I disagree that if you have a nine foot piano then you should have
the suction levels at 120 inch of water lift.  I also disagree, having
worked with concert artist for twenty plus years, that they play a nine
foot piano so hard that they all break strings.  It depends more on the
hall or venue where the piano is being used.  I have replaced more
strings on pianos in churches than anywhere else.  I have yet to
replace a string on the symphony's nine foot piano.

If I had or were lucky enough to have a nine foot piano in my living
room, I would want it to play at a reasonable volume level and not run
me into another room to listen.  By the way, I would love a nine foot
Yamaha and would gladly move the furniture out of the living room to
make a space.  (Of course..... then I would have to work a deal with
the wife.)

Don Teach

 [ Crashing hammer blows occur when the pianist attempts to be heard
 [ over the volume of a 110-piece orchestra without amplification.
 [ Most pianists don't face this situation (and so they don't develop
 [ ailments of the hands and wrists).  The evidence exists in Wayne
 [ Stahnke's Boesendorfer recordings of pianists such as Earl Wild.
 [ The same hammer velocity is reproduced on playback, too.
 [
 [ In the home, however, anyone who values his hearing will be
 [ satisfied with much less volume!   ;-)   -- Robbie