Smooth treble


What is in fact a "smooth and refined treble"? Is that synonymous with treble roll off? Psycho acoustically an extreme smooth and refined treble can present itself like if there is less high frequency extension paradoxically. This is what one actually hears in the concert hall! In the concert hall one hears less "treble" than in the home (with your super high end rig). How can one get this smooth and refined high frequencies without severe treble roll off?
In my experience the older and more mature an audiophile gets, the more he/she wants a very natural sounding (overly refined) treble (not the bright, brilliant and super transparent treble many people want when they are making the transition from "mid fi" to "high end" audio) . Do you agree with this?

Chris
dazzdax
You can have the best of both world`s, "..natural sounding" AND "..super transparent treble", via ribbon tweeters, Magnapan, Quads, and some (expensive) high end box speakers.
Smooth treble is NOT rolled off. Smooth is a perfect term for the phenomena. Smooth means it is 'not jagged' thus it is clear, precise, and more exactly what the original sound was.
I can most easily hear it on a good soprano recording. Some sopranos have a silky sheen on top of the voice. (Sinead O'Connor is one, Emma Kirby another)
Smooth treble will reproduce this exactly. not-smooth treble will make them sound edgy, scratchy, as if they have a slight sore throat.
the bright, brilliant and super transparent treble many people want when they are making the transition from "mid fi" to "high end" audio
Agreed. However, I would replace "super transparent" with "super prominent".

Smooth does, of course, mean there is no jagged & annoying response in the region of 4-9kHz, usually mistaken for "transparency"... as in, "wow, a veil lifted and my jaw fell through the floorboards". I've heard that said of a sibilant set up. Regards