Speakers have not evolved to the point where their faults elude measurements. Unlike electronics! The speaker that measures better always sounds better! OTOH electronics (amps, preamps, DACs, streamers) have become largely transparent to the source, irrespective of price. This is good for the budget-conscious audiophile! Today the biggest sonic improvement lies in buying a better measuring pair of speakers.
Empirical Evidence?...the gap between subjective and objective
As a curious music guy without science background, I stand in awe and gratitude for audio's accomplishments in the last half-century. From Julian Hirsch's "Stereo Review" to the here and now, Julian's measurements calling the shots vs "trust your ears." I solidly embrace both camps. Hard science gets us close, then the loosening of emotions in guiding us home.
Some years ago, I stood on a lower Manhattan Street corner, absorbing the cacophony. Surrounded by moving objects, sirens, vendors, helicopters, humanity...how can 2 channel replicate this? A distant friend with the pockets to chase high-end surround, smiles. More importantly, how could that experience be measured and compared with any degree of accuracy? "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." Thoughts?
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