Digital Pianos Review
Roland RP701 Review: The Complete Family Console
The RP701 is the RP107's bigger sibling: the same PHA-4 Standard action and SuperNATURAL engine with 324 tones, a display, USB audio recording, Bluetooth audio and MIDI, and a furniture-grade cabinet. This review looks at what the extras add for a family, where the 2 x 12 W speakers fall short, and whether the step up from the RP107 is worth it.
Our Verdict
Research Score 86/100The Roland RP701 is the console to buy when one piano has to serve a whole family: a serious student gets the PHA-4 action and 256-note polyphony, a younger child gets 324 sounds and built-in songs, and parents get a display, Bluetooth and USB recording to review practice. The 2 x 12 W speakers are its weakness next to the Casio PX-870 and Yamaha YDP-184 in a large room, and a pianist who only plays piano will find the RP107 the same instrument for less.
Editorial research score based on published specifications and documented features, not a customer rating or lab test.
Roland
Roland RP701
Best for: Families who want a complete home piano with a display, recording and a huge sound library around Roland's PHA-4 action
Skip it if: you want the most powerful speakers or a wooden hybrid action at this price
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Listing verified: October 2026
Who Should Buy It
Buy it if
- You want one console that covers piano, keyboard sounds and recording
- A display and USB recording matter for lessons and practice review
- You want three pedals, Bluetooth and a sliding cover in a furniture cabinet
Skip it if
- You want 40 watts or more of speaker power; the Casio PX-870 and Yamaha YDP-184 have more
- You only play piano and would rather spend on the action
- The piano has to be moved often
Key Specifications
| Key Action | PHA-4 Standard with escapement and Ivory Feel |
| Sound Engine | Roland SuperNATURAL Piano |
| Voices | 324 |
| Polyphony | 256 notes |
| Speakers | 2 x 12 W |
| Bluetooth | Audio and MIDI |
| USB | USB MIDI; USB flash-drive recording |
| Pedals | 3 pedals built in, progressive damper |
| Weight | 101 lb (46 kg) |
| Form Factor | Furniture console with sliding key cover and display |
RP107 or RP701: What the Step Up Buys
The action, the engine and the polyphony are identical, so the RP701 does not play or sound fundamentally different from the RP107. What changes is everything around them: 324 tones instead of fifteen, a display with dedicated buttons instead of hold-and-press, audio recording to a USB flash drive, 2 x 12 W speakers, a more substantial cabinet with a sliding key cover, and a larger library of built-in songs for practice.
For a pianist who wants the keys and the piano sound, the RP107 is the smarter buy. For a household where the piano is also a keyboard, a practice recorder and a piece of furniture, the RP701 justifies its price.
Action and Pedals
PHA-4 Standard is Roland's three-sensor graded hammer action with escapement and Ivory Feel key tops, the same keyboard as the FP-30X and RP107. In the RP701 it is paired with the progressive damper pedal, which increases resistance through its travel and supports continuous half-pedaling, and with soft and sostenuto pedals. It is the most refined action in its price band outside Roland's own HP series, and it is enough for advanced study.
The next step in Roland's range is the PHA-50 wooden hybrid action in the HP702 and above, which adds wooden key sides and a longer pivot. That is the upgrade a serious pianist eventually wants; the RP701's action will not hold a student back before then.
Sounds, Songs and the Display
The SuperNATURAL grand is bright and expressive, with modeled string and damper resonance and Piano Designer adjustments on the display or in the app. The 324 tones add uprights, electric pianos, organs, strings, brass, synths and drums, which turns the RP701 into a credible keyboard for pop and worship parts as well as a piano. Polyphony is 256 notes.
The display is the RP701's practical advantage over most rivals. Selecting tones, setting the metronome, splitting the keyboard and navigating the built-in song library are all visible operations, and the song library includes classical pieces with separate hand parts for practice.
Speakers and Connectivity
Two 12 watt amplifiers are an improvement on the RP107 but modest for a furniture console at this price. The sound is clear and balanced for a practice room; in a large living room the Casio PX-870's 40 watt system and the Yamaha YDP-184's 60 watts have noticeably more presence. Headphones 3D Ambience improves the image on the two headphone jacks.
Bluetooth audio and MIDI, USB MIDI to a computer and the USB flash-drive port cover every home use. Roland's Piano App adds remote control and Piano Designer over Bluetooth.
Assembly and Cabinet
At 101 pounds the RP701 is a two-person assembly of about an hour: side panels, pedal board, back panel, keyboard unit. The cabinet is deeper and more furniture-like than the RP107's, with a sliding key cover and a wide music rest, in black, white or light oak finishes. No bench is included.
RP701 Against the Alternatives
Against the Yamaha YDP-184, the Roland has Bluetooth, USB recording in a simpler form and many more tones, while the Yamaha has the heavier GH3 action, full VRM resonance and far louder speakers. Against the Casio PX-870, the Roland wins on action, polyphony parity aside, connectivity and the display, and loses on speakers. Against the Kawai CN201, the Kawai's RHIII action and 2 x 20 W speakers edge the Roland for a pianist, while the Roland has the sound library and display.
Buy the RP701 for versatility in a family home. Buy the RP107 for the same keys at a lower price, and the PX-870 or YDP-184 for speakers.
Long-Term Fit
The RP701 is a console families keep for a decade because it does not run out of features and its action supports advanced study. The only reasons owners upgrade are speaker power and the wish for the PHA-50 action, both of which point to Roland's HP series. For a household that wants one instrument to cover everyone, it is one of the most complete consoles at its price.
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths
- 324 tones, a display and audio recording to USB
- PHA-4 Standard action with escapement and progressive damper
- Bluetooth audio and MIDI built in
- More substantial cabinet than the RP107
Limitations
- Speakers are only 2 x 12 W for a furniture console
- PHA-4 Standard rather than the PHA-50 of the HP series
- Heavy at 101 pounds
How We Scored It
Scores reflect published specifications, documented features and value against the alternatives below. They are editorial research scores, not laboratory measurements.
Alternatives to Consider
Roland RP107
Students who want Roland's best entry action and Bluetooth in a three-pedal console
Read the Roland RP107 review →
Yamaha Arius YDP-184
Serious students and returning adults who want the most capable Arius without stepping up to Clavinova
Read the Yamaha Arius YDP-184 review →
Casio Privia PX-870
Home players who want a console that sounds full through its own speakers for well under four figures
Read the Casio Privia PX-870 review →Questions Buyers Ask
Roland RP701
See the current listing, price and included accessories.
About This Review
Mandrillis Team
The Mandrillis editorial team researches and compares audio and music gear using manufacturer documentation, verified specs and real buyer feedback, so you can make a confident purchase without wading through marketing claims.
Read our full research methodology.