Kawai K-300

Touch

Millennium III Upright Action

Extended Key Length

Tone

Solid spruce conical soundboard

The hammers

Mahogany wood core and double felt hammers secured with T-shaped staples.

Weight & dimensions

Characteristics of the DG30

• Responsive Hammer III (RHIII) action with weighted keys and Let-Off mechanism, featuring 88 keys with Ivory Touch surfaces.

• Progressive harmonic imaging sound technology with Shigeru Kawai grand piano sounds and 88-key stereo sampling

• Over 350 authentic sounds, including acoustic pianos, electric pianos, organs, strings, basses, and more.

• Audio technologies developed in partnership with Onkyo, 40W speaker system

• Bluetooth MIDI and audio functionality with aptX support for wireless communication and audio playback

• Built-in Burgmüller, Czerny, Beyer et Alfred etudes and song lessons.

• Standard MIDI connectivity, USB to host/device, audio input/output.

• Cheekblock control panel with high-quality OLED display.

• Attractive and compact grand piano cabinet design, polished ebony finish, 2-position topboard.

• Supported by Virtual Technician and Sound Museum applications.

Impressive sound, compact size

A modern digital piano that leaves a big impression - that's the bold concept behind the new DG30. This remarkable instrument combines Kawai's authentic digital piano keyboard and sound technologies with a contemporary grand piano-like cabinet, luxuriously finished in ebony. Like a fine piece of furniture, the DG30 will undoubtedly fit inside almost any room, while its compact size and shape allow this impressive instrument to occupy less space than even the smallest grand pianos.

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

The DG30's Responsive Hammer III keyboard action recreates the supreme touch of an acoustic grand piano, with its realistic movements and rigid, springless design, for a smooth, natural playing experience. The instrument's triple-sensor key detection system enhances responsiveness and precision, while structural reinforcements throughout the action help minimize noise and key oscillation during staccato and fortissimo passages.
The keyboard's weight is adapted to reflect the heavier bass hammers and lighter treble hammers of an acoustic piano, while the release simulation recreates the subtle notching sensation felt when playing softly on the keys of a grand piano. These important features enable demanding pianists to practice expanding their repertoire with confidence, and ensure there are no unpleasant surprises when it comes to playing the very best acoustic grand pianos.

Authentic counterweights on all 88 keys.
In addition to weighted hammers, the Responsive Hammer III keyboard action also includes integrated counterweights on each black and white key.
As on an acoustic piano, these finely balanced counterweights lighten the touch of the keyboard during pianissimo passages, while giving an impression of greater substance when played with force.

Triple sensor key detection.

The Responsive Hammer III keyboard action utilizes a precise three-sensor key detection system for enhanced realism in playing.

The addition of a third sensor improves responsiveness when the same key is struck repeatedly and, unlike the conventional two-sensor keyboard action found on many digital pianos, allows the sound of a single note to be progressively superimposed without losing the previous tone.

In addition, Kawai's action technology also monitors the speed at which each key is lifted, influencing the release character of piano sounds and offering a greater range of expression between staccato and legato playing.

Ivory Touch key surfaces
The impressive DG30 comes as standard with Kawai's popular Ivory Touch key surfaces. This finely textured material gently absorbs perspiration and oils from the fingertips for easy playing control, and has a natural, matte finish that's smooth but not slippery.
What's more, moisture is absorbed without impregnating the surface with dirt or grease, making it easy to clean the keys with just a damp cloth.

Simulation of the release
As the most authentic digital piano keyboard action in its class, the Responsive Hammer III even reproduces the characteristic "let-off" of acoustic piano action.
This subtle sensation of "notchiness" can be felt when playing very softly on the keys of a grand piano, and can be used by experienced pianists to facilitate control during pianissimo passages.

High-performance 4-speaker output system

The DG30's 4-speaker output system is designed to reproduce the harmonic spectrum of an acoustic piano. Low frequencies are transmitted from the underside of the instrument, while mid and high frequencies are projected outwards by the soundboard-mounted speakers, then reflected on the polished soundboard. The result is an extended sound that faithfully reflects the sound projection of a grand piano.

Weight & dimensions

Discover the next revolution in acoustic piano resonance. AURES AR2 upright and grand piano instruments combine specially developed acoustic mute features with leading digital technologies and an advanced soundboard speaker system. Pianists can enjoy the pleasure of playing a traditional acoustic piano, while taking advantage of selectable instrument sounds, Bluetooth connectivity and adjustable sound level control.

