Generic depiction of the instrument model, not the specific item offered on a linked platform.

Digital Piano

Kawai CN301

Name: Kawai CN301
Brand: Kawai

Kawai · CN301 88-Key Digital Piano

Price: 1.700 EUR – 1.700 EUR

Availability: 0/10 (Very rare)

The Kawai CN301 is the flagship of Kawai's CN series of digital home pianos, released in 2022 with samples drawn from the SK-5, Shigeru Kawai SK-EX and Kawai EX concert grands, played through a Responsive Hammer III action and projected via a distinctive 360-degree speaker system that reviewers say sets it apart from the rest of the lineup.

Where available? Go to the best price – 1.700 EUR About this instrument

About the Kawai CN301

The CN301's 88-key Responsive Hammer III action uses grade-weighted hammers, Ivory Touch key surfaces, let-off simulation, triple-sensor key detection and counterweights for a graduated, acoustic-like feel. Its 45 voices draw on samples of the Kawai SK-5 grand plus the flagship Shigeru Kawai SK-EX and Kawai EX concert grands, played back at up to 256-note polyphony. A Grand Feel pedal system covers damper (with half-pedal support), soft and sostenuto. The standout feature is a 40-watt, 4-speaker system with top-mounted diffuser panels that spread sound in all directions for a notably expansive, three-dimensional projection compared to conventional forward-facing speaker arrangements. Connectivity includes Bluetooth Audio and two outputs, alongside 100 rhythm patterns, 62 internal songs, 176 lesson songs, Spatial Headphone Sound and a 10-song recorder, all controlled through a new, brighter OLED display panel. At 1,410 x 870 x 435mm and 47.5kg, it's available in satin white, satin black and rosewood finishes.

Where to buy

Reverb Kawai CN301 88-Key Digital Piano 2022 - Present - Satin White 1.700 EUR Best price View details

Some links below are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Source: https://reverb.com/item/82129362-kawai-cn301-88-key-digital-piano-2022-present-satin-white

Sound character of the Kawai CN301

Deep, brilliant and nuanced acoustic piano samples drawn from three different Kawai concert grands, projected through a 360-degree speaker system that delivers a notably expansive, three-dimensional sound compared to conventional front-facing digital piano speakers.

Warm Resonant Full-bodied Modern/Hi-Fi

What owners of the Kawai CN301 say

Independent reviews are consistently enthusiastic, praising the deep, brilliant and nuanced piano samples, the expansive 360-degree speaker projection, solid key action and strong connectivity. Active discussion on piano forums centers specifically on whether the CN301 sounds meaningfully better than the more affordable CN201 given they share the same core action and sound chip, suggesting buyers take the comparison seriously rather than assuming the flagship model is automatically worth the upgrade. No significant complaints surfaced in the sources checked.

Playability & handling of the Kawai CN301

As the flagship of the CN series, the CN301 is pitched at both beginners and advancing players, with piano sound and playing feel described as genuinely top-notch for its price bracket. The responsive, weighted key action feels even more comfortable than earlier CN-series models thanks to optimized key action and cushioning. Its most talked-about innovation is the 360-degree speaker system, which reviewers say makes the piano sound expansive and three-dimensional in a way that distinguishes it clearly from the rest of Kawai's digital lineup. While the CN301 shares its core RH3 action and piano sound chip with the more affordable CN201, it adds significantly more digital functionality and the upgraded speaker system - a difference active buyer discussions on piano forums specifically debate, weighing whether that upgrade justifies the price gap. User verdicts consistently credit the CN301's win to its deep, brilliant and nuanced samples, solid connectivity, good key action, and the ability to record performances directly to a USB drive.

Recommended accessories & strings for the Kawai CN301

Some dealers offer the CN301 bundled with a matching bench. Built-in Bluetooth Audio covers wireless playback from a phone or tablet through the piano's own speakers, and the 10-song recorder plus USB drive support cover basic recording needs without external gear.

Technical data for the Kawai CN301

Keyboard	88 keys, Responsive Hammer III, triple-sensor detection
Sound source	SK-5, Shigeru Kawai SK-EX, Kawai EX samples, 256-note polyphony
Voices	45 sounds
Pedals	Grand Feel system (damper, soft, sostenuto)
Speakers	40W, 4-speaker, 360-degree diffuser system
Connectivity	Bluetooth Audio, 2 outputs
Features	100 rhythms, 62 songs, 176 lesson songs, 10-song recorder, OLED display
Dimensions	1,410 x 870 x 435mm
Weight	47.5 kg

The history of the Kawai CN301

Kawai's CN301 brings SK-EX concert grand sampling and wooden-key-accented touch to a mid-tier console digital piano.

About Kawai as a manufacturer

Kawai's founder, Koichi Kawai, grew up next door to Torakusu Yamaha in Hamamatsu, Japan, and worked on the team that introduced pianos to Japan at Nippon Gakki (Yamaha's parent company) before striking out on his own in August 1927 to found the Kawai Musical Instrument Research Laboratory with seven colleagues. The first Kawai grand piano followed in 1928, and the company became the stock corporation known today in 1951. Like the more affordable KDP120, the CN301 borrows its core piano voicing from Shigeru Kawai, the brand's own top-tier hand-built line, but goes a step further by adding samples from the SK-5 and Kawai EX concert grands as well - another example of Kawai spreading its acoustic flagship sound across multiple tiers of its digital piano range rather than keeping it exclusive to the most expensive instruments.