Best Digital Piano Under $1000 | Yamaha, Roland, Kawai & Casio

 

Welcome to a fresh rundown of our favorite pianos and keyboards between the $500 and $1000 (USD) price range available on the market. In this article, we'll be looking at various models for the best digital piano under $1000, from Kawai’s ES110 to Yamaha’s P125, Casio’s fairly new PX-S1000, or Roland’s FP30. Every piano on the list is an 88-note instrument with a graded hammer action keyboard and touch-sensitive weighted keys.

This current year is certainly giving us plenty of reasons to find interesting and fun things to do indoors, and the piano is one of those things that checks all kinds of boxes. It's mentally stimulating, it can be social, and you can learn some of your favorite songs pretty quickly from YouTube.

There are a ton of families and parents out there who are thinking about introducing piano either back into their home or possibly for the first time, but they don't necessarily want to invest substantially more in an acoustic piano and find some of the extra perks of a digital piano, such as the ability to play quietly via the headphone jacks.

 

Best-Selling Piano Category

The $500-$1000 class is an incredibly popular category, in fact, it’s actually the category that boasts the highest volume of units sold for each manufacturer. As such, every major manufacturer offers at least one model in this class, so it's great to see how they all stack up against one another.

While most folks revert to Amazon to do a lot of their shopping research these days, many of these models are not actually sold on Amazon so some of the models might be totally new to you. We'll split it up between portable digitals (lightweight, easily transportable options), as well as stationary, home digital pianos.

 

Portable Digitals | Best Digital Piano Under $1000

Kawai ES110

The first instrument on our list is the Kawai ES110. As a portable piano, in its most basic format out of the box the ES110 is designed to be picked up and taken around, and it's one of the most lightweight instruments currently on the market. Kawai pianos, generally speaking, are known for a very realistic feel, overall sound quality, and a focus on the piano experience. When it comes to other features, sometimes we call that edutainment (lots of instrument sounds and rhythms), Kawai's tends to not be as loaded up in that department. A lot of the focus is instead geared toward creating as good a piano experience as possible.

 

Harmonic Imaging Sound Engine

The ES110 uses the Harmonic Imaging engine, which is an additive synthesis on top of an existing sample of a Kawai EX Concert Grand Piano. Please note this is different than the SK-EX grand piano sample set that the new CN / CA pianos have. The ES110 can be connected via wireless Bluetooth to a tablet with Kawai’s Virtual Technician, which gives you microscopic control of all of the parameters.  It also gives the player 192-note polyphony, which is PLENTY for great textured playing at any level of complexity.

 

Responsive Hammer Compact Action

It uses Kawai's Responsive Hammer Compact action. This is a very well-weighted action. that has shown itself over the years to be a very durable action as well with good touch sensitivity.

 

Summary

For people who are looking at feel and piano tone as their main priorities with maybe a secondary priority being either the Bluetooth or just lightweight portability, the ES110 is an excellent choice. The ES110 is also compatible with a matching designer stand and triple pedal board from Kawai if you'd like more than the standard damper/sustain pedal that's included in the box.

 

Roland FP30

The next piano on our list is the Roland FP-30. Roland is the first company to have built a fully electric piano and has consistently been one of the key innovators of digital pianos for decades now. The FP-30 has been around for a little while and it's been a proven performer in the marketplace.

 

SuperNATURAL Piano Sound Engine

The FP30’s SuperNATURAL piano sound engine combines sampling with modern modeling technology for a convincing and expressive piano tone. The electric pianos are definite standouts as well.

Its onboard speakers aren’t quite as full-bodied as the ES110 for piano sound,  but of course, can always be sent through an amp to beef it up.

 

PHA4 Action

The biggest thing that stands out about the FP-30 is the action - Roland's PHA-4 action. You'll find this action across much of the Roland line (including some models almost triple the price), and most notably, it features a triple sensor which is actually a really big deal for people who are using this to trigger virtual instruments or potentially, or for accurate MIDI output in a studio setting. The action also comes with a very nicely textured white key, and could certainly double as a bare-bones stage piano.

 

Summary

The addition of the Piano Partner 2 app is almost a must with this one since it gives it the rhythm auto-accompaniment feature. Also, like the ES110, the FP30 is also very lightweight and easy to carry around, but it is available as well with the full permanent stand and a triple pedal.

 

Yamaha P125

Piano number three is another one that I'm sure lots of people have run into - the Yamaha P125, which is easily one of the best-selling digital pianos in this category. Yamaha is famous for its manufacturing quality control, and they have always done a great job of matching their product with the customer demands.

Pure CF Sound Engine

The P125’s Pure CF sound engine is probably the biggest highlight of this instrument. This is a quality sound engine producing excellent tone for the price point.

