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So Much "Harshness"

In perusing the various boards, both here and elsewhere ("we toured the world and elsewhere")one theme that seems to be prevalent is "my system sounds harsh" or "this cd player seems harsh", etc.

Why are complaints of "harshness" so common? Are people selecting the wrong components based on dealer demos where the "brighter" components sound better due to additional detail? Is it caused by a taste for music which is intentionally mixed bright to be heard better on transistor radios? (The radios are gone, but the mixing tradition lives on, doesn't it?) Are they simply listening louder than their systems will tolerate without deteriorating? I think this is pretty common. It costs a lot of money for a system that will deliver audiophile sound at high volume.

What do you think?
chayro

Showing 3 responses by timrhu

timrhu
2,779 posts
 

02-22-09: Commcat
Harshness can also be caused when the drivers (speakers) are stressed. Insufficient power can create this problem, whether using tube or solid-state amplifiers. One remedy to try is heavy-gauge speaker cable, i.e., 4 gauge, 1600 strand copper (often marketed in raw form as power-cable).

Seriously dude?
I ran 8 gauge cable for an oven when remodeling our kitchen a few years ago. That stuff is extremely stiff and difficult to work with. How in the world are you going to connect 4 gauge to your amp and speakers. If you have done it please post your system with pics for the world to see.
Now you got me wondering what gauge cable is feeding my house from the transformer.
As for harshness, I agree with Mrtennis (can't believe I said that). In a general sense I see the culprit as metal dome tweeters squeezing that last little bit of resolution.
I don't listen to super systems so my opinion only relates to real world equipment.
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
Commcat,
Are you sure you don't mean 14 gauge. I looked at Parts Express and the largest cable I could find was 10 gauge cable. Here's a wire gauge chart from Wikipedia. Not looking for an argument but 4 gauge is huge, hard to believe it's flexible.
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
Commcat,
Well I'll be damned. But why scrimp? Might as well go for the 1 gauge.
I'm going to stop in at one of the local car audio places this week to see how thick that stuff is.
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