🎹Roland Kiyola KF-10 Artisan Digital Piano Review - Made In Japan, Hand-crafted Cabinet🎹
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- čas přidán 11. 09. 2024
- Intro: 1:37
Piano Sound: 5:08
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Thanks for being with us at the Merriam Pianos CZcams channel. We’ve got a review of a bit of a different beast for today with the Roland Kiyola KF-10.
This digital piano was designed by Roland in collaboration with famous Japanese furniture designer Karimoku for a truly unique aesthetic that looks like nothing else on the market.
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Piano Overview:
Karimoku is a premium furniture design from Japan - this isn’t the Ikea of Japan - with things like a single chair going for several thousands of dollars. The KF10 is the result of this collaboration between Roland Karimoku.
But not only was the piano considered, as each KF10 comes with a matching pedalboard and bench also designed by Karimoku.
Cabinet:
While we usually start our reviews with a discussion on sound, we thought it would make sense to focus on the cabinet first and foremost as the aesthetics of the KF-10 are just as important as it’s musical features, if not more so.
For starters, the cabinet is made of real, solid wood, not MDF. The wood is also handcrafted, so even though it’s a minimalistic design, the quality of the design and materials is about as high-end as it gets as far as digital pianos go.
The overall look is striking to say the very least, and there really isn’t anything else like it out there.
Piano Sound:
Roland elected to keep the KF10 simple in its operation, with a total of 6 on-board sounds. That said, it does feature the SuperNATURAL Piano Modeling engine with limitless polyphony on the 3 grand piano tones, and polyphony of 384 notes on the other three tones (upright piano, harpsichord and electric piano.)
The KF10 features a four speaker system with 60 watts of output power. While Roland doesn’t advertise this, it appears as though they’re using higher quality amps and speakers than they normally do as there is an extra level of warmth and roundness immediately apparent when playing this instrument.
The half-pedaling response, courtesy of Roland’s Progrssive Damper Action Pedal, is absolutely fantastic on this instrument. The highs have a beautiful delicacy to them, and are super clear.
Considering that from a specs standpoint, the KF10 looks basically like a DP603 in a handmade cabinet (but costs $2,000 or so more), we were expecting the KF10 to perform like a DP603. That said, musically, this thing is on a different level, and in fact does perform very much like other $6,000 digital pianos.
The bass register has a lot of cabinet warmth and punch, but there’s no unwanted ‘woofiness’ whatsoever.
We played around with Piano Designer by changing the soundboard type and upping the cabinet resonance which really brought out the midrange. Moving to the treble, certain parts are slightly lacking in body as compared to a nice acoustic upright piano, but the top two octaves do a much better job of this.
Action:
The KF-10 uses Roland’s PHA50 wood/plastic hybrid action with a triple sensor and escapement. This is the second best action Roland makes.
Features/Connectivity:
The KF-10 has both Bluetooth MIDI and Audio. There’s also USB type A and B, as well as wired MIDI ports.
It’s compatible with Roland’s Piano Designer App, and the Piano Partner 2 app.
The KF-10 is available in a variety of finishes with 5 total.
Summary:
If you’re someone who appreciates fine furniture and aesthetics, this instrument is worth the premium. Thanks for watching!
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5:05 that sync tho... 👀🏆
edit: all joking aside I hope people watching this videos recognize what a great pianist and musician you are.
I think they must do!
I just like how frank and spontaneous these review sessions are. Stu’s not going to pan anything but he also makes very clear the type of person who would want this piano
Bought this based on this test. Couldn't be more happy! This piano has a beautiful tone, suitable for different styles. I'm particularly impressed by the dynamic response.
Congratulations on your beautiful KF10! They are amazing digital pianos with a gorgeous aesthetic to match the wonderful musical experience it provides. :)
Mind if I ask where you found it?
@@mangoldm Not at all. I found it at a local store with 20% discount. It's an online store with a local storage, so they have quite good prices. Because of this, I didn't get to try the piano before buying, so I just trusted Stu's review, and I wasn't wrong in doing this. :)
@@rickifyful -- So, what was the online store? Thanks!
