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The New Coffee Room

  1. TNCR
  2. General Discussion
  3. My next piano??

My next piano??

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  • LuFins DadL LuFins Dad

    Behringer is supposed to make a very nice keyboard speaker.

    George KG Offline
    George KG Offline
    George K
    wrote on last edited by
    #111

    @LuFins-Dad said in My next piano??:

    Behringer is supposed to make a very nice keyboard speaker.

    Thanks!

    It looks like they only speakers that are single (not stereo) units. Would that matter for me?

    "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

    The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

    1 Reply Last reply
    • George KG George K

      @George-K said in My next piano??:

      I'd like to add some external speakers. Someone (@89th ?) said that I should repurpose my Klipsch 2.1 media speakers from my computer to the piano, and get something for the computer.
      I'd like to spend about $200.
      Would a soundbar be a consideration? It would sit behind the music desk, so perhaps not.
      Thoughts?

      Bump???

      @mark? @kluurs?

      Suggestions?

      markM Offline
      markM Offline
      mark
      wrote on last edited by
      #112

      @George-K said in My next piano??:

      @George-K said in My next piano??:

      I'd like to add some external speakers. Someone (@89th ?) said that I should repurpose my Klipsch 2.1 media speakers from my computer to the piano, and get something for the computer.
      I'd like to spend about $200.
      Would a soundbar be a consideration? It would sit behind the music desk, so perhaps not.
      Thoughts?

      Bump???

      @mark? @kluurs?

      Suggestions?

      Do they need to be powered speakers?

      I know these are a bit above the $200 budget but, ($200? come on man! your ears deserve better! lol)

      https://www.klipsch.com/products/the-fives-powered-speakers

      If not powered, then maybe these which are real close to your budget.

      https://www.klipsch.com/products/kd-51m-bookshelf-speakers

      but these would be better.

      https://paducahhometheater.com/collections/klipsch-reference/products/klipsch-rp-600m-ii

      George KG 1 Reply Last reply
      • markM mark

        @George-K said in My next piano??:

        @George-K said in My next piano??:

        I'd like to add some external speakers. Someone (@89th ?) said that I should repurpose my Klipsch 2.1 media speakers from my computer to the piano, and get something for the computer.
        I'd like to spend about $200.
        Would a soundbar be a consideration? It would sit behind the music desk, so perhaps not.
        Thoughts?

        Bump???

        @mark? @kluurs?

        Suggestions?

        Do they need to be powered speakers?

        I know these are a bit above the $200 budget but, ($200? come on man! your ears deserve better! lol)

        https://www.klipsch.com/products/the-fives-powered-speakers

        If not powered, then maybe these which are real close to your budget.

        https://www.klipsch.com/products/kd-51m-bookshelf-speakers

        but these would be better.

        https://paducahhometheater.com/collections/klipsch-reference/products/klipsch-rp-600m-ii

        George KG Offline
        George KG Offline
        George K
        wrote on last edited by
        #113

        @mark yeah, powered. I don't want an amp cluttering up the top of the piano.

        Thanks for the suggestions - I'll look into them.

        Gonna head off to Amazon's Showroom Best Buy in the next few days and check out some options.

        "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

        The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

        markM 1 Reply Last reply
        • George KG George K

          @mark yeah, powered. I don't want an amp cluttering up the top of the piano.

          Thanks for the suggestions - I'll look into them.

          Gonna head off to Amazon's Showroom Best Buy in the next few days and check out some options.

          markM Offline
          markM Offline
          mark
          wrote on last edited by
          #114

          @George-K A pair of powered studio monitors would work.

          Yamaha makes a nice pair.

          YAMAHA HS8 Studio Monitor, Black, 8 Inch https://a.co/d/7C4wWHs

          1 Reply Last reply
          • George KG Offline
            George KG Offline
            George K
            wrote on last edited by George K
            #115

            So I went to Best Buy to see if I could audition some speakers. I was absolutely amazed at the selection they had.

