Does measurements really matter?

I am a trained scientist and worked as a electro / mechanical design engineer.

Excellent!

A real basic principle of high audio… glance at the specs…. Then listen, listen, listen.

As a trained scientist you would be acutely aware of the need to control for confounding variables in coming to your conclusions. When you "listen, listen, listen" how did you control for known variables such as sighted bias, in reaching your conclusions?

Brad--probably off-topic, but I've been meaning to listen to 40A and 50ASLT for a long time. I bet that within domestic reason, they sound similar (and great) from one room to another (as well as similar to each other except for bass and SPL). Without asking you to shill your product, can you comment?

Timely: In his latest GR Research YouTube video (posted today, Wednesday 3-23-22), Danny Richie examines the Magnepan Mini send him by a customer. In the video you see not only how Richie evaluates a loudspeaker---and designs a cure for it's ills, if any---but also a tutorial on comb-filtering, a design challenge inherent in all planar loudspeakers. 

Finding the video is real easy. Go onto YouTube and do a search for GR Research. The latest video will be first in line. A free education in loudspeaker design! 

Measurements and specs mattered when I started in 1982.  In 2022 I'm way less concerned, but they certainly have a place and serve a purpose.  I suspect as a deterrent, they help keep manufacturers honest.  

I’ve asked this same question numerous times to the opposite sex…