Best "mid-range" piano for home?

[josephludwig]

I wanted to invest in a new piano, so I went to every piano dealer/seller and store that I could find within my area. I tried Steinways (not mid-range), Kawai, Yamaha, Boston and Essex.
I tried Steinways just as reference that I could have for the other pianos. I felt that Kawai and Boston were very close (I know that Bostons are made in the Kawai factory) but the Boston sound was very close to the Steinway, manly because I was told that the technician could "get it closer" to the sound of it.

The size of the piano that fits to my room is the same as a Model B.

Before continuing my search I would love to know what its considered to be the best home practice piano within the budget of 30-40k.

[rmchenry]

The Boston has a number of Steinway patented features which the standard Kawai does not.
I have had the Boston GP 163 for 25 years and love it today as much as when I bought it.
Lovely action and really good bass for its size.
I don't think you cold go wrong with this if you have not already bought one.

[visitor]

I'd try to get a used minty /babied Charles Walter (little smalled than the B but hard to find ).
In that range you can get a stunning Baldwin sf-10 they are incredible

[johnlewisgrant]

New or used?  I bought a Hailun 218 (slightly longer than a Steinway B) about 10 years ago.  I don't like Chinese pianos, in general; but this piano sounded, felt, played beautifully to my ears.

In the same room, for comparison, were two Steinway Bs, reconditioned, 20 and 40 years old approx, and one brand new Steingraeber (SP?) concert grand.

Played all of them.  The Steinways were quite different, one from the other, as expected. The 218 easily beat out the older reconditioned B, but was comparable to the 20-year-old, although a completely different sound, obviously.  The tone and action weren't up to the Steingraeber, but the latter is a much longer instrument.

The Hailin 218 has held up perfectly.  But I DO keep it at a constant 45 rel humidity, and very tight tuning.