I've had a chance to play the Shigeru Kawai 9' and it was just out of this world. The sound, the touch, so very well crafted, responding to your playing as though it has a life, obeying to your commands.
Agree with the replies above. Totally different degrees of prep and different tiers /sizes of piano. Steinway was pretty badly out of tune as well as sounding a bit old and tired, Yamaha should've been a CF series (it also is older than the Shigeru), and the mic placement was different on the Yamaha. And there is a big difference between 7' and 7.5 ft. Also would have been better to hear different styles of playing...classical, jazz, as well as the pop. Plus....no recording sounds like a live piano. You need to go play and listen live. And make sure it's well prepped.
Thank you for the demonstration! I really enjoyed it! As a professional piano tuner for over 40 years, I would say that each of these instruments is wonderful. But to my ear, The Shigeru Kawai is superior in balanced and even clarity, and power throughout. I've not tuned one; I've tuned a lot of Steinways, Yamahas and Kawais for various individuals and concert artists. The late George Winston, for whom I tuned at a certain venue every year for 15 years, preferred Steinway but was also happy with the Kawai RX-6 model the theater rented from the local Kawai dealer for whom I work. God bless!
Last but not least: I just bought a brandnew Steinway&Sons, modell "B" (2,11 m) from Hamburg. It is a sound "from heaven" - for all kind of music-styles...
They all sound great - I play on a 1990 Kawai KG-2E, 5' - 10" • Satin Ebony • Still enjoy playing this Piano.🎹 • Cheers from the Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂
Same here. I've always loved that special kind of "sparkling" sound that a Steinway gives, but the Shigeru Kawai's clear as water tone is otherworldly.
If you've always loved Steinway then you've always loved Yamaha. About 160 years ago there was a guy named Yamaha who built looms and textile machines as well as components for steam engines. With the new steel strings wooden pianos for just not cutting it so a man named Steinway went to Mr Yamaha and had him build a steel structure that would hold the tensions of the steel strings. It was Yamaha who did the engineering and came up with the design for the original Steinway and sons piano. As a side note, almost 80 years later a guy named Davidson went to Mr yamahas grandchildren at this point and had them engineer him a motor for his power bicycle. At that point Yamaha was making small engines. Yamaha, a 100% American company from an immigrant family made enough money to move back to Japan.
I always loved Yamaha (As I had been playing Yamaha from my childhood), And also understand Shigeru-Kawai is outstandingly great. better than Yamaha C-7, But in case if I buy (replace) a new piano, I shall buy Yamaha again, As I like it. - Just the same as family food.(Mothers cook taste)
My mother was a professional concert pianist (solo performances at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and such, and she had a string trio) and always loved the Steinway. But when she was starting, Yamaha and Kawai weren't yet a presence in the U.S. Most of the talk was Steinway versus Baldwin and my mother said "The Steinway action is just the best". Well, before her solo and trio career, she was lead pianist in a short lived all-woman all-piano orchestra during the war years. About 15 pianos. It wasn't financially successful and didn't last long. But she became lifelong friends with Catherine Bielefeldt, one of the other pianists. Cathy, in addition to the supremely important task of baby sitting me, eventually became the first female manager at Steinway Hall in New York. She knew pianos. And she wrote the book "The Wonders of the Piano: The Anatomy of the Instrument" which is an excellent book about how pianos are made. It was written in 1984 (so some info is dated) and mentions both Yamaha and Kawai in this from page 12, "The United States has about 15 builders remaining of the 301 in 1911. These few builders produce all the current United States brand names. Today, no substantial production comes from Italy, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, or Switzerland. Japan has become the world's largest producer of pianos. Yamaha and Kawai alone almost equal the total United States production. Korea and China are the newest members of the world-wide piano industry." So, considering my mother and my acquaintance with Cathy Bielefeldt, under some law, I have to favor the Steinway. And I guess the U.S. is down to just three piano manufacturers.
@@piforte3862 I have ever been a Steinway lover, owned a 1926 Baldwin 6' 11" model L, but currently own S. Kawai's smaller cousin, a Kawai 6'1" Grand, and I am not disappointed!
For real. I also like the Kawai long sustain which is amazing and delicious. Steinway used to have that, but is rare now. Yamaha always short and bell like.
The touch and response of the Keys is just as important as the tone. when a piano can "talk back" to you touch wise and sound wise you've got a keeper.
Sorry guys, y’all do great work, but the change in Mic placement changed the sound dramatically. I wish you could do the same with keeping the Mic placement exactly the same on all pianos. That’s the only True comparison. Keep up the great work! 😊
Great video. The Steinway definitely has the classical pitch and is all-around the most centre-ground balanced. The Yamaha is definitely on the light and sweet end of the spectrum - the presenters' characterizations of 'bright' and 'sunny' are apt. The Shigeru Kawai is unmistakable though - that depth and wholeness is about as perfect as can be achieved by human invention. All wonderful instruments but I am undeniably a Shigeru Kawai fan.
Nice comparison. via this demo, I think: Steinway B: vintage soft and warm low string sound and sweet warm high notes, all the sound and frequency are stable, compatible and smooth. Kawai SK7: Clear and clean high notes sound, more woofer bass cames out. Low sound is very stable and high notes are lively vivid. (I'd love it) Yamaha C7: Clean and bright high note, strong low string sound. All the sound are very near to my ears.
In order to for it to be a fair comparison the Steinway would have to be voiced up (provided it actually has Steinway hammers). That being said it would be interesting to see some Chopin Etudes to really unmask the differences between the instruments. Maybe even some Bach suites to get a better idea of tone.
It would be interesting to hear a German Steinway in the mix alongside the US version, they're such different instruments. Really enjoyable comparison though.
I currently own a Yamaha C-5. The demonstration of all three of these pianos was lovely. I have often thought of upgrading to a C-7 and probably still would due to price as compared to all three. But that is not the only reason. I have listened to the C-7 in many different acoustic variables, and when you dip down in the bass, it makes your spine tingle.
