How to reproduce sound of piano

I agree with Dlanselm - a player piano is really the only way to go, but obviously your choice of source material is severely limited. By way of reference, even the hyper-sampled digital keyboard software like Ivory or Virtual Steinway isn't completely convincing through a superior stereo system - though it's better to my ear than the best SACDs (which are next in my pecking order).

I also agree with Shadorne that a subwoofer is probably a good idea. If you scan these threads you'll find lots of good info on subs from Shadorne, Bob Reynolds, Drew Eckhard and a few others who are well informed on the subject. As to main speakers, timber & dynamics are both critical it's hard to find speakers that are great in both areas.

MBLs offer great dynamics, but they strike me as compromised in tonal balanced. Conversely, he smaller Ohms are omnis that mate well with subs and IMHO reproduce timbre exceptionally well. However, they lack the dynamics you're seeking. I haven't heard the bigger models but, they might be worth checking out. Ohm sells factory direct and money back, so your bet is hedged.

Best of luck.

Marty

Your room is a little on the small side for huge fullrange dipoles, or I would suggest that route.

Still, could be a couple that will "mostly work"...(they lack only the deepest bass).

These go against the side walls, with the slots facing each other. (you can add a single large sub, or a couple of small subs).

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrplan&1233281376&/Beveridge-Model-3

PS....I don't know the seller

Dave

BTW,

A very nice Yamaha baby grand with disclavier will run app $10K - maybe half that for a used model. If you have room, you may want to consider this idea. You'll have a beautiful piano, a good selection of music available (not what you'd ideally want, but good) and a fair bit of cash left for a fine stereo. If you really want a 9' Steinway, that's another story...

Marty

I agree with Shadorne on the ATC Actives. Very convincing in their reproduction, and because they are active, you can buy a minimal amount of gear to support them. I prefer Bryston solid state pre-amps with them and you could keep or enhance your source components.

If you wish to migrate to a warmer, tube sound: Two other tube systems that sound great are top-of-line Opera speakers with Unico Research tube components, or the new Harbeth 40.1 speakers with a good Japanese tube company (audition Leben, Shindo or Almarro.)

The sound of the Beveridge is delicate and well defined but it lacks the dynamics one would wish for, feeling the need to get it more or less right.
I've long lived with a Quad 63 and Gradient sub combination, driven first by Jadis gear and later by two sets of Atma-sphere 60 watt monos and an Atma
MP-1 Mk. III phono pre. Timbre, presence and subtle cues were there, dynamics were fair, but not as right as I would have wished for ( I am initimatley familiar with the sound of a grand ) and the lowest octave, when "thunder" was called for, lacked both power and presence in spite of the Gradients, which performed fair otherwise . All the same, the middle octaves of the grand were there, the very highs almost and the lowest lacked punch. Liszt made me not quite happy, Schubert or Mozart mostly completely. I mention this, because if you buy used, you could perhaps make it, including a good TT plus arm and cart. I am still waiting for good piano rendition on digital. If someone could point me to good recordings of classical piano, I would be grateful.

To get it really right is not cheap. I am at a point where I am truly happy, but at what cost!
To wit:

TT.Goldmund Reference I, highly modified with space age plinth and pivot.
Arm: 1.Highly modified Goldmund with adjustable VTA from listening position
2.highly modified Souther with Air Tight PC-1 (best for dynamics)
other cart: Suchy's Goldfinger on the Goldmund arm
Phono pre: Wavac and Boulder 2008
Pre: Wavac
Amp: VTL Siegfried monos Pentode mode (700watts)
Speakers:
High: aCapella plasmas driven by Zanden
Main: Sound Labs U1-PX, wide dispersion
Bass: 2 Soutien self powered bass systems with room control
Sub bass: Rel Studio III
Wires: Stealth and custom made.

I bought much of the above used or at discount, but all the same it came to well over 5x your budget. Perhaps you can get the same result for less money, though frankly I doubt it, if you want to get satisfactory results from top to bottom octave, from ppp to fff, have all the resonances and decays right, knowing exactly how a Steinway, a Bösedorfer, or a Bechstein with what music can sound and be enabled to sometimes almost forget that your're only listening to facsimile of the thing.