Kawai CN301 R at a glance
The CN301 R from Kawai is a pleasantly playable digital piano with a noble appearance and excellent sound characteristics. The instrument features a weighted 88-key “Responsive Hammer III” keyboard with hammer action along with optimized noise dampening, which is velocity sensitive and provides an excellent playing feel thanks to the Ivory Touch surface. Precise 3-sensor technology in the keys allows for nuanced playing. The keyboard weight is graduated to perceive the heavier bass hammers and lighter treble hammers of a mechanical piano, while structural reinforcements in the action ensure greater stability during fortissimo and staccato passages.
Sound
The digital sound engine holds a total of 45 premium sounds, including SK Concert Grand, EX Concert Grand, Mellow Grand 2, Jazz Organ, C hurch Organ, Harpsichord, Vibraphone and String Ensemble. The piano samples are based on the impressive Shigeru Kawai SK-EX, EX and SK5 concert grand pianos. In an elaborate process, all 88 keys of these extraordinary instruments were carefully recorded, analyzed and made playable in this perfection. In this way it was possible to bring out the special characteristics of these concert grand pianos in detail and to create an excellent sound image. Due to the 256 voices the CN301 is fully polyphonic playable, which is also positively noticeable when playing together in pairs.
For the recording function, you primarily have two options: recording is done as an audio file in MP3 or WAV format on a separately available USB stick or in note form in the internal memory. The latter has a capacity of about 90,000 notes and manages ten songs that can be two-track. This is useful to check yourself, but also to replace the third and fourth hand on the instrument.
Sound reproduction
The 2x 20 watt stereo speaker system shines with upward-firing speakers and 360° diffusers, which offer the most realistic listening experience possible, and because of the built-in Low Volume Balance feature, the sound is convincing even at low volumes. This is also helped by optimized power supplies, which have a supporting effect on the clean output.
Other innovations in the Kawai CN301 R are an improved user interface and OLED display that ensures a more intuitive operation, the SHS headphone system (Spatial Headphone Sound) which provides so-called psychoacoustics for spatial depth when using headphones and the Grand Feel Pedal System, which adapts all the features of the pedal system of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano.
More functions via app & Bluetooth connectivity
The CN301 supports the Kawai apps PianoRemote and PiaBookPlayer. Via PianoRemote app, you can handle almost all functions and sound switching even more clearly. With the PiaBookPlayer app you have access to hundreds of practice pieces. Both apps are available for iOS as well as Android. Bluetooth connectivity also allows you to use the digital piano as a Bluetooth speaker. Play eg. Your current favorite songs on Youtube on the instrument and play along at the same time. Or listen to a podcast on the powerful stereo speakers, just because you can. MIDI is also transmitted via Bluetooth; this benefits musicians who want to record their playing in a DAW, so nothing stands in the way of its use as a noble master keyboard.
