Roland K25-M Piano Review

This Roland mini/accessory works well for the price- but it isn’t exactly built to last like how the Boutique modules are.  We ended up taking away points for the action and built, as it wasn’t the best… but the portability of the item is excellent. That’s why we couldn’t quite give it a C.

K25-M: Overview

The Roland K25-M keyboard is a velocity-sensitivity keyboard/unit meant to be used with Roland Boutique. In other words, the K25-M is a portable MIDI keyboard synth. The model was first released in 2016, but even in 2023, this 25-key instrument remains a popular and cute musical accessory for producers on the go. 

About Roland Boutique

Roland Boutique is a line of vintage-inspired instruments. They first came about in 2016, and are actually a collab between Studio Electronic and Roland. In the words of the maker…

“Roland Boutique is a world of instruments that inspire electronic music creativity by expanding on the legendary sounds of the past with a workflow to suit the modern producer and musician. The sound of each instrument is immense and iconic with each original inspiration being a solid foundation to expand upon”. –Roland.com

So, moving forward, keep in mind that the K25-M is a very small MIDI controller that is meant to be used with Roland’s Boutique line- but can also hook up to synths from other brands as well. 

Features

Highly Portable Music Making- And at the Right Price

The instrument is both under 2 pounds and smaller than the length of a ruler, resulting in a highly portable little chassis. It only costs around $120 USD, which makes it accessible to nearly everyone. The keys are mini, so you get 2 full octaves. 

A Stand with 3 Positions

The stand on the K25-M has a couple of different angles so you can get comfy while inputting notes. It can also lay flat. 

How It’s Used 

Since this item is a bit different from what we normally cover, I decided to add in this information section so you can better understand the context of the review. 

As Sweetwater says, the K25-M is “Designated for use with the company’s Boutique Series synth modules”. Basically, it acts as a dock for these modules, meaning that you can input notes into the synthesizer- and it makes this job much easier. 

Roland K25-M: Specifications

• Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Length: Just shy of 12 inches long

Who is it suitable for?

The Roland K25-M is best suited to music producers who constantly find themselves on the go. It’s also ideal for those who are already decked out in Roland gear, especially if you own one of these vintage modules.

The K25-M in Action

Take a peek at this video with Ashley from Kosmic Sound. In the discussion, he reviews the Roland Boutique modules. The smaller set of keys he’s using on his desk is actually the K25-M.

Customer Reviews

I dived into some forums and reviews from buyers on various music sites. Here’s what I learned:

• Some musicians wouldn’t buy this controller if it were the last piano in the world- yikes! 
• Needless to say, the little K25-M faces some tough criticism
• Other buyers who tried it said the instrument could be build better (in a number of ways)
• Some found the blacks keys hard to reach/play well

Pros and Cons

Pros

• It’s economical
• It works really well with Roland modules- Especially their vintage-style synths
• Advertised as being compatible with Roland’s JU-06, JP-08, JX-03, and VP-03
• It makes these modules portable
• Nice modularity and form factor
• It’s convenient to input music with

Cons

• It has mini keys
• The action feels a bit cheap
• The item could be sturdier 
• The keys tend to die on you

A lot of people don’t like mini keys for inputting music, especially those who started on a full-sized piano like me, And the action has no weight at all- Some buyers have commented that it feels like a toy, and I hate to agree with them, but it kind of does. That is not to say that it is a toy, but rather, some producers might prefer a mini input keyboard with more resistance and responsiveness than what this little hub offers. There are also a lot of reports of keys going ‘dead’ one at a time. 

Comparable Syths and Controllers

It’s hard to compare an item like this (meant to be paired Roland to Roland) to something of another brand, but another maker to consider would be Akai. There are minis such as the MPK Mini MK3 (runs about $100) or for something bare-bones, even test out the $60 LPK25. I’ve heard the name Akai mentioned by my colleagues far more often than Roland when it comes to economical minis, truth be told.

Quick View 

Roland K25-M: Conclusion

In conclusion, the Roland K25-M truly doesn’t have the best action or build, but it’s a handy economical tool to have on hand if you’re just starting out in the world of music production. 

Music quote of the week: 

“And I always told people who ask, “Oh, how do you write a song?” I’m like, “Man, I don’t do it.” And I’ve heard a lot of musicians, Michael Jackson, I think he said, “You know, you have to let God in the room.” I heard Jack White say that quote, I don’t know if it was Michael Jackson, maybe it was Quincy Jones.” -Tyson Ritter (@ 1883 Magazine)

6Expert Score

This Roland mini/accessory works well for the price- but it isn’t exactly built to last like how the Boutique modules are. We ended up taking away points for the action and built, as it wasn’t the best… but the portability of the item is excellent. That’s why we couldn’t quite give it a C.

PROS

• It’s economical
• It works really well with Roland modules- Especially their vintage-style synths
• Advertised as being compatible with Roland's JU-06, JP-08, JX-03, and VP-03
• It makes these modules portable
• Nice modularity and form factor
• It’s convenient to input music with

CONS

• It has mini keys
• The action feels a bit cheap
• The item could be sturdier
• The keys tend to die on you