There’s no question that the new, 48”, ebony polish upright piano market is dominated by the Yamaha U1 and Kawai K-300 due to the combination of price, quality and musical potential these two pianos offer. Of course, there are a variety of more expensive, high-end options available in this classic studio size, particularly from Europe, […]
A traditionally niche category that has been seeing some increased visibility over the past few years is the class of home digital pianos that essentially represent the entry point to the high-end quality tier. Roland’s HP704 and Kawai’s CN39 digital piano are two great examples of this type of instrument. Similarly priced and essentially geared […]
VST plugins have advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years, offering users virtual instruments of startling authenticity and utility, easily accessible from your Mac or PC. Whether you’re after orchestral solo instruments like a trombone, clarinet or other woodwinds, or the ubiquitous piano or synth, odds are that there’s a full library of high-quality […]
When it comes to mid-range professional-level pianos, there are of course many solid options on the market in this modern era of upright piano building. But, if there’s one particular rivalry that happens to stand out above all others, it has to be the Yamaha U1 vs Kawai K-300. Sure, these two pianos companies have […]
One of the most requested videos we’ve ever done was our comparison of the Roland FP-30 digital piano (since replaced by the Roland FP-30X) and Kawai ES110 (soon to be replaced by the Kawai ES120). These are two of the best-selling portable digital pianos in the world, and both are often touted as the two […]
Digital pianos have been around since the 1970s, and while they’ve been very popular for a long time among beginners, hobbyists and students, they’ve never really been considered a viable option for a discerning pianist. Thanks to recent innovations in Hybrid digital piano technology, that’s no longer the case. In today’s video and article, we’ll […]
When it comes to acoustic pianos, there are a lot of ‘best of’ lists and new piano buying guides out there with a ton of different information on different models. What these lists tend to neglect is a systematic way that you, the buyer, can sort through this information and zero in on the most important considerations […]
In a way, we’re kind of in a new golden era in the piano industry these days, especially with regard to how realistic digital pianos have become. The amount of high-quality, convincing options with great piano sound available for under $1,500 is truly remarkable. Today, we’re going to go through our essential list of the […]
Baby grand pianos are the best-selling size of grand piano by virtue of the fact that they don’t take up a ton of space, and their relative affordability, especially compared to a 9-foot concert grand piano such as a Steinway Model D which lists for around $200,000 USD! Today we’re going to be comparing two […]
The 5’11” Kawai GX-2 grand piano is among our top-selling instruments here at Merriam Music, but for some folks, the 6’2” GX-3 is worth the extra spend all day. In this article and companion video, we’ll be comparing the Kawai GX-2 vs GX-3 side by side. This should be helpful as these two instruments often […]