Better Sounding Systems, Objectivists or Subjectivists?

It would seem that the objectivists 1st priority is to make sure the measurements are correct. Thus  the measurements inform them that the system sounds good, NOT the system's sound itself.

Not a serious question!

I do look at frequency response, efficiency and impedance curves. Never a deciding factor but a glance. Beyond that you ought to try to hear the speaker in your own or a similar sized room because that will fill in lots blanks. The room and listening distance are important to the sound you are after. You can rely on a professional to help or many just need trial and error and putting in the time to learn themselves. Dividing them into camps kind of isolates groups that I don’t find that different, or maybe I haven’t met enough audiophile that are so hemmed in to a belief about sound. Some speakers have a magic not found in the specs.

**** That’s the wrong question because they are likely to define "better" different….. ****

Agree.

****……The real question is "Which school of thought tends to be happier with their sound?" ****

Neither, I’ve met many from both camps who obsess over the “sound”. Happiest are those who only moderately care one way or the other and who listen for the musical content first and foremost.

Can we set Mapman up with a demo fuse for his 20,000th post. He's one of the more rational high post count people on the site. I'd chip in.