Product Review: Kawai CA-401 – Digital Piano with Wooden Keys

Hybrid piano features in a mid-range digital piano – this special feature makes the Kawai CA series particularly popular with those who value a realistic playing feel in a digital home piano. Even the smallest model, the Kawai CA-401, features a wooden-key keyboard and replaces the very successful entry-level model CA-49.

As so often, the new model seems strikingly similar to the predecessor CA-49 – until you look a little closer. Even as the smallest model, the CA-401 is a true testament to the evolution of the CA series right from the first time you play it. One difference to the previous model is pleasingly small, however: the price has risen only slightly.

Grand Feel Compact

In the end, it is the subtleties that make the difference to the CA-49, which already features the “Grand Feel Compact” keyboard. Hence, we can say this with certainty: The new CA entry-level model offers the best keyboard in this price segment.

However, the manufacturer equipped the CA-401 with an improved version of this keyboard. More effective key movement damping keeps the mechanical noise at a lower level. While this noise is actually unavoidable with a hammer action, players are frequently bothered by the key noise. This is hardly an issue with the new CA models.

In many ways, the feel of the keyboard is impressive. From the tactile feel of the Ivory Feel surface to the precise implementation of touch dynamics by the triple sensor system, and even up to details such as a let-off mechanism.

Last but not least, it should not be overlooked that the Grand Feel Compact is a real wooden keyboard. While advanced players will benefit more from this, this Kawai keyboard also ensures a comfortable playing feel for beginners.

New audio system

While an ONKYO system generated the sound of the previous model, Kawai has ended its cooperation with the Hi-fi equipment expert and developed its own playback system.

Here, too, there is noticeable progress. The audio system produces a beautiful and well-rounded sound, which you might not expect considering the cabinet size. Overall, the sound has a higher resolution than the previous model, with the manufacturer pointing to an improved power supply that ensures a more precise sound reproduction.

Tip: If you test the Kawai CA-401 yourself in a music store, definitely look at the function menu and search for the “Tone Control” function. The instrument usually powers up the speaker system in a neutral setting, however, the sound of a digital piano actually depends on where and how it is set up. Use the Tone Control function to adjust the overall sound of the CA-401, for example, to add brilliance, or to boost and cut the bass.

If you want to play quietly with a full sound, that’s what the Low Volume Balance function is for. The more you use the function, the more it emphasizes softly played notes. This makes it possible to play a pianissimo at a low volume.

Kawai CA-401 piano sound: Competition Grand

The most important innovation of the entire CA series is certainly the Competition Grand. And the character of this Shigeru Kawai concert grand is also evident in the CA-401. Clean intonation with fine attacks and a round finish, the sound is a pure pleasure to play.

The Kawai EX even offers a second grand piano sound. This one is very suitable for pop and rock with more power in the bass and a more brilliant timbre. An upright piano completes the acoustic piano section.

The acoustic pianos have expressive possibilities such as half pedal and soft pedal, as well as details such as string resonance, key-off effect, and fall-back noise. These are certainly subtle sound details, but combined they create a realistic playing experience.

PianoRemote App & Virtual Technician

A special feature of Kawai’s digital pianos is the possibility to influence sound details to experiment with the playing characteristics. For some, intonation via Virtual Technician is nothing more than a technical gimmick. And yet it is quite practical to play a neo-classical piece with a warm, mellow upright piano. It sounds more authentic than with a brilliantly voiced grand piano.

The PianoRemote app lets you adjust such settings in an instant, but even selecting sounds and settings for effects and layer sounds is much easier on a tablet than on the small piano display. Still, you can use the easy-to-read OLED display without any external devices.

Digital piano features of the Kawai CA-401

Again, you can resort to a variety that exceeds the standard. The EQ profiles for adjusting the sound have already been mentioned, an advantageous feature that cannot be taken for granted in this price range. Also worth mentioning are the audio profiles for headphones, which adapt the sound to the type of headphones used (closed, open, semi-open, in-ear).

Of course, all the standard features of a digital piano are available, including a metronome, recorder, transpose, and fine-tuning functions, as well as MIDI, Bluetooth, etc. – There are even lesson functions including piano literature for practicing and learning.

Comparison of Kawai CA-401

CA-401 vs. Kawai CA-501: Compared to the next model of the CA-series there are no differences regarding the keyboard. However, the playback system and sound generation are on a different level. The playback system has not only more power but also additional top speakers, which provide a more immersive sound via Kawai’s 360° diffuser technology. In terms of sound generation, there is a wider selection of sounds, but also more sound details and polyphony power.

CA-401 vs. CN-301: It is worth comparing the CA-401 to the next smaller model of Kawai’s entry class, the CN-301. It is about 25% cheaper and offers even more performance in some areas. However, here you should consider what really matters to you. The CA-301 can’t beat the CA-401 with its Responsive Hammer III keyboard but does offer a higher polyphony performance. More sounds and more functionality in the recorder, lesson function, control panel, and speaker system make the CN-301 interesting for those who really want all that extra equipment. Those who prefer to focus on the essential features of piano sound and playing feel will not be disappointed with the CA-401.

Wooden keyboard: In its price range, the Kawai CA-401 is the only instrument with a wooden-key keyboard. While other brands also advertise this feature, they offer hybrid keyboards with only some wooden elements (usually only on the white keys).

→ Guide: Digital pianos and wooden keyboards

Conclusion: Affordable entry into the hybrid (mid-range) class

The Kawai CA-401 is not only the beginner model of the Japanese piano manufacturer’s CA series but also an affordable entry into the upper middle class. The Kawai CA-401 stands out from the competition in this price segment with its wooden-key keyboard – a feature that is usually only found in hybrid digital pianos and gives this entry-level model a high-quality playing feel.

Kawai CA-401 – Overview

Available from: 03.2023
Keyboard: Grand Feel Compact wooden keyboard, triple sensor system, let-off mechanism, Ivory Touch
Sound generation: Progressive Harmonic Imaging, 192 voices
Piano app: PianoRemote (Android/iOS), PiaBookPlayer (Android/iOS)
Manufacturer/Distributor: Kawai