🎹 Casio PX-S5000 vs Roland FP30X - Digital Piano Review & Demo 🎹

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#piano #digitalpiano #casio #casioprivia #roland #rolandfp30x

Greetings! Welcome to the Merriam Pianos YouTube channel. We’ve got another shootout video for you today as we pit the brand-new Casio PX-S5000 against the stalwart Roland FP-30X.


Overview
Given the similar price point and the fact that both of these instruments are 88-key weighted action portable digital pianos with built-in speakers and a similar set of features, they’re undoubtedly going to get compared by folks shopping in this part of the market.

Having played both side-by-side, like we often say, a preference is ultimately going to come down to the combination of tone and touch that you like best and what your intended use case is as these instruments feel and sound very different from one another.

Piano Sound
Comparing the S5000’s Hamburg sample running through their Multi-Dimensional AiR tone engine against the FP-30X’s default grand tone through their SuperNATURAL engine really showcases the differences between these two pianos.

The S5000 creates a real sense of 3D space surrounding you as the player, very similar to the experience of playing an acoustic grand piano. The impression on the FP-30X is a more complex tone that cascades at the player, almost as if you’re an audience member.

The PX-S5000 has 22 total onboard sounds, all of which are high quality, whereas the FP-30X has 54 total onboard sounds, but through Roland’s companion app (Roland Piano App), you have access to the entire GMII bank. Overall, in addition to the greater range of sounds, we think the quality of the non-acoustic piano tones is higher on the FP-30X.

Both pianos offer you the ability to control and navigate sounds, features and settings wirelessly via apps (Casio Music Space) connected through Bluetooth MIDI. This really streamlines the navigation process for both pianos.

The FP-30X also offers a full auto-accompaniment feature through the app, which is quite a nice addition.

Both pianos feature dual speaker systems with a total of 16 watts of output power on the PX-S5000 vs 22 watts on the FP-30X. With the extra power, the FO-30X definitely sounds fuller in the low and mid-range, but the S5000 actually sounds clearer in the treble register.

For a professional player, the FP-30X is bringing a little bit more to the table from a sound perspective if you’re going to be utilizing a wide range of sound categories or using the built-in USB audio interface.

The S5000 however does have a fantastic acoustic piano sound - if that is your focus and you prefer the tone of the S5000, suddenly the S5000 looks like a great choice.

Action
These actions feel very different from one another, but they both feel great nonetheless. The PX-S5000 features Casio’s brand new Smart Hybrid Hammer Action Keyboard which is an upgraded version of the action featured in the PX-S1100 and S3100 with wooden sides and improved cushioning.

The FP-30X features Roland’s PHA4 action which features escapement, a triple sensor and textured keytops. This action has been with us for several years now, is featured throughout the lower half of Roland’s lineup, and is regarded very highly within the industry.

The PHA4 has a fairly high level of static resistance meaning it takes a little more effort to get the keys moving, and combined with a longer pivot length means it feels more like an acoustic piano action than the S5000’s Smart Hybrid action.

Both actions are responsive with good repetition speed, but the Smart Hybrid action feels a little less mechanical and a little bit smoother. There’s also a little bit less mechanical noise with the Smart Hybrid due to the increased cushioning.

To sum up the action discussion, the PHA4 will probably feel more comfortable for folks who already have acoustic piano experience. For those new in their piano journey, there’s a good chance you’ll prefer the Smart Hybrid.

Features/Connectivity
Both pianos have ¼” line outputs which are really important, headphone outputs, USB Type A and B and jacks for both a single pedal or optional triple pedal.

Both pianos have Bluetooth MIDI and Audio (courtesy of the free adapter included with the PX-S5000, built-in on the FP-30X), which is becoming more common with instruments at this price point.

The FP-30X has a built-in USB audio interface which will be a huge plus for certain professionals, whereas the S5000’s uniquely gives the user the option to run on battery power.

In terms of weighting, both are quite light, with the S5000 around 25 lbs, and the FP-30X about 8lbs heavier at 33lbs.