I agree, pianos can vary widely in timbre. Yet there is another factor. Piano recordings typically are made with the microphones very close to the open lid of the piano. (Do you listen that way in person? I don’t.) One result is that recorded piano sound often is very bright. A producer or mastering engineer might adjust that brightness or use a microphone that minimizes it. Still, many recordings are too bright, leaving you to do something about it.
