Speakers that do pianos really well

IMO, no speaker can actually reproduce the tonal range and timbre of an acoustic piano realistically, but some I have heard have come closer than most.

To my ears, the old Apogee Full Range Planar was the best at reproducing piano, other EL/planar speakers such as the Maggie MG-1 and SoundLab are also very good, for a couple of reasons: I believe that not only does the nature of the planar transducer more accurately represent the effect of piano strings and a soundboard, but the dipole design produces a similar reflective environment.

I find the Quad designs pretty good at piano reproduction, but their limited panel size makes them less accurate for piano than the aforementioned larger speakers.

One non-planar speaker that impresses me with it's ability to reproduce piano and other tones with little coloration os the Earo Eight; an active, rear-loaded horn design that I find sounds remarkably similar to a planar speaker (but is much more room tolerant and wife friendly).

I think that this subject is a particularly interesting one, in the context of
many of the ideas that have been promoted in previous threads about how
we listen to music.

I have always had trouble with the idea that any one particular musical
instrument can, and should, be used as a litmus test in judging the possible
ultimate "accuracy" of record/playback equipment. To do so is
to not understand the subtle tonal variety and shadings that other musical
instruments exibit. Additionally, an instrument that is truly capable of going
from pppp to ffff is no guarantee that it will convey accuracy from p to pp;
and everything in between. Not to mention, the tonal stuff.

In the case of the piano: Sure, the piano can sound at a volume and
frequency range that an oboe can't, but the oboe's sound posseses tonal
shadings that the piano's does not. The wide variety in tonal signatures
between oboes (and most other wind and string instruments) is far greater
than anything that I have ever heard from different pianos. Of course, it's
great to be able to pick out the Steinway from the Yamaha, but ten clarinet
players, all playing the same brand clarinet, will each sound uniquely
different.

So, the question has to be asked: what is it that we are listening for? This
comment is not meant to criticize, nor invalidate, how a given listener
priotizes sonic benchmarks; but, in my opinion, to go in that direction of
priorityzation can pull the listener away from the notion of listening for true
accuracy in musicality.

If the analysis of recorded music accuracy (litmus test?) is to have any real
relevance, then how MUSIC (not just sound) is analyzed and discussed
has to be part of the mix. In music, no instrument is deserving of more
respect than any other; in spite of all the viola jokes. Having said all that, a
favorite piano recording with fantastic playing: Murray Perahia "The
Aldeburgh Recital".

Fried Studio Vs. The source I use to see how piano is reproduced is the Chick Corea CD, "Expressions". This CD is 100% solo piano - not another instrument to be found. Are the Frieds dead accurate? I don't know. But the piano sure sounds good.

Horns......nuff said......

Shakey

Been doing this for 3 decades professionally. I have heard some very flawed loudspeakers sound pretty darned good on piano. If I had to reliably test a speaker in a short period of time piano would not be one of the first 3 albums I would put on. If piano is really important to you then certainly run it by any speaker you are thinking of. But use other music to flesh out flaws that can be hard to hear on piano recordings.

I have had a speaker perform beautifully on piano and organ and fall apart on upright bass. I've had good piano repro with horrible, shrieky violins. Good piano and clumsy mid to tweeter transition. Good piano and ear sawing trumpet. Good piano and cloudy voice.