Roland LX-9 vs Yamaha CLP-885 vs Kawai CA-901:  A Detailed Comparison

The Roland LX-9, Yamaha CLP-885, and Kawai CA-901 are three outstanding digital pianos that blend modern technology with the timeless appeal of a traditional upright piano. Each of these models is packed with impressive features that deliver an exceptional playing experience, but they each bring something unique to the table. In this comparison, we’ll explore what sets them apart, helping you choose the right one for your musical journey.

Design of the Kawai CA-901 

Design of Yamaha CLP-885

Design

While all three pianos share the classic upright piano aesthetic, they each offer distinctive design elements.

The design of the Kawai CA-901

The design of the Roland LX-9 

The design of the Yamaha CLP-885

Stylish Looks and Size

The Roland LX-9 is the tallest of the three, measuring 15 cm higher than the CLP-885 and CA-901. Its height increases further when the lid is opened. At 110 kg, it’s also the heaviest, weighing 20 kg more than both competitors. The CLP-885 and CA-901 are slightly lighter, with the CA-901 weighing 82.5 kg (90 kg in polished finish) and the CLP-885 at 87 kg. All three models feature elegant side panel legs, with the CLP-885 offering slightly curvier ones for added flair.

Music Rest

Each piano boasts a wide music rest to accommodate your sheet music. The CLP-885 and CA-901 offer similarly spacious rests, while the LX-9 has a smaller rest but adds a unique feature: it can be tilted to achieve the perfect angle for your playing. This small but handy adjustment can make a big difference during long practice sessions.

Control Panels Made Easy

The CLP-885 and CA-901 both feature compact control panels on the left side of the piano, with the CLP-885 also including a large touch screen. Meanwhile, the LX-9 stands out with a sleek, modern touch display that stretches across the top of the keys, giving it a more futuristic look. All three pianos have user-friendly controls, and when not in use, the panels turn black, ensuring nothing distracts you while you play.

Finishes and Extras

The LX-9 and CLP-885 come in classic black, polished black, or white, while the CA-901 offers additional finish options, including premium rosewood and satin finishes. All three pianos come with soft-fall key covers, keeping the keys safe and ensuring a smooth, quiet action.

Keys:

The Roland LX-9, Yamaha CLP-885 and Kawai CA-901 both offer key actions designed to provide a rich, expressive playing experience, but they take slightly different approaches.

Yamaha CLP-885: GrandTouch Action

The CLP-885 uses Yamaha’s GrandTouch action, featuring wooden keys with synthetic ebony and ivory keytops. This action is renowned for its responsiveness and the natural feel of playing a grand piano, complete with escapement for added realism.

LX-9: Hybrid Grand Keyboard Action

The LX-9 uses its Hybrid Grand Keyboard action, which also includes escapement and realistic ebony and ivory feel on the keytops. While similar in design to the CLP-885, it offers a slightly different tactile experience. Both actions are loaded with cutting-edge technology and are highly responsive, so choosing between them ultimately comes down to personal preference.

Kawai CA-901: Grand Feel III action keyboard

The Kawai CA-901 features the advanced Grand Feel III action, which utilizes full-length wooden keys to deliver an incredibly authentic playing experience. The keybed boasts the longest key length of any digital piano, with all 88 keys—both black and white—crafted from solid wood. Each key operates with a balance bar, mimicking the smooth, responsive motion of a grand piano. As you press a key, a weighted hammer mechanism moves upward, replicating the action of an acoustic grand. Additionally, the CA-901 is equipped with a triple-sensor system that ensures exceptional repetition and precise control, providing a truly dynamic and expressive playing feel.

Key Sensitivity and Customization

Both pianos offer adjustable touch sensitivity, allowing you to fine-tune the key response to match your playing style. The LX-9 has a wide range of settings (Light 1–4, Normal, Heavy 1–4, Off), while the CLP-885 offers Hard 2, Hard 1, Medium, Soft 1, Soft 2, and Fixed options. The CA-901 also provides multiple touch curves that can be adjusted for a customized feel.

A small note: if you’re using headphones, you might notice the CLP-885’s keys are a little louder than those on the LX-9.

Sounds

When it comes to sound, each model features a top-of-the-line sound engine designed to replicate the rich tones of an acoustic piano.

Roland LX-9

The LX-9 uses Piano Reality Modeling, offering a wide variety of tones (324) and songs (394). It also features Virtual Resonance Modeling (VRM), which adds a depth of resonance that mimics the complexity of a real acoustic piano.

Yamaha CLP-885

The CLP-885 is equipped with the Yamaha CFX & Bösendorfer Imperial sound engine, which brings the sound of two iconic grand pianos to life. Binaural Sampling is used for the CFX Grand and Bösendorfer models, providing an immersive listening experience, especially when using headphones. It also offers Grand Expression Modeling to capture the subtle nuances of your playing.

Kawai CA-901

The CA-901 features SK-EX Rendering Multi-Channel with Harmonic Imaging™ XL, delivering a rich and realistic acoustic sound. With 256-note polyphony, it ensures that every note rings true, even when playing complex pieces. While it has fewer tones and songs (96 tones and 205 songs), its focus is on the quality of sound over quantity.

Sound System

Each piano’s sound system is designed to provide the best audio experience possible, with unique configurations that shape the sound to suit the piano’s design

Roland LX-9

The LX-9 uses a combination of cabinet speakers (25 cm × 2) and near-field speakers (12 cm × 8 cm × 2), which help create a rich, full-bodied sound. Its output of 33 W × 2 + 21 W × 2 + 13 W × 2 + 14 W × 2 ensures clear, dynamic audio.

Yamaha CLP-885

The CLP-885 has a system of spruce cone speakers, diffusers, and dome tweeters for a balanced, precise sound. With a total output of 230 W, it provides powerful sound that maintains warmth and clarity.

Kawai CA-901

The CA-901 features the TwinDrive Soundboard System, which creates a more natural, acoustic piano feel. It includes 2 × 8 × 12 cm top speakers, 2 × 8 cm front speakers, and 2 × 2 cm tweeters, producing clear, detailed audio with a total output of 135 W.

Pedals:

Each of these pianos comes with a triple pedal system designed to enhance your performance and allow for subtle control over sustain and dynamics.

All three pianos feature half-pedal capability and offer Damper, Sostenuto, and Soft pedals. The pedals are also function-assignable, allowing you to customize them to suit your playing style and preferences.

Conclusion

When choosing between the Roland LX-9, Yamaha CLP-885, and Kawai CA-901, it really comes down to your personal preferences and needs.

• The Roland LX-9 is ideal for those who prefer a modern design with advanced features like a sleek touch display and Virtual Resonance Modeling.

• The Yamaha CLP-885 offers exceptional sound with its Yamaha CFX & Bösendorfer Imperial sound engine and Binaural Sampling, making it a great choice for those who want a traditional piano experience with cutting-edge technology.

• The Kawai CA-901 is perfect for those who value a natural, acoustic sound experience with the TwinDrive Soundboard System and Harmonic Imaging™ XL technology.

No matter which one you choose, each piano will inspire you to create beautiful music and elevate your playing experience.