More than 3200 exhibitors participated in CES 2023, which was held in Las Vegas from January 5 until 8, 2023. One of these was Roland, who took the opportunity to showcase their Bridge Cast, D-02K, and TD-02KV V Drums, as well as their 50th-anniversary concept piano. According to Roland, the piano offers advanced sound quality and stunning design for a look into the future. Of course, Roland is no stranger to using electronic technologies to reinvent the acoustic piano-playing experience, with their EP-10 and EP-20 dating back to the seventies. They have also experimented with futuristic concepts for the piano too and unveiled the GPX-F1 Facet Grand Piano at CES in 2020. 

For their 50th Anniversary Concept, Piano Roland aimed for improved sound quality, advanced connectivity, and stunning finishes. The piano features a one-piece molded wooden body made from Japanese oak that was designed in collaboration with Japanese furniture maker Karimoku. In addition, it has a keyboard touch that Roland claims is more natural and responsive than ever before. Of course, the piano has Roland's latest sound system and tones alongside their most legendary piano sounds and expression. 

One of the most interesting things about the concept piano is the speakers. Roland designed a 360-degree speaker system for it, with 14 adjustable speakers placed strategically throughout the piano to send sound in any direction. However, the drone speakers have generated the most buzz for being the first of their kind. Not only do they offer an eye-catching experience while floating above the piano, but they also provide enhanced sound quality. The drones also operate on a low-latency dedicated communication channel, which means players can control their positioning as they play. 

Roland has stated that the 50th anniversary piano offers advanced connectivity through the operation of these drones and through its touch panel. The latter is embedded within the lid and supports video conferencing, piano lessons, and streaming tutorials available through Roland Cloud. Those who were not fortunate enough to see the concept piano in person can check out this article by Roland to learn more about its creation and what it does (https://articles.roland.com/soaring-sound-meet-the-piano-of-the-future/).