Steinway most mellow of the 3, Kawai in the middle, Yamaha has the most unique sound out of the 3 really comes down to personal preference i think really likes these comparison videos :)
Were we supposed to guess which was which? On my screen it was impossible to read the names until I zoomed in after freezing the frames. The order seemed to be Steinway then Kawai, then Yamaha, just going on sound, and yes I think I was right. If so, I have to say that the Kawai SK7 rang more interestingly, though I am not generally a Kawai fanboy at all. Well I realise that this is an old video, but I guess it is still relevant today. Some viewers commented on unequal mic placement. I didn't notice, and have nothing much to say about that, but I do realise that different pianos shine better in different videos. Thanks for making the enjoyable video anyway.
Wow, that Yamaha C7 blows my mind, first place without question!! The tone is unreal and the bass notes are soooo awesome... The harder it's played, the more it comes alive, the better it sounds! The Kawai comes in second place for me. The Steinway sounds more classical, but almost dull and slightly thin on tone IMHO.
I'm looking at this as a gospel pianist. The Yamaha to me was too harsh. the Kawai, took first it has the hollow sound I appreciate. The Steinway is always beautiful, elegant but not what I would chose this round.
Thanks for sharing this video. I just bought 7ft Steinway, where can I possibly know what model type and where to find the exact year made, please? Thanks
I may be biased because I own a Kawai, but this one sounds amazing. I always feel Yamahas lack depth and color. Would love to see this type of demo done by a classical pianist.
Thanks for a great comparison video. I listened blind to the various pieces but i kind of suspected the order was Yamaha, Kawai then Steinway. It was a bit unfair on Yamaha as the C7 isn’t in the same class as the Shigeru or the Steinway. A better comparison would have been with the CF6 or CF7 and the C7 was out of tune! The Shigeru was sublime in tone and the Steinway surprised me with its bass which I think matched the bigger Shigeru. Between those 2 it would come down to personal taste and how each felt to the player. I prefer the Shigeru but agin it’s 6” bigger. Thanks again. 👌🎹
I listened through headphones and i must say all three at this size are amazing. The Yamaha has a brassy bell like quality especially on mid to high notes. The Kawai is a close second for me. The qualities I mentioned of the Yamaha, sound invoke emotion in me.
Steinway - bright; Kawai - sweet; Yamaha - warm. One thing the viewer of this cannot evaluate by watching the video, however, is the touch, which is always a very equal/important consideration in conjunction with the sound. Personally, I love the sweet sound of the Kawai, but I also found myself enjoying the Yamaha pictured here more than I thought I would. I wasn't particularly moved by the Steinway sound in this particular video. As others have mentioned in the other comments, it sounded to me like the mic placement wasn't the same for all the pianos. I'm currently in the process of purchasing a used Kawai. So my overall preference is that brand, recognizing that each piano is slightly different, even within each of the brands.
I agree, at least in a solo recording like this I enjoy Yamaha's "presence." Though playing them might be a different experience. I haven't tried Kawai's Millennium III action.
I'm sorry you guys didn't include M & H. I played my Senior Recital on an almost new, meticulously prepared M & H BB (7') and it was the finest non-9' piano I've ever played or heard. The sustain went on seemingly forever- I had to re-pedal some pieces after practicing on a S&S B!
I grew up playing a Baldwin-Howard at home, a handful of Yamahas at school and church, a Steinway Model B at the community theater, and a Grotrian-Steinweg at my high school, as well as a wide range of brands at other various locations. The Steinway B is a fantastic instrument, when properly prepared and maintained. But of the three presented here, the Shigeru Kawai is my favorite, the Steinway is next, and Yamaha in 3rd. But they're all excellent. The lowest octave is the weak point for the Yamaha, but the Kawai and Steinway both have warm, solid bass registers.
The reason you see Steinways in concert halls is (a) Steinway provides them at a special prices to the hall owners along with guaranteed service when needed, and (b) many top drawer pianists are "Steinway Artists" and thus will not play any other brands.
Everyone has a different "ear" and mine hears the Yamaha as the one I would choose. All sound incredible but the Yamaha sounds richer, especially the higher notes but any of them would do truth be told.
The recording was biased toward the YAMAHA by virtue of microphone positioning!!! The Steinway and Shigeru Kawai were recorded with directional mics in a single point criss-cross pattern (look at them in the videos: \/ ) while the Yamaha alone was recorded with directional mics in a bass vs. treble isolation pattern (look at them in the videos: / \ ). All things being equal this would automatically give the Yamaha more depth, spread, richness of overtones enhancement and more spatial color to the raw sound.
The Steinway is definitely the most muted tone. It's my understanding they are made that way because they are designed to be played with an orchestra and not overpower the strings, so that makes sense. I happen to like a piano with power and clear tone. In the first example, the third piano definitely had the brightest tone. I don't know which one it was, but it was my favorite.
All three sound fantastic, but my nod has to go to the Yamaha. I understand the audio via RUclips bears little resemblance to what you might hear at the piano, but to my ear the Yamaha has a slightly fuller, more rounded out sound - if that makes any sense..
Although the Shigeru Kawai seems to have plenty of fans here, I don't like the tone of some notes in the area where the player's right hand spends most time. They sound breathless and plonky like the notes don't sing / the sound is just the initial attack with no sustain. Maybe it's the effect of the mics being located in that area. I own a Kawai K500 upright and I dislike the same aspect of my piano. I'd go for either the Yamaha or the Steinway. The Steinway seems to have better bass despite being shorter, and the Yamaha has that recognisable sound that mixes so well in pop/rock recordings.
Yes, mic positioning on the Shigeru Kawai is a mic placement which automatically "monauralizes" by recording in a manner which compresses the sound and dramatically limits the stereo spread, or as you said "sounds breathless and plonky like the notes don't sing / the sound is just the initial attack with no sustain." Well done!
I’ve owned a Yamaha, Steinway,and Baldwin acoustic pianos. Of those three I prefer the Baldwin. But when listening the Kawai in this video, I think that wins hands down.
I'd rather hear the pianos NOT mic'd up. Mic'd up would be good if you're recording with the piano, but I'd rather hear them as someone in an audience would hear them. Also, if the pieces were shorter, and played back to back to back, then it would be a more fair comparison.
How can you compare them if they are recorded differently ? Steinway and Kawai with mics in XY arrangement and Yamaha with mics pointing to treble and bass sides
I bought a 2016 Kawai baby grand for my daughter and it sounds so beautiful. So much better than the more expensive ones. I'd take the Kawaii over Yamaha and the Steinway any day due to pricing and key action.
