The Kawai CA401 vs CA701 question comes up for anyone shopping for a wooden-key digital piano for home and wondering whether the step up to the larger model is worth the extra cost. Both belong to Kawai s Concert Artist series, both have a genuine wooden keyboard, and both share the same goal: to bring the touch and sound of an acoustic grand into an instrument that fits a living room.
The difference is in the details, and that is exactly where it is decided which one is right for you. In this comparison we walk through the four things that truly matter: the keyboard, the sound engine, the speaker system and the feature set. By the end you will know who the CA-401 is enough for and when the step up to the CA-701 pays off.
The entry into the wooden-key class
Ideal for: Beginners and returning players who want genuine wooden keys and Kawai grand sound at the lowest price in the series.
See all Digitalpianos →More keyboard, more sound, more features
Ideal for: Advanced and demanding players who want the all-wood keyboard, the larger speaker system and the full feature set.
See all Digitalpianos →01The keyboard: Grand Feel Compact vs Grand Feel III
The biggest tangible difference sits under your fingers. The Kawai Digitalpiano CA-401 uses the Grand Feel Compact wooden keyboard. The keys have a genuine wooden core and graded hammer weighting that is heavier in the bass and lighter in the treble, just like an acoustic piano. As an entry into the wooden-key world, that is a very solid foundation.
The Kawai Digitalpiano CA-701 goes a step further with the Grand Feel III keyboard. Its keys are longer, which brings the pivot point closer to a grand piano, especially when you play further back on the keys. On top of that come key surfaces in synthetic ivory and ebony that absorb moisture and stay grippy even during long practice sessions. Anyone playing a technically demanding repertoire, or coming from an acoustic piano, will feel that difference.
02Sound engine: shared foundation, different depth
Both models use SK-EX Rendering, Kawai s sound engine based on the SK-EX Concert Grand, a hand-built concert grand piano. That is why even the CA-401 sounds surprisingly grown-up: the core sound comes from the same source as the top model.
The CA-701 draws more deeply from this engine. It offers more tones and additional sample sets, leaving more room to tune the sound to the room and your own taste. In everyday practice the difference is subtle; in focused playing through headphones or the speakers it becomes audible.
03Speakers: how big can the room be?
This is where the living room parts ways with the music room. The CA-401 has a solid speaker system that fills a normal room with ease and is more than enough for most homes.
The CA-701 introduces a larger, multi-channel speaker system with stronger bass and clearer treble. In larger or more reverberant rooms, when playing along with accompaniment, or simply for a fuller sound experience without headphones, this is the most audible part of the extra cost. If you mostly practise through headphones, you will weight this point less.
04Features and operation
The CA-701 brings more functions and tones and is operated via an OLED display that makes menu navigation clearer. Recording, learning and sound-editing functions are more extensive. The CA-401 focuses on the essentials and is therefore very simple to operate, which many beginners appreciate.
If you mainly use the instrument to practise and play, the CA-401 will take you far. If you want to push the feature set, record and experiment, the CA-701 is the better-suited tool. Neither model stands alone in the series: above them sit the Kawai Digitalpiano CA 501 and the Kawai Digitalpiano CA 901, if you want to compare the whole Concert Artist line.
| Feature | CA-401 | CA-701 |
|---|---|---|
| Keyboard | Grand Feel Compact, wooden core | Grand Feel III, all-wood, longer keys |
| Key surface | Plastic | Synthetic ivory and ebony |
| Sound engine | SK-EX Rendering | SK-EX Rendering, more sample sets |
| Tones | Solid core selection | Expanded selection |
| Speakers | Solid system for the living room | Larger multi-channel system |
| Display | Compact display | OLED display |
| Price | from approx. 1,800 EUR | from approx. 2,600 EUR |
| Ideal for | Beginners, returning players | Advanced, demanding players |
In short: the CA-401 is the honest entry into Kawai s wooden-key class and more than enough for most homes. The CA-701 justifies its extra cost through the all-wood keyboard, the stronger speaker system and the broader feature set, that is, wherever touch and sound in the room make the difference.
Frequently asked questions
Is the step up from the CA-401 to the CA-701 worth it?
Do both models have genuine wooden keys?
Does the CA-401 sound worse than the CA-701?
Which model is better for beginners?
How big should the room be for the CA-701?
Ready for the Concert Artist series?
Take your time exploring both models and the full digital piano range.
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