Your vote: Most Useless Audio Adjective


From what I've seen in online audio discussion forums such as Audiogon, words like warm, taut, wooly, and forward can upset even died in the wool audiophiles. While some may have a hard time getting their arms around them, most of the terms seem quite appropriate to me. You have to develop some list of terms in order to convey a description of a component's sonics, or to delineate it from another component.

However, I have noticed the description "self effacing" creeping into more and more reviews, and it flat out boggles my mind. Initially, it seemed to fit into the context it was being used - affordable or downright cheap gear, that was fun and lively. However, now that I've read the term being used to describe quite a serious piece of high end kit, the time has come to point out how ridiculous things are getting.

I had to laugh out loud thinking of the snootiest, most condescending audio dealer I know who was carrying this brand. Using the term "self effacing" with anything had to do with this guy was akin to describing Phyllis Diller a young, hot sex symbol.

What is your most useless audio adjective???
trelja
"Night and day" Overused. At night it's dark, in daylight it's bright. A real night and day comparison would be the first TV set I saw in the 50's, compared to the new HD sets being offered now.
professional audio scribes take " heed " you have been formally educated to the likes and dislikes of the masses... PLEASE TAKE NOTICE... yeah, you there, you know who you are... (-<)...
PRaT, as a substitution for a more detailed and dicriminating spectral evaluation of dynamics and transient response.
Bravo entrope!!! Yes, "digital ready" -- also the winner for most annoying adjective/expression.