What if a high end speaker measures really badly?
You know, it's true that I feel listening is more important than measurements and that it's generally difficult to really tie together measurements with pleasure. Below 0.05% THD do I care? No I do not. I really don't care. The number tells me nothing about whether I'd like the amp more or not anymore.
In this one memorable review for the Alta Audio Adam speaker, I really felt shivers go up my spine when I looked at the measurements, especially at ~$20kUSD. This looks like an absolute hot mess. Does it sound this bad though? I certainly don't have the $20K to test that out myself. What do you all think?
@erik_squires - how would you define “high end” or “exotic” car? Not all of them are high performance and each has its own drawbacks and idiosyncrasies. There is no “sports convertible with 7 luxury seats and ability to tow a boat across rough terrain”. I define “high end” as limited production, using exotic parts, tailored to audiophiles. Price may or may not be high. |
I listened to a tone generator app off tidal that did around 10 tones between 20 and 1000 hz and I was surprised at how some of the midrange tones sounded SOO much louder while measuring the same 70 db as the bass tones did. Then in the 1khz steps my hearing was pretty consistent with the db meter except 12k that I barely heard, but the crazy thing was the fq's above 12k couldn't generate much spl on the meter even when I turned the volume up! like everything above 12k is ultrasonic, more likely my phone mic sucks and my hearing's gone, but if I designed speakers by ear the tone would measure like a smiley face to sound balanced to me. |
Each one of us, especially growing older but even young, we all hear in a different way... It is why i designed my system room mechanically with resonators and absorbers in specific location but mechanically tuned for and by my ears... The result is heavenly good... For me... Helmholtz principles about resonator transformed my audio life and not only my room but my speakers design as well ..😊
Acoustics rules sound not electronics....
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A 1 meter anechoic on-axis plot does not tell the complete story of how a set of speakers will sound but should not be ignored depending on what you are looking for. In the case of this speaker, looking at the wider peaks and valleys tells part of the story. There will be a noticeable bass bump between 40 and 100 Hz which many people would enjoy. There will also be a noticeable dip in the harsher frequencies centered at 3Khz which will make it sound smooth and in-offensive. The rising frequency shelf at 10 to 15Khz will sound bright on axis and create false detail but can likely be managed with blending through listening distance as well as aiming them off axis. I bet these sound pretty decent and would certainly not rule them out based on that response plot. |
