This product has been discontinued, and replaced with Roland’s new GP-9 Digital Grand Piano.

Product Overview

For well over 100 years now, the grand piano has been the centerpiece of many fine rooms, and the heart of music for over 300 years. Of course, owning one simply wasn’t a reality for many folks due to the size, maintenance, and cost. While digital versions of the baby grand piano have existed now for quite a few years, many examples offered a subpar musical experience at best and thus weren’t regarded as a convincing alternative to an acoustic grand piano. That’s where Roland’s know-how with the latest digital piano innovation comes in, resulting in a grand piano that fuses tech with tradition.

The GP series consists of two digital grand piano models – the GP607 and the larger, flagship GP609. Housed in a 5’ cabinet, the GP609 takes up an identical footprint to many acoustic baby grands on the market, such as the Yamaha GB1K or Kawai GL-10, while serving up a variety of digital advantages. Digital piano technology has come an enormous way in the last decade, and the Roland GP609 features some of the most advanced technology currently available. The GP609 sounds and feels so realistic that many folks who never would have considered a digital piano are now discovering that their dream of owning a baby grand piano can now be realized at a lower cost with far less maintenance, without sacrificing much in the way of musical potential.

Given the addition of Bluetooth technology, the GP609 also effectively doubles as a high-end stereo system. With the click of a button, you can stream high-quality audio from your smartphone or tablet through the GP609’s premium speaker system. Whether you’re playing along with your favourite song, relaxing after a long day, or entertaining guests, the Bluetooth functionality adds a whole new dimension of versatility to the traditional piano experience.

If you’re looking for the latest digital technology and the performance of a traditional acoustic grand, all housed inside a classic grand piano cabinet design to function as the jewel of your living room, your search can finally stop with the new GP609.

Piano Action

The Roland GP609 digital grand, like the GP607, FP-90X, RD-2000, LX705, and DP603 uses Roland’s fairly new PHA-50 keyboard action which features, escapement, and a triple sensor. It provides an excellent and accurate MIDI output, a properly weighted action that will satisfy even the most discerning classical pianists, and a key texture that provides the right blend of grip and slip for both dry and humid environments.

This unique keyboard is also highly durable, as our Director of Sales Stu Harrison can personally attest to having played this action in his RD-2000 over 100’s of gigs. Most modern, high-end digital piano actions are quite durable, though the PHA50 is deserving of special mention in this regard.

Roland has a brand-new keyboard mechanism with their Hybrid Grand Keyboard which has usurped the top spot from the PHA50, but the PHA50 is still a premium quality action with great feel, sure to impress every type of player.

Needless to say, Roland hasn’t taken their foot off the gas when it comes to actions since building the world’s first touch-sensitive electronic piano more than 4 decades ago.

Sound Engine

Roland’s second latest sound engine, the SuperNATURAL Piano Modeling Engine is the brains behind the GP609’s superb sound. The polyphony is unlimited when using piano tones, helping making for a complex tone and super realistic sound. There are many controllable sound-related parameters allowing you to indulge endless creative possibilities with the Piano Designer Roland app via seamless Bluetooth connectivity.
Moving past the piano tones, the E pianos, strings, organs, etc are all studio-level quality and offer in excess of 300 notes of polyphony. The GP609 also has Roland’s Headphones 3D Ambience setting, which projects immersive spatial sound when practicing with headphones.

The GP609’s multi-channel speaker system boasts innovative 6.1 multi-channel audio technology, which includes specially designed cabinet speakers and porting to output sound from the bottom, top, sides, and front of the instrument – in the exact proportions of a grand piano. Unlike most digital baby grands which place basic speakers without consideration for projection, the GP609 feels accurate in small and large spaces alike due to its sophisticated sound system.

Overall, the GP609 does an incredible job of replicating the entire sound creation process of an acoustic piano resulting in an authentic grand piano experience.

Connectivity

The GP609 is well equipped with regards to connectivity for both home use, as well as commercial settings. Bluetooth MIDI and Audio are covered, giving easy access to Roland’s Piano Partner 2 app, and Bluetooth Audio turns your GP609 into a high-end Bluetooth speaker. Imagine this for your next party!

All the usual suspects are of course also covered, including a DC in jack, stereo mini input jack, twin output jacks, USB A, B and Memory, along with dual headphone inputs.

Notable Features

More than anything else, something that bears repeating is just how well the GP609 has been executed from an aesthetic standpoint. There are many products out there marketed as “digital baby grand pianos” that frankly only resemble the design of a real classic grand. Given how important aesthetic considerations are for some, compromising on the appearance is a total deal-breaker. The fact that the GP609 delivers the full visual experience of a grand piano is a huge plus.

• Classic 4.9’/150 cm depth grand digital piano, and lightweight 325 lbs./148 kg
• Built-in 6.1-channel multi-channel spatial speaker system (six speakers/one woofer) for powerful sound projection to enrich small hall
• SuperNATURAL Piano Modeling technology for a rich, living sound
• Authentic grand piano touch from the new PHA-50 Progressive Hammer Action Keyboard with Escapement, which combines the look and feel of wood with the durability of modern materials
• Progressive Damper Action Pedal to satisfy those with advanced technique (Damper, assignable sostenuto and soft pedal)
• Music playback of great performances from a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth wireless connectivity
• MIDI over Bluetooth for connecting to a world of exciting apps such as Roland’s Piano Partner 2, which encourages daily piano learning and makes practice fun
• Headphones 3D Ambience technology for natural, realistic sound when practicing privately
• Standard Features like Metronome and Twin Piano Mode
• Key Cover and Caster Cups included
• Built-in Prop Sticks for Variable Lid Height
• Available in Polished Ebony and Polished White

Conclusions

Roland has really done the piano market a huge service with the release of their GP series pianos. If you’ve got the room and have no interest in compromising, or if you’re looking for a maintenance free luxurious instrument that’s still quite movable to make a space like a hotel lounge really pop, the GP609 should be on your shortlist.

Roland GP609 Owner's Manual

• [English] GP609 Owner’s Manual

Related Resources

• [VIDEO] Roland GP609 Digital Grand Piano Review & Demo – PHA-50 Keyboard, Bluetooth, Piano Partner 2