Concert Grand Comparison: Bösendorfer Imperial 290, Steinway D-274 and Yamaha CFX
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 พ.ค. 2024
- Synchron Stage Vienna invited Stefan Mendl, highly acclaimed pianist and founding member of the Vienna Piano Trio, to play and explore three of the most famous concert grands on Stage A. Our instruments, a Bösendorfer Imperial 290, a Steinway 274 and a Yamaha CFX, were recorded under the same conditions to provide comparable results. Using three different piano pieces as examples he describes the differences and advantages of each instrument. No EQs or dynamics were added during mixing.
Featured pieces:
Franz Liszt, Sonata in B-minor / Maurice Ravel, Gaspard de la nuit / Frédéric Chopin, Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
00:00 Introduction
01:02 Steinway - Liszt, Sonata in B-minor
02:02 Yamaha - Liszt, Sonata in B-minor
03:14 Bosendorfer - Liszt, Sonata in B-minor
04:14 Bosendorfer - Maurice Ravel, Gaspard de la nuit
05:11 Steinway - Maurice Ravel, Gaspard de la nuit
06:04 Yamaha - Maurice Ravel, Gaspard de la nuit
07:12 Yamaha - Frédéric Chopin, Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
08:48 Bosendorfer - Frédéric Chopin, Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
10:21 Steinway - Frédéric Chopin, Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
More details about our pianos:
www.synchronstage.com/en/tech...
www.synchronstage.com/en/inst...
We also aquired a Fazioli F308 after we did this video:
• Concert Grand Comparis...
Get these concert grands you hear in this video as a virtual instrument, sampled by Vienna Symphonic Library:
www.vsl.co.at/Bosendorfer_Imp...
www.vsl.co.at/Concert_D
www.vsl.co.at/Yamaha_CFX
BONUS: Fazioli F308:
www.vsl.co.at/Fazioli_F308 - เพลง
![[TH] VCT Pacific - Playoffs Grand Final // PRX vs GEN](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/G345ud5yRGA/mqdefault.jpg)
The right choice is : The Steinyamdörfer.
Bosendorfer and sons riding Yamaha bikes hahahaha
@@user-vp9ub1fm8y I feel like the bosendorfer has more soul, the steinway more poise, and the yamaha suprisingly the most playful. Always thought that Japanese manufacturers were a bit ocd in their manufacturing standards/processes.
@@user-vp9ub1fm8y hahaha
Lol.
Yeah yeah take your like
.............. Bösendorfer ....... Steinway ....... Yamaha
Liszt ........... 3:13 ................... 1:01 ................ 2:02
Ravel .......... 4:13 ................... 5:11 ................ 6:03
Chopin ....... 8:47 ................. 10:21 ................ 7:11
propianistUK Thanku :)))
Appreciate it!
then, thats mean that is needed to have all them
This is great
Winner
Liszt h-moll→Bӧsendorfer
Ravel gaspard→Steinway
Chopin ballade→Steinway
The clarity of the bass notes on the bösendorfer is kind of mind blowing 🤯
it's weirdly satisfying to hear someone pronounce "Bösendorfer" correctly.
you can hear he trained it for the video (little pause before saying it)
@@Jaburu sorry, I disagree, the pause was for dramatic effect. Bösendorfer is a Viennese brand, while the pianist himself is also from Vienna...he's been pronouncing it correctly his whole life. The American commentators/salespeople don't know how to say "ö" and say "Bohsendorfer" instead
@@ErrantChordier oh. didn't know
@@Jaburu it's cool. have a good one sir
@@ErrantChordier Hi, we find this also for Bluthner Pianos too!
Honestly I’d rather have a bosendorfer than a house
Franz Liszt you’re rather be alive instead of dreaming of matter.
Can you tell me why is expensive?
It is handmade. It takes over 5 years to make one in Austria.
it would get wet?
Microbiologically devastated world? Unnecessary doom and gloom.
As a piano store owner and a third generation piano technician, this is the best comparison video of these amazing pianos I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing!
Still I want to hear the bass notes seperately
One at a time
Because I love bass, and compare pianos on only that category
@@atharvapallikulam9743 I think Valentina Lisitsa has one clip where she plays those. Otherwise they are just there for sympathetic resonances
Pianos are like shoes, what fits a individual is the best one. When I taught music in silver bay we had a Steinway D. Tough to beat for it did so many things very well.
Bosendorfer had the most character, Steinway had the most versatility, and Yamaha had the most precision.
Perfect description of each of those pianos!
My personal favorite is the bösendorfer, but I think the CFX is just as amazing as the other 2, addictive tone.
this bosendorfer was better than the specific steinway.The steinway sound is very common appear in classical music tracks.Yamaha is so clear and yeah as you said,it feels precise
R A today...Yamaha buy a Bösendorfer 🙂👍
@@personamail8377 Yes true but I believe it's still a true bösendorfer.
All three instruments are absolutely beautiful. The Bösendorfer's sound however is out of this world...
