The CA901 redefines digital piano playing and sets new benchmarks in sound quality, playing feel and design.

Welcome to the flagship of the Kawai Concert Artist digital piano series.
Experience its inspiring sound, elegant design, and powerful range of features.

Grand Feel III wooden-key keyboard action with Let-Off simulation and Ebony & Ivory Touch surfaces

The CA901 is equipped with Kawai’s Grand Feel III wooden-key action, offering an exceptionally authentic playing experience. The Grand Feel III keys are the longest of any digital piano keyboard—from the very front of the key to the balance pin—providing outstanding leverage and control. All 88 black and white keys are crafted from long, solid pieces of wood, and, just like a grand piano, each key pivots smoothly on a central balance pin. When a key is pressed, a weighted hammer is lifted upwards, faithfully replicating the mechanism of an acoustic grand.

A triple-sensor detection system ensures precise repetition and superior control, while the graded hammer weights recreate the natural feel of a grand piano’s heavier bass and lighter treble. Additional weights are embedded at the front of each key to provide optimal balance—supporting powerful fortissimo playing while maintaining effortless control for delicate pianissimo passages.

The action also features Let-Off (escapement) simulation for enhanced control during the softest playing. All 88 keys are finished with Kawai’s Ebony and Ivory Touch key surfaces, offering a textured, slip-resistant feel that enhances playing accuracy and control.

Shigeru Kawai SK-EX Competition Grand & SK-EX Concert Grand sounds — reproduced with the latest SK-EX Rendering sound engine

The magnificent tone of the Kawai SK EX concert grand is the centerpiece of the new CA901.
You can now experience it in two distinct variations. As before, the SK EX Concert Grand remains available and is now joined by the all new SK EX Competition Grand.

The new SK EX Competition Grand sound was meticulously captured from a next generation SK EX concert grand specifically selected for international piano competitions. Its sampling process was completely renewed and carried out with exceptional detail.

This instrument was newly and meticulously sampled using multiple microphone positions to capture its full tonal palette, delivering greater power, clarity, and dynamic range. The multi-mic mix is optimized for the player’s perspective, offering a more immediate and expressive sound compared to the Concert Grand variant, which evokes a more audience-focused character.

To reproduce the impressive tonal complexity of the Shigeru instruments as faithfully as possible, Kawai has further advanced the SK-EX Rendering sound engine. This system combines high-resolution multi-channel sampling of all 88 keys with the latest resonance modeling technologies. Multi-channel sampling captures the piano’s tone from several strategic positions, enabling a wide spectrum of tonal colors and expressive variation across the full dynamic range.

These vivid, organic samples are further enhanced by newly developed physical modeling algorithms that recreate the intricate resonances of strings, pedals, and other components of an acoustic concert grand. The result is a rich, immersive piano tone that allows the player to feel as if they are seated at a true Shigeru Kawai grand piano.

TwinDrive Soundboard System

With the TwinDrive Soundboard System, Kawai has succeeded in reproducing a wide frequency spectrum directly through the instrument’s soundboard. Two AURES transducers set the rear soundboard into vibration, eliminating the need for additional bass speakers. The result is a natural projection characteristic of an acoustic piano and an exceptionally authentic reproduction of the piano’s tone.
Because this system relies on the natural resonance of a real soundboard, it offers a performance level far superior to that of conventional speaker-based systems.

In addition to high-end audio signal processing, digital amplifiers, and a premium headphone amplifier, the CA901 also features six speakers and upward-firing 360-degree diffusers that complement its unique soundboard system. These specially designed components distribute sound evenly throughout the room, allowing listeners to experience the same rich, immersive tone as the player—without any loss of quality.

Alternative Acoustic Piano Voices and a Wide Selection of Additional Sounds

In addition to the new SK-EX Rendering sound engine, the CA901 is also equipped with Kawai’s renowned Harmonic Imaging XL technology. This provides alternative acoustic piano voices and an extensive range of additional sounds. Among them is the distinctive tone of the Kawai EX concert grand, as well as the characterful sound of the mid-sized Shigeru Kawai SK-5 grand and the acoustic Kawai K-60 upright piano. These instruments offer players the opportunity to explore different tonal personalities, from various grand piano sizes to the unique qualities of an upright piano.

Beyond its acoustic piano sounds, the CA901 features a large variety of new additional voices, including electric pianos, drawbar and church organs, strings, and choir sounds, enabling musicians to perform across a wide range of musical styles and genres.
The Dual mode allows two different sounds—such as piano and strings—to be layered together, while the Split and Four-Hands modes divide the keyboard into left and right sections, ideal for lessons, duets, or creative playing.

Shape Your Sound with the Virtual Piano Artisan (VPA)

The CA901’s integrated Virtual Piano Artisan (VPA) feature allows players to tailor the tonal character of their selected acoustic piano, harpsichord, or electric piano sound directly from the display. Parameters such as string, damper, and cabinet resonances, as well as hammer fall-back noise, can be adjusted with ease. Players can even modify the pitch and volume of individual notes and save their customized settings to a Favorite memory location.

Touchscreen Control

The CA901 is equipped with a 5" touchscreen featuring a reflection-resistant anti-glare surface, allowing all functions to be operated with ease. In addition to the onboard interface, the instrument can also be controlled via the PianoRemote app for iOS and Android, which mirrors the internal menu system.

For an even more focused playing experience, the display can turn off automatically when not in use, minimizing visual distractions.

Bluetooth® Audio/MIDI

In addition to its USB-to-Host connectivity, the CA901 is equipped with Bluetooth® MIDI 5.0 technology, enabling wireless communication with smart devices such as smartphones and tablets. This allows you to seamlessly integrate a wide range of music-related apps—including the Kawai PianoRemote app and the PiaBookPlayer app—directly with your CA901 digital piano.

You can also take advantage of Bluetooth® Audio 5.1. Simply connect your smartphone to the CA901 and enjoy your music through the instrument’s powerful speaker system. This feature is ideal for play-along sessions, listening to lesson videos, or enjoying your favorite tracks with rich, room-filling sound.

USB-to-Device Functionality with MP3/WAV Recording and Playback

The CA901 is equipped with USB ports that not only allow MIDI data exchange with a connected computer, but also enable direct storage of data to a USB memory device. You can play back songs from your favorite artists in MP3 or WAV format directly from the piano.
You can also record your own performances as MP3 or WAV files and share them with friends by email, listen to them on a smartphone or computer, or even burn them to a CD on your PC.

Design and Ergonomics

The CA901 impresses not only with its advanced internal features but also with its refined exterior. Its contemporary design reinterprets the classic piano aesthetic, featuring a sleek side profile, premium craftsmanship, and a soft-closing keyboard cover that enhances its elegant appearance.

Attention has also been given to ergonomic improvements: the pedals are positioned further back, offering a more comfortable and natural playing posture.