Stereo system vs Steinway


Hey folks,

So having more room in the new place, my inherited Steinway grand piano is scheduled to arrive soon.
As an aspiring classical piano student, listening to pieces I am working on is a constant.  

I am told that the piano needs an environment where the humidity stays safely above 45 - 50% to prevent the cabinet from drying out/developing cracks/etc. 

My piano teacher keeps hers at just over 60%.

I have a "secondary" system in the "piano room" consisting of a pair of Ampzilla 2000 2nd editions, with an old Bryston BP26 and a much older set of B&W Matrix 801 S2s.  Source is currently a laptop.

Are there any guidelines regarding safe humidity levels for audio equipment? 
Would 50% ish be too high?

I also just inherited (along with what I believe to be one of the first Rega turntables my uncle purchased in the UK over 30 years ago sitting on an air bladder supported platform) an older and really heavy Jolida tube integrated.  Are tubes more/less sensitive to humidity?

Am I just being paranoid?
Or do I need to consider moving the system out of the piano room and perhaps listen with headphones?

Thanks everyone!





hleeid

Showing 1 response by mijostyn

Hleeid, I have my father's 1929 Mason + Hamblin parlor grand. Interestingly it has a Steinway pin block in it. Apparently at one time they were having trouble getting the right wood for it so they bought a bunch from Steinway. It is valued between 50 and 60 grand. Anyway, We live in New Hampshire and have wide swings in humidity as the seasons change. It is not so much the exact humidity that matters. It is a constant humidity. If the soundboard dries out too much it will crack and the piano will be worth 1/2 what it should be. Check the sound board carefully. Many of them have already cracked. They can be repaired but you can not replace a whole soundboard. They fill the crack and sand it down. 
A 10 point variation is definitely OK. Many pianos will tolerate a 20 point variation. I allow my house to drop to 35% in the Winter and let it go no higher than 55% in the Summer. Electronic equipment and speakers have no problem with humidity as long as nothing is condensing on them (high humidity with an air conditioner blowing on them) Records on the other hand do not tolerate high humidity. Over 80% and they will grow mildew and other fungus which smells bad and can ruin the vinyl surface. Enjoy your piano!