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Joined: Oct 2020
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I have been playing on a Yamaha YDP-181 for a few years, recently I was planning to upgrade my digital piano to something better, I did some research and decided on Kawai for their realistic piano keyboard.
The CA59 was within the price range I was after so I went to a piano shop to try it out. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the CA59 but they do have the CA49, CA79 and CA99. The shop assistant showed me the 49 and 79 and let me tried them - I played them both for about an hour and I can easily tell the 79 is superior to the 49. I didn’t like the matte keys on the 49 and the artificial sound it produced. The high notes are particularly jarring, with a bell-like sharpness that’s unlike a piano. The 79 is much more realistic in the touch of the keyboard and sounds louder and more authentic. So I thought, I may have to spend a little more to buy this CA79. I haven’t tried the CA59 but now my heart is set on the 79.
The shop assistant came over and after chatting for a while he told me to try the CA99 as well. I did - and unfortunately (or fortunately) there’s no going back, now I want the 99! This is the first digital piano that made me feel like I am playing a real acoustic piano. The realism is due to the subtle vibrations you feel in the keys, you can literally feel the steel strings vibrating when you are playing! I actually thought they added haptic vibrations to each of the keys, but I think it has to do with the soundboard. The bass keys are especially impressive. (Btw, this piano feels like a grand piano, not an upright.)
So after spending 2 hours in the shop, I am leaning towards the CA99 - CA59 is long forgotten. Do you think it is a good decision? I am getting the non polished model, which is cheaper and looks better in my opinion.
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Joined: Sep 2009
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Hi Piayes. Your experience bears out an old maxim: You can only truly know from your own experience, and not from descriptions given by others.
"Seeing is believing" should be restated as "trying is believing".
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Joined: Aug 2018
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The CA 99 seems to be where your heart lies so it is a good decision if you go ahead with it and other people's opinions are not really needed anymore
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Joined: Apr 2020
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Why not try the NV10 too - your hearth will probably be set on it.
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I would go back and try it again, now that the wow has perhaps slightly faded and you can be more objective. It might not change your mind of course, and the salesman will know he has the advantage if any bargaining starts.
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Joined: Sep 2007
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Hello Piayes, welcome to the forum! Do you think it is a good decision? I am getting the non polished model, which is cheaper and looks better in my opinion. If you like the piano, and its price is within your budget, I believe you have made a good decision. Personally, I prefer the classic look of the ebony polish finish - especially on the CA99. Kind regards, James x
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Why not try the NV10 too - your hearth will probably be set on it. Maybe I should.... lol but in terms the price and performance ratio, I think CA99 is better. Also I live in an apartment with limited space, so NV10 probably won’t fit. I think that after getting the CA99, the next upgrade path will be the NV series. I don’t think there’s anything better, or is there?
Last edited by Piayes; 10/26/20 01:25 AM.
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Personally, I prefer the classic look of the ebony polish finish - especially on the CA99.
Kind regards, James x The polished look is classic piano style, I can see why most people prefer it. The matte look blends in well with modern IKEA furnishings, that’s why I like it.
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Joined: Oct 2020
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Hi Piayes. Your experience bears out an old maxim: You can only truly know from your own experience, and not from descriptions given by others.
"Seeing is believing" should be restated as "trying is believing". That’s true, I have been reading a lot about how there’s very few differences between the CA79 and CA99. If you compared them with their spec sheets, you may think that’s the case, until you tried them out then you realized it’s not!
Last edited by Piayes; 10/26/20 01:37 AM.
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Joined: Oct 2019
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I think that after getting the CA99, the next upgrade path will be the NV series. I don’t think there’s anything better, or is there? Erhm, in this budget range, have you considered an acoustic piano?
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Erhm, in this budget range, have you considered an acoustic piano? I would if I could! I live in an apartment building, and I like to play at night. I used to live at another apartment building and I had an acoustic piano. The neighbour would banged on the wall every time I practised, even during the day. One time, he knock on my door and told me to stop playing because he needs to sleep (at 3pm).
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Joined: Oct 2019
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Okay, understood. Then even hybrid and "silent" acoustic actions may make too much percussive noise.
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Joined: Dec 2020
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There are a lot of reported errors for the CA79 and CA99 in the "Kawai CA79 / CA99 owners club" thread, especially user interface bugs and sound issues (buzzing/rattling/hissing). I would like to know whether anybody has problems with their CA49 or CA59, or are these models bug free?
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Joined: Oct 2011
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I have been playing on a Yamaha YDP-181 for a few years, recently I was planning to upgrade my digital piano to something better, I did some research and decided on Kawai for their realistic piano keyboard.
The CA59 was within the price range I was after so I went to a piano shop to try it out. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the CA59 but they do have the CA49, CA79 and CA99. The shop assistant showed me the 49 and 79 and let me tried them - I played them both for about an hour and I can easily tell the 79 is superior to the 49. I didn’t like the matte keys on the 49 and the artificial sound it produced. The high notes are particularly jarring, with a bell-like sharpness that’s unlike a piano. The 79 is much more realistic in the touch of the keyboard and sounds louder and more authentic. So I thought, I may have to spend a little more to buy this CA79. I haven’t tried the CA59 but now my heart is set on the 79.
