Concert Artist Series
The touch of a grand piano.
The practicality of digital.
The Kawai CA Series uses real wooden keys — not plastic — giving each note a physical character that matches what you feel on an acoustic grand. Combined with SK-EX concert grand sampling, it is Kawai's most acoustically faithful digital instrument.
What sets the CA Series apart
Grand Feel Wooden Key Action
Solid wood keys flex and absorb moisture the same way acoustic piano keys do. The tactile difference is real — wooden keys change how they feel under your fingers as you play, in a way plastic cannot replicate. Grand Feel is the foundation of the CA Series.
Shigeru SK-EX Concert Grand Sampling
Sound is captured from Kawai's 9-foot SK-EX concert grand — the same instrument used at the International Tchaikovsky Competition. Stereo and binaural recordings give you both room presence through speakers and immersive depth through headphones.
Acoustic Resonance Modeling
Sympathetic string resonance, damper resonance, and key-off simulation work together to recreate the acoustic phenomena that make a grand piano sound alive. Notes interact with each other the way they do on the real instrument.
Who it's for
For classical pianists
The Grand Feel wooden key action is designed for players who practice serious repertoire and need a touch response that translates to acoustic instruments. Technique developed on the CA Series carries over.
For acoustic piano owners
If you are used to the feel of a grand piano, the CA Series is the closest digital equivalent. The wooden key action and SK-EX sampling mean fewer compromises when switching between instruments.
For serious home practice
The CA Series is a home piano that earns its place in a dedicated practice room. Binaural headphone output lets you practice at any hour without disturbing others, at full quality.
Common questions
- What is Grand Feel wooden key action?
- Grand Feel is Kawai's wooden-key action system. The keys themselves are made from real wood, which flexes under finger pressure and responds to humidity and temperature changes like an acoustic piano does. This gives the touch a natural, organic quality that plastic-key actions cannot replicate. Higher CA models use more advanced Grand Feel variants with additional refinements.
- Is the CA Series worth upgrading to from the CN Series?
- If touch authenticity is your priority — particularly for classical practice or if you regularly play acoustic pianos — yes. The wooden key action is a meaningful difference you can feel immediately. The CN Series uses a high-quality plastic-key action; the CA Series uses real wood. For players who do not prioritize touch above all else, the CN Series is an excellent instrument at a lower price.
- What is the difference between the CA401, CA701, and CA901?
- All three use Grand Feel wooden key action and SK-EX sampling. The CA701 adds more speaker power, a more advanced action variant, and additional resonance modeling. The CA901 is the flagship, featuring the most refined Grand Feel Wooden Key III action, the most powerful speaker system, and Kawai's complete suite of acoustic modeling. Step up the range and each model adds more nuance to touch and sound.
- Can I practice silently with the CA Series?
- Yes. All CA models include headphone outputs, and the binaural sampling feature creates an immersive, three-dimensional sound when using headphones — designed to approximate the acoustic experience of sitting at a real piano. It is one of the most compelling headphone piano experiences available.
- Does the CA Series accurately replicate acoustic grand piano sound?
- The CA Series uses sampling and modeling technology to reproduce acoustic grand piano character with high fidelity. Samples are taken from the Shigeru SK-EX, and resonance modeling adds the interactive acoustic phenomena of a real instrument. It is not identical to playing an acoustic grand, but it is Kawai's most accurate digital representation of one.
Kawai Digital Piano Lineup
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