@@Cowdog1 it was from an online store which is situated a 20 minutes drive from where I live (in Norway). You have the option of collecting the things you buy yourself, so you don't pay shipping.
I tried KF-10, GP-607 and other Roland pianos yesterday, but love the reaction from KF-10 and its padel response speed. The sound is incredible so as the keyboard touch feeling. The padel response feels outperform GP-607 at the time I played. Thank you for providing me the 360 view of KF-10.
You're very welcome! I am a massive fan of the KF10 for both its performance and aesthetic! Very cool, artisan digital pianos. :)
I cant' believe hot good it sounds with the mics. I absolutely love its minimalistic and mid century modern danish and japan influenced look. It's price is really high, but if it really sounds as good as it seems, then the price seems justified compared to Kawai CA79/99 or the higher Yamahas due to it's amazing aesthetics and build quality.
it has the same features as the roland hp 603. which costs 2500 euro less. its a waste of money
@@alpay389not true it's less in instrument sounds , app compatibility, Connectivity and triple the price just because a piece of solid wood, i'd go to a carpenter to make me a similar cabinet with FP 90X on it 😅
Stu, your playing is beautiful. It makes me close my eyes and listen. And then after some time something in the sound changes and I open my eyes, and read, Line Out.
The sound becomes fuller and more precisely placed in the soundstage. It becomes so much better that I open my eyes and think, wow.
Beautiful review! Stu is a natural, sound is amazing, key lighting is clean and expressive, great mood. Congrats to the team!
Thank you! I just ordered my KF10 after this review. Got lucky enough to find a €3K offer for a new one 🎉
Thank you so much for the incredibly kind words and support! We appreciate it immensely! :)
Congrats on your KF10! I am a huge fan of the Kiyolas and I know that you will be very happy with what it offers musically and aesthetically!
Wow! May I ask where you found this offer?
Listening again, with headphones, I love the audio from the internal speakers. My favorite digital piano.
The Kiyola KF-10 is a beautiful piano in every respect: tone, touch, and aesthetics. :)
Very thorough look at this, thanks! Your initial doubts matched mine and your review confirms that the price isn't crazy.
Great to see some attention given to this beautiful digital piano. There's no one else who has done a proper qualitative analysis of it so thanks!
Bother! Another intriguing long video. Just as I thought I had settled on my next piano - definitely Roland FX.. As always the more you know you realise that you are only scratching the surface. The difference in sound had me longing to own it. The quality of build even more so - I prefer to drive a second hand Mercedes than a new Ford. The killer as always is the knowledge and skill of Stu - half pedalling, Oh My! I can hear it but playing it!!! Heavens above I have just found Merriam on line piano lessons and your 12 bar blues video 👍👍👍
Great review, nobody analyzes the sound and feel like Stu does. And the playing........ But, what about us furniture and cabinet lovers? What are the wood and finish options? Oak, maple, walnut, mortise & tenon, bisquits, dovetailing, satin, gloss, matte? This could turn into an episode of "This old piano"!
you reviews are always a pleasure to watch and listen to my only complaint is I need to listen to those pianos in a classical situation not always in a jazzy or easy listening pieces. it's more helpful.
thank you for all your work. great playing and great reviews.
Me too! I would like to listen classical pieces. However, it’s hard to find youtubers to play classical music when they demo digital pianos.
@@edmondhu8937 so true it's a bummer. because when a piano excels in classical it will sound beautiful in any other style.
True🎹🎶
The Piano Forever is someone who reviews keyboard and plays classical music. For me, it’s actually hard to find people who play jazz when they review pianos. It’s usually 4 simple chords and a few basic arpeggios. I love this channel because of that.
Solid wood does make the sound [noun] sound [verb] clearer and fuller. When it comes to (classical) guitars there is a big leap in sound quality between laminate and solid wood.
Yeah but the new carbon fiber body guitars sound great. I've wondered about using carbon fiper for the soundboard of an acoustic grand piano.
There's a huge difference between the soundboard of a guitar (or an acoustic piano...) and the cabinet body of a speaker.
The wood is a huge draw, but it's pretty hard to back up the idea that it makes much difference to the sound.
