Tone?

[Mr Peabody]

In my thread on sound stage I mentioned "tone" and I'd have to start another thread, so here it is. Let me preface I may be using "tone" improperly but that's the only word I know for now to describe what I'm talking about.

Let me know if this is just me or if anyone else is like this.

I've auditioned gear, perfectly capable, others like it, yet there is something I can't tolerate, I call it the tone. What I mean is different from fatigue, or harsh, it's just something in the sound I can't deal with. I've had a thread on my streamer search and referred to that experience many times. I had one that checked all the boxes yet something about the sound I couldn't live with. I auditioned am amp, even bought it with a short return window I let elapse before realizing the amp had to go. The amp was actually great, there was just something in the tone or character I wasn't going to continue listening to. There's an entire brand I wouldn't own based on all I've heard.

This may be pointless since I can't put into words exactly what I'm talking about. I guess the best way to explain it a piece that sounds fine in regards to frequency response etc. but something about the sound makes you not want to use it. Something in the sound or tone that keeps you from being comfortable with that sound.

 

[Darrel]

Yamaha comes to mind. I had a friend who loved the Yamaha brand. Everytime I heard his equipment or any Yamaha stereo product its sound signature always irritated me.

 

[Mike]

Interesting. Are you thinking more about a lack of richness in tone? Something that as I say, sounds “whiteish”?

 

[Mr Peabody]

Interesting. Are you thinking more about a lack of richness in tone? Something that as I say, sounds “whiteish”?

When I think of "whitish" it brings to mind Emotiva or ARC. That's not a problem I had an Emotiva CDP for a 2nd system at one point and do like ARC.

One, example, is Rotel. I haven't heard them in quite awhile but have several models in the past they just seemed to have like a transistor type sound. Other characters on different brands are like instruments sounding too thin or a character of sound that is like the opposite of organic, it tells my mind I'm listening to something artificial. In Rotel's defense I have a friend who loved it.

 

[Mr Peabody]

Yamaha comes to mind. I had a friend who loved the Yamaha brand. Everytime I heard his equipment or any Yamaha stereo product its sound signature always irritated me.

That may be an example. I usually liked Yamaha. Some of the earlier gear lacked bass definition. I find the current analog integrated amps very good.

 

[Darrel]

When I listened to Yamaha back in the day it always bugged me that Yamaha used the “Natural Sound “ as their selling slogan. They never sounded natural to me. I heard the Yamaha sound.

 

[mep]

Yamaha comes to mind. I had a friend who loved the Yamaha brand. Everytime I heard his equipment or any Yamaha stereo product its sound signature always irritated me.

Ever heard a Yamaha C2a preamp?

 

[Darrel]

I think the topic is on "tone". Which to me is a noted sound of a product line. Not have you heard every product from that brand. I've owned Rotel when I was into home theater. The 1090 and the 1095 amps where a prefect fit in my home theater. But, I've move on.

 

[Mr Peabody]

When I listened to Yamaha back in the day it always bugged me that Yamaha used the “Natural Sound “ as their selling slogan. They never sounded natural to me. I heard the Yamaha sound.

I think this is what I'm talking about. Something about Yamaha character put you off. Yet I like it. Rotel is a good brand, my personal taste it put me off, it worked well for you.

It's a good case study that we all do not hear or interpret sound the same.

 

[mep]

I think this is what I'm talking about. Something about Yamaha character put you off. Yet I like it. Rotel is a good brand, my personal taste it put me off, it worked well for you.

It's a good case study that we all do not hear or interpret sound the same.

Some people suffer from both CHS and CRS.

 

[still-one]

Some people suffer from both CHS and CRS.

Yes both, plus DGAS.