CN201

CN201

Experience music, together.

Featuring the Responsive Hammer III keyboard action with 88-key counterweights, stunning SK-EX and EX concert grand piano sounds, and a high quality audio delivery system, the piano-focussed CN201 offers best-in-class touch & tone, Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio connectivity, and built-in lesson and recorder functions within a compact, elegant cabinet.

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  • CN201 CN201 Premium Rosewood
  • CN201 CN201 Premium Satin Black
  • CN201 CN201 Premium Satin White

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  • CN201 CN201 Premium Rosewood
  • CN201 CN201 Premium Satin Black
  • CN201 CN201 Premium Satin White

HIGHLIGHTS

   

HIGHLIGHTS

■  Improved Responsive Hammer III keyboard action
■  Ivory Touch key surfaces, triple sensor, let-off, counterweights
■  Progressive Harmonic Imaging sound with 88-key sampling
■  Shigeru Kawai SK-EX & Kawai EX concert grand piano sounds
■  High quality audio processing and amplification hardware

■  Integrated Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio wireless technology
■  Built-in classical etudes and Alfred lesson books
■  Spatial Headphone Sound for enhanced depth and realism
■  Cheekblock control panel with high resolution OLED display
■  Attractive, modern cabinet available in three wood finishes

■  Improved Responsive Hammer III keyboard action
■  Ivory Touch surfaces, 3-sensor, counterweights
■  Progressive Harmonic Imaging, 88-key sampling
■  SK-EX & Kawai EX concert grand piano sounds
■  High quality audio processing and amplification
■  Integrated Bluetooth® MIDI & Audio connectivity
■  Built-in classical etudes and Alfred lesson books
■  Spatial Headphone Sound for enhanced realism
■  Cheekblock control panel with clear OLED display
■  Attractive cabinet available in three wood finishes

 

CN201 CN201

Experience music, together.

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.

TOUCH

   

TOUCH

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The Touch of a Grand Piano:
Responsive Hammer III keyboard action

The CN201’s acclaimed Responsive Hammer III keyboard action has been developed to recreate the touch feeling of playing a Kawai grand piano.  Each key is authentically weighted using metal hammers which are ‘graded’ (i.e. slightly heavier in the bass region, and lighter in treble) just like an acoustic piano.  These weights also allow released keys to return to their original position without the aid of springs, resulting in a smooth, natural playing experience.

 

RHIII keyboard action

#1 Ivory Touch key   #2 Counterweights   #3 Triple sensor
#4 Let-off mechanism   #5 Weighted hammers   #6 Key pivot point

 

RHIII keyboard action

#1 Ivory Touch key   #2 Counterweights
#3 Triple sensor   #4 Let-off mechanism
#5 Weighted hammers   #6 Key pivot point

 

The chassis of the action mechanism is produced using reinforced materials that ensure the keyboard will remain rigid and stable when played with force.  In addition, a series of felt-lined rubber cushions absorb movement energy from the keys and hammers, helping to reduce unwanted ‘thump’ noise, and earning RHIII a reputation as one of the quietest digital piano keyboards available.

 
CN201
Ivory Touch key surfaces

The Responsive Hammer III keyboard action features Kawai’s authentic Ivory Touch key surface material, which possesses an attractive matte finish that is smooth but not slippery. These characteristics are not only beneficial in aiding finger control, but also contribute to the overall impression of playing a high quality, authentic piano.

CN201
88-key Counterweights

In addition to grade-weighted hammers, the Responsive Hammer III keyboard action also incorporates counterweights embedded within each black and white key. As with an acoustic piano, these additional weights help to balance the touch of the keyboard during pianissimo passages, while providing a feeling of greater substance and solidity when playing with force.

 
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Triple sensor key detection

Supplementing its authentic touch weight, the RHIII keyboard action also includes Kawai’s latest triple-sensor key detection system for enhanced playing realism. This additional third sensor greatly improves responsiveness when striking the same keys repeatedly, allowing rapid trills etc. to sound much smoother and more acoustic piano-like when played.

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Let-off simulation

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.

SOUND

   

SOUND

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The Sound of a Grand Piano: Two 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 CN201 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.

 

Learn more about Shigeru Kawai grand pianos >

 

In addition, the CN201 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 advanced Harmonic Imaging™ sound technology, to establish a new standard in digital piano tonal quality, and allow musicians to appreciate the contrasting properties of each.

