Some audiophiles like mild distortion. They also prefer tubes that produce mild distortion such as Telefunken 12AX7. I prefer clarity with no distortion.
If Warmth Is a Distortion, Why Do So Many Audiophiles Still Defend It?
Hi everyone, this is my first post here. If it stirs some emotions — that’s not a bad thing. It means we’re all still passionate about this hobby.
As AI becomes capable of recreating any sound signature — warm, tube-like, analogue, ultra-wide, hyper-detailed, and everything in between — I’m starting to think the real future of audio lies in neutral, transparent, dynamic, and accurate hardware, while many of the “flavours” we chase may soon become software choices.
Over time, a few things have stood out to me:
• Warmth is pleasant, but it’s still coloration.
Beautiful, yes — but not accuracy, not transparency, and not always the artist’s intention.
• Warm gear enhances some tracks but softens accuracy in others.
Especially vocals, piano, violin, guitar, and other acoustic instruments. Some people hear this, some don’t, and some just prefer it that way.
• Modern Class D deserves more respect than it gets.
Many older audiophiles dismiss it based on outdated assumptions. But the latest designs are already extremely neutral, fast, and precise. I’m not sure how much longer Class A/AB will remain relevant beyond nostalgia and brand loyalty.
• Price reflects real quality only up to a point.
Beyond that, it becomes about branding, house sound, and personal bias. Preference is fine — but preference isn’t the same as absolute fidelity.
---
⭐ Why I May Not Respond Immediately
This post is meant as a sharing of thoughts, not a debate I plan to defend point by point.
If I don’t reply right away, it’s because I’m taking time to read, think, and learn from others’ perspectives here.
Posting in good faith — looking forward to all views, supportive or critical.
- ...
- 205 posts total
"Distortion" had meaning only in acoustic and music and engineering, not in audio forums, because in audio forums the concept is taking out of his roots in science and technology and out of his musical roots, and often associated with a negative signification linked to tubes versus S.S. or objectivists versus subjectivists which is preposterous because distortion could be and is often a wise use of superior harmonics in instrument playings or in engineering... And what is distortion for one is meaning for another ... Distortion need to be defined in a musical,acoustical, or engineering context, to be characterized as positive or negative ...In itself it could be neutral as tools are ... is this piece of music made of "distorted" sounds in a negative way ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5CCgFHk8co&list=RD-5CCgFHk8co&start_radio=1
|
Warmth isn’t distortion. Your voice (real natural sound) is the warmest sound. The original music is very warm. Listen to warm vocal in the original music and cooler reproduced music. Many people here can’t hear the original music (even their voices) correctly due to their biased ears. It can take hours to regain correct/normal hearing ears. Say "hello" repeat while listening the original music. It helps to regain your ears to normal (able to hear delicate organic warm sounds). Alex/Wavetouch audio |
Dear @hkcharlie : " " others’ perspectives here. Posting in good faith — looking forward to all views, supportive or critical. "
" and not always the artist’s intention. " yes and could be that sometimes is the artist intention. At the end only the recordong producer could now whar was rge artisr intention. "" preference isn’t the same as absolute fidelity "" Well, I rhink that in a home system just does not exist " absolute fidelity.
""" Weiss has been a respected mastering-studio brand for decades, so their implementation is quite credible. That’s really the point I was making.""" and is in direct relation ship to system owner preferences.
R. |
First of all, I don't think warmth, or for that matter coolness, should be categorized as distortions. (That "if" clause in the OP's title.) They are shades of tonality, but I think distortion is something else, usually easily detected. And then, even so, if we allow for a moment that warmth is a distortion, as the OP suggests, then where is the point of reference? Distortion implies a deviance from a norm, but how do we find, establish, and agree on that norm? Perhaps presentations that are "clinical" are a distortion and warmth is neutral. |
- 205 posts total