Kawai CN vs CA Digital Pianos

If you're comparing the Kawai CN-Line and CA-Line digital pianos in preparation for a purchase (or perhaps a referral for one of your students), here’s a detailed breakdown of how they differ — how they overlap — and how to decide which line is the better fit for your needs (and budget).

Quick summary

• The CN Series is designed as a high-quality “home/serious student” li

  ne with excellent touch, sound and features for the price.

• The CA Series (Concert Artist) is positioned above it: premium materials, wooden keys, enhanced sound systems, more “grand-piano-feel” features.

In short: CN = very good value & performance; CA = step up in realism, build quality, (and price.)Which to choose depends on your budget, your priorities (touch, cabinetry, sound system), and how “piano-serious” the user is.

What the CN Line offers

Let’s take one representative: the Kawai CN201 (CN Line) to illustrate features.

Key strengths

• Touch / Action: The CN201 uses the “Responsive Hammer III” keyboard action (graded hammers, triple sensor, counterweights) designed to emulate acoustic piano feel.

• Sound: Includes high-quality grand piano samples (SK-EX & EX concert grands) with full-88-key sampling and Progressive Harmonic Imaging. 

• Connectivity & features: Includes Bluetooth MIDI & Audio in many CN models (CN201) — which is very useful for students/teachers using apps.

• Value: As a “mid/upper home digital piano” the CN line offers much of the essentials at a more moderate cost than the CA line.

  
  

Considerations / trade-offs

• Touch / Action: While very good, many CN models use synthetic white keys (IvoryTouch surfaces) rather than real wooden keys.

• Sound system: While good, it is not as extensive or immersive as top CA models (extra speakers, premium amplification, some CA models even feature a real wooden soundboard).

• For experienced players (pre-college, serious practice, nuance in pedal/let-off, etc) you will see the difference the CA offers.

What the CA Line offers

Now let’s look at the Kawai CA701 (a CA-Line model) for illustration.

Key strengths

• Real wooden keys: CA models feature wooden keys (for example the “Grand Feel III / Grand Feel Compact” wooden-key action) for greater realism and durability. 

• Sound & system: The CA line uses very high-spec sound engines, sampling from flagship grand pianos, along with premium speaker/amplifier systems. CA 901 features a “TwinDrive soundboard speaker system” to channel sound into a real wooden soundboard.

• Build/finish: Cabinetry, finishes, touches like adjustable music rest, high-quality bench, etc are elevated. For serious home practice/performance.

• Feel & nuance: For teachers and players that want the most realistic experience to an acoustic piano feel, the CA line will hit more of those subtle “grand piano” cues (key pivot length, counterweights, let-off simulation).

  
  

Considerations / trade-offs

• Cost: Because of the premium build and features, CA models cost more than CN models.

• May offer more features than needed for some students/homes, especially if budget is limited.

Side-by-side comparison

Here’s a breakdown of how the two lines compare across key dimensions:

Feature	CN Line	CA Line
Touch / Keyboard Action	High-quality (Responsive Hammer III in CN201/301) with good realism.	Premium action: wooden keys (Grand Feel/III), let-off simulation, enhanced counterweights.
Sound Engine / Sampling	Strong: SK-EX & EX grand sampling, full 88-key, Progressive Harmonic Imaging.	Premium: top-tier sampling, premium amplification/speaker systems, more acoustic realism (soundboard, multi-speaker).
Connectivity / Features	Includes advanced connectivity (Bluetooth MIDI/Audio, apps) in many models.	Also includes those features, but adds higher-end finishes; emphasize high fidelity listening / headphone experience.
Cabinet / Finish / Furniture Quality	Good home-cabinet design, typically slightly smaller/lighter. Example CN201 weight 95 lbs.	Premium cabinet, larger footprint, heavier weight. Example CA701 width 57″, depth 19.5″, weight ~76 kg (168 lb).
Price / Value	Better value for the beginner student market	Higher price, meets demands of serious players, homes and studios
Ideal user	Beginner to intermediate student	Advanced players, serious home studio, teacher, or someone wanting “closest to acoustic” in a digital format

Which one is right for you (or one of your students)

• For your students: If a student is intermediate-to-advanced and you expect them to stay or progress, the CA line might be justified as a long-term investment (especially if budget permit). For younger/less advanced students who are enjoying playing but not interested in progressing, more playing for fun, the CN line would be a better choice- offering high touch & tone without over-investing.

• For home teaching: Teachers have high standards and performance background. You might lean toward CA line if you want more of the “acoustic piano feel”. But if budget or space is constrained (or if this is for accompaniment / secondary instrument), the CN line still gives you excellent quality.

• Budget-conscious scenario: If budget is a big factor (especially for homes), the CN line offers most of the important elements: great key action, excellent sound, modern connectivity. It may be the “sweet spot” for many.

• Space / aesthetic / upgrade path: If the room is large, you want the piano to be furniture-quality, and you plan on keeping it for many years (or perhaps resale value), CA line may make sense.

What I tell my students: 

• If I were advising a student who is dedicated (by this I mean advising the students parents of course), I would be planning long-term. I might say: Go CA line if budget allows and space/weight aren’t obstacles because you avoid having to upgrade in the near future which will cost you more money in the long run.

• If it’s a student who is earlier in the journey, or less likely to invest many years: CN line is absolutely more than adequate as a first time instrument for beginner students.

Conclusion

In short: The CA line is a “step up” from the CN line, but the CN line is very good in its own right. It’s not that CN is “cheap” or bad in any sense — quite the opposite. It provides strong touch/sound/connectivity. The CA line just gives you more of the realism, and “piano-like” features seasoned players appreciate.

When choosing between them, key deciding factors will be:

1. Budget — how much more are you willing to spend for upgrades?

2. User level & expectation — Is the player going to exploit the more nuanced features?

3. Resale / lifetime — How long do you plan to keep this instrument and how “future-proof” do you want it. Most students will eventually want an acoustic and a CA makes for a smoother transition and has better resale value.

4. Aesthetic / home fit — If the piano is in a prominent space and finish/cabinet matters, CA may win out with its more high-end cabinetry.