Featuring the highly regarded RM3 Grand II wooden-key keyboard action and stunning SK-EX and EX concert grand piano sounds, the piano-focussed CA17 offers many of the strengths of the premium Concert Artist models within a more compact and affordable package.
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Embracing many of the long-established principles associated with an acoustic piano, the CA17’s superb RM3 Grand II keyboard action combines realistic materials, motion, and mechanism to recreate the exceptional touch of the finest concert grand pianos.
All eighty-eight black and white keys are crafted entirely from long pieces of wood, with finely textured ivory-like surfaces applied to absorb moisture and assist control. Each wooden key pivots smoothly on a balance pin – the ends rising and falling to replicate the familiar ‘seesaw’ motion of an acoustic piano action. When pressed, the back of the key lifts, triggering a grade-weighted hammer to strike a pressure switch. The amount of force applied to this switch is then measured, and the corresponding note played with authentic tonal character and volume.
In addition to grade-weighted hammers, the RM3 Grand II keyboard action also features counterweights attached towards the front of the bass keys.
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 RM3 Grand II keyboard action also features 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 CA17 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, RM3 Grand II 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.
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 CA17 captures the magnificent tone of the flagship Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano. This peerless instrument is hand-built by Master Piano Artisans at the Shigeru Kawai Piano Research Laboratory in Ryuyo, Japan, and widely regarded as one of the finest instruments in its class.
In addition, the CA17 also features the distinctive sound of Kawai’s highly acclaimed EX concert grand piano, which has been selected by professional pianists in such prestigious events as the Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Rubinstein international piano competitions, among others.
Both the SK-EX and EX are faithfully reproduced with full 88-key sampling using the latest Harmonic Imaging™ sound technology, to establish a new standard in digital piano tonal quality, and allow musicians to appreciate the contrasting properties of each.
The rich, expressive sound of the SK-EX and EX concert grand pianos is at the heart of the CA17, 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 CA17’s wooden keys is a faithful representation of the original acoustic source.
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 CA17 offers a highly detailed acoustic portrait, with Harmonic Imaging XL technology ensuring smooth tonal transitions across the keyboard and throughout the entire dynamic range.
Taking full advantage of its expanded sample memory, the CA17’s Harmonic Imaging XL standard extends the important attack portion of the piano sound by up to 120%, articulating the natural detail and resonance characteristics of each note more clearly, and improving the instrument’s organic tonal quality.
Alongside the classically voiced SK-EX and EX grand piano sounds, the CA17 also showcases a selection of Mellow, Studio, and Modern variations suitable for a range of musical genres. In addition, a traditional Kawai upright piano sound is also available, for pieces that suggest a feeling of nostalgia, or call for a slightly more intimate tonal character.
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 CA17’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 and damper resonances – all in real-time
The latest Concert Artist instruments feature high fidelity speaker systems that have been specially designed to deliver deep bass and crisp treble frequencies.
The high specification CA17 boasts an impressive 4-speaker output system, with lower range frequencies delivered through the underside of the instrument, and mid and high frequencies projected outward via front-facing speakers. The result is a broad, resonating tone that closely mirrors the immersive sound field of a grand piano.
Complementing the instrument’s superb RM3 Grand II keyboard action and stunning Harmonic Imaging XL grand piano sound, the CA17 also offers a variety of convenient digital features that further enhance one’s musical enjoyment.
A selection of different instrument voices, built-in lesson songs, and the ability to record and playback one’s performance are just some of the features accessible from the discretely placed cheek-block control panel.
Supplementing the beautiful acoustic piano voices, the CA17 also features an modest selection of additional sounds, ranging from electric pianos and drawbar or church organs, to strings, human choirs, and synth pads, inviting musicians to add greater variety to their performances.
Furthermore, the Dual playing mode also allows two different sounds, such as grand piano and strings, to be layered together, while the Four Hands mode divides the keyboard into two independent 44-key sections. This feature is particularly useful in learning environments, allowing teacher and student (or student and student) to play together at the same time using a single instrument.
The CA17’s convenient lesson function allows aspiring pianists to learn piano with classical Czerny, Burgmüller, and Beyer etudes, or collections of songs from the popular Alfred Basic’s Piano course books.
The left and right hand parts of each etude/song can be practiced separately, using the adjustable metronome feature to perfect timing in difficult passages, before recording the completed piece for self-evaluation.
* Notated scores and Alfred lesson books sold separately.
Despite its modestly-sized control panel, the CA17 offers a wide range of digital features, with the optional Vocal Assist and Sound Preview modes also available to aid operation.
Once enabled, Vocal Assist provides a spoken explanation when selecting sounds and functions, while Sound Preview plays a short musical passage to demonstrate the selected sound or sound setting, alleviating the need to check the owner’s manual.
Reinforcing the Concert Artist’s reputation as the most realistic digital piano is Kawai’s Grand Feel Pedal System. This unique feature replicates the individual weighting of the damper, soft, and sostenuto pedals of the SK-EX and EX concert grand pianos to further enhance the CA17’s acoustic-like authenticity.
Connecting the CA17 to an iPad using a USB cable or wirelessly allows players to extend the instrument’s functionality with a wide range of education, performance, and scoring apps.
A dedicated Virtual Technician app is also freely available, providing an enjoyable way to learn about and adjust the Concert Artist’s various characteristics from an attractive touch interface.
* Quicco Sound mi.1 Bluetooth MIDI device required for wireless connectivity.
The CA17’s Spatial Headphone Sound (SHS) technology enhances the depth and realism of the instrument’s sound when listening through headphones or earphones. The player can select one of three different acoustic presets that adjust the spatial positioning of the sound, while also helping to reduce auditory fatigue when using earphones or headphones for extended periods of time.
In addition, the CA17 also allows players to select a variety of headphone types (Open, Semi-open, Closed, In-Ear, Canal, etc.) for an optimised listening experience.
Sitting down at the Concert Artist, the first thing that strikes the player is the instrument’s flat fascia and tall upper board, giving the impression of a traditional grand piano and immediately elevating the musical aspirations of the performer.
The distinctive KAWAI logo – representing over 85 years of acoustic piano crafting excellence – adorns the CA17’s fallboard, its metallic finish glimmers in the light, capturing the graceful movements of the player’s hands below.
The CA17’s broad music rest is designed to accommodate the most ambitious musical works, with an attractive rounded edge.
As with a grand piano, the viewing angle of the Concert Artist’s music rest can be adjusted to suit the performer’s playing position, or laid flat for convenience when notating scores or sketching musical ideas.
The CA17 is available in three attractive cabinet finishes: Premium Rosewood, Premium Satin Black, and Premium Satin White, allowing musicians to coordinate their piano with a range of modern interiors.
* Cabinet finish availability dependent on market location.
| Kích thước | Chiều dài | 166 cm |
|---|---|---|
| Chiều ngang | 150 cm | |
| Chiều cao | 102 cm | |
| Trọng lượng | 314 kg | |
| Touch | White key surfaces | NEOTEX |
| Black key surfaces | NEOTEX | |
| Action | Millennium III | |
| Hammers | ||
| Sound | Soundboard | Solid Spruce, Tapared |
| Agraffes | 1-46 keys | |
| Duplex scaling | Fore & Back | |
| Back posts | 3 | |
| Exterior design | Pedals | Damper, Sostenuto, Soft |
| Casters | Single, Brass | |
| Lid props | 3 | |
| Softfall | yes | |
| Music rack | Position | 5 positions |
| Hard Finish | yes |
