Kawai CA 701 Digital Piano Information, Specifications and Resources

Author: Andy Merrett / Data Driven

Music accessories on Amazon

Audio cables Headphones Akai Sampler Focusrite Scarlett Mini microphone for mobile Metronomes
Kawai CA 701

Overview

The Kawai CA 701 is a digital piano released in 2023. It is aimed at those primarily wanting a quality piano sound and keyboard feel.

The CA 701 has 88 fully weighted full sized keys with touch sensitivity but no aftertouch. It has 256 notes of polyphony, which is excellent for a digital piano. It has 106 on board sounds including pianos and real world sounds, and a sustain/damper pedal. It has the ability to record and play back user performances. It has built-in MIDI capabilities. It has no built-in learning system. It has no built-in speakers which means you will have to connect it to external amplification and speakers in order to hear it. It runs from AC power.

It's a part of the CA family of instruments.

View Prices on AmazonView Prices on ReverbView Prices on ebayView Prices on Music & Arts

Disclosure

Check out the latest Kawai digital pianos on Amazon

Specifications

Form

Number of Keys: 88
Key Weight: Piano
Key Size: Full
Touch Sensitive:
Aftertouch:

Sound

Number of Voices: 106
Polyphony: 256
Sound Generation: unknown
Piano Sounds:
Real World Sounds:
Sounds Editable:
Accompaniments:

Extra Features

Recorder/Sequencer:
Tutorials:

Communication

MIDI:
USB:
Tablet Connectivity:

Power

AC Power:
Batteries:

Audio

Speakers:
Audio Out:
Audio In:

Pedals

Sustain Pedal:
Soft Pedal:
Expression Pedal:

Release Info

Year: 2023
RRP: $4899

Description

The Concert Artist flagship

Combining Kawai’s leading Grand Feel III wooden-key keyboard action, brand new SK-EX Competition Grand sounds with multi-channel sampling and resonance modelling, premium audio processing technologies, and an authentic wooden soundboard, the CA701 delivers one of the finest grand piano experiences available in a digital instrument.

The CA701 retain the leading Grand Feel III wooden-key keyboard action of their predecessors, while introducing a brand new SK-EX Competition Grand piano sound, reproduced using Kawai’s advanced multi-channel SK-EX Rendering sound engine. Complementing the existing SK-EX Concert Grand, this latest recreation of the flagship Shigeru Kawai piano uses all new sample data, specifically recorded from the player’s perspective, and possess a bright and clear tonal character with a distinctive attack.

The CA701’s stunning Shigeru Kawai SK-EX piano sounds are processed using new audio hardware which incorporates a high performance DAC system and custom developed piano filter. This high-fidelity sound is then delivered through the instruments’ impressive speaker systems, with the flagship CA701 featuring a redesigned 6-speaker configuration comprising new front facing direct speakers and more powerful TwinDrive soundboard speaker transducers. Also featuring upgraded 360° top speaker diffusers, resulting in an exceptionally rich and authentic musical experience for players and listeners alike.

The CA701’s unique cheekblock touchscreen display features an improved anti-glare panel, with a smooth matte surface that reduces overhead reflections for enhanced visibility. The instrument’s user interface has also received various updates, including the ability to turn-off the LCD display after a defined period, thus minimising any visual distractions to the performer. Wireless connectivity has also been refreshed, with Bluetooth MIDI and Bluetooth Audio components both adopting the latest v5 standards, ensuring ultra-low latency, improved reliability, and superior sound quality when paired with the latest mobile devices.

Finally, the latest Concert Artist model has also received numerous cabinet design and geometry refinements, with the CA701 benefiting from optimised pedal and music rest placement, affording pianists a more comfortable playing position and an even more enjoyable piano experience overall.

CA701 Main Features: Shigeru Kawai SK-EX Concert and Competition grand piano sounds reproduced with SK-EX Rendering technology

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 tonal clarity and exceptional dynamic range. The magnificent tone of Kawai’s flagship Shigeru Kawai SK-EX grand piano is at the heart of the CA701, with the latest models featuring two distinctive recreations of this peerless instrument. The SK-EX Concert Grand piano sound has gained a reputation as one of the most authentic reproductions available in a digital piano, characterised by its warm, sensitive tone, and wide attack with rich reverberation. This elegant voice is complemented by a brand new SK-EX Competition Grand piano sound, accurately representing the latest generation SK-EX-L instruments that have received widespread acclaim and success at the Hamamatsu, Chopin, and Sendai international piano competitions in recent years. The SK-EX Competition Grand piano sound possesses a bright, clear tonal character, with a distinctive thick attack, and is specifically recorded from the pianist’s position for the ultimate performance experience.

In order to faithfully reproduce the stunning sound of a Shigeru digitally, Kawai has developed SK-EX Rendering – a piano-focussed sound engine that blends multi-channel, 88-key sampling with the latest resonance modelling technology. Multi-channel sampling captures the sound from different points of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX grand piano, allowing a broader range of tonal characteristics to be reproduced, and providing a more lively, authentic response to changes in dynamics. This naturally expressive sound is further enriched by advanced resonance algorithms, which physically model the complex tonal interactions produced by the strings, damper, and various other parts of an acoustic piano, giving players the impression that they’re sitting at a living, breathing instrument.

