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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
erik_squires OP
16,049 posts
 
Are Revel models especially revealing?

I think they are very good speakers, with a great wide sound stage.

To be revealing, IMHO they have to show you something other good speakers don't.  I would call them high performance, neutral, good values.


jhills
613 posts
 
In my younger years I made a point to get to every live performance available. Everything from rock concerts, country groups and individuals, and large and small orchestral and jazz performances. In every kind of hall, from large auditoriums, to night clubs, to cathedrals, to outdoor stadiums. In nearly all cases (except rock concerts, which were just really loud, engaging, but loud) they had one thing in common - a fullness and a richness in the music that many super revealing speakers/systems don't seem to capture. 
I auditioned a very expensive pr. of diamond driver speakers, a while back and was very impressed with their dynamics and detail at first, but after a half hour of listening at only a moderate levels - I thought my ears were going to bleed.
I'll pass on the uber revealing/beat you over the head speakers and stick with those that are full and musical and are realistically revealing without beating you up......Jim  
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
Just wondering if Harman International had missed out an "a".
bigkidz
3,381 posts
 
is it the speakers that are revealing or the recording or the upstream components?
khughes
90 posts
 
Review speak:

Revealing = you will need ear plugs
Ruthlessly revealing = you will need ear plugs and Advil
Needs careful system matching = you will need ear plugs, Advil, a tube amp, and a glass of Scotch
LOL, truer audio words were never spoken ;-)
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