stereo system evaluation--objective or subjective

Say what??

"Herding Cats," yes Nonoise, that's an excellent analogy and I dare say, "poetic" as it applies to audiophilia.

Plato, There are many speakers that measure pretty flat to 20kHz and are not bright at all. Many headphones have flat response to 20kHz without "unbearable" brightness. Frequency response is not a very good indicator of the sound since it doesn't show phase shift, affecting summing of harmonics, or effects of Transient Intermodulation that can produce a lot of odd harmonics responsible for system brightness. There are also tweeter's distortions at its lower end or 8-11kHz where sibilants are. It is very complex issue and frequency response alone is not the best indicator of the sound. I cannot even hear above 16kHz where my speakers measure in the room with CD test tones at about the same level as at 1kHz (Radio Shack meter at listening position facing straight between speakers, response corrected)

I'll bet money that you are not really looking for an answer to this question. You already have a position on the topic you ask about and are not going to change it. This is just one of those questions designed to get everyone arguing for no reason. Nice try. Go back to Computer Audiophile.

Kijanki, I think you just want to argue with me for the sake of arguing so this will be my last reply to this thread. The simple truth is that although many speakers are reported to have highs flat to 20kHz, in actual use in an actual listening room the sound will be decidedly rolled off at that frequency by the time it bounces off walls, carpet and furniture, and goes through door openings. This, not to mention that unless the tweeters are aimed directly at the listener you're not going to get anywhere near flat 20kHz response.

Plus I wouldn't call the Ratshack meter anywhere near precise.

But hey, it's your right to believe what you want to believe. I just don't happen to agree with you.