There’s also a really nice clear set of speakers on board with two speakers that are actually facing you, so in terms of the sonic playing experience that the player themselves gets with the P125, it's just excellent.

 

GHS Action

The GHS action may be a little more basic than what you’re getting on the ES110 and FP30 in that less focus has been given to creating as authentic a physical touch.

This is probably simply due to the fact that the GHS action has been out for quite a few years now, so compared to some of the newer actions coming out from other manufacturers, it is feeling a little bit dated.

That said, it’s by no means a bad action, and still more than up for the task of helping a student through piano lessons.

 

Summary

The other thing that we really appreciate about the P125 is the ease with which you can navigate the various sounds that it's equipped with. There's also onboard accompaniment that's really well executed and easy to navigate.

The P125 offers a really nice balance of performance and features. Just like the ES110 and FP30, you can get the P125 with a matching stand and triple pedal, though out of the box it's nice and lightweight as well.

 

Casio PXS1000

Fourth on the list is Casio's relatively new Privia PX-S1000 which serves as the spiritual successor to the immensely popular and groundbreaking Casio Privia PX-160. With the release of this as well as the upgraded PX-S3000, there's clearly been a much bigger emphasis by Casio on the overall look and feel of the instrument. The 1000 and 3000 models are very distinct because of the high gloss, shiny black finish.

Multi-Dimensional AiR Sound Source

Casio has paid particularly close attention to creating as much control and variety of different reverb effects and surround effects as you really could possibly expect in an instrument of this price point with their AiR Sound Source.

The AiR Sound Source is well regarded in the industry for its richness and sense of space around the notes themselves. Interestingly, all of the controls are touch-sensitive and there are no actual physical buttons, which also looks very slick.

Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard

The Smart Scaled Hammer Action features key-tops that have exaggerated textures that may be something that is a very good thing for people, or it could be something that's a little overdone. Either way, it's something you really just have to try because you never know until your fingers touch the keys.

In general, this is a solid action that most would agree outperforms Yamaha’s GHS action and is probably on par with Kawai’s GHS action.

 

Summary

S1000 is available with a matching stand, however, it does not have a matching pedalboard, though it is available with a floating triple pedal system, something similar to the Roland FP-60. The PX-S1000 is the most affordable digital piano on our list.

Home Digitals | Best Digital Piano Under $1000

Let's move into the home digital category. These are instruments that are not designed to be portable but are still very affordable, very easy to move around the house if need be, and come with integrated stands (sometimes a bench too). Be sure to check every individual product page, so that you know exactly whether you need to get an extra bench or whether one is included.

 

Kawai KDP110

The first home digital on the list is the Kawai KDP110. This is an interesting choice and comes right in at around the $1,000 mark in the United States. Some dealers may have this for slightly more, but it's close enough that we wanted to include it in this list. All kinds of things stand out about the KDP110.

 

Harmonic Imaging Sound Engine With SKEX Grand Piano Sample

The main grand piano sound is the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX individually sampled engine, which is a huge plus as this is a super thick and realistic piano tone. The added SKEX sample means this version of the HI engine is an upgrade over the version featured in the ES110.

 

Speaker System

The speaker system is very well-equipped, with the 40 watts of power significantly outpacing the less expensive Kawai KDP70 or similarly priced Roland RP102.

The KDP110 is also Bluetooth-compatible, which means that this will connect easily with any DAW program that has Bluetooth over MIDI compatibility. It also lets you use the KDP110 with Kawai zone, Sound Museum, and any other Kawai app that is built to be compatible with the KDP110 making navigation a breeze.

 

Responsive Hammer Compact II Action With Triple Sensor

The KDP110 uses an upgraded action from the action on the ES110, and this one has a tri-sensor. It’s a very sensitive action that is well-liked for its responsiveness and dynamic control.

In fact, in our opinion, it’s second only to Roland’s PHA4 action overall in terms of all of the piano actions featured on this list.

 

Summary

It's not particularly surprising that the 110 actually happens to be one of the most popular instruments that we sell here at Merriam even with advanced players needing a practice instrument, to the point that it's been extremely difficult to get in 2020 during COVID-19. Even if you have to get on a long waiting list, the KDP110 is more than worth the wait as it's easily one of the best pianos in its class.

 

Yamaha YDP144

Next on our list is the Yamaha  Arius YDP-144. The YDP series is their entry point into home digital pianos with full actions. They share many components with their portable counterparts the P series, as well as the DGX series, including action and sample sets.

 

Yamaha CFX Sound Engine

The highlight of the YDP-144’s sound engine is the default grand piano tone which is a sample of Yamaha’s flagship CFX concert grand piano. Like the Shigeru Kawai SKEX, the CFX is one of the world’s finest concert grand pianos.

It comes across very nicely here and is without question one of the best default grand piano tones on our list.