- Example 1 -
Steinway 1:02
Yamaha 2:02
Bosendorfer 3:14
- Example 2 -
Bosendorfer 4:14
Steinway 5:11
Yamaha 6:04
- Example 3 -
Yamaha 7:12
Bosendorfer 8:48
Steinway 10:21
Jedidiah Bensemann thank you omg
YAAAASSSS
Jedidiah Bensemann thank you!
Thankss is it
Winners: Example 1 Bosendorfer. Example 2 Yamaha. Example 3 Bosendorfer
Ah! The Bösendorfer is magic. So nice
Pianos have distinct personalities, whatever their make. The “best” piano depends on the personality and preference of the pianist. I have played glorious Steinways and terrible Steinways. The same with Yamahas. One of the most beautiful instruments I ever played was a Bösendorfer being displayed in Wannamaker’s in Philadelphia. I recently played a Fazioli in a New York showroom that you could not have paid me to take, though I have heard beautiful Faziolis in concert. Choosing an instrument is always an adventure.
They're very individual. Get 3 different pianos of the same makes and models tested here and they each may have a different character.
I would guess the person who tuned basically decides how they sound.
Much of it is simply the hammers. If they're too hard the tone is too hard. As a piano ages the felt can compress making the sound harder. Know your felts!
@@bobhoskins9595 This is 100% true. I always like to judge based off of sustain of strings and the scale of the piano. Those are things that you really cannot fix through voicing and arguably the true mark of a good piano. Everything else is reasonably changeable. Though I will say I do have some conflict in regards to bosendorfer since I really like the resonance due to the design with the extra strings, however I really do not like how its parts ware. I mean I find that in many of the older ones after a while when the hammer wares down it starts hitting the plate instead of the strings deforming the hammer in a bad way. When its new in the store its all good, but I know its going to ware and I know I will have to replace/file those hammers way more often than other piano brands.
Totally agree. Finances always come into play as well. Some of the worst Pianos I have ever player were Steinways...and overpriced. I once played a Fazioli in a showroom, which had so much power I was intimated by its sound... and price. Myself own a 1980s Yamaha 6"1 which is my little Beast. There were 3 of them in the showroom side by side took me hours... all had differing qualities. Had mine had buffed to a satin finish, than delivered and had hammers voiced softer.... quite happy with what I could afford.
Wow, the clarity on the Steinway on Gaspard is amazing -- holy crap.
Though only a mediocre pianist, I've been privileged to spend many hours on all three pianos, including accompanying a 100 member choir for many months on the 290. All fabulous instruments-but I must admit I felt the most intimidated by the Bosendorfer. Just looking at its internals from the bench filled me with awe, respect and humility!
I need a Steinway with the Bösendorfer Bass...
bigPianist99 Ah, that's what I do.
It’s funny because I think the exact opposite. For me the perfect piano would be a Bosendorfer with the Steinway Bass.
good idea!
Andrej Marjanovic No...just no
Andrej Marjanovic No...just no 2
I’d rather own a piano than a house, the Bosendorfer is beautiful!!
i know right, people in the comments say its looks bad lmao
You can easily live inside a Bösendorfer
It's Bösendorfer.
Overrated, like Bechstein
Well, this is a major problem: the right piano depends on what and how you/I play! ...and the electric ones won't work 'cause they don't get the string interactions correct. So obviously I'll need a few of these... and, these three are nice but I'm not sure one was bright enough for my tastes. Also, not having a house -- as some have suggested -- is a problem because a certain amount of climate control is necessary for the pianos... a tarp or tent just wouldn't do. So, I'm guessing that in 2020 US dollars a few decent pianos and a climate controlled shed would be about $600,000 to $700,000... if you build in the country where land is cheaper, that is. Humm... so, if I save carefully for two or three hundred years, perhaps... yeah, but don't forget inflation. Humm...
I worked for many years on a Bösendorfer, and played many Steinway D. Bösendorfer is very impressive for the sake of the sound, and as we play "simple" pieces, Bach, Brahms, Beethoven it sounds very beautiful, but for more "complex" pieces, it requires some effort, and to adapt both technique and pedal use to reach what we want. With Steinway D, they can sound more generic, and most are sounding generic, soul-less, but you can find sometimes a gem, and this gem is unique in its personality and resonate with you as an artist; Steinway make many different D, since they think that there is no "one fits all pianists". Hence, there is one Bösendorfer Imperial, etc but there are many Steinway D. On this special D with wich one resonate, then we can discover the magic: most things are much easier and accessible than on a Bösendorfer; try Liszt Sonata, Dante Fantaisie, Ravel's Gaspard de la nuit, and test how the piano respond to your thoughts, my experience is that the special D from Steinway give me the most special experience, there is a direct connection with my musical soul, and that's in the end what the artist is looking for. Hence, the success of Steinway on international concert halls, even if many of them might actually sound less special, they serve the artist first. Also, the voicing of the piano is doing quite a lot for the sound, and one might have one good piano and several differents voicings, more or less satisfying. And together comes also the tuning, which can change also a lot. This must be taken into account, it changes the sound quite a lot, and it was not discussed in this video. I suspect the Yamaha could have been tuned and voiced better to reach something less standard. I also think that the piano and its tuning and voicing will also depend on the repertoire. I would definitely take a Bösendorfer for a Bach, Bach-Liszt, Beethoven, Brahms, and a special D for Chopin, Liszt, Ravel, but I'm not sure for Scriabine, Messiaen, which I would take. Also there is a significant gap in the sound in the Bösendorfer between steel chords and copper-steel chords, Steinway tried successfully to mitigate this distance and make a more continuous transition.
