Kawai CA501From real comments

Verdict distilled from 28 mentions across 12 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment68%
PROS 68%
CONS 32%

Rank based on 28 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want quieter, more realistic wooden-key action than comparable Yamaha models
  • You're comparing digital pianos in the same price range and value sound plus touch
  • You have space for a full-size console piano and want an acoustic-like classical practice feel

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need the piano to fit in a very small apartment (some found it too large)
  • You're sensitive to synthetic-sounding upper midrange tones
  • You want speaker/sampling upgrades over the older CA59 rather than similar output

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Mid
Kawai CA501
Superior key action vs competitorsRich multi-speaker soundStrong value vs price-comparable rivalsPedal and key noise complaintsMuffled or synthetic sound in some settingsCabinet build quality issues
Kawai CA501
Superior key action vs competitors
Rich multi-speaker sound
Strong value vs price-comparable rivals
Pedal and key noise complaints
Muffled or synthetic sound in some settings
Cabinet build quality issues

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Key action and touch draw the most enthusiastic praise from owners. Buyers repeatedly say the CA501's wooden-key action felt superior to Yamaha CLP-835 and even competed well against the pricier CA701, with quieter keys and easier trills. One user noted Kawai keys were 'absolutely more silent' than noisy Yamaha keys. Preference between 501 and 701 action was split, showing it's a strong, if subjective, selling point.

Sound quality impresses most, but a few flag muffled or synthetic tone. Many owners call the sound rich, crisp, and superior to Yamaha and Casio alternatives, highlighting the 4-speaker system and noticeable higher midrange presence. However, one comparison to the CA401 found the 501 slightly muffled until a dealer adjusted voicing, and another owner described the upper mids as unnaturally synthetic. Bass was also called 'woofy' or unclear by a couple of users.

Build quality and minor noises are the main recurring complaints. Several owners reported issues: veneer strips cut too wide and prone to catching on clothing, a breath-like parasite noise when pressing the damper pedal alone, and high-pitched or crystal-rim-like noises on specific keys. One hotel setting described the touch as flimsy and lacking depth compared to a Yamaha CLP-545. These reports suggest inconsistent quality control on some units.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?