Tonal balance

A listening sketch, not a measurement: great projection to the listener, a blended and slightly narrow sound at the bench, a mid-range boost and an intentionally soft edge in the treble. Select a quality on the left to see how Steinway rates on it.

What it measuresHow well the sound reaches a listener across the room, as distinct from what the player hears at the bench.

On a SteinwayThe top rating. The sound carries strongly into a hall or a living room, one reason Steinways are so often chosen for performance and recording.

What it measuresHow evenly the wound bass strings hand over to the plain-wire tenor.

On a SteinwayThe top rating. Lines moving through the lower middle of the keyboard stay even, with no audible seam.

What it measuresHow much the rim and case sing around each note.

On a SteinwayStrong. The continuous bent-maple rim adds weight and warmth around every note.

What it measuresThe bloom and body the soundboard adds to the tone.

On a SteinwayStrong bloom that gives chords their body and supports the dark, powerful sound Steinway is known for.

What it measuresHow long and how evenly a note carries after it is struck.

On a SteinwayNotes carry well, especially at the stronger dynamics of performance playing.

What it measuresThe sympathetic halo created by other strings ringing along with the note.

On a SteinwayModerate. The tone centres on a strong fundamental and a few lively overtones, then falls away quickly rather than ringing in a long halo.

What it measuresHow widely the sound spreads around you. Wide impresses in a large room; tighter is easier to control in a small or lively one.

On a SteinwaySlightly narrow at the bench, so the sound feels focused to the player while still projecting outward to listeners.

What it measuresSound from the case itself that is not part of the note. On this measure, lower is cleaner.

On a SteinwayModerate. Some of the case's own sound blends into the tone and adds to its warm, weighty character; makers that rate lower sound more transparent.

What it measuresWhether the sound seems to come from a single point on the instrument or from the whole piano at once.

On a SteinwayBlended. The sound washes from the whole instrument, which makes it forgiving to play. The treble is intentionally a little less precise.