Kawai CA-901: the flagship of the Concert Artist series

01The Grand Feel III wooden keyboard

The heart of every Concert Artist model is the keyboard, and on the CA-901 it is the Grand Feel III. All 88 keys are made from long pieces of wood that pivot on a balance point like a grand piano action, recreating the seesaw motion of a real acoustic mechanism. The ivory- and ebony-style surfaces absorb moisture and give a secure grip during long sessions.

Technically the action uses three sensors per key, a noticeable let-off and counterweights for a balanced feel across the whole range. Worth knowing: the CA-901 shares this keyboard with the Kawai Digitalpiano CA-701. The playing feel is identical on both models — the price step up to the flagship is not in the keys.

02SK-EX Rendering and acoustic resonance

On the CA-901 the sound comes from the SK-EX Rendering engine. It combines multi-channel sampling of a Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand with resonance modelling. The sample material was newly recorded from the player perspective, with a clear, present attack.

Resonance modelling means you hear not only the struck note but also the sympathetic vibration of other strings, the dampers and the body. This creates the full, living tonal body of an acoustic piano. This engine, too, is the same in the CA-701 and CA-901 — the real difference comes in the next point.

03The soundboard speaker system: where the flagship pulls ahead

The decisive difference of the CA-901 is its speaker system. Where the CA-701 projects sound through a classic six-speaker system, the CA-901 adds the TwinDrive soundboard system: a real wooden soundboard set into motion by transducers.

So the sound does not come from speakers alone — the body itself vibrates, much like an acoustic piano whose soundboard carries the tone. You hear it and feel it down to your fingertips. Add more power (around 135 watts versus 110) and separate digital-to-analogue converters for the left and right channel. This is where the step up to the flagship becomes audibly tangible, especially in an open room and at full volume. You can find the whole Concert Artist range in our Digitalpianos category.

Kawai Digitalpiano CA 901

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04Who the CA-901 is worth it for — and when the CA-701 is enough

The CA-901 is made for players who want the full, room-filling sound experience and value the soundboard feel — advanced pianists, families with a living room as the playing space, or anyone who wants to get the most out of a digital piano without headphones.

Those who practise mostly on headphones or play in smaller rooms already get the same keyboard and the same sound engine at a lower price in the Kawai Digitalpiano CA-701 — the soundboard difference then matters less. Our CA-401 versus CA-701 comparison covers the lower models in detail. And to see how this sampling world relates to hybrid pianos without strings, our article on how hybrid pianos work explains the basics.

The CA-901 is the Concert Artist flagship because it adds the best speaker system in the range to the shared core of wooden keyboard and SK-EX Rendering. The benefit is genuinely audible, but not decisive for every player — the honest recommendation depends on how and where you play.

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