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So Much "Harshness"

In perusing the various boards, both here and elsewhere ("we toured the world and elsewhere")one theme that seems to be prevalent is "my system sounds harsh" or "this cd player seems harsh", etc.

Why are complaints of "harshness" so common? Are people selecting the wrong components based on dealer demos where the "brighter" components sound better due to additional detail? Is it caused by a taste for music which is intentionally mixed bright to be heard better on transistor radios? (The radios are gone, but the mixing tradition lives on, doesn't it?) Are they simply listening louder than their systems will tolerate without deteriorating? I think this is pretty common. It costs a lot of money for a system that will deliver audiophile sound at high volume.

What do you think?
chayro
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,334 posts
 
Harshness is a very general term. It is also a very common problem. It can result from lots of things as has been pointed out.

So the devil IS surely in the details when it comes to curing harshness. There is no single universal cause or antidote.
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mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
here's a definition of harshness:

an unbalanced frequency response having a peak of say 3 + db in the range 1000 to 3000 hz.

here's another definition:

an overly focused presentation that is so resolved as to be unforgiving of all but the best recordings.

the first definition is precise, while the second is subjective.

i hope this helps.
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mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
hi tvad:

not all distortion is unpleasant, especially if it emphasizes frequencies in the upper bass area. you are right to consider distortion, such as phase distortion as a factor in the experience of harshness.

the term "analytical" could be applied to a presentation that is balanced in frequency response but is "over articulated". in such a case, the upper mids and lower treble could be perceived as harsh.

i would term "analytical" as overly focused, like looking at a finger under a high powered microscope.

perhaps there is another way of describing analytical. in any case, its experience is unpleasant and harsh.
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