Dennis_Chen

Glossary of descriptive terms?

Hello,

I browse a lot of home theatre magazines, but I'm constantly befuddled when I read a review describing how a certain piece of equipment sounds or looks. Terms like "warm" and "soundstage" and "neutral" and "rolled off highs", among other terms, are completely lost on me. Is there any website that can sum up what all those mean when it comes to describing picture and sound?

Adam Bluhm

Not sure. I opened this thread expecting to throw the http://www.audiovideo101.com/ link at ya. I don't think they house any of those terms/analogies.

Mr. JBL has made my first home theater possible.

Jack Briggs

Dennis, such adjectives as "warm" and "neutral" and such are hugely questionable when applied to electronics; sometimes you have to read between the lines in a magazine review; there is no accepted scientific evidence that electronics have a "sound." Those adjectives, however, do apply when describing the sonic characteristics of speakers and other transducers. "Rolled-off highs" means just that: a component that has little response above a certain frequency (an electronic component can be designed to roll off at 10 kH or 15 kH, but why would a manufacturer want to do that?).

Jason GT

Warm - usually refers to midrange, around the vocal area. Warmth = emphasis on midrange.

Bright (I know you didn't ask about this one) - refers to upper frequencies, such as cymbals, higher notes from brass instruments, strings etc. Emphasis on upper frequencies.

Neutral - no real emphasis. Pretty flat freq response.

Rolled off highs - upper frequencies are toned down a bit.

Soundstage - this one is trickier for me, but I"ll try. AFAIK this term refers to stereo imaging. With good speakers you can accurately place where a voice or instrument is in the ... soundstage. Like the vocalist is front center, electric guitar left, bass left-center rear, backup vocalists right and slightly to the rear, etc.