Is the Kawai CA99 the best digital piano money can buy in 2022?
Best of Both
Many people come into the shop and ask what the main differences are between acoustic and digital pianos and for many years they were very different products. The Digital evangelists would cite the unbound capabilities of the digital realm, impressive tone editing at the tap of a button, MIDI and USB connectivity. The evangelists could rest easy knowing they would not need the maintenance and upkeep from piano tuners and the like. Their neighbors could also rest easy with the benefit of headphone outputs to allow undisturbed late-night recitals. All of this is in exchange of feel and tone. The lack of mechanisms that actually move air resulted in a tone that slightly missed the mark and would always look up to it’s acoustic big brother. Acoustic pianos were the expensive, luxurious ‘goal’ that all digital pianos were trying to replicate and in many digital offerings this is still the case, but with the new range of ‘hybrid’ pianos, there has been a convergence of the two poles and the CA99 provides the best of both worlds.
Naturally resonant Spruce Soundboard system
Improving on the popular CA98 model, the CA99 boasts a more authentic cabinet design and the addition of the spruce TwinDrive Soundboard Speaker system creates more natural acoustic piano tonal qualities and resonances. Ingeniously, when the sound is created through the stereo speaker system inside, the vibrations travel through the spruce wood grain and are picked up by bespoke transducer microphones. These vibrations combined with the stereo speakers result in a fuller, louder more naturally resonant sound than almost any other digital piano.
The traditional cabinet design and Grand Feel III
The CA99 is unlike most other digital pianos with it’s 1-piece cabinet design. Implemented to aid the resonance produced by the soundboard, the cabinet design also results in a more elegant design. Unlike most other digitals, the CA99 arrives fully constructed as opposed to the more common self-assembled design. This is why it is common to see lines in digital pianos that are a result of the separate pieces being fitted together, the CA99 has none of these signs of assembly and is a beautiful addition to any room. Another aspect that separates the CA99 from most of the competition is the new Grand Feel III Wooden key keyboard action with ivory and ebony touch key surfaces. The Grand Feel III is a result in Kawai’s 90+ years of acoustic piano craftmanship. Much like an acoustic grand piano, all the extra-long keys are made entirely with wood and pivot on a central pin to provide a smooth and seamless motion. The pivot lengths match the Kawai Grand piano series and provide a more balanced touch weight which allows for more expressive control.
The CA99 features metal counterweights, graded across the length of the keyboard which again help to balance the touch of the instrument, especially in pianissimo passages, whilst also being substantial and solid when struck forcibly. All these intricacies are detected by the triple sensor system. Most digital pianos use a two sensor action, but the addition of the third allows the CA99 to gradually layer the sound of a single note without the previous tone being lost. The triple sensor system also registers the speed each key is lifted which provides a greater range of expression between staccato and legato.
The Digital Frontier
It isn’t just the improvements to the acoustics and physical mechanisms that the CA99 can laud over its contemporaries. Kawai have also improved the SK-EX rendering sound engine, an engine that blends multi-channel, 88-key sampling with latest resonance modeling technology. Multi-channel sampling captures the sounds from multiple points from the flagship Shigeru Kawai concert grand piano. This produces a much wider range of tonal characteristics in order to provide more lively and authentic responses to changes in dynamics. In addition new modeling technologies physically reproduce the characteristics of many parts of the Shigeru, such as the strings and damper, giving players the impression they are sitting at a living, breathing instrument.
An experienced piano technician is essential to fully realize the potential of a fine acoustic piano, the Kawai CA99 has one built-in in the form of the Virtual Technician. The Virtual Technician function boasts 22 adjustable parameters such as voicing, resonance depth, cabinet resonance, fall-back noise and temperament.
Highlighted Features
- IMPROVED: SK-EX Rendering sound engine with multi-channel piano sampling
- IMPROVED: Virtual Technician function with 22 adjustable parameters
- IMPROVED: TwinDrive Soundboard Speaker system with new 360° speaker diffuser panels
- IMPROVED: Integrated Bluetooth® MIDI and audio connectivity, with aptX support
- NEW: Grand Feel III wooden key keyboard action with Ivory & Ebony Touch key surfaces
- NEW: Updated LCD touchscreen UI with sister Piano Remote control app for iOS/Android
- NEW: Stunning contemporary upright piano cabinet design with Soft Fall fallboard system
- NEW: Authentic new electric piano, organ, harpsichord, strings, and bass sounds
In stock now
At time of writing we have the Kawai CA99 in stock. Come in and try it in our showroom or call us on 01524 410202 for more details. Or email chris@promenademusic.co.uk
