Steinway vs Blüthner
Blüthner is the great Leipzig maker, and another of the handful of names that rank with Steinway.
The makers
Blüthner has built pianos in Leipzig, Germany, since 1853. Like Steinway and Bechstein, it is a hand-built, top-end maker with a long concert history.
Tone, and the extra string
Blüthner is famous for a warm, round, singing tone. Its best-known feature is aliquot stringing in the treble, an extra fourth string per note that is not struck but vibrates in sympathy, adding a soft shimmer to the top. The result is often described as gentler and more romantic than a Steinway, which is brighter and more powerful.