EDIT I'm spending most of my time on an incredible CFX since 1+ year, and I would think very long and very hard before switching to a D or something else if the price was similar, but it is defenitively not, so a CFX is now my first choice. I never had such beautiful and expressive medium and high ! Basses are beautiful too but kind of weaker than on a D., but still very versatile and beautiful with a large range of soundswith an excellent smooth transition, making it very expressive.
Hi Mathieu,
I thought your response to the video was extremely informative and interesting. I have only played a Bosendorfer, and am extremely jealous of your opportunity.
The Yamaha is truly a worthy adversary.
@@michaelhelme3575 Haha indeed. I'm spending most of my time on an incredible CFX since 1+ year, and I would think very long and very hard before switching to a D or something else if the price was similar, but it is defenitively not, so a CFX is now my first choice. I never had such beautiful and expressive medium and high ! Basses are beautiful too but kind of weaker than on a D., but still very versatile. I edited my OP.
Steinway is "generic"...that is quite an assertion.
@@Durufle68I don't think he said that. He said it CAN, but explained that there are different D's. I took that to mean that others DON'T.
The Yamaha sounds pleasant, beautiful, a fine sunny day in Toronto. The Steinway sounds like chocolate, and the Bosendorfer sounds like angels in heaven. What a nice trio of instruments.
Ahhh i get it, the winner is Bösendorfer
Beeing a recording engineer, I learned that Bösendorfer is highly appreciated, but also the most difficult one of them to play. I was once told , that accentuating the Bösendorfer is so delicate and like eating a pizza wearing boxingloves.
@@JSBach-pd4yg have you experienced a fine sunny day in Toronto? Some say that is better than angels in heaven.
Strongly disagree. The Yamaha sounds like ripe mangos from Thailand. The Steinway sounds like a pair of slacks just from the dry cleaner, and the Bosendorfer sounds like an ancient Samurai sword wielded by an Emperor.
@@MattSmith-il4tc Left or right handed Emperor?
I personally like Bosendorfer more, but that Steinway sounds the best in this comparison! Thanks for the video!
4:14 The Bösendorfer sound mythical and dark, makes you reminice and engulf in the music
5:11 The Steinway sounds alluring, makes you feel attracted to the piece.
To my ears the Steinway wins hands down, but maybe it's because I spent so much time in my youth listening to my mother playing hers. She also performed for a former Brasillian president who's home we would visit every summer for a month or two, once again a Steinway and once again, pure magic.
I learned on my mothers steinway upright and I cant help but think I prefer it just because im most familiar with it.
which president?
@@NLLR777 Kubitsceck
That's awesome, greetings from Curitiba - Brazil!
I think I fell for this Bosendorfer
Me too! :-O
Me too! :-O
Those extra overtones. WOW!
Take my kidney
I've played a few and they all sound horribly warm and washed out but this one sounds beautiful.
I literally started giggling with pleasure when he started the Bosendorfer. No comparison in my book. The tone has a roundness and fullness that makes my heart sing.
Bruh the Steinway sounded just magical for Gaspard de la nuit
The Bosendorfer sounds beautiful and I like it's darker and warmer tone the best out of the three. They are truly one of the best pianos in the world. It would be nice to have more brands in Concert halls here in the States as I am sick of Steinway ( I am not saying they are bad pianos as they are far from it) just tired of seeing the same old thing over and over as their are many wonderful brands at this level and I think it just comes down to what sounds best for you and the music that you like to play.
All three are works of art. As a hi-fi buff, they must be heard LIVE. No speakers, especially cheap computer speakers can tell you what they really sound like.
True, but who is going to get an opportunity to do that? Differences are evident and I assume to a good approximation truthful in the recorded reproductions of the sound in the studio.
Since we truly can’t listen live, what do you think about studio monitor type headphones? I’m listening on the industry standard Sony MDR-7506s. I know they’re not the best, but they’re really not as bad as most consumer oriented headsets and earbuds. It isn’t quite the same as live, but it’s certainly one of the best economical options.
@@djijspeakerguy4628 I would take to the web with your question, and like nearly everything else you will likely get a lot of different answers, but one or more should be good one for you... I know not everyone's ears are the same, so I think some matching of ear to speaker is needed and you will find out what satisfies you.
He ends with, “the choice is yours.”
I wish the choice were mine!
