Kawai K-800

The grand-piano-style music rack with a robust finish

The grand piano-style music stand with sturdy finish is an exquisite and functional addition to grand piano design. Made from high-end materials, it exudes elegance while providing solid support for scores during performances. Adjustable to accommodate a variety of score sizes, this parchment holder offers pianists comfort and flexibility, making it a refined and practical enhancement to the grand piano experience.

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.

Full Duplex Scale

The "Full Duplex Scale", which encompasses both the upper and lower sections, is a remarkable feature that enhances harmonics in the treble range, adding captivating brilliance and rich sonority to the piano's tone. This innovative technology involves meticulous calculations and precise positioning of the strings to optimize their interaction with the vibrating main part of the strings, allowing specific harmonics to resonate freely and enhancing the instrument's sonic complexity. As a result, the piano's high notes are imbued with a vibrant, sparkling quality, captivating listeners with their expressive, dynamic character. The "Full Duplex Scale" opens up a world of sonic possibilities, enabling pianists to explore and create music with an instrument truly incomparable in its beauty and versatility.

Sostenuto pedals

The middle pedal is the sostenuto, as on a grand piano; the celestial/practical rail is operated by a lever under the low end of the keyboard. When depressed, it holds only the notes played at that moment, allowing subsequent notes to be played without sustain. This feature proves useful in complex musical passages where certain notes need to be held while others are played with different dynamics. By selectively sustaining certain notes, the sostenuto pedal enables pianists to create a nuanced, controlled sound, offering a wide range of expression and articulation in their performances. Its presence is an invaluable tool for pianists seeking to elevate their musical interpretations and enrich their playing experience.

The agraffes

Staples play an essential role in ensuring precision in the alignment, spacing and angles of the strings in a piano, leading to greater uniformity, improved tone, smoother tuning and a consistent "speaking length" for each note. These small but important metal pieces are strategically placed along the piano's soundboard to hold the strings in position and ensure their correct alignment. By holding the strings firmly in place, the clips prevent any unwanted vibration or sympathetic resonance that might disrupt the piano's overall clarity and tonal balance. What's more, staples contribute to smoother, more precise tuning, as they help stabilize string tension and maintain their proper spacing. As a result, pianists can enjoy a more balanced, harmonious sound across the entire keyboard, enabling greater precision and expression in their musical interpretations.

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

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

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

The GX-3 BLAK conservatory grand impresses with its dignified elegance and distinctive tone, evoking the qualities of a much larger grand piano. It's a favorite of music schools for the way it performs admirably over time in teaching studios and smaller recital spaces. With its exceptional tone and touch in a versatile format, the GX-3 is the preferred choice of professionals.

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