What if a high end speaker measures really badly?

Speaking of measurements. I think one of the most pertinent yet often absent metrics is distortion. And not just THD, but also the profile of the individual harmonics. Other than those who use the Klippel (Erin’s Audio Corner for example), I don’t see such measurements.

I think B&W 800 series might make for a good case study. Despite their non-textbook frequency response, I don’t find them nearly as fatiguing as other brands with similar responses. I suspect that’s because their drivers are low in distortion, especially offensive higher order harmonics.

@audiokinesis With your discussion of on-axis/off-axis, made me wonder if that means these speakers should not be toed-in--ie so listening position is off-axis? or perhaps toed-in to where the "crossing point" is in front of listener?

@wyoboy wrote: "@audiokinesis With your discussion of on-axis/off-axis, made me wonder if that means these speakers should not be toed-in--ie so listening position is off-axis? or perhaps toed-in to where the "crossing point" is in front of listener?"

I’ve seen a different Alta Audio model (which I enjoyed enormously) at an audio show and they had them toed-in just a little bit. Here’s a link to a YouTube video with the Adams, again toed-in just a little bit; conversation with the designer starts around 3:00. If there is anything amiss that correlates with the Stereophile on-axis curve, it’s apparently below my detection threshold:

They don’t strike me as designed for time-intensity trading; that is, axes criss-crossing in front of the listening position. So my instinct is that little or no toe-in would probably work best.

Then it’s sip a low end speaker with a high price! 

Then it’s simply a low end speaker at a high price!