1. Home
  2. amps-preamps
  3. 131760-3034

What exactly is colored sound?

I guess the definition would be a deviation from what what was originally intended but how do we really know what was originally intended anyway?  I mean solid state mostly sounds like solid state.  I guess that would be a coloration, push pull amps and set have their own colorations.  It seems we try to denote certain definitions to either promote or dis certain sounds I guess.  We could have a supposedly neutral amp but their just is not enough bass so we turn up the subwoofer or the bass, a coloration per se.  I guess one could say that colored sound would be a good thing.  after all, each instrument has its own sound (color).  A mullard, a telefunken, I mean who knows what tubes were in the recording studios at the time of the recording.  Syrupy, sweet, rich, NEUTRAL, forward, backward I mean really...  I guess its all about certain preferences for each person.  even in the studio.  who knows, maybe a recording may be meant to sound syrupy or sweet and then we try to make it as neutral as possible.  Maybe thats a coloration in itself.  I guess what I am asking is why do reviewers use the word colored in reviews anyway?
tzh21y
kosst_amojan
2,095 posts
 
Like it or not, you're listening to a stereo in a room. That's ALL you're ever going to really be hearing no matter how hard you try to make it sound like something else. There will always be some sort of color. 
It's like trying to color match paint in natural sunlight. Natural sunlight is the paradigm. You can build lights that very closely match it, but you'll never actually capture the character or intensity of the real thing. So you settle for something that mostly gets the job done with deviations you can tolerate, if not find some virtue in. 
Just find some gear with virtues you can enjoy. 
inna
5,245 posts
 
When buying a serious piece of equipment, in addition to your test recordings bring along a reasonably good guitar to compare to what speakers play. Anyone can strike a few accords. Well, maybe better not or you'll never buy anything except perhaps the very best.
tommylion
563 posts
 
Since there are so many variables that affect the sound of recordings (mics, placement, venue, mixing, processing etc.), every recording should sound different. A good system should be chameleon-like, and make these differences clearly audible. If there is a characteristic sound that is consistently heard across a variety of recordings and types of music, then that is a coloration. Some colorations can be perceived as improving the sound of certain types of music, but be detrimental to others. That’s how we get statements like “These speakers are best suited for jazz or classical.“ A good system should let you clearly hear the differences between recordings, while also letting you enjoy ALL the different types of music you listen to.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
Overly aggressive dynamic range compression. Colors the sound? You decide. 

oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
2,850 posts
 
One of the most beloved films ever made was The Wizard of Oz.  It starts out in black and white. When the scene gets to The Land of Oz, everything is suddenly shot in Technicolor. It looks beautiful and impressive no doubt. It's not natural. It's "colored." Go outdoors in the real world and look around.  That's "uncolored." That's real. Isn't this what we want from our audio systems as well? .... as close to real as possible?

Frank 




 
More to discover