Hello all. Here is my dilemma. I am currently trying to decide which digital piano to buy early in the new year. I was originally considering one from the Yamaha Clavinova range, however after some research I have dismissed this idea in favour of a Kawai due to their excellent reviews and competitive prices. All that said, I can't decide which Kawai to go for, I think the CS9 certainly looks better than the CA95 but the CA95 is cheaper, more recently released and appears to have more functions on board. I am just looking for any advice that you good people could offer in relation to this, I am open to any suggestions in relation to any other worthy digital piano contenders. Thanks in advance.

Tom Tom

Welcome to PW!

Both are great pianos so you can't go wrong. But if you want a shiny black digital piano then go for the CS9!

Perhaps with new year Kawai will release a substitute por CS9 with better keybed and sound. If you can wait, do it

Thanks for the early replies guys. Is the general consensus then that the CA95 is the superior piano and that the CS9 is just the better looking one?

There is no consensus.
There can be no consensus.
There is only one opinion: your own.

I think the CS-9 is a CS-93 in a polished ebony cabinet. The CA-95 replaced the CA-93 not long ago. The CA-93 is a highly regarded piano around here and so is the newer CA-95 (CS-9 is not available in the US).

I'd go for the CA-95. The new GF action is, IMHO, superbly improved over CS-9's. CS-9's furniture is probably nicer (it's a matter of taste, I'm not personally fond of uprights look) but my personal criteria is choosing the more convincing responsiveness (action and other factors) over the looks.

Just another opinion, but the CA95 is technically superior with the latest enhancements from Kawai, compared to the CS9. So I would only consider the CS9 if its attractive cabinet design is of highest importance to you. But, it begs the question of when will Kawai update the CS9 with the new technology in the CA95. A guess, and that's all it is, is this year, maybe NAMM?

Tom Tom,

As others have noted, the CA95 is technically superior (latest keyboard action and sound technology), while the CS9's polished ebony upright piano cabinet is arguably more visually appealing.

If you are not in a great hurry to buy, it may be worthwhile waiting to see if any updated models are unveiled at the NAMM Show.

Kind regards,
James
x

Thanks for all the replies guys, much appreciated. I think I will go for the CA95, that was always my preference anyway despite the good looks of the CS9. I can source a CA95 online for around £2,600 which seems to me to be a reasonable price for what you get. Now I have to decide on the finish...rosewood or black satin?

Congrats on your CA95!!!


I wish this was some kind of "teaser".
I'd love to see a new CS piano with GF action.

I was looking up the Kawai CS9 and came across this sessions video. . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAkDm6ebr34

Can anyone tell me what that song is? I cant read music and play by ear. . . and need to find the video to learn this song.

Thanks

Debussy's "Clair de lune". Part of "Suite Bergamasque". If you can hear complete suite on a good interpretation, it is wonderful music

Awesome. Thank you very much