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.
HIGHLIGHTS
- NEW: Motherboard developed in partnership with Onkyo for improved tonal clarity.
- NEW: Updated control panel layout with modern OLED graphic display.
- NEW: Chopin Walzer (1~19) lesson book.
- NEW: Tone Control setting with 8 selectable tone presets.
- NEW: Low Volume Balance function for improved touch consistency at reduce volume.
- NEW: Modern cabinet design modelled after larger Concert Artist instruments.
- IMPROVED: Improved Shigeru Kawai grand piano sounds.
- IMPROVED: Enhanced ‘Light’ Touch Curve setting for young children.
- IMPROVED: Updated Virtual Technician “Smart Mode” presets.
FEATURES
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 notes such as trills to be performed smoothly, without unnatural breaks in sound.
The CA49 digital piano captures the magnificent tone of Kawai’s flagship Shigeru Kawai SK-EX full concert grand piano. Widely regarded as the “premier pianos of Japan”, Shigeru Kawai instruments grace the stages of concert halls and musical institutions throughout the world, and are prized for their exceptional tonal clarity. In addition, the CA49 also features the distinctive sound of Kawai’s highly acclaimed EX concert grand piano, which has frequently been selected by professional pianists in such prestigious events as the Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Rubinstein international piano competitions, among others.
Both instruments have been carefully recorded, meticulously analysed, and faithfully reproduced with full 88-key sampling using Harmonic Imaging™ sound technology. This unique process accurately recreates the broad dynamic range of the original grand pianos, affording pianists an extraordinary level of expressiveness ranging from the softest pianissimo to the strongest, boldest fortissimo.
BLUETOOTH®
In addition to standard MIDI jacks for connecting to other instruments, the CA49 digital piano also boasts integrated Bluetooth MIDI technology that allows the instrument to communicate with supported smart devices wirelessly. Once connected to a phone, tablet, or laptop, CA49 digital piano owners can enjoy a wide variety of exciting music-related apps that enhance their learning and playing experience without additional cables.
*Availability of Bluetooth function dependent on market location.
VIRTUAL TECHNICIAN
An experienced piano technician is essential to fully realise the potential of a fine acoustic piano. In addition to meticulously tuning each note, the technician also performs numerous regulation and voicing adjustments that allow the instrument to truly sing.
The CA49 digital piano’s Smart Mode Virtual Technician simulates these refinements digitally, with ten preset configurations that adjust various characteristics of the grand piano sound to match different musical styles.
When the damper pedal of an acoustic piano is pressed and released, it is often possible to hear the sound of the damper head touching and releasing the strings. The CA49 digital piano reproduces this sound with the Damper Noise setting allowing the volume of this sound to be adjusted. The speed at which the damper pedal is pressed will also influence the prominence of the damper noise, with fast pedalling creating a very pronounced sound.
Complementing the beautiful acoustic piano voices, the CA49 also features a modest selection of additional sounds, ranging from electric pianos and drawbar or church organs, to strings, human choirs, and synth pads, inviting musicians to add greater variety to their performances.
Kawai digital pianos are the only instruments with Alfred lesson songs built into them.* With the built-in lesson songs, a student can listen to the instructional song being played by an Alfred staff pianist. The student can then follow along with the lesson book** to learn how the piece is supposed to sound. Many Kawai digital pianos feature built-in piano pieces from Alfred’s Basic Piano Library 1A and 1B… essentially the first year of piano lessons. Some models also feature Alfred’s new Premier Course 1A and 1B, while others also have Alfred’s Basic Adult Course Level 1. (See each model’s specifications for the list of books built-in.)
In addition to Alfred lessons, many Kawai digital pianos offer lesson songs from Bach, Chopin, Czerny, and Burgmüller — ideal for the aspiring pianist working to get to the next level — and time-honored finger excercises, including scales and arpeggios in all 12 major and minor keys.
All songs and excercises can be set at slower tempos which can be increased gradually as skill improves. Right and left-hand parts can be muted independently to allow the parts to be practiced separately. Students can also record their performances and compare them to the built-in performances.
With “Alfred Inside” and other essential practice tools, students at every level can develop good practice habits and avoid the pitfalls of incorrectly practicing a new song. It’s “Practice Made Perfect”… almost like having your teacher come home with you!
Visit Alfred at http://www.alfred.com/kawai/ to find a store or to purchase books online.
*Songs supplied on CD with the CP Series.
** Alfred books are sold separately.