My impression form these recording: In comparison, the Steinway's low end is the cleanest and best sounding, but especially the high end becomes very "cold". The Bechstein shines in the mids with warmth but the low end is even "muddy" in comparison to the Steinway. The Bösendorfer has a lot of overtones, especially in the mids. It has a very bright and playful character. If I could choose, I'd have to choose a cheaper Piano :P
It's surprising how good the Bechstein sounds, and for half the price! I usualy prefer the tone of Bösendorfer over Steinway, but here the Bechstein stands appart from dose two. The Steinway had a well balanced tone but Bechstein had character as-well. I'd buy the Bechstein in this case. P.s. You are a fantastic pianist and i absolutely love your work! May your inspiration never fade off!
Bechstein is the piano for me! The bloom explodes with soft colors like a colorful sunset. More often than not, the Bechstein brings tears to my eyes. ♥💝💘♥
I'm not a piano expert or a musician, but I was struck by how downright familiar the Steinway sounds. We had one in our home when I was growing up, and of course I've listened to many recordings over many years.
I always welcome the warmth of the Bechstein, as they have been my favourite pianos for a while now. They often carry out a sound that I can only describe as "dark" (or perhaps dim? Like a dimly lit living room), with a much softer sound and very little ringing/brilliance. Though that may sound like negatives, I find it very charming and the perfect piano for slower pieces, especially pieces where emotional expression is at the forefront of the piece, or perhaps a piece where you might not have any staccato or quick accented notes. That said, because of this, I think they have less versatility in comparison overall to the Steinway's or Bösendorfer's brighter and crisper sound (with the Bösendorfer being even more so than Steinway). Steinway is a happy medium. All three are incredible pianos and if anyone had one to give away I wouldn't be picky about which one it is! Haha.
Interesting, I agree with your sonic observations and explanations of your first sentence almost to a T, and liked the Steinway (here) best. All in the ear, and preferences, of the beholder, I guess. Can I assume you prefer the 'sustain' , if you will, for those pieces that have "any staccato or quick accented notes"? There, too, I would think the Beck MORE suited to music of that type. Taste is different for all, even when perceptions of the instruments 'strengths' and 'weaknesses', or at least relative sonic parameters are agreed upon. Just found that curious. Perhaps it should have been no surprise...it won't be in the future. To each their own, as it should be. Makes arguments over 'which is better' ring kind of hollow, doesn't it? I will try to keep that in mind in the future too, as I tend to be entirely too immovable in opinions sometimes (my wife would laugh at the sometimes part). She actually did when I read this to her. After 31 years, you DO kind of get to know someone pretty well, I guess.
I like the Bechstein too but I’d never buy one because the collaborated with Hitler and The Bechstein company never apologized for it. They really should put something up on their site but it might hurt their bottom line. The hell with them, I’ll stick with my vintage Steinway.
@@philbarone4603 I hope you've never owned a Ford. I could name several other companies and individuals that would probably surprise you, as well, unless you are knowledgeable in the area.
@@MrJdsenior can’t say that I have. Did Ford raise money for Hitler at his home? Mrs. Bechstein said that she wish that Adolph was her son. And ya know what? I get that that was a long time ago but the Bechstein company should renounce them in their site
@@philbarone4603 No, they apparently did a WHOLE LOT worse than that. According to some documents recently discovered from that time period they helped the Germans retool their Ford and GM automotive factories to produce German war machines early on in the build up. Those that have read the documents state that they were doing this WHILE they were refusing to do the same thing here, early on, even though that had been requested of them by our commander in chief, the US president. As you say, a long time ago, and I have not personally seen the documents, so I can't personally verify thus, but it seems to be well known by many (not conspiracy theorists) lawyers etc. digging up documents from the time to be used in determining anti trust actions for current auto manufacturers today. I can tell you I have been told things about WWII, the Bay of Pigs, and Vietnam that you will NEVER see in the history books, not going to elaborate on those. I do know a book that does a very good job (according to one helping run the operation from one of our intelligence agencies) of explaining the Bay of Pigs, and it ISN'T pretty. Basically a story of promises, and then outright betrayal from the very top, and the results of that militarily. I diverge, sorry. If you look up writings directly from Ford's hand you will see that he was very anti Semitic and outspoken about it. Ford apparently gained Hitler's attention by those actions and Hitler openly praised Ford's writings. Both Ford and GM deny this then and now (shocker, huh?), and say they lost control over their German factories, but as I said, documents from the time apparently show that is not true. Evidently there are documents showing that high level executives in both companies were in absolute collusion, and that the companies profited heavily by aiding the enemy. If you asked me which is worse, some piano manufacturer having a **** on for Hitler, or American companies helping to manufacture the vehicles used by the Germans to take country after country, AND kill our guys, and a few others (like say, 20 MILLION Russians) there is absolutely no comparison, none whatsoever. My father in law was a B24 pilot and was shot down over Poland and it took the Polish partisans three months to get him out. This very rarely happened, in fact he wrote the book (with some others, I'm sure) on escape and evasion tactics for the a Army Air Corps, later the Air Force) and actually helped set up the training recruits received on the subject before entering the war. He was also instrumental in setting up SAC. I can pretty much guarantee you which one would have raised his ire more. You can google it and find this info many places, here is a Washington Post article on the subject, there are many more. It would be interesting to put an FIA request in, if applicable, and see what you'd get. Probably someone already has. www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/nov98/nazicars30.htm Be careful though, as with all political footballs this one has lunatics on both sides that know absolutely nothing about the subject telling you all about what was and should be. Kinda like flat Earth, vaccination conspiracy sites and the like. Idiots, all. Some conspiracies are and were very real, though, just not many of them. Look up what REALLY happened at the Gulf of Tonkin that Johnson and McNamara used as an excuse to begin the Vietnam war, after all the baiting they had conducted without response. Hey, if you can't get them to react, just find some poor noobie sonar operator that gets everything completely screwed up (as reported by the pilots who were instructed to, and did bomb the hell out of open ocean) and say it was a military action taken against hostile forces that were attacking, ghost ships apparently, in that case. There are many days that should be defined as 'not our proudest moments' either. If you don't believe this you can easily search out FIA documents and recorded telephone calls involving the President and Sec Def where the matter is discussed. What we learn in school is mostly just utter garbage. The read history is SO much more interesting, and sometimes frightening. And no, I don't believe we brought down the Twin Towers, but I very much do believe 'we' (our intelligence services, and the things they DID report up the chain that should have been MONSTER red flags were ignored) was TOTALLY flat on their asses on that one. And that dumb "we didn't know they were going to smash planes into buildings" statement by the pres that day was utter nonsense. They ABSOLUTELY knew that could happen. It had happened elsewhere (not at that scale, obviously) and from what I understand there were already documents written describing pretty much exactly that scenario. Politics appears to consist mostly of CYA and lie.
