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Steinway Lyngdorf: the new B&O or the real deal?

4624 Views 29 Replies 18 Participants Last post by Alimentall, Jul 31, 2007

Michael Grant

Discussion Starter · May 16, 2007

Check this out: Peter Lyngdorf, formerly of TacT audio and a purveyor of digital room correction systems, is teaming up with Steinway & Sons (yes, the piano guys) to offer high-end audio systems:

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/st...4588788&EDATE=

http://www.steinwaylyngdorf.com/

It basically looks like a TacT Millenium with a black piano finish. Purty, but... worth the $150K sticker?

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scorch123

· #2 · May 16, 2007

Looks like it will be fun for the "touch test" at the next CES

The component finish looks like the old Pioneer Elite "Urushi" lacquer.

Good match? Bosendorfer speakers w/ SteinwayLyngdorf...

- Steve O.

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PhilNYC

· #3 · May 16, 2007

Coincidentally, I was at a (non-audio) event yesterday where they had a pair of really big, black, and glossy speakers and a single component (assuming a CD+amp) that was a "pedestal" design (4ft tall column with controls on the top)...and these components were branded as "Steinway & Sons". It wasn't turned on, and the speakers (open-baffle design) were only about 3ft apart (with the pedestal sitting between them), so I didn't get to hear it...

Mark_H

· #4 · May 16, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Grant /forum/post/0

Purty, but... worth the $150K sticker?

In terms of sound quality, incredibly unlikely.

Mark

Michael Grant

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 16, 2007

Agreed. I honestly would not be surprised if the electronics are identical or nearly so to standard Lyngdorf Audio products.

ChrisWiggles

· #6 · May 17, 2007

Sounds like mainly a marketing move to use the Steinway name, because after all why would a piano company have *any* experience at all with speakers or electronics? If folks at Steinway actually were involved in the product design, this would bode poorly, because it may be one of those inane instrument-speaker designs that incorporates resonation (read: distortion) as in a piano or any musical instrument.

dsurkin

· #7 · May 17, 2007

Responding to ChrisWiggles:

I think Steinway is licensing their name, and possibly offering their cabinet-making skills, tools, wood vendors, finishes. Based upon anecdotal information, I think piano sales are down in the past decade. It's not as well known as it should be that Steinway not only gets some of the best wood (they've got long-term contracts with lumber companies in the Northwest), but they've got some of the best cabinet makers. Take a look at the Steinway web site and look at what they can do with more exotic species and finishes.

ChrisWiggles

· #8 · May 18, 2007

It would make sense if Steinway were involved with cabinet design, and that would be pretty neat actually. It doesn't surprise me that piano sales are down, I think they've been going down pretty hard actually, which is kind of sad. A quality, real piano is a beautiful thing. Electric pianos are, in my opinion, proof of the existence of Satan.

Harrypt

· #9 · May 18, 2007

Bosendorfer got into the speaker business as well.

http://www.boesendorfer.com/_english_version/index.html

Although I heard the big ones at CES and in my opinion they failed to impress.

Raul GS

· #10 · May 18, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark_H /forum/post/0

In terms of sound quality, incredibly unlikely.

The same is arguably true about all speaker systems in that range. So aesthetics became a critical concern; if I'm spending $150k I better like the jewelry. So I do think it is unfair to remove the aesthetics from the equation. If the speakers are the equal (in their context) of other speaker systems in that range, then these would be one of my preferred options. I really like the look

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Bhagi Katbamna

· #11 · Jun 1, 2007

http://stereophile.com/news/052107steinway/

Seems like an assault on SOTA rather than just pretty, expensive, gear.

FrantzM

· #12 · Jun 1, 2007

Hi

They look extremely good. I beleive that the Dynaudio Evidence Master has a Steinway finsh option too....

They could sound good. How would they compare to the present crop of speakers in this range? I do not know, they will face stiff competition from the usual suspects: Wilson, Von Schweikert, Dynaudio, and others more rooted in making speakers... We shall see..err , hear...

Mark_H

· #13 · Jun 1, 2007

Intriguing...

Jermmd

· #14 · Jun 1, 2007

I would think Steinway has some pretty good experience with sound quality and instrument tuning. Shouldn't this experience help in tuning speakers and electronics? After all, tuning the sound is as important as the underlying electronics to the finished product.

Unfortunately, my guess is that Steinway is just offering their name and perhaps their signature finish to an otherwise finished product.

QQQ

· #15 · Jun 1, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jermmd /forum/post/0

I would think Steinway has some pretty good experience with sound quality and instrument tuning. Shouldn't this experience help in tuning speakers and electronics? After all, tuning the sound is as important as the underlying electronics to the finished product.

I think with all their tuning experience they should also be pretty good with racing cars.

Jermmd

· #16 · Jun 1, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by QQQ /forum/post/0

I think with all their tuning experience they should also be pretty good with racing cars.

If a car could be tuned by ear then maybe you're right.

Do you agree that the ear of the designer is vital to the success of a speakers crossovers?

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Mark_H

· #17 · Jun 1, 2007

The room correction system would affect any fine tuning offered by the product...

Michael Grant

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jun 1, 2007

You know, I misread the original press release, and I didn't realize that the speakers and amplification were part of the $150K package. That does change things somewhat: I mean, yes, still high-end by any means, but there are a lot of people who would spend $150K total on speakers, cabling, amplification, and source.

Looks like the amplification (digital) is built into the speakers, with Cat 6 cabling delivering the signals from the main module to the speakers. Well, when is Monster Cable gonna get on the "premium Cat 6" gravy train!

Jermmd---the crossovers are digital on this puppy. Not that this means the ear isn't important; on the contrary, it gives them far more flexibility to respond to changes suggested by listening tests and measurements.

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Tim916

· #19 · Jun 1, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jermmd /forum/post/0

I would think Steinway has some pretty good experience with sound quality and instrument tuning. Shouldn't this experience help in tuning speakers and electronics? After all, tuning the sound is as important as the underlying electronics to the finished product.

Unfortunately, my guess is that Steinway is just offering their name and perhaps their signature finish to an otherwise finished product.

That speakers should be "tuned" at all is a heavily debated issue. Building musical instruments and building speakers are two completey different disciplines with different goals. Having the Steinway name on the system is a smart marketing move by Mr. Lyndorf. It will give him a big advantage in selling the system to wealthy non-audiophiles.

This system looks like the NHT Xd on steroids. Digital crossovers, built-in amplification, room correction...all good stuff. Finally something in the ultra high-end that takes advantage of newer technologies. It will indeed be interesting to see how this system stacks up against the traditional heavyweights in this price range.

QQQ

· #20 · Jun 1, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Grant /forum/post/0

Looks like the amplification (digital) is built into the speakers, with Cat 6 cabling delivering the signals from the main module to the speakers.

Wow, I'm actually starting to be intrigued. Sounds like they may not be worrying about standard audiophiles here. This may indeed be an interesting experiment - targeting wealthy music lovers who recognize the Steinway name but are not necessarily "conventional" audiophiles.

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