Piano softsynth

I just upgraded from Sonar Home Studio 7XL to Sonar 8.5 Studio.  Besides some cool features like AudioSnap, one of the gaping holes (IMO) in HS7XL is the lack of a good/usable Grand Piano voice in the included softsynths.  I thought that would be rectified in 8.5 Studio, but apparently not - I read incorrectly; True Pianos Amber is a Producer exclusive. 
 
So right now the only grand piano softsynths I have are either part of the Roland TTS-1 or the KeyRig software included with my M-Audio KeyRig 25.  I'm not a fan of either.  I've grabbed a couple of freeware VSTi's like the free Kontakt player/library, but nothing I've found has been good enough for me to buy without having heard it. 
 
So, for the first time in what has to be "ever" I'm in need of a record-worthy grand piano sound.  Does anyone have a favorite on the cheap?  Or maybe a Soundfont that would work with SFZ?  I do have that plugin, not sure if it came with 8.5 or HS7XL, I have both installed on my system.   Haven't played with it much but I'm guessing any soundfont is cool?    
 
Thanks!  :)

Check out the Garritan Authorized Steinway piano.  This is a high quality Steinway Model D.  The basic version is a $99 download.

Jim

I have used this with SFZ. It's pretty nice: Splendid Piano

Tons of great recommendations to check ou there.  Thanks everyone. :)

I found that SFZ+ has the Dimension "Mini" piano in a soundfont, which sounds good enough for now.  When it comes time for finalization, I'll figure out which one I'll go with. 

The Garritan Authorized looks like a great bet.  Is that included with this deal?

http://www.store.cakewalk.com/b2cus/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=30-TMTP1.00-2RE

Garritan Personal Orchestra for $80 seems like a steal if it's got the same (or a similarly high-quality) Steinway.

I have used this with SFZ. It's pretty nice: Splendid Piano

 
+1
 
I'm also a fan of TruePianos, but I only use it in a mix with other instruments - not solo.  Try it, you may like it: http://truepianos.com/

The Garritan Personal Orchestra Steinway is not the same piano as the Garritan Authorized Steinway.  The GPO piano only has 2 recorded velocity layers with virtual layers in between to smooth out the transitions between the 2 real layers. 

Jim

Well I got the trial/test for TruePianos and I REALLY like it.  I'm not doing anything solo with the piano; it's for a mix.  I also got the Splendid Piano soundfont, and it's surprisingly good, too.  I didn't think a freebie like that would be that nice.    I'm going to dive into IK Multimedia's 5x1 group-buy, and see if there's something awesome there for a piano in a mix first, but I may just have to spring for TruePianos.  This music hobby is about to get expensive!  :p

So much to choose from.  I love it! 

I LOVE mini grand that came with PT 8, that, along with Sans Amp, Boom and Xpand2 finds me using PT 8 a lot more these days now I am getting the hang of getting around the software. The sounds are sooooo lush and detailed, they inspire

... the DB33 organ is very good too, 

I use Proteus VX which is totally free. I has MANY pianos, including Stereo Grand Pianos (an many many more sounds).

In addition, all sounds are totally tweakable.

Also, it's freestanding and VSTi.

I also use the Pianotech piano simulator.

GigaGreenGad your link came up 404'd.

This is going to sound totally dumb, but I got in on the SampleTank XT group buy and got the piano collection, and I really like it.  I'm still trying to get a handle on velocities, but this might be it.  I did download Proteus VX, Kontakt player, Kore player, and a big pile of other free VSTis, and I'll go through them, but I just fell in love with the Steinway from IK Multimedia. 

Amazed at how many choices we have, that's truly awesome.