Kawai CA58From real comments

Name: Kawai CA58
Rating: 2.6 (15 reviews)

Verdict distilled from 15 mentions across 10 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment57%

PROS 57%

CONS 43%

Rank based on 15 mentions across 10 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

You prioritize authentic key feel over flashy features
You want natural, realistic acoustic piano samples
You're comparing it favorably to same-price Yamaha or Roland models

What users love

Excellent key action feelNotable0 mentions

Strongly positive

Natural, realistic piano tone0 mentions

Strongly positive

Better feel/value than comparable Yamaha/Roland models0 mentions

Strongly positive

Helpful in-store buying experience0 mentions

Widely praised

Skip this if...

You dislike the black key texture found on this model
You're sensitive to the lower-register tone quality
You can get Kawai's MP11se for a better price with similar specs

What users complain about

Grand Feel Compact seen as downgrade from Grand Feel II0 mentions

Frequently criticized

Black key texture disliked by some0 mentions

Generally negative

Lower register tone disliked0 mentions

Generally negative

Price concerns versus similar-spec alternatives0 mentions

Frequently criticized

Lacks SK-EX Rendering multisampling found in higher models0 mentions

Generally negative

Assembly instructions missing for some buyers0 mentions

Generally negative

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

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 CA58

Excellent key action feelNatural, realistic piano toneBetter feel/value than comparable Yamaha/Roland modelsAssembly instructions missing for some buyersBlack key texture disliked by someGrand Feel Compact seen as downgrade from Grand Feel II

Kawai CA58

Excellent key action feel

Natural, realistic piano tone

Better feel/value than comparable Yamaha/Roland models

Assembly instructions missing for some buyers

Black key texture disliked by some

Grand Feel Compact seen as downgrade from Grand Feel II

Versatile
1. MXR Super Badass Distortionarrow_upward15
2. Wampler Paisley Drivearrow_upward6
3. Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrivearrow_upward4
Expensive
1. Moog Subsequent 37arrow_downward3
2. Origin Effects Deluxe61arrow_downward3
3. Eventide Orvillearrow_downward4
Dynamic response
1. Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrivearrow_upward8
2. Wampler Paisley Drivearrow_upward2
Build quality
1. Moog Subsequent 37arrow_upward3
2. Origin Effects Deluxe61arrow_upward1

Overall Impression

The key action is the CA58's standout feature for most owners. Multiple commenters call the feel 'absolutely perfect' and superior to Yamaha and Roland instruments at the same price point, citing responsiveness lacking in slab-weighted competitors. The Grand Feel Compact action sparks debate versus full Grand Feel II and CA78/79 actions, with some beginners finding it feels best while others see the CA48/58 tier as a step backwards from older CA models that had fuller counterweighting.

Sound quality earns strong praise, with some caveats on the low end. Commenters describe the tone as natural, realistic, and 'the best of the best,' with one saying Kawai should be considered the top Japanese piano maker. However, one commenter specifically dislikes the sound of the lower range without being able to pinpoint why, and another notes the CA58 lacks the SK-EX Rendering multisampling found in the CA78/98, suggesting a tier-based sound ceiling.

Buyers frequently weigh the CA58 against other Kawai and competitor models on value. Several commenters compare it directly to the MP11se, CA78, and CA79, debating differences in key action, tweeters, and price; one found MP11se cheaper with similar specs and dropped the CA58 for that reason. Others were deciding between CA58 and CA79 partly due to key resistance preferences. A prior purchaser regretted buying an ES8 instead, wishing the CA58 had existed sooner.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?

pianoExcellent key action feelNotable

4 mentions

Strongly positive

Owners repeatedly single out the key action as outstanding, with one new owner calling it 'absolutely perfect' and another noting it beats Yamaha's DGX line at the same price. The Grand Feel Compact action is preferred by some over even the CA79's action.

@papertelevision

Just got mine and it's incredible. The true star is the key feel. Absolutely perfect.

