Kawai ES520

Special characteristics

• Responsive Hammer Compact II keyboard with weighted keys and triple-sensor system.
• Progressive harmonic imaging sound technology with 88-key stereo sampling
• 34 authentic sounds, including acoustic pianos, electric pianos, organs, strings, basses, and more.
• Motherboard and amplification developed in partnership with Onkyo, 40W speaker system
• Bluetooth MIDI and audio functionality with aptX support for wireless communication and audio playback.
• Standard MIDI, USB to host/device, audio input/output connectivity
• Supported by the PianoRemote control app for iOS/Android
• Intuitive control panel layout with high-quality OLED display.
• Elegant appearance, sturdy chassis weighing only 14.5 kg
• Modern design HM-5 stand and F-302 triple pedal bar, support for GFP-3 triple pedal unit.

The touch of a grand piano: Responsive Hammer Compact II keyboard mechanism

The sound of two world-class instruments

Weight & dimensions

Touch

Millennium III Upright Action

The Millennium III Upright's action features components made from ABS-Carbon, a composite material created by infusing carbon fiber into our famous ABS Styran. ABS-Carbon is incredibly strong and rigid, enabling the creation of lighter action parts without compromising strength. The result is a more powerful, faster action offering greater control and stability than conventional all-wood actions. 

Elongated fingerboards made of fir

Fir is the ideal key material - light, yet extremely strong for its weight. It responds with minimal bending and exceptional consistency, conveying every subtle nuance of the pianist's interpretation while remaining stable through years of intensive use. The length of each key has been extended to facilitate playing and offer a more uniform response from the front to the back of the playing surface. The key shanks are also designed with a slightly higher profile for maximum rigidity and increased power.

Tone

NEOTEX key surfaces

Our exclusive NEOTEX key surface, made from cellulose fibers, offers a smooth, unobtrusive texture similar to natural ivory and ebony, as well as a semi-porous silica-filled surface to absorb natural oils and hand perspiration. Because NEOTEX is used for both black and white keys, key feel is consistent across the entire keyboard. NEOTEX resists cracking and fading over years of use, and is also resistant to static electricity, helping to prevent the build-up of unwanted dust. The result is a beautiful, durable key surface offering exceptional playability.

Rigid foundation for key travel

The hammer rail is the "backbone" of the piano's action. GX Series hammer rails are made of durable extruded aluminum with our exclusive double-beam design for added strength and stability. Both the hammer rail and wippens rail are permanently locked in place to preserve the careful tolerances of the action design and ensure consistent touch response throughout the life of the piano.

The entire surface of the hammer rail is finely notched to hold each hammer flange securely in place, ensuring optimum hammer alignment. The surface-mounted hammer flanges are made of PBT resin, allowing the action screws to remain tight without shrinking or swelling. All these meticulous design features form the rigid foundation of the GX series, guaranteeing precise key travel over time.

Solid spruce conical soundboard

The soundboard is the heart of a piano. Its role is to transform the vibrations of the piano strings into a rich, resonant sound. Kawai uses only solid quarter-grain spruce for the K series soundboards. Each soundboard is strategically tapered to maximize its tonal capacity. Only those that meet or exceed our strict quality standards are selected for use in our professional upright pianos.

Hybrid inner border (Rim Konsei Katagi)

The exclusive Konsei Katagi rim leverages different hardwoods to achieve the ideal sonic balance. For the inner rim, finely porous hardwoods are used to provide superior brilliance and projection of the high-frequency range of the sound spectrum. These are layered with wider-pore hardwoods that offer warmth and fullness to the sound. The synergy of structurally divergent hardwoods produces a powerful and pleasingly rounded sound, which is the hallmark of Shigeru Kawai grand pianos.

Vertically laminated bridge

The bridge performs the essential task of transferring the vibrations from the strings to the soundboard. GX series bass bridges are made from the highest quality hard maple or beech. Treble bridges are vertically laminated with 13 layers of maple and mogno for maximum strength and optimal sound energy transfer.

Specifications

Weight & dimensions

The GL-30 grand piano will surprise you. Its 5'5" frame is smaller than a traditional "grand piano". But the GL-30 is built to exceed expectations. A treasured model in the renowned GL grand piano series (which was named "Product of the Year" by the world music industry's MMR magazine in 2016), the GL-30 is a high-quality instrument with a superb range of tonal expressiveness. It features the revolutionary Millennium III Tail Piano Action with carbon-fiber composites that offer the player a sensitive, consistent touch year after year. In a flexible size that adapts admirably to a wide range of performance spaces, the GL-30 will outperform any comparable grand piano.

Touch

Millennium III Upright Action

The Millennium III Upright's action features components made from ABS-Carbon, a composite material created by infusing carbon fiber into our famous ABS Styran. ABS-Carbon is incredibly strong and rigid, enabling the creation of lighter action parts without compromising strength. The result is a more powerful, faster action offering greater control and stability than conventional all-wood actions. 

