The renowned wooden key-action, Kawai CE-220 digital piano ranks high among pianos that offer the finest touch available in the market. The piano has an 88-key piano sampling keyboard that works to give you the feel of an acoustic piano.
Just like most of Kawai’s pianos, the Kawai CE220 also features a rugged yet beautiful cabinet. Therefore, you get a traditional-look digital piano that hosts plenty of the modern piano features available today.
Some of the piano highlights include the Progressive Harmonic Imaging Sound Technology with 88-note piano sampling. There is a total of 22 exceptional built-in instrument sounds backed up with 192-note polyphony.
The piano also supports Dual, Split, and the Four-Hands Mode that is rarely available in most digital pianos. We can confidently put it out there that this is a high-quality digital piano concerning its design, feel, and the piano’s performance in general.
To make you understand what we mean, what follows is our in-depth review of the Kawai CE-220 digital piano, written to show and inform you of what to expect from the keyboard.
Features of the Kawai CE-220 Digital Piano
Specifications
- 88 wooden-keys
- AWA Pro II Graded Hammer Action Keyboard
- Progressive Harmonic Imaging Sound Source
- 22 internal voices
- Music Library: 18 Demo Songs, 29 Pieces of Piano Music
- Maximum polyphony of 192-notes
- Modes: Split, Dual, and the Four-Hands
- 3 Song/2 Track internal recorder with 15,000 note memory capacity
- USB Functionality: Play, Load, Delete, and Format
- 3 Digit LED Display
- Dimensions: 55†x 20†x 34†(W x D x H)
- Weights: 126lbs (57 kg)
- Sound Effects: Tremolo, Delay, Chorus, Rotary 1 and 2
- Reverb Types: Stage, Room 1, Room 2, Hall 1, Hall 2
- Voicing: Dynamic, Bright, Mellow, Normal
- Touch Options: Heavy 1, Heavy 2, User, Off, Light 1, Light 2, Normal
- Metronome: Beat- 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 3/8, 6/8 + 100 Drum Rhythms, Tempo- 10 – 400 bpm, (20 – 800 bpm for eighth-note rhythms)
- More Functions: Tuning, Brilliance, Damper Resonance, Transpose, String Resonance, Lower Octave Shift, Layer Dynamics, Use Memory, Layer Octave Shift, Touch, Damper Hold
- MIDI Settings: Channel Mute, Local Control, MIDI Channel, Transmit PGM Change, Multi-timbral Mode, Send PGM No.
- Pedal Functionality: Soft, Sostenuto, Sustain (with half-pedal support)
- Connectivity: USB to Host, Line In (L, R), Line Out (L/MONO, R), Headphones x 2, MIDI (In and Out), USB to Device
Kawai CE-220 Design
The piano design comprises both an elegant and exquisite look. If you are familiar with Kawai pianos, then you already know that they have some of the most innovative piano designs.
Their keyboards bring together the modernity of the digital piano and place it in a traditional look cabinet. The Kawai CE-220 digital piano design allows it to be used as a home piano since it is a console piano.
The craftsmanship on this piano is solid with a wooden frame meant to last you ages. Additionally, the keyboard comes with a music rest for your sheets, and the piano also includes the pedal frame.
The piano also features a sliding cover that ensures your keys stay dustless, which is a feature also present in acoustic grand pianos. Despite the contemporary furniture-style design, the Kawai CE-220 digital piano doesn’t need an excessive amount of space to be accommodated. However, you should know that this is not a portable digital piano since it weighs in at 126 lbs.
The piano interface is also easy to understand and use, which makes the Kawai CE-220 quite appealing. It features an LED display that helps you navigate through the various settings on the keyboard. On the surface of the panel, there are buttons for accessing functions and sounds onboard the Kawai CE-220.
Kawai CE-220 Keyboard
The keyboard of the CE220 is where it stands out the most. Kawai did a fantastic job with this digital piano keyboard abilities. Unlike many other digital pianos within the same price range, the Kawai CE220 digital piano features wooden-keys.
The Graded Hammer Action further enhances the keys that Kawai calls the 88-key AWA PRO II action. This action increases the touch of this piano to ensure that you experience keys that feel like an acoustic.
Rarely do you see a digital piano, within the price range of the CE220, come with wooden keys? But Kawai beat the odds and made something special, which is why the CE220 is a one of a kind digital piano.
On top of that, the keyboard supports plenty of functions that range from Dual, Split, and the very rare Four-Hands Mode. Also, you can change the touch-sensitivity of the Kawai CE-220 with over five different settings.
With a maximum of 192-polyphony notes, this keyboard has a longer note-decay for any complex music piece that you may decide to play.
Sound Quality
The CE220 uses Kawai’s highly acclaimed sound technology, the Progressive Harmonic Imaging (PHI). It is a blend of techniques and technology aimed at producing the most authentic recreation of the company’s 9-foot concert grand piano.
Additionally, the Kawai CE-220 digital piano features 88-key Sampling technology. Together, the two techniques use a more extensive database than regular Harmonic Imaging to give you more significant tonal details throughout the dynamic range.
With both of them, the CE220 provides you with the most exceptional tonal detail that you could find on the market.
Using the PHI, Kawai individually sampled all of the 22 built-in voices to ensure you only get a fantastic experience out of those sounds. The sounds range from Strings, Church Organs, Harpsichord, and not forgetting the Grand Piano sounds.
The Music Library also consists of 29 Classical Piano Songs that are stored in the CE220’s internal memory. From the experience and success that the company has had in creating masterpieces, the Kawai CE220 inevitably follows that path when it comes to its sound abilities as well.
