Erik: it's not just the dealers. Perhaps it's not even primarily the dealers. It's the makers. A healthy percentage of new speakers today are voiced hotter/brighter than many of yesteryear. The Thiels were always that way, so it's not exclusively a recent trend, just one that is more pervasive these days (I speak as a former owner of 3.6). Whether this is closer to a quasi-objective norm of accuracy or not, is a matter of debate. To you, me and others what is not up for debate is that they are not pleasant to listen to, especially for extended periods of time.
Dealers and exaggerated treble
I've been thinking about some negative experiences I've had at dealers over the past few years. I don't mean the dealer's were unpleasant, they were not. I mean that I heard bad sound.
In a lot of those cases, the treble was exaggerated, or harsh to me.
I'm wondering, have you ever heard really bad treble at a dealer, but then you hear the speakers elsewhere and they seem fine?
In a lot of those cases, the treble was exaggerated, or harsh to me.
I'm wondering, have you ever heard really bad treble at a dealer, but then you hear the speakers elsewhere and they seem fine?