How does solo piano help you evaluate audio gear?



A pianist friend just recommended this article and pianist to me, knowing that I'm presently doing a speaker shoot-out. My question to you all is this:

How important is solo piano recordings to your evaluation of audio equipment -- in relation to, say, orchestra, bass, voice, etc.? What, specifically, does piano reveal exceptionally well, to your ears?

Here's the article:

https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/music-reviews/magic-of-josep-colom/


 

hilde45

Showing 4 responses by jjss49

@hilde45

sounds like you are having fun... 👍

i think someone mentioned earlier that piano is also hard to mike, that and overall recording/mix quality is really important in how sound is then portrayed in room by a well set up system, i think that is what your experience thus far is highlighting (not to mention the challenges this poses to a system to handle transients, the full range of frequencies, overhang of notes etc)

i look at a piano, how big the enclosure is, say a grand with its lid open, the nature of direct, reflected, resonant sound, quite a complex set of sound waves emanating...

@hilde45

for me, it is a useful comparison in many respects

we are fortunate to have a lovely 1920’s bechstein grand in our living room - sometimes it is fun to hear it being played live, as a reference, then compare various aspects of its sound to what can be reproduced by the hi-fi (albeit in a different room)