Poor objective measurements do not always equate to lack of listening preference, though studies by Toole
et. al. show most of us prefer a more even response. Many folk have not heard a flat (anechoic) speaker with good off-axis response so have no basis for comparison. Peaks and valleys in the response may counter room or hearing problems, or people may prefer a certain "sound". At least for a while; many times I have felt a speaker sounded impressive because of its flaws, but as time went on grew to dislike the emphasis they imposed on the music. "Beamy and bright" to me may be "dynamic" to someone else, "boomy" to me might be "punchy" bass to another, and so forth. "Spacious and enveloping, filling the room" from Bose 901s sounded impressive to me at first listen, but the more I listened the more I grew to dislike the way the image was smeared, and the way single -point sources like solo instruments and singers were spread across the front wall, etc. Always room for preference. As for objective measurements, I have always had a definition like the one below, meaning empirical observed data without personal bias, not that there is some "objective" in mind (that is a new one to me).
objective /əb-jĕk′tĭv/ adjective
- Existing independent of or external to the mind; actual or real.
"objective reality."
- Based on observable phenomena; empirical.
"objective facts."
- Uninfluenced by emotions or personal prejudices: synonym: fair.
"an objective critic."
Similar: fair
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