I'd say earthy and dark not mellow but I think I see what you mean: I think it feels more subtle... subtle and harsh at the same time - if that makes any sense!
There seems to be defined what constitutes what. I, what for years had considered what mellow is, have recently heard people call bright, and viceversa. Bechstein definitely is complex and earthy
Bechstein has a brilliant sound, pretty hummable lower tones and very soft high tones. I may be biased, but no Japanese or American pianos sound better than the German ones, in general. P.S.I managed to guess the blind test.
The Bosendorfer really has a deep personality. I liked the basic flavor of Bechstein, but it didn't go so well with these selections. Would be better, probably, with classical-era (Mozart-Schubert) or maybe Brahms. The Steinway had the most variety of tone across registers, and so would be the best fit in this literature. Also, probably the pianist is most familiar with the Steinway sound, and has more practice in bringing out its best. In the blind test, hard to tell too much as it is completely soprano-based. The second piano made it sound very well.
For years I played a Yamaha because it fit the music I was involved in. Then I played a Bosendorfer and I loved it. Now I may be moving into a combination of all the musical genres I have played and C. Bechstein has become a contender but so has Steinway. The new piano is about 2 years out, plenty of time to find out what genres will be dominant. But the Bechstein? I keep looking for instruments to play. Lots of fun, and money. The search for a new piano can be daunting.
The Steinway has a loud and imposing powerful tone. The Bösendorfer has a clear, but not a colourful tone. The only Instrument with a fine distinguishing, colourful tone is the Bechstein. 😌There is Music in the air! 🎧
I thought they all sounded really nice. At first, I was leaning towards the sound of the Steinway (for its rich bass sound) or the Bösendorfer (for its good all-around sound). But I was completely fooled by the blind test, and thought the sound of (what turned out to be) the Bechstein sounded the best! If you're giving them away, I guess I'll take all three - though I don't know where I'll put them! :-)
Interesting comparison - the Bechstein M is the oldest (1928 vs Steinway B 1969 and Bosendorfer 225 1981) and the shortest (5'10" vs Steinway 6'11" and Bosendorfer 7'4"") and yet holds its own beautifully in the grand low registers as well as the sparkling and ethereal top notes. This is great news for me, as a recent purchaser of a 1975 Bechstein M. Certainly my own limitations play a role, but my experience as a serious amateur pianist who studied with private lessons for seven years with a Juilliard-trained Russian teacher is that the Bechstein is harder to play "cleanly" than the typical Steinway. I have found that I need to adjust my pedalling technique as well. It has been a challenge, but now after three months of daily playing I understand and can better control my Bechstein, am enjoying the beautiful resonance and colors and can confidently look forward to years of future enjoyment. Though I had initially set out to purchase a Steinway (a lifetime dream), the Bechstein M that I found was better than any of the vintage Steinways I tried out at double the cost, and I went right to the Steinway Factory sale, which was a huge disappointment. I'm a happy Bechstein convert. It's too bad that Bechstein no longer makes the model M.
So glad with the blind test! Nailed it!Bosendorfer is my first choice, it's tune is, in my opinion, a balance between Steinway and Berchstein. In second place I go for Steinway and then Berchstein. But all the three are great pianos and I would love to play in each one ❤️
Considering the size, C.Bechstein M is the smallest then Steinway B, then Bosendorfer 225. I like C.Bechstein. Its high tone is bell like tone~ Though the smallest among the three and it's old model, it sounds GREAT~~!
I’m partial to the bösendorfer but next time you should do it blind with just a 1,2 or 3 and then reveal which they are at the end Pepsi challenge style
Wow! This was a hard one... I love Steinways and you could hear, that it's a Steinway. But overall, I like the Bechstein even a little bit more. All three were very close. What the Bechstein looses on sharpness, it gains in body and volume. Overall for those pieces played, I'd go for the Bechstein - although it's already $25,000 more than I could ever spend. What surprised me the most, was that this particular Bösendorfer had nothing of the dampness I critique the most on this manufacturer. On the second song, a Steinway becomes a Steinway. And you can tell.
Bosendorfer, and I had the good fortune to play a Steinway Model A for 3.5 years. But the Bosendorfer here was a wonderful instrument. Of course he is right, Play 10 Steinways, get 10 different pianos, but its your ears that tell you almost immediately Ah this one has that indefinable whatever it is, its got it.
Bechstein is my favourite. Perhaps the least personality, but mellow and warm. The Bösendorfer is wonderfully crisp and reminds me of an old coffee house in Vienna. The Steinway is very impressive but too penetrating. At least for my preferred repertoire and my living room Bechstein is the winner. I actually got the blind test quite wrong, maybe because the range was higher. Overall, Bechstein seemed more consistent.
Short answer: Here, in this video, the Steinway. Long answer: I actually preferred the Steinway in this presentation. It seemed more sustained, resonant, and fuller than the others. I would place the Bose 2nd. One thing about these tests is I expect you could change nothing other than the mic placement and get totally different results, as having done recordings in the past, I know mic placement is critical. I don't know if different pianos have DIFFERENT sweet spots for mic placement, but it certainly would not surprise me if they did. Also placement in the room (closer to walls, etc) can dramatically alter sound, as I'm sure you are well aware, especially from certain chosen points in the sound field. Keeping all these things constant is obviously far beyond the scope of this video, though, as you probably did not want to spend an entire day, or more, generating just the raw video. It's interesting to note that others below preferred the piano I found least appealing. It's ALL taste and perception, in the final analysis, for a given person, isn't it. Apparently there is no 'best piano' for everyone, never has been, never will be. Yes, I could definitely tell a difference, especially between the Beck and the Steinway. I should do a double blind to see if that perceived difference was really there, and if I could pick the correct piano;, blind. I often found that doing blind tests with comparing different sound systems, as one example, offered a LOT more insight into what was really going on than what you THINK is going on. :-) Probably WAY deeper than you wanted this to go.
