Muffled Sound of Grands??

[ethereal25]

Long time lurker, first time poster here. 

So, straight to business. Sometimes when playing a grand piano, typically the smaller ones, the sound seems very muffled, even though the lid is fully open. I've noticed this on Hailuns and Knabes. However, a Seiler and Yamaha of the same size seemed to have a more open tone to them. Is there a reason for this, or am I possibly just crazy?? 

[silverwoodpianos]

I have noted on the small Hailun, Brodman, Ritmüler, and Kawai models that it takes a while for the hammers to harden up and give their true tonal qualities.

[justharmony]

Hard to know what you mean when you say "muffled", but maybe, since you say it's often with the smaller models, it has to do with the strings themselves and inharmonicity.  In a smaller instrument, the bass strings have to be thicker to compensate for the lack of length, and the strings can also overlap each other more (strings aren't parallel, as they were once upon a time in pianos).  Some say that these things can create a more muddied or maybe "muffled" sound.

Or do you mean something more like volume?

I'd be curious if you notice any patterns if you look inside the ones you say sound "muffled" vs. the ones that sound better to you. 

JH

[keys60]

Many new pianos have soft wool on the hammers and need to be played in and also harden from ambient pollution as Mr. Silverwood has stated. A tech can harden them with a voicing if you so desire.

[ethereal25]

Hmm, all great things to think about. Thank you all.