Should a reference speaker be neutral, or just great sounding?

@kennyc....*L*  And that's about as 'neutral' as they get. ;)

Oh, as for 'natural' sounding speakers....

Which is more 'natural';  the songbird in the backyard tree, or a recording of said bird?  This shouldn't be a hard one to answer....

'Reference.'
'Neutral.'

Hmmm...probably 2 of the words that have spawned more posts, prose, positions, posturing, and downright donneybrooks imho in the relatively short time I've skulted about 'here'.  That is, IF we ignore IC's, speaker cables, equipment choices/pairings, listening spaces and their acoutrements, and whatever else one applauds or takes issue on....

Which just shows to go you that the likelyhood of coming to anything resembling a universally satisfactory acknowledgement of an 'average agreement' will rank with genus homo finally becoming 'wise' as opposed to merely 'smart'....which generally falls short, anyway....

(The 'Second Coming' will likely occur within moments...and will likely be 'self inflicted', because we tend towards 'self fullfilling prophecies'.  We dislike being disappointed.....)

Since this can of worms has been dumped out for yet another rant 'n rave fest for some to enjoy, others to steam over, some to run from, and whatever boats ones' floats in whatever fashion...

REFERENCE = The 'speaker du jour' that excites the senses of the 'cognoscenti'; size, price, feeding requirements be damned.

NEUTRAL = An unattainable laboratory radiator.  Absolutely 'guage block' FLAT, 1 hz>ultrasonic, 1dB>comet impact.  The 'point source' that's Perfect in every way.  Proven by any means and methodlogy concievable, in every combination.

We will never hear nor achieve it.  Get over it.

We're organic beings with a limited lifespan, flawed from Day One.

Likely unable to recognize Perfection even if it announced itself, however subtle or extreme....

I just 'do' what amuses me; likely, y'all do something similar. *s*

At this point....I'm just going 'radio silence', and watch the splatter patterns on the virtual walls....

Have @ it... ;)

Cheers 'n jeers, J

Good point, Eric....getting lost in the semantics is but one lurch towards commentary chaos....+1

Mho.....(among others.....*G*)

Neutral > If I was to run a tone sweep through Spkr A, the trace on the waterfall RTA will match up to what my equipment (calibrated mic, all that..) will depict as close as possible, given as silent a test space as possible.  Any gross deviations become obvious...

Reference > As previously noted here, usually applied as 'hype' for the new 'type' of Spkr Z.  Unless one applies the previous routine to Z with favorable results, it just calls attention to Company Z's new 'high water mark' for their offerings.....

Now....I don't have any real favorites with regards to any particular brand or mfr.  I've heard/listened to various 'n sundry in v. 'n s. situations, locations; some have strengths, others with weaknesses, and then the ones you walk right by for whatever reason/rationale.

It's all subjective in the end....what fills your ears in 'That' way....and can be rationally afforded in whatever matter/means.

A personal observation that y'all can either have a laugh/jeer/contemplation over....

I'm 'away' from my personal space periodically.  This can be for a week; sometimes a month or three.  I have in that interval just the memory of that which I've left behind.

The longer the interval, the more my speakers may sound 'alien' to my ears, a certain familiarity has lapsed to varying degrees...

It may take a day or two to 'recover/revive' that acknowledgement of 'OK, nothing's the matter or wrong.....it's just Me.'

The psyc of sound, if you will. *G*  Anyone else have this experience?