Kawai CA 97 B

Kawai CA 97 B

Get the sounds of the highly acclaimed concert grand pianos, the "Shigeru Kawai EX" and the legendary "EX" as well as the two metre model, the "Shigeru Kawai SK-5" in your very own home. Play these fantastic grand pianos on the first class "Grand Feel II" wooden key action and discover the room filling sound provided by the unique soundboard speaker system or with our new SHS headphone technology.

The CA97 digital piano utilises Kawai’s latest Grand Feel II wooden-key keyboard action, which draws upon over 85 years of acoustic piano craftsmanship to provide an exceptionally realistic playing experience. As with a grand piano, all eighty-eight black and white keys are crafted entirely from long pieces of wood, pivoting on a central balance pin in a smooth, seesaw-like motion. The Grand Feel II keys are longer than any other digital piano keyboard action, with the pivot point distance matching that of a Kawai grand piano. When the front of a key is pressed down, the rear rises, throwing a hammer which plays the note. These metal hammers have been micro-engineered to optmise their centre of gravity, and are graded in size and weight to replicate the heavier bass and lighter treble notes of an acoustic grand piano. The forward and backward movements of each hammer are precisely measured using triple-sensor technology, providing faster key repetition, improved responsiveness, and enhanced playing realism. In addition to grade-weighted hammers, the Grand Feel II action also features counterweights placed within each key. As with an acoustic piano, these finely balanced weights help to lighten the touch of the keyboard during pianissimo passages, while adding a feel of greater substance when playing with force. The Grand Feel II keyboard action even reproduces the subtle let-off sensation felt when playing the keys of a grand piano very softly, satisfying the expectations of even the most discerning pianists. Finally, the Grand Feel II keyboard action features Kawai’s Ebony & Ivory Touch key surfaces. These finely textured materials gently absorb moisture to assist playing control, and possess a natural, matte finish that is smooth, but not slippery.

The CA97 digital piano captures the magnificent tone of Kawai’s flagship Shigeru Kawai SK-EX full concert, and Shigeru Kawai SK-5 medium-sized grand pianos. 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 exceptional tonal clarity. In addition, the CA97 also features the distinctive sound of Kawai’s highly acclaimed EX concert grand piano, which has frequently been selected by professional pianists in such prestigious events as the Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Rubinstein international piano competitions, among others. All three instruments have been carefully recorded, meticulously analysed, and faithfully reproduced with full 88-key sampling using the latest Harmonic Imaging™ XL sound technology. This unique process accurately recreates the broad dynamic range of the original grand pianos, affording pianists an extraordinary level of expressiveness ranging from the softest pianissimo to the strongest, boldest fortissimo.

Supplementing the realistic acoustic piano voices, the CA97 digital piano also features an excellent selection of additional instrument sounds, ranging from electric pianos and drawbar and church organs, to strings, human choirs, and even atmospheric synth-style pads, inviting musicians to add greater variety to their performances. Furthermore, the Dual playing mode also allows two different sounds, such as grand piano and strings, to be layered together, while the Split and Four Hands modes divide the keyboard into two independent sections. The volume balances for each playing mode can also be adjusted quickly and easily using the real-time panel controls.

The CA97 digital pianos’ Virtual Technician feature allows various characteristics of the selected acoustic piano, electric piano, or harpsichord sound to be shaped at the touch of a button, with settings to adjust voicing and regulation, string, damper, and cabinet resonances, and subtle hammer, damper, and key release noises. It is even possible to adjust the precise tuning and volume of individual notes, before storing one’s personalised instrument configuration to memory.

The CA97 digital piano is equipped with USB connectors that not only allow these instruments to be connected to a computer for MIDI use, but also to load and save data to USB memory devices directly. This ‘USB to Device’ feature allows instrument settings or recorded songs stored in internal memory to be saved to USB for posterity, or standard MIDI files (SMF) downloaded from the internet to be conveniently played back without additional hardware. USB memory devices can also be used to play back MP3 or WAV audio files, allowing musicians to learn the chords or melody for a new piece, or to simply play along with their favourite songs. It is even possible to save performances as MP3 or WAV files for emailing to friends and family, listening to on the move, or for further editing using an audio workstation.

The CA97 digital piano features a variety of connectivity options, with Line-level output jacks that allow the instrument to be enjoyed in larger settings such as churches and schools. Standard MIDI and ‘USB to Host’ connectors ensure flexibility when using computers and other electronic instruments, while the stereo Line-in connector provides a convenient method of mixing in audio from a laptop, tablet, or other digital device.

Specifications:

• 88 Wooden Keys with Grand Feel II (GFII) mechanism, pressure point and ivory and ebony touch key surface
• Triple sensor and weighted keys
• 80 Sounds with harmonic Imaging XL (HI-XL) technology
• 88 Key Samplings
• Max. 256 voice polyphonic modes
• 4 Hand mode
• Split mode
• Dual mode
• HQ Reverb and effect
• 2-Track recorder with max. 90,000 notes
• USB recorder/playback in MP3, WAV, SMF
• Metronome
• 39 Demo songs
• Lesson function
• 16 Registration memory
• Key transpose
• Wall EQ and more
• LC-Display with 128 x 64 px
• Retractable keyboard cover
• 3 Pedals with Grand Feel mechanism
• Speakers: 45 W x 2 + 45W transducer
• 2x Headphone connections
• Stereo line IN/OUT
• Midi IN/OUT
• USB to host
• USB to device
• Dimensions (W x D x H): 1455 x 455 x 925 mm
• Weight: 85 kg