🎹Kawai CA99 Digital Piano Review & Demo - LCD Touchscreen, Grand Feel III, Concert Artist Series🎹
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#CA99 #Kawai #DigitalPiano
Hi there, and welcome to another piano review video here at Merriam Pianos. Today, we’re looking at Kawai’s flagship model of their Concert Series, the CA99 Hybrid digital piano.
This has been one of the most popular and talked about home digital pianos of 2020 so far, and really does improve upon the already excellent CA98.
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Piano Sound:
Sound is of course one of the main considerations when choosing a digital piano, and this is especially true with the CA99. The CA79 is virtually the same instrument, except in how the sound is presented to the player. While the tone engine is identical between these two instruments, in addition to the powerful 6 speaker system, the CA99 also utilizes a real solid spruce soundboard, bringing the piano sound to a whole different level of authenticity. The warmth and presence the soundboard imparts is truly remarkable.
The main piano sound here is Kawai’s SKEX Rendering sound engine, which is actually a modeled sound engine with unlimited polyphony. The CA99 is also outfitted with Kawai’s Harmonic Imaging XL (HI XL) sound engine as well. Comparing the two sound engines, the Rendering engine seems to have more detail and nuance as compared to the sample based engine, and via the on-board Virtual Technician, there’s the ability to customize a huge variety of sound related parameters to essentially customize your own preferred piano sound.
Kawai has updated the touch screen user interface from the CA98, and the layout and ease of use has definitely improved. The various other patches found in the HI XL engine sound great, including electric pianos, organs, strings, and harpsichord among others. The second harpsichord sample is especially nice, especially for those who like to play Baroque music.
Piano Action:
The CA99 is outfitted with Kawai’s brand new Grand Feel III action, which represents a pretty meaningful upgrade over the Grand Feel II with a new design in how the keystick connects to the capstan and hammer. The new version of the action is built to be more durable and the repetition speed has improved. Like the previous generation, this action features an extended wooden keystick, escapement, counterweights and a nice texture on both the white and black keys.
Another interesting difference is that the keybed seems to feel a bit spongier than on the Grand Feel II action. While this might throw some people off, it actually feels closer to an acoustic piano, and provides a nice cushion for your joints and muscles. Without a doubt, this is an excellent action, and arguably the best on the market available in a digital piano for under $10,000 CAD.
Piano Features:
We’ll focus on the new touch screen here. As mentioned above, it’s been quite improved over the previous version, as it’s laid out better and much easier to control. It’s super easy and fast to navigate between different piano and other instrument sounds, and there’s shortcuts to get to the metronome and rhythm screens. There were some complaints with the previous generation interface, but Kawai has clearly taken the feedback and made serious improvements here.
Diving into the virtual technician menu is very intuitive, with excellent visual accompaniment when playing around with various sound related parameters. The record function also has a shortcut, so you don’t have to do a lot of messing around if you’re playing in the heat of the moment and want to do some recording.
The CA99 also has both Bluetooth MIDI and Bluetooth Audio, which essentially turns the instrument into a high end stereo system. There’s also hours and hours of preloaded classical music from great composers such as Bach, as well as over a dozen different lesson books. It’s not a stretch to say this is easily the best digital piano user interface I’ve yet to experience.
Thanks for watching, long live the piano!
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I love the honesty and customer commitment at 13:30 about replacing the older model CA slip tapes before they went out the door for institutional customers and serious performers. I had to replace them on my MP11SE Grand Feel action. No matter how good the Merrian Music techs got at doing that it must have taken at least 4 hours... more likely 8 hours. That's customer commitment.
BTW, I recommend using PTFE part number 76475A49 from McMaster for the slip tapes on those older models. The PTFE is much thicker than Kawai's original slip tape. Basically Kawai's new Grand Feel III action in the CA99 just takes that PTFE thickness to the next level. They just encapsulate the whole end of the key with PTFE or similar material so it becomes impossible to have that same slip tape problem again.
I played on this yesterday, it is AMAZING
Very well structured review! Great work!
Hi Stu. Thank you for your reviews. Short question from someone who would like to buy it. What about buzzing/rattling sound from the speakers that so many people complain about? Have there been cases in your store? Greetings from Germany.
Maybe not the right place to ask, but I can't find answer anywhere. How to delete recorded song from internal memory of ca99? Thanks.
Are you sure it's limitless polyphony? The specs mention 256.
You are correct! I believe the mention of limitless polyphony was a faux pas. It is in fact 256 notes, which for the vast majority of applications and circumstances should be more than enough. :)
@@MerriamPianos Yes, my Kawai ES8 is 256 and no notes were ever dropped, in Chopin or Rachmaninov.