THE POWER OF THE PIANISSIMO

One of the most coveted attributes of a quality piano is a wide dynamic range: the ability to play not only thunderous fortissimos but also the most delicate and sensitive pianissimos. The technological superiority of the Millennium III action becomes most evident in its extraordinary ability to produce the perfect pianissimo. It may seem paradoxical, but the GL series technology shines brightest when it whispers.

RIGID FOUNDATIONS FOR THE TOUCH MOVEMENT

The keyframe rail is the central hub of a piano's operation. The keyframe rails in the GL series are made of durable extruded aluminum and combined with our advanced dual-beam technique, providing strength and stability. The hammer and jack rails are securely held in place to maintain the precise tolerances of the action design and ensure consistent touch throughout the piano's lifespan. The entire surface of the hammer rail is finely serrated to securely hold each hammer shank in place for optimal alignment. The hammer shanks are made of PBT resin, allowing the action screws to remain tightly secured without contraction or expansion. These meticulously designed features form the rigid foundations of the GL series, ensuring the precise motion of the keys over time.Carbon ABS is much stronger and more durable than wood, virtually impervious to the effects of humidity-related contraction and expansion. This unique combination of strength and stability allows the action components to transfer energy to the hammers with unmatched efficiency, power, precision, and nuance, delivering an exceptional playing experience. 

Tone

TAPERED SOUNDBOARD IN SOLID SPRUCE

The soundboard is the heart of a piano, responsible for transforming the vibrations of the piano strings into a rich and vibrant tone. Kawai uses only straight-grained solid spruce, quarter-sawn, for the soundboards of the GL series. Each soundboard is carefully tapered to optimize its sound-producing capabilities. Only soundboards that meet or exceed our strict quality requirements are selected to be installed in our GL series grand pianos.

TONALITY

Kawai grand pianos are renowned for their expressive tonality and expansive dynamic range, enabling pianists to effortlessly share and communicate their passion.

Duplex scale

DUPLEX SCALE SCALE

The instrument's duplex scale system provides harmonics in the midrange and treble, adding depth and breadth to the overall sound.

AGRAFFES

The staples ensure precision in string alignment, spacing and angles to produce a more uniform tone and consistent vibratory length of each note.

HARDWOOD BRIDGES

The bridges transfer the vibration of the strings to the soundboard. The bridges in the GL series are made of solid maple or beech and are carefully adjusted and fitted to the frame for perfect string pressure and optimal sound transfer.

SOLID' (Stretcher Over-Lap Integrated Design)

The "SOLID" construction creates an exceptionally rigid foundation to support the tension of the strings. First, the windchest is mounted on the frame. Then, the windchest and yoke bar are integrated into a single structure, firmly anchored to the waistband. The extraordinary thickness of the yoke bar illustrates the structural integrity of this sturdy frame, designed to ensure stable tuning and powerful sound.

THE C.O.R.E. SYSTEM

"CORE" is an acronym that stands for "Convergence for Optimum Reflected Energy." Convergence refers to how the points of strength, including the rim, frame, and soundboard, all come together towards a central point at the core of the instrument. This convergence creates the foundation for an extremely powerful "CORE" central core that maximizes the sound reflection capabilities of the inner rim, resulting in exceptional sound quality.

SOLID (STRETCHER OVER-LAP INTEGRATED DESIGN)

The "SOLID" construction creates an exceptionally rigid foundation to support the tension of the strings. First, the windchest is mounted on the frame. Then, the windchest and yoke bar are integrated into a single structure, firmly anchored to the waistband. The extraordinary thickness of the yoke bar illustrates the structural integrity of this sturdy frame, designed to ensure stable tuning and powerful sound.

EXTENDED FINGERBOARD LENGTH

Longer keys make the game easier to play and offer a more uniform response from the front to the back of the playing surface. The benefits for the player are better control and more power with less effort.

SLOW-CLOSE LID MECHANISM

Our slow-close lid mechanism incorporates a dual-damping system that protects fingers and the keyboard from potential damage caused by a sudden closure.

THE KEYBOARD TRAY WITH STEEL REINFORCEMENT.

The keyboard tray must be strong and stable in order to support the weight of the entire mechanics over time. GL Series keyboard trays are made from extremely robust hardwoods, laminated and reinforced with a steel support spar that increases the strength and rigidity of the keyboard tray to prevent any loss of energy.

V-pro frame

V-PRO FRAME

The frame is the acoustically neutral metal superstructure on which the strings are tensioned. All frames in the GL series are cast using the V-Pro process. The additional strength comes from the new frame design. The result is a highly robust, stable, and elegant frame.

SMALL DOOR WITH STEEL REINFORCEMENT

The 'little door' of a piano is that long horizontal piece of wood bordering the front of the notes. Because it's made of wood, this part can twist or bend with changes in humidity, causing the keys to jam. The 'small doors' of the GL series are reinforced by a steel rod that prevents these deformations. The keys move freely, with the 'small door' remaining straight and at a regular distance from the keys throughout the piano's life.

