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The New Coffee Room

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

My next piano??

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  • taiwan_girlT Offline
    taiwan_girlT Offline
    taiwan_girl
    wrote on last edited by
    #105

    @George-K Congrats on the new piano!!

    1 Reply Last reply
    • George KG Offline
      George KG Offline
      George K
      wrote on last edited by
      #106

      It's been a week now.

      First of all, the Roland plays wonderfully. No question that it feels "different" from my Bohemia, but it's not bad, or worse. Just different. It's an adjustment that takes about 10 seconds.

      The "textured" keytops are really a nice (ahem) touch as well. The keys never feel slippery.

      The built-in piano sounds are fine, especially the "rag-time" upright. Fun to play.

      But, with Pianoteq (which I purchased last night) it's a totally different world. I've spent most of my time playing the Hamburg Steinway D. I can really get it to roar if I want to. As I mentioned, I'm working on the Italian Concerto (Bach is fucking HARD), and using the PIanoteq free harpsichord is revelatory. It's SO much less forgiving than a piano would be.

      Tons of fun.

      My only quibble with it is that the built-in speakers, though adequate, don't give anything close to the experience of listening with even cheap headphones.

      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?

      "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.

      George KG 1 Reply Last reply
      • jon-nycJ jon-nyc

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

        And, just realized this is the 6th "piano" I've owned or had constant access to.

        1. My parents' Hobart M. Cable
        2. My Baldwin Hamilton
        3. My Bohemia
        4. My second Bohemia (which I still have)
        5. My worn-out Kawai
        6. This Roland.

        Interesting. Mine are:

        1. My Dad’s Cable Nelson
        2. My dad’s Steinway M
        3. My Baldwin Hamilton
        4. Rental upright in Mexico City (~1yr)
        5. Rental upright in Paris (-1yr)
        6. Bosendorfer
        7. Clav #1
        8. Clav #2
        markM Offline
        markM Offline
        mark
        wrote on last edited by
        #107

        I have had

        1 GEM Pro2 88 key stage piano with weighted keys circa 1988 ( a favorite of Keith Emerson's)

        2 Yamaha upright

        3 Yamaha Clavinova

        4 Yamaha C2 in oak

        5 Estonia 190 satin black

        5.5 Estonia L-190 gloss black which was a loaner for 6 months or more while my lyre was being rebuilt and waiting for parts, at Codogan's

        5 My Original Estonia 190 (for a couple of months)

        6 A brand new replacement Estonia L-190 in satin black. I was allowed to pick from 3 of them when Cordogan's decided to replace my original one because I was such a little bitch about the lyre creaking during my Chopin. lol
        It was a couple of years between models and I ended up with the new Laul-Estonia redesign

        @jon-nyc said in My next piano??:

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

        And, just realized this is the 6th "piano" I've owned or had constant access to.

        1. My parents' Hobart M. Cable
        2. My Baldwin Hamilton
        3. My Bohemia
        4. My second Bohemia (which I still have)
        5. My worn-out Kawai
        6. This Roland.

        Interesting. Mine are:

        1. My Dad’s Cable Nelson
        2. My dad’s Steinway M
        3. My Baldwin Hamilton
        4. Rental upright in Mexico City (~1yr)
        5. Rental upright in Paris (-1yr)
        6. Bosendorfer
        7. Clav #1
        8. Clav #2
        1 Reply Last reply
        • markM Offline
          markM Offline
          mark
          wrote on last edited by
          #108

          Oh, congrats on the new piano George!

          1 Reply Last reply
          • George KG George K

            It's been a week now.

            First of all, the Roland plays wonderfully. No question that it feels "different" from my Bohemia, but it's not bad, or worse. Just different. It's an adjustment that takes about 10 seconds.

            The "textured" keytops are really a nice (ahem) touch as well. The keys never feel slippery.

            The built-in piano sounds are fine, especially the "rag-time" upright. Fun to play.

            But, with Pianoteq (which I purchased last night) it's a totally different world. I've spent most of my time playing the Hamburg Steinway D. I can really get it to roar if I want to. As I mentioned, I'm working on the Italian Concerto (Bach is fucking HARD), and using the PIanoteq free harpsichord is revelatory. It's SO much less forgiving than a piano would be.

            Tons of fun.

            My only quibble with it is that the built-in speakers, though adequate, don't give anything close to the experience of listening with even cheap headphones.

            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?

            George KG Offline
            George KG Offline
            George K
            wrote on last edited by
            #109

            @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?

            "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
            • LuFins DadL Offline
              LuFins DadL Offline
              LuFins Dad
              wrote on last edited by
              #110

              Behringer is supposed to make a very nice keyboard speaker.

              The Brad

              George KG 1 Reply Last reply
              • 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 Away
                                MikM Away
                                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
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