Scubacpa
11-08-2005, 07:34 PM
An update to my story at http://www.cvpug.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1319
Today my 309-PE was delivered and they took away the 309-GP that was "on loan".
I have now had a chance to play for a few hours with the 309-PE. I am in a unique position to have had both a PE and GP in my actual living room within the same week. That has given me the ability to make a direct comparison of the two in a real home environment (not a showroom). The only thing better would have been to have had them side by side for a few days.
Here is my impression. The only difference between the PE and GP is that the GP, in addition to being a great piano, is an impressive piece of furniture. That's it. I can honestly say I could hear absolutely no sound difference between the two. In fact I kind of prefer the sound of the PE (especially on prerecorded midi files) because the speakers face into the room instead of pointing toward the ceiling but deflected by the open lid. For just regular playing sitting at the bench I detect no difference at all. (but of course I am of very limited abiltiy).
Make no mistake about it, the GP is VERY impressive. It "occupies" the room. When you walk in it grabs your attention and just looks beautiful. For the last three days I just kept looking at it, it was so pretty. Now that it's gone and the PE is standing in it's place the spot looks barren.
So if you are out to impress, have a large living room with a large open spot and want something to be the focal point (and if money is no object) the GP will do the trick.
If you just want a good sounding functional instrument stick with the PE and use the extra few thousand dollars for something else.
Today my 309-PE was delivered and they took away the 309-GP that was "on loan".
I have now had a chance to play for a few hours with the 309-PE. I am in a unique position to have had both a PE and GP in my actual living room within the same week. That has given me the ability to make a direct comparison of the two in a real home environment (not a showroom). The only thing better would have been to have had them side by side for a few days.
Here is my impression. The only difference between the PE and GP is that the GP, in addition to being a great piano, is an impressive piece of furniture. That's it. I can honestly say I could hear absolutely no sound difference between the two. In fact I kind of prefer the sound of the PE (especially on prerecorded midi files) because the speakers face into the room instead of pointing toward the ceiling but deflected by the open lid. For just regular playing sitting at the bench I detect no difference at all. (but of course I am of very limited abiltiy).
Make no mistake about it, the GP is VERY impressive. It "occupies" the room. When you walk in it grabs your attention and just looks beautiful. For the last three days I just kept looking at it, it was so pretty. Now that it's gone and the PE is standing in it's place the spot looks barren.
So if you are out to impress, have a large living room with a large open spot and want something to be the focal point (and if money is no object) the GP will do the trick.
If you just want a good sounding functional instrument stick with the PE and use the extra few thousand dollars for something else.