what kind of audiophile are you ?

If I had to stick myself in one of those three categories, I'd fall mostly into category 3. I most definitely don't have much of either of the other two categories. I just prefer to have gear that I can completely ignore, that disappears without a trace. Set it and forget it. I do it entirely for the love of the music itself. I like whatever brings me closer to the music I love, and its only for that reason I pursue any improvements. I wouldn't care if it came in plain metal box with a blue light on it and ugly wires and exposed tubes. Wait a minute...

Marco

PS I have to admit that speakers do play on my visual aesthetics more than other components, only because they're so visible and cannot be otherwise tucked away or hidden.

my initial assertion regarding the quad 57 is a hypothesis.

I'd say it came off as an opinion until you declared it a hypothesis.

I have very fond memories of a pair of Quad 57's a good friend of mine owned. Those speakers were one of the things that got me hooked on this hobby. I would have assessed them as being on the very warm (colored) side though. He was using a modified Dynaco amp and an early Audible Illusions pre. What a wonderful memory that is - back in the late 80's I think. I don't know that I'd have the same opinion now after all these years. The new Quads don't sound much like I remember the 57's sounding - I never warmed up to my friends 988's, and he tried several configurations of that sytem. They did vocals brilliantly, but couldn't seem to get anything else quite as good, at least in his room and with his various system changes. He sold'em and now is playing with Maggie 20.1's (a big improvement over the Quads in his room/system as he's developed it). I didn't particularly like the 988's at RMAF either. Different strokes, and all that.

Ah, but the 57's I do remember liking very much. I don't know about "timbre" - I interpreted your option 3 to be a version of 'getting closer to the music'. Otherwise it would never occur to me to describe it as you did.

I understand the draw to having an "objective" device measure what a speaker's doing in a room. There is the idea that you have somehow been "validated" in your observations. Since I'm not an "objective" device (very far from it), nor is the experience of music an "objective" experience, I don't see how it should have any bearing on what I prefer to listen to.

Marco