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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
bryoncunningham

Showing 5 responses by mapman

mapman's avatar
mapman
21,825 posts
 
I do not find most systems that I would describe as "warm sounding" to be natural sounding.

Pleasant, especially with acoustic string instruments, yes, but not like what I hear live.

Electronic music often suffers on a too warm sounding system.

GEtting the right dash of warmth perhaps when needed and still sounding good overall is tricky business indeed. Trail and error is the best approach.

I would recommend targeting a neutral sounding system first. Then tweak a pre-amp or source with some tube gear perhaps to get the dash of warmth if needed.

I find the ARC pre-amp in my rig does this perfectly for me. I notice that dash of warmth on occasion but only with certain music and if I am really listening just for that specifically.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,825 posts
 
"One must decide what listening position in the hall are you trying to re-create with your system"

That's a very good point that I suspect is often neglected.

THings sound a lot different depending on where you listen from. Getting this right and to your taste is a very valuable and free tweak.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,825 posts
 
I put a space heater in my listening room.

Seriously, I associate good warmth when I hear it with good clarity and detail in the mid-range. If I listen hard, I might detect some "warmth".

On teh other hand if all I am thinking is "gee that sounds really warm", I am probably dealing with something that is adding a pleasant (with some kinds of music at least) but not natural emphasis to my midrange. This is bad warmth to me.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,825 posts
 
I've heard some Focals and like them very much.

I've heard their profile line in a/b comparison to Martin Logan off a Krell integrated. Surprisingly similar sound. But nothing warm about the sound I heard at all!

Dynaudio is the best line I am familiar with for building a system that has resolution but also just the right slightest dash of inherent warmth.

My Dyns provide nice "warmth" and detail whether run by my Bel CAnto ref1000m monblocks (Class D Icepower) or off my vintage Yamaha receiver in my second system, a line which I have never heard anybody refer to as "warm'.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,825 posts
 
Many feel some speakers are "warmer" sounding than others.

I have always tended to attribute this to tonality, ie the relative balance of frequencies with warmer speakers tending to have less emphasis on treble or higher frequencies relative to midrange in general.

I'm wondering do different speaker designs handle harmonics differently? that would seem to be the case if harmonics is the main factor in determining warmth.

Most discussion of harmonics I have read tend to be about how different amplifier technologies deal with harmonics.

But what about speakers then assuming some speakers are inherently warm and others less so, which I believe to be the case.
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