Maybe there's some kind of cabinet resonance going on though.
I wasn't aware of this one. Nice instrument. It's available here in Tokyo for $3,200.
I wonder what the US price is? They sell it in Honolulu at Piano Planet.
€4.300/4.500 in Europe
Great review of an impressive piano presented by a very well looking man! Thank you!
Thanks for the kind words and for taking the time to check out the video and our channel! We sincerely appreciate it! :)
Great sound. Heard someone mention this has the same action as a lower Roland model. Don't think this is the case. Otherwise the only thing we're paying for the money is the real oak furniture. The action is a lot better than many DPs for sure.
Instead of a collaboration with a furniture manufacturer, Roland could have done it with a high-end acoustic manufacturer like Casio with Bechstein to get the sound & action close to a real piano.
The price is not just a few dollars more but a few thousand dollars. For the price of an acoustic are we getting a similar sound and action? This is a subjective matter. We're paying for an instrument with different sounds that is always in tune.
As good as the electronics can be, once the keyboard starts to break down, all we have is a piece of furniture sitting like a coffee table.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Just to clarify, the Roland KF10 features the PHA50 action, which is Roland's second-from-the-top action (the Hybrid Grand Action being their top action, which is reserved for the LX706 and LX708 models). With that said, the PHA50 action is used in the GP607 and GP609 models, which are in a similar and more expensive price category than the KF10 respectively. While the KF10 is a fantastic digital piano in terms of touch and tone, a certain portion of its premium price is due to the handmade furniture cabinet. Every piano customer is a little different and, to some, aesthetics can be a very important consideration. The KF10 pianos are quite stunning to say the least! :)
Won't even work as a coffee table 😂😂😂 the top is curved not Flat to hold a tray or anything that can be spilled
The sound quality probably comes from a combination of the material itsef and the way it was assembled, plus what you suspect about the speakers, that they were made to specifically complement and enhance that material.
I think Roland has a license to use Pianoteq voices.
In your speaker demo, it sounds like there is a ton of tapping feedback from the keys themselves. Is that just a sensitive mic or or is that the keyboard?
Also interested to know this!
I think it's Stu's fingernails.
Thank you for such a thorough review! I played one at the Moma design store many years ago but thought it was overpriced. Now having tried almost every digital piano on the market, your review really strikes a chord! (no pun intended). How does the quality (tone, color, expressivity) of the modeled piano sounds on the Kiyola compare to the Roland 2000? That’s like my perfect sound engine so Im hoping this one offers the same.
Hi, thanks for the great review! Are you able to share all the changes you made? Only Resonance and Soundboard? Also, when you say "line out", I thought the piano only had headphone ports? Thanks!
Waiting for that f7-01 comparison!
Thank you for this intelligent and thoughtful review.
Me with a fashional piano 1:37
Did you run a side by side yet? What are the defining differences vs. the F701?
The speakers sound impressive out the of the very slim profile design, but it's still rather 'boxy', like it's having a cold, if that makes sense?
I do think it has the sound of a small grand. That could be deliberate. They probably have another model in the works that will sound bigger and be more pricey.
I say compare it to one of your smaller Bechstein acoustic grands.I want to retrofit something like this into the case of an older grand. I' wonder if it's possible to purchase the guts only and installl them into an existing grand piano case.
I saw one like this with the grand piano case around it built out of carton-it was hilarious. I don't see why you can't make one yourself. Better still-buy a beaten-up upright and stick one inside of it;)
Speaker power and key action is similar to the FP90x. That might be the more relevant comparison in justifying the price difference. Or vs the CA79.
I certainly know what you mean, but the KF10 and FP90X are quite different offerings (artisan console digital versus portable digital). The KF10 is a bit of a specialty piano in its own niche. They are quite gorgeous though! :)
Supr ROCKIN 💗💢👍👍
Absolutely! :)
How does it compare with dp603 soundwise?
Hey Stu, a question if you ever find your time. Have you ever considered also reviewing the major VSTs out there? Thinking of Piano specific ones like Pianoteq 7 for example, which surprisingly enough is even endorsed by "Steinway & Sons". Would be interesting to hear your opinion on the "quality" of them compared to the higher end pianos for example.
