The appeal of Kawai’s new digital pianos: CA98, CA78, and CA48
The CA98 and CA78 have improved sound quality, and the CA48 has been upgraded in both its keyboard and sound!
Kawai has announced new digital pianos.
The CA98 and CA78 will be released on October 20, 2017, and the CA48 on November 10, 2017.
Now, let’s give a brief overview of how each model has been enhanced compared to its predecessor.
CA98 / CA78
keyboard
The keyboard uses the same wooden Grand Feel Action II as in the CA97 and CA67.
The touch/feel hasn't changed.
- The escapement—the catch you feel as you press a key—that acoustic pianos also have.
- Counterweights attached to the keys to provide a piano-like, responsive playing feel
- Hammer weights that reproduce the same key weight balance as an acoustic piano—heavier on the low notes and lighter on the high notes.
As such, it features a keyboard with outstanding playability for a digital piano—so much so that it evokes the feel of a grand piano.
sound
Along with the CA48 mentioned below, the sound quality has been significantly upgraded.
It seems we've taken another step closer to the sound of an acoustic piano.
With the new SK-EX Rendering sound engine, the smoothness of timbral changes in response to touch dynamics has been further enhanced, and the spatial spread of the sound has become even more realistic.
These two major features, combined with the various resonances that make up the sound of a piano—reproduced up to now—have evolved into a tone that feels even more like a grand piano.
Additionally, by forming a technical partnership with audio manufacturer ONKYO, the piano sound can now be reproduced with “an unprocessed feel, faithful to the original sound, and exceptionally high quality.”
The CA98’s soundboard speaker system (a part resembling a wooden board mounted on the back of the case; see image) has also improved in performance.
Because this soundboard actually vibrates, it produces resonance comparable to a grand piano, enveloping the body with sound from the low to the high range—even more so than the CA97.
Acoustic pianos also have this soundboard, and when the strings’ vibrations resonate through it, they produce that powerful sound.
CA48
The CA48 seems to have improved both its keyboard and sound, yet the price is actually lower than the CA17.
While the CA17 was priced at ¥226,800 (tax included), the CA48 is ¥210,600 (tax included).
keyboard
Since it uses a key action similar in structure and performance to that of the CA98/78, it looks like it would feel very good to play!
The keyboard called RM3 Grand II will be replaced with the “Grand Feel Standard Action” starting from the CA48.
Its features are the long distance to the fulcrum (note 2) and the inclusion of counterweights to make the key touch feel like that of a grand piano.
(Note 2: Pivot distance diagram. Because the distance from the edge of the keyboard to the pivot is the same as on a grand piano, the playing feel is improved.)
Additionally, this ensures that the keys depress firmly even when played toward the back of the keyboard (around the orange circle in the figure below), which also makes it easier to perform when using that area.
sound
It has been powered up from the HI-XL sound source to something called the PHI sound source.
This PHI sound source is the same one used in the CN37.
The CA17 was positioned as a higher-end model than the CN37, but it lost out to the CN37 in terms of the smoothness of tone variation.
By making it a PHI sound source, the tonal changes produced by variations in touch are reproduced with fine detail and naturalness, so the way the sound changes becomes more like that of a grand piano.
The sound quality has also been thoroughly enhanced!
Control panel
With the addition of a display panel on the left side, it has become easier to set the tempo and select songs, making it clearer to understand the current status of the digital piano.
Having this makes small operations noticeably easier compared to not having it.
It's surprisingly not to be underestimated.
Lastly
With the launch of the new products, the prices of the CA97, CA67, and CA17 are decreasing.
Just because it’s an old model doesn’t mean its performance is bad at all.
If you’ve been hesitating because of the price, I think this is a great time to choose a good deal!
However, production has ended and quantities are limited, so if you choose the old model, please act quickly!