            3 models of Logitech 2.1 speakers.

            Three.

            Nothing else.

            Last time I looked there, they had a nice selection of various brands, but today, nothing.

            Whatever happened to shopping for audio equipment where you can actually hear the equipment?

            Oh and @mark! That Yamaha speaker is $398 - for one.

            "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

            The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

            markM 1 Reply Last reply
            • George KG George K

              So I went to Best Buy to see if I could audition some speakers. I was absolutely amazed at the selection they had.

              3 models of Logitech 2.1 speakers.

              Three.

              Nothing else.

              Last time I looked there, they had a nice selection of various brands, but today, nothing.

              Whatever happened to shopping for audio equipment where you can actually hear the equipment?

              Oh and @mark! That Yamaha speaker is $398 - for one.

              markM Offline
              markM Offline
              mark
              wrote on last edited by
              #116

              @George-K said in My next piano??:

              So I went to Best Buy to see if I could audition some speakers. I was absolutely amazed at the selection they had.

              3 models of Logitech 2.1 speakers.

              Three.

              Nothing else.

              Last time I looked there, they had a nice selection of various brands, but today, nothing.

              Whatever happened to shopping for audio equipment where you can actually hear the equipment?

              Oh and @mark! That Yamaha speaker is $398 - for one.

              Yes but they sound amazing.

              1 Reply Last reply
              • George KG Offline
                George KG Offline
                George K
                wrote on last edited by
                #117

                So...an update.

                I love the Roland. I don't make much use of any of the features it has built-in except the "volume" control. I would say that I use it with headphones about 50% of the time, and the volume turned down the rest of the time.

                Playing it using Mrs. George's 2012 MacBook Air running Pianoteq. Most of the time, I use the Hamburg Steinway D plug-in, and on occasion I switch the the Steingraeber, just for yuks. It's interesting how you "get used" to a sound and when you switch it, the difference is jarring. Not bad, by any means - it's just as good - but "different."

                In terms of use, I'd say I play it about 80% of the time and it's great for learning something (currently 1st movement of Pathetique is about 90% there, "Italian Concerto" about 70%).

                But, make no mistake, it's not a real piano. When I play my grand, I have to adjust the way I play, because it seems less forgiving - that's not a bad thing, I just have to pay more attention to what I'm doing. As @kluurs has said, if you want the feel of a "real piano," you're going to have to spend a LOT more money - and perhaps sacrifice your sense of aesthetic.

                I love the thing, and I have zero regrets purchasing it.

                Oh, the Kawai? It went to the recycling center...

                "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                LuFins DadL RenaudaR 2 Replies Last reply
                • kluursK Offline
                  kluursK Offline
                  kluurs
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #118

                  I was just thinking some similar things last night though I play about 98% using headphones. I find working on problem spots a lot easier knowing I'm not making my housemate insane hearing the same few measures a dozen (or more) times. The action on the real piano requires some modification of my technique, demonstrating to me that my efforts to rise from a poor piano player to a mediocre one remain but a dream. Still, some kindly inclined folks might feel I've safely moved up from being a godawful piano player. I suspect this as no one recently has asked me why I haven't considered giving it up altogether.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  • MikM Offline
                    MikM Offline
                    Mik
                    wrote on last edited by Mik
                    #119

                    I feel your pain, Kluurs. I still strive to reach mediocrity.

                    “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • George KG George K

                      So...an update.

                      I love the Roland. I don't make much use of any of the features it has built-in except the "volume" control. I would say that I use it with headphones about 50% of the time, and the volume turned down the rest of the time.

                      Playing it using Mrs. George's 2012 MacBook Air running Pianoteq. Most of the time, I use the Hamburg Steinway D plug-in, and on occasion I switch the the Steingraeber, just for yuks. It's interesting how you "get used" to a sound and when you switch it, the difference is jarring. Not bad, by any means - it's just as good - but "different."

