Kawai CA78From real comments

Verdict distilled from 24 mentions across 12 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment58%
PROS 58%
CONS 42%

Rank based on 24 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a key action that feels closer to a real grand piano than rival digital pianos
  • You need a piano with Bluetooth audio streaming and a large concert piano sound in a bigger room
  • You're upgrading from an entry-level digital and want noticeably better touch and sound

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You're wary of touchscreen reliability and prefer simpler, button-based controls
  • You've heard or experienced boxy/muffled midrange sound from the speakers and that bothers you
  • You want guaranteed decades-long durability like an acoustic piano, since some owners report keys failing after years

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
31Premium
Kawai CA78
Grand Feel II key actionAuthentic cabinet designPositive buying experienceBoxy or muffled speaker soundScreen can't be turned off or coveredTouchscreen reliability concerns
Kawai CA78
Grand Feel II key action
Authentic cabinet design
Positive buying experience
Boxy or muffled speaker sound
Screen can't be turned off or covered
Touchscreen reliability concerns

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

The Grand Feel II action is the CA78's standout feature for most players. Commenters who tested the CA78 against Yamaha, Roland and Casio digital pianos said they couldn't go back after feeling the Grand Feel II keys, calling it the closest touch to a real grand. New owners described their first impressions as superb key action and amazing sound. One owner specifically said the action was the piano's best quality overall, reinforcing that touch is the primary reason people choose this model over competitors.

Speaker sound quality draws mixed reactions, with some finding it boxy or muffled. Several commenters referenced forum reports of a boxy, muffled sound especially in the midrange, with some preferring the CS8 or CS11 speaker systems instead. One new owner said their unit's sound was unbalanced and unpleasant, off and lifeless at soft touch and scary at strong playing, differing from demo videos. Others disagreed, saying they heard no boxy problem and that moving the piano away from a wall improved the sound significantly.

Long-term durability and touchscreen reliability worry some buyers. A 6-year owner reported recurring key issues, with small sticker pads at the end of keys detaching and rendering keys unusable, requiring multiple repairs. Prospective buyers compared this to acoustic pianos lasting decades and questioned whether digital electronics and touchscreens would hold up as long, drawing comparisons to smartphones breaking down after four or five years. Sweaty fingers were also flagged as a problem for accurate playing on the keys.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?