All 3 sound great to me.. unless you are a concert pianist and record with these they will all go through a mix anyway so you can make them sound how you want.
i think the steinway definetly sounds warmer. The lower end of notes is very soft and polished and i would probably pick it for jazz. I really did not like the muted higher notes. On the other hand, the kawai sounds lovely and well tuned. Probably my go-to pick for a competition, classical music, and anything that needs a balanced sound. The yamaha was so different, almost like a caricaturesque version of the other 2. Every note was very bold and forward, sparkly, etc. If it were for me, i would use it to play anime music, or music for games probably as well, because that type of music is made to generate feeligs and not so much on being technical or precise
Before the demonstration started, I thought that the Steinway would outshine the other two, but to my surprise it seemed to have the least impact. Was it because it was the smallest at 7ft compared to the longer 7ft 6 Yamaha and Kawai ? Perhaps the acoustics of the hall did not favour it as much. It seemed closest to the wall, whilst the others had more space around them.
First of all, thanks.... :) Second.... did you use the same mikes and recording setting for all of them? To me it seems not :D Third.... I know it is hard to get three pianos of the same category and all new into one place.... I do recognise that ;) and last but not least... blind tests are more objective, if you are do such comparings.... blind test by the tester but also for the followers :)
Yamaha just stands out here because the guy is playing pop music. It is simply the most familiar sound and the best piano for the kind of music that he is playing (you are talking about the legendary C7 Yamaha that is by far the most recorded grand piano in history)
I'd be curious as to the age of the B? (The camera was on the dampers for a bit and it appears to have been rebuilt.) I'd be curious to hear a new, well regulated and voiced B compared to the Shigeru. I tend to still be a bit biased toward S&S (NY), but Kawai has engineered a giant of an instrument! Thanks for the video.
The Steinway was out of tune. Plus the fact that the Yamaha was mic'ed better than the other two. That was not a fair comparison. But being what it was, the Shigeru was the best, followed by the Yamaha, and finally the Steinway.
The Steinway sounds dull. The Kawai and Yamaha have better clarity. I have only owned keyboards in the past Yamaha DX7FD2, S90 and now a Kawai MP11SE. Yamaha by far has been the company to deal with providing unparalleled design and support however it would appear Kawai is now the worlds leader in piano/keyboard action which is huge in the ability to express yourself in the music. Thanks for the video guy!
Not an equal playing field!!! The recording was biased toward the YAMAHA by virtue of microphone positioning!!! The Steinway and Shigeru Kawai were recorded with directional mics in a single point criss-cross pattern (look at them in the videos: \/ ) while the Yamaha alone was recorded with directional mics in a bass vs. treble isolation pattern (look at them in the videos: / \ ). All things being equal this would automatically give the Yamaha more depth, spread, richness of overtones enhancement and spatial color to the raw sound. The other two pianos are correctly and fairly presented against each other, but not so against the Yamaha! Their mic placement automatically is "monauralized" by recording in a manner which compresses the sound and dramatically limits the stereo spread. All this considered, while the Yamaha seems to rise to the top, I feel the S. Kawai tonal quality was clearly a match to the Yamaha but sounded as though it had less depth and spread: Gee, I wonder why?!!
I about to get a Steinway...wife just approved tonight. I can go to my gave a happy human being regardless...I don't care about anything else in this world. Give me that Steinway.
Japanese pianos are much like western European pianos, very bright and powerful, almost overpowering. Some people love that sound, however, I like the steinway, because to me it sounds more balanced.
Even that I am happy Steinway owner, I must admit that Steinway hasn’t really evolved like hundred years when we don’t talk about those teflon nightmares. Probably they someway think that don’t touch to anything that already works. But at the same time european ones like Bösendorfer have updated their models and best thing to date I have tried has been Bösendorfer 280VC. What comes to Japanese ones, both are products of companies that have the greatest attention to details and both are innovative companies to develope their products. I assume that most of here have done their homework and know, that Kawai as company was born when mr. Kawai was dissapointed with the quality of Yamaha. The interesting thing is, that when brand new Yamaha arrives, its quite ready to start its life. But when brand new Steinway comes, it requires actually quite a lot work before you really know is it boy or girl. Some would say, that’s because Steinway owners are more professionals and demands more from voicing and tuning. Maybe. Maybe not. I only know, that I ones played in the room where was sis concert grands; three Steinway D’s, one Blüthner, Bösendorfer 280VC and Yamaha CFIIIS. All were unique, all were fantastic and all had their own characters. One was superb for Goldberg variations and one for Beethoven’s Moonlight sonata and so on. Bösendorfer was love at first sight and was very versatile instrument. But they all were extremely good ones and alone without comparsion and competition each of them was satisfying experiences to play. I would have taken any of them if I would have had money and space.
Shigeru Kawai for the win. Can't go wrong with any but the only concern for Shigeru (in the extreme long term if used as an heirloom) is the availability of original parts for repair. Steinways are ubiquitous as are original parts. The Shigeru Kawai is produced in extremely limited numbers.
I really liked the C7X, but I am curious why you did not demonstrate a S7X or CF series Yamaha. Also, the Steinway was a bit smaller than the other 2, was there a more comparable model in the Steinway lineup?
Yamaha is my choice. and Kawai a close second. to me the Steinway has never sounded quite right in the lower registers. Nice presentation but I suggest announcing each piano just before playing them. It's hard to read the emblems on the front of each of them.
The microphone placement is different with the Yamaha allowing the mics to pick up more bass. Also the Steinway is not as well tuned as the other two. I don't think you can call this a fair direct comparison. Also, comparing a Yamaha C7 to a Shigeru SK7 is unfair to the Yamaha brand. Why not a CF7 or S7? My guess, you're a Kawai dealer and can't get new Yamahas for your comparison. I personally prefer Kawai, but this isn't a direct comparison.