The total number of tones is light at 10, but all are high quality. The speaker power is also on the lower end for the class with 16 watts of power. Still, the YDP-144 is producing a great tone.

 

GHS Action

Yamaha’s go-to action in this range is the same one featured in the P125 above - the Graded Hammer Standard (GHS), a satisfying albeit more basic design than some of the others in this category (Roland and Kawai both offer triple sensors, and the Roland additionally has escapement & textured key tops)

 

Summary

For the price, it tends to be a nice balance for a lot of people and certainly compares very well against things like either the KDP70 or the Roland RP102.

 

Roland RP102

The Roland RP102 is next on our list. This is a home digital that's the baby brother of the Roland RP501, and a little bit lower priced than the Roland F140, but with a more traditional cabinet.

 

SuperNATURAL Piano Sound Engine

The RP102 takes advantage of Roland's legendary supernatural sound engine, which is something that they've been working on for well over a decade. This sound technology is a really interesting cutting-edge way in which to combine real samples with some synthesis on top to add all kinds of interesting nuance to the tone.

The only sound-related downside is the relatively weak speaker output at 12 watts of power, especially contrasted with the KDP110’s 40-watt speaker output for example.

 

PHA4 Action

Even with the increased cost of the RP102 over the FP30, the PHA4 action is still widely regarded as the best action in the class and still a great value at this price point.

The combination of triple sensor, escapement, and textured key tops has no peer in this class.

 

Summary

Being that it is Bluetooth-compatible, Roland has several apps that work with the RP102.

Overall, the RP102 is a great option, with the only real downside being its lower power speaker output.

 

Kawai KDP70

Very last on the list is the Kawai KDP70. This is the little brother of the KDP110 and takes away a few things that you would get on the 110, but also saves you a few hundred dollars. Really, you can actually think of it as the console home version of the ES110.

Harmonic Imaging Sound Engine

Like the ES110, the KDP70 has a version of the Harmonic Imaging engine that is built around the EX sample. This is still a great-sounding sample with 88-key individual sampling and 192-note polyphony, but you can hear that it’s not quite as nice as the SKEX sample on the KDP110.

The speakers come in at 16 watts which is tied with the YDP144 and actually better than the RP102, but still a step down from the KDP110.

 

Responsive Hammer Compact Action

This is the same dual-sensor version of this action that is also found in the ES110. A solid, reliable action, if not as sensitive as the RHCII or PHA4.

 

Summary

The other big difference from the KDP110 is that the Bluetooth functionality is not present on the KDP70.

That being said, all in all, this is still a well-built, high-value unit. In many ways, it's an excellent comparison to the Roland RP102. It looks fantastic in the home and slightly different sound than you would get from the Roland.

 

Conclusions

This year more than any in living memory has given us lots of reasons to find fun, engaging things to do indoors. What better to do than get a piano and start to explore some of those musical preferences and tastes that we all have and love with young piano players? If you've been thinking of buying a piano for the first time and plan on spending up to about $1,000 USD, you've got a lot of great options. Shop Here for more digital pianos. We hope you've found this article helpful!

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Kawai CN29 vs CN39 Digital Piano Comparison, Review & Demo | Outstanding Value!

Introduction:

In this article, we'll be doing an in-depth comparison of Kawai’s CN29 and CN39 digital home pianos. These instruments are the latest in a long line of CN Series digital pianos from Kawai; they’ve been durable favorites of buyers looking for an affordable instrument that still delivers an outstanding piano experience.

They've consistently set a new standard of what it means to be high-value for people focused on action and piano tone without spending on extra features that won’t receive that much use such as sequencers, arranger functions, or hundreds of sounds.

 

Tone Engines & Sound:

Let's start by looking at the sound system in these two instruments. Both instruments use Kawai's Progressive Harmonic Imaging, which is one of the latest versions of Kawai's sound technology. This engine features 88-note individual samples, plus additional synthesis happening on top with details like damper noise, damper resonance, string resonance, decay time, hammer delay, and fall-back noise, among other parameters. Differences start popping up when it comes to the polyphony.

The CN29 comes with a polyphony of 192, while the CN39 is equipped with slightly more at 256 note polyphony. 192 should be fine for most people, but if you're getting into lots of layering and arranging, the extra polyphony you get with the CN39 might be useful.

The default piano tone on each instrument is the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX sample set (the SKEX is one of the most popular choices at international piano competitions. There are some other grand piano sounds, such as the SK-5 as well their EX Concert grand piano which was the previous generation's default sample.

The SK-EX sample has a brighter sound than the SK-EX, which has a nice mix of warm mid-tones, with clear bright tones along with a Steinway-esque bass register.

When it comes to the speakers, there are two mains and two tweeters on the CN39 being driven by 40 watts worth of amplification. Interestingly, the CN29 also has 40 watts worth of amplification, but that's coming through just two full-range speakers.