WINDCHEST AND TUNING PEGS

The pinblock on all GL series grand pianos is fully laminated with a minimum of eleven cross-banded layers of North American hard rock maple for maximum strength and balanced torque. The tuning pins are made from the finest carbon steel, threaded for maximum continuous rotation, and nickel-plated for enhanced appearance and long-term protection.

RESISTANCE

Strength enables a piano to maintain its integrity over time. GL Series pianos have the remarkable strength to thrive under the rigors of long-term use.

Specifications

Weight & dimensions

Touch

Exceptional touch, high reliability

Tone

FIRST-STATE SOLID SOUNDBOARD

A European style and design

MODERNE STYLE, CHEAP PRICE

Weight & dimensions

The characteristics of the piano

The touch

Grand piano touch: Grand Feel III wooden keyboard mechanism Incorporating many long-established principles for an acoustic piano, the Grand Feel III keyboard action used by the CA701 combines realistic materials, movements and mechanisms to recreate the exceptional touch of the finest concert grand pianos. The eighty-eight black and white keys are made entirely from long pieces of wood, with finely textured ivory and ebony surfaces to absorb moisture and facilitate control. Each wooden key pivots smoothly on a balancing axis - the ends rise and fall to reproduce the familiar pendulum motion of acoustic piano action. When the key is pressed, the back of the key rises, triggering a graduated-weight hammer to strike a pressure switch. The force applied to this switch is then measured, and the corresponding note is played with authentic tonal character and volume.

Extra-long key length, extra-long pivot length

Powerful 6-speaker output system

Comparison between the CA701 and CA901

Weight & dimensions

Characteristics of the piano

• Improved Responsive Hammer III keyboard action
• Ivory Touch key surfaces, triple sensor, let-off, counterweights
• Harmonic Imaging XL sound engine with 88-key sampling
• Concert grand piano sounds Shigeru Kawai SK-EX & Kawai EX.
• High-quality audio processing and amplification equipment
• Built-in Bluetooth® technology for wireless MIDI and audio connectivity
• Integrated classical studies and Alfred lesson books
• Spatial Headphone Sound for increased depth and realism
• Cheekblock control panel with high-resolution OLED screen
• Modern and attractive cabinet available in three wood finishes

Grand piano touch: Responsive Hammer III keyboard mechanism

The CN201's Responsive Hammer III keyboard action has been developed to recreate the feel of a Kawai grand piano. Each key is authentically weighed using "graduated" metal hammers (i.e. slightly heavier in the bass and lighter in the treble), just like on an acoustic piano. These weights also allow the released keys to return to their original position without the aid of springs, resulting in a smooth, natural playing experience.

The action mechanism's chassis is made from reinforced materials that guarantee the keyboard's rigidity and stability when played with force. In addition, a series of felt-lined rubber cushions absorb the energy of key and hammer movements, helping to reduce unwanted noise and earning the RHIII the reputation of being one of the quietest digital piano keyboards on the market.

The sounds of grand pianos:
Shigeru Kawai & Kawai EX

Renowned as "Japan's first pianos", Shigeru Kawai instruments grace the stages of concert halls and musical institutions around the world, and are appreciated for their exceptional tonal clarity and dynamic range.

The ES120 reproduces the magnificent sound of Shigeru Kawai's SK-EX concert grand piano. This incomparable instrument is handcrafted by the master craftsmen of Shigeru Kawai's piano research laboratory in Ryuyo, Japan, and is widely regarded as one of the finest instruments in its class.

In addition, the ES120 also offers the distinctive sound of Kawai's highly acclaimed EX concert grand piano, which has been selected by professional pianists at such prestigious events as the Chopin, Tchaikovsky and Rubinstein International Piano Competitions, among others.

Both the SK-EX and EX are faithfully reproduced with full 88-key sampling using advanced Harmonic Imaging™ sound technology, to set a new standard in digital piano tonal quality and enable musicians to appreciate the contrasting properties of each.

Technical characteristics of the CN201

The variety of a digital piano: Convenience and flexibility

In addition to the Responsive Hammer III keyboard and Progressive Harmonic Imaging piano sounds, the CN201 also offers a variety of convenient digital functions that further enhance the musical enjoyment.

A selection of different instrument voices, built-in lesson tracks and the ability to record and replay performances are just some of the features accessible from the cheek block control panel, while built-in MIDI and Bluetooth® audio capabilities enable wireless connection to smart devices for running apps or streaming music.

Integrated Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio wireless connectivity
In addition to a standard USB-MIDI port for connection to computers, the CN201 also features integrated Bluetooth® MIDI and audio technologies, enabling the instrument to communicate wirelessly with supported smart devices.

Once the instrument is paired with a phone, tablet or laptop, CN201 owners can enjoy a wide variety of exciting music apps that enhance their learning and playing experience, or stream the sound of songs and videos directly through the instrument's impressive speaker system, without the need to connect additional cables.

PianoRemote app
The CN201 is compatible with Kawai's latest PianoRemote control app for iOS and supported Android devices. This app connects to the piano wirelessly via the instrument's built-in Bluetooth function, offering an easy way to change sounds or adjust settings from an attractive user interface.

Comparison between the CN201 and CN301

Weight & dimensions