A piano, it’s said, can emulate an entire orchestra: Its range extends from thunderous fortes to streams of liquid notes. Yet the majority of people who talk about piano sound today are talking about the sound of a single manufacturer: Steinway. For several generations of musicians and music lovers, Steinway has come to represent the acme of piano sound. Like Kleenex or Xerox, the name stands for a whole class of object. More than 98 percent of concert pianists choose to perform on Steinways, according to figures collected by, not surprisingly, Steinway itself. In a field so reliant on nuance and subtlety as classical music, it’s striking that a single manufacturer should hold such sway. Especially since the brand may not actually be better than its competitors.