DanielT
Major Contributor
Loudspeakers and listening to the ones you like, I buy that argument. There is so much about speakers that depends on taste, for example, who knows what kind of dispersion pattern person X likes? Or how much distortion-free (which incidentally does not exist regarding speakers) SPL that person Y wants? Much of the mentioned can be read in measurements, but then person X and Y (X vs Y...it was maybe something else? ) have to test what they like.Hi Daniel - yes the key is to listen to as many different approaches as you can - as a reviewer myself I come across a lot of time on a lot of gear - espeically in the audio mecca here in Hong Kong where all the major brands are located both pro and home audio speakers.
I owned the KEF LS-50 for 4 years and was able to try them out against a number of speakers but in the end - I prefered my much less pricey (then) Audio Note AX Two which was designed by Andy Whittle of Rogers for Audio Note. Andy works at both compaies as the lead designer at Rogers and in a different role at AN. The KEF was good which is why it stayed for as long as it did alongside the AX Two - but when the time came to keep one I wanted the one that made acoustic instruments and voices sound quite a bit more natural - that was the AX Two - even though it is butt ugly compared to those KEF speakers.
In the end I always look at the gear people get hugely passionate about - like Magnepan - they measure pretty bad - I am not a fan of the sound of them - but hey - people love em to death - and if it makes them happier then go for it.
BUT electronics, such as DACs that measure well and have low inaudible distortion and noise and straight FR what more could you want? Apart from functions and appearance then.