🎹 Kawai CA401: The Best Digital Piano for Every Skill Level! 🎹

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Description:
Welcome to Merriam Pianos! In this video, we're taking a fresh and in-depth look at the Kawai CA401 digital piano, an impressive instrument that made its debut at NAMM 2023. Join us as we explore the features, sound quality, and overall performance of the CA401, and see how it stacks up against the latest offerings from other leading brands.
Introduction:
The Kawai CA401 was first introduced at NAMM 2023, and it immediately caught our attention with its beautiful sound staging and impressive build quality. Since then, several new models have hit the market, including Roland's LX series, Casio's AP series, and Yamaha's Clavinova CLP series. Today, we're revisiting the CA401 to see how it holds up against these new competitors.
Sound Quality:
One of the standout features of the CA401 is the transparency of the new Shigeru Kawai Competition model, recorded from the player's perspective. This unique recording technique captures the sound from where the player's ears would be, providing a completely different and more immersive stereo image. The realism of the sound stage is remarkable, creating a true 3-dimensional space behind the piano.
Key Action:
The feel of the action on the CA401 is another highlight. Kawai's CA series uses real wood key sticks, similar to those found on acoustic pianos. This construction provides a unique sense of dampening and a satisfying thump at the bottom of each keystroke, setting it apart from digital pianos with plastic keys.
Additional Features:
The CA401 also boasts several other improvements, such as music desk holders and updated cabinet styling. The sound is delivered through Kawai's harmonic imaging engine, offering 256 notes of maximum polyphony with multi-layered, unfiltered stereo samples from a 9-foot concert grand piano. This sound system is powered by 220-watt amplifiers feeding four speakers, providing rich and dynamic sound.
Comparison to Other Models:
While the CA401 is positioned in a higher price tier than Kawai's CN series, it offers a more refined playing experience. It's similar to Yamaha's approach with their CLP-725 versus the YDP-184, providing an upgraded action and sound system in a more affordable package. The CA501, on the other hand, offers more onboard sounds and a more substantial cabinet, catering to those looking for additional features.
Target Audience:
The CA401 is perfect for individuals who have experienced acoustic pianos and are seeking a convenient and cost-effective digital alternative. It's ideal for small to medium-sized rooms and is designed to sound and play like an acoustic piano without the need for extensive maintenance.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Kawai CA401 continues to impress with its transparency, realism, and authentic key action. Despite the new competition, it remains a strong contender in its price range, offering a fantastic playing experience. We expect the momentum for this model to grow in the coming years.
Thank you for joining us for this refreshed look at the Kawai CA401. If you enjoyed this video and found it informative, please consider subscribing to our channel and joining our community. We look forward to bringing you more in-depth reviews and piano insights.
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[@josephiuliano1]

I bought this model 2 months ago specifically for the action. I play through headphones so I'm not concerned with the speaker system. I am very happy with the sound and the overall playing experience.

[@MerriamPianos]

Absolutely! The CA401 has a wonderful action, which offers a fantastic playing experience.

[@xchalibur77]

And I'm sure the sound of it is good enough, it's not like you have to do concerts with.

[@rolexmarcelo3218]

Showed up in my feed immediately wow.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for tuning in! :)

[@vengermanu9375]

I bought this model this time last year and still enjoying it very much. I bought seperate external speakers as although built in speakers were powerful enough, I felt I was missing out on the higher frequencies with them situated inside the cabinet. Really enjoy the key action and my two go to sounds are the SK-EX Competition and SK-EX Mellow

[@MerriamPianos]

Congrats on your CA401! It is an excellent piano with a fantastic touch and tone. I know it will serve you well musically for many years to come. :)

[@DMcC]

Another great summary and overview. Merriam is always the best at this kind of thing I find. The "high level" view is important and Stu delivers in spades. I can read the spec manual myself :). I'm done spending larger money on pianos (picked up a RD-2000 a couple of years back that I'm very happy with), but for some reason though, you talking about spending over $3k on something is tempting me to buy a limited Godin guitar I've had my eye on. How's that for a piano review :).

