My next piano??

[mark]

@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

[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.

[mark]

@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.

[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...

[kluurs]

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.

[Mik]

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

[LuFins Dad]

@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

[Renauda]

@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.

[George K]

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.

[mark]

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?

[George K]

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.

[George K]

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.

[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.

[kluurs]

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.

[Horace]

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

[George K]

@Horace said in My next piano??:

Roland FP-10

Is that the same action as the 704?

[Horace]

@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.

[George K]

@Horace said in My next piano??:

I think practice on a PHA-4 transfers adequately to any piano, that's the important thing.

Right - if you're not offended, it'll be "good enough."

Also, if you have a "real" piano...well, that's sort of the point. @mark has a very nice Estonia (which I've touched), so your point is well-taken.

[LuFins Dad]

@Horace said in My next piano??:

@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.

PHA4 is good enough. You still need an acoustic.

[kluurs]

There’s an FP10 that was bought in January that they’re selling for $450 on FB Marketplace