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So Much "Harshness"

In perusing the various boards, both here and elsewhere ("we toured the world and elsewhere")one theme that seems to be prevalent is "my system sounds harsh" or "this cd player seems harsh", etc.

Why are complaints of "harshness" so common? Are people selecting the wrong components based on dealer demos where the "brighter" components sound better due to additional detail? Is it caused by a taste for music which is intentionally mixed bright to be heard better on transistor radios? (The radios are gone, but the mixing tradition lives on, doesn't it?) Are they simply listening louder than their systems will tolerate without deteriorating? I think this is pretty common. It costs a lot of money for a system that will deliver audiophile sound at high volume.

What do you think?
chayro

Showing 8 responses by tvad

tvad
9,467 posts
 
IMO, the primary cause of harshness is distortion caused by noisy power delivery, either from the wall or from any of the component's power supplies. It's difficult and time consuming to reduce power supply distortion, and in many cases the only solution is to change a component or to have it modified so the power supply is improved.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
02-22-09: Jea48
Mrtennis,
I bet you would be hard pressed to find anyone with totally analog gear system that complains about harshness.

I have the choice of 100% analog, or digital/analog. The analog system is no less harsh (nor more harsh) than the digital system.

IMO, this analog vs. digital argument as it relates to system brightness, harshness, etc. is unconvincing.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I agree with the comments made above regarding harshness sometimes being the product of less-than-optimal recordings.

The problem with high resolution systems is that all warts are exposed, whether the warts are in the system or on the recording.

It's a nearly impossible problem to solve because as resolution increases flaws on recordings become more apparent.

Perhaps, as been mentioned many times in previous threads, the solution lies with lower resolution rather than increasingly higher resolution.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Power supply has a little bit to do with it as well, though I personally think this is the least of the reasons. In a recent experiment at home in my system, a power conditioner made only a very slight improvement to my CD player, and sounded absolutely awful with my vinyl set-up.

Learsfool (System | Answers)

Component power supplies are a separete issue from power conditioners.

Robust, well built component power supplies have a great deal to do with resolution and a natural sounding component free of harshness, and these power supplies can often eliminate the necessity for power conditioners, IMO.

For reinforcement of the importance of power supplies, consider how many reference components have separate power supplies, and consider how many component modifications performed by the most respected technicians in the field begin with rebuilding the power supplies.

Until one has experience with components built with excellent power supplies, it is easy to disregard their importance to a system's sound. Hearing is believing.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Leasrfool, in the case of the TT-PSU, plugging it into a conditioner would seem redundant.

However, if your other electronics were plugged into the conditioner, and the TT-PSU was not, then the results might have been different.

There are many conditioners that people report worsen the sound of their systems, and the results vary from listener to listener.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
When many folks complain, for example, that his new speakers sound 'harsh' to him, folks don't seem to often ask how the 'harshness' presents itself and to what degree.
Newbee (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers)

A valid point. When it comes to audio, the term "harsh" can have many definitions, and can relate to many aspects of a system's characteristics and its individual elements.

However, it basically comes down to unpleasantness as a result of distortion of some kind.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
MrT, the first definition could be one that causes people to perceive harshness.

The second is not, IMO.

There are more definitions of harshness that could apply depending on each listener's perceptions. For example, you have not touched on distortion, which in itself comes in many forms.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
As for the harshness definitions, I would not equate harshness solely with distortion.
Learsfool (System | Answers)

Nor did I.

Odd ordered harmonic distortion will produce "harshness" cues, for example. Even-ordered harmonic distortion will produce effects humans find more pleasing: warmth, bloom, etc.

That's why I stated there were many types of distortion, and some contribute to harshness.

Distortion caused by incorrect cartridge alignment also creates distortion that translates to system harshness.

There are many other examples.
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