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Here's some new product information that may be of interest:
Quote
Kawai Japan is delighted to announce the CA99 and CA79, the latest high-performance additions to the popular Concert Artist series of premium digital pianos, and successors to the highly regarded CA98 and CA78.
New Features & Improvements(compared to CA98/CA78)
CA99/CA79 - NEW: Grand Feel III wooden key keyboard action with Ivory & Ebony Touch key surfaces - NEW: Updated LCD touchscreen UI with sister Piano Remote control app for iOS/Android - NEW: Authentic new electric piano, organ, harpsichord, strings, and bass sounds - NEW: Stunning contemporary upright piano cabinet design with Soft Fall fallboard system (CA99) - IMPROVED: SK-EX Rendering sound engine with multi-channel piano sampling - IMPROVED: Virtual Technician function with 21 adjustable parameters - IMPROVED: Powerful speaker system with new 360° speaker diffuser panels - IMPROVED: Integrated Bluetooth® MIDI and audio connectivity, with aptX support - IMPROVED: Enhanced Touch Curve setting with 10 selectable touch presets - IMPROVED: Updated cabinet design with rounded details and modern character (CA79)
very cool! I bought a CA 98 just about 2 weeks ago as you know, however seeing that it's not a DRASTIC change (for me) I am super happy still with my purchase!
I am curious what the how different the GF3 will be compared to the GF2
@James: Does the CA 99 have the same speakers as the CA98 ?
I am curious what the how different the GF3 will be compared to the GF2
Please compare the two action images:
The GFIII action offers the following changes/improvements over GFII:
- Revised hammer trigger mechanism, replacing the capstan screw and slip tape with an actuator This is similar to the system introduced with the Grand Feel Compact action, and improves the responsiveness and consistency of the action.
- Revised hammer cushion structure This is difficult to see in the reference image above, however the composition of the hammer cushion has been changed. This results in a firmer key stop feeling, and also a slightly faster key return.
- Revised let-off construction This is also a little difficult to see in the reference image above, however the let-off mechanism and structure has been improved. This results in a more stable let-off feeling across the length of the keyboard.
There are various other tweaks and improvements to the action, however I believe these will be most noticeable to players.
Android version of the piano technician is welcome. Will the android version also work with the previous (current) generation of pianos that support the piano technician?
If you think about it, the CA99 is actually not the "real" successor of the C98, but instead is a "CS13", only with a different name.
In the CA65/95 generation, there were two matching CS models, that had the same tech as the CAs but with a different cabinet: The CS7 matched the CA65, the CS10 matched the CA95.
In the CA67/97 generation, we had the same pattern: The CS8 matched the CA67, the CS11 matched the CA97.
In the CA78/98 generation, there never was such a matching pair of CS models. There never were any CS models with the same tech as the CA78/98's, but with different cabinets (instead, you could get the CA78/98's themselves with a polished ebony finish). So essentially, there never were the corresponding CS9/CS12 models. But if there had been those models, then the CS12 would have had the tech of the CA98, only with a different cabinet.
Now comes the CA79/CA99 generation. And in that generation, there is no longer any room for the CS models. A CS11 successor that would have the same tech as the CA99 only with a different cabinet is pointless, because the CA99 already has this different cabinet itself! And a CS8 successor that has the same tech as the CA79 only with a PE cabinet, is also pointless, because the CA79 already is available with PE.
So essentially, the CA99 is, what the CS13 would have been, if the pattern from the CA65/95/CS7/10 and CA67/97/CS8/11 generations had been repeated in the CA78/98 and now the CA79/99 generations.
So you could say, that the CA99 actually is the CS13, i.e. the successor to a never released CS12. And the CA98 itself does not have a direct successor.
I would be pissed off so hard if i had bought the CA-98 or CA-78 in the last 4 weeks.
Kawai: NV5 | Yamaha: CLP-745R Pianoteq 7 Pro | Garritan CFX Full | Vienna Imperial | Keyscape Full | Ravenscroft 275 - Modern U - Model D - AG | Minigrand | The Oeser
I would be pissed off so hard if i had bought the CA-98 or CA-78 in the last 4 weeks.
