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Audiophile Glossary: Audio Descriptors

Published on August 23, 2023 By
Noah Abbott

Dive into our guide on audio descriptors in the audiophile world. We’re breaking down terms like “warm”, “bright”, “timbre”, “resolution”, and more, used to describe sound quality. Understanding these terms will enhance your listening experience and help you articulate your audio perceptions. Let’s explore the rich language of sound together!

A

Abrasive:

A noise that sounds rough or grating.

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Aggressive:

Audio with an excessive amount of forward movement and power.

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Airy:

A light, delicate, and open sound (also called openness)

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Aliveness:

A noise that sounds rough or grating.

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Analytical:

Audio that is precise, detailed, and accurate, often used in the context of a commitment to accuracy

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B

Bassy:

Refers to an emphasis on low-pitched sounds.

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Body:

Audio conveys a sense of weight and fullness.

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Bloated:

An excessive amount of low-frequency sound, resulting in a muddy or unclear overall sound.

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Bloom:

Refers to the quality of opening and expansiveness.

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Boomy:

Audio with an excessive number of low frequencies.

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Boxy:

Confined or constrained sound as though it’s in a space too small.

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Bright:

Detailed, with an emphasis on lighter, high-frequency notes.

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Buzzy:

Refers to audio with an unpleasant, distorted quality.

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C

Chalky:

Audio with an unpleasant, dull quality.

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Chilly:

Audio lacking warmth or depth.

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Clear

Easy to distinguish and free from distortion.

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Clinical:

When accuracy and precision are consistent throughout the audio, could be lacking warmth.

Colorful:

Music with distinctive character or tone.

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Congested:

Refers to audio that feels compressed by overlapping audio waves.

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Compressed:

Audio with a low dynamic range in exchange for uniformity. 

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Crisp:

A sound that is clear and sharp.

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Crude:

Audio that is rough sounding, incomplete, or lacking clarity.

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D

Dark:

May seem without brightness, likely emphasizing low-pitched sounds and deeper vocals.

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Dead:

A lack of resonance or liveliness

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Deep:

Audio emphasizing low-end frequencies, often associated with a continuous sequence of bass notes, vocals, or riffs.

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Dense:

A feeling of the note being played comes from a firm/solid foundation.

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Diffused

Audio that feels as though the frequencies are spread too thin to make it difficult to distinguish them.

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Detailed:

Rich with information and nuance.

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Dry:

Sound that lacks any type of reverb or depth.

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Dull:

Refers to audio that lacks detail or energy.

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Dynamic:

Audio with a wide range of volume levels and energy.

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E

Edgy:

Full of sharp, harsh changes in frequencies.

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Etched

Refers to a precise and defined sound, with a clear separation between notes.

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Ethereal:

Refers to audio that has a heavenly or other-worldly appeal.

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Euphonic:

When a system prioritizes pleasantness and richness over accuracy.

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Expansive:

Used to describe open audio utilizing a wide range of frequencies.

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F

Flat:

Lacking any significant peaks or valleys in frequencies.

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Forward:

Refers to a more intense sequence of audio.

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Full-Throttle:

A fast-paced sound with an element of loudness

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Fuzzy:

Refers to a coarse, staticky texture.

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G

Glare/Glaring:

Audio that is excessively hard-edged to certain frequencies as if they are being locked.

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Grainy:

Having a gritty, almost undeveloped quality may be noticeably distorted.

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Glassy:

A clear sound that is extensively bright and detailed.

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Grating:

Audio with a scratchy or friction-like quality to it.

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Grungy:

Music that feels rough or dirty may seem unclean.

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H

Harsh:

An unpleasant, grating noise may startle or shock.

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Hazy:

Indistinct, foggy audio.

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Heavy:

A weighty, solid quality.

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Hollow:

Sound lacking body or fullness, often with a feeling of emptiness.

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Honky:

A nasal or brassy quality, often emphasizing midrange frequencies.

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I

Impactful:

Audio conveys a sense of power and force.

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Involving:

Sound that can create an emotional response in the listener.

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J

Jarring:

Refers to audio with a startlingly unpleasant noise or spikes/dips in frequency.

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K

L

Laid-back:

Audio that feels relaxed, mellow, maybe slightly slow.

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Lean:

Audio that sounds lacking in body or richness.

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Linear:

Referring to singular, one-dimensional audio.

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Lifeless:

Sound that lacks conviction and involvement.

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Lively:

Full of energy and dynamic range.

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Lush:

Audio with a warm, smooth appeal.

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M

Mellow:

Conveying a warm, smooth, and pleasant sound.

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Muddled:

Audio with indiscernible frequencies.

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Muddy:

Audio without definition.

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Muffled:

Referring to audio that feels like it is coming through a wall or other barrier.

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N

Natural:

Unaltered and true to the original source, might have a woody or acoustic feel.

Neutral:

Audio without emphasis on a particular frequency or instrumental.

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O

Openness:

Audio with a sense of expansiveness, as though it feels recorded in a large acoustic space.

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Overblown:

Excessive amounts of certain frequencies.

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P

Palpable:

Audio that can be felt or experienced in a tangible way.

Pinched:

Sounds or notes that seem cut off.

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Punchy:

Quick, boomy noise, mostly associated with drums and other percussive sounds.

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Q

R

Raw:

An unpolished or unfinished quality.

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Revealing:

Highly detailed with clearly discernable elements.

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Rich:

A full and satisfying sound often has a lot of complexity.

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Rudimentary:

A simple, even unsophisticated, sound.

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S

Screechy:

Conveys an unpleasant, piercing noise.

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Sharp:

Precise notes with frequencies that almost cut through the air.

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Shouty:

Overly loud and possibly harsh, often lacking nuance or subtlety.

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Shrill:

A startling or shocking sound, typically referring to vocals.

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Silky:

A delicate, flowing feel to the audio.

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Smooth:

Free of harshness and distortion with a pleasing movement through the frequency range.

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Soaring:

Audio that feels like it has been lifted or rising and often has a light emotional impact on the listener.

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Soft:

Gentle may require an increased volume to hear detail.

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Sparkling:

A bright and lively vibe with somewhat popping or twinkling notes.

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Spacious:

A sound with much room or air and excellent for large listening spaces.

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Sterile:

Audio with no discernable emotional impact.

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Strident:

A grating, undesired noise.

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Subdued:

An overly soft sound, often lacking sharpness or brightness.

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Subtle:

Frequencies that are nuanced and understated and may require close attention to detail.

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Sweet:

Conveys a full quality with rich harmonics.

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T

Thick:

Heavy with a solid quality.

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Thin:

Lacks fullness and may sound shallow.

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Tight:

Feels controlled and precise with minimal resonance or reverberation.

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Tinny:

Refers to audio with a metallic characteristic, may even lack depth.

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Transparent:

Clear, detailed, and free from distortion.

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Twinkling:

Audio where the notes of frequencies softly pop in and out like a starry night sky.

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U

Uncolored

Audio that lacks warmth or brightness.

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Unrefined

When the audio appears incomplete or lacking clarity.

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V

Veiled:

Lacks clarity or openness, may be difficult to distinguish characteristics or instruments.

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W

Warm:

Rich in harmonics with pleasing, full quality.

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Wide:

Sound that feels broad and spacious, often with a sense of depth and openness.

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Y

Z