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My pet peeve: "revealing" speakers

The one word that bugs me the most in all of the audiophile world is "revealing." 

It's plenty descriptive but it's also biased.  What I mean is that speakers that are revealing are also usually quite colored. They don't unveil a recording, they focus your attention by suppressing some tones and enhancing others. The reviewer who suddenly discovers hearing things he has never heard before and now goes through his entire library has fallen for this trap hook line and sinker.

This is not always true, as some speakers are revealing by ignoring the room.  They can remain tonally neutral but give you a headphone like experience.  I'm not talking about them.  I'm talking about the others.  I  wish we had a better word for it.

Mind you, I believe you should buy speakers based on your personal preferences.  Revealing, warm, neutral, whatever.  I'm just saying this word is deceptive, as if there were no down side when there is. 

Best,

Erik
erik_squires
106 responses Add your response
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rcronk
52 posts
 
I build my own speakers and can move drivers and tweeters around and switch in and out until I find that ideal sound - not too hot, not too cold, but just right! 
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,011 posts
 
@mahgister....+1...You’re right, overall...

Each of us has their own approach to the conundrum, so you’re left preaching to the crowd. And well aware of the impact that makes for the greater part in this local focal locus...

*J blows a smoke ring* Lasts about that long, with for the most part as much impact....

...but I try to be ’diplomatic’ about things in general...;)
Thank you my friend...

I hope i could have your wit and wise understanding, i must  not forget your more diplomatic demeanor than mine....

I am too rough on the corner and lack humor, but i only want other to think about the simple basic fact:

«Dont upgrade anything before embedding them all...»

I read you always with pleasure since the first time...

Thanks to be so understanding in all sense of the word....

My deepest regards...
site7000
1 posts
 
Interesting thread. I'm 70 and read almost everything printed about the high end since the '70s, but I don't have a fancy rig. This thread has actually changed my goals from assembling "revealing" equipment to "sounds right to me" equipment, which I didn't expect. I say that because I've finally gotten it through my head that no specific combination equipment can ever deliver the absolute sound. There are an infinite number of variable in the individual installations and an infinite number of variables in what people want to hear. The simple answer is eliminate the variables in what people want to hear down to what YOU want to hear and the variables in installation down to YOUR installation and the process becomes manageable. As a person who searches for "the truth," that's a disappointing result, but it's a liberating one. After 40 years it's obvious that enjoyment is all we can accomplish.
erik_squires OP
16,049 posts
 
This thread has actually changed my goals from assembling "revealing" equipment to "sounds right to me" equipment,


If I can help one person get to their happy place, then I've done my duty. :)

Glad you found it useful, @site7000
erik_squires OP
16,049 posts
 
As I've posted in many other threads, recording engineers, equipment, speakers, all are so different, and trendy, the idea of getting perfectly accurate reproduction is impossible. The best we can do is pick a sound which bowls down the middle of the lane more often than not, get good sounding tone controls and go with what we have.

For me, that tends to be following neutral B&K speaker curves (on axis).  I find I can listen to a wide variety of music enjoyably that way, but it may not be for others.
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