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Neutral, transparent, warm

I’m wondering if any of you could help me understand better some terms that are often used in trying to describe the sound of a speaker. And, I guess instead of trying to describe these terms which are themselves a description, can you give me some specific examples. First, is there a difference between “neutral” speaker, and one that is considered “transparent”? Second, is it that a speaker is labeled “warm” if the high frequencies are more rolled off than neutral or transparent speakers. Sorry. Too many questions, but I’d be interested in hearing from some of veteran audiophiles. If you don’t want to address that, then how about this. Let’s confine ourselves to floor standing speakers costing up to $3000. New or used. Give me one or two examples that in your opinion epitomizes “Transparent”, one or  two that are good examples of “neutral”, and a couple that are usually described as being “warm”. Thanks.

pascon
mike_in_nc
1,166 posts
 

To me, "neutral" means flat in FR and with very low distortion. A component with nonflat frequency response I'd call "colored."

"Transparent" implies low noise and distortion. A transparent component is not necessarily neutral.

"Warm" implies a little boost in the lower midrange, say the two octaves from 100 Hz to 400 Hz. A warm component is colored, but it could be transparent.

ghdprentice
7,549 posts
 

Warm may mean more than one thing… you have to read the word in context. It can mean midrange and bass bloom (fully fleshed out midrange and bass). Or tipped overall tonal balance towards the bass, or attenuated high frequency.

Sound quality can be thin like from a small radio… as sound quality increases the presence of each of the frequencies is increased… in older electronics there was lots of treble and bass and thin unfleshed out midrange. So, a female singer has a thin high pitched voice. But in good warm systems a female voice will have heft and width… be hilly fleshed out. This is mid-range bloom… a great thing… putting the midrange in proper width and volume to treble and bass. This may not mean attenuation or a preponderance of bass.

 

 

audition__audio
1,626 posts
 

To me warm and neutral are mutually exclusive. I think that transparent is also difficult to meld with warm. Perhaps a speaker can be both transparent and warm at different frequencies. I will use the Harbeth "house" sound as an example. Warm yes, neutral absolutely not and transparent perhaps but not to my ears. Warm=colored. 

ghdprentice
7,549 posts
 

Transparent pertains to the background and image specificy. Black/quiet background with images suspended on space… as opposed to “a wall of sound”..  

deadhead1000's avatar
deadhead1000
720 posts
 

So, I find Harbeth to be slightly warm yet very natural/transparent. However I do not find it "Fast". I had Totem and KEF speakers and listened to many B&W's and found them to sound 'Fast" - but can I describe 'Fast" for you? Perhaps Lively is closest. I would suggest listening to as many speakers as you can and you'll eventually find adjectives that work for you.

For instance, I didn't understand a 'grainy' sound said about DAC's until I had heard enough of them and suddenly I heard one that sounded 'grainy". 

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