If you're looking for a digital piano, but aesthetics are at the top of your priority list, you'll love the Kiyola series from Roland.
The Roland Kiyola digital pianos are some of the most unique and aesthetically pleasing digital pianos on the market. They have been gaining a lot of attention since their introduction.
In this article, I'll review the Roland Kiyola KF-10 piano based on its performance, design, features, and overall value.
By the end of this review, you'll have a good idea of whether or not the Kiyola KF-10 is the right choice for your needs.
So, let's get into the review!
Roland Kiyola KF-10 Digital Piano: A Detailed Review
Before we get into the details of this particular piano, let's take a brief look at the Roland Kiyola KF-10 piano and company behind it!
Overview
Roland has been making instruments since 1972 and is one of the leading names in the digital piano industry. The company has put just as much emphasis on the aesthetics of the products as on the playing experience.
The Kiyola series is no exception. The Roland Kiyola digital pianos have an elegant, minimalist design that gives them a unique appearance.
The Kiyola KF-10 digital piano is the latest in the line of Roland pianos. It is an advanced and stunningly versatile digital piano that will prove an enjoyable and rewarding experience for both beginners and professionals. It offers rich, authentic sound and many impressive features.
The keyboard features 88 weighted keys, giving you the same feel as traditional acoustic grand pianos. It has a responsive feel that makes it ideal for playing expressive pieces.
Furthermore, this digital piano features an extensive range of tones and voices that can be tapped via the intuitive control panel, allowing you to create various sounds and textures.
You can connect the KF-10 to your iOS or Android device via USB and access over 270 voices. It also features a built-in metronome, digital sound effects, and Bluetooth capability for connecting to compatible devices.
Aside from that, the KF-10 includes a stand, a piano bench with premium padding, a headphone hook, and a 3-pedal system.
Overall, Roland Kiyola KF-10 is one of the best digital pianos that not only looks nice but will enhance the aesthetics in the room.
Key Specifications
Let's look at the main specifications of the Roland Kiyola KF-10 digital piano.
- Dimensions: 55W x 35.8H x 13.3D inches
- Keyboard Type: PHA-50 Keyboard; Wood and Plastic Hybrid Structure
- No. of Keys: 88
- Touch Sensitivity: 5 types, fixed touch
- Voices: 271
- Piano Sound: SuperNATURAL Piano Modeling
- Max. Polyphony: Unlimited for Piano, Other: 384
- Internal Songs: 30
- Speakers: Yes
- Effects: Yes
- Metronome: Yes
- Transposer: Yes
- Pedals: 3 (Damper pedal, Soft pedal, & Sostenuto pedal)
- Recorder: N/A
- Connectivity Options: DC In jack, USB Computer port: USB B type, USB Memory port: USB A type, Phones jack x 2: Stereo miniature phone type, Stereo 1/4-inch phone type
- Power Supply: AC Adaptor
- Color: Pure Oak, Sheer White, Walnut, Mocha Brown, and Sheer Black
- Weight: 33 kg
Now that we have a brief knowledge of the Roland Kiyola KF-10, it's time to go into the details.
Design
The KF-10 has a "mid-century modern" style. The design is simple and clean with a solid Scandinavian flair.
The body is made of wood, and the keys are black with white trim, giving it a classic look. Due to its sleek and minimalist design, it will complement almost any room.
Most importantly, the KF-10 piano eliminates unnecessary knobs and buttons to highlight its beautiful cabinetry. The device has four small buttons, a volume knob, and a power button.
However, it is pretty heavy and taller than other portable digital pianos on the market. It weighs 33kg and measures 55 x 35.8 x 13.3 inches.
This instrument also comes with a matching ergonomic piano bench that encourages good posture, so you won't get tired of sitting on it for a long time.
Although the cabinetry speaks for itself, I'd like to mention that the Roland Kiyola series has been honored with one of the most prestigious awards from the Japan Institute for Design Promotion, the G Mark Badge. This award recognizes excellence in both aesthetics and functionality.
The KF10 is available in five stunning wood finishes to perfectly match any space; Sheer Black, Mocha Brown, Pure Oak, Sheer White, and Walnut.
Overall, the KF-10's sleek, modern design and wooden body will add elegance to any room.
Keyboard
This Roland Kiyola digital piano features a hybrid keyboard with 88-weighted keys. The PHA-50 hybrid action gives your fingers an authentic, acoustic piano feel and provides maximum control when executing complex pieces.
It provides a realistic and natural sound because the keys are responsive and allow you to play with dynamic expression.
Furthermore, the keyboard has five adjustable velocity curves, allowing you to choose the most appropriate settings for your playing style.
Sound
In terms of sound quality, the KF-10 won't disappoint you. The Kiyola KF-10 features SuperNATURAL Piano Modelling to provide premium sound quality.
The sound engine produces a highly detailed and realistic tone with plenty of dynamic control and expression. It gives an immersive playing experience.
This Kiyalo piano offers more than 270 tones. They include six types of piano tones (3 Grand piano tones, 1 Upright piano, 1 Electric piano) and 265 other voices, including eight drum sets and an SFX set. It also complies with GM2 music technology, allowing you to play musical pieces perfectly.
In addition, The KF-10 digital piano offers Ambience and Brilliance effects. These features give you greater control over the tone you produce.
Polyphony
This Roland Kiyola piano provides unlimited polyphony on the piano tones and 384 notes of polyphony on all other voices. That's more than enough for even experienced players.
Having this much polyphony in a digital piano allows it to sound much more detailed and subtle. You can play complex pieces without losing any notes.
Speaker System
The KF-10 also features 12cm x 2 + 5cm x 2 built-in speakers that offer a rich, full sound with plenty of clarity and depth. It also has a powerful built-in amplifier and a range of digital effects that can help you create unique sounds.