Does the grand feel 3 action use optical sensors or does it just have electrical contacts?
how does Grand feel action III compare to RH III?
The GFIII action has a longer pivot length and a slightly heavier touch due to its all wooden construction. While both actions are excellent, I personally feel that the GFIII provides a more authentic and connected playing experience. :)
@@MerriamPianos Thank you, I value your opinion, as you are such a good player. There is one for sale locally, so I am doing my research.
He really piqued my interest when he said that the user interface is the best he's ever seen on a digital piano. I've owned a Roland for 5 years and STILL have to take out the user manual!
Oh, didn't know they have manuals.
We bought the CA99 two weeks ago and the interface is super userfriendly!
How much do you guys charge for piano lessons?
Pounding away on Billy Joel's stuff? ...Let's keep that in California!
Fair enough!
How do you think the action on this compares to the NV10, the Yamaha CLP-785, or the Yamaha N1X?
Thanks for your excellent videos!! They helped me a lot choosing piano. At first I had aimed for CA79 but when I tried the CA99 I thought the action was significantly different. Also, of course the sound... So, in the end I went for the CA99. It will arrive tomorrow... :)
They have they same, identical keyboard grand Feel III action. the CA 99 is about the sound speakers and the soundboard. but the action is exactly the same
It's funny that you like the touch interface. For me it was a big turn-off. It takes ages to load when you turn on the piano (gladly you can still start playing shortly after turning it on, while it's still loading). And the interface drove me nuts when I first started using it. Especially, it was impossible for me to swipe from one piano to the next. I always ended up swiping through several at a time. Yes, I quickly figured out that you just need to do it awkwardly gently. No, that still didn't change my opinion about it being quite unnecessary on a piano. It's exactly the same interface you get in Kawai's RemotePiano App. So I can do any adjustments on my smartphone, when I feel fancy. But I really prefer the interface of my CA59 with real buttons.
From this video it really does look awfully slow to respond. This is without any future updates and it looks slow and unresponsive, so I can only imagine how bad it would be if they apply updates in the future. The only reason for these touch screens is to save manufacturers money, as really they cripple the useful life of anything they are used on. The touchscreen WILL fail eventually and you're left with a useless pile of junk. At least a faulty switch could potentially be replaced, even if not with original equipment and even if not, presumably only that specific switch would be broken, not the entire piano. This really has put me off the CA99, sorry Kawai, this is an instrument, not an iphone to be replaced every 2 years.
@@vtrmcs What do you mean exactly?. the interface can be replaced. and why you think it should be worse with the software updates?
Great video. Could I suggest kawai ca79/ ca99 vs new yamahas 700? Thanks
Second this, please!
I tried the 735 and was NOT impressed with it at all.. maybe the other models are better??
Third Merrian fan with the same question here...
I have now played ca79, ca99, clp-745 and clp-775. I really cant tell which one to go. Seems nux1 could be my choice...
@@hilzzer NU1X is a hybrid, AvantGrand, a different class. More akin to the NV5.
To me, it's what Jeremy See often states is psychoacoustics. And even the action is a measure of preference. I think there are a lot of piano tones offered on both as well as tweaking those tones. So, you like Yamaha or Kawai or both or really dislike one, all of that plays a factor. For other sounds, I tend not to pay as much attention to them. I just think anyone else's opinion of any of them may not match your own and it is best to try them and that's that. Even on video, the impression you get can be different than when you try them in a stores, with and without headphones.
Hi, How good is this ca99 at low volume ? I mean apartment level volume which do not disturb neighbours much ? Compairing to ca79, Should I go with ca79 is it better for low volume usage ?
I got this model yesterday I have no faults on it whatsoever.
And I updated it,
Lcd and system.
Having come from a clavinova 635 bright sound the kawai is definetly different from the 635.
The keys are an absolute breeze to play as I bought it for the similarity of the upright keys there close just a little softer than a schimmel.
There is a significant change from bass to mid range and more playing on it will sort this through experience.
The black keys are like silk without slip.
It's taking a while to get used to and I don't know what but Im not a fan of the sk-ex sound but chose the next along, sounds brighter and that maybe for me coming from a yamaha as a personal experience.
I urge anyone to take days and days to figure out the many many configs sound that suits YOU.
How is the sound in this video captured? Are you using an external mic or are you recording directly from the speaker-out connector? If you're using the speaker-out then how can I possible know how it actually sounds through the speaker?
When you placed the first two chords at 15:12 I was like: "Nice! Seasons of love vibes". And when the third chord came I was like: "Seasons of love indeed". :)
I look forward to the external mic comparison between ca99 and nv5, since sound specs are virtually the same , but I guess the experience will not
Thanks Stu, for yet another brilliant review. I cant help but feel whether this is the final edit of the video as it ended so abruptly. Cheers from Turkey, Ali.
