Welcome to LivingPianos.com, I’m Robert Estrin. Today I’ll be doing a piano test drive! I have two of the great American semi-concert grand pianos, Steinway and Baldwin. In the past, concert artists had a choice. Baldwin supported concert pianists around the world with their concert instruments. Of course, Steinway won the marketing war. They became the only de facto choice for touring artists, because putting concert grands in every major city in the world is a very daunting task.
In their heyday, Baldwin was making amazing pianos!
I’m going to play a brief excerpt of the Chopin G Minor Ballade. First I will play it on the Steinway Model B from 1981. Then I will play the same excerpt on the Baldwin SF seven foot semi-concert grand from 1967. I’m really interested in your opinions! Leave your comments here at LivingPianos.com and YouTube. I want to know your impressions of these two magnificent American semi-concert grand pianos!
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23 thoughts on “Steinway VS Baldwin: Listening Test!”
Hi Robert:
I’d say that I prefer the Baldwin, as the sound is clearer and more crystal-like…
Best
Dom
Thanks for the lovely playing. I admit my bias. I was caretaker of a Hamburg B for 8 years and loved it, but it was very difficult to maintain the tuning. Now I own a 1968 Baldwin L and I will hopefully never own another instrument. Elegant to play, wonderful response and dynamic range, solid tuning, with clear singing tone.
Robert – how are you doing? You look and sound well – hope that is the case.
Interesting video. As I’m sure you know, any test of pianos in a room full of pianos will excite the strings of other pianos and create overtones that may or may not improve the sound of the test piano. However, I totally understand the limits imposed by space and expense. Also, I believe the Steinway’s position up against a wall confined the sound a bit versus the free air position of the Baldwin. All of that said, I heard deeper, more resonant bass and a more visceral midrange with the Baldwin. I also heard a softer, more expressive pianissimo with the Stienway. Both sounded great. Alex continues to invest in his Baldwin. The last current upgrade he needs is a new keyboard, to obtain faster repeats. Alex has taken your advice and concentrated on creating music and computer games, rather than focusing on a concert performing career. He also teaches and plays out occasionally. Take care, and keep up the great work! Bruce Kopitz
It’s good hearing from you! Both pianos were recorded exactly the same way with microphones inside the pianos where room acoustics would have minimal affect.
I should have guessed that the great Robert Estrin would take such precautions. I should have added that my preference was the Baldwin sound. I hear gorgeous music through my son’s 9 foot Baldwin touring grand every day in a large, acoustically complimentary environment, so my judgement may be a bit biased. In any event, keep tugging this music community together with your wonderful videos and thought-provoking debates and challenges.
Hope you and Alex continue enjoying the piano!
Prefer Baldwin sound
I enjoyed hearing the piano comparison .I am partial to the Steinway sound as I have a B model myself. The American made Baldwins of course have a rich resounding tone as well.
They are both richly rewarding pianos to play!
I would prefer the Baldwin as it sounds clear and a bit brighter where as the B sounded a bit muffled. But that could be where the camera was picking up the sound. The Baldwin was up front in the video and the B in the back. You need to do a side by side comparison where the camera mic is picking up equally for each piano. I currently have a Baldwin 7 footer for sale. Its a real power house of a piano.
The audio on this video was produced using 3 microphones:
– Rode Go 2 Wireless Lavalier Microphone for my speaking
– (2) Audix SCX25APS Piano Microphone System Mics – one inside each piano in exactly the same position in both pianos
Only one microphone was active at any given time in the video to provide an accurate representation of the pianos.
I grew up with a Baldwin and always found them easier to play, but in college I learned on Steinways and felt that I had more to do with the sound (for better and worse). But in this video, the Baldwin sounded a bit better to me (though proximity and tuning might have affected my sense).
I prefer the Baldwin
I vote for the Steinway.
Yes, I know Steinways are “overpriced” but I think the discerning ear can tell why.
IMHO – In My Humble Opinion
Holiday Cheers to everyone!
Baldwin by far. Much richer tone quality.
Bravo Robert, grazie del tuo video! Due grandi pianoforti, difficile fare un commento: entrambi hanno bassi profondi e potenti, bellissimi. Steinway forse un poco disomogeneo, opaco nei medi, non brillante negli acuti come invece è solito essere. Baldwin più uniforme, e sopratutto ha uno splendido cantabile, poetico, perfetto per Chopin! Grazie Robert!
Roberto Beltrami, Italy.
Here is the translation: Well done Robert, thanks for your video! Two great pianos, difficult to comment: both have deep and powerful basses, beautiful. Steinway perhaps a little uneven, opaque in the mids, not brilliant in the treble as it usually is. Baldwin more uniform, and above all he has a splendid cantabile, poetic, perfect for Chopin! Thanks Robert!
Roberto Beltrami, Italy.
Hmmmmm Robert,
Definitely the BALDWIN had a fuller/fatter sound.
The STEINWAY had a thinner/stringier sound.
The Bass section of the BALDWIN by far was superior, the Middle Register was about even.
FYI – I could really hear the overtones on the bass notes of the Steinway.
Which had the lighter touch?
Both pianos have fairly light actions for pianos of that size.
The Steinway is disadvantaged by being further away from the microphone than the Baldwin. Having them equidistant from the mic would be fairer and make it easier to judge.
That said, I love your videos, enthusiasm, and expert playing!
There were two identical microphones placed inside each piano in exactly the same spot. There was a third lavaliere microphone on my shirt. Only one microphone was turned on at any one time in the video.
Thanks for taking the time to respond to my comment!
Yes, I saw your comments regarding the recording techniques after I posted. The Baldwin sounded much brighter than the Steinway; would the location of the pianos have something to do with the dramatic difference in clarity?
The location of the pianos has nothing to do with the recorded sound since the microphones were inside each piano. So room acoustics would have no noticeable affect on the sound. Baldwin pianos had a clearer sound, more like European pianos like Bechstein and Fazioli, but with the characteristically fatter, American quality of sound.