Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Kawai CA98 vs. CA99 (aka upgrade-itis)

Greetings!

I’m a very happy owner of a CA98, An intermediate player who enjoys this piano very much. That said, I’m curious about people that have had a chance to play both the CA98 and CA99. I’ve read a lot about the CA99, and it has some nice features. Just haven’t had a chance to play one, not able to find any locally around here.

I will retire in a few years, trying to see if it makes sense to even consider selling the CA98 and go for the CA99.

Bonus question: Anybody here move up from a CA98/99 to a higher range digital? What did you get?

Thanks and hope you’re doing well!

Tom

No need to bother with getting a CA99 when you already have the 98. Next step for you is the Novus and even then the only upgrade you're getting with it is in the keyboard and pedal action, although those can be viewed as a major upgrade.

Well I prefer GFIII when I tested the CA78, 98, 79 and 99 among others. But is it going to be a big improvement in terms of touch and sound system to you? There are other tweaks to the sound rendering engine as well...but unfortunately, only you can tell if those changes are enough of an upgrade. For me, I picked the CA79 as my favorite in the end. I have not heard a NV10 sadly as my ONLY local dealer says they dont feel they have a market for it (would help if their prices were not the highest in all USA!) but that or a Yamaha Nx would be the ones I would likely look at as bigger upgrades in the distant future (or whatever is on that level in a few years).

Interesting question. Usually there would be no point of upgrading just one generation. Here it's new keybed, I don't know if it feel different, and in case of CA98 to 99 a new design and look. I think it looks much better but a disadvantage is that you would have to always remove the sheets to close the lid.
But when you sit on an older one? I have a CA65. Which would make most sense, look at the CA99/79 or instead try to just upgrade the sound? A Surface tablet (is that good enough for a VST) and a VST piano like Garritan or perhaps the HW module form Dexibell. Of course a SW solusion would have to be ready in about the same time as the Kawai. I would guess the cost would be more than half of a CA79. But it could be used for other things as pianoteq and some other SW:s to.

The GFIII is a compelling upgrade for new buyers due to the improved industrial design for reliability.

But if I were in your shoes, I too would save up for a bigger upgrade to a Novus or AvantGrand. Then you only have to sell-trade in one digital piano, potentially saving some time, delivery fees, and depreciation cost.

Appreciate the thoughts!

I have also been thinking of the NV line, want to try that out. Having grown up with synth keyboards, the CA98 is a great step towards a much better keyboard experience.

Interesting thought about Pianoteq. I do use that sometimes, and love it. I run the line out into the audio in of the CA 98 to use it built speakers, sounds great. I’ve always thought the genius move is a piano manufacturer to come up with some way to introduce some ability to take a software piano like Pianoteq and just upload it to to the piano. I know it’s technically possible, c’mon it’s the 2000’s :-)

Tom

Dnt know why my post is lost. Yes, Ptq is very nice on CA98, due to the soundboard spk. Try to morphing the C.Graf with Steinway B in ratio of 7:3 on Ptq7, you can get more acousticise feeling.
Im waiting to upgrade my CA98 with NV20 or GX1Aures in the future.

I would also save up for the Novus (or Avant Grand) line - IF you are interested in a more acoustic-like action.

In fact I'm doing just that, waiting for an NV20 release (come on Kawai, we've been good all year long🎄😇). I personally don't see an upgrade to anything non-hybrid as worth the money (especially between ca98 and ca99), but that's because I'm mostly interested in the action.

I guess some people can work magic ... because I've never seen a piano that I was able to upgrade. Short of redesigning the inner workings ... how could you possibly upgrade one?