You can definitely tell a difference when you're playing both instruments with more treble, and more tonal clarity in the sound out of the CN39. The speaker systems on both instruments were developed produced by Onkyo, which is a Japanese audio company that produces really great gear for home stereos and commercial installations.

This collaboration with Kawai is starting to show up in all sorts of instruments that they're coming out with, including in Kawai's flagship Novus series, and is also reflected in the Spatial Headphone Sound feature.

In terms of the other sounds, there is a huge difference in the number of tones that these instruments are loaded up with. The CN29 comes with 19 voices, all of which I would describe as pretty high quality, particularly the acoustic piano sounds and the electric piano sounds. The CN39 has all of the sounds that you'll find on the 29, plus the entire general midi 2 sound-bank, which brings the number of tones up to a robust 355.

 

Piano Action:

When it comes to the action, both the CN29 and the CN39 use exactly the same action - Kawai's Responsive Hammer III Keyboard Action (RHIII). You can also find this action in the top Nord stage pianos as part of a recent collaboration.

The RHIII action has a reputation within the industry for being super accurate, but also really comfortable and authentic with a realistic movement pattern. Now, this is not Kawai's wood key action as you need to get into the CA series for that.

That being said, the RH III plastic action is probably the most advanced plastic action currently on the market. It uses counterweights, a triple sensor, so the midi output on this is super accurate but it also uses an escapement or let-off simulation which makes it feel that much closer to an acoustic grand piano action, along with the ivory touch key surfaces.

 

Other Features:

When it comes to the features, one of the first things you'll notice is that the interface between these two pianos is completely different. If you didn't know that they were part of the same series, just looking at the control panel itself, you'd think it was a completely different line of the piano.

The CN39 is using a control interface with a high-resolution display that's very easy to navigate. The CN29 digital piano uses a simpler design but does feature a new Pixel OLED display as well. The design is sleek and very intuitive and even though there is a couple of layers to the menu. It's easy to access the virtual technician, transpose, metronome, four hands mode, and concert magic functions.

Kawai has also updated the lesson function with the number of books that they have preloaded into both pianos that are designed to work directly with different book series, with the 39 featuring twice as many books as the 29. Books featured include Beyer, Burgmuller, Chopin Waltzes, Czerny 30, and Alfred's Basic Piano Library Lesson Book Level 1a.

From a connectivity standpoint, they're both equipped with Bluetooth MIDI ( Ver. 4.1; GATT compatible), while the CN39 also has Bluetooth Audio for wireless connection to smart devices.

This makes both instruments compatible with the Kawai's Virtual Technician app, which allows for editing of all types of parameters including the key-off effect, minimum touch, reverb, soft-pedal depth, stretch tuning, temperament key, top board, and user key volume among others.

There's also a Virtual Technician Smart Mode with 10 presets.

Both pianos also have audio and USB ports. The CN39 has discrete ¼” stereo outputs that are separate from the headphone jacks. It also has USB audio recording as well as USB to host so that you can run wired midi to a computer. The CN29 also has the USB to host connection but lacks separate audio outputs.

Both instruments have the Grand Feel Pedal system, with full sostenuto and half-pedal adjust feature.

In terms of finishes, both instruments are available in both Premium Rosewood and Satin black, while the CN39 is also available in a Snow White with matching, built-in music rest.

 

Conclusions:

The Kawai CN29 and CN39 digital piano deliver an outstanding value with some of the best action and piano samples for between $2000 - 3000 that the industry has to offer.

The construction is solid, and the authenticity of the piano playing experience will make this an appropriate choice for intermediate students, a practice or second instrument for pro-players, or even a teaching instrument.

If you're looking at a Yamaha CLP series and aren't familiar with Kawai, definitely give the CN series a try. Shop More Digital Pianos Here.

The post Kawai CN29 vs CN39 Digital Piano Comparison, Review & Demo | Outstanding Value! first appeared on Merriam Pianos

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Kawai KDP70 vs Kawai KDP110 88-Key Digital Piano Comparison

 

 Thanks for joining us at Merriam Music. We've already done individual reviews of both the Kawai KDP70 digital piano and the more advanced Kawai KDP110. What we haven't done is a side-by-side comparison of these super-popular Kawai digital pianos. If that's what you were hoping for, you've come to the right place.

 

KDP70 vs KDP110 | Overview

As members of the famed KDP series, both are big sellers and are considered to be some of the higher-value options available out there. We get a number of customers who come into our showrooms after already having zeroed in on one or the other and the first thing they ask is; "these look similar on paper. Is the KDP110 work the extra money?"

Hopefully, this article and the companion video will help answer that for you.

