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Tube CDP/DAC sound: too "refined"?

Hi all, this is a controversial topic and I hope I will not offend anyone: imho many tube CDPs/DACs sound too "refined", too "smooth". Sometimes I would like to hear some "texture" but this texture is being smoothed over. It's fun and beautiful to listen at initially but on the long run it becomes... boring. It's like too much crême fraiche: it could be surprisingly tasty, but after a few times it won't surprise you any longer.

Chris
dazzdax
honest1
586 posts
 
Smooth would probably mean lacking texture.
dazzdax OP
599 posts
 
Honest1: yes, texture can be heard in real life, that is some minute irregularities and "noise" in music because of bouncing of the sound against the performer, instrument, surrounding walls and acoustic structures. If this "texture" is smooth over then the music becomes a bit lifeless. Pretty, but not exactly as in real life. But I'm afraid this is a "trick" statement again... I know.

Chris
detlof
1,899 posts
 
Chris, you are quite right, those " minute irregularities " and some dirt and noise belong to live music and neccessarily have to be reproduced if the facsimile of the thing is to be believable. Only, you find a lack of that both in SS as well as tube gear, as was quite rightly pointed out above. Look up the concept of PRAT in these pages if you like and you'll see that this is an old topic, which has been discussed many times.
Cheers,
Detlof
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
the lack of smoothness and the texture that has been discussed so far would probably be perceived as unpleasantness. why must one suffer ?

it is better to enjoy the
sound" whatever it is than worrying about texture and smoothness. after all, a stereo stsreo is for entertainment. if you want realism, listen to live music.
dazzdax OP
599 posts
 
You are 100 % right about the "just enjoy the music, don't worry about some restrictions because they are not worth to worry about" thing. But you have also to admit that when an audio component introduces an additive coloration this could be more annoying than an subtractive one. To my overly smooth presentation is a form of additive coloration (at least it is an artificial rendering of the real life situation).

Chris
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