Roland DP603 Digital Piano

Product Overview

Roland’s DP series instruments have been on the market since 2003, and are regarded by many within the industry as being among the ‘best value’ digital pianos available.  The DP603 features a litany of high-end features, including the latest SuperNATURAL piano modeling sound generator offering detailed grand piano sounds, along with one of Roland’s top piano action with their Progressive Hammer Action Keyboard (PHA-50) delivering authentic grand piano touch.

What about onboard tech? The Roland DP603 has you covered with hundreds of on-board sounds and other features such as classical scores, as well Bluetooth MIDI, and Audio wireless technology which makes for easy connection to piano learning apps and on-board recorders for easy audio playback. Really, this instrument features many identical features you’ll find in Roland’s pricier HP models, as well as some carryovers with Roland’s flagship LX line of premium digital upright pianos, though it of course has a different minimalist look, perfect for modern rooms or smaller spaces.

Ready to tackle the obvious musical considerations faced by the modern piano player, as well as being able to integrate seamlessly with the aesthetic of modern living spaces,  this instrument is another slam dunk from Roland, and should be on your shortlist should you be looking in this class of new digital piano.

A super stylish piano, the DP603 is actually available in a trifecta of distinct finishes so you don’t have to compromise when choosing the best visual fit for your home modern home – Contemporary Black (matte black, DP603-CB), Classic Polished Ebony (DP603-EP), and Elegant Polished White (DP603-PW).

Action

A staple in Roland pianos in the top half of their lineup, the DP603 is one of the least expensive instruments to feature the still new PHA-50 keyboard action. This action uses a blend of wood and plastic, and with the durability of modern materials, is frequently cited as one of the most reliable actions on the market.

This action has a triple sensor for accurate MIDI output, as well as escapement for extra control. The feel of wood might even make you think you’re playing an acoustic piano.

Sound Engine

A key feature that’s really going to make the DP603 stand out for many folks has to do with the sound engine. The DP603 uses Roland’s SuperNATURAL Piano Modeling tone engine, which offers limitless polyphony on its acoustic piano sound and real-time generation of the tone as opposed to the sample-based engines from other new pianos at the price point from Kawai and Yamaha.

The super realistic sound serves up the dynamic response of an acoustic instrument, and while some may still prefer the sound of a sampled engine, there’s a large and ever-growing fanbase who are very vocal in their preference for modelled engines.

Once you move past the piano tones, there’s a wide assortment of classic sounds including electric pianos, various synths, strings etc. which still manage to deliver a towering 308 notes of polyphony. Roland’s also incorporated their Headphones 3D Ambience technology. This essentially improves and refines the user’s sonic perception when practicing quietly with headphones.

In terms of the speaker system, the DP603 really delivers here with 60 watts of output power via its hi-fi internal speaker configuration. The piano’s speaker system is another area where the DP603 really excels – many other similarly priced instruments top out at 40 watts, so the extra power here is definitely welcome.

Connectivity

Pretty much everything you would need for home use is covered here. Wireless connectivity via Bluetooth MIDI and Audio is here, and Bluetooth Audio is especially noteworthy as it essentially your piano into a wireless speaker system for streaming your favorite songs from an Android device or Apple product like an iPad. Bluetooth MIDI allows for a quick connection to a smartphone or tablet to use Roland’s Piano Partner 2 app, which is one of the most intuitive music apps around.

All of the other standard ports are represented here too; there are dual headphone jacks (stereo mini and 1/4″), a DC In jack, L/MONO,R 1/4″ output jacks, as well as USB type A and B.

Notable Features

• SuperNATURAL Piano Modeling
• Limitless Polyphony solo playing using ‘Piano’ category tones, 384 note polyphony when playing using other tones
• 307 Tones
• PHA-50 Keyboard: Wood and Plastic Hybrid Structure, with Escapement and Ebony/Ivory Feel (88 keys)
• 60 Watt Speaker System
• 353 Internal Songs
• Bluetooth MIDI and Bluetooth Audio
• Metronome (adjustable Tempo/Beat/Down beat/Pattern/Volume/Tone)
• Twin piano mode, Transpose
• Graphic LCD Display
• Integrated 3 pedal system with soft, sostenuto, and damper
• Safety-Conscious Soft-Fall Motion Lid

Conclusions

If you’re a student, hobbyist player, or educator looking for a robust stand-alone instrument without the associated maintenance of an acoustic piano, the Roland DP-603 is going to deliver more bang-for-your-buck than nearly any other instrument on the market. It boasts acclaimed durability, is easy to operate, flexible with Bluetooth MIDI, has a minimalist design, and offers a wide array of high-quality studio-grade sounds.  A true heavyweight of the digital piano market.

Roland DP603 Owner’s Manual

• [English] DP603 Owner’s Manual

Roland DP603 Related Resources

• [BLOG] Roland DP603 Digital Piano Review & Demo
• [VIDEO] Roland DP603 Digital Piano Review & Demo – Bluetooth, PHA-50, SuperNATURAL Piano
• [VIDEO] Roland DP603 vs Kawai CA58 Digital Piano Comparison, Review & Demo
• [BLOG] Kawai CA78 vs Roland DP603 Digital Piano Comparison by Merriam Pianos