Describing how a speaker sounds can be as important as the music itself. One audiophile term often used is "airy." When we say music sounds airy, we mean it feels like it's filling up a big, open space. It's not about how loud it is but how it seems to spread out around you. This feeling is most noticeable in the higher pitches, around 15kHz, giving the music clarity and a sense of space between sounds.
Airy sound is different from "bright" sound. While both have to do with high-pitched notes, bright music can sometimes be too harsh on the ears. Airy sound strikes a balance, making the music feel open and detailed without being overwhelming. On the flip side, if music sounds recessed, it lacks the open feeling of airy sound, making it seem distant and closed, lacking separation between sonic elements.
Now, let's talk technical. What does this term actually mean in science? It's all about making music sound balanced and clear, especially in the higher pitches, and keeping distortion low across the whole sound range, but especially from 5kHz and up. The origin of the efficiency needed to create an airy sonic landscape starts down at around 5kHz. To maintain the airy feel, the efficiency of the speaker driver needs to track electromagnetically through the dynamic range. It's not enough for it to "get loud" or to have high sensitivity, no, the electromagnetic elements need to track consistently and across the entire bandwidth. This is what audiophiles and music pros aim for: music that sounds just like it's supposed to, without any extra noise or unpredictable behavior.
The best speakers often have a distinct focus on the upper frequencies, a signature that embeds their unique take on sound heard within the 5 kHz to 20kHz range. Each manufacturer offers unique qualities and characteristics, catering to different preferences and needs. Whether you're seeking the compact elegance of bookshelf speakers, the powerful performance of tower loudspeakers, or the nostalgic charm of vintage speakers, from stereo speakers to in-wall systems, the rule for an airy feel to your audio is exactly the same: look for efficiency between 5-25 kHz and you will be good to go. If all you have is a frequency response graph to go off of, go for the smoothest looking graph and then try out the speaker and see if it fits what you are looking for.
The final aspect of this characteristic is that the room itself will have a lot of impact on what your speakers will sound like. Room treatments, signal processing, or both are viable options to manage the sense of air and space that fits your personal taste in your playback profile. That said, it all starts with efficiency.
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