It seems like the design of digitals is really getting dialled in these days. It's really impressive, this model sounds great.. would love to get in front of one for a little bit!
I have played this beauty today and let me tell you... I bought it right away I am not lying... This thing is amazing!! I mean the sound, the volume, the bass and the feeling of the keys! I mean everything just seems to be perfect!
I was also totally impressed about the fact that it sounded and played better than the Kawai DG 30 did which I tried out today as well.
If I wouldn't know it, I would, just by listening to the CA 99, say it's an acustic piano
@@Jonas-kr3on that's awesome to hear! Glad you've managed to land yourself one, you sound over the moon 🙌 enjoy it!
@@alexthompson6529 thank you tho!
I really am! This thing is amazing 😍
13:40 can you please elaborate a bit on what type of felt or where to get it from? I desperately need a solution for it, and I've tried several solutions but they're not as good as I'd want.. Thank you sir!
Sounds like a deal breaker for such a high price point? I’m considering the lx 706/ lx707 as an alternative
@@clausmossbeck7724 I've managed to solve it with real felt as Stu said, now playing like charm all 88 keys. LX706 was a serious alternative I was considering though (played the LX705 and I quite liked sound and action, playing experience as a whole)
@@DavidIzquierdoAzzouz Thanks for the advice, I'm hoping to buy the LX705 (2/3 the price of the CA99 in Denmark) since I have to get it up to our apartment on the 4th floor (CA99 comes in one piece, I assume?)
@@DAWNRealizetheFutureofBusiness Yes, that was also why I didn't seriously consider the CA99, because having a single piece furniture is sorta traumatic for handling in apartment blocks as well as when moving to other cities (my case). However, if really settled for a LX705, I'd pay the extra money and get the LX706 which also comes in 2 pieces and is provided with latest key action too (hybrid PHA50) which is longer and yet nicer to play. Not to forget the extra 2 speakers that make a real difference, when I played the LX705 it was nice but lacked some bass, nice sound presence but little body, my 2 cents.
@@DavidIzquierdoAzzouz Thanks, in Denmark the LX 705 in polished ebony is EUR 2.6k vs. LX 706 is EUR 3.6K, I'll mainly play with headphones in a medium sized living room, so EUR 1K extra will be too costly an upgrade for mostly the longer keys for me
Is there any entry or mid range digital piano with this kind of action, especially with this kind of key bed?
Hello! did you perhaps have any of the reported issues with CA99 (buzzing/rattling/hissing noise or clicky keys)?
did you experiencing them?
Am I the only one BUT: the CONCERT (Sampled Mode) on my Kawai piano is just too bright and too loud? 😢 is like triggering super high level of dynamic only barely touching the keys…
That is totally fair! Piano tone is a very personal and subjective thing. With that said, you can do quite a bit of customization work with the Virtual Technician to dial in the exact piano sound you desire. :)
Hi there it would be great if you could kindly review the new Kawai ES 920 & 520 pls since the ES8 reviews have been quite good. There are no English reviews so far on TH-cam. Thanks!
I second that request!
I third it !!
I have another question. The rendering or modeling sounds better too me. So, Kawai has just started doing this, this year... I think that is what I thought you said. What makes this piano better than the Roland LX series with 300 sounds in it that has used only modeling sound for years? Is there a big price advantage? Is there so much difference in sound that it is worth getting less internal sounds? Is the keys that much better than the Roland? I am not trashing Kawai. I am trying to make a decision. Also, what about service, support and warranty between Kawai vs. Roland? I enjoy all your videos. Thanks.
There is a lot of audible distortion at 4:05. Is that from the piano outputs or was it caused by clipping on your preamps?
I didn't think the difference between the modelled and the sampled would be so tremendous, but I even was able to hear the difference through my smartphone speakers, which are really not that great.
Does anyone know if the touch control panel screen can turn off while playing, similar to the Yamaha CLP-785?
Yes, it can be set to turn off automatically while you're playing.
@@outofabook Thank you!
My CA series after 5 years of pretty heavy use had to have all the sensors cushions replaced, some keys were rubbery or plain very very hard to press!
Technician came..out of warranty..360€
It's not that bad since in 5 years I haven't spend anything, they don't need yearly tuning. Should be good for at least another 5 years.
Unfortunately, digital and acoustic pianos alike do require some repair and maintenance when they receive heavy use. It is the "percussive" nature of the instrument I suppose. Perhaps, down the road, a manufacturer will start using diamond materials or something to that effect that will be indestructible. One can only hope!
