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Are the terms "brightness" and a speaker that is "forward sounding" both used to describe the same thing? I just see both terms used alot and was wondering if they mean the same or are considered different descriptions.

Opening a can of worms here, only because these terms, related to speakers, probably have different meanings to different people. Here is MY interpretation (and ONLY my interpretation) of both of them. I'm sure others will share theirs.

BRIGHT - Though my Webster's defines the word as "clear or brilliant in color or sound;vivid or intense," which seems a positive quality, I think it has become a slightly pejorative term implying a harsh, or piercing quality to the treble response of a given speaker. In other words, it ain't a good thing.

FORWARD - My Webster's first definition says "at, toward, or of the front, or forepart. When the term is applied to a speaker, I've taken to interpreting this to mean the sound-stage created by the speaker seems slightly in front of the speakers; close to you, as opposed to a speaker which makes you feel the sound-stage is recessed or behind the speakers a little.

In my mind (and ONLY in my mind) the two can be slightly linked, in that bright speakers TEND to be forward, and vice versa. Though, the presence of one characteristic does NOT necessitate the presence of the other.

ONLY my interpretations.

Here is a good article from Alan at Axiom on this topic. Worms, Worms, Worms, lets go fishing....

http://www.axiomaudio.com/archives/sound.html

Ajax,

Excellent description of those terms. And I'd agree that "bright" often has a certain pejorative edge. The opposite of a "bright" speaker (in a positive sense) would be a speaker that is dull or muffled and lacking in detail, especially midrange detail and clarity. I think "clear" and "detailed" perhaps convey the idea of sound that has plenty of clarity without harshness.

And thanks, SirQuack, for the link to my article.

Regards,

Thank you, Alan. I was relieved to find my interpretation of "forward" was similar to yours. Kept me from sounding like a duffuss. (NO CRACKS YOU GUYS!)

No free ride, Jack.

That's d-o-o-f-u-s. Unless you're talking about Ray; then, it's d-u-f-f-e-r.

Alan, first "sibilance", now "pejorative"?? Too bad Axiom wasn't around in the 70's when I took the SATs. Maybe I would have scored better on the verbal part of the test. It could have been Princeton, instead of Rutgers.

John