Why is there so much harsh-sounding equipment?

[Claus]

I certainly think there is a huge misconception that valves and analog sources are always warm sounding. I have heard plenty of harsh valve amps and turntable systems to know that there is absolutely no connection between the two. On the other hand I do agree that the biggest difference in character is to be found in speakers. I have only very little experience with cartridges so I can't really speak for them. One thing I have noted is how little difference there is between my valve cd player and a FLAC file through the JKDAC. I can hear only a subtle difference and I am not sure I prefer one over the other. There's no extra "tube warmth" from the CD player that I can detect.... But then again everyone hears their own ears (and skull and brain etc) and it might well be night and day to everyone else.... :D

[Ivor]

Vinyl has its own different problems - mostly alignment issues.

I found it was finding the right phono stage. While the phono amp I had was a big name no brainer it just didn't involve me.

[Diapason]

Claus, I completely agree, and lots of valve amps I've sampled in various systems have been anything but warm. I used to put that down to lack of power since lower frequencies need more grunt, but I'm not so sure any more.

I do think a lot of speaker designers are expecting too much of their sources though. Hard to know if that's a flaw or not.

[Ivor]

I do think a lot of speaker designers are expecting too much of their sources though. Hard to know if that's a flaw or not.

I expect a speaker to deliver a signal honestly, whereas most speaker companies seem determined to give us "their sound". I don't like most speakers.

[Fran]

Vinyl has its own different problems - mostly alignment issues.

I found it was finding the right phono stage. While the phono amp I had was a big name no brainer it just didn't involve me.

Fair enough - although the sound you had was very good!

I'm honestly not bashing digital (hey look at how I've been raving about the jkdac32!) but you don't often hear vinyl at shows, it's always digital, and I do believe it's hard to get a good cdp with that liquid sound and no glare. Power supplies are so critical for digital and are expensive to implement.....

So to answer the original question, I think most of the harsh sound comes from cdps and that they sound the way they do because every manufacturer chases perfect specs and shiny boxes to the detriment of other areas inside.


Fran

[bod]

You need one of these... :-)

[Gerry D]

I do think a lot of speaker designers are expecting too much of their sources though. Hard to know if that's a flaw or not.

I expect a speaker to deliver a signal honestly, whereas most speaker companies seem determined to give us "their sound". I don't like most speakers.

I agree Ivor.
The closer to the Artist's intention the better I say. It's all about the music really.

[Ivor]

I agree Ivor.
The closer to the Artist's intention the better I say.

Ah well... there lies another (huge) debate. Any artists I've known have no concept of soundstage/imagery or those microphonics we as hifi geeks love. They just want a crisp warm recording of their performance. Even producers have little idea of this usually. I sometimes do wonder if what I'm listening to is a product of the hifi system and my own efforts towards a personal ideal than anything intended by artist or producer. Then I just top up my glass and enjoy the music anyway.

[Diapason]

Then I just top up my glass and enjoy the music anyway.

Wise.

I've given up on the idea of getting objectively closer to how something should sound. Now I just want to enjoy it, and if it's coloured in a way that I like, that's fine with me.