Wow! I've not heard a jazz version of sonata 8 before, loving it. This video confirms my impression that Bechstein is best for Beethoven solo and chamber music.
Hi Jacob, I prefer the sound of Steinway for Test 1 but Bösendorfer for 2 and 3... Bechstein sounded muffled and dull to me. Thank you for the opportunity to hear and compare great pianos!
I probably liked the Bosendorfer and Steinway most but the Bechstein does have a beautiful tone when you want something to be less bright and more warm. They are all beautiful.
I’m a concert pianist. I love Steinway pianos, however if given a choice I will generally opt Bösendorfer over Steinway - but have to play both because they are so different as individuals it’s impossible to generalize which I prefer.
Now that's a really fair comparison (NOT): a 1928 Bechstein Model M (5 ft 10 in), a 1969 Steinway Model B (6 ft 11 in), and a 1981 Bosey 225 cm (7 ft 4 in). Despite the huge size difference, the Bechstein had the best sound quality -- a beautiful singing voice. The Steinway sounded muddy and diffuse. The Bosey was had a similar in Bechstein-like sound but because it's size advantage it should have blown the Bechstein out of the water. Bechstein for the win!
Tough choice, all sound fantastic. Played a lot on Steinway, so perhabs I am bit biased, but I like them quite a lot. Only had one chance so far to play on a original Bösendorfer, but they also feel fantastic. My vote is probably the Bösendorfer (Just like the broader sound).
Same for me. I played on a Steinway for years, but had the opportunity to play a Bösendorfer, and was instantly in love with it. I like that they aren’t as bright as the Steinway, but have a fuller tone.
In a way it was an unfair comparison because all three pianos were very different. The Steinway is a model b measuring 6’11” , the Bechstein is a model m measuring 5’10”, and the Bosendorfer 225 measuring at 7’4”. Size has a big difference on the tonal qualities of the pianos because of string length, soundboard surface area etc. So just keep that in mind. I personal preferred the clear tone and f the Steinway and its rich bass.
Clearly the Bechstein! What's truly remarkable is that not only is the sound superior with balance and tone, It's also 93 years old! And that in itself speaks volume vs. the Steinway 52yrs old and the Bosendorfer 40yrs old! All competent pianos. Only one is superior!
I thought there was a piano that matched each piece of music. I like all the tones of the piano.but Personally, the old tone is comfortable. My favorite was Bosendorfer . It's interesting that there's a commercial cutting in lol
For this video, the Steinway was overall superior in tone. In real life (with limited experience), I tend to prefer Bosendorfer for their action (the Steinways I've played are stiffer, and therefore tend to be harder to play softly).
When I was at the Mayo Clinic three times for treatments, they had two grand Steinway pianos...amongst priceless Warhol paintings and Chihuly sculptures. The keys were extremely hard to press. Granted, anyone could play on them and who knows when or if they had been tuned, but compared to my regular very old school upright piano (with a whole set of real ivory/elephant tusk), it was a shock how firmly I needed to press and how my dynamics went away playing songs that I had no issue with before.
They all sounded wonderful. I have a 225 Bosendorfer which I purchased in 1986 because it was bright and the sound blossomed from the soundboard. Now that I am 81 years old I am beginning to wonder how long I will keep it and how to get rid of it. It is an amazing instrument. Sadly, I cannot take it with me when I depart this mortal coil.
I think this Steinway is versatile, well balanced, and nicely voiced. But I could sure understand why someone would choose the Bechstein for their home. It’s warm and friendly.
Steinway sounded clean and familiar (my family worked in the Fine Arts so I've heard plenty of Steinways, colleges love them). Bechstein had a warmth through the whole range. Bosendorfer sounded more dramatic. All great pianos for a pianist with six figures burning a hole in their pocket.
I think the Steinway sounded the best on all the excerpts. The Bosendorfer has the best looks. The Bechstein was voiced softer and had little brilliance. Just my opinion.
I don’t understand anyone who prefers that Steinway! I’m a Bosendorfer fan, although frankly the Bechstein is also gorgeous. But no the Bosendorfer sings a completely and altogether more powerful and rich sound then the others! Personal prefs of course.
My fave all the way around was the Bosendorfer. On the blind testI was correct on the Bosendorfer and flipped the other two. They sounded to similar to me.
I have had the opportunity to play all 3 of these great pianos. I would choose the Bösendorfer if I could only have one. Such a nice blend of warm but bright, with great action where you need it. If I was doing only concert hall, it would be the Steinway for the power produced to fill a room. The Bechstein is a great playful and bright piano but lacks on the fullness for lots of music, in my opinion.
It's very interesting. Wenn I know which Piano is which brand, I like the sound from Boesendorfer than the other two. But from the blind choice, I like the third one much more than the other two, and it was Bechstein! Actually I have a Bechstein grand at home, I do love it so much！ This piece of Steinway sounds a little bit week for me. Maybe it just depends on this one.
It all depends on which room I was purchasing the piano for: A Rehearsal/Performance Venue most definitely the Steinway. If for my living/music room most definitely the C Bechstein. The Bosendorfer sounded like it needed more fine tuning work. It didn't sound velvety like a Bosendorfer usually sounds.
Jazz only on Bösendorfer :) Great for short and punctual sound. Classical - Bechstein. More velvet sound. Incredible. Like it has 2 layers on a note. Its longer and softer. Amazing. I like Steinway though, too. No complaints. It's like wearing a coco chanel mademoiselle haha
The harp's ability to transmit tone into the case varies with each producers model, so this test (on reconditioned pianos with varying life experiences) is only valid in its frame of reference.
Böesendorfer was really nice, but it was after listening for a while, just too cutting for my taste. I found the Steinway to be very balanced and something I would enjoy listening to long term. The Böesendorfer I feel would wear on the ears after a while. Most of the differences can also be adjusted a bit by the technicians. But the way these were recorded I would like to listen to a Böesendorfer at a Jazz club but would prefer to own the Steinway in the home or listening at the concert hall.
I would put Steinway and Bösendorfer over the Bechstein. (Am I influenced, despite of my best efforts, by the price tag? I don’t know. But I got 3/3 at the blind test.) I’d say the first one for a piece with more brilliance and the latter for more intimacy and softness.
