CA401
An outstanding introduction to Concert Artist quality
Featuring the authentic Grand Feel Compact wooden-key keyboard action, brand new SK-EX Competition Grand piano sounds, and modern Bluetooth® connectivity, the piano-focussed CA401 offers many of the strengths of the premium Concert Artist models within a more modest and affordable package.
HIGHLIGHTS
Feel Inspired
A piano that will encourage enthusiastic players to become accomplished pianists, and transform living rooms into grand concert halls. This is the ambitious philosophy behind Kawai’s latest Concert Artist series – premium instruments that capture the essence of playing a magnificent concert grand piano, and inspire musicians of all ages and abilities to realise their true artistic potential.
TOUCH
The Touch of a Grand Piano: Grand Feel Compact wooden key action
With an emphasis on piano-focussed authenticity, the CA401 utilises the superb Grand Feel Compact wooden-key keyboard action. As its name suggest, the GF Compact action has been designed to reproduce the authentic touch weight characteristics of the industry-leading Grand Feel keyboard actions, within a smaller form factor.
This action retains the long wooden keysticks used for all 88 black and white keys, and the familiar 'seesaw' mechanism employed by acoustic grand piano actions for centuries. However, despite its smaller unit size, GF Compact features an extended key pivot length, providing a more consistent touch weight when playing towards the rear of the keyboard. This crucial detail, along with various other acoustic piano-like characteristics, ensures the CA401 delivers the most realistic playing experience in its class.
Bass key Counterweights
In addition to grade-weighted hammers, the Grand Feel Compact keyboard action also features counterweights attached towards the front of the bass keys.
As with an acoustic piano, these finely balanced weights help to lighten the touch of the keyboard during pianissimo passages, while adding a feel of greater substance when playing with force.
Triple sensor key detection
The Grand Feel Compact keyboard action utilises an accurate triple-sensor key detection system for enhanced playing realism.
The added third sensor improves responsiveness when playing the same key repeatedly, and unlike conventional two sensor keyboard actions found in many digital pianos, allows the sound of a single note to be gradually ‘layered’ without the previous tone being lost.
In addition, Kawai’s action technology also monitors the speed at which each key is lifted, influencing the release character of piano sounds, and providing a greater range of expression between staccato and legato playing.
Ivory Touch key surfaces
The impressive CA401 features Kawai’s highly regarded Ivory Touch key surfaces as standard. This finely textured material gently absorbs fingertip perspiration and oils to assist playing control, and possesses a natural, matte finish that is smooth but not slippery.
Furthermore, this moisture is absorbed without dirt or grease permeating the surface, allowing the keytops to be wiped clean easily using just a damp cloth.
Let-off Simulation
As the most authentic digital piano keyboard action in its class, Grand Feel Compact even reproduces the ‘let-off’ characteristic of acoustic piano actions.
This subtle ‘notch’ sensation can be felt when playing the keys of a grand piano very gently, and may be used by experienced pianists to aid control when playing pianissimo passages.
SOUND
The Sound of a Grand Piano: Shigeru Kawai SK-EX
Eponymously named after the company’s second president, the Shigeru Kawai range of luxury grand pianos were conceived as the next step in evolving the art of the piano. Each world-class instrument is hand-crafted by experienced piano artisans, using the finest available materials to ensure optimum touch, tone, and artistic expression.
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 CA401, with this new model featuring the latest SK-EX Competition Grand recreation of this peerless instrument.
SK-EX Competition Grand sound
The brand new SK-EX Competition Grand captures the sound of the latest generation SK-EX-L instruments, that in recent years have achieved success at the Chopin, Hamamatsu, and Sendai 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.
Full 88-key stereo piano sampling
The rich, expressive sound of both the SK-EX and EX concert grand pianos is at the heart of the CA401, with all eighty-eight keys of these world-class instruments painstakingly recorded, meticulously analysed, and accurately reproduced as high-fidelity digital waveforms.
Recording each key individually in this way – as opposed to stretching the same tone over several different notes – preserves the grand pianos’ unique harmonic character, and guarantees that the sound heard when playing any one of the CA401’s wooden keys is a faithful representation of the original acoustic source.
Harmonic Imaging technology
When playing a fine piano, the amount of pressure applied to the keyboard affects not only the volume of the sound produced, but also the unique tonal character of each note. Therefore, in order to construct a realistic acoustic portrait of each grand piano, not only is each key recorded individually, but also at a wide variety of different volumes, ranging from gentle pianissimo to thunderous fortissimo.
