Hi, it’s barchetta. Evidently my post about finding a quality CD/DVD combo was deleted so the micromanaging mods can make more room for boomers posting pics their latest internet purchases.

Any leads on something that does both well?

This is relevant because I “want“ a warm CD player.

I think, to me, warm means more human, more body, midrange(-y), sometimes too warm means rolled off highs and flabby bass, and I do think of some classic gear (not just tube) when I think of warm. There is nothing wrong with liking warm and in some cases I prefer warm over analytical.

It’s somewhat of an elevated midbass region that adds a lot of body to most instruments. Especially on something like keyboards, synths with a bit of low end, synth bass, a warm system will make those sound extra pleasant and rounded. If it’s too much the whole mix gets bloated. Also very obvious on guitar work and other stringed instruments, if you lack ‘warmth’ you will have those sounding sterile and unsatisfying. Some genres like certain metal subgenres do prefer this sound, with shriller guitars and drums and a lot of high end instead. It sounds very aggressive but somewhat thin.

This is pretty much the context I’d use it when mixing or mastering but I think it applies exactly the same when casually listening.

Reading some of the comments I personally disagree that a warm sound means rolled off highs; it’s perfectly possible to get a warm mix and not cut out the high end as long as you leave enough room for the instruments to breathe. I personally don’t like headphones or speakers that are actually quite dark - the high end needs to be there and when it’s done right it’s the most intoxicating thing to listen to as long as the instruments have enough texture from that ‘warmth’ at the same time

V or W shaped profile, while retaining clarity. Rather than bland or boring reference, no offense intended, I personally prefer some accentuation to make the presentation more lively while also not fatiguing. Comfortable for hours on end yet engaging. I guess you could also add, warmth equals some amount of distortion, which I find more natural, vs the other side of the equation which I find too sterile and technically perfect. Perfect to my ears isn’t pleasant, it’s work.

a sort of mellow bass fullness that doesn’t overwhelm, like a good late night male soft jazz radio DJ sounds, breathy deep warm tones in his voice - ambience like that is ‘warm’

Can I jump in and ask a question I’ve wondered about as a novice (I think it relates to warmth): what ends up being the difference between more “technical” speakers and LS35A speakers. I’m a novice but got a deal on Spendors and have been using those. I love them. But the IGNORANT side of me wants to know why these are such a big deal to people in comparison to other “technical” (again not sure if right word) speakers.

To me it means less shrillness. Sometimes the “S” sound, like when you say snake, is very shrill sounding on bright speakers.

If I turn the volume down enough, at some point the shrill S sound is all you hear. The rest of the lyrics and instruments are not really audiable but the cymbals and S sound in lyrics can still be heard clearly.

With a “warm” setup, the S sound isn’t so shrill and when the volume is turned down, the cymbals and S sound in lyrics is no more audiable than the rest of the frequency range.

strong low and midrange with distortion and color

Tube amplifiers get pretty hot.

In audio engineering it means the presence of low mids. In audiophile land it means distortion.

Somewhere in between vintage B&W speakers and modern KEF speakers combined with a NAD amplification stack.

However, I now run a NAD C356BEE as a preamp and a NAD C275 as a poweramp, I do have a Rotel RA-1520 that I am thinking of using as a preamp for the C275 amd I might try that out this weekend. The Rotel as integrated gave me great sound which was a bit harsh in the highs but as a preamp with the C275, I just wonder what that will do. The Rotel as integrated doesn’t do well for 4 Ohm speakers, but that would be taken care of by the C275. My Wharfedale Evo 4.4 need 4 Ohm.

seems like a nice experiment.

EDIT: sorry for going off-topic.

Extra 200-500 hz

Would the JBL studio 530s be warm? Those bastards are not bright at all

As someone who prefers a “warmer” sound and feel my Wharfedale Denton 80th speakers fit the description well, to me it means that the overall sound is smoother, softer, and has more emphasis on the mids and low end whereas the highs will be rolled off to some varying degree and less in your face or harsh. Veiled is a term I’ve seen people use and I think to some degree that’s true, but not in a way that the sound is muffled at all, just that it’s more controlled to prevent the highs from peaking and getting harsh.

I’m definitely a novice when it comes to being able to describe these things and haven’t heard many “hifi” speakers, but from the couple years I’ve been in this hobby, this is how I’ve come to define warm compared to bright.

Natural.

Your got analogue warmth and digital sterility.

Never the twain.