, speaker systems, and additional features, the LX 705 is generally priced higher than the HP 704.

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Conclusion

With its blend of traditional aesthetics, modern features, and incredible sound quality, the Roland HP 704 is a worthy addition to any musician’s arsenal.


Daniel Forino
Daniel Forino
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