I hope this isn’t too far off topic, and I apologize in advance re this post if it is. It’s also a bit long winded. So, again, please forgive me. I’m new to these types of forums, so it’s a learning curve for me.
Here's an interesting experience I once had with coloration (from some notes on an article I'm writing):
"During the ‘70’s I owned the original Koss ESP-9 electrostatic headphones (complete with frequency response curves and all). These were heavy, but not overbearing, and build like a tank. At that time, they were considered by many to be the finest headphone on the market. Also, at that time, one of the most popular audio systems was the Harmon Kardon Citation 11/12 separates, an amp/preamp combo (albeit I much preferred the sound of my Dynaco PAT4 preamp built from the kit), a Thorens TD-125 MkII fitted with the impressive Shure V15, and the famous Bose 901 loudspeakers. The Bose 901s used a massive equalization curve to achieve some resemblance of musical balance. The small active outboard equalizer was inserted in one of the recording loops on the preamp or between the preamp and amplifier.
The Koss electrostatic headphones were driven directly off the speaker terminals of the Citation 12 power amplifier. If one forgot to bypass the active equalizer for the Bose 901's, well, you can imagine what that meant. What was originally a very flat responding headphone took on the exact response imposed by the Bose equalizer!
One day coming back from track and field turnout (high school days) I put on my ESP-9's, and some Led Zepplin. Wow! It was fantastic! I couldn't remember hearing anything like this before! It was intoxicating, exhilarating, almost unbelievable! It was the same music, but Oh! So much better! (Maybe some of you have experienced something similar using drugs?
The moment lasted longer than it should have, and I was pulling out every album in my collection. To my astonishment, and let down, I later discovered what had happened. I forgot to bypass the equalizer. When I switched the unit out of the circuit, the sound collapsed, and I was deflated.
I never forgot that experience because it was my first realization how influenced I was by something so unreal. Like so much in life, "if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is." It’s hard coming down from an addiction, whether it’s hyped sound, or something else. Even more difficult was acclimating to reality. It was a long journey back. It was equally difficult accepting that what I had just heard was false, hyped, unnatural, and just plain wrong."
This is a very “extreme” example of coloration. The Bose 901 equalizer places up to 15db emphasis on the extremes of the frequency spectrum. Generally, what I'm referring to with the mid-bass hump is typically only 3 - 5db, sometimes more, when using ported loudspeakers. The effect is very appealing.
How much of a deviation correlates to coloration? I’m not black and white on the topic. I also think there are other considerations that contribute to colorations besides frequency response. My music system is currently comprised of all tube electronics, including the CDP, which should give a clue.
My hope is that the ES3X, returning to topic, is flatter. No, not perfect. From reading Digihead’s and Larry’s reflections on them, that “seems” be the case. I hope it is
.
Again, I am sorry for the long winded post. I hope it contributes to the overall discussion.