Bosendorfer, hands down (pardon the pun) by far has the best sound quality of the three. Being a man is forced to live on long-term disability, it’s not like I could afford any of them, although I wish to God I could, the Bosendorfer Has such beautiful rich deep, harmonious, room feeling sound, unlike anything I’ve ever heard. I did have the good fortune of actually playing the one here in Toronto, At the Royal Conservatory of music. I’m just an amateur with zero formal training, I taught myself to play, and I was there with a friend who is attending classes. Well I was waiting, I noticed a big empty room next-door with a Bosendorfer just sitting there all by itself, and I could not resist. only piece of music that I can play from start to finish is moonlight sonata, all three. As I sat there and played, I just could not believe my ears, and just for the briefest of moments, I swear to god it felt like I was in a different time period. I’ll be the first to admit that my piano skills are absolutely terrible, especially since I can’t read music, but play by ear instead (no, i’m not banging my head against the piano, LOL!), so while the tone of the notes I played were absolutely gorgeous, I honestly thought I sounded terrible, but just as I was finishing the last note of the Sonatas, I looked behind me and see my friend, and the entire class of 50 students watching me from the door. Thank God I was on the last note, because I have the worst stage fright on earth. If anyone is listening, my hands start to shake, and I stop playing immediately. I give all the credit to the piano, and definitely not my terrible skills, but they’ll give me a standing ovation and the teacher asked me how many years I’ve been playing. She told me I sounded like a concert pianist, and I literally laughed in her face, I told her that I’ve only been playing a couple of years, and that I can’t read music. She refused to believe me, but I swear to God I am a terrible piano player, I just love trying, nobody in my family plays music of any kind, but I am adopted, and in 2001, I discovered that my biological grandmother was a concert pianist, so at least now I understood where I have all that passion for the piano. But as for my little performance, I give all the credit to the piano, I’ve never played an instrument so beautiful, with such incredibly rich tones, pressing the keys was like anything I’ve ever experienced. It responded to my touch as if it were an extension of my own hand. I asked the teacher about the piano, she said they had just got it, and I was literally the very first person to play anything on it, and then she told me the price tag, take a guess? C$400,000! I nearly fell over, and felt like crying because I so desperately wanted to bring it home with me! I don’t think it would fit into my little two bedroom apartment, and I don’t think my neighbours would take too kindly to my pounding away at the keys, But I was in love! The entire class kept insisting that I signed up for lessons, several of them offered me free tutoring, but unfortunately I was in the middle of having many operations. I’m 49 now, this happened when I was around 30, but I’ve been battling Crohn’s disease since I was 20, from that age up until now I have endured 34 operations, and simply did not have enough free time or the strength to take them up on their offer for free lessons. The friend that I mentioned is now a professional classical pianist, who’s played all across the world. I just look at her and wonder, could that have been me had my health not been such a disaster? It’s not just the Crohn’s disease, it’s also the three relapses of intestinal cancer, and 11 chronic illnesses that were side effects from so much chemotherapy/radiation/drug therapy/surgeries. One of my major problems is osteoarthritis in my hands, at home all I have is a digital keyboard, but with my headphones on it sounds pretty good, unfortunately every time I try to play my hands are throbbing with pain, so perhaps it’s a good thing I didn’t get to pursue my dream, because it would’ve killed me if I was forced to stop because of my health. Why am I telling you all this? Sorry, I just kind of got lost in the moment I guess, I suppose part of me is filled with regret and frustration, I would give almost anything to be able to play the piano and learn properly, and one day actually make a living out of it, which was my dream from day one. Unfortunately, because I was diagnosed at 20, I was forced to drop out of University (York University here in Toronto, where I was studying music...vocals and trombone.I cannot read treble clef, only bass cleft, hence my not being able to read piano scores) thinking I would just have one operation and go back to school. Well that one operation turned into 34, I’ve been clinically dead for two minutes, and have nearly died three other times on the operating table. I literally have less than 5% of my entire gastrointestinal tract, and take more medications then my elderly parents combined! However, on three separate occasions my many doctors gave me at most a 10% chance of survival, yet I’m still here, and cancer free, and intestine free as well, lol! Yes, I’m gutless, literally, but to turn a negative into a positive, at least I’m still alive and able to appreciate this beautiful music that got me through some of the most difficult times of my life. Despite the pain I feel, my rheumatologist is about to prescribe me an experimental medication, that claims to take away all symptoms of osteoarthritis, particularly in the hands. If this works, maybe, just maybe, I’ll be able to pursue my lifelong dreams and ambitions, I can always hope and dream, for without either, I would’ve given up along time ago. Thank you so much for listening, and I’m sorry for rambling on, there’s just some days it becomes a bit overwhelming, and just talking about it makes me feel better. Thank you so much for this video, Thank you for sharing your immense talent, and for reminding me of what may be, some day, and even if that day doesn’t come, at least I’ll still be able to hear it and appreciate such beautiful music.
I don't think anyone reading your posting here could have anything but the deepest sympathy for your chronic illness - Crohn's like yours is a horrible horrible illness to have to bear. But as you admit yourself, it doesn't affect your hearing or your appreciation of beauty. I imagine any of these pianos played well would be able to transport you away from your troubles to a kinder and more beautiful place. Good luck TJD.
As a piano builder who is visiting the master school right now, this hit me like a train. It just reminds me why I decided to stay a piano builder instead of becoming an opera singer. As a piano builder I can inspire people to make music themselfes. My cousin got morbus crohn aswell, so I hope your health condition is still in a stable condition. Thank you for reminding me, why I'm torturing myself with the stress and costs of becoming a piano building master. I'm really proud of my job when I read a comment like yours. And sorry for my terrible english.
tl;dr?