I am torn between the NV5 and the CA99. I've tried the CA99 today and loved it compared to my current Clavinova 635 but the salesman offered me a great deal on the NV5...I'd thought the latter was above my price point but maybe not. Is it worth the extra for a true action (albeit upright) vs the grand feel 3?
That's what's weird ain't it. Millennium 3 is supposed to be superior but it's an upright action, which is arguably inferior to a grand piano action which is what grand feel is after.
Matthew Small, Which one did you get? I'm also trying to choose between ca99 and nv5...
@@teodorgorka I'm still waiting for an NV5 to arrive. I ordered it before the new year but there are long delays into US ports right now.
I just recently bought a CA 99 (as it was on discount and I thought the difference to the 901 should be not as big, same action etc.)... Unfortunately, I'm experiencing some clicking sounds from plenty of keys, not always but especially when I start playing. Any experience with where the clicking sound comes from? I love the sound and action in general, but now I'm quite disappointed... Still waiting for feedback from Kawai/the dealer - not sure if I want to keep it otherwise.
Hi Julian! I am sorry to hear about your issue with the CA99 you just purchased. That should certainly be covered under warranty, so I hope your dealer or Kawai directly can get that resolved for you ASAP. I have not experienced clicky keys with any of our CA99 floor models nor is it a common issue with the customers we have delivered CA99 models to. My fingers are crossed that it all gets resolved soon for you!
@@MerriamPianos Thanks for the quick reply and I also have to thank you for the great reviews! I also hope the issue will be fixed asap... I uploaded a short video if you are interested (the piano is 2 weeks in use): th-cam.com/users/shorts2RV9GG1P2jI?feature=share
I need this
Thank you, Stu! I had to downsize from my baby grand and was so confused about what to get. Your videos were a life-saver! You convinced me that even an old lady like me can learn how to use a digital piano.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! That is awesome news! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the videos and are taking the plunge into the world of digital pianos. They're quite easy to wrap your brain around within even a few days of use. Thanks for tuning in and supporting our channel! :)
Played this very same instrument at the Oakville location last weekend. I've got to say: I was really pleased with the Grand Feel III action. Kawai has made some serious improvements with this over the Grand Feel II. While at the store I've also tested the Kawai NV-5. How did I feel about it? Let's say that I'll be creating a separate bank account to save money each week toward buying it - in a few years' time. A special thanks to Patrick, a salesperson, for his help during my visit.
So you preferred the nv5 to ca99?
@@JitinMisra NV5 kicks the CA99's ass, it has a full real action.
@@maulcs When I tested the GFII action about three years ago I couldn't stand it - the keys had a pronounced bounce and the key bed was annoyingly squishy. The GFIII action was NOT like this at all. It felt really good - it definitely satisfied my OCD tendencies. Also, about the aesthetics: the GFII action had some keys with bigger gaps between them than with others. Not so with the GFIII. The CA99 that Stu was playing on all had gaps between keys at an equal spacing. If the CA99 was around 2 years ago I would've absolutely bought this - for sure. Now that the NV5 is out I've got my eye on it instead.
@@JitinMisra The Millennium III action is so very satisfying to play. It makes me feel that it's just not an action but a precision instrument. That, for me, is how a piano action is supposed to feel. So, yes, I do prefer the NV5 over the CA99.
@@KeepingOnTheWatch Did the soundscape feel identical to the Ca99? Obviously the NV5 has a taller cabinet so wondering did that make the sound projection between them worlds apart or pretty identical? Thanks
Hello, Is there a true acoustic-digital hybrid model from Kawai, with some type of silent system in digital mode, but is still a quality acoustic ? Any makes with silent system in grand pianos?
Hi there! Yes! Kawai has several upright and grands models, which include the K200 ATX4, GL10 ATX4, K300 Aures 2, K500 Aures 2, GL30 Aures 2, and GX2 Aures 2. :)
@@MerriamPianos These all can have silent system options to upgrade from Kawai ? I only know of the Seiler Dream system and custom upgrade jobs.... but if Kawai is doing this across their grands and uprights i would love to get one as they have some of the most tolerant actions even at the entry models :)
Great great review thank you. Key touch wise how would you compare it to casio’s gp500?
Lovely piano, but the build in smartphone (touch screen) puts me off. I want a decent digital piano and I love kawai. I am enjoying the sound engine of my ES 8 almost every day since I've bought it in 2015. However, pianos should be a place to escape from glowing displays etc.
This is probably what I'll get as an upgrade for my CA58 in couple of years. Or maybe by that time there will be a model with GF4
I'm a little disappointed that you switched from a room mic to a direct line out at 3:56 when having them both be room mics or line outs would be an authentic comparison. I'm not sure if this was an oversight or a method to convince viewers that the rendering sounds even better in comparison than it really does. You're usually so good about honest comparisons!
