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My pet peeve: "revealing" speakers

The one word that bugs me the most in all of the audiophile world is "revealing." 

It's plenty descriptive but it's also biased.  What I mean is that speakers that are revealing are also usually quite colored. They don't unveil a recording, they focus your attention by suppressing some tones and enhancing others. The reviewer who suddenly discovers hearing things he has never heard before and now goes through his entire library has fallen for this trap hook line and sinker.

This is not always true, as some speakers are revealing by ignoring the room.  They can remain tonally neutral but give you a headphone like experience.  I'm not talking about them.  I'm talking about the others.  I  wish we had a better word for it.

Mind you, I believe you should buy speakers based on your personal preferences.  Revealing, warm, neutral, whatever.  I'm just saying this word is deceptive, as if there were no down side when there is. 

Best,

Erik
erik_squires
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,882 posts
 
I just spent the better part of the day listening to a very......revealing speaker. Thanks for the word assist as I was somewhat at a loss to describe it. 

As for your feelings about the word, revealing....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wujVMIYzYXg

All the best,
Nonoise
rlb61
789 posts
 
For me, the term "revealing," as far as audio goes, means a complete lack of coloration/distortion, and a clinical sound. In other words, what’s on the source is what you hear ... not necessarily a good thing given various recording and mastering techniques, etc.
rwortman's avatar
rwortman
41 posts
 
Revealing is an oft used audio term that means about nothing in actual sound attributes.  Often it is applied to things that sound awful but are expensive.
don_c55
1,025 posts
 
Revealing could also mean high resolution.

Which IMO is a desired characteristic of a great system.
speedbump6
760 posts
 
Some of you seem to be reading material differently than I do. Revealing done right should be a positive, not sure where some get the idea it’s a bad thing. There are other words that are, and should be used when it’s meant as a negative. 
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