Kawai CA98From real comments

Verdict distilled from 20 mentions across 13 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment47%
PROS 47%
CONS 53%

Rank based on 20 mentions across 13 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You value a Grand Feel II wooden-key action and acoustic-style cabinet resonance
  • You mostly play through headphones where sound quality is reported as better
  • You want a modern touchscreen interface over older button-based menus

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need reliable speaker-only sound without boxiness in the low-mid register
  • You rely on physical music rest pins for sheet music books
  • You're wary of touchscreen components failing after the warranty period

What users complain about

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Based on user comments

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High-quality warm pitch shifting
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Cheaper alternatives may suffice
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Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
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Cultural and historical influence
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Strong DAW/VST editor integration
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You are here
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Kawai CA98
Acoustic-style cabinet designFavorable comparison to competitorsGrand Feel II wooden-key actionThin, boxy speaker soundTouchscreen long-term reliability concernsHeavier action than predecessor/comparable model
Kawai CA98
Acoustic-style cabinet design
Favorable comparison to competitors
Grand Feel II wooden-key action
Thin, boxy speaker sound
Touchscreen long-term reliability concerns
Heavier action than predecessor/comparable model

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

The action and cabinet design earn consistent praise for feeling close to an acoustic grand. Multiple commenters highlight the Grand Feel II wooden-key action and the straight cabinet wall behind the keys, which Kawai uniquely offers compared to Yamaha or Roland. One user found the CA98 more natural due to its wooden vibration box. However, one tester felt the touch wasn't fully convincing next to an acoustic K15, and another noticed the action felt heavier and more fatiguing than the CS11, suggesting some variability in how the action is perceived.

Speaker sound quality is a recurring point of frustration for several owners. Multiple users report the built-in speaker sound is thin, boxy, or muffled, particularly in the octave below middle C and in Pianist mode with the SK-EX Concert Grand voice, with improvement noted through headphones like Bose QC15s. Forum chatter suggested the CS8/CS11 sound cleaner than the CA98's speaker system. One new owner described the sound as unbalanced and unpleasant compared to a demo video, questioning whether settings had changed.

The touchscreen interface divides opinion between convenience and long-term worry. Some users appreciate that the touchscreen replaces Kawai's previously criticized button/menu navigation, but others report noticeable lag and slow menu response compared to physical buttons. Several potential buyers express concern about touchscreen components breaking down after the warranty period, similar to smartphones, and wonder if older button-based models would be more future-proof. No comments confirm actual touchscreen failures, only pre-purchase concerns.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?