Topic by C0llateral

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  • C0llateral
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Topic: Are there better options than the FP-30x for U$2000 bucks?

Hello! I’m an amateur piano player who currently owns the Arius YDP 103 from Yamaha, and I really want to get into integrating Pianoteq with my digital piano! I’ve been messing with the Pianoteq demo on my iPad and the Garritan cfx which I own already, and these sounds are gorgeous!

I did a LOT of tinkering and I’ve been considering the fp-30x as a good replacement for my arius, since I can’t run Pianoteq through the arius’s speakers, and from what I heard the Roland Pha-4 action is quite good. I’m willing to spend around U$2000 bucks on my entire setup, this including Pianoteq which I still don’t own (yet). What do you guys think? Are there better options for this setup? Since I live in Brazil, imported pianos like Kawais are REALLY expensive pianos around here, so Yamahas, Casios and Roland’s are my go-to options. What I really need is a digital piano with a good action and a good integrated speaker, but external speakers can be considered too if it doesn’t go above the budget.

Regardless, thanks!

Reply by Luc Henrion

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  • Luc Henrion
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Re: Are there better options than the FP-30x for U$2000 bucks?

C0llateral wrote:

Hello! I’m an amateur piano player who currently owns the Arius YDP 103 from Yamaha, and I really want to get into integrating Pianoteq with my digital piano! I’ve been messing with the Pianoteq demo on my iPad and the Garritan cfx which I own already, and these sounds are gorgeous!

I did a LOT of tinkering and I’ve been considering the fp-30x as a good replacement for my arius, since I can’t run Pianoteq through the arius’s speakers, and from what I heard the Roland Pha-4 action is quite good. I’m willing to spend around U$2000 bucks on my entire setup, this including Pianoteq which I still don’t own (yet). What do you guys think? Are there better options for this setup? Since I live in Brazil, imported pianos like Kawais are REALLY expensive pianos around here, so Yamahas, Casios and Roland’s are my go-to options. What I really need is a digital piano with a good action and a good integrated speaker, but external speakers can be considered too if it doesn’t go above the budget.

Regardless, thanks!

Personally, I don't like Yamaha's current models - but it's strictly personal (sound & touch). I'm not familiar with Casio's current models, but they used to be a very good value. I still have one, an old PX350, which I really like, but if I were to buy a new piano now, I would go for the FP30X, which is clearly a winner.

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Reply by Coises

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Re: Are there better options than the FP-30x for U$2000 bucks?

C0llateral wrote:

I’ve been considering the fp-30x as a good replacement for my arius, since I can’t run Pianoteq through the arius’s speakers

If you are happy with your keyboard’s action and features, and if you don’t need easy portability, you would be better served to get a good pair of studio monitor speakers. I’m not familiar with the details of iPad connections, so I can’t tell you whether you would need an audio interface, or just the right cable, to send the output of the iPad to those speakers. (Bluetooth will almost certainly add latency, so I wouldn’t count on that working acceptably.)

I use a Windows computer and an audio interface with Pianoteq. Around a year ago I added a couple Genelec 8030c speakers and set them up as nearfield monitors. I can vouch for those covering the full range of a piano — but they are on the pricey side (around $800 US each at present). You could surely go well under that cost and still get much better sound than any speakers built into a slab can give you.

Last edited by Coises (15-08-2025 17:19)

Reply by iternabe

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Re: Are there better options than the FP-30x for U$2000 bucks?

Would a Kawai VPC-1 and a pair of JBL Studio 305p/306p fit within your budget?

Reply by larrycalame

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Re: Are there better options than the FP-30x for U$2000 bucks?

C0llateral wrote:

Hello! I’m an amateur piano player who currently owns the Arius YDP 103 from Yamaha, and I really want to get into integrating Pianoteq with my digital piano! I’ve been messing with the Pianoteq demo on my iPad and the Garritan cfx which I own already, and these sounds are gorgeous!

I did a LOT of tinkering and I’ve been considering the fp-30x as a good replacement for my arius, since I can’t run Pianoteq through the arius’s speakers, and from what I heard the Roland Pha-4 action is quite good. I’m willing to spend around U$2000 bucks on my entire setup, this including Pianoteq which I still don’t own (yet). What do you guys think? Are there better options for this setup? Since I live in Brazil, imported pianos like Kawais are REALLY expensive pianos around here, so Yamahas, Casios and Roland’s are my go-to options. What I really need is a digital piano with a good action and a good integrated speaker, but external speakers can be considered too if it doesn’t go above the budget.

Regardless, thanks!

I had an FP-30X, and while the action and ability to integrate PTQ was great, I was disappointed with the sound, as the FP-30X speakers face the floor. I replaced it with the FP60X, still well under $2000, and I'm happy with it - speakers slightly beefier and they face upwards.

Reply by amitev

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Re: Are there better options than the FP-30x for U$2000 bucks?

If you intend to play only using Pianoteq I recommend you to take a look at Studiologic SL88 mk2 GT. The action is great for the price range. It is however a MIDI controller and doesn't have sounds nor speakers.