We compare CA-901, LX-708 and CLP-785

If design and authenticity is important to you, these pianos will not disappoint. The manufacturers have build the best digital pianos possible, with these flagship models, both in terms of sound quality and key action. If you are wondering how these three pianos differ from each other, this comparison might help ...

Sound:

Kawai CA-901 has samples from the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano. Earning a reputation as the ‘premier piano of Japan,’ it graces the stages of concert halls and musical institutions around the globe, receiving universal acclaim for its exceptional clarity and dynamic range. The SK-EX has frequently been selected by professional pianists at such prestigious events as the Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Rubinstein international piano competitions. With its magnificent tone and wonderfully responsive touch, the SK-EX can best be described with one word – incomparable. In order to faithfully reproduce the stunning sound of a Shigeru Kawai concert grand piano digitally, Kawai has developed SK-EX Rendering. This special, piano-only sound engine focusses the Concert Artist’s DSP power, combining multi-channel, 88-key sampling with the latest resonance modelling technology to deliver pure acoustic piano authenticity.

Roland LX-708 is equipped with the Pure Acoustic sound engine. Most digital pianos use ‘sampling’ technology, which records the individual notes from an acoustic piano and combines them to deliver the final sound. This approach results in a limited range of expression, similar to when animation is composed by still images. Roland takes a different approach, producing the sound using advanced digital modeling technology that recreates the process of piano-tone-generation in real-time. It’s so accurate that your expression and touch is captured as you perform, and reflected onto the tone, resulting in a beautifully rich sound that compels you to play.

Yamaha CLP-785 has grand piano sounds that are recorded from several world-renowned concert grand pianos. One of them is the CFX, Yamaha’s top-flight concert grand piano. Pianists around the world are enamored with the impressive, dazzling, richly expressive sound of the CFX in concert halls. Another sampled concert grand is the Imperial, the flagship model of Bösendorfer, a time-honored Viennese piano brand with an ardent following. The Imperial is known for its abundance of color and natural, warm feeling. Yamaha faithfully reproduces the idiosyncrasies of these concert grand pianos by carefully recording the entire tonal range of each of the 88 keys, making minute adjustments to capture the most harmonious tones each piano has to offer.

Keyaction:

Kawai CA-901 comes with Kawais Grand Feel III keyaction. All eighty-eight black and white keys are crafted entirely from long pieces of wood, with finely textured ivory and ebony-like surfaces applied to absorb moisture and assist control.  Each wooden key pivots smoothly on a balance pin – the ends rising and falling to replicate the familiar ‘seesaw’ motion of an acoustic piano action.  When pressed, the back of the key lifts, triggering a grade-weighted hammer to strike a pressure switch.  The amount of force applied to this switch is then measured, and the corresponding note played with authentic tonal character and volume.

Roland LX-708 offers Rolands Hybryd Grand keyaction. The white keys combine beautiful wooden sides with a durable inner frame, ensuring years of reliable service without ongoing maintenance. The pivot point on the black keys is 2cm further back than on the white keys, so they’re easier to press which avoids fatigue when you’ve been performing for a while. And both the black and white keys are longer than you’d normally find on a digital piano, with the extra length reducing the weight difference between the key’s edge and its end. Plus, all the keys include a stabilizing pin to ensure smooth and precise vertical travel, avoiding the sideways key movement and noise of playing glissandos on some pianos. The result is a series of keyboards with the optimum balance of resistance, momentum and return movement, capable of anything – and everything – you ask of them.

Yamaha CLP-785 with the GrandTouch keyboard. Yamaha’s latest keyboard action features a broad dynamic range and faithful response to every nuance of touch that puts a wide expanse of tone—from delicate to bold—at the pianist’s fingertips. The highly consistent grand piano hammers replicate the pleasing response felt when the hammers strike the strings, enabling precise control of the tone. Highly absorbent synthetic-ivory white keys and synthetic-ebony black keys prevent slipping even during extended play and feel just like those of a grand piano. GrandTouch keyboard features wooden keys that showcase Yamaha’s expertise with wood for pianos.

Design:

Kawai CA-901 is available in four different colors: Polished Ebony, Satin Black, Satin White and Premium Rosewood. Kawai have used the design of their acoustic "k-series" pianos, for the CA-99 so it almost looks exactly like an acoustic Kawai. The piano is relatively low, compared to other brands, so it can also fit in small rooms. The expression of the piano is very authentic since only very few digital elements are visible.

Roland LX-708 is available in three different colors: Polished Ebony, Polished White and Charcoal Black. The top part of the instrument, above the keys, is much taller than most other models and brands, which looks very magnificent. With its rounded edges and the streamlined design, the piano is very modern and elegant. The ability to set the top lid at an angle and open up is reminiscent of the upright piano, giving a classic aesthetic.

Yamaha CLP-785 is made in three different colors: Polished Ebony, Polished White and Satin Black. Due to the top lid, being the same type as on an acoustic piano, the CLP-785 looks very similar to  an acoustic upright piano. With its innovative but traditional design, sharp edges and black, solid hinges, this instrument radiates quality. Due to the sloping edge over the keybed, you also have lots of space at the keyboard, even when playing on the back of the keys.

A unique feature:

Kawai CA-901 has, in addition to quality drivers, the latest version of the Kawai soundboard speaker system. This unique sound technology embraces the rich, harmonious qualities of wood using transducers to produce a more natural, organic tone. Long wooden ribs securely attached to the soundboard further expand the frequency range and volume of the resonant sound, resulting in a remarkable, authentic playing experience.

Roland LX-708 reproduces the physical vibrations that resonate in the keys, even when using headphones. The keyboard of an acoustic grand piano transmits faint vibrations from the piano's wooden construction, and the pianist feels this through the keys, which increases the general pleasure of playing. This imitative technology is especially noticeable on the deep notes, where the resonance of the piano box occurs naturally, which further provides an authentic grand piano experience.

Yamaha CLP-785 has very special speakers. Drawing on their experience in manufacturing both acoustic pianos and high-end speakers, Yamaha has developed speaker units with membranes of the same spruce tree used in the vocal cords of an acoustic grand piano. The result is a more natural, piano-like "attack" in the sound, so it sounds more like an acoustic grand piano.

Specifications for these models: