What if a high end speaker measures really badly?

@erik_squires - how would you define “high end” or “exotic” car? Not all of them are high performance and each has its own drawbacks and idiosyncrasies.

There is no “sports convertible with 7 luxury seats and ability to tow a boat across rough terrain”.

I define “high end” as limited production, using exotic parts, tailored to audiophiles. Price may or may not be high.

Personally, in a demo I'll probably pick the speakers that elevate the bass and treble that can also image well. The livelier the drum kit sounds the more interested I am.

Measure it with your ear. Next problem……

I listened to a tone generator app off tidal that did around 10 tones between 20 and 1000 hz and I was surprised at how some of the midrange tones sounded SOO much louder while measuring the same 70 db as the bass tones did. Then in the 1khz steps my hearing was pretty consistent with the db meter except 12k that I barely heard, but the crazy thing was the fq's above 12k couldn't generate much spl on the meter even when I turned the volume up! like everything above 12k is ultrasonic, more likely my phone mic sucks and my hearing's gone, but if I designed speakers by ear the tone would measure like a smiley face to sound balanced to me.

Each one of us, especially growing older but even young, we all hear in a different way...

It is why i designed my system room mechanically with resonators and absorbers in specific location but mechanically tuned for and by my ears...

The result is heavenly good... For me...

Helmholtz principles about resonator transformed my audio life and not only my room but my speakers design as well ..😊

Acoustics rules sound not electronics....

I listened to a tone generator app off tidal that did around 10 tones between 20 and 1000 hz and I was surprised at how some of the midrange tones sounded SOO much louder while measuring the same 70 db as the bass tones did. Then in the 1khz steps my hearing was pretty consistent with the db meter except 12k that I barely heard, but the crazy thing was the fq’s above 12k couldn’t generate much spl on the meter even when I turned the volume up! like everything above 12k is ultrasonic, more likely my phone mic sucks and my hearing’s gone, but if I designed speakers by ear the tone would measure like a smiley face to sound balanced to me.