Digital Pianos Review
Roland F701 Review: The Award-Winning Slim Console
The F701 is Roland's Red Dot award-winning slim console: the PHA-4 Standard action, the SuperNATURAL engine with 324 tones and 256-note polyphony, a display, USB audio recording, Bluetooth audio and MIDI, Headphones 3D Ambience and three pedals, in a shallow modern cabinet. This review covers what the design and features bring, where the 2 x 12 W speakers fall short, and how it compares with the RP701, Yamaha YDP-S56 and Kawai CN201.
Our Verdict
Research Score 86/100The Roland F701 is the console to buy if you want a complete, modern-looking slim piano: the PHA-4 Standard action with escapement, 324 tones, a display, USB recording and Bluetooth in a cabinet that won a design award. It is the RP701 in a flatter, more contemporary shape. The 2 x 12 W speakers are its weakness in a large room, and a pianist who wants the most refined action at the price should compare the Kawai CN201.
Editorial research score based on published specifications and documented features, not a customer rating or lab test.
Roland
Roland F701
Best for: Buyers who want the RP701's features in a modern, shallow cabinet
Skip it if: you want louder speakers or a wooden-key action
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Listing verified: October 2026
Who Should Buy It
Buy it if
- Your room needs a shallow console that looks modern
- You want a display, 324 tones and USB recording
- You use apps and streaming over Bluetooth
Skip it if
- Speaker power for a large room matters; the Yamaha YDP-184 has 60 W
- You want the PHA-50 action
- You prefer a traditional upright cabinet
Key Specifications
| Key Action | PHA-4 Standard with escapement and Ivory Feel |
| Sound Engine | Roland SuperNATURAL Piano |
| Voices | 324 |
| Polyphony | 256 notes |
| Speakers | 2 x 12 W |
| Bluetooth | Audio and MIDI |
| USB | USB MIDI; USB flash-drive recording |
| Pedals | 3 pedals built in, progressive damper |
| Weight | 79.5 lb (36 kg) |
| Form Factor | Slim modern console with display |
Design First, Without Compromise Inside
The F701 won the Red Dot Product Design award in 2021 for a cabinet that is flat-topped, shallow and understated, with a folding cover that doubles as the music rest. The listing confirms the award, the PHA-4 Standard action, the SuperNATURAL engine, Headphones 3D Ambience and an intuitive display with icons. Roland's specification adds 324 tones, 256-note polyphony, 2 x 12 W speakers, Bluetooth audio and MIDI, USB audio recording to a flash drive and a three-pedal base with a progressive damper. At 79.5 pounds it is lighter than most consoles with this feature set.
Action and Pedals
PHA-4 Standard brings three sensors, simulated escapement and Ivory Feel tops; the progressive damper pedal increases resistance through its travel and supports continuous half-pedaling. It is the same keyboard as the RP107, RP701 and F107, which means it is the reference action at the price and a step below the PHA-50 wooden hybrid keys in Roland's HP series and the Kawai RHIII with counterweights in the CN201.
Sound, Tones and the Display
The SuperNATURAL grand is bright and expressive with modeled resonance and Piano Designer adjustments on the display. The 324 tones add uprights, electric pianos, organs, strings, brass, synths and drums, and the display with icons makes selecting them, setting the metronome and navigating the built-in song library straightforward without an app. Polyphony is 256 notes.
The 2 x 12 W speakers are clear and balanced for a practice room or a modest living room; in a large room the Yamaha YDP-184's 60 watts and the Casio PX-870's 40 watts have noticeably more presence. Headphones 3D Ambience improves the image on the two headphone jacks.
Connectivity
Bluetooth audio and MIDI, USB MIDI to a computer and the USB flash-drive port cover every home use, and Roland's Piano App adds remote control and Piano Designer over Bluetooth. Two headphone jacks sit under the keyboard.
Cabinet and Assembly
The slim cabinet assembles in about an hour with two people and sits flush against a wall in black, white or light oak. The flat top holds a lamp or a metronome and the folding cover protects the keys. No bench is included.
F701 Against the Alternatives
Against the RP701, the two are the same piano in different cabinets; choose on shape and price. Against the Yamaha YDP-S56, the Yamaha has the CFX sample and GrandTouch-E; the Roland has escapement, 324 tones, a display and USB recording. Against the Kawai CN201, the Kawai's RHIII with counterweights and 2 x 20 W speakers are the pianist's choice; the Roland has the tone library, display and recording. Against the Casio AP-S450, the Casio has hybrid keys and 40 watt speakers; the Roland has the display, recording and escapement.
Buy the F701 for a complete, modern slim console; buy the CN201 for touch and the YDP-184 for speakers.
Daily Use and Practice
The F701 is the Roland console that needs no app to be pleasant to use. Its display with icons puts tones, the metronome, the song library and the recorder a button away, and Headphones 3D Ambience makes long headphone sessions less tiring. Twin Piano mode splits the keyboard for teacher and student, Bluetooth audio streams play-along music, and the USB flash-drive port records practice as a WAV file to send to a teacher. The flat top holds a lamp or a metronome, and the folding cover keeps dust off the keys between sessions.
Long-Term Fit
The F701 is a console families keep for a decade because it does not run out of features and its action supports advanced study. Owners who move on usually want the PHA-50 action or more speaker power, both in Roland's HP and LX series.
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths
- Red Dot award-winning slim design
- PHA-4 Standard action with escapement and a progressive damper pedal
- 324 tones, a display and USB audio recording
- Bluetooth audio and MIDI with Headphones 3D Ambience
Limitations
- 2 x 12 W speakers are modest for the price
- PHA-4 Standard rather than the PHA-50 in the HP series
- No bench
How We Scored It
Scores reflect published specifications, documented features and value against the alternatives below. They are editorial research scores, not laboratory measurements.
Alternatives to Consider
Roland RP701
Families who want a complete home piano with a display, recording and a huge sound library around Roland's PHA-4 action
Read the Roland RP701 review →
Kawai CN201
Pianists who want the most authentic action and tone in an entry Kawai console
Read the Kawai CN201 review →
Yamaha Arius YDP-S56
Apartment and small-room buyers who want the YDP-166's action and sound in the slimmest Arius
Read the Yamaha Arius YDP-S56 review →Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Casio Celviano AP-S450 vs Roland F701 Compare →
Questions Buyers Ask
Roland F701
See the current listing, price and included accessories.
About This Review
Mandrillis Team
The Mandrillis editorial team researches and compares audio and music gear using manufacturer documentation, verified specs and real buyer feedback, so you can make a confident purchase without wading through marketing claims.
Read our full research methodology.