Having an always "warm" system is like a preference, choice , or flavor and may not be for everyone. I have a small body acoustic guitar and if played back through my system I wouldn't want or expect it to sound warm. I also have a big bodied mellow and bassy sounding guitar and wouldn't want that one to sound thin or bright. I can choose which guitar to play for different sound but I want my system to be neutral and have the capability of being true to the source. That's my preference.
What is “warmth” and how do you get it?
Many audiophiles set out to assemble a system that sounds “warm.” I have heard several systems that could be described that way. Some of them sounded wonderful. Others, less so. That got me wondering: What is this thing called “warmth”?
It seems to me that the term “warm” can refer to a surprising number of different system characteristics. Here are a few:
1. Harmonic content, esp. added low order harmonics
2. Frequency response, esp. elevated lower midrange/upper bass
3. Transient response, esp. underdamped (high Q) drivers for midrange or LF
4. Cabinet resonance, esp. some materials and shapes
5. Room resonance, esp. some materials and dimensions
IME, any of these characteristics (and others I haven’t included) can result in a system that might be described as “warm.”
Personally, I have not set out to assemble a system that sounds warm, but I can see the appeal in it. As my system changes over time, I sometimes consider experimenting more with various kinds of “warmth.” With that in mind…
Do you think some kinds of warmth are better than others?
Thanks for your thoughts.
Bryon
It seems to me that the term “warm” can refer to a surprising number of different system characteristics. Here are a few:
1. Harmonic content, esp. added low order harmonics
2. Frequency response, esp. elevated lower midrange/upper bass
3. Transient response, esp. underdamped (high Q) drivers for midrange or LF
4. Cabinet resonance, esp. some materials and shapes
5. Room resonance, esp. some materials and dimensions
IME, any of these characteristics (and others I haven’t included) can result in a system that might be described as “warm.”
Personally, I have not set out to assemble a system that sounds warm, but I can see the appeal in it. As my system changes over time, I sometimes consider experimenting more with various kinds of “warmth.” With that in mind…
Do you think some kinds of warmth are better than others?
Thanks for your thoughts.
Bryon