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What exactly is colored sound?

I guess the definition would be a deviation from what what was originally intended but how do we really know what was originally intended anyway?  I mean solid state mostly sounds like solid state.  I guess that would be a coloration, push pull amps and set have their own colorations.  It seems we try to denote certain definitions to either promote or dis certain sounds I guess.  We could have a supposedly neutral amp but their just is not enough bass so we turn up the subwoofer or the bass, a coloration per se.  I guess one could say that colored sound would be a good thing.  after all, each instrument has its own sound (color).  A mullard, a telefunken, I mean who knows what tubes were in the recording studios at the time of the recording.  Syrupy, sweet, rich, NEUTRAL, forward, backward I mean really...  I guess its all about certain preferences for each person.  even in the studio.  who knows, maybe a recording may be meant to sound syrupy or sweet and then we try to make it as neutral as possible.  Maybe thats a coloration in itself.  I guess what I am asking is why do reviewers use the word colored in reviews anyway?
tzh21y

Showing 5 responses by tzh21y

tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
If you actually had a copy of an original master tape, for example, and you played it on two different systems, lets say they are extreme high end, I bet that master tape would sound different on each to some degree even if you used the same reel to reel device.  So, unless you were present at the actual recording and heard it with your own ears, would you really know how it sounded?
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
Lets take a wedding band for example.  In one hall the same band will sound different from another.  Same musicians, the same instruments.. maybe they would sound worse in say a cinderblock walled firehall than say a drywalled hotel hall.  These are "colorations" I would think.  Is a lot of it room dependent?  I mean maybe a certain, lets say "neutral" sounding system may sound terrible in a basement with a concrete floor and walls vs a interior room with hardwood floors and drywall.
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
Steve Guttenberg: I am an Audiophile | Stereophile

On youtube, Steve talks about how only 1% of music recorded actually sounds like the real thing.  Everything is processed, colored so to speak.
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
I am still trying to figure out exactly what coloration means.  I guess that the only thing I could think of is that I want a trombone to sound like a trombone, a piano to sound like a piano and so on.  I cannot say I have heard systems that a trombone sounds like a trumpet lets say.  Whether in a hall that sounds warm or neutral, well I guess if we want to hear it in a warm hall, we may decide to tweek our systems to that way of listening and so on.
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
Interesting.  I think I read somewhere in the forums that solid state equipment is generally more "neutral" sounding.  I do not find it suprising that tubes sound more like the real thing.  I would definitely agree with that.
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