What is Warmth?

Warmth in a hi-fi system is typically characterized by a rolled off top end, and possibly a bump in mid-bass as well.

As Raul said, it's a distortion - a band-aid to cover up flaws.

A correctly designed system can have an ease of presentation, an extended top end and balanced frequeny response without being murky, muddy, or warm. It will have rich, vivid tone colors because the harmonic overtone structure is correctly represented. It will also have an ease of presentation, and all of these attributes will at first blush, possibly be described by some as being warm, because people tend to confuse the lack of listening stress induced from a good system with warmth.

With respect to concert halls (which I don't believe the original poster was asking about), the answer would be a bit different. A warm concert hall could have either or both of the following:

1. An absence of excessive reflections.
2. An emphasis toward mid and upper bass frequencies.
3. An audience wearing heavy winter clothing
4. ???

The difference between talking about concert halls and audio systems is subtle, but important.

I'd never call a warm concert hall rolled off in the top end, where frequently this is the case with "warm" hi-fi rigs.

Warmth is also different from tone color. As I mentioned above, the reproduction of complex overtone series (say of a first class violin played by someone who knows how to play) are both rich and have an extended top end. The words I'd use to describe such an instrument are vivid, tonally dense, etc., but NOT warm.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier

A neutral transparent speaker can sound plain. It often would be easy to just walk on by such a speaker. Notice how they often close mike musical instruments and singers to capture more richness. I had some speakers with a TPX plastic cone. They gave a very pleasant richness and tone to stringed instruments. I went to my classical guitar and couldn’t duplicate that richness. My guitar sounded plain in comparison. I would call that warmth. My speakers are transparent so I usualy like a tubed preamp and vinyl to add warmth.

Bob

search: "pearls before breakfast". very interesting!! Joshua Bell

I think with regard to audio terminology, especially on audio forums, it is important to distinguish the proper definition of the term (a la the Holt Stereophile glossary of audio terms, etc), and the way that the term is used more broadly (and sometimes inaccurately vis a vis the dictionary definition).

In the case of warmth, it often seems that this term is also used to describe a system or component that handles the timbre and tonality of instruments particularly well.

(Reviewers may be more likely to employ audio terminology more correctly and precisely, but not necessarily.)

My definition of warmth I actually hear in live symphonic performances all the time. I think the hall can influence this quite a bit. One thing I never hear in a live performance is false sense of detail we hear in many systems. I would say the real thing actually sounds dull, slow, very rolled off and somewhat neutral. I never hear triangles, brass, anything for that matter sound as bright and detailed, the highs many talk about, it does not exist in live music ime It just goes to show how we all hear different. Very interesting thread.