Product Review: Kawai CA-901 – Mid-Range Hybrid Digital Piano

The Kawai CA-901 is a very interesting new model in two respects. First, it replaces the very successful CA-99, and second, it defines the upper end of mid-range digital pianos. Next in line are hybrid digital pianos, however, the CA-901 already offers several hybrid-like special features.

Hybrid Digital Piano

The Kawai CA-901 is unique among mid-range digital pianos in that it is the only digital piano that can be described as having acoustic characteristics.

The speaker system of the CA-901 contains a transducer-driven acoustic soundboard. This is not a marketing gimmick but a feature you will not only be able to hear but also feel right down to your fingertips. The piano emits an all-round sound, and you can feel the vibration in your fingertips, just as with an acoustic instrument.

In addition, there are real wooden keys and a hammer action modeled after a concert grand piano – all of which are high-quality features you would expect to find in a top-of-the-line hybrid digital piano.

→ Kawai CA Series: Digital Pianos with Wooden Keyboards

Deceptively Real

The hybrid character is emphasized – at least visually – by the upright design, and the high-gloss finish (EP) looks classy. You could easily mistake the Kawai CA-901 for a small acoustic piano if it weren’t for the large touch display on the left side. But this is the only hint to the electronic interior because otherwise, the CA-901 looks like a piano when the key cover is open. Even the hinged music rest was thought of.

However, it’s mainly two other factors causing spontaneous irritation when you play the CA-901 for the first time: Is this a real piano I’m playing? Not really, although it feels like one. What you hear through the speaker system in brilliant sound quality is not an upright piano, though, but a large concert grand.

SK-EX Competition Grand

The SK-EX Shigeru Kawai Concert Grand is Kawai’s masterpiece. Digital versions of this concert grand are already known from many Kawai digital pianos – but the CA-901 offers it in the highest quality. This high resolution of sound details and resonances is only possible with the SK-EX Rendering Sound Generation. The latest version of it is built into the CA-901 – as well as the smaller CA-701.

The CA-901 even surpasses the highly acclaimed playing and sound characteristics of the previous series. The reason for this is the new SK-EX Competition Grand Sound, which expands the sound spectrum of Kawai’s digital pianos. The “Competition Grand” was selected for a piano competition – hence the name – and was deemed so good by Kawai’s developers that the instrument was sampled in great detail.

Piano Sounds of the Kawai CA-901

The Competition Grand is, of course, very similar to the well-known SK-EX Concert Grand, but the intonation differs in the details. It sounds even more open and balanced than the previous series. However, it is no longer possible to speak in terms of worse or better but rather in terms of subtle differences that the Competition Grand adds to the overall piano sound.

Then, there is the EX Concert Grand, the Kawai SK-5, and another upright piano. All pianos are available in different voices, which are graded to let you find the right sound for every genre. The EX is perfect for rock and generally accentuated styles, while the SK-5, as a smaller grand piano, has a wonderful timbre for jazz, neo-classical, or singer/songwriter pieces. For a completely different sound, the Upright Piano is also ideal for the latter genres.

Piano Tab vs. Sound Tab

This is what distinguishes the Kawai CA-901 from other brands – you don’t have to worry about this when playing the piano because the piano sounds are of high quality anyway. But you should be aware of the differences, as the instrument behaves slightly differently in each case.

• Piano tab: This activates the high-resolution SK-EX rendering, which provides a remarkably vivid sound reproduction. The name says it all: Piano mode specializes in reproducing acoustic piano sounds. There are five different piano models to choose from: SK-EX Competition Grand, SK-Ex Concert Grand, EX Concert Grand, SK-5 Grand, and Upright Piano.
• Sound tab: This is where all the other sounds are located, including electric pianos, pads, strings, organs, and more. The sound generation process in Sound Mode is called Harmonic Imaging XL.

Perhaps confusingly, the Sound tab also contains acoustic piano sounds. Take a look at the structure of the sound generation process to see why: The piano tab uses more DSP power to generate the virtual string resonances. Therefore, it is not possible to layer or split the SK-EX Rendering sounds with other sounds. This is only possible with the Sound tab sounds. This is also the reason why the acoustic piano sounds are in the Sound tab.

Built-In Piano Technician: Virtual Piano Artisan

Sound detail adjustment is now standard on almost every digital piano, but Kawai is still ahead of the curve. Once you become familiar with these features, you will quickly realize the potential that lies within each piano sound.