Such a wonderful experience... Hats off to you
No one is ever forced to do anything
Jeez, the Steinway sounds so rich and warm. I love it. All three are beautiful instruments, though.
I have to say, I think all three are stunning, but each have their own niche area of music. Personally I prefer the Steinway and believe it's the best all rounder lending particularly well to pieces of romantic nature. I'd love to hear something dark and stormy on the Bossendorfer and something lovely and spritely on the Yamaha. I just feel the Steinway brings a silk like likeness and quality to all the notes and appreciate the blending and lingering notes. Great to hear the comparison, I wonder where the Fazioli would sit?
The Fazioli is on the clear but metallic bright sounding side of the spectrum.
i've read some acoustic studies showing steinway D's achieve their volume via very high levels of constructive interference from the harder wood, whereas the volume of the bosendorfer works more with sympathetic resonance of the strings themselves and the acoustics of the soft alpine wood means a longer, gentler soundboard resonance. the end result is very complex and hard to reduce to a few generalizations. If you haven't read www.ingenia.org.uk/getattachment/Ingenia/Issue-12/The-engineering-of-the-concert-grand-piano/Dain.pdf, take a look.
My own generalizations as a [now] bosendorfer-owner would be:
- Generally, Steinway D's are superior at fffffff, and Bosendorfer at ppppp.
- Generally, Steinway D's superior at stormy Rachmaninoff, Bosendorfer at delicate Mozart.
- Generally, Bosendorfer has superior bass for its size, which can demand care of the pianist given the generally soft tone overall of the instrument.
- Generally, Bosendorfer has a little more upkeep with tuning because of the 3 strings (... it's just true).
- Generally, Steinways are a victim of their own market success, _most_ Steinways I have played [outside of concert halls, etc] are NOT upkept as a high end piano should be, but this is a result of failed owner care and technician skills.
- Generally, Steinway Ds are great, but personally I think American Steinways of other models do not compete with any other high end pianos. Just my opinion, having spent months doing dozens of blind playing-tests between the big four high end piano manufacturers (Yamaha, Bosey, Steinway, Fazioli).
- It's worth noting that Hamburg Steinways use the same action (Renner) as Bosendorfer. I wonder what an American Steinway with Renner action would be like...
It would sit out in the parking lot.
My top pianos are Steinway, Fazioli, Shigeru Kawai and Bosendorfer. Definitely, out of all pianos, Steinway is the most consistent in high-quality sound but other pianos often create a more beautiful sound, I find. I would like to see a Fazioli comparison too and maybe Shigeru Kawai.
agree. The Steinway has remarkable consistency. A well maintained Steinway will sound and feel exactly like another making the choice of concert pianists and classical venues. But I believe Brahms and Bosendorfer were born for eachother. What a sound!
i choose Bosendorfer Imperial...
3:06 I love how on big pianos you can clearly hear the fundamental pitch of the low strings, because they are long and thin. On my 6 foot grand, the lowest few notes have strings so thick that they are not very flexible, with the result that you hear dissonant harmonics much more than the actual supposed pitch of the note, unless you play them very softly.
the low end on the bosendorfer is absolutely phenomenal. it wins that hands down. the Yamaha has a brilliant high end with great attack, but overall a little too clinical sounding. in my mind the steinway is the happy medium
Instruments from the same manufacturer vary immensely. Was once able to try 6 Steinway D's at the same time. They were all vastly different. Each is unique.
This guy is super talented. Wow. As for the pianos....I hate to say it as a Yamaha guy but the Steinway is simply gorgeous. All three pianos are superb.
I agree the Steinway has the richest sonority. I almost feel guilty saying this but I find the Bosendorfer the least appealing
Meredith Foster agreed
I think this might be because of the way the room is setup and miced, the steinway is dead center and any mic near the piano would be able to capture better resonant properties of the piano simply because it's closer to the center of the floor which is acting like one giant soundboard
The yamaha is much better but its in a nasty mic position. which makes way too much difference. you can see it if you download the video and look at the pan indicator, its insanely deformed. I can tell you, the Yamaha is a much better piano. especcialy in a hall as it has much more clarity which you will definetely need.
Can I like this more than once? (replying to Elektrokenisis about the mic and placement in the room)
All 3 sound great! I like the Bösendorfer's warm bass, and the Steinway's clarity. Nice playing too!
I don't know enough about Grands to offer intelligent comment, lived all three And the fellow that played, personally I like the Steinway, but not because I can offer criticism, just like them, particularly when Lang Lang plays!
What a pleasure to hear three great instruments side by side. Thank you.
Shout out to the guys/girls doing the audio to mic these amazing instruments! Captured the character of each instrument perfectly!
Hear the Steinway - ahh the cascading high notes. Hear the Yamaha- wow, sounds better than I would have thought. Quality sound. Hear the Bos. Immediately start welling up with tears. I wish I could hear Stefan play in person.
That Bosendorfer is just heavenly on the Liszt Sonata! 😇😇😇😇 The Steinway was great and Gaspar de la Nuit/Ondine it sounded best on the Steinway! The Yamaha was cool. I would have loved to see a Steingraeber.
