🎹 Yamaha P525 vs Roland FP90X Review, Demo, & Comparison 🎹

#rolanddigitalpiano #yamahadigitalpiano #rolandfp90x #yamahap525

Introduction
The Yamaha P-525 just started shipping in the last couple of weeks and is the update to the P-515. Along with the Roland FP-90X, these are the flagship portable all-in-one digital weighted key pianos for these brands.

With that being said, are there any reasons to spend $500 more to get the two-year-old Roland digital piano?

Specifications

Yamaha P-525

The Yamaha P-525 comes with 4 speakers, 2 x 20-watt mains and 2 x 6-watt tweeters for a total of 52 watts. It uses multiple resonance engines to output the CFX and Bösendorfer sample sets and incorporates duplex scale as well as cabinet, damper, and string resonance.

The P-525 provides 256 notes of polyphony and comes with 44 onboard sounds, 18 drum kits, and other sound effects and insert effects. There is a built-in 16-track MIDI recorder as well as a USB audio interface that features 44kHz, 16-bit resolution. There is also an onboard rhythm machine.

The action on the P-525 is the GrandTouch-S action which includes real wooden core white keys, synthetic ebony keys, and a faux texture on both black and white keys. It has a noticeably lighter touch than P-515.

The display and menus are well laid out, and the keyboard has a nice overall look with high gloss edges. The P-525 weighs in at 48 lbs.

Roland FP-90X

The Roland FP-90X uses the Pure Acoustic Modeling engine for its acoustic pianos so there is no limit to the number of notes of polyphony. There are many user-definable parameters, including soundboard type, that allow you to edit almost every feature of the piano sound.

The FP-90X features tactile controls that are not available on the Yamaha. That being said, there is no 16-track sequencer but there is 2-track recording and overdubbing. While there are no onboard accompaniment options, there are more robust options if used with the Roland Piano app.

The action on the FP-90X is the PHA-50 which has a wood and plastic hybrid structure.

Comparison

Both instruments have lots of ways to quickly affect and customize the piano tone. This can be done by editing the core tonality as well as using the EQ and reverb.

Roland has prioritized tactile slider controls for many parameters, such as volume between parts as well as EQ shape, while this is all done using menu editing on the Yamaha.

The Roland uses My Stage to provide various preset configurations of the acoustic pianos and comes with 11 acoustic piano options versus 12 in the Yamaha.

Roland has focused on pro-level effects and a discrete volume control for the microphone audio input.

Both actions have triple sensors with escapement and both instruments have registrations for easily accessible presets. This lets the user save the customizations to avoid having to redo them.

Piano Sound

Yamaha P-525

The CFX sample set is more dynamic than the Bösendorfer which has a more constrained volume. There is a lot of colour in the CFX which has quite a few sample layers in use providing a close yet detailed sound stage.

There is a slightly “boomy” bass, but never any unwanted cabinet resonance; just more of a balance issue which can be edited using EQ.

Roland FP-90X

The Roland has a broader presentation. It feels wider and wraps around the performer a bit more, feeling more immersive than the Yamaha. The sound is modelled on real acoustic pianos and does not use samples.

Comparison

The Roland FP-90X has a more dynamic range. If used on a sound stage, a larger dynamic range can be problematic; however, it is generally a good thing for classical or other solo playing.

Stu’s Thoughts

So what justifies the 25% higher price for the Roland?

If you really enjoy editing your acoustic piano sounds and like the different levels of detail and expression, then Roland is the better option.

The Roland’s microphone feature provides a level of fidelity and control over vocal effects that puts it close to what a basic VST vocal microphone setup would be. It’s at a professional level. This is a good option if you’re a serious singer and want to use this as an input device to send audio to a computer, avoiding the cost of a USB audio interface.

The FP-90X has a warmer character. Whether it’s the speaker configuration or processing, the FP-90X gives you slightly more wrapped feel, whereas Yamaha is very detailed, narrower, and immediately in front of you.

Roland has more tactile, immediate, intuitive control, which is particularly beneficial in a live setting.

[mrmusicplz]

For me, the best part of these videos is getting to listen to Stu's playing. I've been up for a hour or so now and have already been at my keyboard playing. I have the FP-E50 and pulled the trigger on that purchase after listening to Stu's review of that unit as compared to other keyboards that were available at that time. As with all things in life, do what make most sense and resonates with you. Thanks for the review!!!

[RRIZOMusic]

Went for the FP90X in dec (great promotion). I have not looked back and thanks to your videos I was able to make the right decision!

[cptamlyn]

Thank you Stu. I recently bought my first digital piano (FP-90X) after watching several of your reviews and comparisons of various models from Roland, Yamaha, and Kawai. There are no places to try out pianos anywhere near me, and ordering a piano in this price range without test driving it first was tough (scary) to do. I feel like you presented high-quality information, relevant comparisons, honest reviews without bias. Consequently there were no bad surprises when I finally got my Roland. I wanted to echo what others have already said, and to let you know your reviews are truly appreciated. I feel you deserve the trust of your viewers, and that is a rare thing these days. Keep up the great work, thank you, and best wishes!