I think almost every piano he plays should be connected to Pianoteq Pro 7 to determined the musicality of the end result of the marriage.
...have you ever done a review of the yamaha TA upright?
5:05 - I see what you did there!
By the way, do you think this cabinet makes the instrument last longer as well, than for example an HP704? Or do they just add to the sound and luxury?
Thanks for tuning in! The finish of the KF10 is definitely more durable than the HP704 (aside from the polished ebony version) and most other models that use the veneer style finish. Those veneer finishes will eventually start to peel over time and can swell with water/moisture exposure. The KF10 will not be as susceptible to those issues.
Good to know! And yet another question: in the video, Stu shares that the sound actually quite matches the expensive price. Does that also mean that the KF10 sounds better than the HP704? (In terms of the fullness, clarity and authenticity of the piano sound.) Or is it a similar sound quality in a more robust and expensive package?
@@BTMovieSecondChannel Merriam reply only once 😂 don't consider a follow up reply
Here it costs double the price of HP-704, with it's price I can get LX708 which is 2k cheaper or an Acoustic. For this price I'd also get an American Made Acoustic Charles walter built of Solid wood
The KF10 is just about double the price of the HP704 here as well. It is a unique offering that is directed at customers that want a unique aesthetic piece as well as an instrument. I am quite a big fan of them personally! And they really do play and sound quite well too! :)
where they sell it?
Nice
Thanks! :)
Does the stool fit under the piano or does it the speakers?
Hi there!
I am thinking of buying this model or a dexibell H10. However, I am in doubt regarding the build quality. How well is the keyboard embedded in the cabinet?
When I tested the LX 705 with a headset I could sense a weak or "lose" build with an unneccesary or kinda hollow feedback as soon as I hit the bottom of the key. Is this the same with the KF10?
In addition, how would you compare the key action quality between the dexibell H10 abd Roland KF10?
Thanks for your thoughts and input!
Hi! Brent here! We are not Dexibell dealers, so I am not intimately familiar with their lines. I have played a few, but not the H10 model. To that point, I can't really compare it with the Roland KF10. However, I will say that the build quality of the KF10 is unparalleled throughout the rest of the Roland line. The Japanese craftsmanship is impeccable and the keyboard is well-integrated into the hand-carved, wood cabinet extremely well. Most people are blown away with the sheer quality of this model. :)
@@MerriamPianos Thanks for the reply, Brent!
Supr CHILLING💗💢👍😚
Thank you! :)
Please review Yamaha DGX 670 and its brief comparison with Yamaha P125.
Supposedly the action on the P125 is better than on the DGX but according to the specs, both use the same action. It woud be interesting to know. Stu doesn't like the action on either one. They will never put a premium action on an instrument at this price point.
How does it compare to acoustic new upright pianos in the same price range and say used piano in the same price range?
The KF10 is a unique piano. Naturally, it is quite different than any acoustic piano. While it has a wonderful touch via the PHA-50 action and an excellent sound, it is a digital piano at the end of the day. Even the best digital pianos are, at the end of the day, an emulation of the "real thing". However, digital pianos are the preference for some customers that require the flexibility (e.g. volume control, headphone output, etc.). The other big difference is the size and aesthetic. The KF10 has a much sleeker cabinet and a much smaller footprint compared to any acoustic piano.
is it still worth buying the KF10 in 2024?
The Kiyola KF10 is incredibly unique. There is still nothing out there on the market like it! So, with that said, it still holds up as an amazing instrument in 2024. :)
While the overall cabinet may be hand-carved, solid wood, the bottom of the keyboard box appears to be particle board, czcams.com/video/UH6zOxQWR9M/video.html @ 3m30s
That may certainly be the case. It is similar to acoustic pianos in which some portions of the piano are MDF board. There are number of reasons for using materials other than solid wood of course (cost, durability, weight, etc.).
What is the bench seat made of? Synthetic leather or real?
The KF10's bench is neither synthetic leather nor real leather. It seems to be some type of fabric covering. It is quite an interesting bench truthfully, but it is incredibly comfortable!