The CA401 offers a highly detailed acoustic portrait, employing Kawai’s proprietary Progressive Harmonic Imaging sampling technology to ensure smooth tonal transitions across the keyboard and throughout the entire dynamic range.
Variety beneath your fingertips
Alongside the classically voiced SK-EX and EX grand piano sounds, the CA401 also showcases a selection of Jazz, Pop, and Modern variations suitable for a range of musical genres. A traditional Kawai upright piano sound is also included, for pieces that suggest a feeling of nostalgia, or call for a slightly more intimate tonal character.
Personalised piano adjustments
The knowledge and skill of an experienced piano technician is essential to bring out the best of a fine acoustic piano. In addition to tuning each note, the technician also performs numerous regulation and voicing adjustments that allow the instrument to truly sing.
The CA401’s Virtual Technician ‘Smart Mode’ simulates these refinements digitally, with ten preset configurations that intelligently adjust characteristics of the grand piano to match different musical styles.
For greater flexibility, ‘Advanced Mode’ allows players to perform touch weight and voicing adjustments, regulate hammer and key release noises, and fine-tune string and damper resonances using the dedicated PianoRemote app.
DELIVERY
Premium audio technologies
Developed by Kawai R&D’s highly experienced audio engineering team, the CA401 features a redesigned motherboard and speaker system, and a brand new high quality power adapter. These components combine to deliver best-in-class audio quality, producing an extremely rich, clear sound with minimal distortion.
High quality sound hardware
The CA401 motherboard and sound hardware is engineered for precise signal conversion and optimum sound quality. Advanced low-noise circuit designs and premium audio components combine to ensure crystal clear, high-fidelity sound with minimal distortion.
Powerful 4-speaker output system
The CA401 boasts an impressive 4-speaker output system, with lower range frequencies delivered through the underside of the instrument, and mid and high frequencies projected outward via front-facing speakers. The result is a broad, resonating tone that closely mirrors the immersive sound field of a grand piano.
Impressive speaker system
(with Low Volume Balance feature)
The CA401’s stereo speaker system delivers an impressive 40W of output, providing more than enough power to fill a medium-sized room with it's beautiful Shigeru Kawai grand piano sounds.
Moreover, when playing through speakers at a reduced volume setting (so as not to disturb family members), the CA401’s Low Volume Balance feature intelligently adjusts keyboard touch and piano tone characteristics, allowing pianissimo passages to be played smoothly and more naturally.
Superior headphone experience
The CA401’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 CA401 also allows players to select a variety of headphone types (Open, Semi-open, Closed, In-Ear, Canal, etc.) for an optimised listening experience.
FEATURES
The Variety of a Digital Piano: Convenience & Flexibility
Complementing the instrument’s class-leading Grand Feel Compact wooden-key keyboard action and Progressive Harmonic Imaging piano sounds, the CA401 also offers a variety of convenient digital features that further enhance one’s musical enjoyment.
A selection of different instrument voices, built-in lesson songs, and the ability to record and playback performances are just some of the features accessible from the cheek-block control panel, while built-in Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio functionality allow connecting to smart devices wirelessly for running apps or streaming music.
Integrated Bluetooth® connectivity
In addition to a standard USB-MIDI port for connecting to computers, the CA401 also features integrated Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio technologies that allow the instrument to communicate with supported smart devices wirelessly.
Once paired with a phone, tablet, or laptop, CA401 owners can enjoy a wide variety of exciting music-related apps that enhance their learning and playing experience, or stream audio from songs and videos directly through the instrument’s impressive speaker system without the need to connect additional cables.
* Availability of Bluetooth® function may vary depending on market area.
* For more information please refer to the Bluetooth MIDI Information support page.
PianoRemote app
The latest CA401 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.
Built-in lesson function
The CA401’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.
* Notated scores and Alfred lesson books sold separately.
Additional sounds & playing modes
Supplementing the beautiful acoustic piano voices, the CA401 also features a modest selection of additional sounds, ranging from electric pianos and drawbar or church organs, to strings, human choirs, and synth pads, inviting musicians to add greater variety to their performances.
Furthermore, the Dual playing mode also allows two different sounds, such as grand piano and strings, to be layered together, while the Four Hands mode divides the keyboard into two independent 44-key sections. This feature is particularly useful in learning environments, allowing teacher and student (or student and student) to play together at the same time using a single instrument.