Let's start by looking at how these two pianos differ in terms of what they have to offer from a sound perspective. There are some similarities, but there are also some differences. We think you're certainly getting your money's worth if you leapfrog the KDP70 and go right to the KDP110.

KDP70 vs KDP110 | Piano Sound Comparison

8-Watt vs 20-Watt Speaker System

On the Kawai KDP70, we have a pair of 8-watt speakers compared to  20-watt x 2 speakers on the KDP110. The difference in the depth of sound and the difference in the overall dynamic range that the KDP120's speaker system and amplifier provides is pretty substantial, not just in theory, but in the actual playing experience. There's an extra layer of depth, subtlety, and potential to fill a larger room with the  KDP120.

Polyphony

Both pianos have 192 notes worth of polyphony, and the sound engine itself is not that different in that both pianos are using the Harmonic Imaging sound engine with full 88-key sampling. What is different is that the KDP120 features the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand sample, while the KDP70 just has the Kawai EX concert grand piano sample.

Kawai EX vs Shigeru Kawai SK-EX Grand Sample

While the SKEX sample is more complex, to still get 88-key individual note sampling for what the KDP70 costs is really impressive. And both pianos offer some adjustable reverb settings for tweaking the sound.

Additional Sounds

Aside from the core grand piano sound on each piano, the rest of the sounds are identical with 15 in total. There are 4 acoustic piano patches, and then a mix of electric pianos, organs, and various others including a nice synthesizer sound.

So what we've got here is the KDP120 definitely delivers a better sonic experience due to the improved speakers and SKEX sample. But the KDP70 is by no means a slouch and even matches the KDP110 with equal polyphony and 14 of the 15 instrument voices are the same.

 

KDP70 vs KDP110 | RHC Piano Action

The action on these two pianos is similar, but not the same. Just like with the sound engine where the KDP120 features an upgraded version of the same fundamental engine, the KDP110 features a newer-generation version of the same action used in the KDP70.

The action we're talking about is of course the authentic Responsive Hammer Compact Keyboard Action.

Kawai KDP70 - Responsive Hammer Compact (RHC)

The Kawai KDP70 actually uses the same version of the RHC that's used in the Kawai ES110.

Kawai KDP110 - Responsive Hammer Compact II (RHCII)

The difference with the RHCII is that it upgrades the RHC's single sensor to a triple sensor for a more accurate MIDI output, which has the KDP110.

It also feels like they've improved the cushioning on the RHCII as the key bed is closer to the feel of an acoustic piano.

Both actions have a micro-texture on the white and the black keys, and both have some ability to adjust the touch curve.

Both are solid actions, no doubt, but the RHCII being the newer version means it's definitely providing an all-around better key touch, even if the Roland PHA4 still takes the top spot in the class.

 

KDP70 vs KDP110 | Features & Connectivity

MIDI and Power Adapter

From a connectivity specs standpoint, the KDP70 does show some limitations with only offering a pair of headphone jacks and traditional 5-pin MIDI in and out. This means if you want to connect to an iPad for apps, you'll need to buy some form of adapter.

The Kawai KDP110 has all of that, plus USB to Host and Bluetooth MIDI. Of course, both pianos have a DC in for a power adapter.

 

Lesson Functions

Both pianos have built-in lesson songs and lesson books, such as Alfred, Burgmuller, and Czerny, but the KDP110 has a larger selection and a more robust lesson function.

Typical digital piano technology like a metronome and Four Hands Mode is also available on both.

 

Cabinet Design

In terms of the cabinet design, it's similar on both instruments as they both come with a stand, but the KDP110 is a little more robust. Both pianos come with an integrated three-pedal system with half-pedal support and a matching bench at no extra charge.

 

Finish

The Kawai KDP70 is available in a sleek embossed Black finish, while the KDP120 is available in a more traditional Rosewood finish.

 

Closing Thoughts

To sum this comparison up, you can essentially think of the KDP70 as an ES110 in cabinet form with three pedals, larger built-in speakers, with a free matching bench. With 192 notes of polyphony, 88-note sampling, 15 presets, and solid action, the KDP70 has a lot to offer.

The Kawai KDP110, for not that much more money, is delivering a class-leading speaker system, superior core piano sound, upgraded action, and a lot more connectivity.

If your budget is maxed already at the KDP70, no worries, this is a great instrument. But if you stretch to the KDP110, for many people, it will be worth it.

Don't forget to check out our YouTube channel for more reviews!

The post Kawai KDP70 vs Kawai KDP110 88-Key Digital Piano Comparison first appeared on Merriam Pianos

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Kawai CA99 Digital Piano Review & Demo - LCD Touchscreen, Grand Feel III, Concert Artist Series

Welcome to another digital piano review over here at Merriam Pianos. Today, we'll look at the flagship model of Kawai's Famous Concert Artist series (CA series) as we check out the Kawai CA99 Hybrid Piano.