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! Thanks for tuning in! We appreciate the kind words immensely. Haha I know what you mean. Buying music gear is quite the addiction to say the least. Happy playing and happy shopping! ;)

[@marcusholder495]

Stay blessed 🙌

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you! :)

[@adriankanis8107]

Hi . What’s your opinion on Dexibell h10? Cheers 🥂

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi there! Brent from Merriam Music here! I don't have much experience with Dexibell pianos as there are not many dealers here in Canada. So, unfortunately, I cannot comment on that particular model. If the opportunity to review one on our channel comes up, I'm sure our production team will tackle it. :)

[@pasadenaphil8804]

Other than the sustain pedal, do the other two work? (Not that anyone, including myself, use them).

[@MerriamPianos]

Yes, the other two pedals do work and there are many circumstances musically that require their use. :)

[@cesar_m.p.]

Thanks once again for this review! Do you know which others Kawaii DP share this same keybed?

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! Thanks for tuning in! The Kawai CA501 model also uses the same Grand Feel Compact action as the CA401. :)

[@paulmcgrath2430]

How bout a video on arrangers work stations?

[@MerriamPianos]

We have covered a number of arrangers and work stations in previous reviews/comparisons. :)

[@paulmcgrath2430]

@@MerriamPianos this may be true and thx for your response. What about keyboards such as: Roland G70 Korg PA5x Yamaha Genos Ketron EventX to name a few?

[@deanmorton1494]

Thank you for your well thought reviews. One element that that seems to be lacking from a lot of digital pianos is true string resonance that emulates sympathetic vibrations where, with the damper pedal down, strings other than those being played are heard. The method I use for checking this to press and hold down the key for G above middle C in a way that the note does not sound and then strike the C below middle C: the G should sound and continue to ring once releasing the C. On some digital pianos this works, but only barely, nothing like an acoustic piano would do. This means that you are lacking in harmonic richness. Am I missing something in terms of settings? Are there some pianos on the market that do better at this than others? Thanks.

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! Thank you for your kind words and for tuning into our channel! The level of authentic emulation of string resonance varies from model to model. Naturally, the more expensive models have more elaborate tone engines that do a far better job at capturing this detail. In some cases, there are models that make this detail an adjustable parameter. It is really on a case-by-case basis, but the top-tier instruments generally do an impressive job in my experiences.

[@brunston]

my CA501 does this pretty well. There are settings for changing the amount of both string resonance and undamped string resonance.

[@Justin_collier]

I would love to see your demo the new Roland Rd2000 EX

[@MerriamPianos]

I am quite confident that we will be tackling that in the near future. ;)

[@princevaliant7482]

As many others I am torn between this one and the CN301. Is the key-feeling such a big difference between these two? Apart from that everything else seems to be in favour of the CN301 if I am not mistaken. If the price difference is 100-200$ US, with the CA401 obviously being the more expensive, which one would you personally choose?

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for reaching out with your question! At the end of the day, it all comes down to subjectivity and personal preference. Every player will have to make the decision for themselves. For me, I prioritize action when selecting a digital piano. If you want more speaker power/fidelity, you can always run a digital piano through an external amplifier or speaker system. Similarly, if you want additional instrument sounds, you can access a plethora of sound libraries via MIDI and VST plugins. The key action is the invariable element of a digital piano. To that point, I would favour the CA401 over the CN301 as I find the all-wooden GFC action to be a bit more authentic feeling. Thanks so much and hope this helps! :)

[@princevaliant7482]

First of all thank you for the quick response. Can I use the CA 401 also with Pianoteq 8? In case I‘d like to use a mixer for livestreaming and audio recordings for church hymns. Or is the CN 301 better in this specific instance? Thank you once again for your help, this would be my last question.

[@freefightstyle9954]

Currently, I own a Kawai CN301, it is a very good instrument, it has a nice sound and the keys work and have good action. the only thing I don't like are the speakers that are placed on the upper part of the instrument and covered with a material mesh. I'm afraid that it may get damaged over time and is also much more susceptible to dust. For this reason, today I went to the store where I bought it and tested CA401. I had the opportunity to play the wooden keys of a digital piano for the first time. I must admit I am a beginner player but the difference was huge and positive. I made a mistake not to go to the store immediately and test both instruments. my favorite is the ca401 compared to the cn301, the sound in the ca401 seems even more pleasant to the ear. For me it was a good lesson, before I buy another instrument I will go to the store and test it first instead of buying it without first trying it.

[@dmajorx]

Yes it does 😂

[@SirWatari]

can you compare the ca 401 with the casio ap 550. Which key action is better, do they have the same pivot length and feel the same?

