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- Grand Feel III - Wooden key action
- SK-EX Competition Grand
- Bluetooth Audio +
- MIDI connectivity
- PianoRemote App
Grand piano playing authenticity
A piano that will encourage enthusiastic players to become accomplished pianists – this is the ambitious philosophy behind Kawai’s latest Concert Artist Premium pianos to inspire musicians of all ages and abilities to realise their true artistic potential.
SK-EX Competition Grand
The Sound of a Grand Piano
Widely regarded as ‘the premier piano of Japan’, the flagship SK-EX grand piano graces the stages of concert halls and musical institutions around the globe, receiving universal acclaim for its tonal clarity and exceptional dynamic range.
The magnificent tone of the SK-EX is at the heart of the CA901, with this new model featuring the latest SK-EX Competition Grand, capturing the sound of the latest generation SK-EX instruments that in recent years have achieved success at the Chopin, Hamamatsu and Sydney International piano competitions.
This piano sound possesses a brilliant, clear tonal character, with a distinctive thick attack, and is specifically recorded from the pianist’s position for the ultimate performance experience.
SK-EX Rendering Engine
Multi-channel Sampling
While digital pianos typically employ single-point stereo sampling, the SK-EX Rendering engine’s multi-channel sampling captures the sound from different points of the Shigeru Kawai concert grand.
This modern technique not only allows a broader range of tonal characteristics to be recorded and reproduced, but also improves the connection felt between the keyboard and piano sound, resulting in a more lively and authentic response to changes in dynamics.
Full Resonance Modelling
This naturally expressive Shigeru Kawai sound is further enriched by newly developed resonance algorithms, which physically model the complex tonal interactions produced by the strings, dampers, and various other parts of an acoustic piano.
Unlike other resonance simulations, SK-EX Rendering generates resonances for the damper pedal and all 88 keys progressively (i.e. in gradual amounts, not simply on or off), allowing the Concert Artist to behave – and therefore be controlled – more like an acoustic piano.
TwinDrive Soundboard Speaker System
Complementing the premium quality drivers, the CA901 also incorporates the latest version of Kawai’s highly-regarded soundboard speaker system. This unique audio technology embraces the rich, harmonic qualities of wood by using transducers to channel sound energy onto a large soundboard, in order to produce a more natural, organic tone. Long wooden ribs securely attached to the soundboard further broaden the frequency range and volume of the resonating sound, resulting in a remarkably authentic playing experience that immerses the performer, and faithfully reproduces the tonal ambience of an acoustic piano.
The TwinDrive system represents the third generation of Kawai’s soundboard technology, and features an improved primary transducer redesigned to deliver more power and volume.
In addition, a secondary transducer, mounted towards the treble end of the instrument, helps to further expand the tonal range produced by the soundboard beyond the existing low frequencies, allowing mid-low and even mid-high ranges to also benefit from the warming, acoustic properties of wood.
PianoRemote App
The latest CA901 is compatible with Kawai’s latest PianoRemote control app for iOS and supported Android devices. This app connects to the piano wirelessly via the Concert Artists’ integrated Bluetooth feature, providing an effortless way to change sounds, adjust settings, or enjoy the vast array of built-in music content from the comfort of an armchair.
Virtual Piano Artisan
The CA901’s powerful Virtual Piano Artisan function simulates refinements usually carried out by a piano technician - digitally, allowing discerning musicians to shape aspects of the selected piano’s character to suit their personal preferences.
Perform touch weight and voicing adjustments, regulate hammer and key release noises, and fine-tune string, damper, and cabinet resonances. It is even possible to adjust the precise tuning, volume, and character of individual notes – all in real-time.
360° Speaker Diffusers
In addition to utilising premium driver units, the CA901’s top-mounted speakers also feature custom-engineered diffuser panels, which help to expand the pianos’ tonal projection in all directions.
These additional components create a 360° sound field around the instrument, ensuring a natural piano sound for both the player, and those listening elsewhere in the room.
Superior Headphone Experience
The CA901’s Spatial Headphone Sound (SHS) technology enhances the depth and realism of the instrument’s sound when listening through headphones or earphones. The player can select one of three different acoustic presets that adjust the spatial positioning of the sound, while also helping to reduce auditory fatigue when using earphones or headphones for extended periods of time.
In addition, the CA901 also allows players to select a variety of headphone types (Open, Semi-open, Closed, In-Ear, Canal, etc.) for an optimised listening experience.
Flexible USB Connectivity
In addition to wireless functionality, the Concert Artist is also equipped with USB ports that allow the instrument to be connected directly to a computer for MIDI use, or to load and save data to USB memory devices.
This latter USB to Device functionality allows recorder songs stored within internal memory to be safely preserved on USB flash drives, or for standard MIDI files (SMF) downloaded from the internet to be played back and enjoyed using the instrument’s exquisite Harmonic Imaging XL sounds without additional hardware or cables.
MP3/WAV Playback & Record
USB memory devices can also be used to play back MP3 or WAV audio files, allowing musicians to learn the chords or melody for a new piece, or simply enjoy playing along with their favourite songs. It is even possible to record entire performances (including external Line In and Bluetooth sources) as MP3 or WAV audio files for emailing to family and friends, or casual listening away from the piano.
