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Neutral or warm? Which do you prefer?

I have 2 sets of speakers with different characteristics (among others I have).

One is neutral while the other one has more warmth to the sound.

I enjoy both on different music, but started wondering what do other members prefer?

What's "supposed" to be "better"? ... if there is such a thing in hifi.

Opinions of members here are most interesting and educational for me...
liquid-smooth
jjrenman
279 posts
 
I agree. So you vote that we stay with the word "neutral" and do our best to define the word whenever we use it?
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
05-28-13: Jjrenman
I agree. So you vote that we stay with the word "neutral" and do our best to define the word whenever we use it?

Yes. Most folks will not define what they mean by 'neutral', but you can usually read that they are inappropriately using the word. They will post something like "Neutral or warm? Which do you prefer?", which I will just interpret as "Bright or warm? Which do you prefer?". ;)
rsimms
150 posts
 
Neither. Warm can sound muddy and neutral can sound weak and thin. My system is very close to neutral, but I listen to vinyl with tubes in the preamps. Also, I have a little open baffle bloom. This lights my fire.

Bob
rleff
1,065 posts
 
I don't know what it is really called, but if I am listening to Eric Clapton Unplugged he better be in my room between my speakers playing,breathing and running his fingers up and down the neck of his guitar as was recorded;I prefer to call it accurate and natural.
peterayer
1,382 posts
 
On a good recording, if the performance sounds "accurate and natural", I find it usually means that the system has a "neutral" tonal balance, that is, it does not emphasize one frequency over another.
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