[seqasim]

I have the HD 598s and the HD 650s are on their way. I have often heard that the HD 598s are classified as "warm" while the HD650 are classified as "dark". Where can I find out what these mean? I keep getting conflicting responses.

 

[Tsujigiri]

There's a list of headphone terminology stickied at the top of the forum. These headphones are called that because they have a slight bass bump with more laid back treble that isn't fatiguing.

 

[seqasim]

Thank you!

 

[Tsujigiri]

As far as the difference between warm/cold and dark/bright, one of them refers more to the treble and one of them refers more to the bass. I forget which is which, though... It's kind of a moot point because you'll very rarely encounter a headphone that produces a sound that most people would call both warm and bright or both cold and dark. And these are subtle differences as well; if the headphones are really skewed in their sound signatures you start seeing terms like "bloated" or "thin."

 

[kore]

do dark mean bassier?

 

[RPGWiZaRD]

It's not strictly bass versus highs balance, it's equally much mids vs highs. In frequency response talking about 0 - 3000~4000Hz vs 4000Hz+ range. There are also midrange focused headphones with rolled off bass and rolled off highs which can be concidered dark, stock Fostex TR50P comes to my mind.

 

[Beagle]

Bright or dark are terms that are used when the sound of a component deviates from sounds of live instruments and voices.
 
Unfortunately, most people just compare headphones to other headphones and say "these are brighter or darker than those" etc. 

 

[AzN1337c0d3r]

Dark refers to a prominent bass with recessed treble.
 
Warm refers to a prominent bass with usually neutral treble.
 
Both terms are only meaningful when compared relative to something and I own the HD650 and HD558 (very similar to the HD598) so I would say that the HD650 is darker than the HD558 and the HD558 is warmer than the HD650.

 

[BetaWolf]

Seriously, is there a beginner guide for newbies anywhere? I see tons of stuff thrown around that has no meaning to me. How's a newbie going to know what warm, cold, dark, bright, etc. mean?

 

[streetdragon]

Quote:

Seriously, is there a beginner guide for newbies anywhere? I see tons of stuff thrown around that has no meaning to me. How's a newbie going to know what warm, cold, dark, bright, etc. mean?

there ya go 

 

[calipilot227]

I personally consider "warm" to be a forward midrange (particularly the lower midrange) and slightly forward midbass. I consider a very-forward midbass presentation to be "muddy."
 
"Dark" to me is the absence of treble sparkle, "Bright" is excessive treble (and sibilance). Granted, these are extremes.