 
Piano sound demos

 

CN201

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 CN201, 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 CN201’s weighted keys is a faithful representation of the original acoustic source.

 

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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 CN201 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.

 

CN201

Variety beneath your fingertips

Alongside the classically voiced SK-EX and EX grand piano sounds, the CN201 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.

 

CN201

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 CN201’s Virtual Technician ‘Smart Mode’ simulates these refinements digitally, with ten preset configurations that intelligently adjust characteristics of the grand piano to match different musical styles.

 

For greater flexibility, ‘Advanced Mode’ allows players to perform touch weight and voicing adjustments, regulate hammer and key release noises, and fine-tune string and damper resonances from a smart device using the dedicated PianoRemote app.

DELIVERY

   

DELIVERY

CN201 CN201

Advanced audio technologies

Developed by Kawai R&D’s highly experienced audio engineering team, the CN201 features a redesigned motherboard and speaker system, and a brand new high quality power adapter. These components combine to deliver best-in-class audio quality, producing an extremely rich, clear sound with minimal distortion.

 
CN201
High quality sound hardware

The CN201 motherboard and sound hardware is engineered for precise signal conversion and optimum sound quality.  Advanced low-noise circuit designs and premium audio components combine to ensure crystal clear, high-fidelity sound with minimal distortion.

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Full range speaker drivers

The CN201’s high quality speaker drivers were selected for their flat frequency response and ultra-low distortion characteristics, ensuring the most accurate reproduction of the original Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano.

 

CN201

Impressive speaker system
(with Low Volume Balance feature)

The CN201’s stereo speaker system delivers an impressive 40W of output, providing more than enough power to fill a medium-sized room with it's beautiful Shigeru Kawai grand piano sounds.

 

Moreover, when playing through speakers at a reduced volume setting (so as not to disturb family members), the CN201’s Low Volume Balance feature intelligently adjusts keyboard touch and piano tone characteristics, allowing pianissimo passages to be played smoothly and more naturally.

 

CN201

Superior headphone experience

The CN201’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 CN201 also allows players to select a variety of headphone types (Open, Semi-open, Closed, In-Ear, Canal, etc.) for an optimised listening experience.

Learn more about the Kawai SH-9 headphones >

FEATURES

   

FEATURES

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The Variety of a Digital Piano: Convenience & Flexibility

Complementing the instrument’s acclaimed Responsive Hammer III keyboard action and Progressive Harmonic Imaging piano sounds, the CN201 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 performances are just some of the features accessible from the cheek-block control panel, while built-in Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio functionality allow connecting to smart devices wirelessly for running apps or streaming music.

 

CN201

Integrated Bluetooth® connectivity

In addition to a standard USB-MIDI port for connecting to computers, the CN201 also features integrated Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio technologies that allow the instrument to communicate with supported smart devices wirelessly.

 

Once paired with a phone, tablet, or laptop, CN201 owners can enjoy a wide variety of exciting music-related apps that enhance their learning and playing experience, or stream audio from songs and videos directly through the instrument’s impressive speaker system without the need to connect additional cables.

 

* Availability of Bluetooth® function may vary depending on market area.
* For more information please refer to the Bluetooth MIDI Information support page.

 

CN201

PianoRemote app

The CN201 is compatible with Kawai’s latest PianoRemote control app for iOS and supported Android devices. This app connects to the piano wirelessly via the instrument’s integrated Bluetooth feature, providing an effortless way to change sounds or adjust settings from an attractive touch-based user interface.

Learn more about the PianoRemote app >

 

Apple AppStoreGoogle Play Store

 

CN201

Built-in lesson function

The CN201’s convenient lesson function allows aspiring pianists to learn piano with classical Czerny, Burgmüller, Beyer, and Chopin etudes, or collections of songs from the popular Alfred's Basic 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.

 

CN201

Additional sounds & playing modes

Supplementing the beautiful acoustic piano voices, the CN201 also features a 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.

 

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.

 
Instrument sound demos

 

CN201

Grand Feel Pedal System

Reinforcing the CN Series’ reputation as the most realistic digital pianos in their price range is Kawai’s Grand Feel Pedal System.

 

This unique feature accurately replicates the position and individual weighting of the damper, soft, and sostenuto pedals of a Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano, ensuring that players master the proper pedalling technique required to perform on an acoustic piano.

