“They imbue the essence of their unique design philosophy into every note”: The latest additions to Roland’s Kiyola piano range blend ultra-accurate digital modelling with some world-class aesthetics

Buying a new piano isn’t just a matter of totting up respective tech specs. More so than any other instrument, a piano has to look and feel like part of your household furniture because, well, that’s exactly what it is.

A company that fully understands this important psychological facet of piano-buying is Roland. The Japanese music technology legend has an enviable heritage when it comes to instrument design, and the latest in the company’s Kiyola range - the KF-20 and KF-25 - represent perhaps the most impeccable synthesis of 2020s technological nouse with a tradition-leaning design philosophy. It’s a design philosophy that draws upon time-worn techniques stretching back over a thousand years, fully realising the harmonious Japanese concept of ‘wa’ (和).

Working in collaboration with the seasoned artisans of high-end wooden furniture manufacturer Karimoku, Roland has created a pair of instruments that not only sound utterly life-like, nuanced and soulful, but also serve as captivating visual additions to any creative living space.

As with the initial entry in the range, the KF-10, both the KF-20 and KF-25 are housed within a wooden cabinet made using handcrafted techniques. The rounded edges of the KF-20 have been fastidiously created using the ancient Hikimono style. This approach requires the wood to be carefully hand-prepared to yield the most natural rounded shapes. It’s this level of detail and sophistication that Karimoku - which has been in business since 1940 - is globally renowned for.

It’s not just a tale of exemplary craftsmanship though, The KF-20 is laden with impressive specs. The PHA-50 high-precision, ivory-feel keyboard combines both wood and plastic moulded keys to emulate the sensation of playing a genuine acoustic grand piano, with pristine sound output via its on-board speakers. There’s also the three standard acoustic piano pedals for imparting softness, sustain and sostenuto.

There’s a range of inputs and outputs too, including a plethora of USB ports for inputting a computer or a flash storage device. There’s two headphone jacks, stereo 1/4-inch and stereo miniature outs, too. That means late-night headphone-clad practice is a given. There’s also a Bluetooth connection so you can stream tracks into the piano to play along with when learning or just for fun.

The KF-25 also sports these connections and qualities, but aesthetically deviates from its curvaceous sibling with an ultra-modern, angular look.

Its Smoked Oak finish emphasises the drive to collide both traditional and 21st century attitudes, bringing out the detail of the natural wood grain of the cabinet. This particular style of design calls upon the traditional Sashimono carpentry technique.

This technique aligns the wooden boards in a perfect symmetry - joining them at right angles without nails. This longstanding approach maintains durability. Overall, the KF-25 adheres to a design style known as Japandi, which calls upon the stylings of austere Japanese wabi-sabi in tandem with the practical ease and calming essence of Scandinavian furniture.

So, the KF-20 and -25 are a pair of good looking digital pianos carefully crafted to become a centrepiece of a living space - but there’s more to them than just sublime aesthetics.

Roland’s ‘Piano Reality Modelling’ sound engine marries up with that aforementioned PHA-50 keyboard to deliver a sonic response that reacts exactly like an acoustic piano. There’s no samples loaded up here, this is an algorithmic, real time response that brings all the niceties, shades and unexpected subtleties of a genuine piano into play. The warm tone of both pianos has been calculated to resonate harmoniously with the design of their particular cabinets.

The KF-20 is available in a series of finishes, including Pure Oak, Sheer White, Walnut and the brand new Celadon Green option, while the KF-25 is available in just that distinctive Smoked Oak finish. The accompanying bench is also available, with a wide-set design that promotes good posture and distributes weight evenly over long periods of playing.

The latest entries in the Kiyola range are not just premium contenders for domestic piano players, they’re also feats of intricate design, and will undoubtedly enhance any creative environment. Willing you to take to your stool and just immerse yourself in music, these pianos are enmeshed with the culture and history of Japan, and they imbue the essence of their unique design philosophy into every note.

The KF-20 and KF-25 are available now from Roland retailers globally. In the UK and EU purchase prices start at £3,803.00 and €4,490.00 (including VAT). In the U.S, the pianos are available exclusively via the MoMA Design Store with a price tag of $5,719.99