Roland has added three new models, the LX-5, LX-6 and LX-9, to its range of premium digital pianos. These are aimed primarily at the home market. They have a classic upright look and are designed to faithfully emulate the sound and playability of an acoustic grand piano.
Roland has two premium digital piano ranges — the GP and LX series. GP models (GP-9M, GP-9, GP-6, and GP-3) have a grand piano styling whilst the LX series (LX-9, LX-6, LX-5, LX-708, LX-706 and LX-705) are designed along the lines of an upright instrument with a smaller physical footprint.
At the heart of these new models is a technology Roland calls “Piano Reality Modelling”. This sound engine features in the GP Series. It is a complex method of note generation that mathematically emulates the rich timbral qualities of a grand piano whilst responding to every nuance of the pianist’s performance.
The three new models feature a full 88-note keyboard and have sleek, refined cabinets. And all offer the same comprehensive collection of tones which include four acoustic grand pianos and five uprights. All the piano voices have limitless polyphony.
The differences between the three models primarily lie in the speaker configurations, cabinet styles, and keyboard technologies. Full details are listed in the specifications table at the end of this article.
Roland LX-9
The LX-9, with its tall elegant lines, is the new flagship of the range. Like an acoustic piano, the top lid can be opened to enhance the projection of the sound from the instrument’s eight speakers. The design also incorporates a traditional fallboard key cover.
The piano uses Roland’s Hybrid Grand Keyboard which features a progressive hammer action, escapement, key acceleration sensing, hybrid wood/moulded keys with “Ivory Feel” key tops, and haptic key vibration. The haptic feature simulates the subtle vibrations from an acoustic piano’s body.
The aforementioned speakers deliver up to 160 watts of sound.
The LX-9 is available in three finishes — Polished Ebony (-PE), Polished White (-PW), and
Charcoal Black (-CB)
Roland LX-6
The mid-level LX-6 incorporates most of the features of the LX-9, but is a slightly scaled-down version. The keyboard is the same but without haptic key vibration.
Also, the amplification section, with five speakers, is somewhat less powerful delivering a maximum of just over 110 watts. The cabinet is a little smaller and the top lid doesn’t open.
The LX-6 is available in three finishes — Polished Ebony (-PE), Charcoal Black (-CB), and Dark Rosewood (-DR).
Roland LX-5
The LX-5 uses Roland’s PHA-50 Hybrid Keyboard. This has a shorter key length than the Hybrid Grand Keyboard, and this, coupled with a simpler 4-speaker sound system, enables the designers to give the LX-5 a slightly smaller cabinet. Nevertheless, the LX-5 retains many of the LX-6’s and LX-9’s features, in particular in the sound engine department.
The LX-6 is available in four finishes — Polished Ebony (-PE), Charcoal Black (-CB), Dark Rosewood (-DR), and Light Oak (-LA).
Roland Piano Apps
These Roland digital pianos can be linked to the Roland Piano app and the Roland Piano Designer app. Both are available for iOS and Android devices and provide interactive learning tools, recording and playback facilities, and access to many additional parameters that make up the instruments’s sound.
Roland also now presents Piano AR on their website. This is a new augmented reality tool that lets potential customers visualise how different Roland models will look in their own rooms.
Prices for these new pianos are currently unavailable, but are expected to be in the range of $3,750 to $7,250.
