How do you judge audio components and speakers?

I reacted because the OP was alluding sarcastingly about my virtual page thats all...

I dont need to write books i already published four... 😁😊

And acoustic and psycho acoustic is not my expertise...

I only go with 2 years listening experiments because i am lucky enough to own an audio room...

Discovering that the costly upgrading road is a deceptive illusion for most , i choose to give my advices AFTER my experiments:

Dont upgrade anything BEFORE trying to embed rightfully mechanically, electrically and acoustically what you already own...Is it not sound simple advice nobody gave here ?

People are like children waiting for magic formulas they dont want to experiments ...But some can... This is the reason why i posted here for them and to motivate their own creativity at NO COSTS...I sell nothing save thinking motivation...

@mahgister that is true the info is all out there for the taking.

But the op is asking us as individuals how we do it. That book about me is not out there. It would be a bestseller, believe me! 😉

You should write a book too. Maybe get some independent sources to review. Never hurts!

Priori:

Room/adapt or suffer

Clean power/lines/purifier

Good gear/source matters

Good cables/actually preserve audio signal integrity 

tweaks/last but not necessarily most…seriously, the other stuff must be addressed first 

I have an audio buddy who is really into measurements. He claims if it measures well it will sound good. He has gone through as many components as I have and is still chasing that perfect sound. I don’t think he likes the equipment he has picked out and measures so well!? Once he bought the same speakers I had bought. I purchased them strictly because I liked how they sounded at my dealer.....

I go by sound..... not measurements.

I have an audio buddy who is really into measurements. He claims if it measures well it will sound good. He has gone through as many components as I have and is still chasing that perfect sound. I don’t think he likes the equipment he has picked out and measures so well!? Once he bought the same speakers I had bought. I purchased them strictly because I liked how they sounded at my dealer.....

I go by sound..... not measurements.

Very interesting story about someone who think measurements are voltmeter and decibel meter or laser pinpoint toe in...

But acoustic measurements has almost NOTHING to do with that (decibel meter are useful here)...It is about sound speed/ room size, head diameter, reverberation time, reflected waves timing, diameter cross ratio of the Helmholtz devices, densities of ions, temperatiure and air circulation, absorbtion/reflections/diffusion ratios, locations of devices, ratio behind the speakers distance and the room and the head location etc....

Ignorance in audio thread promoted by  SOME gear or tweaks sellers is there to sell upgrade without end...Customers believe it...

I have nothing against a tweak or an upgrade read me right!

But tweaks are not a method, and upgrading what we already own whitout having ever listen to it in optimal condition BEFORE changing it, is pure obsessive ignorant unconsciousness...

People dont want to know because they think it is too complicated probably and not costly enough to be true,😁

The truth is, it is acoustic and only acoustic that explain how and why all acoustical cues emerge from the speakers/room relation...Not the price tag...

The gear is secondary, acoustic primary...

Only the audio engineer can and must judge the design quality of their product BEFORE it is embedded in a room by their own set of standard electronical measures ... Only you can judge their design and product AFTER it is rightfully embedded in your room by using acoustic treament and mechanical acoustic control and tuning of YOUR room for YOUR specific ears ... This is my answer to the OP question...

@mahgister 

Ignorance in audio thread promoted by  SOME gear or tweaks sellers is there to sell upgrade without end...Customers believe it...

Yes, this is the tried and tested sales method that has caught out many many people.

I should know, I was one of them.

As you say, experimenting with positioning, room tuning and vibration control is a more reliable way forward.

Even in my situation where I have little choice but to keep the speakers within 8 inches of the front wall, a little experimenting with height and isolation has helped considerably.

One particular tweak that worked for me was to experiment with the tightness of the screws that hold the bass driver in place.

In the end I preferred 'finger tight' as opposed to going any further.