Built-in Lesson Books
The CA901’s convenient lesson function allows aspiring pianists to learn piano with classical Czerny, Burgmüller, Chopin, and Beyer etudes, or collections of songs from the popular Alfred’s Basic Piano course books.
The left and right hand parts of each etude/song can be practiced separately, using the adjustable metronome feature to perfect timing in difficult passages, before recording the completed piece for self-evaluation.
*lesson books sold separately
Grand Feel Pedal System
Reinforcing the Concert Artist’s reputation as the most realistic digital piano is Kawai’s Grand Feel Pedal System. This unique feature accurately replicates the position and individual weighting of the damper, soft, and sostenuto pedals of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano to further enhance the CA901’s acoustic piano-like authenticity.
Moreover, it is also possible to adjust the half-pedal sensitivity of the damper pedal, and effectiveness of the soft pedal using dedicated Virtual Piano Artisan parameters, allowing experienced pianists to personalise the instrument’s response to match their individual pedalling technique.
Slimline design, solid construction
Sitting down at the CA901 gives the player the impression that they are sat in front of a small Kawai upright piano.
The compact size also extends to the depth of the instrument, with the CA901 measuring just over 47 cm from front to back. This allows the CA901 to be used in relatively small spaces, and even considered as an alternative to an acoustic upright piano, for players seeking a familiar appearance.
The CA901’s premium quality cabinet adopts many of the modern design cues of Kawai’s ‘K’ series professional upright piano instruments, including Kawai's Soft Fall fallboard.
Product Specifications
| Keyboard |
Grand Feel III action
|
|
| Pedal |
Grand Feel Pedal System
|
|
| Piano Sound |
SK-EX Rendering
Harmonic Imaging XL (HI-XL)
|
|
| Piano Resonance |
SK-EX Rendering: Resonance Modelling
Harmonic Imaging XL: Acoustic Rendering
|
|
| Piano Adjustment |
Virtual Piano Artisan (20 parameters)
Virtual Piano Artisan presets (10 presets) |
|
| No of sounds |
SK-EX Rendering: 5+5 rendering characters Harmonic Imaging XL: 96 voices |
|
| Reverb |
SK-EX Rendering: Ambience (10 types) Harmonic Imaging XL: Reverb (6 types) |
|
| Brilliance | ✔ | |
| Other Effects | 24 types | |
| Speakers | TwinDrive Soundboard Speaker System (8 x 12 cm) x2 (top speakers, with diffusers) 8 cm x 2 (front speakers) 5 cm x 2 (tweeters) |
|
| Output Power | 135 W (50 W + 50 W + 35 W) | |
| Headphone Enhancements | Premium headphone amplifier Spatial Headphone Sound Headphone Type Headphone Amplifier |
|
| Display | 5" LCD touchscreen (480 x 800 pixels) Anti-glare display |
|
| Key Cover | Upright piano wallboard with Soft Fall system | |
| Music Rest | Upright piano type (fixed position) | |
| Size and Weight | Width | 145.5 cm |
| Depth | 47.5 cm | |
| Height | 101 cm | |
| Weight | 82.5 kg 91.5 kg [Ebony Polish] |
|
| Available Finishes | Modern Black (CA901MB) Premium Rosewood (CA901R) Premium White Satin (CA901WS) Ebony Polish (CA901EP) |
|
| Basic Functions | Dual Split Four Hands Transpose Tuning Low Volume Balance User Sounds Startup Setting |
|
| Internal Songs | Sound Demo | 39 songs |
| Piano Music | 42 Songs | |
| Concert Magic | 176 songs | |
| Lesson Songs | Burgmüller 25 (25 Etudes Faciles, Opus 100) Czerny 30 (Etudes de Mécanisme, Opus 849) Czerny 100 (Hundert Übungsstücke, Opus 139) Beyer 106 (Vorschule im Klavierspiel, Opus 101) J.S. Bach: Inventionen Sonatinen Album 1 Chopin Walzer (Chopin waltzes series) Chopin Etudes (Opus 10) Alfred's Premier Piano Course Lesson 1A Alfred's Premier Piano Course Lesson 1B Alfred’s Basic Piano Library Lesson Book Level 1A Alfred’s Basic Piano Library Lesson Book Level 1B Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course Lesson Book Level 1 |
|
| Internal Recorder | Total Memory | approximately 90,000 notes |
| No of Songs | 10 songs | |
| Parts | 2 parts | |
| Metronome | Time Signatures | 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 3/8, 6/8, 7/8, 9/8, 12/8 |
| Drum Rhythms | 100 patterns | |
| Bluetooth | MIDI + Audio | |
| USB Audio Recorder | Record/Playback | MP3 WAV SMF (playback only) |
| Other Functions | Overdubbing Line In recording |
|
| App Functions | PianoRemote (iOS/Android) PiaBookPlayer (iOS/Android) |
|
| Connector Jacks | Headphone | 1 x 1/4", 1 x 1/8" Stereo jacks |
| MIDI | USB-MIDI, Bluetooth MIDI | |
| Line Out | 1/4" L/MONO, R [unbalanced] | |
| Line In | 1/8" Stereo (with volume adjust knob) [unbalanced] | |
| USB to Host | ✔ | |
| USB to Device | ✔ | |
| Others | USB for Update | |
| Power Consumption | 55 W | |
| Power Adaptor | Power cable | |
| Bench | Fixed-height with lid storage | |
| Headphones | Headphone hook | |