Did you know that Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen was recorded on a Bechstein piano? The definitive piano brand for pop, rock, and other similar styles of music. Steinway meanwhile is a swiss army knife, so well rounded, but maybe isn't the best for a very specific case.
I'm not a Steinway fanatic (I'm not a pianist and never owned a piano in my life, let alone a concert grand), but for some reason every time I hear such comparisons I almost always find Steinway sound the most well-rounded and balanced and downright more pleasant to my ears. Some aspects of other pianos might be more impressive, but overall it's almost always Steinways that sound more universal and good on every material.
It's the wood and the hand made aspect. They sound - to me - woodier vs more bell or metalic like. Plus it's the sound were most accustomed to from the stage, concert hall, etc. It is "the sound" of the grand piano, though the other makes are also fabulous.
Gosh - I got it completely backwards! I thought the 1st one was a Bechstein and the 2nd a Steinway in the blind test. Mind you I'm listening through my beaten up crappy Samsung mobile phone headphones but that is probably no excuse. In my view, Jazz is American music so probably sounds best played on a Steinway. Now Bechastein delivers but in its own way whereas Bösendorfer has an idiosyncratic sound so makes its own music so best be careful when playing Jazz on it, on some pieces more than others.
The Steinway and Bosendorfer pianos in this test are the same design as modern Steinways and Bosendorfers. However, the Bechstein dates from 1928, and Bechstein has radically changed the design of their pianos since then. (The same can be said of Bluthner as well.)
Steinway: Mellow bass, crystal clear treble. Overall quite rich. C. Bechstein: Overall round, mellow and rich. It also seems to be quite warm in the bass too, at least when you started playing Für Elise. Bösendorfer: Globally warm and clear. The treble sounded slightly out of tune though. If I had to pick one among those, even if neither of these brands are my favourite, I'd choose C. Bechstein. I like it when the piano feels well rounded.
I love the Steinway for its lovely complex overtones and the bosendorfer for similar reasons but with a much different character. I thought the recording was very good.
Prefer the Bechstein of these three. My favourite piano is an early 1900s Gerard Heinzman from Canada. They somehow capture the sharpness of the Steinway with the mellowness of the Bechstein along with an undertone that cannot be beat. I'm talking about one built prior to the 1932 takeover by Heinzman Piano Company, after which the Gerard became the second rank brand.
My amateur impression; Steinway seems to fit in the high class, high society, Bechstein gives a homey vibe, and Bösendorfer is like a very high quality street piano haha. My personal vote goes to Bechstein.
First Steinway Second, Bechstein - it's slightly muted tone worked better Third, Bosendorfer - the bright crisper sounded worked for that piece Fourth, all fairly comparable.
I've listened to a lot of these comparisons, always in search of something I like better than Steinway. But just can't be done. The Steinway is the winner, to my ear.
All three pianos sound excellent, though the Bechstein and the Bechstein needed tuning so the comparison is a bit unfair. That said, I thought the vibrancy, musical depth, and clarity were absolutely outstanding on the Steinway. An amazing sound. Though I also liked the Bechstein, I think it has a character of its own and there is an originality to its sound that sets it apart from the conventional piano sound. I like the mellow, dark sound of it. And it's half the price of the Bösendorfer which - despite its angel like sound - has impressed me least.
The steinnway was the best. Bechstein felt muted, like it wants to say something but it can't. The Bosendorfer felt too tinny, might have needed voicing. Really nice improvisations on beethoven, it was nice even when you messed up.
My impression form these recording: In comparison, the Steinway's low end is the cleanest and best sounding, but especially the high end becomes very "cold". The Bechstein shines in the mids with warmth but the low end is even "muddy" in comparison to the Steinway. The Bösendorfer has a lot of overtones, especially in the mids. It has a very bright and playful character.
If I could choose, I'd have to choose a cheaper Piano :P
lmao the last one caught me off guard pal but fact🤣
Böesendorfer gets my vote. It had me at the Fur Elise Jazz arrangement. The right amount of mellow, while still having clarity.
That's exactly it
It's surprising how good the Bechstein sounds, and for half the price! I usualy prefer the tone of Bösendorfer over Steinway, but here the Bechstein stands appart from dose two. The Steinway had a well balanced tone but Bechstein had character as-well. I'd buy the Bechstein in this case.
P.s. You are a fantastic pianist and i absolutely love your work! May your inspiration never fade off!
I haven't heard a Bechstein that would disappoint me. I'm not surprised it sounds so good.
Bechstein is the piano for me! The bloom explodes with soft colors like a colorful sunset. More often than not, the Bechstein brings tears to my eyes. ♥💝💘♥
It was a tough choice, but I really think the Bechstein really shined in your recordings! Awesome video Jacob!!
same here
I'm not a piano expert or a musician, but I was struck by how downright familiar the Steinway sounds. We had one in our home when I was growing up, and of course I've listened to many recordings over many years.
Clearly its Bechstein. Its just perfect in its higher tones and perfectly in its balanced deeper bass.
Bechstein, Bechstein, Bechstein. It's feel like , the piano sings every own note of it.
It's not just sound of notes, it's more..
Yes! To me, Bechstein was the winner too.
I always welcome the warmth of the Bechstein, as they have been my favourite pianos for a while now. They often carry out a sound that I can only describe as "dark" (or perhaps dim? Like a dimly lit living room), with a much softer sound and very little ringing/brilliance. Though that may sound like negatives, I find it very charming and the perfect piano for slower pieces, especially pieces where emotional expression is at the forefront of the piece, or perhaps a piece where you might not have any staccato or quick accented notes.
That said, because of this, I think they have less versatility in comparison overall to the Steinway's or Bösendorfer's brighter and crisper sound (with the Bösendorfer being even more so than Steinway). Steinway is a happy medium.
All three are incredible pianos and if anyone had one to give away I wouldn't be picky about which one it is! Haha.
Interesting, I agree with your sonic observations and explanations of your first sentence almost to a T, and liked the Steinway (here) best. All in the ear, and preferences, of the beholder, I guess. Can I assume you prefer the 'sustain' , if you will, for those pieces that have "any staccato or quick accented notes"? There, too, I would think the Beck MORE suited to music of that type. Taste is different for all, even when perceptions of the instruments 'strengths' and 'weaknesses', or at least relative sonic parameters are agreed upon. Just found that curious. Perhaps it should have been no surprise...it won't be in the future. To each their own, as it should be. Makes arguments over 'which is better' ring kind of hollow, doesn't it? I will try to keep that in mind in the future too, as I tend to be entirely too immovable in opinions sometimes (my wife would laugh at the sometimes part). She actually did when I read this to her. After 31 years, you DO kind of get to know someone pretty well, I guess.