This is the first time I am really convinced by the quality of a Steinway. Is it thanks to the outstanding pianist, Mr. Mendl?
Liszt:
Steinway - 1:02
Yamaha - 2:02
Bösendorfer - 3:14
Ravel:
Steinway - 5:11
Yamaha - 6:03
Bösendorfer - 4:14
Chopin:
Steinway - 10:21
Yamaha - 7:12
Bösendorfer - 8:47
A lovely comparison. It's always very difficult to know if the microphones, pre-amps, recorders etc were the same for each instrument. The Bosendorfer had the most complex sound for me, the Yamaha the most clear and the Steinway had the most balanced. I'd probably go for the Steinway, but they are all very beautiful.
and the piano tuner too.
Wow, the Bösendorfer...goosebumps!
Thanks for this. Very helpful, especially when played so masterfully to bring out all the subtlety and nuance.
Such an awesome video. Thank you for that!
The Bösendorfer Imperial is an unrivaled masterpiece cherished by pianists and music aficionados around the world for good reason.
Except that Steinways are the preferred pianos in concert halls worldwide, even in Vienna. Only in smaller venues for chamber music is the Bösendörder sometimes preferred.
@@danielgloverpiano7693 Depends entirely on the pianist. They decide what piano they want to use in any concert hall. Valentina Lisitsa for example prefers Bösendorfer. Steinways are more versatile and better for a wider range of genres (pop, jazz etc.). But for a Rachmaninoff piano concerto, give me a Bösendorfer please. Give me that thunderous bass. As for these libraries, I prefer the Steinway. Yamaha 2nd.
@@c.s.christopher5801 i find the bass on the Bösendörfer to be weak. I visited their factory in Vienna. I understand about the extra notes supposedly giving resonance, but it doesn’t seem to match what I get from the American Steinway. All a matter of taste. My Baldwin 7ft has a better bass than Bösendörfer. They are better for Schubert and chamber music. The sound isn’t rich. It’s bell like. That’s true of most European pianos. Even Hamburg Steinways don’t match American Steinways in my opinion. Bösendörfer just won’t cut through the sound of an orchestra, in my experience.
@@c.s.christopher5801 this is what you need for Rachmaninoff Second Concerto:
th-cam.com/video/Fp3qzJqhsus/w-d-xo.htmlsi=BKDPrnCpjc97Mx-3
I don’t think it travels very easily, and it’s in New Zealand.
My experience is the opposite, the Bösendorfer being richer in tone than the Steinway both the base region and treble midways pretty much the same but still different. The Steinway being more precise but somewhat thinner. Baldwin is also a great grand piano
1. Bösendorfer Imperial 290: Lush
2. Steinway D-274: Dreamy
3. Yamaha CFX: Light
talented man! all three of these works are works I've played for many years... great to hear his thoughts and take on these amazing instruments!
Большое спасибо всей команде проводившей эксперимент.
Они все великолепны!
Everyone's thrilled about their favorites' placing at the Invitational. (Bechstein wasn't invited.)
nor Fazioli
Nor was Schimmel or Mason & Hamlin
What a fantastic video, and exceptional playing. How can you choose between three such amazing instruments! Each one is spectacular and has it's own strengths. It's very fortunate we don't need to choose, but can instead afford have them all :)
Thank you so much for doing a shoot-out between Steinway, Bösendorfer and Yamaha grands. Others have tried it on TH-cam, but they fail dramatically because they do not understand how absolutely essential it is that every part of the comparison be as equal as possible to every other part. You know what I mean because you did it. Trying to explain it in a short space like this will fall flat, so I will leave it at that. Absolutely beautiful job, and I loved every one of them. If anybody wants to hear such a comparison as well as it can be done over microphones, recordings, and playback systems ranging from iPhones to audiophile devices (depending on what the listener has of course) this is the one to listen to. Thank you also for treating each piano as the stunning state of the art that it is. It doesn’t get better than this.
Love this video and have watched at least once a month since it came out I think. I could listen to Stefan lecture and play all day. Every time I listen to this, My mind changes about each piano: they’re all beautiful. Pianos are so similar to humans: all different but each one beautiful and special somehow. Thank you synchron stage and Mr. Mendl
That Bosendorfer is outrageously great.
I need to connect my computer to my custom stereo system and listen again.
However, even on my 24" iMac internal speakers there are distinct differences.
The person who tuned these pianos should be credited. The finest tuning I have ever heard,
Rock solid unisons and perfect temperament. Awesome!
Thank you for a great video of a corresponding quality of sound, good selection of music and a wonderful pianist.
Thank you, Stefan.
This is a fantastic comparison and your playing makes it easy to get lost in each of these gorgeous choices. A Hamburg Steinway is always a treat to hear as an American. Growing up practicing and performing mostly on Steinways in school and having always owned Yamaha C series grands, because of their combination of quality/price point/consistency/reliability/features, I have to admit, that on those rare occasions when I've sat at a Bosendorfer, I've been blown away by them. They really stir the emotions and mesmerize.
