Back in March I ran a piece on the release of the Korg G1 Air digital piano, and over recent months this piano seems to have been enthusiastically received. Now Korg has launched the C1 Air which sits between the Korg LP-380 and the aforementioned G1 Air.
Korg C1 Air Digital Piano (white)
The Airs are both contemporary styled instruments and designed primarily for home use. Both incorporate a full-range amp/speaker system. They utilise a high quality real-feel keyboard and offer an excellent “piano experience” for the discerning pianist.
On the face of it the C1 Air is very similar to the G1 Air. Both feature:
- The sound of “the world’s finest concert grand pianos”
- Multiple-layer samples creating authentic grand piano tones at all velocities
- Digital recreation of grand piano string and damper resonance for ultimate realism
- RH3 keyboards accurately simulating acoustic piano touch and response
- Contemporary design cabinets available in 3 colour options
- Bluetooth audio playback.
However the G1 Air offers three types of Grand piano emulations (German, Japanese and Austrian) whereas the C1 Air offers just two (German and Japanese). The G1 also has a somewhat more powerful sound system and a few other minor enhancements. For more information take a look at the previous G1 Air news item.
Specifications
I don’t normally publish spec sheets, but in this instance one might be helpful to make comparisons. The starred (*) features indicate where there are differences between the two instruments.
| Feature | Korg C1 Air | Korg G1 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Keys | 88 | 88 |
| Type of Keys | RH3 (real weighted hammer action) | RH3 (real weighted hammer action) |
| Touch Sensitivity | 5 type touch selection | 5 touch selection types |
| Temperament * | 3 types | 9 types |
| Sound Generation | Stereo PCM | Stereo PCM |
| Sounds * | 30 sounds | 29 sounds, 3 bass sounds |
| Polyphony | 120 note | 120 note |
| Effects Types | Brilliance, Reverb, Chorus | Reverb, Chorus, Brilliance |
| Demo Songs | 40 piano songs, 10 demo songs | 40 piano songs, 10 demo songs |
| Recording * | 2-track, 14,000 note maximum | 2-track, 45,000 note maximum |
| Outputs * | LINE OUT, MIDI (IN, OUT), Headphones x 2, Pedal, Speakers, DC 24V | LINE OUT, MIDI (IN, OUT), USB, Headphones x 2, Pedal, Speakers, DC 24V |
| Bluetooth | Yes (A2DP Sink) | Yes (A2DP Sink) |
| Number of Pedals | 3 (soft, sostenuto, damper) | 3 (damper, soft, sostenuto) |
| Built-in Speakers * | 2 x 10cm speakers | 2 x 12cm, 2 x 5cm |
| Amplifier * | 2 x 25W | 2 x (20W + 20W) |
| Bench/Stand Included | Stand | Stand |
| Power Source | 24V DC | 24V DC |
| Dimension * | 1346 x 347 x 770 mm | 1346 x 384 x 822 mm |
| Weight * | 35 kg | 41 kg |
| Colour Variations | Black, White, and Brown (wood-grain finish) | Black, White, and Brown (wood-grain finish) |
At 26 cm depth, the C1 Air is a sleek thin instruments that takes up very little space. A clever anti-tip mechanism (optional) increases it’s stability (but escalates its depth to 35cm). Another nice feature of this digital piano is the soft-closing lid (fall).
Korg C1 Air digital piano with anti-tip mechanism fitted
With a list price of $1,049.99 the C1 Air is a little cheaper than the G1, both are now available (just in time for Christmas).
More information can be found on the Korg website.