Kawai CN301 Digital Piano

What they say

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.

Kawai’s latest CN series digital pianos provide a realistic full-sized keyboard, beautiful grand piano sounds, and headphone jacks that allow silent practise 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.

The CN301's acclaimed Responsive Hammer III keyboard action recreates the supreme touch of an acoustic grand piano, with its realistic movement and rigid, springless 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 minimise 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 practise their expanding repertoire with confidence, and ensure that there are no unpleasant surprises when called upon to perform using the finest acoustic grand pianos.

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.

The Responsive Hammer III keyboard action utilises 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.

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.

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.

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 analysed, 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.

Personalised 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.

Specs

Keyboard: Responsive Hammer III action
88 keys
Grade-weighted hammers
Ivory Touch white key surfaces
Let-off simulation
Triple sensor key detection
Counterweights
Pedal: Grand Feel Pedal System
Damper (with half-pedal support)
Soft
Sostenuto
Piano Sound: Progressive Harmonic Imaging (PHI)
88-key stereo sampling
SK-EX, SK-5, EX recording
256 note maximum polyphony
Piano Resonance: Acoustic Rendering
Damper Resonance
String Resonance
Undamped String Resonance
Cabinet Resonance
Piano Adjustment: Virtual Technician (21 parameters)
Touch Curve (incl. User Touch Curve)
Voicing (incl. 88-key User Voicing)
Damper Resonance
Damper Noise
String Resonance
Undamped String Resonance
Cabinet Resonance
Key-off Effect
Fall-back Noise
Hammer Delay
Hammer Noise
Topboard Simulation
Decay Time
Release Time
Minimum Touch
Stretch Tuning (incl. 88-key User Tuning)
Temperament (incl. User Temperament)
Temperament Key
Key Volume (incl. 88-key User Key Volume)
Half-Pedal Adjust
Soft Pedal Depth

Virtual Technician: Smart Mode (10 presets)
No. of Sounds: 45 voices
Reverb: 6 types
Brilliance: ✔
Other Effects: 24 types
Speakers: 13 cm x 2 (low-mid range speakers)
(8 x 12 cm) x 2 (mid-high range speakers, with diffusers)
Output Power: 40 W (20 W x 2)
Headphone Enhancements: Spatial Headphone Sound
Display 128 x 64 pixel@ OLED
Key Cover: Sliding type
Music Rest: Collapsible type (3 angle adjustability)

Width: 141 cm (55 1/2")
Depth: 43.5 cm (17 1/3")
Height: 87 cm (34 1/4) [music rest flat]
104.5 cm (41 1/4") [music rest raised]
Net Weight: 47.5 kg (105 lbs.)
Basic Functions: Dual, Split, Four Hands, Transpose, Tuning, Registration, Startup Setting, Low Volume Balance, Internal Songs Sound Demo 33 songs, Piano Music 29/42 songs *, Concert Magic 176 songs
Lesson Songs: Burgmüller 25 (25 Etudes Faciles, Opus 100), Czerny 30 (Etudes de Mécanisme, Opus 849), Czerny 100 (Hundert Übungsstücke, Opus 139), Beyer 106 (Vorschule im Klavierspiel, Opus 101), J.S. Bach: Inventionen, Sonatinen Album 1, Chopin Walzer (Chopin waltzes series 1-19), Alfred’s Premier Piano Course Lesson 1A, 
Alfred’s Premier Piano Course Lesson 1B, Alfred’s Basic Piano Library Lesson Book Level 1A, Alfred’s Basic Piano Library Lesson Book Level 1B, Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course Lesson Book Level 1
Internal Recorder: Total Memory approximately 90,000 notes
No. of Songs: 10 songs
Metronome Time Signatures: 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 3/8, 6/8, 7/8, 9/8, 12/8
Drum Rhythms: 100 patterns
Bluetooth: Bluetooth (Ver. 5.0; GATT compatible), Bluetooth Low Energy MIDI Specification compliant, Bluetooth Audio (Ver. 5.1; A2DP compatible)
USB Audio: Recorder Record/Playback MP3, WAV, SMF (Playback only)
Other Functions: Overdubbing
Bluetooth Audio: recording
App Functions: PianoRemote (iOS/Android), PiaBookPlayer (iOS/Android)
Connector Jacks: Headphone 1 x 1/4", 1 x 1/8" Stereo jacks
MIDI: USB-MIDI, Bluetooth MIDI
Line Out: 1/4" L/MONO, R [unbalanced]
Line In: 1/4" L/MONO, R [unbalanced]
USB to Host: ✔
USB to Device: ✔
Power Consumption: 17 W
Power: Power cable, AC adaptor (PS-154)