The shop assistant came over and after chatting for a while he told me to try the CA99 as well. I did - and unfortunately (or fortunately) there’s no going back, now I want the 99! This is the first digital piano that made me feel like I am playing a real acoustic piano. The realism is due to the subtle vibrations you feel in the keys, you can literally feel the steel strings vibrating when you are playing! I actually thought they added haptic vibrations to each of the keys, but I think it has to do with the soundboard. The bass keys are especially impressive. (Btw, this piano feels like a grand piano, not an upright.)
So after spending 2 hours in the shop, I am leaning towards the CA99 - CA59 is long forgotten. Do you think it is a good decision? I am getting the non polished model, which is cheaper and looks better in my opinion. It's interesting how different we all are. I was biased towards the 99 myself since i was coming from a grand to digital. But after two visits to the store, i picked the 79 instead. Looks like you find your perfect match on the 99 so I say, go for it! )
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Joined: Nov 2020
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There are a lot of reported errors for the CA79 and CA99 in the "Kawai CA79 / CA99 owners club" thread, especially user interface bugs and sound issues (buzzing/rattling/hissing). I would like to know whether anybody has problems with their CA49 or CA59, or are these models bug free? I had to return my CA59 because on the low volume, volume level was changing randomly resulting in „breaking/uneven” tone. Also checked other CA59 in the shop and it had the same issue. I got CA79 instead and I don’t have any of the issues described on this forum.
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Joined: Jan 2020
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I am the same as above as in mziel- overall the 79 for me and no issues that have been reported - EB finish ca79 rather then the 99 flat for my money - yes the gimmick of the controller is there on all of them unfortunately but once you get your sound you cease to keep playing with it and play the ivories in stead. you have done all the right things and not to mention busting the budget but at least you can see the difference and decide if the extra is worth it - Have tried the CA59 just before trying the new ca's whe they arrived and to be honest I would have not bought it in any instance
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Joined: May 2020
Posts: 1,106
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There are a lot of reported errors for the CA79 and CA99 in the "Kawai CA79 / CA99 owners club" thread, especially user interface bugs and sound issues (buzzing/rattling/hissing). I would like to know whether anybody has problems with their CA49 or CA59, or are these models bug free? Have you been around acoustic pianos much , they got plenty of bugs , real bugs sometimes, but also buzzing, variable buzzing with the season, and the action goes out of regulation.
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Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 59
Full Member
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There are a lot of reported errors for the CA79 and CA99 in the "Kawai CA79 / CA99 owners club" thread, especially user interface bugs and sound issues (buzzing/rattling/hissing). I would like to know whether anybody has problems with their CA49 or CA59, or are these models bug free? Have you been around acoustic pianos much , they got plenty of bugs , real bugs sometimes, but also buzzing, variable buzzing with the season, and the action goes out of regulation. No excuse, since a lot less quality issues are reported with Yamaha...if you go through 90 pages of CA99/CA79 thread almost everyone complain..if you go through 75 pages long thread od Yamaha clp700 series...I did not find 1 single quality complain, but could have overlooked something.
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Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 16
Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 16 |
There are a lot of reported errors for the CA79 and CA99 in the "Kawai CA79 / CA99 owners club" thread, especially user interface bugs and sound issues (buzzing/rattling/hissing). I would like to know whether anybody has problems with their CA49 or CA59, or are these models bug free? Have you been around acoustic pianos much , No they got plenty of bugs , real bugs sometimes, but also buzzing, variable buzzing with the season, and the action goes out of regulation. I would also take reports of such issues from other owners into consideration, when choosing an acoustic piano.
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Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 16
Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 16 |
There are a lot of reported errors for the CA79 and CA99 in the "Kawai CA79 / CA99 owners club" thread, especially user interface bugs and sound issues (buzzing/rattling/hissing). I would like to know whether anybody has problems with their CA49 or CA59, or are these models bug free? Have you been around acoustic pianos much , they got plenty of bugs , real bugs sometimes, but also buzzing, variable buzzing with the season, and the action goes out of regulation. No excuse, since a lot less quality issues are reported with Yamaha...if you go through 90 pages of CA99/CA79 thread almost everyone complain..if you go through 75 pages long thread od Yamaha clp700 series...I did not find 1 single quality complain, but could have overlooked something. I have the same impression. I have read quite often the argument, that mainly people with problems with their instrument give feedback in the forum and people with error free instruments do not report. This is true. But this aplies to all models and manufacturers. Also, the advise, to try the instrument in the store, is given quite often in this forum. I agree that trying in the store is very important, but maybe the impression of this few hours in the store does not correspond 100% to how happy somebody is with his instrument over the next years. So for example, in direct comparison in the store, one instrument wins, but the customer is happier with the other instrument over the next years in his home, where no direct comparison to the first instrument exists, but where he may experience additional limitations/bugs with the first instrument. Of course, he will not know in advance, but the reports of other customers can give an additional indication. Please do not misunderstand me. I think there are a lot of positive aspects of the Kawai CA series (which are reported and dicussed extensively in this forum), but when I read the reports of the current and previous generation CA models compared to other manufacturers, I think Kawai should test their products much more internally "before" releasing the product.
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