The Kawai CN series is Kawai's slim entry-level range for the living room: concert-grand sound and a weighted hammer action in a compact cabinet that sits below the larger CA series. The question almost every buyer asks: the Kawai CN301, or the more affordable CN-201?
Both share the essentials – the Responsive Hammer III keyboard action and the SK-EX concert-grand sampling. The differences lie in the sound detail, the speaker system and the connectivity. This article sets out what separates the two models, and where the line upward to the CA series runs.
The slim entry point
Ideal for: Beginners and returning players who want a full hammer-action piano for practising at home, without paying extra for studio connectivity.
See all Digitalpianos →More sound, more connectivity
Ideal for: Players who want a full speaker system, audio recording and line connections, and who plan to keep the instrument for the long term.
See all Digitalpianos →01What defines the CN series
The CN series is Kawai's home digital piano range for stepping up to a weighted keyboard. At its heart is the Responsive Hammer III (RHIII) action – a hammer action with graded weighting that plays heavier in the bass and lighter in the treble, just like an acoustic piano. Counterweights embedded in the keys provide a balanced touch, and the current generation runs more quietly as well.
In terms of sound, both models draw on sampling of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand – the hand-built flagship from Kawai's concert range. Add Bluetooth for MIDI and audio, USB-MIDI and a slim cabinet in satin black, white and rosewood finishes. The display is an OLED panel set into the cheekblock beside the keys.
02CN-201 vs CN-301: the differences
The keyboard action is identical on both models (RHIII), as is the SK-EX sampling at the core. The models part ways on the sound engine, the speaker system and the connectivity.
The Kawai Digitalpiano CN 201 offers 19 instrument voices and 192-note polyphony. The Kawai Digitalpiano CN 301 goes further: additional grand pianos (SK-5 and Kawai EX) alongside the SK-EX, 21 voices and 256-note polyphony. The speaker difference is audible – the CN-301 has a redesigned four-speaker system with diffuser panels that project the sound more widely into the room. Also relevant in practice are the line connections: the CN-301 has Audio In and Audio Out (for connecting an amplifier or PA) plus an MP3/WAV audio recorder and a 16-track MIDI recorder; the CN-201 has neither.
| Feature | CN-201 | CN-301 |
|---|---|---|
| Keyboard action | Responsive Hammer III | Responsive Hammer III |
| Sound engine | SK-EX sampling | SK-EX + SK-5 + Kawai EX |
| Instrument voices | 19 | 21 |
| Polyphony | 192-note | 256-note |
| Speakers | 2-way system | 4-way system with diffusers |
| Audio In / Out | no | yes |
| Audio recorder (MP3/WAV) | no | yes |
| Bluetooth MIDI & Audio | yes | yes |
| Finishes | Black / white / rosewood | Black / white / rosewood |
03Which model for whom
The CN-201 is the right choice when the piano is mainly for practising at home and budget is the priority. The hammer action and concert-grand sound are fully present – if you don't need line connections or audio recording, you get the essentials here.
The CN-301 pays off when the sound needs more volume in the room, when you want to record or connect to an amplifier, or when the instrument should grow with you over years. The larger speaker system and the connections are the core of the price difference – not the keyboard action, which is the same on both.
04The line upward: the CA series
Above the CN series sits Kawai's CA series (Concert Artist). The central difference is the keyboard: the CA models use a wooden-key action (Grand Feel) with longer key levers that come closer to the feel of a grand piano. Add a larger, more resonant cabinet and – depending on the model – more elaborate speaker systems.
If you're after the wooden-key feel and a touch closer to a grand, look at the Kawai Digitalpiano CA-401 or the Kawai Digitalpiano CA 501. The CN series remains the slimmer, more affordable range with a plastic hammer action – for many players exactly the right balance of touch, sound and price. All models are listed in the Digitalpianos overview.
In short: if you want a slim home digital piano with a full hammer action for practising, the CN-201 serves you well. If you want more sound volume, recording and connectivity, go for the CN-301. For wooden keys and a touch closer to a grand piano, the CA series takes over above.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between the Kawai CN201 and CN301?
Does the Kawai CN301 have a wooden keyboard?
Is the Kawai CN series suitable for beginners?
Can I connect the CN models to a tablet via Bluetooth?
Explore the Kawai CN series
Compare the CN-201 and CN-301 with the other home digital pianos and find the model that suits your playing.
See all digital pianosThe Kawai CN-301 in detailPassende Produkte
