Kawai v.s. Steinway v.s. Yamaha - piano sound quality comparison

Comparison between three different pianos:

- Shigeru Kawai SK-EX Concert Grand (278 cm) – Japan
- Steinway & Sons D 274 Concert Grand – Germany
- Yamaha CFX (275 cm) – Japan

Sound was recorded during 17th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw Symphony Concert Hall. Microphones settings and position of pianos on the stage is the same for each recording.

Samples of Frederic Chopin pieces are played by different pianists! Please take into consideration different style of playing which may affect the tone.

I suggest watching on 1080p for the best sound quality.

Your comments are welcome.

[musicbybrittonlackey]

The brightness of the Kawai cannot be beaten. But I will say, the softness of the Yamaha is truly beautiful as well. The Steinway is a nice mixture of both. All three are amazing pianos!

[ish]

Kawai is just so soft and delicate but powerful at the same time god I love it

[andrewazar]

The kawai has the cleanest articulations. The notes are the most "separate". Excellent for solos .
The Steinway is warm, and blends with itself well. A wonderful jazz instrument.
The Yamaha is Bright, so It'd my choice for a concerto or for playing with an orchestra.

[grigorisgrigoriou]

All are excellent pianos. One thing to keep in mind is that different pianists were playing these pieces on each piano, so it's not just a difference in sound quality but also in rendition.

[juanantoniogarciadelgado]

In my opinion, it'd been more interesting to show the recordings without knowing the particular piano brand playing each time, then asking which piano sounds best and finally revealing the brand of each performance. That way it would be more objective.

[MC-ymlz]

I can’t help but just love how Kawai sounds~ so much smoother in my opinion.

[gauthamk]

I really can't decide between the Steinway and the Shigeru Kawai. I like the kawai because it sounds more natural, and it sound more stringy, if you get what I mean. It actually sounds like it came from a string, which is more natural. But I like Steinway for the opposite reason: it sounds more clear as music.

[cheerilicious]

The conclusion is so simple! If you are into buying an instrument of this level (all of them are magnificent), and have the proper skill, you just have to try each at a sale house because otherwise you just cannot tell!!! Even if you listen to a million comparison videos you can't be sure if you don't play it yourself. (each has different touch response, depth etc) and remember that the voicing is so important!

[Delectatio]

Is it OK that I listen to this on 20$ computer speakers?

[nguyenvycao]

Thanks Bel so much for making this video. Before watching this, I am a Yamaha fan. After blind listening, I found out I love the clarity and bass sound of SK but I am truly in love with the mellow and musicality of Steinway.

[epsospremium]

One of the best sound comparisons.
The digital pianos record their sounds from those *very expensive grand pianos.* All have a different sound. In the digital version, the sound can be also modified to sound as we like it.

[gligachaz]

1. Steinway, 2. Kawai, 3. Yamaha.

All very nice :).

[twentyonepointfour]

I find Steinway very consistent, as it is here. Rounder, purer, clearer than Kawai or Yamaha. I love its tone colours and big ringing resonance. I find Yamaha sound brittle in general. But I like their key construction for sturdyness.

[patrickjones]

I think the Steinway simultaneously has beautiful tone, while somehow lacking clarity. The Kawai has amazing clarity while being a bit sharp in the treble. The Yamaha is nicely balanced, but it feels like something small is just missing and I can't put my finger on it.

[turkikaboha]

Each of them has its sound and style, . All of them take you to a different dimension. None of them is bad.

[kenpeters]

These are two, truly magnificent pianos. The Shigeru Kawai and Steinway. Such a close tie for first. The SK has a clarity above the SS but the SS seems to blend its notes more warmly. Neither are brassy or bright, and I personally like that. The other thing is the voicing. I read that if you purchase the upper end SK, after several months a technician from Kawai will come to your home for your preferable voicing. It is $200, 000 but that is a still a nice feature. Most SS I have heard are a bit less rich / romantic han the one displayed here. If I had the big bucks, it would be a tough choice.
I know SS owners and understand that they do need a bit more maintenance, but that would be a drop in the bucket if you could afford one - and the home to house it.
Depending upon the piece being played, my preference would toggle. SS is the traditional best. SK is the best modern piano. SS has the name, especially in the West.
Either way, competition is good. These two just keep getting better. One nice thing about Kawai is that for $6, 000 - $12, 000 you can get an affordable digital hybrid that feels and sounds magnificent. Not a substitute for one of these two, but, if you do not have one or two hundred thousand, they are worth trying out and listening to.

[tuongkhang]

The Kawai - clearer
The Steinway - warmer
The Yamaha - thinner and more modern

[leechsrl]

I wanna put the steinway first so bad, but the Kawai is really making me feel good inside

[wwiththewind]

They are all world class instruments, it really come down to taste as in which has the best sound.

[MrTommy]

The Steinway and the Yamaha are predictably what you'd expect. The Shigeru Kawai, in my opinion, was the best overall. Notwithstanding, tone regulation can make a mole hill into a mountain, and visa versa.