DESIGN

   

DESIGN

CN201 CN201

Grand performance within a modern, compact cabinet

The CN201's modern cabinet incorporates a curved leg design, with minimalist toe blocks for additional stability.  Its flat fascia and tall upper board give the instrument a traditional, upright piano-like quality, while at just over 40 centimetres deep, the CN201's compact body is suitable for apartments and other narrow spaces.

 

CN201

Broad, adjustable music rest

The CN201’s broad music rest is engineered to accommodate the most ambitious musical works, with a high-quality surface and attractive round design.

 

As with a grand piano, the viewing angle of the instrument'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.

 

CN201

Easy to use interface with OLED display

The CN201 features an easy to use control panel neatly embedded within the left cheekblock, with a high resolution OLED display providing information about the currently select sound, function, or setting.

 

Unlike most other digital pianos in its class, the CN201's various sounds and functions are all selected directly from the control panel, without needing to press and hold buttons while remembering different key combinations.  This helps to simplify operation, and ensures that the piano can be enjoyed by even the youngest members of the family.

 

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Cabinet Finishes

The CN201 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.

 

* For a visual representation of the piano in each finish, please refer to the Gallery function at the top of this page.
* Cabinet finish availability dependent on market location.

DIMENSIONS

   

DIMENSIONS

CN201

SPECIFICATIONS

 

SPECIFICATIONS

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
Sound
Piano Sound ・ Progressive Harmonic Imaging (PHI)
 - 88-key stereo sampling
 - SK-EX, EX, K-60 recording
 - 192 note maximum polyphony
Piano Resonance - Damper Resonance
- String Resonance
Piano Adjustment ・Virtual Technician (18 parameters, via PianoRemote app)
 - Touch Curve
 - Voicing
 - Damper Resonance
 - Damper Noise
 - String Resonance
 - Key-off Effect
 - Fall-back Noise
 - Hammer Delay
 - Topboard
 - Decay Time
 - Release Time
 - Minimum Touch
 - Stretch Tuning
 - Temperament
 - Temperament Key
 - User Key Volume
 - Half-Pedal Adjust
 - Soft Pedal Depth

・Virtual Technician Smart Mode (10 presets)
No. of Sounds 19 voices
Reverb 6 types
Brilliance
Other Effects -
Output System
Speakers 12 cm x 2 (full-range speakers)
Output Power 40 W (20 W x 2)
Headphone Enhancements Spatial Headphone Sound
Headphone Type
Design
Display 128 x 128 pixel OLED
Key Cover Sliding type
Music Rest Collapsible type (3 angle adjustability)
Product
Size & Weight
Width 136 cm (53 1/2")
Depth 40.5 cm (16")
Height 86 cm (34") [music rest flat]
102 cm (40 1/4") [music rest raised]
Net Weight 43 kg (95 lbs.)
Packing
Size & Weight
Dimensions 147 (W) x 60.5 (D) x 37.5 (H) cm (without bench)
158 (W) x 55.5 (D) x 51.5 (H) cm (with bench)
Gross Weight 52 kg (without bench)
59 kg (with bench)
Available Finishes Premium Satin Black (CN201B)
Premium Satin White (CN201W)
Premium Rosewood (CN201R)
Functions
Basic Functions Dual
Four Hands
Transpose
Tuning
Startup Setting
Low Volume Balance
Internal Songs Sound Demo 19 songs
Piano Music -
Concert Magic 40 songs
Lesson Songs Burgmüller 25 (25 Etudes Faciles, Opus 100)
Czerny 30 (Etudes de Mécanisme, Opus 849)
Beyer 106 (Vorschule im Klavierspiel, Opus 101)
Chopin Walzer (Chopin waltzes series 1-19)
Alfred’s Basic Piano Library Lesson Book Level 1A
Alfred’s Basic Piano Library Lesson Book Level 1B
Internal Recorder Total Memory approximately 10,000 notes
No. of Songs 3 songs
Parts 1 part
Metronome Time Signatures 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 3/8, 6/8
Drum Rhythms -
External Connectivity
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 -
Other Functions -
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 -
Line In -
USB to Host
USB to Device -
Others -
Power Supply
Power Consumption † 12 W
Included Accessories
Power Power cable
AC adaptor (PS-154)
Bench Fixed-height or height-adjustable bench *
Headphones Headphone hook
Sheet Music -
Others Warranty Card *
Owner's Manual

* Depending on market location.  |  † Power consumption information. Specifications are subject to change without notice.