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In the Forum: Playback Listening
In the Thread: Audio Shopping vs. Piano Shopping.

Post Subject: Too much to ask?Posted by Romy the Cat on: 8/10/2012

Lbjefferies7 wrote:
I would be most interested in that description of that specific sound.

Well I do understand that with 6.3’ piano I will not get the “crash” of the 9.8’ Bosendorfer but “full bass” is not only what I am looking. I am looking for a balanced piano, with “interesting” tone and with glowing.

I am not claiming that we tried too many pianos but among what we did none of them was “balanced” and only one had any more of less acceptable tone. Under balance I imply that most of the pianos we tried have that “in face” bright presentation, kind of forwarded sound, looks like a typical for all US made interments. I looking more like mellow, laid-back presentation that I remember from German-made pre WWII pianos. A piano has to be balance with proper volume of high and low notes. For sure it all might be to a great degree the property of the space where we hears the given pianos, not to mention the Amy’s sensitivity and comfort to actions of the specific instrument but still, I know exactly what the properly balanced piano shall sound like, even in the worse acoustic conditions and with most unaccustomed player.

The tone is self-explainable. I do admit that I a bit inclined to darker, melancholic, gloomy side of tonality and I would like piano to follow me in there.

The glowing part is the absolutely mandatory to me. The “right” pianos if you hit one single note in any octave surrounds the note with cesspool of sounds that literally glow. It is like piano get ignited and begin to breathe itself. I heard it a couple times, from German Bluthner and from US-made Steinways from 20s and I absolutely want to have it.

Thanks for the warning about the rebuilt instrument. I know it very well. Most technicians treat old pianos like renovating apartment for rent – they juts replaced the worn parts with contemporary plastic one with Teflon gasket and paint it in order new tenant did not see mold. The irony is that the rebuilt in this way pianos sound exactly like that.

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