Get these concert grands you hear in this video as a virtual instrument, sampled by Vienna Symphonic Library:
www.vsl.co.at/Bosendorfer_Imperial
www.vsl.co.at/Concert_D
www.vsl.co.at/Yamaha_CFX
We also aquired a Fazioli F308 after we did this video:
Comparison: th-cam.com/video/RfOWORJwTas/w-d-xo.html
Virtual instrument: www.vsl.co.at/Fazioli_F308
I love all three pianos for different reasons. I would like to order one of each! Thank you!
Wonderful demonstration - Thank you! Really musically informative (not easy to find on TH-cam). Also it’s nice that most of the commenters have similar perceptions as mine about the instruments. But the real star here is the pianist! Bravo; the most tasteful and useful piano demo I have yet seen.
Holy moly that Steinway sounds good! It’s very well balanced!
Even though I'm an American and we associate the Steinway as an American-made piano (not so much anymore), I honestly prefer the Imperial Grand by Bosendorfer. Having personally played all three, if money were no object, I'd buy a Bosendorfer. I have a Yamaha in my home; however, because money IS a consideration.
There is Steinway Hamburg and Steinway New York - both Steinways. The presenter made a point of saying this was a Hamburg. The NY has a harder, brighter sound, the Hamburg is what you heard. Looking at them, the case of the NY has a sharp right-angle at the edge of the keyboard while the Hamburg is rounded.
@@peterclyne5363 however on newer NY Steinways that part is also rounded🎹🎶
I bet this was shot all in one take - amazing!
Magnificent. Absolutely outstanding piano playing.
Great, very enjoyable professional demonstration. For me feels so nice to hear every each of the pianos beautifully represented the aesthetic of the different continent. On this level of built, all the three instrument are the 'best one' in their own way. Yamaha is very clean, very refined sound, bright like snow in gold sunshine. Steinway sounds brave, bright, versatile play with melted tones all over. The Bosendorfer is so European, more heavy than the other two, sounds serious, with organic and rich resonances, although individual keys ( separated sound of the notes for singing melodies on an exceptionally expressive way ) not that bright than the other two, but has beautiful, slightly darker tone. The Ravel piece sounds beautifully on the Bosendorfer, but more clear and bright on the Steinway and very clean, light and bright on the Yamaha.The reason why I was here watching this demonstration is, that I'm looking for the finest VST piano sampling libraries. Thanks
You can hear that the bösendorfer has this thick warm sound that makes everything sound like homemade coockies and the taste is also amazing. The Yamaha has this happy feeling of having the need of being played, just wants to have some fun and produce incredible sounds. And the steinway has the sharp sound that makes you feel light, like if you were flaying by playing butter keys, it’s also so soft and the sound is equal so you can actually hear every note clearly and finely. In conclusion. If you want to play and make that bass flow through your entire house and enjoy how the bass never ends I would recommend you the Bösendorfer. If you want to play and have some fun and enjoy the way your fingers go through the keys with minimum effort I would recommend the Yamaha. And finally the Steinway, I would recommend this piano to everyone who is perfectionist, always taking care of details because with it’s fine sound you can hear everything that is coming out of the instrument, and it has the round sound of joy and it gives you the necessity to keep playing just to hear every note one more time. But playing the piano that you like and that you enjoy makes you feel happy by just playing and hearing what you have achieved. So go for the piano that makes an hour feel like 5 minutes.
Great comparison, your playing certainly makes them all sound good!
So interesting. Thanks!!
Today I had the chance to play a CFX and it was heaven no question about it.
They vary. I've heard a few live. Some were magnificent, some were merely very nice. But it's that way with Steinway D's also. I've only heard a few Bosendorfers live. I heard the 280VC and it was magnificent. Of all Bosendorfers, those are my favorite. The VC models. introduced in 2015.
oh yeah i guess I will buy the Boesendorfer...oh wait it costs more than a penthouse in NY
I'd rather have the Boesendorfer.
If you’re lucky, you can find a used one for half the price. Concert grands like the 290 depreciate rapidly.
Dawid Wilczewski That’s always the problem!
Wait a few years and you can buy an imperial for 80 grand.
penthose in NYC are a 10 million median (2018), I think you can get 15 to 20 Bosendorfer for that
I liked the way you end the discussion. "The choice is yours" Perfect! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
this was great, thank you very much)
Great choices for the music samples. These pianos are all voiced beautifully. You would expect that in Vienna - and you get it. I suspect that the Yamaha is not getting played as much as the others, and has not had hammer voicing as many times. It will improve with some playing and age. The other two attract a lot of attention, and I suspect they are more "seasoned." Thanks for uploading this video! This is the best piano comparison video I have found on the internet.
My god, This Bösendorfer is just amazing. so much detail in every single note unlike the Steinway which blends the notes together.
love the camera work
Great video. Thank you so much. 3 beautiful instruments. Something about Chopin played on a Steinway leaves me speechless.
I like how different they are. The Hamburg Steinway takes the big, orchestral approach we all know and love and has its signature tones with overall strong overtones. The Bosendorfer isn't as big but it projects sound and has layers. The Yamaha CFX has the quieter pianissimo and a sense of dimension with the usual Yamaha clarity.
