Is "detailed" audiophile code for too much treble?


When I listen to speakers or components that are described as "detailed". I usually find them to be "bright". I like a balanced response and if there is an emphasis, I prefer a little more mid-bass.

 

It is a question, what say you all?

g2the2nd

Showing 4 responses by immatthewj

I never interpreted the meaning of "bright" when used in the audio vernacular to be the same definition as when used it the discussion of the intensity of a light.  But I may have been wrong about that; I often am.

No, detail(ed) is not synonymous with bright.  And a system can sound bright without being detailed.

I don't know whay, but I enjoy a detailed presentation.  I lucked into a slew of vintage 6SN7 pairs and I was rolling them in the balanced input sockets of my preamp, and the ones that made the biggest positive impression on me were the ones that brought out the most detail.  But that could be just a thing with me.

I always thought of "bright" as kind of a harsh treble.  Maybe a treble that is too "sparkly."

To me, "hot" kind of means an up front/in your face presentation, and for some recordings it works well for me.  But that's something that a little bit will go too far in a hurry.  I wouldn't call my own system "hot," but I certainly own at least a few recordings that I consider to be "hot."

I’ve found a number of audio components that managed to be very detailed (ie, resolving) without being bright or edgy..But it took years of looking. Components like that are unicorns.

What, pray tell, were the magic unicorn components that you discovered that  provided detail without sounding "bright"?