Air is the space above, around, and inside the music.
When we talk about “air,” we mean the highest treble frequencies that give sound openness and delicacy. A system with extended high-frequency response allows cymbals to shimmer, strings to breathe, and voices to carry their natural overtones. Without it, music feels closed-in, as though the top of the spectrum has been cut off.
I remember the first time I heard a great planar tweeter. The difference wasn’t just detail—it was a sense of space—air—as if the walls of the listening room had expanded but more importantly, as if the sound that was once trapped in its own container had been let free. The sound wasn’t brighter, it was freer, with space around instruments that made the entire performance feel less confined.
Air isn’t about turning up the treble. In fact, too much energy in that range can become brittle and fatiguing. True air is subtle. It’s about smooth, extended response into the upper frequencies, often well beyond what we can consciously hear. Those inaudible harmonics still shape our perception of openness.
When we design products, we pay close attention to whether the system conveys air without harshness. Done right, it’s the difference between a lifeless recording and one that breathes.
A system with air invites you in. It lets you relax into the music, hearing not only the notes but the space they inhabit. It’s one of those qualities you may not notice until it’s gone—and then you realize how essential it is.