I like the Bechstein too but I’d never buy one because the collaborated with Hitler and The Bechstein company never apologized for it. They really should put something up on their site but it might hurt their bottom line. The hell with them, I’ll stick with my vintage Steinway.
@@philbarone4603 I hope you've never owned a Ford. I could name several other companies and individuals that would probably surprise you, as well, unless you are knowledgeable in the area.
@@MrJdsenior can’t say that I have. Did Ford raise money for Hitler at his home? Mrs. Bechstein said that she wish that Adolph was her son. And ya know what? I get that that was a long time ago but the Bechstein company should renounce them in their site
@@philbarone4603 No, they apparently did a WHOLE LOT worse than that. According to some documents recently discovered from that time period they helped the Germans retool their Ford and GM automotive factories to produce German war machines early on in the build up.
Those that have read the documents state that they were doing this WHILE they were refusing to do the same thing here, early on, even though that had been requested of them by our commander in chief, the US president. As you say, a long time ago, and I have not personally seen the documents, so I can't personally verify thus, but it seems to be well known by many (not conspiracy theorists) lawyers etc. digging up documents from the time to be used in determining anti trust actions for current auto manufacturers today. I can tell you I have been told things about WWII, the Bay of Pigs, and Vietnam that you will NEVER see in the history books, not going to elaborate on those. I do know a book that does a very good job (according to one helping run the operation from one of our intelligence agencies) of explaining the Bay of Pigs, and it ISN'T pretty. Basically a story of promises, and then outright betrayal from the very top, and the results of that militarily. I diverge, sorry.
If you look up writings directly from Ford's hand you will see that he was very anti Semitic and outspoken about it. Ford apparently gained Hitler's attention by those actions and Hitler openly praised Ford's writings.
Both Ford and GM deny this then and now (shocker, huh?), and say they lost control over their German factories, but as I said, documents from the time apparently show that is not true. Evidently there are documents showing that high level executives in both companies were in absolute collusion, and that the companies profited heavily by aiding the enemy.
If you asked me which is worse, some piano manufacturer having a **** on for Hitler, or American companies helping to manufacture the vehicles used by the Germans to take country after country, AND kill our guys, and a few others (like say, 20 MILLION Russians) there is absolutely no comparison, none whatsoever.
My father in law was a B24 pilot and was shot down over Poland and it took the Polish partisans three months to get him out. This very rarely happened, in fact he wrote the book (with some others, I'm sure) on escape and evasion tactics for the a Army Air Corps, later the Air Force) and actually helped set up the training recruits received on the subject before entering the war. He was also instrumental in setting up SAC. I can pretty much guarantee you which one would have raised his ire more.
You can google it and find this info many places, here is a Washington Post article on the subject, there are many more. It would be interesting to put an FIA request in, if applicable, and see what you'd get. Probably someone already has.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/nov98/nazicars30.htm
Be careful though, as with all political footballs this one has lunatics on both sides that know absolutely nothing about the subject telling you all about what was and should be. Kinda like flat Earth, vaccination conspiracy sites and the like. Idiots, all.
Some conspiracies are and were very real, though, just not many of them. Look up what REALLY happened at the Gulf of Tonkin that Johnson and McNamara used as an excuse to begin the Vietnam war, after all the baiting they had conducted without response. Hey, if you can't get them to react, just find some poor noobie sonar operator that gets everything completely screwed up (as reported by the pilots who were instructed to, and did bomb the hell out of open ocean) and say it was a military action taken against hostile forces that were attacking, ghost ships apparently, in that case. There are many days that should be defined as 'not our proudest moments' either.
If you don't believe this you can easily search out FIA documents and recorded telephone calls involving the President and Sec Def where the matter is discussed. What we learn in school is mostly just utter garbage. The read history is SO much more interesting, and sometimes frightening. And no, I don't believe we brought down the Twin Towers, but I very much do believe 'we' (our intelligence services, and the things they DID report up the chain that should have been MONSTER red flags were ignored) was TOTALLY flat on their asses on that one.
And that dumb "we didn't know they were going to smash planes into buildings" statement by the pres that day was utter nonsense. They ABSOLUTELY knew that could happen. It had happened elsewhere (not at that scale, obviously) and from what I understand there were already documents written describing pretty much exactly that scenario. Politics appears to consist mostly of CYA and lie.
I could play that Bechstein all day! What an intimate and well integrated sound
I´m not a professional piano player, but the Bösendorfer did i hear out from all the other ones (especially at last). So it´s Bösendorfer for me!
Honestly I prefer the mellow quality of the Bechstein, but I can see why the Steinway appeals to most people.
I'm so surprised ... I always have, and still do, considered the Bechstein the least mellow of high-end pianos.
I'd say earthy and dark not mellow but I think I see what you mean: I think it feels more subtle... subtle and harsh at the same time - if that makes any sense!
Bechstein isn't really mellow. You have to hear a Faziolli piano, now that is mellow.
@@saricubra2867 don’t you think BOTH Fazioli and Bechstein are in contest for the brightest high-end instruments ever?
There seems to be defined what constitutes what. I, what for years had considered what mellow is, have recently heard people call bright, and viceversa. Bechstein definitely is complex and earthy
Bechstein has a brilliant sound, pretty hummable lower tones and very soft high tones. I may be biased, but no Japanese or American pianos sound better than the German ones, in general.
P.S.I managed to guess the blind test.
The steinway theoretically is german too, produced in Hamburg.
The Bosendorfer really has a deep personality. I liked the basic flavor of Bechstein, but it didn't go so well with these selections. Would be better, probably, with classical-era (Mozart-Schubert) or maybe Brahms. The Steinway had the most variety of tone across registers, and so would be the best fit in this literature.
Also, probably the pianist is most familiar with the Steinway sound, and has more practice in bringing out its best.
In the blind test, hard to tell too much as it is completely soprano-based. The second piano made it sound very well.