Hey! I have a question about the CA99. I just bought one (definitely with some help from your videos) and I've owned it for about 1.5 weeks. I love it except... the organs and harpsichords aren't automatically set to a fixed touch, like the real instruments would be. Is there a way, besides going into the user settings for each individual instrument, to set all organs and harpsichord to automatically have a fixed touch?
I feel like Kawai should've done that from the beginning.
Hi there! Brent from Merriam Music here! Congrats on your CA99! It is a heckuva piano and I know you will be thrilled with its musical experience for many years to come! :)
Unfortunately, there is no way to automatically change all organs and harpsichords to a fixed touch to my knowledge. It has to be done through the user settings on each individual instrument.
9:09 Not sure if this is your lav mic clipping or my headphones but even planar magnetics with fairly impeccable bass response freak out with these bass tones!
Hola. Cual comprarías? Dg30 o ca99
Que diferencia de sonido hay
Gracias
Does the spruce soundboard only work in SKEX mode - where you can select 'cabinet resonance'? In SKEXR rendering mode there doesn't seem to be a way to change the volume from the spruce soundboard - is it default only? Love the videos by the way, and the CA99.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The exciting thing about the CA99 and new CA901 model (which also features the TwinDrive Soundboard System) is that the TwinDrive Soundboard System is essentially part of the speaker system, meaning that that every sound utilizes the soundboard as part of the sonic experience. In fact, even in the case of using Bluetooth Audio and playing music through the piano, the soundboard would still be activated. This gives anything played through its sound system incredible depth and warmth. I don't believe there is a way to disengage or individually adjust the soundboard from the overall speaker system however.
Great content, I love your videos. I have a question but I feel like I need to provide a bit of context so please bear with me;
I got a CA99 on December 2022 but only because the Novus 5 wasn't on stock (at least here in Michigan, US.) My dealer was not willing to put me on a waitlist for various reasons and upgrading to a Novus 5, NU1X or N1X today would represent a big investment since we now have the CA901 on the market. And used digital pianos don't hold their value like acoustics :')
Anyhow, I'm pretty happy with everything about the CA99 but the actions feels too light and smooth for me, I prefer the feel of an acoustic action even though I'm only been playing for a year. Would you recommend playing around with the touch curve on the CA99 to make it heavier? Would that hinder my development in any way? Thanks!
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for reaching out and sharing your kind words! We're happy to hear you have enjoyed our channel. :)
The CA99 is a lovely instrument, but it does have a bit of a lighter touch in comparison to acoustic pianos. With that said, you can experiment with the touch curve to simulate a heavier touch. In my opinion, the CA99 is more than suitable for even high level playing and practicing. However, an NV5S or NV10S would represent a meaningful step up.
2:42 SK-EX "Piano Mode" (uses modeling and sampling) "Rendering"
3:31 SK-EX "Sound Mode" (only samples) "Concert"
3:57 SK-EX "Piano Mode" (uses modeling and sampling) "Rendering"
:)
I don't like the fabric on the top where the speakers are. I think this will get dusty. Everything else is great.
Looks a bit old fashioned, еsp the lid
This is because it's supposed to resemble an upright piano. Notice that other, lower models resemble a grand piano, but only the front section.
@@wojciechmatyszkiewicz8197 thank you very~very much!
I prefer it tthis way. I think the digital pianos with hundreds of buttons looks really crappy
IT'S HERE! THe videos here!
I too have been waiting for months for Stu's review of this INSTRUMENT. There is none other like it on the Internet. Others TALK about how GREAT the CA99 is but Stu has a way of actually showing you WHY. I would buy a car from this guy as he actually KNOWS what he's talking about and is capable of demonstrating the many features. Thanks Stu. My decision has been made.
any piano (acoustic or electrical) is the sound ... a good sound of electrical piano depends on price, as 75% of the real acoustic piano is starting from 1000 usd and an each next 1% is cost 100 usd up to 100% ... 3500 usd on electrical piano = 99,99% of acoustic piano ...
There is definitely a correlation between cost and sound quality (to most people's ears anyways). With that said, as technology improves, the musical offerings at even entry-level price points are becoming increasingly impressive. :)
why would anyone want to use sample mode for the sk-ex when we have the rendering mode?
Everyone's ears are a little different. Having a variety of sonic options available ensures that as many players as possible can find a sound they connect within on a digital piano. :)
The "SK-EX Rendering" sound engine does not allow Dual or Split keyboard modes, therefore if you wish to play the SK-EX Concert Grand piano sound with layered Strings or left-hand Upright Bass etc. sounds, you would need to select the non-Rendered version of the sound.
