Bright?

Chip Brogden · 07-24-2003, 09:31 AM

Can someone give me a complete definition of the term bright. I hear this term often and too my knowledge I believe it means "loud"?

scott>sau · 07-24-2003, 10:18 AM

Hi Chip,
The audiophile term for bright, or brightness is sometimes subjective to each listener. Brightness is normally talked about when dealing with treble coming from tweeters. To be bright a treble sound would seem harsh and unnatural. A tweeter, speaker, or system could be as loud as concert levels and still not be bright, but sound clean and natural (if all the rules are adhered to). I am sure the material the driver is constructed from and room acoustics, (reflected sound) play a part in the level of brightness. Some people like brightness. Some tame and pad it. I have heard expensive tweeters that do not sound overly bright, but sound life-like and provide realism to HT and in music.

Angelo.M · 07-24-2003, 11:07 AM

Quote:

...brightness is sometimes subjective to each listener.

It's always subjective.

scott>sau · 07-24-2003, 11:38 AM

OK Angelo

Quote:

It's always subjective.

I just didn't want to start a uncivil thread tee he. I agree brightness, or lack of it dwells in the mind of an audiophile.

PhilMays · 07-24-2003, 11:55 AM

Funny subject

I have always associated:

Bright: Crisp

Neutral: Blah

Warm: Muffled

But this is just one fools opinion

:b

**HTF Ads**

RobWil · 07-24-2003, 12:33 PM

There can also be varying degrees of 'brightivity' .......brightivity?!

.....
from somewhat pleasant (to some people)

to downright ear piercing

terence · 07-24-2003, 12:56 PM

[quote]I have always associated:

Bright: Crisp

Neutral: Blah

Warm: Muffled

But this is just one fools opinion
-------------------------------------------------------

Here is my take on this:

Bright: Too Crisp, Loud Shrill that turns into ear fatigue after listening for a period of time.

Neutral: Blah, laid back, Give me more or something is missing.

Warm: Natural, also could be too warm and give a laid back sound to me.

But this is subjective, and my take on it.

Lew Crippen · 07-24-2003, 01:23 PM

I think that technically most ‘bright’ speakers have a bit of emphasis in the higher frequencies (more db compared to other frequencies). This is frequently referred to as ‘tipped-up’. In addition to that emphasis, ‘bright’ speakers often have a clarity and or ‘ringing tone’ in these upper frequencies that other, more neutral ones may seem to lack.

Now this can be good or bad, depending on your listening preferences. And depending on how bright the speaker is perceived to be. One of the speaker lines generally considered to be ‘bright’ is Klkipish, a sound which many love and others could do without.

Usually those who profess not to like ‘bright ‘ speakers complain that they can’t play their system loudly for a long time without listening fatigue—where ‘brightness’ becomes to be considered ‘shrill’.

In my mind, this is a very different term than ‘loud’ as close listening can discern ‘brightness’ at low levels—it is just more pronounced at higher levels.

Angelo.M · 07-24-2003, 01:43 PM

Scott:

Didn't mean to bust your chops.

I think Lew gave a good definition for you, in the sense that the term is usually used on HTF and elsewhere. I just don't put a lot of stock in these descriptors, because one man's 'bright' is another's... well, you know...

scott>sau · 07-24-2003, 02:38 PM

Not a problem Angelo, I agree it is a totally subjective topic. That's why they wrote "Why audiophiles disagree" in Stereophile. Chip (the thread starter), is any of this helping?