2. misc-audio
  3. 180193-17492

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
kota1
2,706 posts
 

@fleschler , re: cables I am using Mogami XLR in a 9.2.7 home theater with predominantly active speakers. The runs to my surrounds and surround height speakers are more than 10 feet. It works very well and I think to make it noticeably better would cost $$$$. With an interconnect I want transparency, with a power cord I want dynamics.  

fleschler OP
1,922 posts
 

As I previously said, equipment must be matched to a system and in a room.   If it sounds best to you, that's fine.  ICs are the most common beta test that I have done in 25 years (about 90%, maybe 100 designs).  Fortunately, after all those trials, the manufacturer has had only three designs in 10 years.  Power cables and speaker cables appear to be easier to design with less than half a dozen each in the same period.  The ICs I use cost $750 a pair, about 15 times more than Mogami, so you're right about cost.  

kota1
2,706 posts
 

The measurement I focus on the most is my room using Audyssey, ARC or REW. 

djones51
4,947 posts
 

Makes prefect sense, dull, boring cables to record music. Does it record only dull boring music?  The only thing this shows is the need for controlled testing. 

mitch2
3,697 posts
 

Power cables and speaker cables appear to be easier to design

Geometry designed to lower inductance (i.e., twisted, star-quad or braid) and sufficient gauge to conduct the current should get you most of the way there with power and speaker cables.  However with SCs, and perhaps irrationally, I have found a sonic preference for multiple, individually insulated, small diameter solid core wires (e.g., Harmonic Technology with foamed PE insulation or Cardas with individually enameled wire).  OTOH, I also like the sound of my vintage Western Electric wire as both speaker cable and power cable, and I am using 7awg WE wire to power my large monoblock amps, which supports my thoughts on geometry and sufficient gauge.  

More to discover