Tip of the Day: Don't Be too Focused on Loudspeaker Specs & Measurements

Measurements and specifications are important tools in the decision making process for purchasing audio equipment. They can help those with the knowledge to interpret them identify potential performance issues. Further, objective data is useful for making comparisons between items. Nonetheless, it is important not to get too wrapped up in graphs and specs. In the end, your ears are the final arbiter of sound quality, not your eyes. Not all measurements and specifications are created equally.  

It is perhaps important to reiterate one part of the above: specifications and measurements are useful to those with the knowledge to interpret them. For example, on the face of it, a sensitivity specification seems fairly straightforward: a speaker with a specified sensitivity of 93dB at 1 meter with a 2.83 volt input should have an output advantage over a speaker with a specified sensitivity of 91dB at 1 meter with a 2.83 volt input. However, how sensitivity was rated, (ie in room or anechoic, impedance of the speaker, bandwidth tested), will have considerable impact upon what those numbers mean. As Dr. Floyd Toole once said:

"You often get more useful information on the sidewall of a tire than you do from a loudspeaker manufacturer's website."

We also warn the consumer that it is unwise to focus on one particular aspect of performance at the expense of all others. For example, if your focus is on-axis frequency response, you may miss issues with respect to distortion, compression, resonance, etc. In the end, what matters most is whether or not you are pleased with the sound emanating from your speakers in your listening space. No speaker is perfect, so it's up to you to find the best balance of compromises for your ears—and while measurements can be helpful, they're no substitute for actually auditioning equipment.

Happy listening!

Source: Forum member Steve81