Roland
GP-609
$6,500
A baby grand silhouette with the convenience of digital — Roland's showpiece piano
10.0 Beginner 8.5 Night Practice 1.5 Portability 9.2 Touch Reality 5.9 Value
88 110 kg
View Details Kawai
Kawai CA-901 Review
Onkyo-powered concert hall in your living room
88 Keys 82 kg grand feel iii
Bluetooth
Advanced
Scores
How These Scores Were Calculated
Beginner
10.0| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 3.0 |
| Lesson Function | Yes | +1.5 |
| App Connectivity | Yes | +1.5 |
| Recording | Yes | +1 |
| Metronome | Yes | +0.5 |
| Transpose | Yes | +0.3 |
| Layer / Split | Yes | +0.3 |
| Preset Songs | 371 | +1.5 |
| Sound Variety | 96 sounds | +0.5 |
Night Practice
8.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 2.0 |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 | +2 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm, 3.5mm | +1.5 |
| Headphone Optimization | Yes | +1.5 |
| Key Action Quietness | grand feel iii | +0 |
| Volume Control | Yes | +1 |
| Bluetooth Audio | Yes | +0.5 |
Portability
1.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 5.0 |
| Weight | 82 kg | -3 |
| Width | 1455 mm | -0.5 |
| Battery | No | +0 |
| Foldable | No | +0 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +0 |
Touch Reality
9.2| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Key Action Quality | grand feel iii (grade 9) | +5.4 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +1.5 |
| Polyphony | 256 notes | +1.5 |
| Sound Modeling | SK-EX Rendering | +0.5 |
| Key Surface | wood | +0.3 |
Our Verdict
The CA-901 takes Kawai's Grand Feel III wooden action and pairs it with a 150W Onkyo-tuned 6-speaker system — delivering flagship-grade sound at a step below the CA-99's price.
Pros
- • Grand Feel III wooden-key action with counterweights — Kawai's finest, identical to the flagship CA-99
- • 150W 6-speaker system co-developed with Onkyo — rich, room-filling sound with dedicated tweeters, mids, and woofers
- • SK-EX Rendering sound engine with Harmonic Imaging XL — reproduces the full complexity of Kawai's Shigeru concert grand
- • 96 onboard sounds including electric pianos, organs, harpsichord, and strings
- • Bluetooth Audio + MIDI for wireless app control and music streaming
- • 371 preset songs for lesson and practice — one of the largest built-in libraries in any console piano
- • Dual headphone jacks (6.3mm + 3.5mm) with Kawai's spatial headphone optimization for natural sound
Cons
- • 82 kg — professional delivery and two-person setup is essential; moving it later is a serious project
- • At $5,500, it sits in a competitive zone where some players may stretch to the CA-99 or consider acoustic uprights
- • No line-out jacks — connecting to external recording equipment requires adapter workarounds via headphone output
The CA-901 is the sweet spot for pianists who want the absolute best Kawai action and sound engine without paying flagship prices. It shares its Grand Feel III keys and SK-EX Rendering engine with the $7,000 CA-99 — what you give up is the CA-99's 200W 8-speaker system and its iconic grand piano lid. For most home environments, the CA-901's 150W Onkyo system is more than sufficient. If your room is under 30 square meters, you'll never feel like you're missing anything. This is the digital piano that makes acoustic grand owners nod in approval.
Technical Deep Dive
About the Key Action
The Grand Feel III is Kawai's crown jewel. Every key is crafted from wood with a long pivot point that replicates grand piano leverage. Counterweights in all 88 keys create realistic inertia — you feel the key responding to gravity, not springs. The grading from bass to treble is exceptionally smooth. Combined with the 150W Onkyo speaker system, the CA-901 translates every nuance of your touch into audible detail that cheaper models simply can't reproduce.
Who Is This Piano For?
You're an advanced player or a serious returning pianist who wants a digital piano that genuinely feels and sounds like a grand. You've played the CA-501 and loved the action, but you want more speaker power to fill a living room or music room. You're not quite ready to spend CA-99 money, but you refuse to compromise on touch or tone. Teachers who host students at home will appreciate the projection and the 371-song lesson library.
Specifications
| Keys | 88 |
| Key Action | Grand Feel Iii |
| Polyphony | 256 notes |
| Sounds | 96 |
| Weight | 82 kg |
| Speakers | 150W (×6) |
| Bluetooth | Audio + MIDI |
| Key Surface | Wood |
| Sound Modeling | SK-EX Rendering |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm, 3.5mm |
| Headphone Optimization | Yes |
| USB MIDI | Yes |
| Line Out | No |
| Lesson Function | Yes |
| App Connectivity | Yes |
| Recording | Yes |
| Metronome | Yes |
| Transpose | Yes |
| Layer / Split | Yes |
| Preset Songs | 371 |
| Battery | No |
| Foldable | No |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 1455×485×970 mm |
| Stand Included | Yes |
| Pedal Included | Yes |
Recommended Accessories
🪑
Stand
Stand included
A sturdy X-stand or furniture-style stand is essential if one isn't included.
🎧
Headphones
Closed-back headphones with good bass response make practice sessions more enjoyable.
🎹
Sustain Pedal
The included pedal is usually basic. A half-damper pedal upgrade is worthwhile for expressive playing.
💺
Bench
An adjustable-height bench helps maintain proper posture during long practice sessions.
How It Compares
CA-901 vs GP-609
The CA-901 and GP-609 score very similarly across all axes. The CA-901 costs $1,000 less.
Roland GP-609 →CA-901 vs CA-701
The CA-901 and CA-701 score very similarly across all axes. The CA-701 costs $1,500 less.
Kawai CA-701 →CA-901 vs CLP-785
The CA-901 and CLP-785 score very similarly across all axes. The CLP-785 costs $1,000 less.
Yamaha CLP-785 →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Kawai CA-901 good for beginners?
Yes. The Kawai CA-901 scores 10/10 on our Beginner scale, which means it has strong learning features like lesson modes, app connectivity, and built-in songs to help new players get started.
Does the Kawai CA-901 have Bluetooth?
Yes, the Kawai CA-901 supports both Bluetooth MIDI and Bluetooth Audio, so you can connect wirelessly to apps and stream audio.
How heavy is the Kawai CA-901?
The Kawai CA-901 weighs 82 kg (181 lbs). It scores 1.5/10 on our Portability scale. This is a stay-in-place instrument — plan its location before setup.
Can I use headphones with the Kawai CA-901?
Yes. The Kawai CA-901 has 2 headphone jacks (6.3mm, 3.5mm). It scores 8.5/10 on our Night Practice scale. It also features headphone sound optimization for a more immersive experience.
How many keys does the Kawai CA-901 have?
The Kawai CA-901 has a full 88-key keyboard, the same as an acoustic piano. This gives you the complete range for any piece of music.
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10.0 Beginner 8.5 Night Practice 1.5 Portability 9.2 Touch Reality 6.2 Value
88 76 kg
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