| Product Description: | As the successor to the popular CA48 piano, the Kawai CA49 Digital Piano continues a legacy of authentic sound and premium features. The Kawai CA49 Digital Piano incorporates technologies developed in collaboration with premium audio equipment manufacturer, Onkyo, and features a new motherboard and amplification system designed to deliver richer, higher quality sound.
This updated model also preserves the core Grand Feel Compact wooden-key keyboard action and acoustic piano sound of Shigeru Kawai SK-EX and Kawai EX Concert Grand Pianos, providing a more natural and realistic playing experience. The new Low Volume Balance function improves consistency when practicing at reduced volume levels.
The CA49 possesses an updated cabinet design, adopting the taller body and rounded edge details of the larger Concert Artist models, for a more impressive, premium experience. It also boasts an improved cheekblock control panel that includes a modern OLED graphic display for easy operation.
The Kawai Concert Artist (CA) Series is one of the most award-winning lines of digital pianos available today, and the Kawai CA49 Digital Piano is a model that will deliver players of all levels a premium piano experience.
Touch
The CA49 digital piano utilizes Kawai's Grand Feel Compact keyboard action, which draws upon 90 years of acoustic piano craftsmanship to provide an exceptionally realistic playing experience. All 88 black and white keys are crafted entirely from long pieces of wood, with finely textured Ivory Touch key surfaces applied to assist playing control.
As with an acoustic grand piano action, the keys rest on a metal balance pin and move with a smooth seesaw-like motion, while the extended pivot length ensures a consistent, evenly-balanced touch weight - even when playing towards the back of the key.
The Grand Feel Compact action also incorporates grade-weighted hammers, bass region counterweights, and let-off simulation for added authenticity, while its accurate triple-sensor key detection system allows rapidly repeated n |
Top Comments
One of the major selling points on the Korg is that it is made in Japan. As with all digital pianos there are still some reports of defects. If you like the Korg sound, the deal on this one at $800 and what you get for the price is outstanding. I don't especially like the sound, or the way the stand is built with the lid that flips up, but that's just me.
I personally don't think of Korg or Roland as being the best at offering a "family" piano for young children, or for playing classical piano. I'm not saying they are bad or wrong for these uses, but they are just not the brands I would look at first unless you especially like them for some other reason. The lower price on a great deal is obviously a really compelling reason to consider one of them. But if you are comparing it to a Kawai which is more than double the price, what you get for the price is very different.
If you want something that looks and feels similar to a real upright piano, the Kawai CA49 is spot on, and many people say it feels similar to playing a grand. The longer wooden keys emulate the mechanism of real acoustic piano action. However, I have read some criticisms of it as it sounds like you may have too. Some people say the RHC action in lower models is superior for very technical reasons. For most people it wouldn't matter, and might not even be noticeable, but I guess what I am saying is you don't necessarily lose out on a quality action by buying a lower priced model. But you read stories of people who intended to buy a KDP model, but when they tried them out, instead went for a CA because the overall playing experience is a huge step up. I get the sense that Kawai still has a ways to go in perfecting the nuances of the wooden key action, and I am not sure about the durability of these actions compared to plastic. But overall it's a solid buy and should last many years.
In terms of which is the better deal, as another person said, digital piano prices are inflated in the US. What you are getting here is probably what should be the regular retail price. Some people think this Kawai model is a bit overpriced anyway for what it offers. It's mainly good for playing piano, without a lot of other features that could become distractions. That's what Kawai is best known for with their digitals and what most people buy them for. They might not have the same features you would find in other brands at the same price points, or even at much much lower price points, but people get them because they like the Kawai sound and action, not necessarily for the "extras."
One thing to keep in mind is digital piano prices in North America are severely overpriced compared to Europe. If you look at Bonners (UK) the normal price for the CA49 is around $1900, and on Thomann (DE) it's only $1650. These aren't amazing sales that either store is running, this is just what they normally sell them at. The Korg isn't listed on Bonners, but it's listed on Thomann for $800.
59 Comments
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One thing to keep in mind is digital piano prices in North America are severely overpriced compared to Europe. If you look at Bonners (UK) the normal price for the CA49 is around $1900, and on Thomann (DE) it's only $1650. These aren't amazing sales that either store is running, this is just what they normally sell them at. The Korg isn't listed on Bonners, but it's listed on Thomann for $800.
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One of the major selling points on the Korg is that it is made in Japan. As with all digital pianos there are still some reports of defects. If you like the Korg sound, the deal on this one at $800 and what you get for the price is outstanding. I don't especially like the sound, or the way the stand is built with the lid that flips up, but that's just me.
I personally don't think of Korg or Roland as being the best at offering a "family" piano for young children, or for playing classical piano. I'm not saying they are bad or wrong for these uses, but they are just not the brands I would look at first unless you especially like them for some other reason. The lower price on a great deal is obviously a really compelling reason to consider one of them. But if you are comparing it to a Kawai which is more than double the price, what you get for the price is very different.
If you want something that looks and feels similar to a real upright piano, the Kawai CA49 is spot on, and many people say it feels similar to playing a grand. The longer wooden keys emulate the mechanism of real acoustic piano action. However, I have read some criticisms of it as it sounds like you may have too. Some people say the RHC action in lower models is superior for very technical reasons. For most people it wouldn't matter, and might not even be noticeable, but I guess what I am saying is you don't necessarily lose out on a quality action by buying a lower priced model. But you read stories of people who intended to buy a KDP model, but when they tried them out, instead went for a CA because the overall playing experience is a huge step up. I get the sense that Kawai still has a ways to go in perfecting the nuances of the wooden key action, and I am not sure about the durability of these actions compared to plastic. But overall it's a solid buy and should last many years.
In terms of which is the better deal, as another person said, digital piano prices are inflated in the US. What you are getting here is probably what should be the regular retail price. Some people think this Kawai model is a bit overpriced anyway for what it offers. It's mainly good for playing piano, without a lot of other features that could become distractions. That's what Kawai is best known for with their digitals and what most people buy them for. They might not have the same features you would find in other brands at the same price points, or even at much much lower price points, but people get them because they like the Kawai sound and action, not necessarily for the "extras."
One thing to keep in mind is digital piano prices in North America are severely overpriced compared to Europe. If you look at Bonners (UK) the normal price for the CA49 is around $1900, and on Thomann (DE) it's only $1650. These aren't amazing sales that either store is running, this is just what they normally sell them at. The Korg isn't listed on Bonners, but it's listed on Thomann for $800.
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