Neutral or warm? Which do you prefer?

05-24-13: Jjrenman
I totally agree but if lots of people are using "neutral" to describe speakers with a tilted up frequency responce than what word are they they using to describe speakers that do the least amount of tonal shifts either up or down?

Well those that feel that tilted up high frequencies are "neutral" would probably refer to speakers with little tonal shift as rolled off, or warmer sounding. While those that like a true neutral sound would probably refer to such speakers as "neutral", or "natural" sounding. Those that like warmer sounding speakers would probably refer to the same speakers as a bit "bright" sounding.

Natural

I prefer natural, which is neutral with the natural warmth that accompanies it. Clarity is paramount as it is part of natural, which is neutral and with the warmth that accompanies it.

I could go on but I won't (you're welcome).

Yes, it is all subjective which is why we must use acoustic performances and our aural memories as a baseline if, indeed, one is to recreate a neutral performance with the natural warmth that accompanies it.

We know it when we hear it. It isn't on every recording. If and when we do hear it, don't dismay at not be able to recreate it again on other recordings as it's not your system that is at fault, it's the recording. Taking this in mind should make most realize that our systems are mostly okay and are capable of delivering the goods. We just have to be more discerning in selecting our music. Our systems can't wake the dead.

All the best,
Nonoise

Liquid-smooth,
I'll take mine naturally warm.

I realize this is very subjective, but like most of the other musicians I know, my preference is that which sounds most like a live performance. That sound seldom seems to come with speakers (or electronics) which produce a "warm" sound, including many of the audiophile components and speakers highly touted on this site. The words which come to mind are "muted" or 'muffled" especially on the high end. Guess that puts me in the "neutral" camp. To each his own. Cheers.