Thinking of getting a digital piano

[Horace]

What headphones do you Pianoteq peeps use? I am investing in Sennheiser 650s. I think I am bottlenecked in sound quality with my cheap headphones.

[George K]

@Horace said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

What headphones do you Pianoteq peeps use?

You'll have to go to @kluurs for that one. I use some cheapo headphones - a no-name brand. For my needs they're OK. If I want great, room-filling, sound, I'll go to my grand.

[kluurs]

I use Sennheiser HD 800 which I run through a Topping D90SE DAC/headphone amplifier.

[jon-nyc]

I literally just ordered my third pair of Sony MDR7506 professional studio headphones yesterday. They seem to last about 8 or 9 years then the ear piece cushions start disintegrating from all the contact with my scratchy face. I briefly considered looking what else was out there but I’m so used to the weight and feel of these, I’ve been using them since 2005.

[George K]

The only thing I don't like about mine is that the earpiece is a bit too small. I might consider replacing them with something that's more "over the ear-ish".

[jon-nyc]

Mine are very much that. i think they were pretty high end when i got them in 2005. But they're still a good seller, you can see them stocked at bricks and mortar retailers to this day.

[Horace]

@jon-nyc said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

Mine are very much that. i think they were pretty high end when i got them in 2005. But they're still a good seller, you can see them stocked at bricks and mortar retailers to this day.

Those are the ones I'm upgrading from. I'm hoping to be able to hear a difference, but we'll see. The Sennheiser 650 will be more comfortable in any case.

[George K]

Those Sennheisers are pricey!

[Horace]

@George-K said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

Those Sennheisers are pricey!

the software, headphones, and audio interface are costing as much as the piano.

[George K]

@Horace said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

@George-K said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

Those Sennheisers are pricey!

the software, headphones, and audio interface are costing as much as the piano.

Yeah. How about that?

[Horace]

@George-K said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

@Horace said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

@George-K said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

Those Sennheisers are pricey!

the software, headphones, and audio interface are costing as much as the piano.

Yeah. How about that?

Rhetorical cost saving measures are worth what any other rhetoric is worth.

[Horace]

I bought the Petrof pianos yesterday. Now my office is rather cluttered with 5 concert grand pianos.

[kluurs]

Those aren't necessarily my best headphones. I have a pair of Stax electostatic ear-speakers and with a Stax Class A amplifier that sound nice as well. Sadly, I spend the majority of my time listening to music through my iPhone and my bone conduction headphones. I have a pair of inexpensive Sennheisers I use with the bedroom stereo.

[Rainman]

I don't use headphones.
If I have to listen to my crappy playing, so does everyone else.

[Copper]

I use headphones to cancel the noise when I mow the lawn or use the leaf blower.

[Horace]

I ordered two headphones from Amazon by accident. Actually, I ordered one, then reconsidered, canceled, and ordered another. But the cancelation didn't go through in time, and both were delivered. The first was Sennheiser 560-S, the second was Sennheiser 650. I thought the 650 would be better, but it turns out I like the less expensive 560-S more, and the difference was clear. Hate to take advantage of all these free returns. But I'll get over it.

[George K]

Amazon returns are Da Bomb.

As long as it's legit - "I didn't like them" - there's usually no problem.

How's the piano? Still happy?

[Horace]

PIano's great! The Petrof Mistral "warm" setting is excellent. I set the velocity curve to produce louder noises with softer touches, as that's what my fingers are used to from my upright, which can't be played pp.

[George K]

@Horace said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

I set the velocity curve to produce louder noises with softer touches

I haven't gotten that deep into the weeds with Pianoteq. I just pick a preset and I'm happy with it. Z

IIRC, Roland doesn't sample sounds. Using Pianoteq shows you how good it can be to not rely on sampling.

[Horace]

@George-K said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

@Horace said in Thinking of getting a digital piano:

I set the velocity curve to produce louder noises with softer touches

I haven't gotten that deep into the weeds with Pianoteq. I just pick a preset and I'm happy with it. Z

IIRC, Roland doesn't sample sounds. Using Pianoteq shows you how good it can be to not rely on sampling.

I think this sound engine on my piano, called SuperNatural, has some math modeling like Pianoteq. But it sounds awful by comparison.

One thing I note with the pianoteq pianos, is the sound differences between them are much more subtle than the differences I hear between real pianos. Still can't beat $50 for a new piano, even if it sounds like the old one.