Your vote: Most Useless Audio Adjective


From what I've seen in online audio discussion forums such as Audiogon, words like warm, taut, wooly, and forward can upset even died in the wool audiophiles. While some may have a hard time getting their arms around them, most of the terms seem quite appropriate to me. You have to develop some list of terms in order to convey a description of a component's sonics, or to delineate it from another component.

However, I have noticed the description "self effacing" creeping into more and more reviews, and it flat out boggles my mind. Initially, it seemed to fit into the context it was being used - affordable or downright cheap gear, that was fun and lively. However, now that I've read the term being used to describe quite a serious piece of high end kit, the time has come to point out how ridiculous things are getting.

I had to laugh out loud thinking of the snootiest, most condescending audio dealer I know who was carrying this brand. Using the term "self effacing" with anything had to do with this guy was akin to describing Phyllis Diller a young, hot sex symbol.

What is your most useless audio adjective???
trelja
-ality. Musicality, bassality, tonality, trebality, darkality, lightality. What we don't need is more-ality.

I also cast a vote for minty. I will never buy an item that is minty. Gives me the impression the seller has been licking the product.
Hey wait a minute, I like minty....it's the color of my walls!

Surprised nobody mentioned yin(g) or yan(g) or the dreadful, continuousness.

And yes, Brian, you're only allowed to lift the veil when the minister has given you permission to do so.

And yes, let's ditch MORality.
Fatparrot;

1) I just knocked up my girlfriend
2) The IRS just audited me
3) I'm jumping bail to avoid prosecution
4) My bookie will break my legs by Friday
5) My drug habit has returned
6) At least Kobe had to buy a MUCH bigger diamond

Those would be the most homnest reasons to sell gear I have ever heard!!!!!
I agree with Trelja, Tvad et. al. Tubey meant vintage dark (there goes another audiophile term,) with rolled off highs with midrange bloom , oops there goes another, it's not really floral. In fact what is bloom? Poor equalization? Modern day tubes amps and even just some newer designs are very clean and yes bright sounding one might even say sparkly. The list is endless but my current term du jour is chocolately, which may have something to do with liquid but I am not sure.