String resonance, key-off effect, fallback noise, damper noise – the dynamic interaction of all these sound details influences the sound and playing characteristics of a digital piano. With Kawai digital pianos, this is made accessible through the Virtual Technician function. The new version is now called Virtual Piano Artisan – the functionality is basically identical.

The remarkable thing about Kawai digital pianos is the voicing function. This influences how the piano sound reacts to dynamic playing. Slightly percussive and accentuated for a lively jazz piano solo, or rather restrained for romantic piano music, or soft and resonant for a neo-classical improvisation?

In Virtual Piano Artisan, you can adjust these settings through the voicing function. Fortunately, there is no need to overcomplicate this as the transparent interface makes it all intuitive. Just adjust, play and listen.

Learn Piano with the CA-901

The CA-901 is a high-quality electric piano for the whole family. Advanced players can enjoy the fine expressive possibilities of the high-resolution piano sounds, while beginners will find the best conditions for an authentic piano touch with the Grand Feel III keyboard.

The Kawai CA-901 also offers a wide range of learning functions. A recorder/player supports the recording and playback of MIDI data as well as audio recordings such as MP3 or WAV. The CA-901 comes with a huge built-in library of classical piano pieces. The Kawai “PiaBook Player” app also lets you display the content as sheet music on mobile devices – a great help when practicing.

For complete beginners, there are also Concert Magic Songs. You don’t need any previous knowledge to take your first steps in making music. Just tap out the rhythm on the keyboard and control the playback of beautifully prepared arrangements of classical music.

Kawai CA-901 in Comparison

Acoustic transducer soundboard, real wooden keyboard, and SK-EX Rendering – with these features, the Kawai CA-901 is unique in its price range and forms the transition to the hybrid digital piano class. Here are the differences to the next models in the Kawai range:

CA-901 vs. Kawai CA-701: In most details, these two models are identical. The Grand Feel III keyboard and the SK-EX rendering sound generation are also available on the CA-701, as are the high-resolution piano sounds, and the total number of sounds is the same as on the top model.

However, the feel is slightly different due to the natural vibration of the transducer system. Since this is turned off in headphone mode, at least here, both models sound the same.

CA-901 vs. Kawai Novus NV-5S: The Novus is clearly a class above, although there are many parallels to the CA-901. The upright design of the Novus 5S is even more elaborate, especially the keyboard: the Millennium III Hybrid Piano Mechanism with graded ABS hammers and damper mechanism takes the playing feeling up a notch.

CA-901 vs. Kawai CA-99: If you compare the specifications of the CA-901 and its predecessor, you might get the impression that not much has changed. In fact, the CA-99 is still an insider’s tip, especially since it is available at a lower price during the transition period between the new CA models.

If you choose the new top-of-the-line CA model, the SK-EX Competition Grand offers an additional high-resolution concert grand sound and a revised playback system. The soundboard and 360° diffuser system are essentially the same, but the amplifier system has changed. These components are no longer from Onkyo but developed by Kawai themselves. Overall, the CA-901 features improved sound.

CA-901 in Practice

The CA-901 is a classic home piano that focuses on ease of use, a fun playing experience, and enjoyable sound. Thanks to the touch display, the operation is as simple and clear as on a smartphone: select sounds, metronome, layer, split – everything is directly accessible. But those who want to delve deeper will not be disappointed. The CA-901’s range of functions is not exactly small.

The PianoRemote app is, therefore, a recommended addition, especially if you want to look into details such as the Virtual Piano Artisan. PianoRemote is available for free for iOS and Android devices.

Conclusion: High-End Mid-Range Model

A great instrument! The Kawai CA-901 takes a fun playing experience to a new level. The piano sounds are as inspiring as the feel of the keyboard. With real wooden keys and a transducer soundboard, the CA-901 also marks the transition to the hybrid digital pianos of the upper class.

The differences from its predecessor may not be significant in detail, but they are more than the sum of their parts – you can feel and hear it when you play.

Kawai CA-901 – Overview

Release date: 11.2022
Special features: Transducer soundboard system
Keyboard: Grand Feel III wooden keyboard with graded hammer action, let-off mechanism, Ivory Feel
Polyphony: 256 voices
Piano app: PianoRemote (Android/iOS), PiaBookPlayer (Android/iOS)
Manufacturer/Distributor: Kawai

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