Sound
Bright
Also called brightness, forward treble
A bright product has more treble energy than neutral, so cymbals, consonants and string overtones stand out. It sounds detailed and lively to some listeners and harsh or fatiguing to others.
Brightness comes from a lift somewhere above about 4 kHz. Depending on where it sits it reads as presence, as Sibilance or as Air, and the same product can be called all three by different reviewers.
Bright tunings often seem more resolving on first listen because detail in the treble is easier to notice. Over a long session the extra energy can tire the ear. Listeners’ treble sensitivity varies more than their bass sensitivity, so disagreement is normal.