Roland HP-605 Digital Piano, Contemporary Rosewood

Roland HP-605 Digital Piano, Contemporary Rosewood Overview

Roland HP-605 Digital Piano Product Overview by GAK

The Roland HP-605 Digital Piano features the latest version of the SuperNATURAL piano modelling technology, which recreates piano sounds rather than reproducing samples. The Roland HP-605 can produce sounds that change in response to the way you play, which is impossible to do using samples. This hugely contributes to the fantastically rich expressive tone of the HP-605. The HP-605 can also connect to your smartphone or tablet using bluetooth technology, allowing you to interact with your online piano lesson or favourite music making software. 

Even though it's compact, the classically-styled HP-605 will definitely make a big impact in your home, especially with a choice of finishes including Polished Ebony, Contemporary Rosewood, Contemporary Black and Contemporary White.

Roland Product Overview

Press a key on most digital pianos and you'll hear a recording of a piano note. But a SuperNATURAL Piano works differently, using the latest modelling technology to recreate, rather than replay, the sound. The unique modelling process spans the entire sound creation process of a typical piano including the combination of notes played, their resonance and the way in which the piano’s many elements interact with each other. The result is a rich, complex sound - complete with overtones - that actually changes in response to the way you play; something impossible to achieve when a piano uses samples. It's the difference between just listening back to a recording or actually being there yourself.

Roland's Acoustic Projection speaker system reproduces the rich sound of an acoustic grand piano. The HP605 houses a three-way, six-speaker system, driven by a powerful four-channel amplifier and each section fulfils a specific role in delivering superior piano tone. The powerful cabinet speakers produce the all-enveloping main piano sound, while the top-mounted spatial speakers reproduce the resonance of the piano's frame. Finally, the near field speakers project the sounds most likely to be noticed by the player, including dramatic, dynamic overtones and even the noise of the hammers as they hit the piano string. The increased height of the cabinet further enhances the richness of the sound.

One of the great advantages of a digital piano is the ability to play quietly with headphones. However, when used with headphones, some digital pianos simply switch the sound from the speakers to your ears. This is a missed opportunity as good headphones can provide remarkable clarity and detail when you're practicing. Roland pianos use Headphones 3D Ambience to optimise the audio so it sounds like it's coming from within the piano itself not through your headphones. You'll also be able to practice for extended periods of time without fatigue, any time of the day or night.

The wooden piano keyboards often found on acoustic pianos are attractive to look at and they feel solid and substantial under your fingers. But a completely wooden keyboard is not the best approach for a digital piano, as wooden keys need regular maintenance to keep them in the best condition. The HP605 has a new type of keyboard that blends wood and moulded material for the best of both worlds; beautiful wooden sides give each key a familiar, rigid mass that feels just right to play, while the durable inner frame means you can enjoy your Roland piano every day for years to come without worrying about reliability. You can play it every night too - as our piano key construction also produces less of a 'thump' noise when played.

It's not just the feel of the keys either; the way they move is also important. Each key has a stabilising pin to ensure the vertical travel of the key is smooth and precise, avoiding the sideways key movement and noise experienced when playing glissandos on some pianos. Since the HP-605 has our latest piano engine onboard, we also retuned the key sensing system to match it, ensuring that the sound and keyboard work in complete harmony for the ultimate piano experience. Finally, the keys share the look and feel of real ebony and ivory, and their moisture-absorbing properties mean your fingers won't slide off when playing.

Today, people often play and learn the piano with the aid of smartphones and tablets. Using Bluetooth technology, the HP605 wirelessly connects to your mobile device, enabling you to take advantage of popular iOS/Android apps and online practice videos. Once connected, the audio is routed through the piano’s internal speakers, or headphones if you prefer to practice in private. Then you can play along with your favourite artist and bands or practice with some of the very best piano teachers. You could visit Sheet Music Direct to download a wide range of music scores, or install iOS apps like PiaScore with free access to over 70,000 classical music scores; you can even turn the pages of the score on your iPad/iPhone screen by pressing the piano's pedal.

Although it's packed with advanced technology, the HP-605 is reassuringly traditional when it comes to style. Combining classic lines with a space-saving cabinet full of presence, there are four premium finishes available; polished ebony, contemporary rosewood and easy-to-clean contemporary black and white. Once your piano is home, you don’t even need to press the power button to get started - just open the lid and start playing.