Hi,

Since I first got this piano I have heard some sort of noise and crackling in the background when playing. Usually I use headphones most of the time and I was sure this noise was created by these headphones (Sennheiser HD595). They are good, price is about 180 EUR. However, since they aren't the best you can get on the market, I thought they were not good enought for this purpose.

Last week I had a friend on visit. He owns a pair of Sennheiser HD650 (price about 330 EUR) and of course he took them with him so that we could try. We were very surprised when we understood that the crackling noise was obvious also in these headphones. We started to suspect that the piano itself created this issue so we tried to play without headphones, then it was totally obvious, the piano was guilty.

Now I need to explain when this issue occurs and what it sounds like. First I can say that, with headphones, the problem has only occured in the right headphone so far, the same thing happens when playing with the built in speakers. Tonal range that features this issue - mainly below middle C (bass). What it sounds like - briefly as a cracked speaker with some sort of background noise (the same phenomena as for a speaker on highest volume without any audio played, just the self created background noise). I have made the upgrade available on Kawai.de so this can't be the problem. It doesn't depend on the number of tones played either, in other words - not a polyphonic issue. More obvious when playing forte or more, very obvious with sustain pedal and combination of several tones (chords for example)

Has anybody faced this problem?

/Andrée

Hi Andree,

Any chance of an uploaded mp3 of the issue? Also, can you tell us the steps to exactly re-create it and I will see if I can do the same on my CA63? e.g. if using the Concert Grand, what volume, reasonance settings, etc.

I haven't been aware of any background hissing, either when using my CA63 at 4/5ths volume or using my beyerdynamic dt770s

Andy

I would not have suspeced the headphone. Headphones, even cheap one don't have that problem.

From your description I think it is a problem with the audio amplifier. When it happens only on one side then deffinitly, something is broken. Could be as simple as no thermal contact between the amp and its heat sink so the thermal shut down in the chip kicks in. That would be just a loose screw. But of course that is a guess and a dozen other things could be the cause. I any case it would be a warranty issue and it's one side of the audio amp that has a problem

I have heard similar when listening to a rubbish recording. For example when listening to a Sex Pistols CD through a £300 cd player. - I deliberately bought a cheaper cd player so that my rubbish recordings didn't sound terrible :o).

Though that tends to be on both the right and left channels. And I suspect Kawai recordings are quite good. Since you are only hearing the problem on one channel I agree with ChrisA its more likely to be a dodgy amplifier.

Andy

You will not believe this. I have now made a more detailed testing and here we have the result.

The crackling noise associated to the built in speaker was actually natural vibrations and I think I have found the place where the board vibrates. The crackling noise related to the headphones was a vibrating part as well and this means that, due to our test of two different models in the Sennheiser range, this must be a construction issue not intended for this kind of use. When the vibrating part was located (and held in place with pressure) I could increase the volume to the maximum value without hearing any crackling at all.

I'm very glad this was not caused by the piano, Sennheiser is the part to blame. KAWAI is the king of DP:s

/Andrée

Andree, I'm obviously glad to hear that there are no problems with your CA63.

It may be worth pointing out that there is actually an option in the 'Basic Settings' menu intended for adjusting the maximum volume of the instrument when using headphones.

To quote pp.50 of the owner's manual:



I'm wondering if you may have inadvertently changed this option to 'High', thus resulting in the crackling/distorted headphones?

Cheers,
James
x

No, I haven't change this setting, it's still in default mode. I want to point out once again - there are no problems with the piano

Andree,



Okay, well it was worth mentioning just in case.



Thank you for clarifying this. However, I suspect we will still see a number of posts in future from individuals that "have read about all these crackling noise problems with the new KAWAIs..." - this is just the nature of internet forums, unfortunately.

I wonder if editing this topic's title would be sufficient to prevent such incorrect information being picked-up by Google's search bots?

Cheers,
James
x

How about "Authentic, non-looping Crackling Sounds available in New Kawai's" ?

Or just "Crackling noise in KAWAI CA63 caused by faulty headphones"?

Cheers,
James
x

I don't think it's possible to edit the title, unfortunately. If I'm wrong, tell me how to do it and I will do it immediately

A Moderator can help you with any kind of edits. Best.