Kawai CE-220 Connectivity
Both a second USB jack and MIDI jacks are useful for connecting with other musical instruments and computers. Line-In jacks allow external audio devices, such as an MP3 player, to be generated through the CE220 piano speaker system. Line-Out jacks let you play through an external sound system or to make a digital audio recording with an external recorder or computer.
Kawai CE-220 Price
The price of the Kawai CE-220 ranges around the $2,000 but you can still a lower offer depending on where you buy. The advantage of this piano is that it offers unparalleled sound and touch experience. The only issue you might experience is the standard set of features.
Kawai CE-220 Extra Features
Metronome – The CE220 has a built-in digital metronome that has different varieties of time signatures, which makes this piano a fantastic practice partner.
Modes – First of all, the keyboard has a Split mode that allows you to play two different sounds, each on their sides. The piano also features the Dual, which enables you to play two sounds at the same time. A rare kind of mode also comes with the Kawai CE-220 digital piano, the Four-Hands Mode.
The mode creates two identical 44-note pianos on the CE220’s keyboard, famous for duets or piano lessons with an instructor. There’s also a convenient Balance Slider on the panel to control the volume balance in a Split or Dual keyboard mode.
Recorder – Here, you can easily use the 2 Track / 3 Song recorder to self-evaluate by capturing your performances.
Class Compliant USB Connectivity – Most pianos made by Kawai don’t come with this type of capability. So, the CE220 allows you to connect to your PC, save your compositions, and work on your music production effortlessly.
Benefits of the Kawai CE-220 Digital Piano
Elegant Design – The CE220 has a contemporary beautiful furniture-style design that gives anyone who looks at it something to marvel about. Additionally, the piano features a sturdy build to ensure a long-lasting instrument.
PHI Sound Technology – As much as there are plenty of high sound technologies out there, it is sporadic to find a piano that matches Kawai’s PHI Sound Technology in the same price range. Even more impressive, the technology is accompanied by 88-Key Sampling to give you more exceptional and more expressive dynamics when you play.
Realistic Keyboard Action – There are plenty of significant keyboard actions in the market, but none comes with features like the CE220. The Kawai CE220’s keyboard consists of wooden-keys to correctly simulate a Grand Piano’s feel. Therefore, you enjoy a more authentic feel than when playing on other keyboard actions.
Powerful Sound System – With a12 cm x 2, and 20W x 2 Speaker System, you don’t necessarily need an external sound system to express yourself. For the price, the Kawai CE220 offers one of the best sound systems in the market right now.
Reasons You Should Buy the Kawai CE220 Digital Piano
If you want a different kind of definition when it comes to a digital piano, then the CE-220 digital piano is an exceptional instrument. It not only gives you exceptional playing experience but also has a look to complement your décor.
The CE220 also has the most accurate form of acoustic simulation, which means that this piano takes you closest to both the look and feel of a Grand Piano.
Most instruments within the CE220’s price range, force you to spend more money to acquire external sound sources for tone generation. But as you have read, this is not the case with the Kawai CE220. Therefore, you get to save some money from buying any external sound system with this digital piano.
The connectivity features here are amazing. Again, an addition that’s rarely present in Kawai’s pianos is the USB Compliant feature, and since the CE220 has it, what more reason do you need to own this masterpiece?
Who is the Kawai CE200 Digital Piano For?
From our experience with the piano, it is with great respect that we recommend the CE-220 piano to more advanced piano players. An exception, however, might go to the intermediate level pianists. We strongly feel that this piano’s potential might elude most of the beginners who are just starting.
However, if there is an instructor to assist them, then it wouldn’t be too much of a hassle for the beginners.
So, if you are a pro or an intermediate level pianist, the CE220 digital piano designed by Kawai can surely satisfy most, if not all, your wants in the music context.
The many features and functions included in the piano help you to easily navigate through intricate music pieces in regards to your gained experience in the field.
The Kawai CE-220 digital piano comes with 3 Years Warranty of both the Parts and Labor.
For assistance in the case of any defects before the dictated time above, Kawai wants its Customers to retain their store receipt or purchase statement as proof of the date of purchase.
With that information, you can proceed to get in touch with Kawai’s Technical Services Division to help you sort out any questions or concerns or to request a copy of your new warranty.
How to Clean the Kawai CE220 Digital Piano
Since the keys of the CE220 are made out of wood, you’ll need to be extra careful not to clean them with an overly dampen cloth. Here, we’ll show you the exact steps that you need to take when cleaning this keyboard.
- Have yourself a mild washing soap or the commercial key cleaners to start with
- Apply the cleaning solution that you have to a clean white or colorfast, soft cloth
- Make sure that the fabric is well wrung out immediately after you’ve dampened it
- Use the clean, soft cloth to wipe the black keys
- Wipe gently from back to front and not sideways
- Use a different clean and lint-free cloth to wipe the white keys
- Ensure that you wipe the sharps as well
- Finally, dry the keys with a dry clean and lint-free cloth
Pros
- Elegant design
- Great sound quality
- Powerful speaker system
- Intuitive and User-friendly interface
- Realistic acoustic simulation
Cons
- Not portable
- Lacks built-in rhythms and synths
- The metronome doesn’t support complicated time signatures
Conclusion
In conclusion, this is undoubtedly one of our best pianos to review. If you can get a chance to sit and play on the Kawai CE-220 digital piano, then you would understand what we mean.
The piano might not offer portability as most digital pianos do, but its design comprises more inviting traditional look ready to wow anyone.
Aside from that, the keyboard comes with top of the line features to ensure that you get to experience absolute delight when playing.
The keyboard action and feel, sound technology, and the multiple connectivity features of the CE220 set it apart from the competition. It is a piano that you won’t regret owning.
