How to reproduce sound of piano



I currently own a decent rig, Mac MA 2275, AP Sparks, Marantz 8001, Rega Apollo, Benchmark DAC w/ Squeezebox Duet. I love the way it sounds with jazz, voice, orchestral works and also it's decent with chamber music.

But I find when I'm listening to piano solo performances it doesn't quite sound nearly good as the live instrument. This is too bad because I mainly listen to classical piano works. I want to build a new system from scratch dedicated to listen to solo piano works as well as piano conertos.
I don't care for "warmth", "timbre", "soundstage" or other loaded audiophile terms. Just want absolutely accurate piano reproduction as possible.

What qualities should I look for? Analog vs digital source. Solid state vs tube amp? I find my tube amp unable to keep up with technical masters as Pollini or Horowitz. But will going to SS take away from the performces of more romantic pianists like Kempf and Zimerman? As for speakers, I never heard of a speaker capable of reproducing the deep bass of a 9ft+ concert Steinway grand. Are electrostatics way to go? My budget is around $25K USD. Thanks for any feedback.
plaser
I'd try playing with current speaker location 1st as SoGood suggested because that's easiest and no cost.

Try to listen with them out away from rear and side walls for better imaging and in order to allow those beautiful piano key strikes some breathing room with which to reverberate .

The next step if things are looking up at that point (good chance) might be adding the sub(s) to fill in the low end.

Dave,
then you should know how difficult it is to get it right. Don't forget Plaser is new to this and as you should know with your experience, it is the easiest thing in the world to ruin your entire system with subs which are not blended right into the rest. Having had a look at your system, which I find impressive, I don't think it is built around the idea of getting classical piano right foremost and all. Plaser however seems to aim at that and I had that in mind, when I issued my warning.
Sorry, should I have stepped on your toes, in my over 50 years experience (; I have learned that many ways lead to Rome but it mostly brings mediocre results if you rush on the way.
Plaser

My suggestions relate to the room you are in now, and the components you are using now...and not the room you are going to build (which I know nothing about).

I also don't know when you plan on moving to your new home. The intent is to get you some passable results in the nearer term (I am also assuming you like your speakers for the most part, I think you said you did?).

What you probably don't like (regarding piano recordings) is the missing heft, of the lower notes, that the piano is producing, but your speakers are not reproducing (because they can't).

Like many audiophiles I have several speaker systems, two fullrange systems, and three less than fullrange speaker systems.

I like them all, and I also play a lot of piano music (we probably all do). That said, the piano sounds more real, and much better overall, on the two fullrange systems. The answer for that is simple...the fullrange systems paint a better picture, or at least...a better copy of the original picture, than the smaller speakers are able. No rocket science involved.

I suggested 30hz, and small subwoofers based on your room...and what looks to be, limited placement options in that room.

I would not buy any components for your new home, until well after the move in. because you will need lots of time to think things out, unless you like doing everything twice (-:

When I retired around 8 years ago, I built a fairly large dedicated room (my son helped me), and it took us around 6 months... (4 months of thought, and two months of work).

I can tell you that it was well worth it.

Good luck,

Dave
Detlof

No, you didn't step on my toes at all, no problem (we are all trying to help, and usually with somewhat limited info)...I guess I just don't find subwoofers, that complicated an animal to tame.

Dave
Plaser

Subwoofers were around long before home theater made them popular to the masses.

Rel, Martin Logan, Audio Concepts Inc, Sunfire....lots of others make, or have made smaller subwoofers. I have to be honest...my subwoofers are huge. (but my room is larger)

The ACI subwoofers are very nice, the Rel subs are well liked here at this forum...and the little Martin Logan Dynamo is well reviewed. (I like the ACI subs, but I haven't heard the others?)

Of course, if you want a wood finish to match your mains...you will need to do some research.

I would buy some room correction hardware, it will help make integration with the mains a breeze.

Dave