@@MerriamPianos thank you!! I don’t want to buy real leather, so thanks for the info! It does look real beautiful in the video and photos.
How did you up the cabinet warmth like you said at 18mins?
Love your reviews by the way! Thank you 🙏
Hi there! In the Piano Designer app, you can adjust the cabinet resonance. I believe that may have been the adjustment that was made in the video. :)
What would you recommend? 2nd hand Kiyola or fp90x?
These are both wonderful pianos, but very different offerings! If you are doing any type of gigging or production work, the FP90X will be a far better option in the long run. With that said, if you are going to be using the piano in your home primarily for piano practice, the KF10 is quite an attractive option. It will give you the same wonderful touch as the FP90X, but with a very stunning aesthetic in the home. :)
@@MerriamPianos Thanks for getting back to me! appreciate your opinion. I'll be doing some production stuff using the keyboard as a controller but only at home and won't be gigging. How do you feel about the sound of the pureaccoustic vs supernatural? worth worrying about or not really?
@@MerriamPianos Thanks for getting back to me! I appreciate your opinion. Its' Going to be used mainly as my home piano and as a controller for electric piano and synth VST's. I'm not going to gig with it. Would you consider the supernatural vs pure acoustic sound engines to be worth considering when making a choice for the piano sounds?
Hi Stu!
Could you please make a sound comparison between Privia 1000 or 3000 vs Roland fp 30x ?
Please !!
Good idea. I like the sound of the Casios with some sort of ambiance button they have.
Is it in a grand piano style cabinet?🎹🎶
I think people are looking for smaller instruments like this that sound great. Yamaha has a mini-grand that has a premium DGX style operating system that sells for over $12,000.00. I find the small case of this instrument very appealing. I could probably make something similar myself. I had a coffee table of my own design in the Hawaii Craftsman Guild Show in the Ala Moana Shopping center. It was a juried show. There are many wood workers who may custom furniture from exotic tropical hardwoods in Hawaii.
@@JoeLinux2000 thanks for the info
Still think acoustic is best tho🎹🎶
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Go for it if that's what you want. I played them for years, and own three at the present time. That said, my favorite is Pianoteq driven by a Casio PX-150 purchased from a seller on Craigs List.
@@JoeLinux2000 thanks for the advice🎹🎶
Could you make an compairson between the Roland
KF-10 vs Fp-30x
Too close to clp 765gp in term of price.
the fold of the lid is designed to catch some fingers in it... Seems a bit strange that they went with an expensive cabinet yet the pedal unit is attached by a flimsy cord... For me, rather than attracting certain audience, it falls between two chairs. I don't find the cabinet looking classy enough(if I was going for looks) The legs seem to be easily breakable during transportation. People who go for such old fashioned look would just buy an upright, probably... Thank you for your review, Stu. You are professional as always, but you look unimpressed;)
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in! As always, piano preferences come down to the player's subjectivity (especially when it comes to aesthetics). On that note, the KF10 is a massively popular piano, particularly for players that like a more streamlined, low-profile design aesthetic and want something a bit more premium without having to dedicate a lot of floor space. It is not a look for everyone, but that is why Roland has a very extensive lineup of many different cabinet styles and aesthetics. Thanks again and all the best! :)
True the flimsy pedal unit is the most bothersome to its aesthetic looks since it resembles the cheap Donner DP-80 i think it's their model number 😂 ... also from the back there's no wood it's metal sheet or something so even the amount of wood used doesn't justify the price especially for a market that doesn't recognise or value the Furniture maker brand name, I wish they invested in DP-603 and made it from real Solid wood with the DP-603 or HP-704 design rather than the F 701 or Donner's design😢
Er.....nah...
Roland will not sell a single piece of it. Max price for this I would give $500. After my experience with HP704, I will not touch Roland at any price.
well....roland had sold one to me
What's wrong with the hp-704 😮 , I was planning on getting one
15 hundred cheaper, add 100 voices, sort out middle register and, oh yeah, engrave my name on it in gold and I'm sold🤌😄✨