I cannot trust the Harman speaker preference score

[ROOSKIE]

Thank you for chiming in and providong your expertise. I was concerned re: my post that I had confused the 'Harmon Curve' with the Harmon Speaker preference rating (it appears that this was indeed the case).

The anechoic response of my monitors (JBL 308 MkII) is quite flat already. Distance variation is not a factor since my listening position is always at the same position, the apex of a 6 foot equilateral triangle. The reason I use a measurement mic at the 'sweet spot' is primarily to generate an EQ IR to counteract bass reinforcement due to speaker-to-front wall proximity. The room acoustic treatment does a great job with other issues; the T(opt) is around 250 mS, and the combination of my IR EQ and room treatments provides a measured response flat +/- 2 dB at listening position.

But, as you mention, it was never intended for recording control rooms, and intended for listening rooms, so perhaps all this data is moot anyway.

Howdy, the in typical room downward tilt Mr. Tool is referring to, is a function of many things including the distance you are from the speakers.
A speaker that starts out measuring 'flatish' in the direct soundfield in an anechoic chamber, will develop a different measurement character in a room.

You are not in an anechoic chamber, rather a more typical room and sit 6 feet away from your speakers (mid-field IMO)so that measured tilt will likely be different vs. if you were 15 feet away(far) and different vs if you were 3feet away(near). The further you get generally the more tilt there is as function of distance and all the afformentioned variables in Mr. Tool's post.

If you are in a typical domestic room and equalize for a flat in room steady state/in situation response and then create content, you can see how it will sound tipped down or otherwise different on any playback system not equalized for flat in room response right?
I realize you have made situational adjustments and treated the room so all bets are off on what is what. If that has yielded a +/-2db in room above the bass then so be it, just realize that if you PEQ,EQ or room 'correct' it flat, your mixes will have a baked in EQ that likely will not translate well to other systems.(or at least not the way you intended)
That is where the circle of confusion begins (well it is circle so it can begin anywhere but the recording studio is not a good place to start it)

That said, just be aware that in a typical, real, domestic room the response of highly rated consumer speakers ends up having some sort of downward tilt with the most energy in the bass and the least in the treble.

And as the man himself said it is not a room curve.

If you can, check out Mr. Toole's book. It explains quite a few things very well that I think would help anyone with a home studio and a hifi rig.

 

[anotherhobby]

Howdy, to clarify you High Passed the Focal monitors, not just blending the sub in? And if indeed so what crossover slope?
Generally I have found that a solid, well engineered 6.5" 2 way or 3way can be crossed around 70-90hrz LR4 depending on specific model and still be able to play as loud as just about anything with no hint of distortions. It might take a touch more amp power, as the monitor sized speaker may be less sensitive vs towers.

I am not trying to get you to like monitors by the way, just curious. I have cranked some 6.5" 2ways pretty hard without issues.
I actually wondering if you had an amp or AVR that was running out of gas, or Dirac or PEQ or something that was a boosted area was trouble. (both for speaker and amp)
Of course maybe you just have a big room and rock hard and those Focals were giving up.

I don't mind higher x-over points so sometimes I do 100hrz or even 125hrz. It does take some effort to get things right but honestly not much more than lower frequencies. Just a lot of measuring and adjusting and more than 1 sub.

No need to try and get me to like monitors. I absolutely love the Revel M105's that I listen to every day for hours on end in my office (also with subs). I also loved those Focal Aria 906's that I had. They are fantastic speakers, I just didn't like that I was volume limited (lower than I wanted) by audible distortion from bass.

 

[Newman]

Thank you [Dr Toole] for chiming in and providong your expertise. I was concerned re: my post that I had confused the 'Harmon Curve' with the Harmon Speaker preference rating (it appears that this was indeed the case).

Dr Toole also corrected your spelling of Harman (with an ‘a’)…to no avail.