First Impressions - Kawai CA401

Kawai proudly introduces the CA401 digital piano, an instrument equally at home with beginners and advanced players. Following Kawai's recipe for success behind their Concert Artist series, the CA401 captures the essence of playing a magnificent concert grand piano while inspiring musicians to realize their true artistic potential.

Positioned as the replacement for the Kawai CA49, the Kawai CA401 brings several new and improved features.

• The CA401 now includes the SK-EX-L (Competition Grand), the latest generation of the SK-EX-L instruments. This sound possesses a brilliant, clear tonal character, with a distinctive thick attack, and is specifically recorded from the pianist's position for optimum realism.
• Kawai's Virtual Technician now has 18 adjustable parameters, up from 17, that are conveniently accessed via the PianoRemote app.
• Thanks to clearer printing and font selection, the control panel inside the left cheek block is easier to read and navigate.
• Bluetooth Audio has been added to allow music streaming from your device.
• The music rest now includes score support pins that help keep your books open.
• An improved AC adapter now provides cleaner power.

Skilled piano technicians perform various tuning, voicing and regulation adjustments to acoustic pianos for optimum performance. Kawai's "Virtual Technician" carefully simulates these refinements digitally, allowing you to shape your piano's personality and playability to your preferences.

The majority of an acoustic piano's 10,000 parts are found within the action. Translating the piano action's intricate construction to a digital instrument is a challenging task. Kawai's latest "Grand Feel Compact" wooden-key keyboard action achieves this goal by drawing upon Kawai's 95+ years of piano craftsmanship and experience. This beautifully designed mechanism inspires beginners and allows gifted pianists to express their feelings and emotions as they would with an acoustic piano action.

All 88 keys within the Grand Feel Compact action are crafted entirely out of long pieces of wood, rather than a plastic shell with glued-on wooden sides. This ensures that weight is distributed evenly throughout the length of the key and guarantees an efficient transfer of movement energy when played. Each wooden key pivots on a metal balance pin replicating the familiar motion of an acoustic piano action. Graded and weighted hammers strike a pressure switch which measures the force and plays the corresponding note with authentic tonal character and volume.

At the heart of the CA401 is the rich, expansive sound of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX with all 88 keys painstakingly recorded, analyzed and reproduced as high-fidelity digital waveforms. Recording each key individually ensures accuracy throughout the instrument at every volume level and performance nuance.

A 4-speaker amplification system fills the room with clear and full sound, while headphone outputs allow you to enjoy the piano without disturbing anyone. Bluetooth MIDI and Audio are included enabling the piano to connect to apps and other software. You can also stream music from your Bluetooth-equipped devices for listening or playing along.

Onboard lesson song content from composers and publishers such as Burgmuller, Czerny, Chopin and Alfred can all work with the app for practice and teaching scenarios. Use the onboard recorder to save your performances and transfer them to a USB flash drive for sharing,

With the CA401, you'll be impressed with its world-class keyboard action, wide variety of sounds, impeccable speaker system and technological advancements all working together to provide the authenticity, performance and reliability you've come to expect from Kawai. Available in rosewood, satin black or satin white finishes, the CA401 also includes a matching bench and Kawai's 5-year warranty with in-home service (some restrictions apply). Please contact a Kraft Music Sales Advisor at 800-783-3368 with any questions or to place your order.