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Nearly all manufacturers do not advertise/exhibit their product measurements? Why?

After my Audio Science Review review forum, it became apparent that nearly the only way one can determine the measurements of an audio product is wait for a review on line or in a publication.  Most equipment is never reviewed or is given a subjective analysis rather than a measurement oriented review.  One would think that manufacturers used tests and measurements to design and construct their products. 

Manufacturers routinely give the performance characteristics of their products as Specifications.  Those are not test measurements.

I searched the Revel speaker site for measurements of any of their speakers and could not find any.  Revels are universally lauded for their exceptional reviewed measurements.  Lack of published manufacturer measurements is true for nearly every speaker manufacturer I've searched for on line, perhaps several hundred.   Same is true for amps, pre-amps, DACs, transports, turntables, well you get the picture.  Do they have something to hide?   I doubt the good quality products have anything to hide but poor quality products do.  

ASR prides itself in providing "true" measurements that will aid in purchase decisions.   Why don't the manufacturers provide these measurements so that reviewers can test if they are truthful or not?

Then there are the cables and tweaks for which I suspect that there are inadequate tests available to measure sonically perceived differences but which objectivists believe don't exist or are "snake oil."  

Well, please chime in if you have some illuminating thoughts on the subject.   

I would have loved to see manufacturers measurements on my equipment and especially those that I rejected.  

fleschler
fleschler OP
1,922 posts
 

@phusis Great discussion of speaker performance.  My Legacy speakers marketing targeted very low bass distortion.  Distortion numbers at frequency intervals at low and high SPL as well as bass=very indicative of a speaker's capability.  Speakers which have less good (even defective) measurements can still work well under certain circumstances (room, matching system, types of music).  I don't know their measurements but I find that I really enjoy listening to Maggies on voice and small combos but not for orchestral music, big band or heavy rock as a possible example (I've heard LRS to Tympanis to 20.1s over 35 years). 

As to measurements and reviews, all I get for cable and tweaks are subjective reviews.  Are there no good measurements/tests for them (I would suspect at least acoustic tests to view their effect on, frequency, dynamics, distortion and other acoustically testable phenomena)?  .  

 

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,360 posts
 

"...all I get for cable and tweaks are subjective reviews.  Are there no good measurements/tests for them..."

Cables put different loads on the amplifier as does the loudspeaker. So a proper test for a cable's sonic signature would be to use an amp that is susceptible to those changes and a loudspeaker that has wildly different loading across the frequency spectrum. You would not be measuring the cable individually but the entire system's output. You would have to have a baseline system to do this...which would be our own system in most cases.  

kota1
2,706 posts
 

@fleschler , re: specs for cables Mogami lists fairly extensive specs with each cable it sells:

https://mogamicable.com/category/products/W2319.php

Mogami Gold:

SPECIFICATIONS

Configuration mogami guitar cable w2319d
Part No. W2319
Conductor Details 12/0.18TA
Size(mm²) 0.305mm² (#23AWG)
Insulation Ov. Dia.(mm) 1.6Ø (0.063")
Material PE
Color Clear
Sub-Shield Ov. Dia.(mm) 1.8Ø (0.071")
Material Conductive PVC (Carbon PVC)
Color Black
Main-Shield Served-Shield Approx. 38/0.16TA
Jacket Ov. Dia.(mm) 5.0Ø (0.197")
Material PVC
Color Black
Roll Sizes 100m (328Ft)
Weight per 100m (328Ft) roll 3.5Kg



Back To Top
 

ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Part No. W2319
DC Resistance at 20°C Inner Conductor 0.064Ω/m(0.020W/Ft)
Shield Conductor 0.026Ω/m(0.0079Ω/Ft)
Capacitance at 1kHz, 20°C 155pF/m (47.3pF/Ft)
Inductance 0.3µH/m (0.092µH/Ft)
Electrostatic Noize* 0.13mV Max.
Electromagnetic Noise At 10kHz* 0.07mV Max.
Microphonics* 0.3mV Max
Voltage Breakdown Must withstand at DC 500V/15sec.
Insulation Resistance 100000 MΩ × m Min. at DC 500V , 20°C
Flex Life 11,000 cyles
Tensile Strength (26°C, 65%RH) 303 N
Emigration Non-emigrant to ABS resin
Applicable Temperature -20°C‾ +60°C(-4°F‾ +140°F)

 

djones51
4,947 posts
 

Canare shows extensive specs on cables as well. I only use pro cables,  they're built to withstand a lot of abuse and as long as you keep guage, length, connectors in mind shouldn't be any difference in most cases. 

fleschler OP
1,922 posts
 

Well those two cable manufacturers do publish their test measurements.   It's too bad that the Canare and Mogami tried in the past 10 years by friends (4X) said that were mediocre for playback, not bad just uninteresting. They purchased more expensive cable which they preferred the sound.  Too bad, another instance where test results don't translate into better sound for playback.  They sounded flat and uninteresting, not open sounding either.  However, for professional use in recording, they are probably ideal with a perfectly flat frequency response and interacts well with other pro gear.   Years ago I tried some pro cables (could have been Canare) and also found that dull and uninteresting.   Maybe cables designed for recording are not compatible with reproduction/listening back for enjoyment.   

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