Specifications of the AURES models

■ Based on professional Kawai upright/grand acoustic pianos
■ Advanced acoustic muting systems for silent play
■ Unique soundboard loudspeaker system developed with MPAs amplifiers
■ High-level multi-channel digital piano sound with SK-EX Rendering
■ Flexible Virtual Technician function with 21 adjustable parameters
■ High-end audio processing and amplification technology for headphones
■ Integrated Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio wireless connectivity
■ Dedicated PianoRemote app for control on iOS and Android platforms.

Touch

The GP Touch muting system (exclusively available for the GP type of piano)

The latest AURES AR2 grand pianos feature Kawai's all-new GP Touch mute system. This technology features a vastly improved hammer stop rail system, capable of precisely stopping the action's hammer motion immediately before it strikes the strings, without the need for special adjustments to escapement position or timing.

This unique design allows pianists to play AURES AR2 grand pianos with the same level of effortless fluidity as their standard acoustic counterparts, whether in normal or muted playing mode, while enjoying a wide range of practical and inspiring digital features.

Unlike conventional mute systems that stop the hammer rod at a single position, the AURES AR2's GP Touch mute system places the stop rail at various points along the keyboard, as close as possible to the hammers, guaranteeing a firm, precise stop just before the hammers strike the strings. Due to the GP Touch mute system's firm, precise stopping capabilities, it is no longer necessary to regulate a shallow escape point for the action. As a result, pianists can enjoy exactly the same grand piano touch in both normal and muted playing modes.

Integrated hammer detection system

The precise movements of the hammers on the AURES AR2 pianos are measured using Kawai's Integrated Hammer Sensing System (IHSS), which utilizes high-resolution non-contact optical sensors to provide superior accuracy compared to traditional key-based sensor systems. This technology ensures precise and reliable hammer detection for a more authentic playing experience.

This more advanced approach more faithfully reproduces the mechanical movement of upright and grand piano actions, allowing the full range of dynamics to be expressed by the instrument's powerful digital piano sound engine with natural fluidity.

The sound

Grand concert piano Shigeru Kawai SK-EX

The Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert piano was conceived as the next step in the evolution of the art of piano playing. Earning a reputation as "Japan's premier piano", it graces the stages of concert halls and musical institutions around the world, receiving universal acclaim for its exceptional clarity and dynamic range. The SK-EX has been a frequent choice of professional pianists at prestigious events such as the Chopin, Tchaikovsky and Rubinstein International Piano Competitions. With its magnificent tone and incredibly responsive touch, the SK-EX can best be described in one word - unsurpassed.

The flagship digital piano sound engine

AURES AR2 instruments feature Kawai's latest digital piano sound technologies from the highly regarded Concert Artist and Novus product lines. When playing with headphones or with the AURES mode active, pianists can enjoy the magnificent sound of the flagship Shigeru Kawai SK-EX full grand concert piano, beautifully reproduced thanks to the advanced SK-EX Rendering sound engine.

Multi-channel sampling

The SK-EX Rendering engine uses multi-channel sampling to capture the sound from various points of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano. This sophisticated sampling technique helps recreate the full and nuanced acoustic characteristics of the instrument, providing a highly realistic and expressive piano playing experience.

This modern technique not only makes it possible to record and reproduce a wider range of tonal characteristics, but also enhances the connection felt between the keyboard and the piano sound, resulting in a more lively and authentic response to changes in dynamics.

Complete resonance modeling

This naturally expressive Shigeru Kawai sound is further enhanced by resonance algorithms that model the complex tonal interactions produced by the strings and various other parts of an acoustic piano.

The SK-EX Rendering produces resonances for the sustain pedal and all 88 keys progressively, allowing the sound of the AURES AR2 digital piano to behave exactly like an acoustic piano. This progressive resonance modeling adds to the realism and authenticity of the playing experience, making it feel as if you are playing a traditional acoustic piano.

Speaker system on the soundboard

In addition to soundproofing and digital sound features, AURES AR2 instruments are also equipped with the latest version of Kawai's advanced soundboard speaker system. This innovative technology uses four high-performance transducers strategically placed on the solid spruce soundboard of the upright or grand piano. These transducers route the sound generated digitally by the AURES AR2 instrument through the large wooden soundboard, resulting in a natural acoustic tone that is more extended than that produced by traditional cone speakers.

Pianists can take advantage of the flexibility and convenience offered by a digital piano, such as the ability to select a wide range of different instrument sounds, record and replay their performance, or freely adjust the volume level to avoid disturbing their loved ones - all while continuing to play with the exceptional Millennium III upright or grand piano keyboard actions of the AURES AR2.

The hammers

Mahogany wood core and double felt hammers secured with T-shaped staples.

Mahogany hammerblocks are lightweight and extremely responsive. Found only on the finest pianos, mahogany is used for the hammer moldings on the entire range of K-Series professional upright pianos. All K-Series hammers are stapled in a T-shape to preserve their shape, and feature an additional inner layer of felt to support the creation of exceptional sound.