Additionally, the KF10 packs an impressive 60W of speaker power, which is plenty for an instrument of its size. It sounds loud enough to fill a large room without distorting the sound.
Features
The KF-10 offers many features that make it an ideal choice for beginners and professionals. These additional features include:
Apps
One of the impressive features of the KF-10 is its compatibility with Roland's Piano Partner 2 and Roland's Piano Designer App. This allows players to adjust the specifics of the piano's tone and sound/touch responsiveness for a more personalized playing experience.
You can select internal sounds, play onboard songs or set the built-in metronome when connected to the dedicated app via an Android or iOS device.
The KF-10 works with Bluetooth to transfer data between the piano and compatible devices for easy recording, playback, and score sharing.
Pedals
Another essential feature of this digital piano is that it comes with three pedals: the damper pedal, the sostenuto pedal, and the soft pedal. This three-pedal system gives you more control over the sound when playing. It is handy for playing classical music.
The damper pedal (sustain pedal) allows for half-pedaling, which adds more dynamic expression to your playing.
The sostenuto pedal is a selective damper and is excellent for sustaining specific notes. This pedal sustains only certain notes (those pressed down when the pedal is pressed) and lets the pianist play all other notes without it. It allows the piano player to selectively sustain specific keys or chords.
The soft pedal adds subtle changes in volume and tone to your playing. It reduces the piano's volume by sandwiching a thin layer of felt between the hammers and the strings.
Metronome
This piano also features a built-in metronome. It helps you keep your tempo, while the record function lets you capture and save your performances for future listening or practice.
This feature is excellent for helping you keep time and play in sync with other musicians. It is beneficial for beginners who are still learning to play in time with the music.
Transposer
The KF-10 digital piano also features a transposer function. It allows piano players to change the key of the notes according to their preference. It is ideal for singers who can't sing in the same key as the piano.
Auto-accompaniment Function
The KF-10 has an advanced auto-accompaniment function that allows you to create a backing track for your playing. This feature lets you create a more engaging playing experience and adds extra realism to the instrument's sound.
Connectivity
Connectivity-wise, the Roland Kiyola KF-10 keeps things simple but provides everything the player needs.
With Bluetooth MIDI and Bluetooth Audio onboard, the KF10 can connect to popular learning and Roland apps and stream music wirelessly. You can access most of KF10's connectivity features through Bluetooth, so your piano will look as clean as it should.
However, if Bluetooth isn't your thing or you need to transfer significant amounts of data quickly, the KF10 also offers two USB ports (a USB type A and a USB type B) that you can use to do so.
The USB A port lets you connect USB memory devices such as flash drives, while the USB B port allows you to connect the piano to your computer, android, or iOS device to access the best music apps.
The availability of USB ports and Bluetooth in this digital piano will provide most people with all the connectivity options they'll need.
Other connectivity ports include two phone jacks (one stereo miniature phone type and one stereo 1/4-inch jack), DC in jack, and a headphones jack. All these ports give you more flexibility and control over how your piano is connected to other components.
Accessories
The KF-10 digital piano also has useful accessories, so you can start playing immediately. It includes:
- AC adaptor
- Power cord
- Headphone hook
- Dedicated foot pedal
- An ergonomically designed piano bench
- Owner's Manual
- Operation Guide
The headphone jack allows you to practice without disturbing anyone else. It also includes a leaflet stand assembly and leaflets for "Using the Unit Safely."
Additionally, you can purchase two optional items: USB flash memory and a dedicated foot switch (sold separately). These optional accessories will give you more control over the sound of your instrument and provide a more immersive playing experience.
All these accessories ensure you can start playing the piano right out of the box with the KF-10.
Price
Price is one of the most critical factors when selecting a digital piano. Fortunately, the Roland KF-10 digital piano is reasonably priced and offers excellent value for money.
It retails for around $4899.99. It may seem pricey, but it offers many features for the money.
The KF-10 provides a great combination of features, high-quality sound, and excellent playability, all at a reasonable price.
For those looking for an entry-level digital piano that won't break the bank, the KF-10 is worth considering.
Pros and Cons of The Roland Kiyola KF-10 Digital Piano
After looking at all the features of the Roland Kiyola KF-10 digital piano in detail, it's time to summarize its pros and cons.
Pros
- It has a beautiful contemporary style and unique design.
- Easy to use and navigate.
- The 88-weighted keys respond very well to your touch, making the piano playing experience more enjoyable and easier.
- This digital piano offers natural, high-quality tones thanks to SuperNATURAL Piano Modelling. It sounds like a real acoustic piano.
- It has an advanced auto-accompaniment function that allows you to create a backing track for your playing.
- Easy to connect with other devices via Bluetooth or USB.
- Includes valuable accessories so you can get started playing right away.
- The price of this product is reasonable considering all the features it has.
Cons
- It is quite heavy and bulky, so it's not portable like most digital pianos.
- No onboard recording capabilities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Roland Kiyola KF-10 is one of the best digital pianos from Roland. It has numerous features that make playing and learning more convenient and fun.
This digital piano boasts a powerful sound engine, plenty of polyphony, an excellent speaker system, Bluetooth connectivity, and many other features that make it ideal for home use.
However, this musical instrument doesn't come with built-in recording capabilities.
Overall, I think the Roland Kiyola KF-10 is an excellent value digital piano for musicians of all levels, providing excellent sound quality and playability.
Have you ever played the Roland Kiyola KF-10 digital piano? If yes, I'd love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
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Harlan Kilstein began playing piano during covid with no piano background at all. He taught himself how to play learning what to do and what not to do.
Today he's an advanced intermediate player and can help you grow in your skills because he learned all this on his own.