Stereo system vs Steinway


Hey folks,

So having more room in the new place, my inherited Steinway grand piano is scheduled to arrive soon.
As an aspiring classical piano student, listening to pieces I am working on is a constant.  

I am told that the piano needs an environment where the humidity stays safely above 45 - 50% to prevent the cabinet from drying out/developing cracks/etc. 

My piano teacher keeps hers at just over 60%.

I have a "secondary" system in the "piano room" consisting of a pair of Ampzilla 2000 2nd editions, with an old Bryston BP26 and a much older set of B&W Matrix 801 S2s.  Source is currently a laptop.

Are there any guidelines regarding safe humidity levels for audio equipment? 
Would 50% ish be too high?

I also just inherited (along with what I believe to be one of the first Rega turntables my uncle purchased in the UK over 30 years ago sitting on an air bladder supported platform) an older and really heavy Jolida tube integrated.  Are tubes more/less sensitive to humidity?

Am I just being paranoid?
Or do I need to consider moving the system out of the piano room and perhaps listen with headphones?

Thanks everyone!





hleeid
Steinway wins, i would agree with @inna that a recording device would be nice.
Humidity up to 60% is acceptable.
A humidifier-ionizer can work, some of them have low noise.

G
I would go for 'normal'.

A gazillion people have pianos over the centuries, most in rooms with less humidity, the thing is to avoid excessive dryness that shrinks moldings, cracks wood, etc. In 'normal' humidity levels, they don't crack, they hold their tune.

And definitely avoid frequent temperature changes, i.e. avoid outside walls, too near windows, avoid too much sunlight on the wood ...

I have a forced air system with adjustable humidifier. I watch my ceiling moldings in the winter, and how much moisture jumps on the windows and storm doors when I open the outside doors. Enough, not too much.
Hleeid, I have my father's 1929 Mason + Hamblin parlor grand. Interestingly it has a Steinway pin block in it. Apparently at one time they were having trouble getting the right wood for it so they bought a bunch from Steinway. It is valued between 50 and 60 grand. Anyway, We live in New Hampshire and have wide swings in humidity as the seasons change. It is not so much the exact humidity that matters. It is a constant humidity. If the soundboard dries out too much it will crack and the piano will be worth 1/2 what it should be. Check the sound board carefully. Many of them have already cracked. They can be repaired but you can not replace a whole soundboard. They fill the crack and sand it down. 
A 10 point variation is definitely OK. Many pianos will tolerate a 20 point variation. I allow my house to drop to 35% in the Winter and let it go no higher than 55% in the Summer. Electronic equipment and speakers have no problem with humidity as long as nothing is condensing on them (high humidity with an air conditioner blowing on them) Records on the other hand do not tolerate high humidity. Over 80% and they will grow mildew and other fungus which smells bad and can ruin the vinyl surface. Enjoy your piano!