I am lucky, because at 63, I can still hear 16K in one ear and 13K in the other since I have been in medical monitoring at work. I use ear protection and ear plugs when it gets too loud, like at concerts and work.
What if a high end speaker measures really badly?
You know, it's true that I feel listening is more important than measurements and that it's generally difficult to really tie together measurements with pleasure. Below 0.05% THD do I care? No I do not. I really don't care. The number tells me nothing about whether I'd like the amp more or not anymore.
In this one memorable review for the Alta Audio Adam speaker, I really felt shivers go up my spine when I looked at the measurements, especially at ~$20kUSD. This looks like an absolute hot mess. Does it sound this bad though? I certainly don't have the $20K to test that out myself. What do you all think?
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@helomech How many 'Golden ears' have been through that training. I bet one could count the number on one hand. That IS THE POINT. No standards. |
I will no longer consider a speaker that has not been independently measured. It is not that a good set of measurements guarantee a good sounding speaker. I am looking at the measurements to understand the designer's background and motivation. I want the speaker that the designer made for himself through a combination of good engineering and listening evaluation. As opposed to made per the marketing department, or worse was designed by someone in the marketing department using a newly purchased copy of the Loudspeaker Cookbook. |
@prof Engineering in the service of art, or esthetics. In the end, the esthetic result is what counts. The test results may or may not agree. Also, I have a set of speakers that images and soundstages in a very engaging way. It also has audible frequency anomalies. I still love listening to them. The instruments and voices still sound natural to me and I can point at them in the mix. It makes for a more interesting experience. |
@botrytis How do you account for the Golden Eared professionals who are responsible for the great recorded works. Are they just listeners, like any other? Did they take a standardized listening course? Yes, hearing is a talent. I have known and read of producers and engineers for many years and none of them relies on measurements or room equalization. In fact, many of the greatest Pop recordings were monitored by Yamaha NS-10s. A terrible sounding speaker with harsh anomalies in the midrange. How di they use those anomalies and why did they prefer them?
And if you don't like the Devore O's, many do. They are a very successful speaker. Do you have the magic golden ears now? |
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