Amplifier house sound

[manicm]

Now back to the topic, we all know Arcam are laid back and need brightish speakers, Naim has PRaT and sound feistier than the quoted wattage suggests, Rotel sound quite neutral but might be a bit clinical - ensure to pair with B&W, Cyrus are clinical and bright, etc., etc.

Also bear in mind that Class D amps don't sound quite right, while Class A just sounds right and to some tubes sound even righter, especially with voices and acoustic instruments. Vinyl is warm. Silver cables are bright.?

what other accepted wisdom have I missed.?

All active speakers sound clinical and emotionless.

Apparently.

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I think it's really a reflection of how something looks. Most active speakers are studio monitors which do look clinical and emotionless therefore they must sound that way. HiFi speakers look warm and inviting with their nice wooden vaneers and fancy styling therefore they must sound warm and inviting. The same goes for CD players and amplifiers. You can easily be influenced by the styling of the cases and the price tag into thinking that it'll sound like it looks and costs.

This whole looks, expectation bias thing is being overplayed. The Monitor Audio BX2 sounded nothing like the way it looked.

 

[chebby]

Now back to the topic, we all know Arcam are laid back and need brightish speakers, Naim has PRaT and sound feistier than the quoted wattage suggests, Rotel sound quite neutral but might be a bit clinical - ensure to pair with B&W, Cyrus are clinical and bright, etc., etc.

Also bear in mind that Class D amps don't sound quite right, while Class A just sounds right and to some tubes sound even righter, especially with voices and acoustic instruments. Vinyl is warm. Silver cables are bright.

what other accepted wisdom have I missed.

Paper (cones) and silk (tweeters) and wood (cabinets) sound 'natural' and 'organic'.

 

[Vladimir]

But I have a theory that bright and fatiguing reputation for studio actives comes from non-professionals hearing the Yamaha NS10s, that can be found in most studios used as grottboxes. These are not active and not proper main studio monitors, but grottboxes. They were originally cheap hi-fi speakers and are used by studios simulate how the mix will sound through TVs, car speakers, mini systems, cheap earbuds etc. and they are bright and fatiguing. It's known for engineers to use napkins, paper towels and toilet paper to calm down the harsh tweeter.

Another possibility is that some people just love warm muddy sound, so neutral speakers come as bright, unexciting and fatiguing to them.

 

[CnoEvil]

But I have a theory that bright and fatiguing reputation for studio actives comes from non-professionals hearing the Yamaha NS10s, that can be found in most studios used as grottboxes. These are not active and not proper main studio monitors, but grottboxes. They were originally cheap hi-fi speakers and are used by studios simulate how the mix will sound through TVs, car speakers, mini systems, cheap earbuds etc. and they are bright and fatiguing. It's known for engineers to use napkins, paper towels and toilet paper to calm down the harsh tweeter.

Another possibility is that some people just love warm muddy sound, so neutral speakers come as bright, unexciting and fatiguing to them. 

My view is that they are not generally available in hifi shops....and when they are available, there is little choice and often eye-wateringly expensive, from the likes of Linn, Meridian and Bang and Olufsen.

 

[TrevC]

Or if you expect to hear something a certain way you usually do.

...and conversely, if you expect to hear little to no difference, you usually do.

My way saves a lot of time. I don't waste time pointlessly listening to silly bits of wire and can buy amplifiers on spec. The differences in speakers and cartridges are clear, I prefer to concentrate on those, especially now my hearing isn't what it once was.

 

[CnoEvil]

My way saves a lot of time. I don't waste time pointlessly listening to silly bits of wire and can buy amplifiers on spec. The differences in speakers and cartridges are clear, I prefer to concentrate on those, especially now my hearing isn't what it once was.

...and I respect that....but there is also a different way, which is just as viable. There is room on here for both POV.

 

[steve_1979]

There is room on here for both POV.

Don't be silly. This is a hifi forum and only one POV is allowed.

...now if only we could agree on which one that is.

 

[CnoEvil]

There is room on here for both POV.

Don't be silly. This is a hifi forum and only one POV is allowed.

...now if only we could agree on which one that is.

Sorry, what I meant to say was, there "should" be room for different points of view.

 

[Andrewjvt]

Its a different house sound every day. It all depends what cd im playing.
I dont like bright recordings though. I think this stems from evolution - when we used to drag our cave women by the hair they screamed a very high pitch to make us stop

 

[Vladimir]

Its a different house sound every day. It all depends what cd im playing. I dont like bright recordings though. I think this stems from evolution - when we used to drag our cave women by the hair they screamed a very high pitch to make us stop

I call that the sound of victory! Good times.

Another take would be that high pitched screams associate us with infant in trouble so we react with stress and alertness.

 

[ID.]

Good points.

Actives are clinical, soulless and can't be used to enjoy music.

Silk tweeters sound smooth (as, erm, silk).

 

[steve_1979]

I know this one must be true because they look shiny and reflective.

 

[ID.]

There's what the Japanese refer to as the Lux tone (Luxman house sound), which is a smooth, full bodied sound.

There are also plenty of complaints that more recent amps, the uX series in particular, have lost the Lux tone.

Esoteric sounds analytical, cold and metallic.