Topic by YvesTh

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Topic: I tried many pianos... But pianoteq is really good

While on vacation in Germany, I had the opportunity to visit the famous Thomann store. The sheer number of instruments of all kinds is impressive. I spent some time in the pianos and keyboard section, and here are a few impressions from an amateur.
I tried out a good dozen grand pianos (Kawai, Yamaha, Steinway, Seiler, and Thomann). I don’t have the expertise to judge their respective quality, but the feel is amazing. The first impression is the loud volume, which is a bit overwhelming at first, but a soundproof room with about ten pianos allowed me to play freely. I love the sound diffusion of grand.

I’ve tried few upright pianos (I have one at home); Steinway, Bechstein and others but I don’t like that feeling of being confined with my back to the room, my nose pressed against the cabinet, and the sound too close. Playing on a grand is much more enjoyable.

I also tried a few digital pianos, including the new Kawai NV12, but I didn’t dare turn the volume up too high to test the soundboard. I mainly tried them with headphones (all the pianos were equipped with Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 32-ohm headphones).

After two wonderful hours, however, I concluded that my personal Pianoteq setup with a standard PHA-4 keyboard mounted in a wooden cabinet Is very good...
Now I'm certain of it: Pianoteq is the best investment I've made in a long time

https://images2.imgbox.com/4f/dd/3Yvyn9mW_o.jpg

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Last edited by YvesTh (11-06-2026 12:02)

Reply by Kengrayfield

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Re: I tried many pianos... But pianoteq is really good

Honestly, with a good set of keyboard, there's no digital onboard sound that can rival the playability and authenticity of Pianoteq

Reply by jamiecw

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Re: I tried many pianos... But pianoteq is really good

Agreed - the only thing better than Pianoteq is the real deal - when that is not doable for whatever reason, I always remind myself I am  as close as I can be with a good keyboard + Pianoteq. Since v8 I even stopped using VSTs.

Reply by amitev

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Re: I tried many pianos... But pianoteq is really good

YvesTh wrote:

While on vacation in Germany, I had the opportunity to visit the famous Thomann store. The sheer number of instruments of all kinds is impressive. I spent some time in the pianos and keyboard section, and here are a few impressions from an amateur.
I tried out a good dozen grand pianos (Kawai, Yamaha, Steinway, Seiler, and Thomann). I don’t have the expertise to judge their respective quality, but the feel is amazing. The first impression is the loud volume, which is a bit overwhelming at first, but a soundproof room with about ten pianos allowed me to play freely. I love the sound diffusion of grand.

I’ve tried few upright pianos (I have one at home); Steinway, Bechstein and others but I don’t like that feeling of being confined with my back to the room, my nose pressed against the cabinet, and the sound too close. Playing on a grand is much more enjoyable.

I also tried a few digital pianos, including the new Kawai NV12, but I didn’t dare turn the volume up too high to test the soundboard. I mainly tried them with headphones (all the pianos were equipped with Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 32-ohm headphones).

After two wonderful hours, however, I concluded that my personal Pianoteq setup with a standard PHA-4 keyboard mounted in a wooden cabinet Is very good...
Now I'm certain of it: Pianoteq is the best investment I've made in a long time

https://images2.imgbox.com/4f/dd/3Yvyn9mW_o.jpg

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

I also had the chance to visit Thomann in Germany. It's a great place.

I am playing pianoteq for 2 years and something already and I'm not changing it for anything...
I even play exclusively with the K2 - a really nice and pleasent sound.

Reply by Stephen_Doonan

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Re: I tried many pianos... But pianoteq is really good

amitev wrote:

I am playing pianoteq for 2 years and something already and I'm not changing it for anything...
I even play exclusively with the K2 - a really nice and pleasent sound.

I'm also very fond of Modartt's own K2, an imaginary ideal piano rather than one modeled from an actual acoustic piano.

--
Linux, Mac OS, Pianoteq Pro, Organteq, Vidal MIDI controller

Reply by Kaiser Wilhelm

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Re: I tried many pianos... But pianoteq is really good

Stephen_Doonan wrote:
amitev wrote:

I am playing pianoteq for 2 years and something already and I'm not changing it for anything...
I even play exclusively with the K2 - a really nice and pleasent sound.

I'm also very fond of Modartt's own K2, an imaginary ideal piano rather than one modeled from an actual acoustic piano.

Thank you all for making me aware. I was not taking the K2 in acount, because it is not modelled from one of the big names. How wrong I was. Bought it today.