Grand Feel III wooden-key action with Ebony & Ivory Touch key surfaces, counterweights, and ‘Let-Off’ mechanism

Articulating these superb SK-EX grand piano sounds is the industry leading Grand Feel III wooden-key keyboard action, which draws upon Kawai’s 95+ years of acoustic piano craftsmanship to provide an exceptionally realistic playing experience. As with a grand piano, all of the Grand Feel III action’s eighty-eight black and white keys are crafted entirely from long pieces of wood, and pivot on a central balance pin with a smooth, seesaw-like motion. This natural movement throws grade-weighted metal hammers located at the back of the keyboard, with their individual velocities precisely measured using triple-sensor technology for improved responsiveness and realism.

The Grand Feel III action’s extended wooden keys also boast an extra-long pivot length – matching that of a Kawai acoustic grand piano. This provides a more consistent touch weight when playing towards the rear of the keyboard, while additional counterweights placed below each key help to further balance the weight of the action during pianissimo passages. Finally, the Grand Feel III keyboard action also features Kawai’s Ebony & Ivory Touch key surfaces that gently absorb moisture to assist playing control, and possess a natural, matte finish that is smooth, but not slippery.

Premium audio processing, amplification, and speaker technologies

Developed by Kawai R&D’s highly experienced audio engineering team, the CA701 digital piano utilise specialist components designed for high-end audio reproduction. High performance DAC (digital analogue conversion) components that utilise a unique filtering process specially developed for acoustic piano sounds, combine with the Concert Artists’ high specification power amplifiers to reproduce the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX sounds with stunning richness and clarity.

The CA701 features powerful 6-speaker delivery systems that utilise premium driver units, and custom-engineered diffuser panels which help to expand the pianos’ tonal projection in all directions. These additional components create a 360° sound field around the instrument, ensuring a natural piano sound for both the player, and for those listening elsewhere in the room.

Finally, the CA701 also incorporate an audiophile-grade discrete headphone amplifier, which combines with Kawai’s Spatial Headphone Sound technology to ensure the finest quality and most engaging listening experience, even when playing in privacy.

Integrated Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio connectivity

In addition to a standard USB-MIDI port for connecting to computers, the CA701 digital piano also features the latest Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio v5 technology, allowing these instruments to communicate with supported smart devices wirelessly. Once paired to a phone, tablet, or laptop, Concert Artist owners can enjoy a wide variety of exciting music-related apps that enhance their learning and playing experience, or stream high quality, low-latency audio directly through the instruments’ premium amplifier and speaker systems without the need for any cables.

Full-colour touchscreen display for intuitive, button-less operation

The CA701 digital piano features a full-colour, anti-glare 5" touchscreen display discreetly embedded within the instruments’ left cheekblock. This high resolution touchscreen allows sounds and settings to be selected from an attractive user interface simply by tapping or swiping the display with a finger. This screen can also be set to turn off automatically while playing, thus preserving the instruments’ acoustic piano-like appearance, and minimising any visual distraction to the performer. As with all new Kawai models, the CA701 fully supports the PianoRemote and PiaBookPlayer apps for iOS and Android devices, providing an effortless way to control the instrument wirelessly from a smartphone or tablet, or to study the notated scores for many of the built-in classical etudes and piano pieces from the comfort of an armchair.

Modern cabinet designs, available in a choice of finishes

The CA701 is housed within premium quality wooden cabinet, with tapered legs and rounded edge details contributing to the instruments’ light and modern character. As the flagship model of the series, the CA701 adopts a classic upright piano-inspired cabinet design, featuring a broad, simulated-leather lined music rest and Kawai’s Soft Fall closing mechanism. The CA701 is available in Premium Rosewood, Satin Black, and Satin White wood-grain finishes, as well as classic Ebony Polish, allowing musicians to coordinate their piano with a range of traditional or modern interiors.

Stunning grand piano sounds, an ultra-realistic wooden-key keyboard action, premium audio, amplification, and speaker technologies, convenient Bluetooth connectivity, and a modern touchscreen interface. The new Kawai CA Series: Feel inspired.

FAQ

What year was the Kawai CA 701 launched?

This instrument was launched in 2023

What other models did Kawai release in 2023?

What models did other manufacturers release in 2023?

What other digital pianos were released at a similar time?

Have your own question about the Kawai CA 701? Email us and we'll research it for you.

Resources

No resources to show.

Reviews

No reviews to show.

Purchase Links

Buy the Kawai CA 701 on Amazon

Buy the Kawai CA 701 on Reverb

Find Kawai CA 701 Deals on Amazon ebay Music and Arts Reverb

More Info

Added: 2026-01-26 Updated: 2026-02-13 ID: 808

Instruments from 2022 Instruments from 2023 Instruments from 2024 Instruments from the 2020s
88 key instruments full sized key instruments
Search Amazon for Kawai CA 701 Online manuals


Shop Amazon for Kawai Shop ReverbShop Music & Arts

Want to learn more about synths?

More...

Music Software Bundles from Pluginboutique.com

Instrument Lists

Time

By Year


By Decade

By Age


Manufacturer


Product Line


Manufacturer & Type

Type


Features

Number of Keys

Key Size


Price

Miscellaneous