At NAMM 2020, Kawai presented the new CA79, the latest high-performance addition to the popular Concert Artist series of premium digital pianos, and successor to the highly regarded CA78. Senior Product Manager Michael Kunz runs us through the CA79’s features at the Kawai booth at Winter NAMM.
The updated model incorporates the new Grand Feel III wooden-key keyboard action, delivering a firmer, faster, and even more grand piano-like touch feeling, while the improved SK-EX Rendering multi-channel sound engine features enhanced acoustic piano samples, with new Virtual Technician parameters to precisely control the attack, release, and sustain characteristics of each piano. The CA79 retains the high fidelity audio processing, powerful amplification, and rich speaker delivery of their predecessors, while also introducing new speaker diffuser panels. These specially developed components expand the pianos’ tonal projection in all directions, creating a 360° sound field that allows the instruments to sound natural for listeners everywhere in the room.
The CA79 cheekblock touchscreen display features a brand new user interface that is optimised for pianists, while providing easy access to additional sounds and functions that inspire musical creativity. Kawai’s redesigned communication standard allows this new user interface to also be accessed as an app for iOS and supported Android devices, with all settings and adjustments recalled automatically every time the instrument is powered on. Complementing this modern connectivity, the CA79’s Bluetooth Audio feature now supports the advanced aptX algorithm, allowing high quality audio to be streamed through the pianos’ superb amplifier and speaker systems wirelessly, with minimal latency.