Kawai
CA-901
$6,999
Kawai CA-901: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
9.8 Beginner 8.8 Night Practice 1.5 Portability 9.2 Touch Reality 6.5 Value
88 82.5 kg
Kawai DG30 Review
Kawai DG30: Responsive Hammer III keys and PHI sound in a compact grand-shaped cabinet
88 Keys 80 kg Responsive Hammer III (RHIII)
Bluetooth
Advanced
Scores
Where to Buy
MSRP
$7,199
Retail prices change, so check current pricing at retailers.
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Also at:Amazon.co.ukGear4music
The Thomann button opens the product page; the other links may open the retailer's search results. Links may include affiliate tracking. Prices, stock and listings can change without notice.
How These Scores Were Calculated
Beginner
9.7| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 0.5 |
| Lesson Function | Yes | +1.8 |
| App Connectivity | Yes | +1.8 |
| Bluetooth MIDI | Yes | +1 |
| Recording | Yes | +0.8 |
| Practice Basics (Metronome / Transpose / Layer-Split) | Yes | +0.6 |
| Stand Included | Yes | +0.5 |
| Damper Pedal Included | Yes | +0.4 |
| Preset Songs | 324 | +1.7 |
| Sound Variety | 355 sounds | +0.6 |
Night Practice
9.1| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 1.0 |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 | +2.2 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm, 3.5mm | +1.4 |
| Headphone Optimization | Yes | +2.2 |
| Bluetooth Audio | Yes | +0.8 |
| Line Out | Yes | +0.4 |
| Speaker Mute with Headphones | Yes | +0.7 |
| Key Action Quietness | Responsive Hammer III (RHIII) | +0.4 |
Portability
1.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 5.0 |
| Weight | 80 kg | -3 |
| Width | 1475 mm | -0.5 |
| Battery | No | +0 |
| Foldable | No | +0 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +0 |
Touch Reality
8.2| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Key Action Quality | Responsive Hammer III (RHIII) (grade 7) | +4.2 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +1.5 |
| Polyphony | 256 notes | +1.5 |
| Sound Modeling | Progressive Harmonic Imaging (PHI) | +0.5 |
| Key Surface | ivory-feel | +0.5 |
Kawai DG30 review verdict
This Kawai DG30 review reads the published specifications from a comparison-first point of view: touch, sound, practice fit, value, and limits.
The DG30 is Kawai's grand-shaped digital piano: a 147.5 cm wide, 87 cm deep cabinet in Ebony Polish built around the Responsive Hammer III keyboard and Progressive Harmonic Imaging sound. On paper, what sets it apart from Kawai's upright-style models is mainly the cabinet shape rather than the technology inside.
Pros
- • Grand-shaped cabinet only 147.5 cm wide and 87 cm deep; Kawai says it takes up less space than even the smallest baby grand pianos.
- • Responsive Hammer III keyboard with let-off, counterweights, triple-sensor detection and Ivory Touch key surfaces.
- • Progressive Harmonic Imaging with samples of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX and SK-5 and the Kawai EX concert grands, and 256-note polyphony.
- • Bluetooth 4.1 for both MIDI and audio, with aptX listed, plus USB to Host and USB to Device.
- • Line In and Line Out jacks, and recording to MP3, WAV and SMF.
- • Two headphone jacks (6.3 mm and 3.5 mm) with a Phones Type setting, Virtual Technician adjustments and a bench in the box.
Cons
- • Amplification is 40 W (20 W × 2) into four speakers, a modest figure for a cabinet of this size.
- • The 355 voices include 9 drum kits and are mostly GM sounds, so the total cannot be compared with the voice counts of piano-focused models.
- • Kawai lists the lesson books by title and the Piano Music count varies by market, so the song count shown here (324) is the part that can be confirmed: Burgmüller, Czerny 30 and 100, Beyer, Bach Inventions, Chopin waltzes and 29 Piano Music pieces. Sonatinen Album 1 and the Alfred books come on top.
- • It needs 147.5 × 87 cm of floor and weighs about 80 kg, so it is a fixed piece of furniture rather than an instrument to move around.
- • Ebony Polish is the only finish, and Kawai Japan does not list the model.
The DG30 is best judged as a choice of cabinet. The core specifications are the Responsive Hammer III keyboard, Progressive Harmonic Imaging with SK-EX, SK-5 and EX samples, and 256-note polyphony. In this catalogue the Kawai CN-301 upright lists the same keyboard action and the same polyphony figure, so much of what the DG30 asks for goes into the grand-shaped Ebony Polish cabinet. In return, the instrument has the outline of a grand piano in a footprint that Kawai puts below the smallest acoustic baby grands, and it keeps the practical side of a digital piano: two headphone jacks, Bluetooth MIDI and audio, line in and out, recording and a bench. Two points deserve weighing before buying. The 40 W amplifier is modest for the size of the cabinet, and the 355-voice total is made up mostly of GM sounds. For a buyer who wants the grand silhouette, it is a coherent package; a buyer who mainly wants this keyboard and sound can compare it with Kawai's upright-style cabinets first.