The following web pages provide further information on the above products:
Roland LX-9 Digital Piano
Roland LX-6 Digital Piano
Roland LX-5 Digital Piano
Roland Piano app
Roland Piano Designer app
Roland AR
Roland LX-9, LX-6 and LX-5 Specifications
| ROLAND LX-9 | ROLAND LX-6 | ROLAND LX-5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOUND GENERATOR | |||
| Piano Sound | Piano Reality Modelling | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| Max. Polyphony | Piano: Limitless (solo playing using ‘Piano’ category tones) Other: 256 | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| Tones | Total 324 Tones Grand: 4 Tones Upright: 5 Tones Classical: 5 Tones E.Piano: 12 Tones Organ: 12 Tones Other: 286 Tones | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| AMBIENCE | |||
| Piano Reality Ambience | Type: Studio, Lounge, Concert Hall, Wooden Hall, Stone Hall, Cathedral Depth: 11 steps | Type: Studio, Lounge, Concert Hall, Cathedral Depth: 11 steps | <— (as LX-6) |
| KEYBOARD | |||
| Keyboard | Hybrid Grand Keyboard (88 keys Hammer Action Keyboard): with Escapement, Ebony/Ivory Feel, High Precision Sensing and Haptic Key Vibration | Hybrid Grand Keyboard (88 keys Hammer Action Keyboard): with Escapement, Ebony/Ivory Feel and High Precision Sensing | PHA-50 Hybrid Keyboard (88 keys Hammer Action Keyboard) with Escapement, Ebony/Ivory Feel and High Precision Sensing |
| PEDAL | |||
| Pedal | Damper (Responsive Damper Action Pedal, capable of continuous detection, Damper Modelling) Soft (capable of continuous detection, function assignable) Sostenuto (function assignable, with muffler pedal function) | Damper (Progressive Damper Action Pedal, capable of continuous detection, Damper Modelling) Soft (capable of continuous detection, function assignable) Sostenuto (function assignable, with muffler pedal function) | Damper (Progressive Damper Action Pedal, capable of continuous detection, Damper Modeling) Soft (capable of continuous detection, function assignable) Sostenuto (function assignable, with muffler pedal function) |
| SOUND SYSTEM | |||
| Sound System | Piano Reality Projection | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| Speakers | Cabinet Speakers (boxed): 25 cm (9-7/8 inches) x2 Near-field Speakers (boxed): (12 cm (4-3/4 ins) x 8 cm (3-3/16 ins) x2 Center Near-field Speakers: 8 cm (3-3/16 ins) x2 Spatial Speakers (dome type): 2.5 cm (1 in) x2 | Cabinet Speaker (boxed): 25 cm (9-7/8 ins) x1 Near-field Speakers (boxed): (12 cm (4-3/4 ins) x 8 cm (3-3/16 ins) x2 Spatial Speakers (dome type): 2.5 cm (1 in) x2 | Cabinet + Spatial Speakers (coaxial): 12 + 2.5 cm (5 + 1 in) x2 Near-field Speakers: 8 cm (3-3/16 ins) x2 |
| Rated Power Output | 33W x2 21W x2 13W x2 14W x2 | 32W x1 21W x2 21W x2 | 24W x2 21W x2 |
| HEADPHONES | |||
| Headphones | Piano Reality Headphones Ambience | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| TUNING, VOICING | |||
| Touch Sensitivity | Key Touch: 100 steps, fixed touch Hammer Response: Off, 10 steps | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| Master Tuning | 415.3–466.2 Hz (adjustable in increments of 0.1 Hz) | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| Temperament | 10 types (Equal, Just Major, Just Minor, Pythagorean, Kirnberger I, Kirnberger II, Kirnberger III, Meantone, Werckmeister, Arabic), selectable temperament key | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| Effects | Brilliance | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| Piano Designer | Lid Key Off Noise Hammer Noise Duplex Scale Full Scale String Resonance Key Off Resonance Cabinet Resonance Soundboard Type Damper Modeling Soft Pedal Single Note Tuning Single Note Volume Single Note Character | Lid Key Off Noise Hammer Noise Duplex Scale Full Scale String Resonance Damper Resonance Key Off Resonance Cabinet Resonance Soundboard Type Damper Modeling Single Note Tuning Single Note Volume Single Note Character | <— (as LX-6) |
| INTERNAL SONGS | |||
