celebrating its 50th anniversary, roland unveils sculptural piano with floating drone speakers

Roland unveils 50th-anniversary concept piano

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Roland, the Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, has unveiled a new concept piano inspired by the design of a jewelry box. The sculptural instrument presents a warm, rounded aesthetic and is designed to be appreciated like a piece of furniture. Perhaps the most striking feature of the digital piano is its floating drone speakers, which allow it to create a realistic 360-degree sound field similar to that of an acoustic piano.

all images courtesy of Roland

flying drone speakers

Roland’s latest concept piano combines optimal sound, aesthetics, and connectivity. The design respects the piano as an instrument, its rich history and strength, and takes it a step further by adding unique speakers to deliver high-quality sound. The piano features 14 ‘speaker balls’ that can radiate sound in all directions. There are seven speakers on the right side and seven on the left, and the volume can be adjusted individually for each unit. The resulting arrangement is capable of reproducing the realistic sound field of an acoustic piano.

The Japanese company did not want to just add reverb to the sound, but actually have the sound radiate from the space around the player. To achieve this, they decided to build flying speakers that would make the musician feel like they were completely immersed in the music. From what Roland describes, the biggest challenge was latency, but also the design of the drone itself, since current models produce a quite loud propeller noise.

an elegant centerpiece piano that blends into everyday life

The 50th birthday concept piano is designed like an elegant jewelry box that preserves music as a precious possession. Roland wanted the new piano to be perceived as the centerpiece of the room. That’s why the company collaborated with Japanese wood furniture brand Karimoku and created a round, oval design in natural wood. The piano is characterized as calm and friendly and blends seamlessly into everyday life.

Karimoku created the body by cutting out pieces of wood based on digital data and assembling them into the desired form. This piano is made from oak wood from Hokkaido, and the use of unused scrap wood was limited as much as possible.