Grand Feel Pedal System
Reinforcing the CA Series’ reputation as the most realistic digital pianos in their price range 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 a Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano, ensuring that players master the proper pedalling technique required to perform on an acoustic piano.
DESIGN
Grand performance within a modern, attractive cabinet
The CA401’s modern cabinet incorporates a rounded topboard and tapered leg design, with minimalist toe blocks for additional stability. Its flat fascia and tall upper board give the instrument a traditional, upright piano-like quality, while at just over 48 centimetres deep, the CA401’s compact body is suitable for apartments and other narrow spaces.
Broad, adjustable music rest
The CA401’s broad music rest is engineered to accommodate the most ambitious musical works, with smoothly rounded edges and a sturdy base for supporting large score books.
As with a grand piano, the viewing angle of the instrument’s music rest can be adjusted to suit the performer’s playing position, or laid flat for convenience when notating scores or sketching musical ideas.
Score support pins
The CA401’s music rest base also incorporates score support pins, which can be raised to hold the pages of thicker score books securely in place.
The smooth, rounded edges and gently tapered design give the score support pins a high quality, premium feel, while their crystal-like transparent finish also helps to prevent obscuring the notation behind.
Easy to use interface with OLED display
The CA401 features an easy to use control panel neatly embedded within the left cheekblock, with a high resolution OLED display providing information about the currently select sound, function, or setting.
Unlike other digital pianos in its class, the CA401's various sounds and functions are all selected directly from the control panel, without needing to press and hold buttons while remembering different key combinations. This helps to simplify operation, and ensures that the piano can be enjoyed by even the youngest members of the family.
Cabinet Finishes
The CA401 is available in three attractive cabinet finishes: Premium Rosewood, Premium Satin Black, and Premium Satin White, allowing musicians to coordinate their piano with a range of modern interiors.
* For a visual representation of the piano in each finish, please refer to the Gallery function at the top of this page.
* Cabinet finish availability dependent on market location.
Hear, Try and Compare the Kawai CA401 Digital Piano in our showroom
Located in Leicester in the central Midlands and close to Coventry, Nottingham, Derby, Birmingham and Warwick we promise you that a visit to our specialist Digital Piano and Keyboard showroom will not disappoint. Try the full Kawai range including the CA401 Digital Piano and compare it with
Yamaha, Roland, Casio and Korg all under one roof. Whatever your playing standard our knowledgeable and friendly experts will help guide you through the Piano buying process and make sure that you are buying the right instrument for your needs. As ex teachers we are ideally placed to advise and answer any questions you may have. Lifetime support and product tuition with ALL digital pianos.
Do you live with a 40 mile radius of Leicester?
If so then you qualify for Keysounds VIP delivery service. Our own van 2 man delivery goes beyond a standard delivery. With allocated time slots we can delivery at a convenient time for you. All new Pianos are delivered boxed and assembled at your home by our experts. We will also remove all packaging for recycling.
We sell Digital Pianos and Keyboards. That's it. Nothing else. No distractions and nothing to steal our focus.
| Keyboard | Grand Feel Compact with Let-Off, Triple Sensor, and Counterweights 88 wooden keys with Ivory Touch key surfaces |
| Display | 128 x 128 dots OLED |
| Polyphony | max. 192 notes |
| Sounds | 19 sounds |
| Metronome | 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 3/8, 6/8 beat |
| Internal Recorder | 3 song recorder – approximately 10,000 note memory capacity |
| Internal Songs | Demo Songs: 19 songs Lesson: 279 songs (Alfred, Burgmüller, Czerny, Chopin, and Beyer lesson songs) Concert Magic: 40 songs |
| Effect | Reverb (Room, Lounge, Small Hall, Concert Hall, Live Hall, Cathedral) |
| Phones Settings | Spatial Headphone Sound (SHS), Phones Type |
| Bluetooth* | MIDI: Bluetooth (Ver. 5.0 GATT-compatible) / Bluetooth Low Energy MIDI Specification-compliant AUDIO: Bluetooth (Ver. 5.1 A2DP-compatible) |
| Other Functions | Tone Control, Low Volume Balance, Dual, 4 Hands, Transpose, Tuning, Touch Curve, Virtual Technician Smart Mode, Damper Noise, Key Volume, Startup Settings, Bluetooth®, Bluetooth® Audio Volume, MIDI Settings, Auto Display Off, Auto Power Off, Factory Reset |
| Pedals | Damper (with half-pedal support), Soft, Sostenuto – Grand Feel Pedal System |
| Key Cover | Sliding type |
| Jacks | Headphones x 2, USB to HOST |
| Output Power | 20 W + 20 W |
| Speakers | 13 cm x 2 (woofers), 5 cm x 2 (tweeters) |
| Power Consumption | 12 W (PS-154 AC adaptor) |
| Dimensions (Music rest folded) |
1360 (W) x 485 (D) x 915 (H) mm 53 1/2" (W) x 19 1/4" (D) x 36 1/4" (H) |
| Weight | 57.5 kg / 126 3/4 lbs. |
Q: What is the Kawai CA401?
