[Outlaw Hans]

There's some sort of belief that you need a Steinway or C7. It's just not true. You need a good grand. That's all. You can get nice older grands for reasonable money. I've played new and old pianos and while there are many dogs I can tell you that very often an older German instrument sounds more powerful than a new Steinway. I don't know if it's the aged wood or a higher production standard in the older days.
You know what? Most piano makers don't even make their own soundboards anymore. Bluethner in Leipzig being the exception. Steinway may be the one overrated brand of all. They're like Gibson or Neumann. It's all marketing and living off their heritage.
Yamaha's are neutral, slightly boring pianos that tend to impress a lot of people easily because they're loud. They lack character, which on the other hand may be good for some stuff (especially full mixes).
Not dissing the two brands, there are some great instruments by either one out there but their production standards and quality control are BELOW those of Grotrian, Bosendorfer, Bleuthner, Bechstein and OLD Hamburg Steinways. So there's no good reason why you SHOULD own a Yam or a Steinway other than because others say so.
I've a Bluthner grand from 1879 that I bought for 1600,-. I use a pair of Avenson omnis that are 500,-.I love my tone. It doesn't have to be expensive.
As far as samples go: let me put it this way. I tend to take studios with a lot of expensive gear but no piano not very seriously.