Is "detailed" audiophile code for too much treble?


When I listen to speakers or components that are described as "detailed". I usually find them to be "bright". I like a balanced response and if there is an emphasis, I prefer a little more mid-bass.

 

It is a question, what say you all?

g2the2nd

Audio is all about personal preferences. Bright, warm, and other terms are unfortunately fluid. Bright to me is quite annoying, in fact I was never able to listen to classical music until recently because no speakers I had owned could competently reproduce strings. They were mostly dark/warm, but some were just bright, the highs were annoying. I recently purchased Caladans, apparently I was fortunate because my wait was only around 3 or 4 months, but it was worth it. Now I had owned Quad ELS57s decades ago, and I strongly suspect that I would have enjoyed classical music through them.They had limitations, most notably volume, that resulted in my moving on, but they had an amazing midrange. Anyway, you might hate my system. It is detailed, and some are overwhelmed by details. People hear things that they had never heard before on recordings that they believed they knew well. I don't find it bright, I can even listen to Kokomo, one of my best tracks for testing brightness. So, I don't know if you dislike brightness or details, but screw what others like. Listening is personal, listen to what you like and just enjoy. If you try to please others, you'll go nuts because you can't. 

In some references the reviewer or MFG will say highly revealing 

or ultra precise.which is attracting in print but may burn your ears. Personally I am currently looking at a Loudspeaker that have excellent dispersion , as well as detail and come with  high quality resistors that adjusts the output to the tweeter to blend into Any Room. Which I think is a brilliant idea.

Systems can be detailed without being bright.  Or at least without being too bright. Detail may mostly be associated with treble but I find that real detail goes all the way down to the subs. 

Dear OP:

Yes. "Detailed" is definitely code for too much treble.

Not always, and not in every system. But it’s code for too much treble way too often to be ignored, IMO.

I’ve found a number of audio components that managed to be very detailed (ie, resolving) without being bright or edgy..But it took years of looking. Components like that are unicorns.

I’ve found a number of audio components that managed to be very detailed (ie, resolving) without being bright or edgy..But it took years of looking. Components like that are unicorns.

What, pray tell, were the magic unicorn components that you discovered that  provided detail without sounding "bright"?