A: The Kawai CA401 is a cabinet-style digital piano designed for home use, combining wooden-key action, detailed concert grand piano sound, integrated pedals, Bluetooth connectivity, and a refined furniture-style cabinet in one instrument.
Q: Who is the Kawai CA401 designed for?
A: The CA401 is designed for beginners, developing pianists, serious home players, families, teachers, and anyone who wants a more authentic home piano experience with realistic touch and sound.
Q: Why is the Kawai CA401 a good choice for home use?
A: The CA401 is especially well suited to home use because it combines a cabinet design, wooden keys, built-in three-pedal system, realistic piano sound, Bluetooth Audio and MIDI, strong speaker performance, lesson features, and headphone-friendly technology for everyday practice.
Q: What makes the Kawai CA401 different from a portable digital piano?
A: Unlike a portable digital piano, the CA401 is built as a permanent home instrument with an integrated cabinet, sliding key cover, adjustable music rest, built-in pedals, and a more traditional upright-style appearance.
Q: How many keys does the Kawai CA401 have?
A: The Kawai CA401 has 88 keys, giving players the full piano range for lessons, practice, and performance at home.
Q: Does the Kawai CA401 have weighted keys?
A: Yes. The CA401 uses Kawai’s Grand Feel Compact wooden-key keyboard action with graded hammers to recreate the feel of an acoustic piano more realistically.
Q: What keyboard action does the Kawai CA401 use?
A: The CA401 uses Kawai’s Grand Feel Compact action, which features wooden keys, Ivory Touch key surfaces, let-off simulation, triple sensors, grade-weighted hammers, and bass counterweights for a more authentic and responsive piano feel.
Q: Does the Kawai CA401 have wooden keys?
A: Yes. All 88 keys on the CA401 are crafted from long wooden key sticks, helping deliver a more natural and piano-like playing experience.
Q: Does the Kawai CA401 sound like an acoustic piano?
A: Yes. The CA401 includes the sound of Kawai’s EX concert grand and the new Shigeru Kawai SK-EX Competition grand, giving players a rich and expressive acoustic-style piano experience.
Q: What sound engine does the Kawai CA401 use?
A: The CA401 uses Kawai’s Progressive Harmonic Imaging sound engine with full 88-key sampling to deliver detailed and expressive piano tone.
Q: How many sounds are included on the Kawai CA401?
A: The CA401 includes 19 sounds, including grand piano voices and a selection of additional instrumental sounds for more varied playing.
Q: What is the polyphony of the Kawai CA401?
A: The Kawai CA401 offers a maximum polyphony of 192 notes, helping it handle sustained passages and more complex performances effectively.
Q: Does the Kawai CA401 have built-in speakers?
A: Yes. The CA401 includes a four-speaker system with two bass speakers and two treble speakers powered by 2 x 20W amplification for fuller and more detailed home sound.
Q: Is the Kawai CA401 suitable for living rooms and family spaces?
A: Yes. The CA401 is designed for home environments and combines attractive cabinet finishes, a furniture-style design, strong built-in sound, and practical features for regular everyday use.
Q: Does the Kawai CA401 work well with headphones?
A: Yes. The CA401 includes Spatial Headphone Sound technology and headphone type settings to create a more natural and comfortable listening experience during private practice.
Q: Is the Kawai CA401 suitable for apartments or shared homes?
A: Yes. The CA401 is a strong choice for apartments and shared homes because it includes dual headphone connections, adjustable volume, low volume balance settings, and a design intended for quiet indoor practice.
Q: How many headphone sockets does the Kawai CA401 have?
A: The CA401 includes two headphone connections, one 1/4-inch and one 1/8-inch, making it convenient for private practice, shared listening, and lessons.