For years I played a Yamaha because it fit the music I was involved in. Then I played a Bosendorfer and I loved it. Now I may be moving into a combination of all the musical genres I have played and C. Bechstein has become a contender but so has Steinway. The new piano is about 2 years out, plenty of time to find out what genres will be dominant. But the Bechstein? I keep looking for instruments to play. Lots of fun, and money. The search for a new piano can be daunting.
I always loved Bechstein, although the Bosendorfer has a beautiful clarity of sound that is also unmatched! Greetings from Hannover!
The Steinway has a loud and imposing powerful tone.
The Bösendorfer has a clear, but not a colourful tone.
The only Instrument with a fine distinguishing, colourful tone is the Bechstein. 😌There is Music in the air! 🎧
I thought they all sounded really nice. At first, I was leaning towards the sound of the Steinway (for its rich bass sound) or the Bösendorfer (for its good all-around sound). But I was completely fooled by the blind test, and thought the sound of (what turned out to be) the Bechstein sounded the best! If you're giving them away, I guess I'll take all three - though I don't know where I'll put them! :-)
Interesting comparison - the Bechstein M is the oldest (1928 vs Steinway B 1969 and Bosendorfer 225 1981) and the shortest (5'10" vs Steinway 6'11" and Bosendorfer 7'4"") and yet holds its own beautifully in the grand low registers as well as the sparkling and ethereal top notes. This is great news for me, as a recent purchaser of a 1975 Bechstein M. Certainly my own limitations play a role, but my experience as a serious amateur pianist who studied with private lessons for seven years with a Juilliard-trained Russian teacher is that the Bechstein is harder to play "cleanly" than the typical Steinway. I have found that I need to adjust my pedalling technique as well. It has been a challenge, but now after three months of daily playing I understand and can better control my Bechstein, am enjoying the beautiful resonance and colors and can confidently look forward to years of future enjoyment. Though I had initially set out to purchase a Steinway (a lifetime dream), the Bechstein M that I found was better than any of the vintage Steinways I tried out at double the cost, and I went right to the Steinway Factory sale, which was a huge disappointment. I'm a happy Bechstein convert. It's too bad that Bechstein no longer makes the model M.
I've never really been 'team Steinway' but it sounded amazing. Tons of clarity and separation
I love Steinway piano but in this video I prefer Bechstein the better.
この３台の中では、ベヒシュタインが音のバランスや１音を響かせた時の素直な響き、クリアさ、奏者の個性がちゃんと出せて良いと思いました。
I love Bosendorfer pianos! Sounds so pretty in the video. Thanks for sharing!
So glad with the blind test! Nailed it!Bosendorfer is my first choice, it's tune is, in my opinion, a balance between Steinway and Berchstein. In second place I go for Steinway and then Berchstein. But all the three are great pianos and I would love to play in each one ❤️
Considering the size, C.Bechstein M is the smallest then Steinway B, then Bosendorfer 225. I like C.Bechstein. Its high tone is bell like tone~ Though the smallest among the three and it's old model, it sounds GREAT~~!
I’m partial to the bösendorfer but next time you should do it blind with just a 1,2 or 3 and then reveal which they are at the end
Pepsi challenge style
Wow! This was a hard one... I love Steinways and you could hear, that it's a Steinway. But overall, I like the Bechstein even a little bit more. All three were very close. What the Bechstein looses on sharpness, it gains in body and volume. Overall for those pieces played, I'd go for the Bechstein - although it's already $25,000 more than I could ever spend. What surprised me the most, was that this particular Bösendorfer had nothing of the dampness I critique the most on this manufacturer. On the second song, a Steinway becomes a Steinway. And you can tell.
Bosendorfer, and I had the good fortune to play a Steinway Model A for 3.5 years. But the Bosendorfer here was a wonderful instrument. Of course he is right, Play 10 Steinways, get 10 different pianos, but its your ears that tell you almost immediately Ah this one has that indefinable whatever it is, its got it.
クラシックのジャズバージョン、イイ〜❣️
それに各ピアノの音色、いいわ〜🎶👍
Bosendorver. that piano really fit with my style of playing.. Its fells perfect for me personally.
Bechstein was much more rounded in sound, but coped with jazz less well than the others.
Still preferred the Bech generally. An astounding instrument.
I am a big fan of Steinway, but the Bechstein sounds much better in this case.
Model M by Bechstein ist 50 cm shorter than the other to, but it is piano with character and depth
Bechstein is my favourite. Perhaps the least personality, but mellow and warm. The Bösendorfer is wonderfully crisp and reminds me of an old coffee house in Vienna. The Steinway is very impressive but too penetrating. At least for my preferred repertoire and my living room Bechstein is the winner. I actually got the blind test quite wrong, maybe because the range was higher. Overall, Bechstein seemed more consistent.
ステインウェイは綺麗で滑らかでステインウェイの音なんだけどあの滑らかさの音ってなんだが自分に合い過ぎて、よく知っている甘いsweetな鍵の音なんだよね。
そんでもって、Bechstein音も馴染みある鍵の音なんだけど滑らかさっていうのかな？ステインウェイより少し音が乾いてるような（褒め言葉）感じでどっちが好きかといったら変だけどこの感じが個人的には一番好きなんだよね。
最後のは本当にクラッシックビターな音色で1つのピアノとして本当に綺麗な音だと思う、でもこれは自分に無い音なんだよね何ていうかもしどれかのピアノが家にあったらこれだけが無いんだよね、そう、自分の家にないような音。これもまた好きだ
Short answer: Here, in this video, the Steinway.
Long answer: I actually preferred the Steinway in this presentation. It seemed more sustained, resonant, and fuller than the others. I would place the Bose 2nd. One thing about these tests is I expect you could change nothing other than the mic placement and get totally different results, as having done recordings in the past, I know mic placement is critical. I don't know if different pianos have DIFFERENT sweet spots for mic placement, but it certainly would not surprise me if they did. Also placement in the room (closer to walls, etc) can dramatically alter sound, as I'm sure you are well aware, especially from certain chosen points in the sound field. Keeping all these things constant is obviously far beyond the scope of this video, though, as you probably did not want to spend an entire day, or more, generating just the raw video. It's interesting to note that others below preferred the piano I found least appealing. It's ALL taste and perception, in the final analysis, for a given person, isn't it. Apparently there is no 'best piano' for everyone, never has been, never will be. Yes, I could definitely tell a difference, especially between the Beck and the Steinway. I should do a double blind to see if that perceived difference was really there, and if I could pick the correct piano;, blind. I often found that doing blind tests with comparing different sound systems, as one example, offered a LOT more insight into what was really going on than what you THINK is going on. :-) Probably WAY deeper than you wanted this to go.
