Overused "Audiophile" Terms

[denverdoc]

some of these terms do have meaning

Hey, while I agree in principle with the general lampooning of the audio salon owners, terms like bloom have consensual, and even agreed upon meanings within the pro community--even S Linkwitz, a slide-rule-carrying-kind-of-guy if there ever was one, uses it--basically as I understand it, has to do with the change in apparent sound size of source with volume in the context of musical instruments and playback thereof--(and hopefully we can all agree such a phenomenon exists), and nothing whatsoever to do with underdamped tuberiferous woofer interactions. So as eric c. once said, let it.....

Also as does virgin vinyl so does PTFE made from virgin middle eastern maidens--sorry for those of you offended by such, a little political commentary embedded within,
J

 

[superman180]

BRIGHT

 

[Mudcat]

BRIGHT

As in

"My futures so bright I got to wear shades."

or

He's as bright as a three watt light bulb

 

[miklorsmith]

As we lampoon the press we all clearly read, bear in mind that the authors are trying to convey difficult concepts. How would you describe alcohol-induced tipsiness to one who has never inbibed? A rainbow to a blind person? Certainly there are cliches, but most reviewers are adept at avoiding them.

There is probably more common ground in audio reviewing than we generally assume. I agree with Denverdoc, mostly. Bloom is a fairly objective term. Those familiar with tube-electronics have no trouble understanding the concept. Unfamiliar souls hold it to be meaningless jargon.

See my point in paragraph 1, above?

 

[plhart]

The Audio Glossary by J. Gordon Holt

J. Gordon Holt, the man I and many consider to be the father of subjective reviewing wrote a book called The Audio Glossary in 1990. It is still available on-line for $9.95.

According to the book's back cover description "...almost all the vocabulary definitions are his work...Seldom will you have the opportunity to purchase a reference work backed by so much primary research and experience. Few reviewers have spent more time and energy in an honest search for a defined, factual account of what matters in good sound reproduction techniques.

The Audio glossary includes not only a vocabulary for sound description, but also a comprehensive overview of over 1,900 audio terms: technical and subjective."

IMHO Gordon's book is the definitive source for all terms audio..........

 

[superman180]

As in

"My futures so bright I got to wear shades."

or

He's as bright as a three watt light bulb

How about receiver X tends to be BRIGHT or my speakers are overly bright.

 

[gregz]

How's about "crisp, clean highs?"

Almost sounds like a peppermint patty...

 

[Caligula]

Just the term "audiophile" makes

me feel like I associate with a community that has a penchant for fondling musical hardware.

 

[Az B]

me feel like I associate with a community that has a penchant for fondling musical hardware.

Not that there's anything wrong with that!