Assuming the recording methods and settings were exactly the same (tough to do), the Steinway sounded like your typical, recognizable Steinway. If you like familiarity, so be it. A little flat for me. However, Steinways are well-known to be highly customized by good piano luthiers, so you shouldn't finalize tone by this showing. It's just the out-of-crate sound. The other two surprised me. I was expecting the SK-7 to show itself to be the warmer, more well-rounded tone over a brighter Yamaha. That didn't exactly happen. The Yamaha tone in this piano really projected, yet with unexpected warmth. The Kawai sounded more middle-ground, not projecting as much as the Yamaha, but sending a more balanced, well-rounded warm tone than the Steinway. Take your pick. Next, discuss action more. :D
Tell me each piano of each model isn't really individual even before a tech goes to work on it. PS my 1969 Baldwin L has a clarity that rivals plenty of Steinways. It also has a resonant coherence in the very high register that makes it more tunable than a lot of those Steinies, and, best of all, the low end has power and focus that doesn't quit. One last thought I have a 660 sq ft living room with French doors that open to a large deck overlooking the pond on a very large acreage also quite open into the rest of the 1st floor, and I don't think I'd prefer or even want the sound of a bigger instrument in that space. I have owned other Baldwins and I guess I'm just a fan....
I would choose here the Yamaha to cut through to my neighbor or for Rock music, the Steinway for Jazz, and the Shigeru for classic and non-rock melodic music. Interesting how balanced and harmonic the Kawai sounds, there is not much missing from the 9-foot league. The Steinway however cuts a lot of the dynamics and brilliance from the D-class.
The Steinway B isnt actually Steinways Semi Concert Grand, that would be the Steinway Model C, however it is much harder to come across. Also IIRC the model B is infact 6'11 not 7'0 as you stated in the video, I just checked mine as well and it comes up to 6'11 too...
Steinway has the best upper range whereas the Yamaha's upper range sounds too thin and piercing for my liking. The Kawai is in between. I would describe the typical Steinway tone as warm and round, in comparison to the Kawai and Yamaha which sounds cold. I find music played on a Steinway really inspiring to listen to.
The Steinway B is not 7 feet long. It is 6 feet, 11 inches. So this is not exactly a fair comparison. You should have used a Steinway C if you could find one. But for the 7 foot 6 inch comparison you should try a Fazioli f228. It has the others beat.
Kawai and Yamaha are very close, Kawai has a more vibrant sound more often. By the way, could you please name the piece of music played at 8:36 mins on the Yamaha? Thank you.
A happy musical Holldrio from Germany Lower Saxony City of Langenhagen near Hanover wishes you Andre. Now my question I am a great admirer of the C. BECHSTEIN manufactory. Do you have pianos of this brand for a big comparison with e.g. Yamaha, Shigeriu Kawai or even Steinway & Sons. In my opinion, C. BECHSTEIN is the benchmark for all other manufacturers in piano and grand piano construction. I would be extremely curious to see a big comparison of this same brand manufacturer with all three others. Many thanks in advance! I don't care what size you test for example. L167, M / P192, B212, C234 or the coronation the D282. If you can do that, you'll be the 😎 coolest socks on this planet for me ... 🎹🎼🎶🎵🎶🎶🎵🎵❤👍😎✌✌ ... !!!
Although Steinway has been selling pianos the longest it's safe to say Yamaha is the one who's been manufacturing pianos the longest considering Yamaha is who built the frame for the Steinway piano. Back before Yamaha made musical instruments, they made machinery and components and bits and pieces and whatnot it was a machine company. Steinway went to Yamaha because the new steel strings were snapping wood framed pianos and needed a steel structure. It was Yamaha engineering who came up with the design and frame.
Interesting how well the yamaha records above the other 2. However, an SX should have been compared with the other due to match their price points. But the C7 does fine here. I think an SX would be worlds better than the other two. They are amazing instruments.
I've had a chance to play the Shigeru Kawai 9' and it was just out of this world. The sound, the touch, so very well crafted, responding to your playing as though it has a life, obeying to your commands.
The Steinway needs a serious tuning. And the mics should have been placed more uniformly between the pianos, as well as used the same mics
Wow, I think the Shigeru Kawai almost dominates this comparison.
But was this a fair comparison? The Steinway was a bit out of tune.
It should binn a Yamaha CF6 vs Shigeru Kawai 6 vs Steinway B🎹🎶
Yeah exactly. C6 is not even on the same price level.
Agree with the replies above. Totally different degrees of prep and different tiers /sizes of piano.
Steinway was pretty badly out of tune as well as sounding a bit old and tired, Yamaha should've been a CF series (it also is older than the Shigeru), and the mic placement was different on the Yamaha. And there is a big difference between 7' and 7.5 ft.
Also would have been better to hear different styles of playing...classical, jazz, as well as the pop.
Plus....no recording sounds like a live piano. You need to go play and listen live. And make sure it's well prepped.
Hmm, is it me or the fact that Ted is wearing a Kawai shirt lend towards a potential bias.
Thank you for the demonstration! I really enjoyed it! As a professional piano tuner for over 40 years, I would say that each of these instruments is wonderful. But to my ear, The Shigeru Kawai is superior in balanced and even clarity, and power throughout. I've not tuned one; I've tuned a lot of Steinways, Yamahas and Kawais for various individuals and concert artists. The late George Winston, for whom I tuned at a certain venue every year for 15 years, preferred Steinway but was also happy with the Kawai RX-6 model the theater rented from the local Kawai dealer for whom I work. God bless!
Kawai sounds amazing 😍
The placement of the mics for Yamaha is different than other two. Big difference in perception. Cannot really tell if the tone is better or worse
Last but not least: I just bought a brandnew Steinway&Sons, modell "B" (2,11 m) from Hamburg. It is a sound "from heaven" - for all kind of music-styles...
They all sound great - I play on a 1990 Kawai KG-2E, 5' - 10" • Satin Ebony • Still enjoy playing this Piano.🎹
• Cheers from the Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂
I always loved Steinway, but on this video, Kawai sounds heavenly.
Same here. I've always loved that special kind of "sparkling" sound that a Steinway gives, but the Shigeru Kawai's clear as water tone is otherworldly.
If you've always loved Steinway then you've always loved Yamaha.
About 160 years ago there was a guy named Yamaha who built looms and textile machines as well as components for steam engines. With the new steel strings wooden pianos for just not cutting it so a man named Steinway went to Mr Yamaha and had him build a steel structure that would hold the tensions of the steel strings. It was Yamaha who did the engineering and came up with the design for the original Steinway and sons piano.
As a side note, almost 80 years later a guy named Davidson went to Mr yamahas grandchildren at this point and had them engineer him a motor for his power bicycle. At that point Yamaha was making small engines.