The Bosendorfer feels more raw and groovy
Awesome Video! Really like your playing on These pianos
Wow! I've not heard a jazz version of sonata 8 before, loving it.
This video confirms my impression that Bechstein is best for Beethoven solo and chamber music.
I loved the crisp rich tonal quality of the bosendorfer!
Steinway for sure. The others might have a warmer sound but they don't got the balance of absolute clarity and warm the Steinway does. For me at least
Pianos aside, beautiful music arrangements and playing. Hard choice between Bech and Stein but not the Dorf for the music heard through the mics.
Bechstein = my preferred one, because of what I can only call its "warm", fuller sound. Bosendorfer a tiny bit too "sparkly" for me.
Hi Jacob,
I prefer the sound of Steinway for Test 1 but Bösendorfer for 2 and 3... Bechstein sounded muffled and dull to me. Thank you for the opportunity to hear and compare great pianos!
Steinway in my opinion sounded the fullest in every piece you so beautifully played
I love them all, very clean & Clear sound no noise, mudiness.
I probably liked the Bosendorfer and Steinway most but the Bechstein does have a beautiful tone when you want something to be less bright and more warm. They are all beautiful.
I’m a concert pianist. I love Steinway pianos, however if given a choice I will generally opt Bösendorfer over Steinway - but have to play both because they are so different as individuals it’s impossible to generalize which I prefer.
Now that's a really fair comparison (NOT): a 1928 Bechstein Model M (5 ft 10 in), a 1969 Steinway Model B (6 ft 11 in), and a 1981 Bosey 225 cm (7 ft 4 in). Despite the huge size difference, the Bechstein had the best sound quality -- a beautiful singing voice. The Steinway sounded muddy and diffuse. The Bosey was had a similar in Bechstein-like sound but because it's size advantage it should have blown the Bechstein out of the water. Bechstein for the win!
The Böserdorfer needs a better tuning. My vote goes to Steinway
Tough choice, all sound fantastic. Played a lot on Steinway, so perhabs I am bit biased, but I like them quite a lot.
Only had one chance so far to play on a original Bösendorfer, but they also feel fantastic.
My vote is probably the Bösendorfer (Just like the broader sound).
Same for me. I played on a Steinway for years, but had the opportunity to play a Bösendorfer, and was instantly in love with it. I like that they aren’t as bright as the Steinway, but have a fuller tone.
Damn, I can hear the difference, but they all sound great :) I can't choose :)
In a way it was an unfair comparison because all three pianos were very different. The Steinway is a model b measuring 6’11” , the Bechstein is a model m measuring 5’10”, and the Bosendorfer 225 measuring at 7’4”. Size has a big difference on the tonal qualities of the pianos because of string length, soundboard surface area etc. So just keep that in mind. I personal preferred the clear tone and f the Steinway and its rich bass.
Bosy is my fav, like the brightness and clarity !
Clearly the Bechstein! What's truly remarkable is that not only is the sound superior with balance and tone, It's also 93 years old! And that in itself speaks volume vs. the Steinway 52yrs old and the Bosendorfer 40yrs old! All competent pianos. Only one is superior!
I thought there was a piano that matched each piece of music. I like all the tones of the piano.but Personally, the old tone is comfortable. My favorite was Bosendorfer .
It's interesting that there's a commercial cutting in lol
For this video, the Steinway was overall superior in tone. In real life (with limited experience), I tend to prefer Bosendorfer for their action (the Steinways I've played are stiffer, and therefore tend to be harder to play softly).
When I was at the Mayo Clinic three times for treatments, they had two grand Steinway pianos...amongst priceless Warhol paintings and Chihuly sculptures. The keys were extremely hard to press. Granted, anyone could play on them and who knows when or if they had been tuned, but compared to my regular very old school upright piano (with a whole set of real ivory/elephant tusk), it was a shock how firmly I needed to press and how my dynamics went away playing songs that I had no issue with before.
As always Steinway! Crisp sound, depth and balance power between bass, mid and upper kesy.
My vote for Steinway!! Always a lovely warming brilliant sound, Especially the E2. Sounds a bit shallow on the others.
I like the lower register of the Steinway, but prefer the mid/higher register of the bechstein!
They all sounded wonderful. I have a 225 Bosendorfer which I purchased in 1986 because it was bright and the sound blossomed from the soundboard. Now that I am 81 years old I am beginning to wonder how long I will keep it and how to get rid of it. It is an amazing instrument. Sadly, I cannot take it with me when I depart this mortal coil.
この企画久しぶりだぁ！！！やったぁ！
I liked the Steinway and Bosendorfer, since it seems that my preference is a brighter sound.
I love C Bechstein sound. It’s warm and comfortable to the ear 😅. The bass is strong and low.
The Bechstein sounds so much cleaner and clearer than the other two
I think this Steinway is versatile, well balanced, and nicely voiced. But I could sure understand why someone would choose the Bechstein for their home. It’s warm and friendly.
I personally think that the differences between the pianos is minuscule at best, however I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the Bechstein.
The Steinway has always been my first love when it comes to pianos. I say first because I now prefer the Shigeru Kawai.
Steinway sounded clean and familiar (my family worked in the Fine Arts so I've heard plenty of Steinways, colleges love them). Bechstein had a warmth through the whole range. Bosendorfer sounded more dramatic. All great pianos for a pianist with six figures burning a hole in their pocket.
I think the Steinway sounded the best on all the excerpts. The Bosendorfer has the best looks. The Bechstein was voiced softer and had little brilliance. Just my opinion.
Agreed👍
I don’t understand anyone who prefers that Steinway! I’m a Bosendorfer fan, although frankly the Bechstein is also gorgeous. But no the Bosendorfer sings a completely and altogether more powerful and rich sound then the others! Personal prefs of course.
My fave all the way around was the Bosendorfer. On the blind testI was correct on the Bosendorfer and flipped the other two. They sounded to similar to me.
My choice was the Steinway (I guessed the order correctly in the hearing only test).
