ABS: What Is The Trouble With Measurements.

However, readers and reviewers alike cannot really escape the issue of epistemology that confronts all of us as humans and as audiophiles. In plain english, we all face the issue of how we gather and transmit knowledge of the sound of audio equipment.

Hmm NO sir, THAT is YOUR, responsibility as an audiophile "journalist" As a Carpenter/Gen Contr., I built many houses. I designed and built my own house. I used measurements all day long over the construction period. After it was built, I put away the measuring tools and just enjoyed the house and lived in it. Yes, there are times I still use measurements in the house,such as hanging a shelf. The same can be said of the audio consumer who needs to find the proper sensitivity speaker for their low powered amp. But it ends there because every ear is different as is every room and every amp. Too many variables exist for the consumer and the builder alike. So the builders measurements are meant to build the best piece to perform under ideal conditions. This is why the piece of equipment sounds great in the showroom (which is ideal) but different at YOUR house.

The worst piece of equipment I ever bought sounded good in the showroom, had great specs and reviews but sounded like sh** with my original large advents (Luxman) I don’t usually talk bad about Luxman because I know that every persons hearing and preference, system and rooms are different. Many here like Lux for a reason...It worked for them. But I’m sure I am not alone in not caring for the Lux sound....at least their 80’s sound. I could carry on for much longer about this but the main point is that we are humans with all our differences because each of us are unique with unique likes and dislikes. We are NOT machines which are all stamped out from the same exact mold. For some reason, this seems to have been lost on the modern mindset. but that is another conversation.

With speakers need to measure in room response, all rooms different. Do this at home, you'll find best placement for speakers and seating position. Measurements from some review or spec page only tell you so much.

The single most significant variable in all of audiophilia is the speaker/room. It is an extremely complicated variable and the only way to understand it is to measure it. The performance variability in electronics is miniscule in comparison. 

The next question is what are you going to do with speaker/room measurements. You have to have continuously variable control of amplitude and delay along with an understanding of acoustics and how to deal with unwanted additions by the room.  

Power to you if you think you can do this by ear. The ear is best at appreciating the results and making adjustments to suite taste. 

I go 100% by listening; I couldn't tell you the measurements of much of anything in my listening chain. That stuff has just never interested me. 

If they're useful to many people, and I know they are, great, but that does not mean they need be useful to everybody.

I go 100% by listening; I couldn't tell you the measurements of much of anything in my listening chain. That stuff has just never interested me. 

@larsman I feel the same way about my cholesterol. If I feel good, the numbers don’t matter at all. (Same with my driving speed. Don't consult the odometer...ever! I know what seems right in the circumstances!)