I've heard other examples of all of these pianos and they all can vary a great deal. I like the CFX for the Chopin Ballade and Hamburg Steinway for Ravel. For Liszt, I don't know, Steinway or Bosendorfer. I also like Ravel on the Yamaha, but the Steinway has a more powerful treble. I do prefer the new Bosendorfer 280VC to the Imperial.
The 280 VC sounds much more like the Yamaha CFX than it sounds like the 290.
Stefan - all beautifully played. There are elements of each piano that I love and in moments I felt myself being torn between the pianos. I think I would choose the Imperial first though.... but I might have a different answer tomorrow. :-)
Vielen Dank für das video!
Rich Galassini I really want to have a grand piano one day. But I need a new home first with enough space for one. Yamaha sound is not good for me. Too sharp sounds in the treble. If I win a pile of money I might buy a Steinway one day.
Wow this is a delicious sounds comparesing very good i was not yet aware of how personal the pianos can be : many thanks excelent opurtunity to enjoin them
Awesome video !
I never once understood why a violin or cello could cost so much more than a PIANO...the ultimate instrument in fabrication, look and sound!
A great presentation!! All things are presented equally here: the "set up" of the room, microphones (assuming this) and of course, the superb music selection and performance of the music. I like the idea of how the video leaves it up to us, as the viewer, to make the final choice...and what a tough decision this is! My pick is the Steinway.
PIANO STUDY the position is different. So cant say Equal.
tough choice indeed
I love the well-rounded Bösendorfer sound. It works for many genres.
Nice comparison, excellent sound from all of these pianos. Well, for now we can dream about these pianos and get back and play our VSTs.
This would have been perfect if they also tested the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX. But still an amazing comparison.
Hill Walker94 Oh yes! That would be an awesome addition to this comparison.
I think they purposely compared these 3, because they have different characteristics
It's very similar to a the Steinway.
It's like Steinway but with a better action. Dare I say the best action there is.
My teacher asks me to make good sounds with any brand of piano. I find it difficult but I think he is right.
As for these three pianos, I like them all. They all are of extremely high quality! ❤️
This comparison needed a Fazioli and a Blüthner. Excellent presentation, thank you.
As an amateur pianist, a literal potato with wild appendages of varying lengths and strengths, I believe my opinion is important. I may not have much experience or achieved much in my musical performances or demonstrations as part of a duo, trio, quintet, small collegiate performances, official symphonies, an orchestral centerpiece, recording artist, and hand-model stand in for an actor(s); but I can say that each of these pianos are magnificent.
To me the Bosendorfer has the most beautiful sound, although all three are fantastic instruments. I do wonder though, as a guitarist who does not play piano. How much pianos can vary in sound if they are the same brand and model? I have found no two acoustic guitars sound exactly alike even if they appear to be identical. Variables in wood, construction tolerances, even humidity can all be factors.
They do vary, but to a lesser extent than guitars. Depends of the way you keep them too, and even the temp and humidity where they are stored.
@@edmartinezdj9034 Thanks for the reply.
Much of that variability is due to how they were set up I would think.
I find that they vary quite a lot. For example, I have played Bösendorfer 290 Imperial Pianos five times, in Bösendorfer’s own practice room in Vienna, for three hours at a time. This has been over the course of about seven years. They seem to differ in touch, tone, feel, and how “friendly” they are (in a way that I can’t really describe). Every single one has been brilliant, but they have all been different.
The sound of a piano is more reactive towards the environment it's in, especially with grand pianos. Also there is some variance between builds of the same model but what martinezDJ said it's a bit more subtle (probably because of the size of the instrument).
All gorgeous instruments, the performance are absolutely sensitive and phenomenal. The Steinway, although produces a gorgeous sound, the Bosendorfer surpasses it in its depth of tonal colors. The Yamaha is also a beautiful instrument but not necessarily for the classical repertoire chosen in this video.
The recoding equipment is excellent.
Just left a concert where the performer is also a Steinway artist. They had a Steinway and Boesndorfer on stage together. The artist chose to play on the Boesndorfer. It is a rather elegant instrument that is best heard in person.
I wish you get an old Steinway d and sample it as well... The existing Steinway d is so modern and crystal sounding but the old ones are so warmer and a lot of people loves them, like the one that native instruments captured and named ""grandeur'" it's quite fantastic and if you sample it in your beautiful stage a, it'll be the perfect sample library ever
Do it Vsl♥️ there's a lot of people like me on the forums that ask this repeatedly
Beautiful playing. I like the Bosendorfer best.
It's the Bosendorfer for me. Love it.
Well done!👏
Mendl is such a lovely individual. Thank you.................
Lovely comparison! It’s a matter of taste. Shigeru-Kawai and Bechstein would be great to compare as well. Also lovely passage of Liszt sonata!
Bösendorfer was so magical.
Truly magical, but must be driven by professional.Not for everyday. Not for accompanying singer. They will always lose.
Great video!
They all sound well to my opinion. Thank you for demonstrating the test. A concert house may be the best location to listen and enjoy the comparison. At home, using even expensive computers is difficult to judge sound. I am pleased to know performers have a wonderful choice of pianos.