Winner: Bechstein. Loser: Bösendorfer. Optimal, reliable sound: Steinway. No surprise there.
I have had the opportunity to play all 3 of these great pianos. I would choose the Bösendorfer if I could only have one. Such a nice blend of warm but bright, with great action where you need it. If I was doing only concert hall, it would be the Steinway for the power produced to fill a room. The Bechstein is a great playful and bright piano but lacks on the fullness for lots of music, in my opinion.
It's very interesting. Wenn I know which Piano is which brand, I like the sound from Boesendorfer than the other two. But from the blind choice, I like the third one much more than the other two, and it was Bechstein! Actually I have a Bechstein grand at home, I do love it so much！ This piece of Steinway sounds a little bit week for me. Maybe it just depends on this one.
私も好みはsteinwayに一票🎹しかしどれも美しすぎて、選べませんね☺️👏💐
It all depends on which room I was purchasing the piano for: A Rehearsal/Performance Venue most definitely the Steinway. If for my living/music room most definitely the C Bechstein. The Bosendorfer sounded like it needed more fine tuning work. It didn't sound velvety like a Bosendorfer usually sounds.
Jazz only on Bösendorfer :) Great for short and punctual sound.
Classical - Bechstein. More velvet sound. Incredible. Like it has 2 layers on a note. Its longer and softer. Amazing.
I like Steinway though, too. No complaints. It's like wearing a coco chanel mademoiselle haha
Bechstein Stenway and BOSENDORFER
The harp's ability to transmit tone into the case varies with each producers model, so this test (on reconditioned pianos with varying life experiences) is only valid in its frame of reference.
Steinway! More resonance = more atmosphere. Of course, I would have any of those wonderful pianos but since you asked.....
Böesendorfer was really nice, but it was after listening for a while, just too cutting for my taste. I found the Steinway to be very balanced and something I would enjoy listening to long term. The Böesendorfer I feel would wear on the ears after a while. Most of the differences can also be adjusted a bit by the technicians. But the way these were recorded I would like to listen to a Böesendorfer at a Jazz club but would prefer to own the Steinway in the home or listening at the concert hall.
Love the warmth of the Beckstein.
I would put Steinway and Bösendorfer over the Bechstein. (Am I influenced, despite of my best efforts, by the price tag? I don’t know. But I got 3/3 at the blind test.) I’d say the first one for a piece with more brilliance and the latter for more intimacy and softness.
Did you know that Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen was recorded on a Bechstein piano?
The definitive piano brand for pop, rock, and other similar styles of music.
Steinway meanwhile is a swiss army knife, so well rounded, but maybe isn't the best for a very specific case.
I'm not a Steinway fanatic (I'm not a pianist and never owned a piano in my life, let alone a concert grand), but for some reason every time I hear such comparisons I almost always find Steinway sound the most well-rounded and balanced and downright more pleasant to my ears. Some aspects of other pianos might be more impressive, but overall it's almost always Steinways that sound more universal and good on every material.
It's the wood and the hand made aspect. They sound - to me - woodier vs more bell or metalic like. Plus it's the sound were most accustomed to from the stage, concert hall, etc. It is "the sound" of the grand piano, though the other makes are also fabulous.
Gosh - I got it completely backwards! I thought the 1st one was a Bechstein and the 2nd a Steinway in the blind test. Mind you I'm listening through my beaten up crappy Samsung mobile phone headphones but that is probably no excuse.
In my view, Jazz is American music so probably sounds best played on a Steinway. Now Bechastein delivers but in its own way whereas Bösendorfer has an idiosyncratic sound so makes its own music so best be careful when playing Jazz on it, on some pieces more than others.
The Steinway and Bosendorfer pianos in this test are the same design as modern Steinways and Bosendorfers. However, the Bechstein dates from 1928, and Bechstein has radically changed the design of their pianos since then. (The same can be said of Bluthner as well.)
Steinway: Mellow bass, crystal clear treble. Overall quite rich.
C. Bechstein: Overall round, mellow and rich. It also seems to be quite warm in the bass too, at least when you started playing Für Elise.
Bösendorfer: Globally warm and clear. The treble sounded slightly out of tune though.
If I had to pick one among those, even if neither of these brands are my favourite, I'd choose C. Bechstein. I like it when the piano feels well rounded.
I love the Steinway for its lovely complex overtones and the bosendorfer for similar reasons but with a much different character. I thought the recording was very good.
I have no idea which one sounds “better”. But the playing and the pianos are amazing
I give it to the Steinway for overall balance, although a close call. Great musician you are!
Prefer the Bechstein of these three. My favourite piano is an early 1900s Gerard Heinzman from Canada. They somehow capture the sharpness of the Steinway with the mellowness of the Bechstein along with an undertone that cannot be beat. I'm talking about one built prior to the 1932 takeover by Heinzman Piano Company, after which the Gerard became the second rank brand.
My amateur impression; Steinway seems to fit in the high class, high society, Bechstein gives a homey vibe, and Bösendorfer is like a very high quality street piano haha.
My personal vote goes to Bechstein.
You have to hear nice voiced, tuned Bösendorfer to really know it's better than a street piano:)
First Steinway
Second, Bechstein - it's slightly muted tone worked better
Third, Bosendorfer - the bright crisper sounded worked for that piece
Fourth, all fairly comparable.
I've listened to a lot of these comparisons, always in search of something I like better than Steinway. But just can't be done. The Steinway is the winner, to my ear.
oh, I hope to play a BAZEndorfer one of these days. lmao
All three pianos sound excellent, though the Bechstein and the Bechstein needed tuning so the comparison is a bit unfair. That said, I thought the vibrancy, musical depth, and clarity were absolutely outstanding on the Steinway. An amazing sound. Though I also liked the Bechstein, I think it has a character of its own and there is an originality to its sound that sets it apart from the conventional piano sound. I like the mellow, dark sound of it. And it's half the price of the Bösendorfer which - despite its angel like sound - has impressed me least.
The steinnway was the best. Bechstein felt muted, like it wants to say something but it can't. The Bosendorfer felt too tinny, might have needed voicing.
Really nice improvisations on beethoven, it was nice even when you messed up.
I think the preference really depends on how the player wants to play and what genre of music to play, and what song to play.
This is a fact and definitely relevant! I have experience of this with my modest GP400.