Yamaha, a 100% American company from an immigrant family made enough money to move back to Japan.
American Steinway is very different from Hamburg Steinway, the US made Steinway is like a Costco version but with a huge price tag.
I always loved Yamaha (As I had been playing Yamaha from my childhood), And also understand Shigeru-Kawai is outstandingly great. better than Yamaha C-7, But in case if I buy (replace) a new piano, I shall buy Yamaha again, As I like it. - Just the same as family food.(Mothers cook taste)
@@BH-2 Agree. Hamburg is better to my tastes by a lot.
My mother was a professional concert pianist (solo performances at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and such, and she had a string trio) and always loved the Steinway. But when she was starting, Yamaha and Kawai weren't yet a presence in the U.S. Most of the talk was Steinway versus Baldwin and my mother said "The Steinway action is just the best". Well, before her solo and trio career, she was lead pianist in a short lived all-woman all-piano orchestra during the war years. About 15 pianos. It wasn't financially successful and didn't last long. But she became lifelong friends with Catherine Bielefeldt, one of the other pianists. Cathy, in addition to the supremely important task of baby sitting me, eventually became the first female manager at Steinway Hall in New York. She knew pianos. And she wrote the book "The Wonders of the Piano: The Anatomy of the Instrument" which is an excellent book about how pianos are made. It was written in 1984 (so some info is dated) and mentions both Yamaha and Kawai in this from page 12, "The United States has about 15 builders remaining of the 301 in 1911. These few builders produce all the current United States brand names. Today, no substantial production comes from Italy, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, or Switzerland. Japan has become the world's largest producer of pianos. Yamaha and Kawai alone almost equal the total United States production. Korea and China are the newest members of the world-wide piano industry." So, considering my mother and my acquaintance with Cathy Bielefeldt, under some law, I have to favor the Steinway. And I guess the U.S. is down to just three piano manufacturers.
The shiguru is the most beautiful one. Its glowing internal is gorgeous.
My dream is to own a sk
@@piforte3862 I have ever been a Steinway lover, owned a 1926 Baldwin 6' 11" model L, but currently own S. Kawai's smaller cousin, a Kawai 6'1" Grand, and I am not disappointed!
For real. I also like the Kawai long sustain which is amazing and delicious. Steinway used to have that, but is rare now. Yamaha always short and bell like.
The only one that sounded really heavenly was the Yamaha which was the third piano.
The touch and response of the Keys is just as important as the tone. when a piano can "talk back" to you touch wise and sound wise you've got a keeper.
kawai has both the sound characteristics of yamaha and steinway but each piano has its own beauty of sound 😍😍
I think I would be happy with any of them. I'd struggle to say which sounds the nicest, as they all sound different but fantastic!
Nice comparison. I love it all the way. Nice piano. Wish I could buy one. I play piano also on my channel
Sorry guys, y’all do great work, but the change in Mic placement changed the sound dramatically. I wish you could do the same with keeping the Mic placement exactly the same on all pianos. That’s the only True comparison.
Keep up the great work! 😊
Good catch! I noticed the same "problem".
Great video. The Steinway definitely has the classical pitch and is all-around the most centre-ground balanced. The Yamaha is definitely on the light and sweet end of the spectrum - the presenters' characterizations of 'bright' and 'sunny' are apt. The Shigeru Kawai is unmistakable though - that depth and wholeness is about as perfect as can be achieved by human invention. All wonderful instruments but I am undeniably a Shigeru Kawai fan.
Nice comparison.
via this demo, I think:
Steinway B: vintage soft and warm low string sound and sweet warm high notes, all the sound and frequency are stable, compatible and smooth.
Kawai SK7: Clear and clean high notes sound, more woofer bass cames out. Low sound is very stable and high notes are lively vivid. (I'd love it)
Yamaha C7: Clean and bright high note, strong low string sound. All the sound are very near to my ears.
In order to for it to be a fair comparison the Steinway would have to be voiced up (provided it actually has Steinway hammers). That being said it would be interesting to see some Chopin Etudes to really unmask the differences between the instruments. Maybe even some Bach suites to get a better idea of tone.
It would be interesting to hear a German Steinway in the mix alongside the US version, they're such different instruments.
Really enjoyable comparison though.
I personally liked the Yamaha. The lower end just seemed more powerful and the top end was bright. Sounded very balanced to me.
I currently own a Yamaha C-5. The demonstration of all three of these pianos was lovely. I have often thought of upgrading to a C-7 and probably still would due to price as compared to all three. But that is not the only reason. I have listened to the C-7 in many different acoustic variables, and when you dip down in the bass, it makes your spine tingle.
Steinway most mellow of the 3, Kawai in the middle, Yamaha has the most unique sound out of the 3 really comes down to personal preference i think really likes these comparison videos :)
Yamaha most unique sound? Different mic positioning on the Yamaha than the other two may have contributed to that
@@SouloftheTrolla
I have a Kawai GS70. Always enjoy the rich and mellow sound.
What arrangement are you playing at 8:40 I would love to learn it ?
I’ll take a Kawai please!! 👍👍
Were we supposed to guess which was which? On my screen it was impossible to read the names until I zoomed in after freezing the frames. The order seemed to be Steinway then Kawai, then Yamaha, just going on sound, and yes I think I was right. If so, I have to say that the Kawai SK7 rang more interestingly, though I am not generally a Kawai fanboy at all.
Well I realise that this is an old video, but I guess it is still relevant today. Some viewers commented on unequal mic placement. I didn't notice, and have nothing much to say about that, but I do realise that different pianos shine better in different videos.
Thanks for making the enjoyable video anyway.
Wow, that Yamaha C7 blows my mind, first place without question!! The tone is unreal and the bass notes are soooo awesome... The harder it's played, the more it comes alive, the better it sounds! The Kawai comes in second place for me. The Steinway sounds more classical, but almost dull and slightly thin on tone IMHO.
I'm looking at this as a gospel pianist. The Yamaha to me was too harsh. the Kawai, took first it has the hollow sound I appreciate. The Steinway is always beautiful, elegant but not what I would chose this round.
Kawai do no play so we'll when your the one playing it.
I enjoyed listening to all three instruments. Would love to own all three, as they have there own unique voice
It's not the plane, it's the pilot, er, I mean, the player.
Kawai wins easy for my ears.