Q: Does the Kawai CA401 have Bluetooth?
A: Yes. The CA401 includes both Bluetooth Audio and Bluetooth MIDI, allowing wireless connection to compatible smart devices and wireless audio playback through the piano’s built-in speaker system.
Q: Can you stream music through the Kawai CA401 speakers?
A: Yes. The CA401 supports Bluetooth Audio, so music from a compatible phone, tablet, or laptop can be played through the piano’s built-in speaker system.
Q: Does the Kawai CA401 work with piano apps?
A: Yes. The CA401 can communicate wirelessly with supported smart devices, making it suitable for use with music-related learning and playing apps.
Q: Does the Kawai CA401 support USB connection?
A: Yes. The CA401 includes USB-to-Host connectivity for easy connection to computers and compatible devices.
Q: Is the Kawai CA401 good for piano lessons at home?
A: Yes. The CA401 is well suited to home lessons because it combines realistic wooden-key action, built-in pedals, dual headphone sockets, lesson functions, and a cabinet design intended for regular practice.
Q: Does the Kawai CA401 include lesson features?
A: Yes. The CA401 includes a built-in lesson function with etudes by Czerny and Burgmüller, along with songs from Alfred piano course books.
Q: What lesson content is included on the Kawai CA401?
A: The CA401 includes 279 lesson songs, including Burgmüller 25, Czerny 30, Beyer, and Alfred’s Basic Piano Library Lesson Book Levels 1A and 1B.
Q: Does the Kawai CA401 include a recorder?
A: Yes. The CA401 includes a built-in recorder that can store up to 3 songs with a maximum of 10,000 notes for convenient self-assessment and practice review.
Q: Does the Kawai CA401 include a metronome?
A: Yes. The CA401 includes a metronome with 7 beat settings and adjustable tempo and volume.
Q: What keyboard modes are available on the Kawai CA401?
A: The CA401 supports Dual and Four Hands modes, allowing players to layer sounds or divide the keyboard into two equal ranges for lessons and duet practice.
Q: Is the Kawai CA401 good for teacher and student practice?
A: Yes. Its Four Hands mode, two headphone outputs, built-in pedals, and stable cabinet design make it a strong option for lessons and shared practice sessions at home.
Q: Does the Kawai CA401 include Virtual Technician features?
A: Yes. The CA401 includes Virtual Technician with Smart Mode presets on the piano and more advanced sound-editing options available through the PianoRemote app.
Q: What can you adjust with Virtual Technician on the Kawai CA401?
A: The CA401 allows adjustment of parameters such as touch curve, voicing, damper resonance, damper noise, string resonance, key-off effect, fall-back noise, hammer delay, topboard simulation, decay time, tuning, temperament, key volume, and pedal settings.
Q: Does the Kawai CA401 have a display?
A: Yes. The CA401 features a 128 x 128 pixel OLED display for clear and easy navigation of sounds and settings.
Q: Does the Kawai CA401 have built-in pedals?
A: Yes. The CA401 includes Kawai’s Grand Feel Pedal System with damper, sostenuto, and soft pedals, and the damper pedal supports half-pedalling.
Q: Does the Kawai CA401 have a key cover?
A: Yes. The CA401 includes a sliding key cover as part of its cabinet-style design.
Q: Does the Kawai CA401 have a music rest?
A: Yes. The CA401 includes an adjustable music rest with music score support pins for comfortable home use.
Q: What colours is the Kawai CA401 available in?
A: The CA401 is available in Premium Rosewood, Premium Satin Black, and Premium Satin White finishes to suit different home interiors.
Q: How much does the Kawai CA401 weigh?
A: The Kawai CA401 weighs approximately 57.5 kg, making it best suited to permanent placement in the home rather than portable use.
Q: Is the Kawai CA401 portable?
A: No. The CA401 is not designed as a portable digital piano. It is a home cabinet model intended to stay in one place.
Q: Is the Kawai CA401 a good choice for beginners?
A: Yes. The CA401 is an excellent choice for beginners who want a serious home piano with wooden keys, realistic touch, strong sound, integrated pedals, and useful built-in learning features.
Q: Who should buy the Kawai CA401?
A: The Kawai CA401 is ideal for players who want a more premium home digital piano with wooden-key action, authentic cabinet styling, detailed grand piano sound, and modern home-friendly features such as Bluetooth Audio, Bluetooth MIDI, and headphone optimisation.
Brochure
