Royal Grand 3D vs White Grand

[sussko]

I cannot really decide which to choose. Does the White Grand also offer the 3D effect just like the Royal Grand? To me personally, I think the Royal Grand 3D still sounds slightly better than the brand-new White Grand (both in XL). I guess its because it has a clearer sound in general. What are your opinions about that? However, for classical music I will stick to the Bösendorfer Imperial Grand XL since it has a significantly different sound from the both above.

[Hlaalu]

I don't think anyone can answer this kind of questions "objectively". If you prefer the Royal Grand 3D, then this is the answer. Personally, I prefer it too over the White Grand. But really it is a matter of taste.

[baekgaard]

The White is not recorded with binaural techniques, so it does not have the 3D effect that you may experience with the Royal when using headphones. Most people in the audience listening to your playing will not be able to know the difference - they may simply hear subtle differences on the stereo image instead.

Both are very nice pianos.

Personally I find them quite different in tonality. The White is a small(ish) but powerful piano with a lovely singing voice. It is to me the brighter of the two. The Royal is more full-bodied and larger and a bit darker.

For ensemble playing, the White tend to work best for me (jazz etc). For more solo playing, I also like to use the 3D.

I use both a lot (plus a bunch of others).

Sent from my phone in brevity

[Schorsch]

Agree, this is really something based on personal taste but also a bit depending on if you i.e. use headphones, near field monitors or PA speakers. So just chose what you like most in your specific situation

[Spider]

To be honest, even on headphones I don't hear any big "tridimensional" difference between the Royal 3D and other pianos, especially the latest ones like the Silver and White which have a very wide stereo field (much wider than the old ones, in my totally subjective and non-scientific evaluation).

I'm one of the few who finds the Royal 3D quite boring: a good sample, very clean and precise, but without much character. For this very reason it works well in any situation (like the Italian and Bright grands, for example), but I usually prefer more characterful pianos like the Silver, White, Velvet, or among the uprights the Bambino or Mellow.

[Aida_w]

Hi folks,
after quite some time with the "new" White on my NS3 I decided to switch back to the Royal Grand. Reason: the White is out of tune in quite some keys which is bugging me more and more intensly.
My Steinway tuner would not get away with this mistuning because it is not for a more "lively sound" but just mistuned!
Pity the NS3's memory does not allow to have them both (along with some other pianos) since in some pieces the White might come in handy. Its general sound is not bad at all.
Cheers
Tilman

[baekgaard]

Hi folks,
after quite some time with the "new" White on my NS3 I decided to switch back to the Royal Grand. Reason: the White is out of tune in quite some keys which is bugging me more and more intensly.
My Steinway tuner would not get away with this mistuning because it is not for a more "lively sound" but just mistuned!
Pity the NS3's memory does not allow to have them both (along with some other pianos) since in some pieces the White might come in handy. Its general sound is not bad at all.
Cheers
Tilman

You should be able to have them both - plus a bunch of others - but not all in XL of course.

Maybe you could consider to make room by downgrading some of your pianos to L or M models? Also the White is fine in L too and it's possibly slightly more even than in XL - YMMV.

I usually keep a few grands in XL and maybe one upright and all of the EPs. The rest are in L or M and maybe one or two in S.

Sent from my phone in brevity