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! Thanks for the suggestion. I will be sure to pass it along to our production team on your behalf. With that said, the Grand Feel Compact action of the CA401 is a heavier all-wooden key action with escapement and a longer pivot length than the AP550's Smart Hybrid Hammer Action, which is a composite wood/resin key action with no escapement simulation and a shorter pivot length.

[@binser27]

If I can get a CA59 for $1000 less than the CA401, is that the better value? Besides features, which sounds better? I'm having a hard time comparing since a lot of the differences are pretty subtle on paper, and I have to go out of town to view the 59.

[@MerriamPianos]

It is a matter of personal preference of course, but I would personally opt for the CA59 option if the piano is in good condition or new. The higher quality tone engine and speaker system makes a big difference sonically. :)

[@binser27]

@@MerriamPianos Thank you so much for the speedy and helpful input! With the bankruptcy of Onkyo and all the little changes I was worried the 59 wouldn't be better acoustically than any of the new models. Even though it's a used 59, it's from a Kawai dealer that provides a 1 yr warranty, so I'm feeling pretty good about it (we're checking it out this week). Other than buzzing and sticking, anything we should look out for? Thanks again. We're on the west coast, but I will be recommending you to all my Eastern family and friends!

[@canthes]

Kawai states this model has 192-note polyphony, but you said it has 256?

[@MerriamPianos]

Sorry about that! You are correct. The CA401 has 192 note polyphony. :)

[@빙구라온]

I bought this model !! but i don‘t know how to record :( How can i record and get the full real sound of this piano? help me 🥹

[@MerriamPianos]

Congrats on your new CA401! It is an amazing piano, so I'm sure you will be thrilled with what it offers musically. To record the CA401's audio, you can use the headphone output in place of a line out. :)

[@jordan442]

Kawai ca401 vs lx705. What comes out on top?

[@MerriamPianos]

In the world of pianos, it all comes down to subjectivity. For players that favour a warmer tone, the CA401 will be the likely preference. The LX705 has a slightly brighter voice, which may be the preference for some players. The best bet is to audition both models in person whenever possible. This will help determine which action and tone combination you resonate with more.

[@dkinney1000]

Kawai has been the leader in touch simulation for a long time.

[@MerriamPianos]

Absolutely! Kawai make incredibly authentic feeling actions. :)

[@PPP-on3vl]

​@MerriamPianos how much better action is in casio gp 310 ?

[@dkinney1000]

@@PPP-on3vl I’d be surprised if it comes near Yamaha and Kawai. Last time I checked the Casio was relatively primitive. The difference is clear: it takes a piano manufacturer to understand the nuances.

[@rob1261a]

For the same price you can get the Kawai CA59 ($2900). Much better specs. And by far currently the best DP for the money.

[@MerriamPianos]

The CA59 is certainly a step up, but most dealers have sold out of that model given that it has been discontinued and replaced with the CA501 model, which is substantially more than the CA401.

[@limftw1565]

CA-401 for 1800€ or CA-501 for 2079€ ? Not a huge price difference, but is it worth it? The 701 costs 2649€ 🤔

[@MerriamPianos]

It all comes down to preference and which features you prioritize. The CA401 and CA501 both have the same action, but the CA501 sounds superior due to its higher power speaker system and higher quality tone engine. On the other hand, the CA701 is superior to both instruments in all respects. :)

[@batmaaaan58]

I have tried the 401/501 in my local store and I loved the „soft“ key action. However , the 701 was not available to try . Is the 701 softer / harder ? or almost the same? Thank you in advance :)

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for the question! I wouldn't say that the CA701 is softer/harder in terms of its feel, but the key is a bit heavier by virtue of its being longer. The longer key/pivot lengths provides greater control ultimately. :)

[@batmaaaan58]

@@MerriamPianos Thanks for that response , I do really appreciate ! ah yeah sorry , I meant I really liked the soft key action ! It is very noticeable softer compared to a roland or yamaha and I personally really liked it . Just I am a bit scared that the c 701 might be again too heavy for my taste ? thanks a lot!

[@rainiixxxxiao4347]

@@batmaaaan58 I have exactly the same thought with you my Friends!! So do you have a final conclusion of this CA501/701 difference? If the key action of 701 is heavier/lighter(softer) than 501? 😃

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

Not a lot of playing on this one🎹🎶

[@MerriamPianos]

Sometimes, there is just a lot to talk about with these exciting models! ;)