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

Showing 1 response by whipsaw

I have to say that some of the responses by certain posters, including the OP, have been very disappointing.

@prof is a serious audiophile who has related, professional qualifications, is an independent thinker, and a very helpful contributor to a number of audio forums. His contributions are almost invariably substantial, respectful, and grounded in facts. His impressions of certain speakers are as eloquent and useful as any that I have come across from professional reviewers.

It’s a mystery to me why anyone would lash out at him, essentially because he refuses to budge from the reasonable position that if people hear differences between components when there is no scientific explanation for such differences, the claims can only be fully compelling through blind testing.

Note that I am much more of a "subjectivist" than "objectivist", and strongly believe that I have heard differences between both speaker and powers cables. I currently use some fairly expensive cables, albeit purchased used. I have not engaged in blind testing because of how complicated and expensive it would be, but completely agree that @prof would be correct about my claims being suspect. I can’t deny that I am vulnerable to biases, nor can I guarantee that I would pass a blind test.

I also don’t get the vitriol aimed at @amir_asr. I don’t spend much time on his site, but to dismiss his qualifications with the wave of a hand is ludicrous. He has a far better foundation on which to perform the kind of tests that he does than the vast majority of audiophiles.

At some point I will write a post about some of my recent experiences with power cables, which were certainly compelling to me, even in the absence of blind testing!