- Not being able to hear many of the speakers I am curious about, I will often message someone and ask them for their opinion of what their own speakers sound like. Although I know they will be biased, I find it interesting the word smooth seems to be used most often as the 1st words to describe their speakers. No one likes to hear edgy sounding speakers, but music is usually dynamic more than smooth . So when we refer to our speakers as smooth and easy to listen to, does that mean that we don't find extremely revealing, dynamic, and engaging speakers , also to be good designs?
What would a person do if they didn't want only smooth, but also dynamic and revealing as well? Cant really high efficiency Pro designs, with extreme dynamics also be smooth? And why don't you ever hear a person describing speakers as, "can play really loud, yet still won't fatigue your ears after listening". Wouldn't that be a more impressive feat of design, and way of describing speakers?
When I used that term it's about the frequency response.
Smoothness in this sense is something I'm very sensitive to. Lots of speakers have peaks and valleys, sometimes contributing to the signature sound.
What is called "revealing" is often having a ragged response, accentuating some notes, and damping others. This "unmasks" (and I use the term related to hearing and perception) certain notes, making you feel the speaker now shows you things you never heard before.
Then, there is smooth, but bright. Magico S1 is one of those in my book. Better than average speaker for low level listening.
Smoothness in this sense is something I'm very sensitive to. Lots of speakers have peaks and valleys, sometimes contributing to the signature sound.
What is called "revealing" is often having a ragged response, accentuating some notes, and damping others. This "unmasks" (and I use the term related to hearing and perception) certain notes, making you feel the speaker now shows you things you never heard before.
Then, there is smooth, but bright. Magico S1 is one of those in my book. Better than average speaker for low level listening.
To me, it only means that the speaker isn't "shouty" or "shrill" and is therefore more pleasant sounding. For some people it might even mean a rolled off top end - not overly bright, that's for sure.
Smooth means its not harsh sounding even when listening at higher volume levels. Which in turn usually means less fatigue when listening to music for prolong periods of time. A speaker can still be revealing, dynamic and engaging and still sound smooth.
I hear only good things about GR Research's (Danny Richie's) speakers sounding really good and smooth. He even has informative videos on youtube.
I hear only good things about GR Research's (Danny Richie's) speakers sounding really good and smooth. He even has informative videos on youtube.
I think that the limitations of the ear in analysing what is going on, plus the difficulty of describing subjective perceptions with any rigour make things very difficult.
That sentence will get you nominated for the understatement of the year award.
There is quite simply no way to tell someone what you are hearing without common frames of reference.
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Smooth is a very poor descriptor imo. These responses affirm it. It could mean anything. It has no tangible points of reference attached to it except pure imagination. I hate seeing it. It means nothing. There are plenty of good descriptors to define the sound of a speaker, even a standardized table of them precisely explained for those who want to carry on an informed conversation. Again, in audio, this word is meaningless.
I find Patron tequila 'smooth'. I always drank it straight. Delicious. Gibson's 12 year old, again, smooth. A car body ready for paint, again, smooth.
Speaker sound signature, smooth? Huh?
Speaker sound signature, smooth? Huh?
Vague too you. But not to others. Your smooth liquor description might not mean a thing to someone else, and yet you use them to describe what you like.
Same.
Yea right. Find somebody who is a drinker and doesn't understand what smooth means in relation to booze.
Indeed I have. Let's take this for example:
I have certainly heard that type of statement many times. It was mostly in reference to well balanced high efficiency systems with horns. I've owned some like that. Also double stacked electrostatic panels. I'd say that L'Acoustic PA is also there. Very smooth, very dynamic. Doesn't hurt your ears when used within reasonable SPL.
It's a seductive effect. It's why I like high efficiency systems. They can be tricky to get a good tonal balance, but once achieved, it's wonderful and lifelike.
I kinda of understand your point.
Listening to a live symphony in a state of the art concert room is the definition of smooth. Even if the violin in that setting can sound piercing, its still smooth, transparent and detailed.