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What the heck do these terms mean?

I read a lot about audio equipment and some descriptions come up occasionally about the components sound qualities that to me are confusing. Most of the time I regard these descriptions as by someone with little knowledge about audio equipment that are trying to sound impressive.

Most of these terms are used in describing speakers but I have also seen them used on cables, amps , electronics of all sorts etc..
So, can someone help define these common descriptive terms?

1. Treble/ bass is dry- Huh? What does this mean?
2. Treble/bass is wet.- Huh? Again, what does this mean?
3. Organic sounding- Huh, huh?
4. Musical sounding.- What? Compared to non musical sounding?

The last one can be used with just about any description of any component or speaker performance.

There may be more...

ozzy

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Showing 5 responses by ozzy

ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,204 posts
 
When I think of something organic I think of something smelly.

ozzy
ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,204 posts
 
Here is a few more I just read in Stereophile.

5. Slight dryness- maybe just a little wet?
6. Liquidity- still wet or is this wetter?
7. Color- In the late 60’s I remember some colors while playing music, but not so much these days.

ozzy
ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,204 posts
 
The biggest culprit is Six Moons reviews. They are always full of lots of words that mean very little to my understanding of how the component sounds or relates to another piece of equipment.

ozzy
ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,204 posts
 
Thank you for help in trying to understand those descriptions. As they all are very subjective to wild interpretations.

When I hear, Musical and Organic terms, to me, they sound like terms trying to describe something for sale or used to impress someone... I mean, who wouldn't want the item to sound "Musical"?  Organic is still a smelly connotation to me.

ozzy
ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,204 posts
 
I think you guys have done a great job trying to define these various terms. 
However, sometimes the reviewer may use the same terms to describe something that sounds good and sometimes not so good.
I do wish there was a consensus as to how they use the terms.

While I am on my soapbox, why are so many reviewers using obscure recordings to describe the sound? If I have never heard the recording how can I relate?

ozzy


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