2. amps-preamps
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Is it too bright or is it high resolution?

It has been said in the forums that one mans bright sounding amp is another mans high resolution amp. Some amps and preamp combinations can deliver a high resolution presentation and to others this may be considered too bright sounding. Is there a fine line that can distinguish between the two? Personally I like very revealing & the fine details delivered but the wife says it sounds a tad bit too bright.
phd
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
If recordings were all equal and a standardized perspective was established then an agreement on brightness vs high resolution could be discussed effectively.  As recordings, material and perspectives can vary dramatically, the answer is a moving target.  I favor detail but with warmth and liquidity.  As a former drummer, cymbals need to cut through with all their complexity and shimmer!  I hate dullness and cloudiness.  That's a big reason why I gave up on tubes;)

phd OP
1,281 posts
 
theo, thank you for your thoughts on this subject matter, in fact I thank you all. You might be right, my listening habits have changed. Everytime I have revisted gear I remembered liking in the past has proven to be a disappointment, as this hobby is a progression. And yes some interconnects can change the sound up to be more agreeable but with this current combination has barely changed the sound to a warmer presentation.

 The ss CJ amp does have a warm sound with more detail then one could ask for but its presentation became brighter with the addition of a CJ tube preamp I like what I'm hearing right now (although the wife thinks it sounds a bit bright) and as atmasphere and jmcgrogan2 mentioned if this would become intolerable over time then it would prove to be coloration.

bondmanp
1,789 posts
 

IIRC, J Gordon Holt used to refer to bright as a proper attribute in audio reproduction.  It was excessive brightness that was an issue.


Beyond that, the OP's question is like asking:  Do apples taste good, or are they too sweet?  It is indeed a matter of personal taste.  Many peoople enjoy sound that I find excessively bright, etched and grainy.  I value smooth, liquid sound with well-proportioned detail and transients that are there, but not over-emphasized.  YMMV.

dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
I like to hear what triggers my "ear brain" into believing I'm listening to a live mic feed!
oldears
385 posts
 
IMHO, much of the brightness attributed to amps is actually due to the speakers. Speakers which are not time & phase aligned have the tweeter in early arrival, leading to an impression of detail, and, or brightness (YMMV). Almost all of the speakers measured by JA in The Stereophile exhibit this. That this is generally successful in the marketplace can be seen in the preceding remarks. Many persons try to attenuate this effect by playing with cables. (Just my $0.02)
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