@@namakudamono thank you that makes sense.
18:50 is that someone playing the ballade in the background?
The rendered sound makes my Heart melt...amazing
The fact that Kawai offers so many settings to those who play with headphones will always be the reason why I prefer it. If we have a big enough and independent house, we would already work with a good acoustic piano. Other brands insist on understanding this.
That is definitely a good point! Kawai appreciates and respects that fact. Consequently, they have some of the best digital and hybrid piano options available on the market that boast some of the most cutting edge technology! :)
This is one if the best models I think. The soundboard idea is really great. What let’s a lot of digital pianos down are the speakers. And poor quality amplification systems. But the speakers and amp must be matched.
I have an old Roland from 2001. The action is wonderful. I love it. The tones are fine. But… the speakers let it down greatly. The sound is coloured and I can almost hear the chipboard that the cabinet is made from. Maybe they should try making them out of real timber instead of chipboard?
A question. If you had the SK concert grand and this CA99 side by side and played them one after the other, what would be the experience? I think it might be important to place the digital CA 99 away from a wall and have space for the sound to move behind the piano and around it in order to get more of a concert grand experience?
Thanks for the thorough explanation of the touch screen. Just wondering if capitals can be used when saving a recording... Thanks!!
Hi Ernie! You're very welcome! Thanks so much for tuning in! I will have to double check if there is an option to capitalize the letters, but I don't believe so from my recollection.
Do you also have your favourite settings for the CA99 as for the CA79?
Sponge feel when key bottoms out.
I felt the same thing, it was a bit of a turn off, which is unfortunate with how nice everything else is.
this or KAWAI DG30?
The CA99 and DG30 are very different offerings. From a musical/performance perspective, the CA99 is superior in every regard in my opinion (action, tone engine, speaker system, etc.). With that said, the DG30 provides a beautiful aesthetic that some people may heavily prioritize. :)
@@MerriamPianos ok, OMG It's too late cause I Just bought the DG30 . Anyway thank you for your honest opinion. I like your videos :)
Is it normal to feel a heavy vibration when I play the bass note on my right foot while pressing the pedal? Should this be considered as a norm for CA99?
Thank you,
You can feel the vibrations on pedals while pressing them on an actual acoustic piano
Does anybody know if we can just leave the ca99 on 24/7
I suppose you could, but, given that it is relatively easy to turn on and off, the recommendation would be to turn it off when not in use to ensure as much longevity of the electronic components as possible.
Thanks so much for the great reviews. I have learned so much from them. Now I am curious about a comparison of the CA99 and the NV5.
Stu, would you say that the grand feel 3 action is more on the lighter or more on the heavier side? Do you think that the action is heavier than on the grand feel 2 action?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! I certainly can't speak on behalf of Stu, but I would personally say that the GFIII action feels very well balanced (not too light, but not overly heavy). Given the extended key stick and pivot length it will be heavier than other actions, but it provides a wonderful sense of control, connectivity and authenticity to the overall playing experience. The GFIII key is about 1/8" longer, but, due to the design improvements from the GFII, I personally find that it is a little more responsive and has a faster repetition. There is not a significant different in the lightness/heaviness to me however. Thanks and hope this helps! :)
@@MerriamPianos Ok Thank you :) Yes that helps.
Would be also great to see some reviews of the Yamaha Clavinova 700 series :)
12:53 GFI and GFII have the same key length and fulcrum distance, as does the GFIII. I think you're thinking about RM3.
Hmm. Interesting you said CA99 is actually more spongy than its predecessor. Some reviewers actually said the CA99 is LESS spongy than CA78/98...
Thanks for the video, I initially put a deposit in for the Yamaha HP704 but after watching this video the next day I ended up switching to the CA99. I am no expert pianist nor I am trying to be, I play piano because I enjoy how it makes me feel and on the CA99 for digital piano it is a phenomenal experience from the feel of the wooden keys to the resonance and vibrations playing low notes. The HP704 sounded great until you hit the low notes where it turns muddy, the keys feel plastic, and it just sounded 2D. CA99 on the other low notes blew all the digital pianos I tried in the shop out of the water, I think its mainly due to the soundboard where you feel the resonance it's so rich and powerful. It's a very 3D experience. I am surprised there not that many reviews on this CA99 but I highly recommend trying it and fork out the extra cash if you can.
