Fantom X8 PA-5 Progressive Hammer Action

Yes, yes, yes

Piano action is very subjective you need to try this board. I tried every board on the market (yamaha, kawaii, korg, ect...) the x8 is by far the best. The A90 I tested couldn't even compare.

I have played piano for over 30 years on lots of different pianos but again every acoustic and grand piano has varying degrees in the hammers, action and weight of the keys.

I personally (my opinion) would say that the Roland action is a touch lighter than a real piano which makes it great for all around sound work. However I have touched my acoustic piano once in the last year I've had the Fantom. I still get excited playing piano on the X8. It must be the x factor. I don't know but I truly am as excited about the feel of this keyboard today as day one.

Unfortunately it means I spend a lot of late nights playing, recording, editing to the wee hours of the morning.

The main reason I bought this machine was the action. I was in the market for a controller keyboard or digital piano only, only, only for the action.

The x8 was pricy but when I played it and my wife convinced me that I needed to get it, I couldn't believe for the price tag I could have incredible weighted keys and the power of a synth etc... all in one. The only downside is that it is heavy and big to tote around.

But I plan to have this board for the rest of my days. Even if the technology becomes obsolete one day then it will remain as a controller.

The best piano action in the synth market is the Yamaha S90 ES, bar none. However, it does not have a sequencer or sampler. So the next best that has everything is the Fantom X.

The X8 is the best board, IMO, when considering every aspect, including the key action. However, it doesn't compare to a real piano. In fact, the old Roland fp3 action I feel was much closer to a real piano.

You need to try it. Every acoustic piano action is completely different so you can only compare a digital piano to a specific brand of acoustic piano .

Yamaha weighted action compared to a Steinway Grand comes out in tests to be almost double the weight of the Steinway Grand keys.

Roland is by far lighter than Yamaha boards and I reckon it is a bit lighter than the average acoustic piano. It is progressive meaning heavy on the low, medium in the middle and light on the top. Because each individual hammer, felt etc... is unique on an acoustic piano you cannot mimick it on a digital board.

But try for yourself. I am more than happy and I tested almost every digital piano on the market. If someone else likes the over weighted action of the Yamaha than they can enjoy it.

No next best thing here, it is only opinion and in mine the action of the X8 rules the synths at the moment.