Better Sounding Systems, Objectivists or Subjectivists?


When these two camps retire to their listening rooms, which school of thought tends to get better sound? Those who ultimately place their faith in measurements above actually listening to their systems? Or those of us who look at measurements, but ultimately make our decisions based on what subjectively sounds best to us?

128x128ted_denney

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.

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.