Hi there! I am very happy to hear that you discovered the incredible Kawai CA99! Roland's HP704 is an amazing digital piano as well, but the TwinDrive Soundboard system of the CA99 really does offer a whole different spectrum of nuance and warmth. You start to forget that you are even playing/hearing a digital instrument given how authentically it recreates the sound of a piano! :)
@@MerriamPianos Thanks again for the great video and couldn't agree more. I may have sounded harsh about the HP704 I agree it is a great-sounding digital piano too hence why I initially drew to it, however the CA99 just adds another dimension, and in my opinion, when you are spending that much money on a 10yr investment it was well worth paying the additional cash and going the extra mile with the CA99.
What would you choose/advice now, between the old KAWAI CA99 and the new CA701 ?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! While we have just received our first shipment of CA701 pianos, we have not yet gotten them to our showroom floors for demoing. With that said, based on the specs, I would probably still favour the CA99 if you are going to be using the piano without headphones. The soundboard system is fantastic and provides incredible warmth, depth and nuance to the sonic experience. :)
@@MerriamPianos but the 701 has a totally different and upgraded sound technology, and a new upgraded pedal system. Right? Anyway I will use both with and without headphones. Maybe, because of the neighbours, more with the headphones
Another great video, although the rather abrupt ending makes me think we'll see a part 2 soon? :)
How is this different than the Kawai NV5?
The basic difference is the action. NV5 basically uses an actual millenium 3 upright action, the one not dissimilar to what you find in K200 and up acoustic pianos, so the action is not trying to mimic an acoustic actuon, it IS an acoustic action.
What is the previous model and what's the difference? This one is really Costly
The direct predecessor would be the CA 98, which has a different action (Grandfeel II as opposed to the Grandfeel III the CA 99 has) and a different sound engine, I believe. If you mean the previous model in the series, as in a step down from the CA 99, that would be the CA 79. It has the exact same action and internal sound engine, the main difference is that it does not have a soundboard and different speakers. Beneath that there are the CA 49 and the CA 59, which have shorter keysticks and lesser quality speakers.
@@alinaj5278 millions of thanks, Alina!)
9:14 omg
Really really got me off guard 9:14 that sounds like cathedral organ.
I love my CN39, thanks Stu for warm recommendation.
7:20
Thanks for your review, watched it yesterday and went to the shop today to try it and buy one. 🙂
you mean you bought the CA 99? If yes how is it, are you satisfied with it?
@@verymozart yes I did. The action feels great. A little tweaking with the voices gives me the best sound. I use only the piano voices. Happy with this instrument.
@@wimvanmuijen8655 ok thanks for answering. I just noted that it can change greatly from the default settings. It's Just a lot to know about it
Please help me sir I'm going to buy a digital piano later this month . In your opinion Roland fp30 or roland RD88 should I go for ? Or any other product which is best budget and best key action digital piano you could suggest me please For learning piano . Thank you sir . from India .🙏🏻
I probably should not chime in, but the FP30 is more of a Digital Piano whereas the RD-88 adds a lot of synth capability. There is also the Juno DS 88 which has a lot of appeal if you want a synth. As far as I know from what Stu has said the FP-30 and RD-88 essentially have the same action. It may mostly boil down to your pocketbook. You will probably be happy with any of these instruments. If you are mostly a beginner player it may be best to just go with the FP30 given that it is probably the least expensive although lacking much of the sound capability of the other two instruments. Nothing is static in the electronic musical instrument world. Every year they will come out with something that is quite amazing as compared to what came before. I would love to have a CA 99 but it's not portable. I don't know how much they cost, but it looks to be extremely nice.
fp30 and rd88 significantly differs in price. There is no point of deciding between unless you are strict Roland fan.
@@JoeLinux2000 Thank you very much.
@@alicaramba7680 okay bro if there is any other product which has best key action and best reasonable price you could please suggest me thank you .
@@KIsaac-wp5dq You should first determine what exactly kind of instrument you want. Even if you speak only about piano, there are three categories to choose from:
1. Stage pianos
2. Personal pianos
3. Home pianos
Home pianos usually are most complete and price/quality friendly out of these. They come with a stand, three pedal unit and their own sound system. In some cases piano bench included. But they are not portable and easily movable even at home.
Personal pianos are some sort of portable version of home piano. They usually are slightly cheaper, without stand, triple pedal unit. Speakers and keyboard action usually are worse. You can turn personal piano to home piano by adding piano stand and triple pedal unit but at the end it will become more expensive with worse action and sound system than home piano at comparable price, normally.
Stage pianos are destined for live performances. You pay more for physical controllers, professional connectors. Most of them doesn't have their own speakers and option to use triple pedal unit. On the other hand, most stage pianos covers EP, Organ, Synth, Strings and other sounds more extensively than home and personal pianos. Obviously, you can use stage pianos at home and certain expensive personal pianos at stage.