The Kawai CA99 has 100% wooden keys, a real solid spruce soundboard, and the SK-EX Rendering sound modeling engine. In other words, some very advanced modern digital and acoustic piano technology.

We'll cover everything and more in this review, and also look at who might benefit from making the jump from a good Digital Piano to a true Hybrid instrument.

Kawai CA99 Piano Sounds

One of the main reasons to consider a CA99 is the sound. The Kawai CA79 actually has the same sound engines, but the way the sound is ultimately presented to the player is very different.

Twin Drive Soundboard Speaker System

 The fundamental difference here is the CA99's advanced multi-speaker array, which also includes a real solid spruce soundboard functioning as the main speaker, referred to as the TwinDrive Soundboard Speaker System. Magnets act as transducers to capture the soundboard energy and turn that into sound.

The CA79 certainly sounds great too, but it simply lacks the depth and realism of sound that we're getting from the CA99 courtesy of the soundboard.

In addition to the soundboard, there are 6 other speakers, including 4 top speakers with diffuser panels and 2 dome tweeters, strategically placed around the instrument, all of which are being driven by 135 watts of Onkyo amplifiers.

You can also tweak the speaker settings depending on how close you have the CA99 to a wall or what type of flooring it's resting on, as well as Kawai's Spatial Headphone Sound feature, and new Headphone Type feature, which allows you to adjust the sound according to what type of headphones you're using.

 

Two Sound Engines: SK-EX Rendering Engine and Kawai's Harmonic Imaging XL engine (HIXL)

 Now let's look at the sound engine itself, or in this, engines, as the CA99 actually has two. The first engine activates while in Pianist Mode (the default mode when you power the instrument on), and Kawai calls this engine the SK-EX Rendering sound engine with Resonance Modelling. This engine combines a multi-channel sampling of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand combined with cutting-edge algorithmic modeling.

The SK-EX Rendering engine consists of 10 piano voices and gives us unlimited polyphony. This means, we could play hundreds and hundreds of notes and the instrument is going to continue to be able to render and sustain those tones without ever running out of memory.

The second engine is Kawai's Harmonic Imaging XL engine (HIXL), and this is a stereo sampling-based engine built around 88-key stereo samples of the SK-EX, SK-5, and EX grand pianos.

If we go back and forth between the default tones of each engine, you can really hear that the Rendering engine produces a more detailed sound, especially around the edges of the tone.

 

Personalized Piano Adjustments by Virtual Technician Function

In addition to the greater detail, the other advantage of the Rendering engine is that the user is given direct access to edit the various parameters of the algorithm courtesy of the Virtual Technician function.

Inside the Virtual Technician, you can edit things like the Touch Curve, Voicing, Damper Resonance, Damper Noise, String Resonance, Undamped String Resonance, Cabinet Resonance, Key-Off Effect, Fallback Noise, Hammer Noise, Hammer Delay, Top Board, Decay Time, Release Time, Minimum Touch, and more. You can even get into Key Volume, Half Pedal Adjust, and Temperament. Really, you're given the keys to go in and customize a piano experience to your unique preferences.

You can also control effects like Reverb and Ambience across a variety of settings as well.

 

Harpsichord

The harpsichord patches are very nice as well, and this will be especially appealing to musicians who play a lot of Baroque music.

 

Wrap Up

To circle back on the soundboard - the presence and the warmth that the soundboard brings to the lower half of the EQ range of the piano is something that we've never heard a speaker do on a digital piano. Simply extraordinary.

Navigating the other tones offered by the HIXL engine (90 in total) is much improved on the CA99 from the CA98, and the e pianos are particularly nice. The organs are great too, with a super-rich low-frequency response courtesy of the soundboard that imitates a real air-driven pipe organ.

That about does it for the sound, which as we've said, is seriously impressive. If you primarily play with headphones you won't be missing anything by going with the CA79 since the soundboard only activates when the instrument is played acoustically, but if you do usually play acoustically, the CA99 is definitely delivering a superior musical experience.

 

Kawai CA99 Piano Action

Grand Feel III 88 Wooden Key Keyboard Action

Both the Kawai CA99 and CA79 have incorporated the brand new Grand Feel III 88 Wooden key keyboard action. We can say right away this the GFIII is a wonderful upgrade to the already great GFII. The update between Grand Feel I and Grand Feel II was relatively minor, but the Grand Feel III has totally changed the back of the key stick and how it connects to the hammer and the capstan.

We found that under very heavy use, such as in an institutional setting, the slip tape on the back of the key was wearing out on the GFII actions, and some warranty work was required.

The new Grand Feel III has totally and completely up the engineering on that key to the point where the action is now virtually indestructible. The repetition speed has improved, and with the improved durability, we don't anticipate any issues through 10, or 15 years of ownership on these instruments moving forward.