Partial (Upper) Duplex Scale

Partial (Upper) Duplex Scale

Partial (Upper) Duplex Scale" is a sophisticated feature built into the piano's design to enhance harmonics in the treble range, infusing the tone with brilliance and richness. By allowing specific harmonics to resonate freely and interact with the vibrating main part of the strings, this technology optimizes the harmonic series, delivering a more vibrant, resonant sound. High notes retain their clarity and purity while being enriched with a luxurious warmth, offering pianists a wider palette of tonal colors to explore and express their artistry. This extraordinary addition elevates the piano musical experience, captivating listeners with its expressive and spellbinding qualities.

Weight & dimensions

The music stand of a grand piano

The uniquely practical 122 cm K-400 features a grand piano-style music stand that puts music at eye level and provides a solid surface for scores and large music books. The two-part hinged lid adds to its distinctive appeal.

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.

Extended Key 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.

Tone

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.

The hammers

Mahogany wood core and double felt hammers secured with T-shaped staples.

Mahogany hammerblocks are lightweight and extremely responsive. Found only on the finest pianos, mahogany is used for the hammer moldings on the entire range of K-Series professional upright pianos. All K-Series hammers are stapled in a T-shape to preserve their shape, and feature an additional inner layer of felt to support the creation of exceptional sound.

Weight & dimensions

The characteristics of the piano

■ Industry-leading Grand Feel III wood-key keyboard
■ Ivory & Ebony Touch key surfaces, 3 sensors, let-off, counterweights
■ Exclusive new SK-EX Competition Grand piano sounds
■ High-end audio processing and amplification technologies
■ High-performance speaker system with TwinDrive soundboard
■ Latest Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio wireless connectivity
■ Modern 5" LCD touchscreen integrated into the cheek block
■ MP3/WAV/SMF playback, recording, and overdubbing via USB
■ Spatial headphone sound for increased depth and realism
■ Contemporary design of vertical speaker with Soft Fall panel

The touch

Grand piano touch: Grand Feel III wooden keyboard mechanism
Incorporating many well-established principles associated with acoustic pianos, the Grand Feel III keyboard action used in the CA901 combines materials, movements, and realistic mechanisms to recreate the exceptional touch of the finest grand concert pianos.

The eighty-eight black and white keys are made entirely from long pieces of wood, with finely textured surfaces similar to ivory and ebony, which 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

In addition to extended, all-wood keys, Grand Feel keyboards also feature one of the longest key swivel lengths, equivalent to that of a Kawai grand piano.
This pivot length balances the weight of touch between the front and back of each key, resulting in greater fluidity and expressive control, while minimizing the need to readjust technique when using an acoustic grand piano.

Speaker system

The flagship model in the Concert Artist series, the CA901 features a powerful hybrid driver configuration that combines premium drivers with Kawai's acclaimed soundboard driver technology for crystal-clear highs and warm, resonant bass.
High-quality speakers
In addition to first-rate audio processing and amplification hardware, the CA901 also features a high-quality speaker system developed by audio specialists. High-quality drivers have been selected for their flat frequency response and ultra-low distortion characteristics, guaranteeing the most accurate reproduction possible of the original Shigeru Kawai SK-EX grand piano, while diffuser panels help to disperse sound more evenly.
The two top-mounted speakers project mid-range frequencies with clarity and expand the perceived depth of sound to recreate the length of a grand piano. In addition, two front speakers and two tweeters positioned behind the top panel give a sense of proximity and presence to the musician, and allow the authentic resonances generated by the SK-EX Rendering sound engine to shimmer and sparkle like an acoustic instrument.

TwinDrive speaker system

Complementing the high-quality drivers, the CA901 also incorporates the latest version of Kawai's highly acclaimed speaker system. This unique audio technology exploits the rich harmonic qualities of wood by using transducers to channel sound energy onto a large soundboard, to produce a more natural, organic sound. Long wooden ribs firmly attached to the soundboard further expand the frequency range and volume of the resonant sound, resulting in a remarkably authentic playing experience that immerses the performer and faithfully reproduces the sound 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, extends the tonal range produced by the soundboard beyond the existing low frequencies, allowing the mid-bass and even the mid-high frequencies to benefit from the warm acoustic properties of wood.

Comparison between the CA701 and CA901

Weight & dimensions

A maximum performance in a minimal size

The GL-20 delivers maximum performance with minimal footprint. With its advanced features from the GL series, it will undoubtedly exceed all expectations for a piano of its size.

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. 

Extended Key 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.

Duplex ladders

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

Staples

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

Tone

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.

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.

Specifications

Weight & dimensions