Kawai CN301 88-Key Digital Piano with Responsive Hammer III Rosewood

Experience music, together.
Combining the acclaimed Responsive Hammer III keyboard action and stunning SK-EX, SK-5, and EX grand piano sounds, with a powerful 4 speaker delivery system, Bluetooth MIDI and Audio connectivity, useful USB audio features, and support for the latest apps, the CN301 delivers impressive specifications at an unbeatable price.

Experience music, together.
Kawai's latest CN series digital pianos provide a realistic full-sized keyboard, beautiful grand piano sounds, and headphone jacks that allow silent practice at any time of the day. These affordable instruments also offer a variety of inspiring features suitable for everyone in the family, and have attractive cabinet designs that will complement any room. The new CN series from Kawai - experience music, together.

Touch

The Touch of a Grand Piano: Responsive Hammer III keyboard action
The CN301's acclaimed Responsive Hammer III keyboard action recreates the supreme touch of an acoustic grand piano, with its realistic movement and rigid, spring less design providing a smooth and natural piano playing experience. The instrument's triple-sensor key detection system enhances responsiveness and accuracy, while structural reinforcements throughout the action assembly help to minimize noise and key wobble during staccato and fortissimo passages.

The weight of the keyboard is appropriately graded to mirror the heavier bass hammers and lighter treble hammers of an acoustic piano, while let-off simulation recreates the subtle 'notch' sensation felt when softly playing the keys of a grand piano. These important characteristics allow discerning pianists to practice their expanding repertoire with confidence, and ensure that there are no unpleasant surprises when called upon to perform using the finest acoustic grand pianos.

Authentic 88-key Counterweights
In addition to grade-weighted hammers, the Responsive Hammer III keyboard action also features counterweights embedded within each black and white 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.

Triple sensor key detection
The Responsive Hammer III keyboard action utilizes an accurate triple-sensor key detection system for enhanced playing realism.

The added third sensor improves responsiveness when playing the same key repeatedly, and unlike conventional two sensor keyboard actions found in many digital pianos, allows the sound of a single note to be gradually 'layered' without the previous tone being lost.

In addition, Kawai's action technology also monitors the speed at which each key is lifted, influencing the release character of piano sounds, and providing a greater range of expression between staccato and legato playing.

Ivory Touch key surfaces
The impressive CN301 features Kawai's highly regarded Ivory Touch key surfaces as standard. This finely textured material gently absorbs fingertip perspiration and oils to assist playing control, and possesses a natural, matte finish that is smooth but not slippery.

Furthermore, this moisture is absorbed without dirt or grease permeating the surface, allowing the keytops to be wiped clean easily using just a damp cloth.

Let-off Simulation
As the most authentic digital piano keyboard action in its class, Responsive Hammer III even reproduces the 'let-off' characteristic of acoustic piano actions.

This subtle 'notch' sensation can be felt when playing the keys of a grand piano very gently, and may be used by experienced pianists to aid control when playing pianissimo passages.

Sound

The Sound of a Grand Piano: Three world-class instruments
Earning a reputation 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 outstanding tonal clarity and exceptional dynamic range.

The new CN301 captures the magnificent tone of two premier Shigeru Kawai instruments: the flagship SK-EX Concert and mid-sized SK-5 Studio grand pianos, allowing musicians to enjoy the contrasting properties of each.

In addition, the CN301 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 are faithfully reproduced with full 88-key sampling using proprietary Progressive Harmonic Imaging sound technology, to establish a new standard in digital piano tonal quality.

Full 88-key stereo piano sampling
The rich, expressive sound of the SK-EX and EX concert grand pianos is at the heart of the CN301, with all eighty-eight keys of these world-class instruments painstakingly recorded, meticulously analyzed, and accurately reproduced as high-fidelity digital waveforms.

Recording each key individually in this way - as opposed to stretching the same tone over several different notes - preserves the grand pianos' unique harmonic character, and guarantees that the sound heard when playing any one of the CN301's weighted keys is a faithful representation of the original acoustic source.

Harmonic Imaging technology
When playing a fine piano, the amount of pressure applied to the keyboard affects not only the volume of the sound produced, but also the unique tonal character of each note. Therefore, in order to construct a realistic acoustic portrait of each grand piano, not only is each key recorded individually, but also at a wide variety of different volumes, ranging from gentle pianissimo to thunderous fortissimo.

The CN301 offers a highly detailed acoustic portrait, employing Kawai's proprietary Progressive Harmonic Imaging sampling technology to ensure smooth tonal transitions across the keyboard and throughout the entire dynamic range.

Variety beneath your fingertips
Alongside the classically voiced SK-EX, SK-5, and EX, and grand piano sounds, the CN301 also showcases a selection of Jazz, Pop, and Modern variations suitable for a range of musical genres. A traditional Kawai upright piano sound is also included, for pieces that suggest a feeling of nostalgia, or call for a slightly more intimate tonal character.

Personalized piano adjustments
The knowledge and skill of an experienced piano technician is essential to bring out the best of a fine acoustic piano. In addition to tuning each note, the technician also performs numerous regulation and voicing adjustments that allow the instrument to truly sing.

The CN301's powerful Virtual Technician function simulates these refinements digitally, allowing discerning musicians to shape aspects of the selected piano's character to suit their personal preferences.

Perform touch weight and voicing adjustments, regulate hammer and key release noises, and fine-tune string, damper, and cabinet resonances. It is even possible to adjust the precise tuning, volume, and character of individual notes - all in real-time.

Powerful Effects & Reverb
The CN301's powerful digital effects engine enhances the instrument's superior core sounds, applying additional layers of detail and realism that bring performances to life.

Studio-quality reverb allows pianists to position themselves within one of six acoustic environments, ranging from a small practice room to an inspirational grand cathedral.

Delivery

Premium audio technologies
Developed by Kawai R&D's highly experienced audio engineering team, the CN301 features a redesigned speaker system and a brand new high quality power adapter. These components combine to deliver best-in-class audio quality, producing an extremely rich, clear sound with minimal distortion.

High quality sound hardware
The CN301 motherboard and sound hardware is engineered for precise signal conversion and optimum sound quality. Advanced low-noise circuit designs and premium audio components combine to ensure crystal clear, high-fidelity sound with minimal distortion.

Premium speaker drivers
The CN301's high quality speaker drivers were selected for their flat frequency response and ultra-low distortion characteristics, ensuring the most accurate reproduction of the original Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano.

High-performance 4-speaker output system
Unrivalled in its price range, the CN301's high-performance 4-speaker output system is designed to reproduce the harmonic spectrum of an acoustic piano. Lower-range frequencies are delivered through the underside of the instrument, while mid and high frequencies are projected outward via top-mounted speakers, resulting in an expansive tone that closely mirrors the sound projection of a grand piano.

360 Degree Speaker Diffusers
In addition to utilizing high quality driver units, the CN301 top-mounted speakers also feature custom-engineered diffuser panels, which help to expand the piano's tonal projection in all directions.

These additional components create a 360 Degree sound field around the instrument, ensuring a natural piano sound for both the player, and those listening elsewhere in the room.

The Variety of a Digital Piano: Convenience & Flexibility
Complementing the instrument's acclaimed Responsive Hammer III keyboard action and Progressive Harmonic Imaging piano sounds, the CN301 also offers a strong selection of digital piano features that further enhance one's musical enjoyment.