                      In terms of use, I'd say I play it about 80% of the time and it's great for learning something (currently 1st movement of Pathetique is about 90% there, "Italian Concerto" about 70%).

                      But, make no mistake, it's not a real piano. When I play my grand, I have to adjust the way I play, because it seems less forgiving - that's not a bad thing, I just have to pay more attention to what I'm doing. As @kluurs has said, if you want the feel of a "real piano," you're going to have to spend a LOT more money - and perhaps sacrifice your sense of aesthetic.

                      I love the thing, and I have zero regrets purchasing it.

                      Oh, the Kawai? It went to the recycling center...

                      LuFins DadL Offline
                      LuFins DadL Offline
                      LuFins Dad
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #120

                      @George-K said in My next piano??:

                      70%).

                      But, make no mistake, it's not a real piano. When I play my grand, I have to adjust the way I play, because it seems less forgiving - that's not a bad thing, I just have to pay more attention to what I'm doing. As @kluurs has said, if you want the feel of a "real piano," you're going to have to spend a LOT more money - and perhaps sacrifice your sense of aesthetic.

                      Please pick out the real pianos in these pictures

                      E2E0FF3B-62AC-4711-BCC5-A6D1439FEB38.jpeg 5738DD6F-C4E9-40F8-B91E-D312E50E568B.jpeg A2C0F7CE-95EF-4B3A-A24D-32B83287A47C.jpeg 1D17E43F-BF8A-4B92-BACB-0C0FDD9CD862.jpeg 1AC22DEE-91C1-4CCE-899A-F7FC936B3602.jpeg 393157FD-4517-4D78-817A-C1149A1E8AB4.jpeg 82C81A49-4064-4D64-BB5D-6F4BBDBBA4D3.jpeg 7D534D35-8388-4E6A-9277-94463FB37674.jpeg 257B01A3-0946-435D-ACDD-8B09ACC99A5A.jpeg

                      The Brad

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      • George KG George K

                        So...an update.

                        I love the Roland. I don't make much use of any of the features it has built-in except the "volume" control. I would say that I use it with headphones about 50% of the time, and the volume turned down the rest of the time.

                        Playing it using Mrs. George's 2012 MacBook Air running Pianoteq. Most of the time, I use the Hamburg Steinway D plug-in, and on occasion I switch the the Steingraeber, just for yuks. It's interesting how you "get used" to a sound and when you switch it, the difference is jarring. Not bad, by any means - it's just as good - but "different."

                        In terms of use, I'd say I play it about 80% of the time and it's great for learning something (currently 1st movement of Pathetique is about 90% there, "Italian Concerto" about 70%).

                        But, make no mistake, it's not a real piano. When I play my grand, I have to adjust the way I play, because it seems less forgiving - that's not a bad thing, I just have to pay more attention to what I'm doing. As @kluurs has said, if you want the feel of a "real piano," you're going to have to spend a LOT more money - and perhaps sacrifice your sense of aesthetic.

                        I love the thing, and I have zero regrets purchasing it.

                        Oh, the Kawai? It went to the recycling center...

                        RenaudaR Offline
                        RenaudaR Offline
                        Renauda
                        wrote on last edited by Renauda
                        #121

                        @George-K

                        I love the Roland. I don't make much use of any of the features it has built-in except the "volume" control.

                        I hauled my 20 year old Roland RD-700 stage piano out of basement storage two weeks ago. I packed it away three years ago so that a 13 year old with zero interest in learning how to play an instrument properly couldn’t FUBAR it.

                        Like you, I don’t use the bells and whistles it has other than volume, a couple of piano settings and the harpsichords now and then when I play a Henry Purcell tune.

                        I have searched the manual but do not see a una corda effect or una corda input for a pedal. I think I’ll ring the dealer here and find if there is a way to obtain a soft pedal effect.

                        Elbows up!

