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


I was thinking about something as I was typing about how I've observed a magazine behave, and it occurred to me that I have a personal bias not everyone may agree to.  Here's what I think:
"To call a speaker a reference product it should at the very least be objectively neutral."

However, as that magazine points out, many great speakers are idiosyncratic ideas about what music should sound like in the home, regardless of being tonally neutral.

Do you agree?  If a speaker is a "reference" product, do you expect it to be neutral, or do you think it has to perform exceptionally well, but not necessarily this way?
erik_squires

Showing 1 response by fleschler

I've heard many monitor speakers in studios and do not think they would sound good for long term listening in my music room.  
@michaelgreenaudio   I intend to purchase Von Schweikert VR9SE II which have maximum adjustability using highest quality components to alter the sound of each driver to match the room modes, despite having a great engineered room.  My current speakers adjust bass alignment and mids/highs downward only.  Flat is the best for that speaker in my room.  The rear tweeter adjustment is probably the most important for me to control the ambiance level from the rear of a box speaker.   Previously, from 20 to 35 years ago, I had non-adjustable electrostats.  Didn't work out well in my lesser listening environments.