Kawai has launched the new CX series of affordable digital pianos, starting with the CX102 and CX202 models in 2025.
The CX series is designed for the keen hobbyist and family who want to dive into playing a piano but don’t have the budget for a more expensive offering.
The cabinets are simple and understated, the keys are responsive but light rather than fully weighted, meaning they suit the fingers of aspiring young musicians who may find a heavier keyboard tiring or unfulfilling to use.
The two keyboard actions used are:
- Responsive Hammer Lite (RHL) on the CX102: fully graded keys (lighter in the treble and heavier in the bass) and designed to support the development of proper finger strength and technique
- Responsive Hammer Compact II (RHCII): features a triple sensor system for enhanced accuracy and control.
Both actions adopt advanced hammer-sensing and key-cushioning technologies, delivering a smooth, natural, and highly authentic piano playing experience that is ideal for focused home practice.
They feature the rich, expressive sound of Kawai’s Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano, which is widely regarded as the premier pano of Japan. Kawai’s Harmonic Imaging technology faithfully captures its tonal characteristics.
Onboard features include Bluetooth and USB MIDI for connecting to music apps or other devices, while the CX202 also has Bluetooth Audio.
There’s a built-in metronome and a recorder, plus a lesson function which features songs from popular method books.
Features At a Glance
CX102
- Responsive Hammer Lite keyboard action
- Authentic Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano sounds
- Bluetooth MIDI and USB-MIDI for flexible connectivity
- Support for Kawai’s PianoRemote and PiaBookPlayer apps
- Built-in Metronome, Recorder, and Lesson functions
- 22W stereo speaker system with Low Volume Balance feature
- Refined cabinet available in Embossed Black and Embossed White finishes
CX202
- Responsive Hammer Compact II keyboard action
- Authentic Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano sounds
- Bluetooth MIDI, Bluetooth Audio, and USB-MIDI for flexible connectivity
- Support for Kawai’s PianoRemote and PiaBookPlayer apps
- Built-in Metronome, Recorder, and Lesson functions
- Powerful 40W stereo speaker system with Low Volume Balance feature
- Attractive cabinet available in Premium Rosewood, Satin Black, and Satin White finishes
Comparison CX102 vs CX202
Key Differences
The two CX models are very similar. The key differences are:
- Keyboard: The CX102 has the lighter keyboard action compared to the CX202’s compact II keyboard. There’s also the triple sensor hammer detection on the CX202
- Output Power: The CX202 has the more powerful output (40W) compared to the CX101 (22W)
- Bluetooth: The CX202 includes Bluetooth Audio v5.2
- Power: The CX202 uses slightly more power – 11W vs 7W – and a different AC adaptor.
All other specifications are the same. The full table is below.
| CX202 | CX102 | ||
| Keyboard | Responsive Hammer Compact II action 88 keys Grade-weighted hammers Matte key surfaces Triple sensor hammer detection | Responsive Hammer Lite action 88 keys Grade-weighted hammers Matte key surfaces | |
| Pedal | Grand Feel Pedal System Damper (with half-pedal support) Soft Sostenuto | ||
| Sound | |||
| Piano Sound | Harmonic Imaging (HI) Stereo sampling SK-EX recording 192 note maximum polyphony | ||
| Piano Resonance | Damper Resonance | ||
| Piano Adjustment | Virtual Technician (13 parameters, via PianoRemote app) Touch Curve Voicing Damper Resonance Hammer Delay Topboard Simulation Decay Time Release Time Minimum Touch Stretch Tuning Temperament Temperament Key Half-Pedal Point Soft Pedal Depth Virtual Technician Smart Mode (10 presets) | ||
| No. of Sounds | 17 voices | ||
| Reverb | 6 types | ||
| Brilliance | Y | Y | |
| Other Effects | – | – | |
| Output System | |||
| Speakers | 12 cm x 2 | ||
| Output Power | 40 W (20 W × 2) | 22 W (11 W × 2) | |
| Headphone Enhancements | Spatial Headphone Sound Headphone Type | ||
| Design | |||
| Display | – | – | |
| Key Cover | Sliding type | ||
| Music Rest | Collapsible type | ||
| Product Size & Weight | Width | 136.5 cm (53 3/4″) | |
| Depth | 40.5 cm (16″) | ||
| Height | 85.5 cm (33 2/3″) [music rest flat] 100.5 cm (39 1/2″) [music rest raised] | ||
| Net Weight | 37 kg (81 1/2 lbs.) | 36 kg (79 1/2 lbs.) | |
| Packing Size & Weight | Dimensions | 148 (W) x 64 (D) x 38.5 (H) cm (without bench) 159 (W) x 64 (D) x 38.5 (H) cm (with bench) | |
| Gross Weight | 48 kg (without bench) 53.5 kg (with bench) | ||
| Available Finishes | Premium Rosewood (CX202R) Premium Satin Black (CX202B) Premium Satin White (CX202W) | Embossed Black (CX102B) Embossed White (CX102W) | |
| Functions | |||
| Basic Functions | Dual Split Four Hands Transpose Tuning Low Volume Balance | ||
| Internal Songs | Sound Demo | 15 songs | |
| Piano Music | – | – | |
| Concert Magic | 40 songs | ||
| Lesson Songs | Burgmüller 25 (25 Etudes Faciles, Opus 100) Czerny 30 (Etudes de Mécanisme, Opus 849) Beyer 106 (Vorschule im Klavierspiel, Opus 101) Alfred’s Basic Piano Library Lesson Book Level 1A Alfred’s Basic Piano Library Lesson Book Level 1B | ||
| Internal Recorder | Total Memory | approximately 10,000 notes | |
| No. of Songs | 3 songs | ||
| Parts | 1 part | ||
| Metronome | Time Signatures | 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 3/8, 6/8 | |
| Drum Rhythms | – | – | |
| External Connectivity | |||
| Bluetooth * | Bluetooth (Ver. 4.2; GATT compatible) Bluetooth Low Energy MIDI Specification compliant Bluetooth Audio (Ver. 5.2) | Bluetooth (Ver. 4.2; GATT compatible) Bluetooth Low Energy MIDI Specification compliant | |
| USB Audio Recorder | Record/Playback | – | – |
| Other Functions | – | – | |
| App Functions | PianoRemote (iOS/Android) PiaBookPlayer (iOS/Android) | ||
| External Connectivity | Headphone | 1 x 1/4″, 1 x 1/8″ Stereo jacks | |
| MIDI | USB-MIDI, Bluetooth MIDI * | ||
| Line Out | – | – | |
| Line In | – | – | |
| USB to Host | Y | Y | |
| USB to Device | – | – | |
| Others | – | – | |
| Power Supply | |||
| Power Consumption | 11 W | 7 W | |
| Included Accessories | |||
| Power | Power cable AC adaptor (PS-154) | Power cable AC adaptor (PS-129) | |
| Bench | WB-10 * | ||
| Headphones | Headphone hook | ||
| Sheet Music | – | – | |
| Others | Warranty Card * Owner’s Manual | ||
Pricing
The CX102 has a RRP of $1199 and the CX202 of $1499.
