Those people most knowledgeable about pianos are teachers, technicians and performers. There is no reason you should not solicit their guidance and recommendations. A professional teacher views a piano as an instrument of artistic expression. A revealing question to ask any teacher, however, is which piano fulfills his or her dreams. Another wise step is to seek the opinion of the person who will keep your piano in tune.
Technicians see pianos as music-making machines.
They look for integrity of design and flawless construction. They look for balanced tone and effortless response from all the keys. Invariably they look for the name Steinway. Performers of course depend on their pianos for their livelihood. But performers are also artists.