 

Additional Features

Other features you can expect on the Grand Feel III are let-off simulation (escapement) which replicates the feel of a grand piano action, triple sensor key detection, 88 graded counterweights, and ivory touch and ebony touch key surfaces, which absorb moisture from your fingers.

The repetition speed has improved from what we were getting out of the CA98, and this is likely due to better individual weighting on the keys, as well as the improvement at the back of the key.

The bottom of the key bed is also spongier than the CA98, which is exactly how their acoustic grand pianos feel as well. This will be a huge plus for folks tackling demanding classical repertoire on this action.

We can safely say this is easily one of the very best digital piano actions available, and really, the only thing better is jumping up to the Kawai Novus series and their 100% acoustic piano actions.

 

Features/Connectivity

Display

 As mentioned above, Kawai has really improved the touchscreen display interface here with the CA99. The CA98's screen had some issues in terms of how it responded to commands, but fortunately, that has been totally rectified here.

Many of the most commonly used features rather than being buried in menus or alternate screens now have shortcut keys so they can be reached must faster, such as the Metronome function example.

 

USB Audio

There's a built-in USB Audio recorder that allows you to record and playback MP3, WAV, and SMF files.

 

Music Books

There's also an offer of 200 pre-loaded pieces of music which can be looked up by the Composer. Feel like checking out some Bach? Simply look up his name and you'll find hours of music.

It's also loaded up with well over a dozen different lesson books, which will be quite helpful for beginners.

 

Bluetooth MIDI

The connectivity list is certainly quite extensive as well. For starters, the CA99 has both Bluetooth MIDI and Bluetooth Audio with APTX support, which essentially turns your CA99 into a powerful Bluetooth speaker. Odds are, the CA99's speaker/soundboard system will outperform your stereo unless you have a high-end audiophile setup going on.

From there we've got dual headphone jacks, MIDI In and Out (if you still want a wired connection when accessing apps for iOS and Android), 1/4" L/MONO, R line outputs, an 1/8" stereo line-in, as well as USB to Host and USB to the device.

 

Pedal System

The Kawai CA99 also includes Kawai's Grand Feel Pedal System, which offers damper, sostenuto, and soft pedals, while replicating the weighting of an acoustic grand piano's 3 pedal system.

 

Cabinet and Key Cover

The cabinet design has also been improved with some more substantial carpentry and a contemporary upright piano slow-close fallboard.

 

Finish

 In terms of finishes, the CA99 is available in Premium Rosewood, Satin Black, Satin White, and Ebony Polish.

 

Closing Thoughts

Kawai has done a masterful job once again with the CA99. And despite the fact that the CA98 was already a great instrument, the improvements here are very meaningful, and we're not just talking about the new and improved GFIII action.

The touchscreen issues were actually one of the most frustrating things about the CA98, so the fact that Kawai addressed and cleaned that up is huge.

So, we're left with one of the top hybrid pianos available for under $10,000 CAD. It's an absolute home run in terms of sound, touch, and features.

With a competitive field that also includes Roland's LX models, it's a good time to be shopping for a hybrid Digital Piano.

The post Kawai CA99 Digital Piano Review & Demo - LCD Touchscreen, Grand Feel III, Concert Artist Series first appeared on Merriam Pianos

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Kawai CA58 Digital Piano Review

Hello and thanks for joining us! If you'd like to read an in-depth review of the Kawai CA58 digital piano, you've come to the right place.

The Kawai CA58 essentially sits in the middle of the pack as far as Kawai's Concert Artist series (CA series) is concerned, as it's certainly a professional quality instrument built for serious institutional use, but it doesn't have all of the latest technology like the top CA series instruments do.

So, for the purposes of this review, we'll not only cover all of the relevant details of this instrument, but we'll also identify who might be served from bypassing the CA48 and coming up to the CA58, without jumping ahead to the CA79.

  

Background

As mentioned above, the CA58 is the second entry in the Kawai CA series lineup, which starts with the CA48, and ends with the very advanced CA79 and CA99.

Despite being an instrument with a lot to offer, it seems as though the CA58 is sometimes a bit overlooked as it can get lost in the mushy middle, and perhaps doesn't have as specific a value proposition as the CA48 or CA79 does.

While these concerns about value are probably true, the fact of the matter is, though, there are certain users out there for who the CA58 will be the perfect instrument.

For those users, the spec upgrades over the CA48, including a superior sound engine with more polyphony, a better speaker system, and discreet line outputs are well worth the extra cost.

With that out of the way, let's take a closer look at the sound engine.

  

Piano Sound

The sound on the CA58 is produced by Kawai's Harmonic Imaging XL engine (HI-XL). This is an upgraded, more complex sound engine than what you'll find in the CA48, as well as the CN series.

