It has been almost 5 years since I started this thread. Over that time period, I've owned a bunch of different speakers and electronics. With 5 years of trial and error and stating the obvious, rooms and electronics matter as much if not more than the speakers. And....recordings with piano are all over the map in terms of how they attempt to spread the sound over two speakers.
I've also come to believe that a system/room/speakers that are capable of portraying a realistic piano may not be as convincing in other areas. A recent example:
A buddy of mine has Maggie 3.7i's fronted by a Lyngdord 2170 used for its dac and room correction as a preamp into a Halo A21. The Maggies are crossed at 80hz and an Audio Kinesis 4 sub array handles the bottom end. The realism of a piano is really, really good...but...only if the volume is 80db-90db at the listening position. Less than 80db and the piano sounds lifeless and more than 90db and it is too bright.
The Maggies are equally convincing with stringed instruments...but only one or two at a time...more complex music that contains 4+ instruments and voices seem a little less clear and focused....and again have the volume limitation issue.
By comparison, I would say that my own system with an Oppo 205 into a Belles 22a pre into a Wells Immorata llST amplifier into Spatial Audio M3 Sapphires also does an excellent job with pianos....not quite as realistic as the Maggies but quite a bit better on all other music....and really good at 70db as well.
I draw no firm conclusions at this point and have no pronouncements to make...I just remain interest in everyone else's experiences.
