Newbee posted my first choice: tubelike. I'm convinced half the people who use this adjective have never heard a tube amp.
Jafox posted my second choice: PRaT. Useless term.
Jafox posted my second choice: PRaT. Useless term.
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???
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???
Showing 13 responses by tvad
This is precisely where I have an issue with the adjective, tubelike. The definition expressed above has no relation to the sound of any tube amps I have heard in the last four years, including SET and push/pull designs. |
I performed three measurements on a section of meat, having stripped the fat, and 3.4 mm from the bone, averaging 6.55 whatevers. Via an evaportative method, 600 mg of sodium residue was collected per kilogram of edible content.Obviously, a review of Corky's Barbeque. |
No, I haven't. I saw a profile on the Food Channel several years ago. Should I order some? What do you suggest? |
06-17-06: TreljaJoe, you and I must have a beer together one day. Marilyn Lange is one of the most amazing Playmates in the history of Playboy magazine. By the way, Hef and his girlfriends frequent the trendiest Hollywood clubs at least twice a week. He's more up to date on the latest music than any of us, I can assure you. |
To me, slam is very descriptive, but it applies primarily to rock music, and specifically to bass drum notes. If the bass drum is solid, tight and projects so I can feel it as well as hear it, I consider the music to have slam. Some amps don't project slam, and others do. At least that's what slam means to me. |