Thanks for sharing this video. I just bought 7ft Steinway, where can I possibly know what model type and where to find the exact year made, please? Thanks
I may be biased because I own a Kawai, but this one sounds amazing. I always feel Yamahas lack depth and color. Would love to see this type of demo done by a classical pianist.
It should have binn a Shigeru Kawai SK6 vs Yamaha CF6 vs Steinway B🎹🎶
Thanks for a great comparison video. I listened blind to the various pieces but i kind of suspected the order was Yamaha, Kawai then Steinway. It was a bit unfair on Yamaha as the C7 isn’t in the same class as the Shigeru or the Steinway. A better comparison would have been with the CF6 or CF7 and the C7 was out of tune!
The Shigeru was sublime in tone and the Steinway surprised me with its bass which I think matched the bigger Shigeru. Between those 2 it would come down to personal taste and how each felt to the player. I prefer the Shigeru but agin it’s 6” bigger.
Thanks again. 👌🎹
There is no CF7. It's CF4, CF6 and CFX. There's an S7X but that's still a half-rung below the CF series.
@@benjaminsmith2287 Then I guess the CF6 would be the best comparator as it's the same size as the Steinway?
@@ian757 Yes, the top Yamaha line should compete with the top Kawai and a Steinway 7 footer.
Thanks for the feedback! We'll see if we can make that happen in the future.
Mark my words, someday I will own a Shigeru-Kawai
Piforte do you own it yet?
@@MildSatire Bwahahahahahahaha!!
Great instruments!! what microphones were used for recording?
I think the Kawai sounded the best imo and I think he felt the Kawai the most from his body language
I have always played Yamahas. That's the one that sounds the most familiar. Love the steinway too, totally different sound
I listened through headphones and i must say all three at this size are amazing. The Yamaha has a brassy bell like quality especially on mid to high notes. The Kawai is a close second for me. The qualities I mentioned of the Yamaha, sound invoke emotion in me.
All 3 pianos sounded great especially with Ted playing so beautifully. Reminds me of pianist David Lanz
I was the adult choir rehearsal pianist at a large church. The piano was a Bosendorfer Imperial Grand. The rest are toys in comparison.
Steinway - bright; Kawai - sweet; Yamaha - warm. One thing the viewer of this cannot evaluate by watching the video, however, is the touch, which is always a very equal/important consideration in conjunction with the sound. Personally, I love the sweet sound of the Kawai, but I also found myself enjoying the Yamaha pictured here more than I thought I would. I wasn't particularly moved by the Steinway sound in this particular video. As others have mentioned in the other comments, it sounded to me like the mic placement wasn't the same for all the pianos. I'm currently in the process of purchasing a used Kawai. So my overall preference is that brand, recognizing that each piano is slightly different, even within each of the brands.
Thanks Ted and Pat - great video! Any chance you can compare these to a Fazioli F228 and a Blüthner Model 4?
I think I like them in reverse order of how you presented them. I liked Yamaha the best, followed by Kawai and then Steinway.
I agree, at least in a solo recording like this I enjoy Yamaha's "presence." Though playing them might be a different experience. I haven't tried Kawai's Millennium III action.
I'm sorry you guys didn't include M & H. I played my Senior Recital on an almost new, meticulously prepared M & H BB (7') and it was the finest non-9' piano I've ever played or heard. The sustain went on seemingly forever- I had to re-pedal some pieces after practicing on a S&S B!
I grew up playing a Baldwin-Howard at home, a handful of Yamahas at school and church, a Steinway Model B at the community theater, and a Grotrian-Steinweg at my high school, as well as a wide range of brands at other various locations. The Steinway B is a fantastic instrument, when properly prepared and maintained. But of the three presented here, the Shigeru Kawai is my favorite, the Steinway is next, and Yamaha in 3rd. But they're all excellent. The lowest octave is the weak point for the Yamaha, but the Kawai and Steinway both have warm, solid bass registers.
The reason you see Steinways in concert halls is (a) Steinway provides them at a special prices to the hall owners along with guaranteed service when needed, and (b) many top drawer pianists are "Steinway Artists" and thus will not play any other brands.
The power of sponsorship and the ability to rest on its laurels.
A perfectly tuned Steinway B is, to me, unbeatable. Shigeru is almost there. Classical and Jazz. For the pop, folk world, Yamaha.
Everyone has a different "ear" and mine hears the Yamaha as the one I would choose. All sound incredible but the Yamaha sounds richer, especially the higher notes but any of them would do truth be told.
The recording was biased toward the YAMAHA by virtue of microphone positioning!!! The Steinway and Shigeru Kawai were recorded with directional mics in a single point criss-cross pattern (look at them in the videos: \/ ) while the Yamaha alone was recorded with directional mics in a bass vs. treble isolation pattern (look at them in the videos: / \ ). All things being equal this would automatically give the Yamaha more depth, spread, richness of overtones enhancement and more spatial color to the raw sound.
The Steinway is definitely the most muted tone. It's my understanding they are made that way because they are designed to be played with an orchestra and not overpower the strings, so that makes sense. I happen to like a piano with power and clear tone.
In the first example, the third piano definitely had the brightest tone. I don't know which one it was, but it was my favorite.
All three sound fantastic, but my nod has to go to the Yamaha. I understand the audio via RUclips bears little resemblance to what you might hear at the piano, but to my ear the Yamaha has a slightly fuller, more rounded out sound - if that makes any sense..
Although the Shigeru Kawai seems to have plenty of fans here, I don't like the tone of some notes in the area where the player's right hand spends most time. They sound breathless and plonky like the notes don't sing / the sound is just the initial attack with no sustain. Maybe it's the effect of the mics being located in that area. I own a Kawai K500 upright and I dislike the same aspect of my piano.
I'd go for either the Yamaha or the Steinway. The Steinway seems to have better bass despite being shorter, and the Yamaha has that recognisable sound that mixes so well in pop/rock recordings.
Yes, mic positioning on the Shigeru Kawai is a mic placement which automatically "monauralizes" by recording in a manner which compresses the sound and dramatically limits the stereo spread, or as you said "sounds breathless and plonky like the notes don't sing / the sound is just the initial attack with no sustain." Well done!
I think the problem is most people don't understand that Yamaha was the third piano not the shingu.
