Good read: why comparing specifications is pointless


 

“ … Bitrates, sampling rates, bit sizes, wattages, amplifier classes…. as an audio enthusiast, there are countless specifications to compare. But it is – virtually – all meaningless. Why? Because the specifications that matter are not reported ánd because every manufacturer measures differently. let’s explain that...”

 

 

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You have to know what you are doing with in-room frequency response.  Otherwise, you have more than useless information.  Dr. Toole says it best in his wonderful book: Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms

 

Mind you, you absolutely need to measure your room and correct (the right) frequency response errors.  Just don't chase measurements without fully understanding how our perception works and difference between one microphone and two ears.  The internet is replete with wrong measurements and approaches to rooms.

Unless you get that one the way you want I would agree, the rest of the specs are pointless.

Who are you agreeing with, yourself?  Only in audio some folks think knowing less about what they are buying is a benefit to them.  Get the manufacturers to back their fidelity claims.  

That aside, OP said nothing about specs not being useful.  Measurements tell you if devices do nothing for your sound.  How much noise an amp can generate.  How much power it has, etc.  If you don't know this then you have a lot of learning to do.  

I am agreeing with "Good read: Why comparing specifications is pointless"

You take Revel or some other good measuring speaker, put it in a room with hard flat surfaces and you don’t need a FR chart to know that it ain’t singing like it could.

What is the point of having a golf swing panther DAC in a headless panther room? You tell me...

 

 

@amir_asr

The measurements you do on speakers is actually the least useful, see:

Acoustic measurements for our uses are of three principle varieties.

  1. • To measure the acoustic response of a loudspeaker, usually exclusive of the environment. (this is ASR)
  2. • To measure the acoustic sound field in a room, usually inclusive of the response of the loudspeaker. (this is my point in the above post)
  3. • To measure the noise level in a space.

The first two are closely related measures since room response and loudspeaker response are tightly coupled. The first measure is by far the most common, but, as we shall see, they are usually inadequate as an indicator of how the second measure will come out. Of course, what we want is a correct room response

(Earl Geddes: Premium Home Theater Design and Construction, CH 5)

@kota1 

I am agreeing with "Good read: Why comparing specifications is pointless"

That was the clickbait headline.  You didn't bother reading or understanding the article saying and showing measurements are absolutely useful. It is the difference between useless "specs" and real measurements.