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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
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...
timrhu
2,778 posts
 
My Paradigm Studio 60s were cold and harsh. My Meadowlark Audio Kestrel HRs are warm and smooth. "Warmth" is easier on my ears.
I thought this was a Mrtennis thread when I read the first few sentences.
jeffreybehr's avatar
jeffreybehr
805 posts
 
I have no idea what a 'specialist on "warmth"' is, but I know what 'warm' and warmth' mean.

It's a characteristic defined by frequency response, with the upper-bass and lower-midrange frequencies (specifically, from around 100Hz to maybe 500 Hz) higher than the rest of the band. It's NOT louder midrange frequencies--that's forwardness, and it's NOT quieter high frequencies--that's darkness, the opposite of brightness.

Many of us like speaker systems that are a bit warm because they reinforce what my friend calls the 'power' region of the orchestra, the frequencies where so many instruments--cellos, trombones, French horns, tympany, etc.--have their fundamental frequencies. But warmth quickly turns into thickness, and I believe not many of of like 'thick' sound.

I hope this helps.
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arni
313 posts
 
Newbee, you really are an asset to this community. Thanks for calling things what they are.
getheleadout
144 posts
 
Greetings all, just my two cents, not to be rude, but if you have to ask what "warmth" is, than I for one, wouldn't want to try to explain it.

I believe it is something that must be heard to be understood.

If you really want to shake things up, ask what the following mean: 1)Bright
2)Musical
3)Bloated
4)Forward
5)Analog
6)Digital
7)etc,etc,etc
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