Thanks, the title has now been changed

Thank you Andrée.

Cheers,
James
x

Andrée - I am also noticing a vibrating noise from my dp when it is at 3/4 to full volume. How did you hunt down where the vibration was coming from? I have tried removing everything (my lamp, music, etc) from the dp but it didn't make any difference...

Your help would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Andy T

AndyT, I haven't solved the vibration problem caused by the internal speakers, I have only located the vibrating part (the metallic piece below the lower speakers).

/Andrée

Did you have to take the dp apart to find it?
Andy

No, since it is the metallic part beneath the speaker it is enough to hold it with your hand. With this test most of the vibrations are eliminated, so the crackling noise.

How many people have confirmed that problem on their CA63-s? I mean, is this a global problem with the design of the speaker system?

I am not sure the current title reflects the situation described. As it seems two different pianos have problems with their speaker housings and/or cabinets vibrating which is obviously not a result of faulty headphones. I really need more information on that topic since I am very close to ordering a new digital piano soon and CA-63 is currently no.1 in my list and since I can only order it without testing it plus the fact Kawai are not popular in Bulgaria (hence doubtful servicing) would make me change my mind.

I own a CA63 and don't have any problems with my speaker system (even on full volume).

AndyT, Andrée and mucci, just wondering: did the music store perform the final assembly and testing of the CA63 or was it DIY?

I did it myself. But it's just like putting 4-5 parts together, everyone can do this. The keyboard itself including the loudspeaker box is one big piece, IMHO you can't do anything wrong.

Then of course I did the "final" testing myself and promptly discovered 2 keys that were not as smooth and rapidly repeating than the others. I got an official KAWAI technician getting it fixed quickly. It was the first time he was disassembling a CA63 keyboard and was very curious, telling me afterwards it was quite different from the former CA51/71/91 model. It looked great and long lasting...

CyberGene,

I can understand why you're confused when we are talking about crackling noise caused by the internal speakers at the same time as the title says it is caused by faulty headphones. It is, in fact, a problem that occurs in both but I can't understand the link between them. One explanation would be the relatively intensive bass which is quite obvious in this piano. The intensive bass is perhaps more intensive than the headphones can manage and therefore parts are starting to vibrate. However, I don't think the same explanation is apply-able to the issue with the internal speakers, this is probably caused by natural vibration in the material used. I would not say that the issue with the internal speaker is a problem however, it is much worse in the headphones.

I think you can buy the CA63 even though we have noticed this and still be very satisfied, I am. Mucci on the other hand has not noticed it, buy it and be proud of it

/Andrée

I didn't notice any issues with the CA63 I tested at higher volumes (I just prefer the soundboard and speaker layout of the CA93) ...and the headphones issue seems to be rather specific too: I got curious and tested this with the help of my KAWAI dealer on CA63/93 a few days ago: the above described behaviour could not be reproduced at all, on the contrary, it SOUNDS FANTASTIC with the Sennheiser HD595! So, here's another green light. Just do it, CyberGene!

The shop I bought it from put it together for me. I tried my dp again yesterday and nothing was vibrating. I wonder if it could be dependent on heat? - I had been away for the weekend and then came back and noticed the vibrations. Then when I played it again last night I didn't notice any vibrations.

I am going to do some more testing tonight.

Well then, I feel better knowing it's not a design issue. I am currently waiting for the dealer to tell me if there are any availabilities in Germany (from where they are dispatching the goods to Bulgaria) but she hasn't called me in 4 days, so I will bother her again. And the price is 1800 Euro (VAT included) which seems to be probably the lowest price I've seen throughout European stores, so I hope that's not a mistake, maybe Kawai are trying to open their way here in Bulgaria with aggressive prices. If everything is fine, there should be no more than 10 days for delivery. But I am still thinking (and I am preparing my wedding which will be after two weeks and then a 10 day honeymoon in Cuba, so I have plenty of time to clear my mind before the ordering )

Well, I'm sure I pee'd off my neighbours last night and I haven't been able to repeat the vibrations. It must have just been something random that was vibrating and has now gone. I'm going to put it down as a one-off.

Andy