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April 22, 2020

@klausalbert5330

ca79 has even LESS resistance than ca78 so I ask my self whether that is good. I am a beginnera abut it seems to me ca58 with grand feel compact feels best...comments are appreachiated

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March 8, 2020

@klausalbert5330

Could it be that the CA58 is even better than the new CA79? The CA79 has a very soft (too soft) key action

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March 7, 2020

@davidrankine4662

Hi Tony, I find your vids most informative, over weeks to help me upgrade. To that end I visited your Milton Keynes store and traded in my DGX-650 Yamaha for a Kawai CA58, a much better feel and sound to that offered by Yamaha offered by Yamaha at the same price point, that feel retained the DGX slab unresponsive weight, as with most Yamaha mid range digital pianos. All of the voices and fancy specs are worth nothing without a decent feel. Roland a following that trend. All we want to do is play the piano, maybe a few drums or strings to turn out a result we are pleased to play. Your guy Tim did a great job, what a nice guy, helped me so much without pushing a sale, thus he got the sale. Looking forward to my delivery next week

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January 21, 2020

music_noteNatural, realistic piano tone

3 mentions

Strongly positive

Multiple commenters praise the authenticity of Kawai's sampled piano sound, with one saying they 'cannot get enough of the tone' and calling it the best of the best. Another long-time fan of Kawai's samples calls them more natural and realistic than competitors.

@papertelevision

Just got mine and it's incredible. The true star is the key feel. Absolutely perfect.

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April 22, 2020

@popfof1490

cannot get enough of the tone, the best of the best. KAWAI should replace the number one…as the Japanese piano.

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February 5, 2020

@rondoge4375

I always loved Kawai's samples compared to other pianos in how natural and realistic they sound. But hated how little expression you can have when compared to digitally modeled pianos like Pianoteq or even Roland's V-Piano.

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April 13, 2018

thumb_upBetter feel/value than comparable Yamaha/Roland models

1 mentions

Strongly positive

A buyer who traded in a Yamaha DGX-650 found the CA58 had much better feel and sound at the same price point, criticizing the unresponsive slab weight common in mid-range Yamaha and Roland digital pianos.

@davidrankine4662

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January 21, 2020

support_agentHelpful in-store buying experience

1 mentions

Widely praised

One commenter praised the retailer's staff for being knowledgeable and not pushy, which directly led to the purchase decision.

@davidrankine4662

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January 21, 2020

trending_downGrand Feel Compact seen as downgrade from Grand Feel II

1 mentions

Frequently criticized

One commenter notes that previous CA models in the same price range already had the full Grand Feel II action, calling the CA58's Compact action a step backwards.

@flx739

Previous CA models in the 2000£ range already featured the Grand Feel II action. This is a step backwards to me.

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July 8, 2018

thumb_downBlack key texture disliked by some

1 mentions

Generally negative

A commenter who tried the CA48 (sharing the same keys as the CA58) found the black key texture off-putting compared to the CN29, though acknowledged this is a personal preference.

@matthewbrown8443

Another really well balanced and informative video.\nInterestingly I tried out the CN29 and CA48 at my local store and found the black key texture on the CA48 (same as featured on CA58) to be very off putting. I much preferred the texture on the CN29. A personal preference but just shows the importance of getting out to your local store and trying each instrument out.

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March 4, 2020

volume_downLower register tone disliked

1 mentions

Generally negative

One long-time Kawai fan says they love the brand overall but specifically dislike the sound of the lower range on this instrument, which has kept them from buying.

@Dr.PapáDeBulma

There's so much I love about Kawai pianos, but I don't like the sound of the lower range, i don't know why. That's what's keeping me from buying one.

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September 27, 2020

attach_moneyPrice concerns versus similar-spec alternatives

1 mentions

Frequently criticized

A commenter found the MP11se, with nearly identical specs to the CA58, available for a better price in their country, removing the CA58 from consideration as too expensive.

@bhaveshmistry3255

I have did the some research and I got to know that Kawai CA58 and MP11se specification are same and in country I am getting a better price of MP11se, CA58 is out of my list because it’s very expensive.

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March 3, 2020

warningLacks SK-EX Rendering multisampling found in higher models

1 mentions

Generally negative

A commenter clarifies that the advanced multisampling technology discussed is not actually in the CA58, but reserved for the CA78/98 tier.

@neshyildiz8256

the multisampling you speak of is not in this piano - the CA78/98 have that. its called SK-EX Rendering.

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July 14, 2020

buildAssembly instructions missing for some buyers

1 mentions

Generally negative

One buyer reported their unit didn't come with instructions for attaching the top panel screws, causing confusion during assembly.

@rebeccahill1851

Which screws go where once you put the top on??? Our piano didn't come with instructions (not purchased from Kraft)

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June 17, 2020

Kawai CA58chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

thumb_up_off_altBuy this if...

What users lovefavorite_border

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What users complain aboutheart_broken

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Who wins on what

Versatile

Expensive

Dynamic response

Build quality

auto_awesomeOverall Impression

Kawai CA58From real comments

Buy this if...

What users love

Skip this if...

What users complain about

Overall Impression