[Kazzerra]

Thank you friends at Merriam for the long awaited review of the P525! I look forward to seeing if you guys are going to do a deep dive video into the p525 on its own, now that you got your hands on one.

[mfurman]

I had FP-90X and P-515 (both for ~10 months). I tested P-525. I knew GrandTouch-S from my previous tests and I like it but I would buy neither FP-90X nor P-525. They have lots of features that I simply do not need - I use various piano VSTs and I just need a MIDI controller with a very good action. Neither Roland nor Yamaha makes one so I am currently using a PHA-4 action, simple digital piano acting as a MIDI controller.

As I wrote in another post, what I would really like is an online piano improvisation course by Stu Harrison! I am waiting patiently in line for it.
Stu is a great improviser and a wonderful teacher (I am referring to his 12 Bar Blues videos).

Thank you Stu!

Michael

[eduardoneves]

Hi Stu. Eduardo from Portugal. I am on the verge of starting piano lessons (56 years old now - it doesn't matter), and have had several synthesizers along the years. Some years ago I was fortunate enough to be able to test at home the RD-2000 alongside a Kawai ES-8 and a Yamaha CP-4. I remember quite well to feel pleasantly surprised with the RD-2000 keybed which I found to be immensely more comfortable and easier to play than the ES-8 and the CP-4, both of which I found to have a "heavier" action leading to fatigue after a while (I do confess not having trained piano fingers 🙂. So I am now going to a store to try for a few hours both the FP90X and the P525 and hopefuly be able to decide on one of them . Thank you for all your detailed and informed videos. You are doing a great job for all of us on Youtube so Congrats to you👌! Keep on the nice work.

[vicmartinez]

Thank you so much for making another video of the FP 90x

[peter.]

I love my Yamaha p525. it is far more expressive of an instrument than the p515 was; the action is much smoother and more responsive. it's not as deep of a keystroke, making it much easier to play rapid passages such as Chopin's 16th Prelude. I love it I recommend it to everyone it's a beautiful instrument by it you'll love it. The onboard speakers are also much improved. The reverb and VRM is more realistic too.

[southpark]

Headphone output power for the P-525 is indeed significantly lower than from the P-515. It is odd how the P-525 was allowed to leave the factory for market with that significantly lower headphone output power. But aside from that, the P-525 is great. I use both the P-525 and the P-515. Thanks for the review/comparison vid Stu.

[wilcandou]

Im a Yamaha fan boy... but the FP90x is the bomb.

[AnnouncerExtraordinaire]

I'm close to purchasing one of these fine digital keyboards. What's holding me back with the FP-90X is its 2021 release date. I get the feeling a refresh could be coming in 2025 or 2026. Might be worth waiting to get the latest version.

[technic]

Need an individual review for Yamaha P 525.please post a seperate video about P 525.

[hudsoncaceres]

jeez ive watched some reviews of these keyboards but your playing really sells me on them lol. Kinda was just getting so deeply zoned out watching the playing, sounded incredible.

[doskungen]

Hello Stu/Merriam Music! I own a Roland FP-90 that I'm very happy with, but wondering if there's a big difference in the sound between the FP-90 and -90X? Also just want to say that I love the reviews you put out. Informative and entertaining. Very very well done stuff! 🙂❤

[robertmichalscheck]

To me, Stu does the best demos, he is pretty much a concert pianist and pretty much a sound engineer and a tech also, he is the best, phenomenal player

[davids]

I just bought the p525. I’m happy with it. I had an opportunity to go to the NAMM show last month. Roland wasn’t there or I would have tried it out. Plus the fact that they weren’t even there kind of told me their confidence level, or lack of enthusiasm in their keyboard products. Wish I had the opportunity to try it out.

[frolferdjent]

Love these reviews! Your playing is mesmerizing. My only constructive criticism is that I do wish you allowed more time for the sound to resonate longer at the end of your song so we can hear how the pianos process resonance and decay at the end of a song. just a few seconds longer, please!

[孙一宁-tb]

Thanks for this great video! Currently I’m choosing a digital piano, and I’m hesitating between p525 and fp90x. I care about the feel, action of the keyboard and the sound source. Which one is closer to a real piano? Thanks in advance!

[M-B_FOX_V]

I don't know. I really like playing classical on my Yamaha. It's not P525 just a DGX, but still great. I'd still like to try one out oneday. Haven't tried an FP90X either. Both the P525 and FP90X are made to order where I'm at🎹🎶

[zarquon]

Hi Stu - Do you plan to do a full review video for the Yamaha P-525, and if so, when should we expect that?