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Neutral or Detailed. You can't have both

At least not how I understand the audiophile terms. The problem comes in the mid-treble.

A truly, measurably, objectively neutral speakers doesn’t come alive until the volume is turned up, but will lack the perception of detail, because those details come from exaggerated and often rough treble responses.

B&W however has some of this reputation. They are not objectively neutral speakers.

The Magico S1 Mk II has an uptilt in the treble, but is glass smooth. It is probably what I consider the best example of this combined desire for a neutral but detailed speaker.

Monitor Audio’s top end speakers - Objectively neutral, superbly engineered. Often too laid back for most people, Audiophiles would not consider them "detailed."

As always, you should buy what you like. Maybe you don’t like neutral speakers. Goodness knows some reviewers don’t.
erik_squires

Showing 1 response by viridian

viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
I think that audiophile types have turned the word “neutral”, which would seem to imply an objective quality, into a subjective word which is code for “whatever I like.”

Of course, gross colorations can be identified quite quickly, but barring that, how can one claim neutrality for anything unless they were present at the recording session to have a base line for the original sound that is being reproduced? 
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