Kawai DG30 evaluation points
Kawai DG30 key action and touch
The DG30 uses Kawai's Responsive Hammer III (RHIII), a hammer action with let-off (the small notch felt near the bottom of a grand piano keystroke), counterweights and a triple-sensor system that helps with repeated notes. The key surfaces are Kawai's Ivory Touch. In this catalogue the same RHIII action is listed for the CN-301 upright, so the keyboard specification alone does not separate the DG30 from Kawai's upright-style models. We have not played the DG30; this note follows Kawai's published specification.
Who the Kawai DG30 is for
The DG30 suits returning and advanced players who want an instrument that looks like a small grand piano in the living room, while keeping the practice features of a digital piano: headphone practice, Bluetooth audio and MIDI, recording and line connections. It is less suited to rooms where floor space is tight, to first-time players who would be better served by a smaller cabinet, and to anyone who wants a choice of finishes.
Kawai DG30 sound and speakers
Kawai describes Progressive Harmonic Imaging built on samples of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX and SK-5 and the Kawai EX concert grand pianos. The sound comes from four speakers, two 13 cm woofers and two 10 cm top speakers, driven by 20 W × 2. Virtual Technician adjusts details of the piano tone, and Dual, Split and Four Hands modes are provided. How a 40 W system fills a room from a grand-shaped cabinet is something only an in-person trial can settle; we have not heard the DG30 and are going by the specification.
What to know before buying the Kawai DG30
Kawai lists a single finish, Ebony Polish. The published dimensions are 147.5 × 87 × 89 cm with the music rest laid flat. Kawai's global specification gives 80 kg, while the Kawai US page gives 79 kg. A bench is included, and the pedals use Kawai's Grand Feel Pedal System. The lesson function covers Alfred and classical lesson books, which Kawai lists by title rather than as a song total. Kawai Japan has no DG30 page, so the model is not sold through Kawai's Japanese distribution.
Demo Video
Video coming soon for this model
We embed videos from manufacturer official channels and trusted reviewers. As soon as a suitable demo or review is available, it will appear here.
Specifications
| Keys | 88 |
| Key Action | Responsive Hammer III (RHIII) |
| Polyphony | 256 notes |
| Sounds | 355 |
| Weight | 80 kg |
| Speakers | 40W (×4) |
| Bluetooth | Audio + MIDI |
| Key Surface | Ivory Feel |
| Sound Modeling | Progressive Harmonic Imaging (PHI) |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm, 3.5mm |
| Headphone Optimization | Yes |
| USB MIDI | Yes |
| Line Out | Yes |
| Lesson Function | Yes |
| App Connectivity | Yes |
| Recording | Yes |
| Metronome | Yes |
| Transpose | Yes |
| Layer or split (at least one) | Yes |
| Preset Songs | 324 |
| Battery | No |
| Foldable | No |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 1475×870×890 mm |
| Stand Included | Yes |
| Pedal Included | Yes |
Spec terms are explained in the glossary. Glossary →
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Recommended Accessories
🪑
Stand
Stand included
A sturdy X-stand or furniture-style stand is essential if one isn't included.
🎧
Headphones
Closed-back headphones with good bass response make practice sessions more enjoyable.
🎹
Sustain Pedal
The included pedal is usually basic. A half-damper pedal upgrade is worthwhile for expressive playing.
💺
Bench
An adjustable-height bench helps maintain proper posture during long practice sessions.
Where to Buy
MSRP
$7,199
Retail prices change, so check current pricing at retailers.
Buttons without a “search” label open the product page directly; the others open retailer search results. Links may include affiliate tracking. Stock and listing status can change without notice.
Thomann ships from Germany; check shipping cost and import fees before ordering.
Also at:Amazon.co.ukGear4music
The Thomann button opens the product page; the other links may open the retailer's search results. Links may include affiliate tracking. Prices, stock and listings can change without notice.
How It Compares
DG30 vs CLP-845
The DG30 scores higher in quiet practice. The CLP-845 costs $2,000 less. Choose the DG30 if quiet practice matters most.
Yamaha CLP-845 →DG30 vs CA-701
the CA-701 is stronger in piano-like touch. The CA-701 costs $1,300 less. Choose the CA-701 if piano-like touch matters most.
Kawai CA-701 →DG30 vs LX-9
the LX-9 is stronger in piano-like touch. The DG30 costs $401 less. Choose the LX-9 if piano-like touch matters most.
Roland LX-9 →Head-to-head comparisons
Spec-by-spec pages pitting this model against the alternatives it is most often weighed up with.
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Read more →Sources & transparency
This page is written by the operator, who has run the piano-learning site Piano Juku since 2017, based on published manufacturer specifications. We are not a retailer or tied to any maker — every model is compared by the same criteria. About the operator
- Last verified
- Data referenced from
- Manufacturer official ×2 Official manual Authorized retailer
How the 5-axis scores are calculated
We do not aggregate user reviews or star ratings (see methodology for why).
Spot a mistake or have a question about what's on this page? Let us know and we'll review it.
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