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What are the best loudspeakers under $4000 to re-create lifelike piano

Over the past 4 months I've spent time with five loudspeakers.  On a scale of 1-10 I'd rate them as follows in their ability (with my equipment in my room) to recreate a lifelike piano.  Tekton Lore - 6.5 (great scale but tonal accuracy and clarity somewhat lacking),    Kef LS50 - 7.0 (moderate scale but slightly better clarity and tonal accuracy)  Kef R500 - 8.0  (great scale and very good clarity and tonal accuracy), Spatial Audio M3TurboS -8.1 (great scale and very good clarity and tonal accuracy and very smooth)  Magnepan 1.7i - 9.0 (very good scale with excellent clarity and tonal accuracy - very lifelike).

In your room with your equipment, what loudspeakers are you listening too and how would you rate them for their ability to recreate a lifelife piano and if possible a few comments as to why?
snapsc
gdnrbob
4,511 posts
 
A lot will depend upon the equipment driving your speakers.
For me, a pair of Vandersteen Treo's with 2wq subs paired with Atma-Sphere amp and pre made for a very sweet combination.(Using an Ayre Codex and streaming Spotify, mostly).
Full, clear, detailed presentation. Even my significant other remarked on how much better everything sounded.
No, it was unbelievable, and I told Ralph Karsten.
Bob
randy-11
1,913 posts
 
1. Maggies

2. Vandies

3. LS50
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,491 posts
 
Not sure if one can do justice to a life like piano for only $4000. Piano is one of the more difficult instruments to get right. My top of the line Nord Keyboard with Genelec speakers and a huge Traynor keyboard stage amp comes close but at more than twice $4000. My ATC do a good job too (the owner/designer of ATC is a jazz pianist) but again not at anything close to the $4000 price point. That is a really tall order.
s1nn3r's avatar
s1nn3r
162 posts
 
For 4K, you can buy a used piano. Problem solved. ;^) 
newbee
4,834 posts
 
Before you evaluate your speakers for their piano recreation's ability try to attend a live performance in a recital hall (preferably), a concert hall, or even a jazz club. The first thing to note is the size of the room!  Then note how loud (or soft) and distortion free the sound is (or should be anyway). 

We would all like to hear a real piano 'speaker' in our home but if Bosendorfer couldn't do it, and they tried, lets just close our eyes and fantasize. :-) 
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