Very similar to Roland’s RD-700NX, a digital piano that is highly popular with those using it for stage performances, the RD-300NX packs most all of the same features, making it an excellent piano to consider, particularly for stage use. At 17.2 kilograms, the RD-300NX is light enough to comfortably transport it as frequently as necessary, and outfitted with a number of Roland’s acclaimed features such as a SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine and a Deluxe PHA III Ivory Feel Keyboard, the RD-300NX sounds and feels remarkably close to an upright acoustic piano.
On top of this, the RD-300NX comes with a selection of features that make it suited for music production as well. While this is certainly not the piano’s main purpose, the RD-300NX’s 500+ tones and ability to add various effects and layers are great for any dabbling with producing their own music. In this Roland-300NX review, we’ll take a look at these features as well as the various pros and cons to the instrument.
[amazon box=”B004KCLX8W” title=”Roland RD-300NX” image_size=”large” rating=”3.2″]
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Not very many stage pianos sound and feel like an acoustic piano. Laying claim to both of these descriptions is the primary advantage of the RD-300NX. It’s attractive display and nice list of features are also pros of this piano.
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[su_box title=”Cons” box_color=”#891212″]
The RD-300NX is so close to being a digital piano that is just as suited for music production as it is stage performances, but it isn’t quite there. There are no advanced synth sounds, and though the editing and effect features are professional and easy to use, they are not comprehensive. Also, there is no built in speaker, meaning that you will need to have either an amp or headphones.
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Our Ratings
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Sound Quality of the RD-300NX
The RD-300NX comes with Roland’s SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine, a digital sampling technology that is widely recognized as being highly effective when it comes to replicating the sound of an acoustic piano. Of the stage/music production pianos I’ve had the chance to play, the RD-300NX is near the top of the list when it comes to sound quality.
Along with a good acoustic piano tone, the RD-300NX also has over 100 other tones to choose from. Some of them are wonderful, and others not as much, but this is only to be expected. As a whole, the tone selection of the RD-300NX is very high quality.
Capable of 128 notes of polyphony the RD-300NX is plenty capable of playing highly complicated pieces without cutting off any of the notes prematurely while Roland’s Sound Focus technology makes sure that even the quietest notes are heard.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7jIk0cs9W4
Key Action and Realism of the RD-300NX
This is where the RD-300NX wins a lot of bonus points. Far too many keyboards and stage pianos don’t focus on a highly realistic key action.. The key action of the RD-300NX, however, is great. The Deluxe PHA III Ivory Feel Keyboard is correctly weighted to replicate the resistance the keys on acoustic piano have, and the synthetic ivory keys feel far more natural and produce much less sound than plastic keys. In a perfect world, the keyboard would be graded as well, but other than that the keyboard of the RD-300NX is wonderfully realistic.
Other Features and Specifications of the RD-300NX
Like any good stage/music production piano, the RD-300NX is equipped with a host of other features. These include onboard effects such as reverb, EQ, chorus, and compression, 200 rhythm patterns, split keyboard functionality, MIDI connectivity, a headphone jack, the ability to add a triple pedal unit, hundreds of sounds to choose from, and controls that allow you to record and professionally edit your music.
As mentioned, the RD-300NX weighs just 17.2 kilograms, making it plenty portable enough to transport back and forth between performances, and it’s attractive finish and LCD display make it pleasingly attractive as well.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aexJrb1w55Y
Roland RD-300NX Review – Final Thoughts
Generally, with digital pianos designed to fulfill a specific role, there are several issues to be found with other, more general aspects of the piano. This is not the case with the RD-300NX. Even though it’s an affordable piano, Roland spared no expense making sure that it sounded and felt as close to an acoustic piano as feasibly possible. The majority of the sounds are high quality and realistic, and the Deluxe PHA III Ivory Feel Keyboard replicates the touch response of an acoustic piano just as good as any digital piano you are going to find.
While it isn’t quite as suited for music production as it is stage performance, the RD-300NX comes with enough music editing and mixing features to satisfy even advanced musicians
Music production and stage use may be a bit of a niche, but for anyone who fits into this niche, the RD-300NX is a great digital piano to consider.
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