Best speaker/system piano concerts


Hi,

I enjoy many type of music but am a big fan of piano concerts. I’ve been to Hifi shows before but often find the music that they are playing not to my taste. 

Does anyone have recommendations for a speaker and amplifier that would be great to reproduce big piano plays realistically? I don’t think it’s easy for a system to have the speed and weight that the piano produces.

Would say speakers that are around 20-25k second hand and amps of 10-15k used

Looking forward to your suggestions.


hififreakk

Showing 3 responses by ctsooner

tomic6011,018 posts06-26-2018 8:03pma good reason for attending church choir practice

sit on the bench and three other places and you will get religion, and then a mic feed listen will turn you into an athiest..

ha.

Great post, lol.  Lot's of great choices.  It's often harder to find a great used speakers at the upper levels unless they company comes out with new models every few years and then they become devalued and folks feel the need to upgrade right away, because they are able to.  

When I was ready for a new system, I just auditioned everything I was able to regardless of cost.  What I found was that a good speaker is just that....good.  It will play anything properly to MY EAR.  If a speaker seems to only be good at one or two genres, then it's time to move on.  Too many good choices out there depending on your flavor. 

If you chose to use only piano for auditions, you may be greatly disappointed over the long run.  It's kind of like buying a TV.  Brightest one wins, but months later you don't watch as much or enjoy as much...why?  Because you aren't watching at those bright levels at home.  Same with speakers.  Many are highly dynamic, but lack micro and macro detail which is where the emotion is located.  The problem is that they aren't time and phase correct and you get smearing.  Can't cheat physics regardless of what 'fixes' or 'tuning' you try.  Is what it is.  I'm not saying only time and phase correct speakers are good, but to get the fast transients from a piano or to get that proper decay of the string and the percussive attack of the hammer, for ME, I need a time and phase correct speaker.  

I got Vandersteen's, but there are a few others that are also very good.  I do like some speakers that aren't time adn phase correct, but I always just keep coming back to the Vandersteen's (for my ears) as I like the compromises he has made (every speaker makes compromises).  

In your price range, you really should find a shop you trust and listen to the speaker and electronics together.  Just became a certain speaker is great, if you pair it with another 5 star amp, it may not be comparable.  I personally need a zero feedback amp due to teh way VAndy's are engineered.  YMMV.  Good luck.
I couldn't agree more atmosphere. It kills me reading about folks wanting a speaker that is good for this or that.  This myth is long standing for sure and just silly.
Underpowering any speaker can ruin it.  Any amp that isn't up to snuff can ruin .....  Bottom line is that it's hard to buy a used speaker.  Plenty of folks do and are happy, but I've heard so many horror stories about used speaker buys.  I have sold 7 pairs in my life and all three ProAc's need all new driver surrounds or speakers.  I wanted to make sure that I wasn't going to screw anyone, but plenty of folks do and will.

I would only purchase if I knew the person or maybe if it was local and I could go listen first, but even then, I'd shy away.  That's just me adn I really that, but often times folks end up with inferior amps in order to get 'better' speakers and they ruin them.  I agree that it's not just distorted rock.