"Why are complaints of harshness so common".....
Because so many of the folks that make these complaints are flying blind when it comes to component selection, system synergy, and system set up.
They base their selection on professional reviews, manufacturers puffery, recommendations of dealers and salesmen, and fantasies (thiers and others) of what is possible in thier budget and environment. Often they have no knowledge of creating system synergy with a specific end/goal in mind, little knowledge of what is possible, or not, and know little about proper set up. If you think otherwise, you're not reading a lot of questions posted here. And answers as well!
We live in a society where most so many casual hobbists just want an 'answer to fit' without doing any research and accepts the answer which sounds best to his mind, not his ear. He makes himself a mark.
Synergy, is often created when you join a less than perfect component with another with complementary features. Its the old a 'brightish CDP matched to a rounded/warm pre-amp/amp'. Not a brightish CDP matched to a high resolution SS pre-amp/amp and very 'neutral' high resolution speakers as well. But then you must allow for the fact that I don't believe in 'perfect sound reproduction' nor fairies, so its easy for me to say. It would not be so easy if I had to make a living in this hobby.
And FWIW, I agree with Tvad re digital v analog. I think Mr T wasn't listening much to music in the pre-digital days, and I agree with Mikelevange - harshness, whether from distortions or non linearities, has many many potential sources, which we all hear differently and or value differently.
FWIW - I just felt the urge to rant a bit..........:-)
Because so many of the folks that make these complaints are flying blind when it comes to component selection, system synergy, and system set up.
They base their selection on professional reviews, manufacturers puffery, recommendations of dealers and salesmen, and fantasies (thiers and others) of what is possible in thier budget and environment. Often they have no knowledge of creating system synergy with a specific end/goal in mind, little knowledge of what is possible, or not, and know little about proper set up. If you think otherwise, you're not reading a lot of questions posted here. And answers as well!
We live in a society where most so many casual hobbists just want an 'answer to fit' without doing any research and accepts the answer which sounds best to his mind, not his ear. He makes himself a mark.
Synergy, is often created when you join a less than perfect component with another with complementary features. Its the old a 'brightish CDP matched to a rounded/warm pre-amp/amp'. Not a brightish CDP matched to a high resolution SS pre-amp/amp and very 'neutral' high resolution speakers as well. But then you must allow for the fact that I don't believe in 'perfect sound reproduction' nor fairies, so its easy for me to say. It would not be so easy if I had to make a living in this hobby.
And FWIW, I agree with Tvad re digital v analog. I think Mr T wasn't listening much to music in the pre-digital days, and I agree with Mikelevange - harshness, whether from distortions or non linearities, has many many potential sources, which we all hear differently and or value differently.
FWIW - I just felt the urge to rant a bit..........:-)