| Internal Songs | Total 394 songs Listening: 27 songs Ensemble: 30 songs Entertainment: 20 songs Do Re Mi Lesson: 30 songs Lesson: 287 songs (Scale, Hanon, Beyer, Burgmuller, Czerny 100) | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| DATA | |||
| Playable Software | Standard 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 drive) | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| Recordable Software | Standard MIDI Files (Format 0, 3 parts, Approx. 70,000 notes memory) Audio File (WAV: 44.1 kHz, 16-bit linear format, requires USB flash drive) | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth Ver 5.0 Profile: A2DP (Audio), GATT (MIDI over Bluetooth Low Energy) CODEC: SBC (Supports SCMS-T content protection) | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| Compatible Apps | Roland Piano App (iOS and Android) | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| CONVENIENT FUNCTIONS | |||
| Convenient Functions | Metronome (adjustable Tempo / Beat / Downbeat / Pattern / Volume / Tone, with Rhythm Pattern: 80 patterns) Dual Split Twin Piano (with Individual Mode) Transpose (in semitones) Speaker volume and Headphones volume automatically select function Speaker Auto Mute Volume limit function Panel Lock Panel Off Auto Off | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| OTHER | |||
| Display | Graphic LCD 128 x 64 px | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| Connectors | DC In jack Input jacks: Stereo miniature phone type Output (L/Mono, R) jacks: 1/4-inch phone type USB Computer port: USB B (compatible with USB MIDI/Audio) USB Memory port: USB A Phones jack x 2: Stereo miniature phone type, Stereo 1/4-inch phone type | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| Power Supply | AC adaptor | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| Power Consumption | Power Consumption: 65 W (when using the included AC adaptor) * Approximate power consumption when playing the piano at the center value of the volume: 25 W * Power consumption when sound has not been played after power-on: 23 W * Power consumption when in OFF mode (when the power automatically turns off): 0.2 W | Power Consumption: 28 W (when using the included AC adaptor) * Approximate power consumption when playing the piano at the center value of the volume: 19 W * Power consumption when sound has not been played after power-on: 18 W * Power consumption when in OFF mode (when the power automatically turns off): 0.2 W | Power Consumption: 31 W (when using the included AC adaptor) * Approximate power consumption when playing the piano at the center value of the volume: 17 W * Power consumption when sound has not been played after power-on: 16 W * Power consumption when in OFF mode (when the power automatically turns off): 0.2 W |
| Accessories | Owner’s Manual “Roland Piano Masterpieces” Leaflet “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” AC adaptor Power cord Headphone hook | <— (as LX-9) | <— (as LX-9) |
| CABINET | |||
| Cabinet | Music rest: with Music holders Key cover: Fallboard type, with Keyboard Lid Switch | Music rest: with Music holders Key cover: Slide type, with Keyboard Lid Switch | <— (as LX-6) |
| DIMENSIONS | |||
| Width | 1,395 mm (54-15/16 ins) | 1,383 mm (54-½ ins) | <— (as LX-6) |
| Depth | 491 mm (19-3/8 ins) (lid closed) 502 mm (19-13/16 ins) (lid open) | 493 mm (19-7/16 ins) | 468 mm (18-7/16 ins) |
| Height | 1,179 mm (46-7/16 ins) (lid closed) 1,254 mm (49-3/8 ins) (lid open) | 1,118 mm (44-1/16 ins) | 1,039 mm (40-15/16 ins) |
| Weights | LX-9-PE､LX-9-PW: 111.0 kg/245 lbs LX-9-CH: 109.5 kg/242 lbs | LX-6-PE:88.5 kg/196 lbs LX-6-CH､LX-6-DR:87.0 kg/192 lbs | LX-5-PE: 75.5 kg/167 lbs LX-5-CH, LX-5-DR, LX-5-LA: 74.0 kg/164 lbs |
| Finishes | Polished Ebony (-PE) Polished White (-PW) Charcoal Black (-CH) | Polished Ebony (-PE) Charcoal Black (-CH) Dark Rosewood (-DR) | Polished Ebony (-PE) Charcoal Black (-CH) Dark Rosewood (-DR) Light Oak (-LA) |