Steinway vs Boston Pianos
Boston is Steinway’s own cheaper brand, and it causes a lot of confusion. Here is the plain truth.
What Boston is
Boston pianos are designed by Steinway but built in Asia, mainly by Kawai in Japan. They carry Steinway’s design ideas, but they are not Steinway & Sons instruments, and they are not built in Steinway’s own factories.
The difference
A Steinway is hand-built in New York or Hamburg from Steinway’s own parts. A Boston is factory-built by Kawai to a Steinway design, at a much lower price. The Boston is a good mid-range piano; the Steinway is a top-end one. The gap in price reflects a real gap in how they are made.