Congrats on your CA93! I don't own one, but I just want to say that I prefer a lighter (more sensitive) setting on my AvantGrand N3 because it feels more realistic. The settings don't really change the physical feel on the keys, but they really affect how hard you want to strike the keys to get the volume you want out of it. While it depends on your playing style and types of music, I think the lighter setting would more closely resemble the higher sensitivity of a real acoustic piano. And the lighter setting is more suitable if you like to play at lower volume, too.

Nice shot mucci!

The musical notes etched onto the wall are a nice touch - at first glance I wondered if they were perhaps Photoshopped into the picture...

Cheers,
James
x

Indeed, nice pic Mucci!!

TADutchman - yeah, I saw the thread with all the sample combinations. I'm going to try them out in the coming days.

Yesterday I started playing the piano with the touch setting on "heavy" and later switched to "normal" and it instantly felt more comfortable so I'm going to stay with the "normal" setting. Again, I really love the feel of the keyboard.

Oh, and here's a pic. It's not as "glamorous" as the other pics in this thread but I am limited with the space in my appartment.
One low quality mobile phone pic coming up...

Hi Cryptkeeper, I like your close-up helicopter view, it makes me think of something:

I am wondering what the distance of your CA93 is to the wall and whether you have the Wall EQ setting on or off. Maybe you've already done so, but optimizing this distance could enhance your whole sound experience! (even one inch can make a difference).

+1

Is that a custom motif?

Thanks!

That's a so called wall tattoo... my wife bought it. We also have a cat installed in one of our daughters rooms, sometimes you can mix it up with our real black cat

I love that shot, mucci--- so inviting and comfortable. The little touches really make the difference. Home-like and relaxing, yet still so elegant.

My music room has gotten to be a little scary; it always says, "You've got a lot of work to do, Buddy."

Thanks, wower! I'm quite curious what your CA93 room with a view looks like!

... but the sharps?!
They shouldn't be on C and F?!


Anyway, where can I find a comparison with CN33? Is the sound and touch so different?

Dewster's DPBSD project has tested both, so you can view the reports and listen to the samples.
DPBSD

You can compare product specifications here:
http://www.kawai.de/digitalpianos_en.htm

There are demo's for both on You Tube.

Best thing is for you to try them for yourself though and compare side by side, sound, action, how they fit your own requirements, ability, mood, and pocket. I've tried both, and they are excellent products.

Some differences related to sound and touch for CN33 compared to CA63:

- Short plastic keys vs long wooden keys.
- Less sounds on board: 36 vs 60.
- Similar sound signature, but sample dynamics and length slightly less good (especially in the bass range).
- Simpler speaker system and lower output power.
- Missing equalizer, dynamic layering and hammer hardness (voice intonation) parameters, making tweakability very limited, so basically the factory standard should do.

What the CN33 and CA63 share is an excellent price-performance ratio in their own class!

CA 63 miss the let-off, that CN33 has

Thanks, making a complete list apparantly is too difficult for me this Friday

...maybe the CA18 should also be considered...

Can you provide more details on this?

Sorry? I'm simply reading the fetures on Kawai site (CA63):

CA93
Keyboard: 88 wooden keys with Ivory Touch key surfaces
Action: RM3 Grand with Let-off

CA63
Keyboard: 88 wooden keys with Ivory Touch key surfaces
Action: RM3 Grand

CN33
Action: RH Action with let-off, 88 weighted keys with Ivory Touch key surfaces

TADutchman, the CN33's 'Dual' function allows two sounds to be layered together. It is also possible to adjust the volume ratio of the two sounds using the balance slider.

Cheers,
James
x

I know James, that are 'static layer' settings, but I'm referring to 'Layer Dynamics' which in my experience are essential to really match two dual layered sounds together.

Looking for a quote, Page 67 of your CA93/CA63 manual states the following:

4 Layer Dynamics
When using Dual mode, sometimes simply adjusting the volume balance between the two layered sounds is not enough to create the desired sound character, especially if both sounds are very dynamic. Layering two equally dynamic sounds can prove difficult to control and play comfortably.

The Layer Dynamics Function allows the dynamic sensitivity of the layered sound to be reduced, in order to improve the blend between the two combined sounds. In addition to reducing the volume of the layered sound, limiting its dynamic sensitivity also allows the layered sound to be controlled more easily in relation to the main sound.

TADutchman, thank you for clarifying this point.

It is true that the CN33 does not feature the Layer Dynamics control.
The CN42, however, does offer this functionality.

Cheers,
James
x

My new CA63 is fantastic.

[img:center]http://samcdeutsch.smugmug.com/Events/NewPiano/13685729_GBCMA#999757076_cU6JX-A-LB[/img]

Cozy.

I'm eagerly waiting for mine to arrive.

Concerned piano owners don't let their children drink pints of pale ale next to the keyboard.

Nice shot, Steve.

By the way, looking at your signature, I'm still wondering what YOU do actually.

Steve, do you have any gap between the piano and the wall?

Lovely picture, thanks Steve!

Congrats on your new piano!

Cheers,
James
x

Not to worry - the child's quaff is probably far enough away not to be endangering the DP.

In case of the CA93 you can optimise the amount of acoustic (surround) experience this way and I'm not only talking about the soundboard, but also the 4 mid-range speakers that are positioned upwards; what about the CA63?

- There isn't a wall setting on the CA63 like there is on the CA93.

- With any speakers, its always best to leave at least a small gap between the speaker and the wall to counter bass boom. My ca63 sounds fine to me (sat at it) with about an inch between it and the wall. I don't know what it sounds like for anyone listening though...

Andy T

I think as the CA-63 does not have soundboard and the speakers are facing downwards there is no need for a gap between the instrument and the wall.

At first time, my CA63 was against the wall and I heard a little noise in the right woofer when I pressed D2 and D#2: I though it maybe caused by a wire or by the woofer grid (bad fixation) ; bass was not so deep as I expected and loud very "hard" and bright. I think this is easily explained because the wall don't let the instrument to vibrate freely, damp the low frequency vibrations and increase the high frequencies. It also cause multiple vibration interferences (because of mechanical vibration reflections phenomena) inside the instrument which can lead some parts to reach a resonance frequency.

As Andy T, now I have 5cm between the piano and the wall: no more noise can be heard, the bass are really deep, the loud are not so bright and the overall timber is better

Thanks for the nice replies all!

Regarding the ale, Caitlin really prefers wort before it's boiled, hopped and fermented, no worries. That finished product (indeed a pale ale) is mine (different hobby). I can tell you it is handy having a nice little drink shelf that doesn't endanger the gear.

Regarding the sound and placement, it's unfortunate but I experience a buzzing noise coming from the speakers when in the lower registers. It's a definite problem and I have Kawai support coming out to look at it. The piano's not carrying anything that vibrates, it's a solid 3 inches away from all walls (about 7.5 cm), and it really seems to be coming from the speakers themselves.

If support can't fix it I think I might upgrade to a CA93. Seems like that has a better sound system?