Glossary
Detail / air
What is Detail / air?
Treble air and micro-detail without harshness
Detail (often called air or transparency) is the fine grain of a recording — cymbal decay, room reverb, fret noise — without harsh sibilance. Hi-Res masters can help, but a good mix matters more. We score how rewarding that detail is on resolving gear.
Related Upgrade Paths
Air without harshness
Detail is the fine grain of a recording — cymbal decay, room reverb, fret noise — without harsh sibilance. Hi-Res masters can help, but a good mix matters more. A bright, fatiguing treble is not “more detail”; it is a different problem.
Questions listeners ask
- What is detail or air in audio?
- Detail (air, transparency) is the fine grain of a recording without harsh sibilance. HiFi Score scores it as a facet — rewarding on resolving gear, not the same as a bright remaster.
- Does Hi-Res always add detail?
- No. A 24/96 loudness-war remaster can sound harsher, not more detailed. Check the stream cut, then use Hi-Res when the master already has headroom.