Comparison · cabinet digital piano
Kawai CN-301 vs Yamaha CLP-835
Two cabinet digital pianos with three pedals – the step where a piano stops being a keyboard on a stand and becomes a piece of furniture you want to sit down at. Here is the difference you feel in your fingers and hear in the room.
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The short answer
| Choose | if you … |
|---|---|
| Kawai CN-301 | want a calm, warm touch at the lower price – a piano Thomann customers rate 4.9 out of 5. |
| Yamaha CLP-835 | want the clear Yamaha sound, two grand piano voices (Yamaha CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial) and the stronger speakers. |
The keys: what you feel in your arm
At a cabinet piano you sit longer, and the keys decide whether your arm rests or tenses. Both have 88 weighted hammer-action keys, but they feel different.
Kawai CN-301 uses Responsive Hammer III. The touch is even and calm, and the surface has enough grip that your fingers don't slide when your hands get warm. Many feel that the key "carries" the hand – you can let the weight sink in without pressing.
Yamaha CLP-835 uses GrandTouch-S with ebony- and ivory-feel surfaces and a simulation of the small catch a grand piano has just before the note releases (escapement). It gives a little more control in the very soft notes.
Neither has wooden keys. If wood matters to you, listen to the Casio Celviano AP-750 as a third option.
Sound and speakers
| Kawai CN-301 | Yamaha CLP-835 | |
|---|---|---|
| Character | Warm, soft | Clear, bright |
| Grand voices | Kawai grands | Yamaha CFX + Bösendorfer Imperial |
| Speakers | 2 × 20 W | 2 × 30 W |
| Voices | 45 | 38 |
In a small living room both are more than loud enough. If you mostly practise on headphones in the evening, the speakers matter less – then the keys matter more.
Space and weight
| W × D × H | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Kawai CN-301 | 141 × 43.5 × 87 cm | 47.5 kg |
| Yamaha CLP-835 | 145 × 46 × 108 cm (with music rest) | 57 kg |
Both have three pedals (damper, sostenuto, soft) and a key cover. A cabinet stands still – the keys don't wobble when you play strongly, and you feel that in your shoulders. Both have Bluetooth audio and MIDI and can record audio directly.
ZOZIZA has not tested every model. Specifications are the retailer's or manufacturer's, checked 14 Oct 2026.
The two pianos
Kawai CN-301
- 88 weighted keys, Responsive Hammer III
- 45 sounds, 2 × 20 W speakers
- Bluetooth audio + MIDI, recorder (MP3/WAV)
11.590 kr checked 14.10.2026
See price at Thomann
Yamaha CLP-835
- 88 keys, GrandTouch-S with escapement simulation
- Yamaha CFX + Bösendorfer Imperial, 2 × 30 W
- Bluetooth audio + MIDI, audio recorder (WAV)
13.090 kr checked 14.10.2026
See price at ThomannPrefer a portable piano? See the best digital piano for beginners or the full piano guide.
Try this tomorrow
Play a slow C major scale as softly as you possibly can on every piano you try. Notice on which one the note still sounds without you tightening your fingers – that is the piano you will practise on most.
Questions
Is the Kawai CN-301 or the Yamaha CLP-835 better?
Both are good cabinet pianos. The CN-301 costs less and has a warm, calm touch. The CLP-835 has stronger speakers, a Bösendorfer voice and escapement simulation. The choice mostly comes down to which sound you prefer.
Do they have wooden keys?
No. Both use synthetic keys with a textured surface.
How much space do I need?
About 1.5 m wide and 45 cm deep – plus room for the bench and your legs, around 1.1 m from the wall in total.
Can I play silently?
Yes. Both have headphone outputs, so you can practise in the evening without disturbing anyone.
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