I’ve owned a Yamaha, Steinway,and Baldwin acoustic pianos. Of those three I prefer the Baldwin. But when listening the Kawai in this video, I think that wins hands down.
I'd rather hear the pianos NOT mic'd up. Mic'd up would be good if you're recording with the piano, but I'd rather hear them as someone in an audience would hear them. Also, if the pieces were shorter, and played back to back to back, then it would be a more fair comparison.
cual es el primer tema que tocaron ? excelente comparacion a mi parecer los tres pianos suenan espectaculares.
How can you compare them if they are recorded differently ? Steinway and Kawai with mics in XY arrangement and Yamaha with mics pointing to treble and bass sides
Kawai is the best one like its just too good
I bought a 2016 Kawai baby grand for my daughter and it sounds so beautiful. So much better than the more expensive ones. I'd take the Kawaii over Yamaha and the Steinway any day due to pricing and key action.
All 3 sound great to me.. unless you are a concert pianist and record with these they will all go through a mix anyway so you can make them sound how you want.
I heard that Yamaha's pianos have been assembled by the KIGUMI which is the Japanese traditional assembling way due to the humid climate of Japan.
The recording of the Yamaha seemed to hit limit/compression points on that mic. Maybe the Yamaha is louder.
i think the steinway definetly sounds warmer. The lower end of notes is very soft and polished and i would probably pick it for jazz. I really did not like the muted higher notes. On the other hand, the kawai sounds lovely and well tuned. Probably my go-to pick for a competition, classical music, and anything that needs a balanced sound. The yamaha was so different, almost like a caricaturesque version of the other 2. Every note was very bold and forward, sparkly, etc. If it were for me, i would use it to play anime music, or music for games probably as well, because that type of music is made to generate feeligs and not so much on being technical or precise
Before the demonstration started, I thought that the Steinway would outshine the other two, but to my surprise it seemed to have the least impact. Was it because it was the smallest at 7ft compared to the longer 7ft 6 Yamaha and Kawai ? Perhaps the acoustics of the hall did not favour it as much. It seemed closest to the wall, whilst the others had more space around them.
First of all, thanks.... :)
Second.... did you use the same mikes and recording setting for all of them? To me it seems not :D
Third.... I know it is hard to get three pianos of the same category and all new into one place.... I do recognise that ;)
and last but not least... blind tests are more objective, if you are do such comparings.... blind test by the tester but also for the followers :)
Texas y'all better include a damp chaser
Yamaha just stands out here because the guy is playing pop music. It is simply the most familiar sound and the best piano for the kind of music that he is playing (you are talking about the legendary C7 Yamaha that is by far the most recorded grand piano in history)
I'd be curious as to the age of the B? (The camera was on the dampers for a bit and it appears to have been rebuilt.) I'd be curious to hear a new, well regulated and voiced B compared to the Shigeru. I tend to still be a bit biased toward S&S (NY), but Kawai has engineered a giant of an instrument!
Thanks for the video.
The Steinway was out of tune. Plus the fact that the Yamaha was mic'ed better than the other two. That was not a fair comparison. But being what it was, the Shigeru was the best, followed by the Yamaha, and finally the Steinway.
The Steinway sounds dull. The Kawai and Yamaha have better clarity. I have only owned keyboards in the past Yamaha DX7FD2, S90 and now a Kawai MP11SE. Yamaha by far has been the company to deal with providing unparalleled design and support however it would appear Kawai is now the worlds leader in piano/keyboard action which is huge in the ability to express yourself in the music. Thanks for the video guy!
Not an equal playing field!!! The recording was biased toward the YAMAHA by virtue of microphone positioning!!! The Steinway and Shigeru Kawai were recorded with directional mics in a single point criss-cross pattern (look at them in the videos: \/ ) while the Yamaha alone was recorded with directional mics in a bass vs. treble isolation pattern (look at them in the videos: / \ ). All things being equal this would automatically give the Yamaha more depth, spread, richness of overtones enhancement and spatial color to the raw sound. The other two pianos are correctly and fairly presented against each other, but not so against the Yamaha! Their mic placement automatically is "monauralized" by recording in a manner which compresses the sound and dramatically limits the stereo spread. All this considered, while the Yamaha seems to rise to the top, I feel the S. Kawai tonal quality was clearly a match to the Yamaha but sounded as though it had less depth and spread: Gee, I wonder why?!!
They're all beautiful 🎹🎶🎶🎶☺☺☺
I about to get a Steinway...wife just approved tonight. I can go to my gave a happy human being regardless...I don't care about anything else in this world. Give me that Steinway.
For all around and ease of listening sound, i choose Yamaha. The Steinway is a bit more mellow, Kawai is brighter but nice.
Japanese pianos are much like western European pianos, very bright and powerful, almost overpowering. Some people love that sound, however, I like the steinway, because to me it sounds more balanced.
What about the Steinways from Hamburg??
Even that I am happy Steinway owner, I must admit that Steinway hasn’t really evolved like hundred years when we don’t talk about those teflon nightmares. Probably they someway think that don’t touch to anything that already works. But at the same time european ones like Bösendorfer have updated their models and best thing to date I have tried has been Bösendorfer 280VC. What comes to Japanese ones, both are products of companies that have the greatest attention to details and both are innovative companies to develope their products. I assume that most of here have done their homework and know, that Kawai as company was born when mr. Kawai was dissapointed with the quality of Yamaha. The interesting thing is, that when brand new Yamaha arrives, its quite ready to start its life. But when brand new Steinway comes, it requires actually quite a lot work before you really know is it boy or girl. Some would say, that’s because Steinway owners are more professionals and demands more from voicing and tuning. Maybe. Maybe not. I only know, that I ones played in the room where was sis concert grands; three Steinway D’s, one Blüthner, Bösendorfer 280VC and Yamaha CFIIIS. All were unique, all were fantastic and all had their own characters. One was superb for Goldberg variations and one for Beethoven’s Moonlight sonata and so on. Bösendorfer was love at first sight and was very versatile instrument. But they all were extremely good ones and alone without comparsion and competition each of them was satisfying experiences to play. I would have taken any of them if I would have had money and space.
I like how the steinway sounds soft and velvety. The Kawai and Yamaha sound too pristine and clinical to me.
To me, the Kawai sound is the closest to the old Bluthners (of 100 years ago) of which I used to own one.