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        • George KG Offline
                          George KG Offline
                          George K
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #122

                          Pianoteq for iOS is out. You can use your existing license to activate it.

                          https://www.pianoteq.fr

                          Not sure if it'll gain much use in my house. Mrs. George's old MacBook Air is sitting on my Roland, and that's the only thing that laptop is used for.

                          "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                          The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          • markM Offline
                            markM Offline
                            mark
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #123

                            Resurrecting this thread.

                            Casually shopping for a digital piano.

                            Don't need or want a cabinet. Stage/Slab is fine and I found a Yamaha I think I can live with. P-515 or P525. They both have an optional very sturdy stand and three pedal option.

                            Action feels good and the entire unit feels sturdy and well built.

                            I can get a demo B-stock 515 for $1,399 and the 525 for $1,499. Plus $349 for the upgraded stand and pedals. So $1750/$1850 plus IL sales tax.

                            I currently have a CVP-105 that still works but I do not like the action. Was offered $100 trade lol. I can actually live with that as I do not want to reassemble it or invite strangers into my home just to get a couple hundred more for it.

                            What say all you experts here?

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            • George KG Offline
                              George KG Offline
                              George K
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #124

                              Paraphrasing Duke Ellington: "If it feels good, it IS good."

                              If you like the action, that's the first step. Ignore the sound, you can always update with a cheapo laptop, PianoTeq and some speakers.

                              The Roland HP704 is down to $2900 at GuitarCenter. If you're happy with the lack of a cabinet, you can get the same mechanism and add a stand for a bit less.

                              "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                              The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              • George KG Offline
                                George KG Offline
                                George K
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #125

                                BTW, the Yamahas I looked at were nice, but just didn't "move" me.

                                The 10 year in-home Roland warranty was another factor. It expires when I'm 83 years old, so there's that.

                                "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • HoraceH Offline
                                  HoraceH Offline
                                  Horace
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #126

                                  I won't go back from my PianoTeq Petrof Mistral. I guess, from there it's a matter of finding an action you like. I have a low end but good one with my Roland FP-10.

                                  Education is extremely important.

                                  George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                                  • kluursK Offline
                                    kluursK Offline
                                    kluurs
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #127

                                    I did a lot of auditioning - but all of it was on cabinet focused instruments - ended up with the HP704 - which I've now had for about 18 months. I went cheaper prior with a high end Casio - but the action wasn't suitable. The 10 year warranty was a big plus for the Roland. George and I are fussy consumers, but LD is the expert.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    • HoraceH Offline
                                      HoraceH Offline
                                      Horace
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #128

                                      LD thinks the quality of a performance of classical piano music depends on how well the performer adheres to the score.

                                      Education is extremely important.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      • HoraceH Horace

                                        I won't go back from my PianoTeq Petrof Mistral. I guess, from there it's a matter of finding an action you like. I have a low end but good one with my Roland FP-10.

                                        George KG Offline
                                        George KG Offline
                                        George K
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #129

                                        @Horace said in My next piano??:

                                        Roland FP-10

                                        Is that the same action as the 704?

                                        "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                        The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                        HoraceH 1 Reply Last reply
                                        • George KG George K

                                          @Horace said in My next piano??:

                                          Roland FP-10

                                          Is that the same action as the 704?

                                          HoraceH Offline
                                          HoraceH Offline
                                          Horace
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #130

                                          @George-K said in My next piano??:

                                          @Horace said in My next piano??:

                                          Roland FP-10

                                          Is that the same action as the 704?

                                          No, the FP-10 has Roland's entry level PHA-4 action, and the 704 has the PHA-50. I guess there's a "pivot length" difference, maybe among other things. My action clicks a lot, which is the main drawback to me. But I haven't had experience with their better actions, and may not know what I'm missing. I think practice on a PHA-4 transfers adequately to any piano, that's the important thing.

                                          Education is extremely important.

                                          George KG LuFins DadL 2 Replies Last reply
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