Need help with some terms

[gunwale]

Hi I need some help on some common terms.
 
What does the vocal sounds "forward" means?
- does it means more intimate (sounds nearer)
- or forward means sounds is further from the point of listening.
- does V means the vocal is intimate (in front of you) or V means the vocal is further than the instruments?
 
I am also trying to learn what distortion is all about.
 
For example, the vocal becomes echo-ish / resonance when the volume is too high. Is this a distortion?
 
The other one is some system becomes overly cramp and noisy when the volume is too high while others maintain a good separation at very high volume.
 
Is this a distortion? like linearity distortion?

 

[castleofargh]

 when stuff describe how a person felts instead of the sound itself, there is always opportunity for interpretation and misunderstanding. plus of course the very possibility that while the person making that feedback really experienced such feelings, you wouldn't under the very same circumstances. I will only risk myself with V shaped signature which is simply what the frequency response looks like, assuming that a flat frequency response would sound neutral. so it vaguely describes a recessed medium, but how much, and located at which frequency, that's to be determined. it's something very vague in the end and talking about specific frequencies and values would be a much more interesting information.
 
about distortions, it defines a lot of very different signal changes. think of it like noise, we will call a lot of things noise that will sound very different. the correct way to estimate distortions is to measure them IMO. also keep in mind that because distortions can sound like all sorts of things, it is perfectly possible for the sound to be very euphonic and pleasing while still very distorted. vinyls and the most colored tube amps are a good example of potentially enjoyable distortions.
so of course if you notice a seriously bad sound, there probably is a problem and a good deal of distortions, just keep in mind that enjoyable sound isn't alone evidence of low disto.

 

[gunwale]

So the V and U are actually the equalizer? and neutral is ----? lol. Thanks for the info.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

 
What does the vocal sounds "forward" means?
- does it means more intimate (sounds nearer)
- or forward means sounds is further from the point of listening.

 

When "intimate" is used it means the entire soundstage is close to if not seemingly around the listener.

 

When "forward" is used specifically for the vocals, it means the vocals are set closer to the listener but all others farther away, ie, it's relative. Note that this can be said of other instruments - if you have siginificant enough bass boost the bass drum can be forward closer to the listener, even more so than the vocals. Ditto vocals.

 

When "forward" is used to describe Grados it's how the stage overall is "intimate," but forward is used because the vocals are very clearly apart from the rest while some notes also have a tendency to jump out from the rest, most usually the percussion, but sometimes also some guitar plucks and such.
 
Note that given how many people are around using them and misusing them not everybody makes these distinctions.
 

  - does V means the vocal is intimate (in front of you) or V means the vocal is further than the instruments?

 

Not necessarily getting the vocals farther back but tonally you get a lot of bass and treble.

 

 
I am also trying to learn what distortion is all about

 

Basically any deviation from the original sound, measurements taken with test tones. Distortion can come from any point in the system - a DAC or amp altering the sound making it warmer, an amp struggling (though not yet clipping, which is the extreme case), or a driver literally distorting as its diaphragm loses its shape or hits its excursion limits.

 

That said, not all distortion sounds as bad as a struggling amp distorting badly or a driver going "THWACK!!!" along with bass notes as it hits its excursion limit. It can sound "good" to the listener, as when they use tube amps with circuits that intentionally change what the recording sounds like, sometimes making Norah Jones sound like she needs to snort chicken soup to clean her sinuses.
 
 

 
For example, the vocal becomes echo-ish / resonance when the volume is too high. Is this a distortion?

 

No, it's likely in the recording and playing at low volume makes it harder to hear, and conversely, you hear it more easily at high volume.
 

 
The other one is some system becomes overly cramp and noisy when the volume is too high while others maintain a good separation at very high volume.
 
Is this a distortion? like linearity distortion?

 

Distortion as well as crosstalk.

 

  So the V and U are actually the equalizer? and neutral is ----? lol. Thanks for the info.

 

It can be due to the inherent response of the drivers as designed, or in-room response as when some speaker systems have badly matched crossover settings that don't take into account the tweeters' sensitivity vs the midwoofers while having a subwoofer with its gain set too high.

 

[PETEBULL]

What does the vocal sounds "forward" means?

Probably frequency range 800-2500Hz is slightly elevated. So that vocals sound above everything.

- does V means the vocal is intimate (in front of you) or V means the vocal is further than the instruments?

You mean V-shaped balance? If so then further.

I am also trying to learn what distortion is all about.

About sine wave becoming squared.

For example, the vocal becomes echo-ish / resonance when the volume is too high. Is this a distortion?

Eco-ish is mostly "veil" or "coloration". High volume causes distortion by nature. Sometimes in bad cases of both they blend in.