I really like the Yamaha it sounds so cold and precise.
Different mic positioning on the Yamaha than the other two may have contributed to that!
@@SouloftheTroll the Yamaha is also out of tune🎹🎶
@@SouloftheTroll but still I like the Yamaha🎹🎶
yamaha has a prominent but still clean sounding bass. it also looks like yamaha was recorded differently
I honestly couldn't tell a difference at all outside of the first test where the last play seemed slightly less sharp.
Shigeru Kawai for the win. Can't go wrong with any but the only concern for Shigeru (in the extreme long term if used as an heirloom) is the availability of original parts for repair. Steinways are ubiquitous as are original parts. The Shigeru Kawai is produced in extremely limited numbers.
I really liked the C7X, but I am curious why you did not demonstrate a S7X or CF series Yamaha. Also, the Steinway was a bit smaller than the other 2, was there a more comparable model in the Steinway lineup?
B to D is 7 foot to 9 foot. There's no 7' 6" Steinway that I know of. (rounded the Steinway size up).
Yamaha is my choice. and Kawai a close second. to me the Steinway has never sounded quite right in the lower registers. Nice presentation but I suggest announcing each piano just before playing them. It's hard to read the emblems on the front of each of them.
Kawai is the best....
The microphone placement is different with the Yamaha allowing the mics to pick up more bass. Also the Steinway is not as well tuned as the other two. I don't think you can call this a fair direct comparison. Also, comparing a Yamaha C7 to a Shigeru SK7 is unfair to the Yamaha brand. Why not a CF7 or S7? My guess, you're a Kawai dealer and can't get new Yamahas for your comparison. I personally prefer Kawai, but this isn't a direct comparison.
It would hav to be a CF6 or S7X. But I agree with you.
It would have been nice if you labeled them on screen. I had no idea which was which. Everyone else does this.
Assuming the recording methods and settings were exactly the same (tough to do), the Steinway sounded like your typical, recognizable Steinway. If you like familiarity, so be it. A little flat for me. However, Steinways are well-known to be highly customized by good piano luthiers, so you shouldn't finalize tone by this showing. It's just the out-of-crate sound.
The other two surprised me. I was expecting the SK-7 to show itself to be the warmer, more well-rounded tone over a brighter Yamaha. That didn't exactly happen. The Yamaha tone in this piano really projected, yet with unexpected warmth. The Kawai sounded more middle-ground, not projecting as much as the Yamaha, but sending a more balanced, well-rounded warm tone than the Steinway. Take your pick.
Next, discuss action more. :D
Tell me each piano of each model isn't really individual even before a tech goes to work on it. PS my 1969 Baldwin L has a clarity that rivals plenty of Steinways. It also has a resonant coherence in the very high register that makes it more tunable than a lot of those Steinies, and, best of all, the low end has power and focus that doesn't quit. One last thought I have a 660 sq ft living room with French doors that open to a large deck overlooking the pond on a very large acreage also quite open into the rest of the 1st floor, and I don't think I'd prefer or even want the sound of a bigger instrument in that space. I have owned other Baldwins and I guess I'm just a fan....
I would choose here the Yamaha to cut through to my neighbor or for Rock music, the Steinway for Jazz, and the Shigeru for classic and non-rock melodic music. Interesting how balanced and harmonic the Kawai sounds, there is not much missing from the 9-foot league. The Steinway however cuts a lot of the dynamics and brilliance from the D-class.
different mic positioning on the Yamaha than the other two may have contributed to that
The Steinway B isnt actually Steinways Semi Concert Grand, that would be the Steinway Model C, however it is much harder to come across. Also IIRC the model B is infact 6'11 not 7'0 as you stated in the video, I just checked mine as well and it comes up to 6'11 too...
the Yamaha sounds like a Steinway talking while plugging its nose
The touch to the pianist is the most important as it is what t
Steinway has the best upper range whereas the Yamaha's upper range sounds too thin and piercing for my liking. The Kawai is in between. I would describe the typical Steinway tone as warm and round, in comparison to the Kawai and Yamaha which sounds cold. I find music played on a Steinway really inspiring to listen to.
Yamaha has the most honest sounds. It's why it's the must used possible l please for recordings... Steinway insurance the 3..Shigeru.. Earn
Great instruments!!!
The Steinway B is not 7 feet long. It is 6 feet, 11 inches. So this is not exactly a fair comparison. You should have used a Steinway C if you could find one. But for the 7 foot 6 inch comparison you should try a Fazioli f228. It has the others beat.
Kawai and Yamaha are very close, Kawai has a more vibrant sound more often. By the way, could you please name the piece of music played at 8:36 mins on the Yamaha? Thank you.
A happy musical Holldrio from Germany Lower Saxony City of Langenhagen near Hanover wishes you Andre. Now my question I am a great admirer of the C. BECHSTEIN manufactory. Do you have pianos of this brand for a big comparison with e.g. Yamaha, Shigeriu Kawai or even Steinway & Sons. In my opinion, C. BECHSTEIN is the benchmark for all other manufacturers in piano and grand piano construction. I would be extremely curious to see a big comparison of this same brand manufacturer with all three others. Many thanks in advance! I don't care what size you test for example. L167, M / P192, B212, C234 or the coronation the D282. If you can do that, you'll be the 😎 coolest socks on this planet for me ... 🎹🎼🎶🎵🎶🎶🎵🎵❤👍😎✌✌ ... !!!
What's the name of the song starting from 8;01?
This is a very old Steinway, but it still has that classical sound. Kawai is not so bad. But both Kawai and Yamaha seem much newer.
That Yamaha is not new. Newer Yamahas have a more distinctive shape as well as a different color, more copper like color for their plates.
Although Steinway has been selling pianos the longest it's safe to say Yamaha is the one who's been manufacturing pianos the longest considering Yamaha is who built the frame for the Steinway piano. Back before Yamaha made musical instruments, they made machinery and components and bits and pieces and whatnot it was a machine company.
Steinway went to Yamaha because the new steel strings were snapping wood framed pianos and needed a steel structure. It was Yamaha engineering who came up with the design and frame.
Interesting how well the yamaha records above the other 2. However, an SX should have been compared with the other due to match their price points. But the C7 does fine here. I think an SX would be worlds better than the other two. They are amazing instruments.