In short, you need to evaluate your needs and gear you already own (if you own) first. Searching for a best price is mostly only a question of self-esteem. If you are a complete beginner, visiting local music store and asking questions there is probably the best option for you. Note, if you buy DP keyboard heavens will not open for you out of nowhere, you still need to know what to do with it, have ideas, patience and general understanding about music simply to be able to begin with. Also, you can borrow or rent some keyboards, try for a month, gather knowledge from people who already has hands on experience and can tell what they like and what they miss about certain keyboard.
Another thing is availability. You should look are there any local dealers in your area. Yamaha is the biggest company and present almost everywhere. Korg, Roland, Casio are big, but not as big. And if you are beginner it's a better option to buy musical instrument and spent 5% more from local store, rather than on internet. If something goes wrong sellers can provide technical support, general advise, change instrument much faster (obviously, if they are generous).
very expensive
Quality usually IS expernsive.
Getting mine for 5.5k, not bad for what you get!!!
If/when you guys get the new Yamaha CLP-785 in, I (and I'm sure many others) would absolutely love if you could compare it to the CA-99. Especially Yamaha's approach to key action and sound production versus Kawai's.
The 785 i tested and for me, it cannot compete with either the 79 or 99 in sound, samples and touch.
@@shaolin95 😂
Thanks for the review. I'd love to see a comparison with the Clavinova CLP-775. They seem to be at the same price point with similar features.
Jeremy Hancock Similar features?
Keys are still heavier on the CLP-775: 83 grams for A0 down to 56 grams for C8. CA79/99 keys are up to 30 grams lighter on every key - making them much closer to the weighting of keys on an acoustic grand piano. The CLP-775 key action should be called UprightTouch - not GrandTouch! Still the CLP-775 is a large improvement over the CLP-675, just unfortunately the keys are still too heavy for children under 10.
This instrument has very loud key noise (key thump). It is much worse than CA-98 (previous generation), or MP11SE. Sorry situation. #kawai #caveatemptor
The CA99 is sampled based. The SK-EX rendering engine is a multi-channel sample based engine, with an added resonance modeling engine. This is similar to Yamaha modeling engines like Grand Expression Modeling and Virtual Resonance Modeling. It is not similar to Roland's approach.
it could be Roland's sound modeling patent which is preventing other makers to use pure modeling-based sound reproduction, just my thoughts... question now is, how many audio-modelling algorithms are there? would they be better than Roland's?
@@einsmaglex No, I don't think Roland has a patent preventing others to do the same. I am including below an excerpt from a scholarly article:
Physics-based piano synthesis has three decades tradition in academic research, starting with a digital-waveguide based piano model in 1987. Digital waveguide has remained the modeling paradigm for the next two decades. With the availability of more computational power and the need for modeling nonlinear string vibrations, a modal-based piano
model appeared in year 2005. In parallel, a modal-based software piano, Pianoteq, was introduced by Modartt in 2006, and the first digital piano employing physical modeling was presented by Roland in 2009. Viscount has introduced the Physis piano4 in 2012, also using modal synthesis. By the way, Yamaha had a physical modeling synth released in 1994.
HI, is there anywhere a picture how the C99 looks with the closed lid? Hard to find any picture about his and in the first place it looks a bit boring ;-)
found one my self in a unpacking video: th-cam.com/video/fWuGTLsu_ig/w-d-xo.html
I tried the 99 and even away from the back wall about 1 foot, it still had a boxy sound vs the cleaner more open a79.
You didn't experience that??
I have one at home, yes sound is boxy and flat, especially at lower volumes. Key action is good but speaker system is terrible design, sounds ok at best, you spend over £3000 and you get a half decent cheap sounding speaker system that's just not good enough.
@@markfowlermusic The CA99, like other soundboard speaker-equipped Kawai models, needs the volume to be set above 50% to truly do the speaker system justice.
@@namakudamono I need to go try it again because form what I heard that day, I am going for the CA79 instead at this point.
ca79 speaker system and sound more better ?
Given that they sampled a grand piano - then why did they use the soundboard of an upright?!
Are you trolling? What did you want, a 6' grand soundboard????
@@shaolin95 precisely my dear Watson: they should put the CA99 into a baby grand cabinet and then it will be irresistible :)
@@pianowhizz They can do that but you'll have to be prepared to pay over two times the price.
@@Tidus3960 at USD $7,000 it would be a bargain - most bars and restaurants around the world would want one :) They'd sell so many that prices would probably reduce due to economies of scale.
Seriously, this is Kawai's top of the line piano and the touchpad has significant latency? That is a huge negative, at least for me. It just doesn't look responsive at all from this demo. There is absolutely no reason for that to be the case aside from penny pinching, which makes me wonder what else they penny pinched on.