Having just bought a CA78: Hardly. The highlight is the GFIII keys. The other upgrades are negligible.
I chose this DP specifically after trying several kawai's, rolands and yamahas in our store. It's key action is one of the major things that made me pick Kawai. That doesn't get invalidated because there are small mechanic differences in the new version.
Would get one if it came apart into 2 main pieces in case you wanted to build it yourself or disassembled for any other reason... You're forced to have it in one large 80kg chunk! Because of that soundboard I'm guessing. What good is this if you buy online? They won't build it for you and deliver it in one piece many of them...
Would get one if it came apart into 2 main pieces in case you wanted to build it yourself or disassembled for any other reason... You're forced to have it in one large 80kg chunk! Because of that soundboard I'm guessing. What good is this if you buy online? They won't build it for you and deliver it in one piece many of them...
I don’t understand what you mean with the last part? Of course you can order it online. And of course they won’t build it for you (if by „they“ you mean the seller). That’s because Kawai already built it in one piece in their factory. So of course the online shop will simply ship this big box from Kawai on to you, with the already assembled piano inside. That’s nothing, compared to shipping acoustic pianos.
but looking at the manual of the CA99 (available in German here https://www.kawai.de/service/ca99_79.pdf , I can´t find the english version yet) the most important feature of a lot of Kawai e-pianos (at least for me) is missing now: One can´t adjust the volume and voicing of individual keys. This is possible on most other kawai models and of course on the CA98/97/68/78,NV10,NV5,MP11SE.. I used this feature very much to compensate for littte mechanical differences in midi values (propably unavoidable) between keys, room acoustics, properties of loudspeaker systems etc. This is very important for me and what a see from previous postings on former Kawai models a lot of other people used this feature also. This was (at least for me) the most important advantage of Kawai (besides the good action) with respect to Yamaha. Now its gone. Very sad.
What are you thinking? Am I missing something?
Daniel
Last edited by danielp11; 01/16/2005:29 AM.
KAWAI CS11 (sold KAWAI CA 97), KAWAI GX2 acoustic grand piano (sold SCHIMMEL acoustic upright)
If you think about it, the CA99 is actually not the "real" successor of the C98, but instead is a "CS13", only with a different name.
In the CA65/95 generation, there were two matching CS models, that had the same tech as the CAs but with a different cabinet: The CS7 matched the CA65, the CS10 matched the CA95.
In the CA67/97 generation, we had the same pattern: The CS8 matched the CA67, the CS11 matched the CA97.
In the CA78/98 generation, there never was such a matching pair of CS models. There never were any CS models with the same tech as the CA78/98's, but with different cabinets (instead, you could get the CA78/98's themselves with a polished ebony finish). So essentially, there never were the corresponding CS9/CS12 models. But if there had been those models, then the CS12 would have had the tech of the CA98, only with a different cabinet.
Now comes the CA79/CA99 generation. And in that generation, there is no longer any room for the CS models. A CS11 successor that would have the same tech as the CA99 only with a different cabinet is pointless, because the CA99 already has this different cabinet itself! And a CS8 successor that has the same tech as the CA79 only with a PE cabinet, is also pointless, because the CA79 already is available with PE.
So essentially, the CA99 is, what the CS13 would have been, if the pattern from the CA65/95/CS7/10 and CA67/97/CS8/11 generations had been repeated in the CA78/98 and now the CA79/99 generations.
So you could say, that the CA99 actually is the CS13, i.e. the successor to a never released CS12. And the CA98 itself does not have a direct successor.
I guess the introduction of the NV5 reduced the need for the CS-line. I'm a little sad though that the CA 99 has an upright cabinet instead of the more traditional DP cabinet of the CA 98. I liked that Kawai had a top-of-the-line piano in a traditional cabinet. Looks aside, it's sometimes a more practical design as a "work bench" with the note stand in a proper height and a surface to put the laptop/screen on. I feel the same about the Yamaha CLP-685. I would love a 685 in a 675 cabinet.
Last edited by johanibraaten; 01/16/2005:34 AM.
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