It features 256 notes of maximum polyphony and is based on an 88-key stereo sample of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX and Kawai EX concert grand pianos. It's also a multidimensional sample set which means different microphones were placed throughout and around the piano, rather than just doing a basic left-right stereo image.

The result is an extremely detailed sound engine producing beautiful grand piano sound, and that's coming at you through 100 watts of speaker power, which includes two tweeters on top, and two mains on the underside of the keyboard.

Something that sometimes throws people off is that the control panel on the left-hand side looks the same as the control panel featured on the CN39. Otherwise, it doesn't really resemble any of the control panels throughout the rest of Kawai's entire digital panel lineup, as it's actually a remnant from a couple of generations ago.

The touch screen on the CA79 and 99 is much more advanced and modern, so this old version sticks out a little bit like a sore thumb.

That said, navigating the remaining patches (of which there are 42) and features of the instrument is extremely easy, as each sound category, such as piano, electric piano, or organ, is represented by its own button.

A quick note on the organ tones; pressing the left pedal on the CA58 triggers a rotary speaker effect, so this is a pretty great effect for use with organ tones.

You can tell that the CA series has a pretty big audience in the Worship community because of how much attention Kawai has put into their organs patches, which are exceptional.

Kawai has also incorporated their Spatial Headphone Sound feature, which improves the experience when playing with headphones plugged in.

The control panel also gives you access to Kawai's Virtual Technician, which allows you to go in and edit all kinds of sound-related parameters, such as damper resonance, key volume, and minimum touch, as well as different effects settings like Reverb.

So, there you have it with regard to the sound system here. The Kawai CA58 is producing some great sound, with a higher fidelity engine than what you're getting on the CA48, with more than double the speaker power too.

  

Action

Moving over to the keyboard action portion of our discussion, the CA58 is equipped with Kawai's Grand Feel Compact Action. The Grand Feel Compact actually features a very similar design to the original Grand Feel action, which has been replaced by the longer key sticks of the Grand Feel II and Grand Feel III actions.

This is a wooden key action with let-off, triple sensor key detection, and bass region counterweights. Being a wood-based action, you'll find that the dynamic behavior of the keys ends up skewing more towards that of a real acoustic piano action since those are obviously wood as well.

We also need to mention the ebony and ivory touch key surfaces. These textures provide a nice tactile sensation and grip for your fingers, while also absorbing moisture during more intense playing sessions.

All in all, we're left with very good action, and the only real competitor from the action playing experience perspective at the price point is Roland's wooden PHA4 action. Yamaha doesn't really have a direct competitor model at the price point.

Since the CA48 also has the same action, if the extra upgrades on the CA58 don't appeal to you, and you're only really focused on action, the CA48 suddenly becomes a super compelling option instead.

  

Features & Connectivity

Let's start with the connectivity. The Kawai CA58 is equipped with a Bluetooth MIDI connection, which allows you to remote control the piano via Kawai's sound museum app.

You can also control the Virtual Technician app this way which adds a nice visual component, and you can connect to apps like GarageBand and Logic, as well as any sort of DAW software, which is Bluetooth MIDI compliant.

The Kawai CA58 also has quarter-inch outputs with independent output volume control, which is why it would be an ideal solution for folks who need a performance digital piano that can connect to an amp or PA system.

It also has a stereo mini-jack line in, dual headphone jacks, traditional MIDI In and Out, as well as USB Type-A and B.

In terms of features, standards like Layer, Split, and Four Hands mode are all covered, as is a fun Concert Magic feature. There are also some preloaded music books like Alfred and Czerny as well.

There's also a built-in recorder that allows you to record, overdub, and playback WAV and SMF files.

The cabinet is built like a tank, which again, adds testament to the fact that this is built equally for the home and serious institutional use. It has a nice built-in key cover and is available in both Premium Rosewood and Satin Black finishes.

Something that will appeal to classical pianists is the presence of Kawai's Grand Feel Pedal System. In addition to the damper (capable of half-pedal), sostenuto, and soft pedals, the spring tension of the pedals has also been matched to that of a typical acoustic grand piano.

Closing Thoughts

As we said at the start, while the CA58 may not scream value as strong as the CA48 or CA79, it certainly has a strong value proposition to the right buyer.

If you're looking for a piano with a great sound engine, wooden action, and line outputs, so you can connect to an amp or PA system, the CA58 becomes an obvious choice over the CA48, and still costs a lot less than the CA79.

As we've said, in the sub $4,000 CAD price point, Kawai CA58 is probably one of the most compelling options for a music school, or especially a church, given the excellent organ sounds.

The post Kawai CA58 Digital Piano Review first appeared on Merriam Pianos

2359 Bristol Cir #200, Oakville, ON L6H 6P8

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(905) 829-2020