Ahead of next month’s Summer NAMM Show, Kawai introduces the CN29 and CN39 to their comprehensive range of digital pianos. These are successors to the highly popular, and award-winning Kawai CN27 and CN37 which were both released back in early 2017.
The Kawai CN39 offers more sounds and functionality than the CN27. Consequently, it is the flagship piano in the CN Series. Detailed specifications appear at the end of this article. These two new models join the more modest CN17 in the range.
There are a whole host of different instrument lines in the Kawai digital piano “fleet”, and it can sometimes become a bit confusing:
CA (Concert Artists) Series: Premium digital pianos designed to capture every essence of a fine grand piano.
CN Series: High-performance, yet affordable digital pianos designed primarily for home use.
MP Series: Stage pianos for use by professionals in the studio or on the road.
CS (Classic) Series: A luxury digital piano product line featuring elegant, finely crafted cabinetry.
CP (Concert Performers) Series: With a powerful sound system these ensemble digital pianos are designed primarily for live use.
ES Portables: Compact, lightweight, “go-anywhere” digital pianos with top-mounted speakers.
CL Series: Slimline digital pianos
KDP/KCP Series: Entry-level digital pianos.
Upgrades and Features
Kawai CN29 Digital Piano
To be honest, there isn’t a massive difference between the new CN29/CN39s and their CN27/CN37 predecessors. Both do, however, feature newly upgraded speaker systems.
These considerably enhance the overall performance of the pianos. Kawai enlisted the services of Japanese high-end audio manufacturer Onkyo for the design of these new amplification and speaker configurations.
The CN39 has a 4-way system. Bass frequencies are delivered by units mounted beneath the keyboard, whilst mid and high frequencies are delivered by top-mounted speakers. The CN29 has a more basic 2-way system.
Kawai claims that both new models deliver “crystal clear piano sounds with low-noise and minimal distortion, even at high volume.”
These new digital pianos both now include an OLED display on the bass cheek-block.
The older CN27 had a 3-digit LED display and 6-button control panel, so the OLED display coupled with a new 8-button panel makes control and navigation much simpler on the CN29.
The new style display also improves clarity and visibility for the CN39.
Key features of the new digital pianos:
- Shigeru Kawai SK-EX, SK-5 (CN39 only) and Kawai EX concert grand piano sounds
- Kawai’s Responsive Hammer III keyboard action with Ivory Touch key tops
- Sound amplification developed in partnership with Onkyo
- Bluetooth MIDI and Audio (CN39 only) for wireless communication with smart devices
- Cheek-block control panel with high-resolution OLED display
- Flexible Virtual Technician app functionality with intuitive Smart Mode
- Built-in Burgmüller, Beyer, Chopin, Czerny études and Alfred lesson songs
- WAV/MP3/MIDI file record and playback via USB memory (CN39 only)
- Attractive, modern casework available in Rosewood, Satin Black, and Satin White.
The Kawai CN29 and Kawai CN39 will be available from July 2019.
Pricing: not yet confirmed
More information: Kawai website.
Kawai CN39 and CN29 Specifications
| Kawai CN-39 | Kawai CN-29 | |
|---|---|---|
| Keyboard | Responsive Hammer III action - 88 keys - Grade-weighted hammers - Ivory Touch white key surfaces - Let-off simulation - Triple sensor key detection - Counterweights | Responsive Hammer III action - 88 keys - Grade-weighted hammers - Ivory Touch white key surfaces - Let-off simulation - Triple sensor key detection - Counterweights |
| Pedal | Grand Feel Pedal System - Damper (with half-pedal support) - Soft - Sostenuto | Grand Feel Pedal System - Damper (with half-pedal support) - Soft - Sostenuto |
| Piano Sound | ・ Progressive Harmonic Imaging (PHI) - 88-key stereo sampling - SK-EX, SK-5, EX recording - 256 note maximum polyphony | ・ Progressive Harmonic Imaging (PHI) - 88-key stereo sampling - SK-EX, EX recording - 192 note maximum polyphony |
| Piano Resonance | ・ Acoustic Rendering - Damper Resonance - String Resonance - Undamped String Resonance - Cabinet Resonance | - Damper Resonance - String Resonance |
