We compare CN-301, HP-702 & CLP-825

We compare Kawai's CN-301, Roland's HP-702 and Yamaha's CLP-825. The pianos offer high-quality piano sounds, and they each come with their own take on the perfect key feel. With good sound sources and powerful speaker systems, the sound from these pianos is natural and clear. If you were in doubt as to which one you would like the most, this comparison might help…

Sound

The Kawai CN-301 comes with two very special samples from Shigeru Kawai's flagship grand pianos, namely the SK-EX and EX concert grands. The concert grand pianos have been used for several professional piano competitions such as the Chopin, Tchaikovsky and Rubinstein International Piano competitions, among others and especially the SK-EX, considered one of the finest in its class. Kawai has recorded all 88 keys individually to get the most accurate reproduction of the grand piano's harmonics for each note. This means that the samples come as close to the original acoustic grand as possible.

The Roland HP-702 is indeed impressive with its SuperNATURAL technology. The use of computer modeling instead of direct sampling allows for a more nuanced and dynamic sound experience, closely mimicking the complexities of an acoustic piano. With its limitless polyphony for piano tones, you won’t have to worry about notes being cut off, even when playing complex passages. 

The Yamaha CLP-825 has a grand expression modeling. This feature allows the player to fully express themselves in their playing, allowing for hard or light pressure, increased sensitivity to how the key is released when played along with key repetition, this provides an accurate sound to replicate when a key is played repeatedly, with the vibrations of the string being true to life. and it has the CFX imperial sound. 

Voices

The Yamaha CLP-825 offers a rich selection of voices, including the renowned Yamaha CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial piano sounds. It features binaural sampling for the CFX Grand, key-off samples for added realism, and smooth release for a more natural sound. The Virtual Resonance Modeling (VRM) and Grand Expression Modeling enhance the authenticity of the piano experience. With a maximum polyphony of 256 voices and a total of 10 different voices, the CLP-825 provides a versatile and expressive playing experience.

The Roland HP-702 offers limitless polyphony when using tones from the 'Piano' category, ensuring no notes are cut off during solo piano performances, no matter how complex the piece. For other instrumental sounds, it supports up to 384-note polyphony, allowing you to explore a wide range of tones without worrying about note drop-off. In total, the HP-702 comes with 324 tones, giving you plenty of variety to express yourself musically.

The Kawai CN-301 features 45 voices, providing a range of sounds for diverse musical expression. Its piano sounds are enhanced by Progressive Harmonic Imaging (PHI), which includes 88-key stereo sampling for a rich and detailed tonal experience. The CN-301 incorporates recordings from various Kawai models, including the SK-EX, SK-5, EX, and K-60. Additionally, it supports a maximum polyphony of 256 notes, ensuring that complex passages and rich, layered performances are handled seamlessly without note drop-off.

Keys

The Kawai CN-301 comes with Kawai's Responsive Hammer action III keys. Where the weight of the piano's keys has been appropriately adjusted to suit the heavier bass hammers and the lighter treble hammers as found in an acoustic piano. The let-off mechanism ensures that the key, when released, comes to rest in the same way as a grand piano would. The CN-39 also comes with Kawai's highly regarded Ivory Touch key surfaces as standard. This fine material gently absorbs the moisture of the fingertips, which helps for controlled piano playing.

The Roland HP-702's PHA-4 Standard keyboard brings out the best in your playing, whether you're a beginner or experienced pianist. And with the fast key repetition and high-resolution velocity sensors, this fast-responsive keyboard is designed to meet the most demanding pianists, so you don't need to upgrade the piano as your playing technique improves. The keys mimic the look and feel of real ebony and ivory, and the keys' surface with moisture-absorbing properties prevents the fingers from slipping off. With Escapement and Ivory Feel (88 keys)

The Yamaha CLP-825 features the GrandTouch-S™ keyboard, which is designed to faithfully capture every nuance of your touch and translate it into the music. This advanced piano action emulates the authentic feel of hammers striking strings in a grand piano, giving you precise control over your performance. The 800 series keyboard is meticulously crafted with adjusted weight, shape, and materials to closely replicate the action of a grand piano. It has 88 keys with synthetic ebony and ivory keytops, and offers touch sensitivity settings including Hard, Medium, Soft, and Fixed.

Pedals

The Yamaha CLP-825 had the grand touch pedals offer a lifelike aesthetic, along with a realistic resistance when playing. These pedals have been designed to have the same specifications, friction, pivots and angles to that of a grand piano pedal. Number of Pedals: 3: Damper (with Half-pedal function), Sostenuto, Soft

The Roland HP-702 has a Grand Feel Pedal System with three pedals. The Damper pedal lets you control sustain, with the ability to adjust it slightly (half-pedal support). The Soft pedal also allows for some adjustment in softness (half-pedal support). The Sostenuto pedal lets you hold certain notes while the others stay unaffected, giving you more control and expression in your playing.

The Kawai CN-301 features a pedal system that includes three pedals for a versatile playing experience. The Damper pedal provides half-pedal support for nuanced sustain control, similar to an acoustic piano. The Soft pedal also supports half-pedal functionality, allowing you to adjust the volume and tone. The Sostenuto pedal enables you to sustain selected notes while keeping others unaffected, offering greater expressive possibilities in your playing.

Speakers and Power

The Yamaha CLP-825 is equipped with 20 W x 2 amplifiers and 12 cm x 2 speakers, providing clear and robust sound. It uses the PA-300C power supply to operate.

The Roland HP-702 has 12 cm (4-3/4 inches) speakers in a dual configuration, which are paired with a rated power output of 14 watts per speaker. This setup provides clear and balanced sound for a home digital piano, suitable for practice and performance in most home settings.

The Kawai CN-301 features two 13 cm (5-inch) speakers that handle the low to mid-range frequencies, providing a robust foundation for the sound. Complementing these are two mid-high range speakers, each measuring 8 x 12 cm (3.1 x 4.7 inches), which are equipped with diffusers to enhance the distribution of sound.

Appearance

The Kawai CN-301 comes in three elegant finishes: Premium Satin Black, Rosewood, and White. Its sleek design includes a user-friendly control panel with a high-resolution OLED display, seamlessly integrated into the left side. The wide music rest is perfect for larger scores, with speakers positioned behind it for enhanced sound. The modern cabinet features curved legs, a flat fascia, and extruded side panels, giving it a traditional yet premium look. Measuring 141 cm wide, 43.5 cm deep, and 87 cm tall (104.5 cm with the music rest raised), it weighs 47.5 kg.

The Roland HP-702 is available in four stylish color options: Charcoal Black, Dark Rosewood, Light Oak, and White. Its elegant design is enhanced by its height and smooth, rounded edges, giving it a sophisticated look that fits beautifully in any room. The user-friendly display is discreetly positioned behind the keys, with round buttons that make navigation and control simple and intuitive.

The Yamaha CLP-825 is available in four colors: Polished Ebony, Black, Rosewood, and White. Its minimalist design, with sharp edges, is inspired by traditional upright pianos and is the most compact model in its series. Key features include a sliding key cover and a music rest with clips to hold sheet music in place. The piano measures 1,350 mm wide, 1,003 mm tall, and 411 mm deep, and weighs 45 kg.