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Questions for specialists on “warmth”



I have heard sound from speakers that are more neutral and detailed in texture and focus the presence of all frequencies, sound that captured air resonance and produced a holographic image, but I doubt that’s what warmth is.

It seems to me that “warmth” is manipulated by engineering.
What is the purpose of “warmth”?
Does it actually exists or is it in imagination, or is it given a phony name (resonating warmer air?) in result I couldn’t link what I heard to “warmth”.

Sorry for the many questions below, without evidence of existence of this “warmth”, I get that feeling somebody is telling me the earth is flat whenever they mention “warmth”.

Maybe it is more psychological, is it then related to the release of a certain type of chemical in the body?

I had thought that maybe warmth means organic. If that’s true, is warmth created with possible ways to give the listener organic illusions? If that’s true, can the sound become too warm that it becomes hot; or too organic that it makes the actually sound we hear in our daily lives in comparison cold, is that good for one’s marriage?

What are the differences between warm and cold, can any expert give some generalization of the technical differences that sets them apart? Are the sound manipulated, how?

How can warmth be created from the play back perspective?
Cable
With what material, why
With what construction, why
Digital
Why and what done in digital processing; AD (analogy to digital) and DA
Speaker
Are they then best to be construction with organic material?
trackmango
trackmango OP
6 posts
 
I am in no way new to music, but I am no specialist, I have done recording and editing with Digidesign and Pro tools, Ive worked with violins, pianos and many synthesizers. And in production, I have not heard people use the word “warmth” except talking about lunch meals, neither have I in recording.

Please in no way feel that I am criticizing, I buy silver cables such as AQ sky and Nordost Valhalla and I am in the market for a Meridian 808, and I feel that they are worth every penny.

Tube owners often talk about warmth and none described clearly what it is and what it’s purpose is. The purpose for this tread is to clarify what is “warmth” as titled, and that when we talk about warmth we are not on a different page, referring to different things or things in one’s imagination, to not discuss purposelessly or unconstructively.

Tvd
If warmth is as you had described, would one be able to get warmth out of any speaker with by filtering the signal through a good EQ? Does warmth differ in fidelity (between the warmth on a JBL or on a B&W?)

Newbee
The tread asked a question and what was your point?
If you know well that everything is manipulated, would you care to explain how it is manipulated by answer any of my questions, such as, what is the purpose of warmth and how it is different from cold, to people psychologically or in technical terms of sonic.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Tvd
If warmth is as you had described, would one be able to get warmth out of any speaker with by filtering the signal through a good EQ?
That would be one method, yes.

Does warmth differ in fidelity (between the warmth on a JBL or on a B&W?)
Any difference in sound between these two speakers has to do with their respective frequency response curves.

IMO, fidelity is a subjective term. Define fidelity.
newbee
4,093 posts
 
Trackmango, You asked 'what was my point'. OK, here is my point.

I detected nothing in your original post that even remotely suggested to me that you were honestly trying to define the term 'warmth' or in what context people used it. You sounded to me 1) either like someone who didn't have a clue and were asking a very convoluted and poorly phrased question which defied a simple direct response, or 2)a 'troll' looking to stir up some controversy and arguement to no end but your own amusement.

Your second post on the subject seems to support the latter. You are by your own admission quite knowlegable about audio and its terms and know the context in which audiophiles use these terms. 'Warmth' may not be a precise term to fit your use, so don't use it. There are words which are far more descriptive to those knowlegable enought to use them. . If someone uses this term and its important to you to understand what he means, ask him at that time what he means.

Tvad told you specifically what 'warmth' meant to him. Did you accept his honest and direct answer. No.

I'm not standing in for Tvad, he can speak for himself if he choses, so can others. But, I'm opting out of this barren 'intellectual exercise'.
trackmango OP
6 posts
 
In conclusion: those who few spend $$$ on tubes solely to achieve warm sound, could get an EQ and manipulate how much warmth they want, if any, without losing speed nor response time.

Id think two speakers both flat in response will differ in sound coloring (changing the texture of the sound) and response time (whether if they can delivery the resonance with no delay and stops the exact instant after delivery).

I will only try to describe fidelity in recording and playback in theory.

Imagine there is a piano between you speakers, and a mic approximately where your two ears will be. When the recording is finished, you sit in your chair and your speaker plays the recording, and it is exactly what you would have heard if you were in the chair when the piano was been played.

If through engineering, the sound can be replayed elsewhere from where the recording was done and achieves this type of fidelity, then it is fidelity in neither recording nor play back, but fidelity through sound engineering, which is heavily limited by the laws of physics (Beethoven’s 9th in a bathroom).
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Yes. One could use EQ in lieu of tubes to warm up playback, however, in my limited experience with EQ devices (Audio Control and Behringer), these units affect transparency by reducing ambient cues. If chosen carefully, tubes are more transparent than an EQ device in the signal chain.

Clearly, two speakers can have flat frequency response curves and sound completely different because of the differences in their drivers, crossovers, cabinets (or lack thereof), or any number of other factors.

I'm going to pass on commenting about your definition of fidelity.

I tend to agree with Newbee that this thread will soon be affected by entropy, so I'm going to move on before I get thrown off this carnival ride...
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