| Piano Adjustment (via Virtual Technician app) | ・Virtual Technician (19 parameters) - Touch Curve - Voicing - Damper Resonance - Damper Noise - String Resonance - Undamped String Resonance - Cabinet Resonance - Key-off Effect - Fall-back Noise - Hammer Delay - Topboard Simulation - Decay Time - Minimum Touch - Stretch Tuning - Temperament - Temperament Key - Key Volume - Half-Pedal Adjust - Soft Pedal Depth ・Virtual Technician Smart Mode (10 presets) | ・Virtual Technician (17 parameters) - Touch Curve - Voicing - Damper Resonance - Damper Noise - String Resonance - Key-off Effect - Fall-back Noise - Hammer Delay - Topboard - Decay Time - Minimum Touch - Stretch Tuning - Temperament - Temperament Key - User Key Volume - Half-Pedal Adjust - Soft Pedal Depth ・Virtual Technician Smart Mode (10 presets) |
| No. of Sounds | 355 voices (incl. 9 drum kits), GM2 compatible | 19 voices |
| Reverb | 6 types | 6 types |
| Brilliance | Yes | Yes |
| Other Effects | 24 types | - |
| Speakers | 13 cm x 2 (Onkyo low-mid range speakers) (8 x 12 cm) x 2 (Onkyo mid-high range speakers) | 12 cm x 2 (Onkyo full-range speakers) |
| Output Power | 40 W (20 W x 2) | 40 W (20 W x 2) |
| Headphone Enhancements | Spatial Headphone Sound Headphone Type | Spatial Headphone Sound Headphone Type |
| Display | 128 x 64 pixel OLED | 128 x 128 pixel OLED |
| Key Cover | Sliding type | Sliding type |
| Music Rest | Collapsible type (3 angle adjustability) | Collapsible type (3 angle adjustability) |
| Dimensions | Width: 144.5 cm | 136 cm |
| Depth: 43.5 cm | 40.5 cm | |
| Height: 88.0 cm (not including music rest) | 86 cm (not including music rest) | |
| Weight | 54.0 kg | 43.0 kg |
| Available Finishes | Premium Satin Black (CN39B) Premium Satin White (CN39W) Premium Rosewood (CN39R) | Premium Satin Black (CN29B) Premium Satin White (CN29W) Premium Rosewood (CN29R) |
| Basic Functions | Dual Split Four Hands Transpose Tuning Registration Startup Setting | Dual Four Hands Transpose Tuning Startup Setting Vocal Assist Sound Preview |
| Internal Songs | Sound Demo: 32 songs | 19 songs |
| Piano Music: 29/42 songs * | - | |
| Concert Magic: 176 songs | 40 songs | |
| Lesson Songs | Burgmüller 25 (25 Etudes Faciles, Opus 100) Czerny 30 (Etudes de Mécanisme, Opus 849) Czerny 100 (Hundert Übungsstücke, Opus 139) Beyer 106 (Vorschule im Klavierspiel, Opus 101) J.S. Bach: Inventionen Sonatinen Album 1 Chopin Walzer (Chopin waltzes series 1-19) Alfred’s Premier Piano Course Lesson 1A Alfred’s Premier Piano Course Lesson 1B Alfred’s Basic Piano Library Lesson Book Level 1A Alfred’s Basic Piano Library Lesson Book Level 1B Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course Lesson Book Level 1 | Burgmüller 25 (25 Etudes Faciles, Opus 100) Czerny 30 (Etudes de Mécanisme, Opus 849) Beyer 106 (Vorschule im Klavierspiel, Opus 101) Chopin Walzer (Chopin waltzes series 1-19) Alfred’s Basic Piano Library Lesson Book Level 1A Alfred’s Basic Piano Library Lesson Book Level 1B |
| Internal Recorder | approximately 90,000 notes | approximately 10,000 notes |
| 10 songs | 3 songs | |
| 2 part | 1 part | |
| Metronome | 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 3/8, 6/8, 7/8, 9/8, 12/8 | 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 3/8, 6/8 |
| 100 patterns | - | |
| Bluetooth * | Bluetooth (Ver. 4.1; GATT compatible) Bluetooth Low Energy MIDI Specification compliant Bluetooth Audio | Bluetooth (Ver. 4.1; GATT compatible) Bluetooth Low Energy MIDI Specification compliant |
| USB Audio Recorder | Record/Playback: MP3 WAV SMF (16 track recording) | - |
| Other Functions: Overdubbing Re-record SMF | - | |
| App Functions | Virtual Technician app (iPad), Sound Museum app (iPhone/iPad) | Virtual Technician app (iPad), Sound Museum app (iPhone/iPad) |
| Connector Jacks | 1 x 1/4", 1 x 1/8" Stereo headphone jacks | 1 x 1/4", 1 x 1/8" Stereo headphone jacks |
| MIDI IN, MIDI OUT, Bluetooth MIDI * | MIDI IN, MIDI OUT, Bluetooth MIDI * | |
| 1/4" L/MONO, R [unbalanced] Line Out | - | |
| 1/4" L/MONO, R [unbalanced] Line In | - | |
| USB to Host | USB to Host | |
| USB to Device | - | |
| - | - | |
| Power Consumption | 20 W | 12 W |
| Power | Power cable AC adaptor | Power cable AC adaptor |
| Bench | Height-adjustable bench * | Height-adjustable bench * |
| Headphones | Headphone hook | Headphone hook |
| Sheet Music | Classical Piano Collection * Classical Lesson Scores * Finger Exercises | - |
| Others | Warranty Card * Owner's Manual Internal Song Lists | Warranty Card * Owner's Manual |
| * Depending on market location. |
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