Blind testing found 20% preferred synthesized phantom surround over real speakers

Evidence

Some engineers say they must “like” the monitor loudspeaker. It is fundamentally important to like what is heard, but is it the loudspeaker or the program? Obviously, it is the combination. The program is the art that is being created for distribution to the world. Loudspeakers are technical devices that transduce electrical signals into sound. We know how to measure them. It is possible to identify loudspeakers that are the most transparent transducers of the electrical signals—as subjectively judged in double-blind evaluations. This was not always possible, and not all manufacturers are yet ready to reveal this kind of data. Independent sources exist, fortunately. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 139 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Two loudspeakers can synthesize a credible 5-channel surround illusion; Double-blind evaluation can identify the most transparent loudspeakers — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 139; Speaker cables and devices show near-zero audible differences in blind tests

Related

• Double-blind evaluation can identify the most transparent loudspeakers (similarity 0.91)
• Blind listener tests reliably favor the most neutral loudspeakers (similarity 0.88)
• Speaker cables and devices show near-zero audible differences in blind tests (similarity 0.86)
• Audible resonances drove low sound-quality ratings in early blind tests (similarity 0.85)
• Neutral loudspeakers should be transparent messengers of the art (similarity 0.84)
• Modern loudspeaker differences are often statistical ties decided by program material. (similarity 0.84)
• Speech and solo voices are the least revealing test sounds for loudspeaker flaws (similarity 0.83)
• Modern loudspeakers converge so closely that choices become statistical ties (similarity 0.83)
• Consumer loudspeakers rated higher than professional monitors in blind tests (similarity 0.83)
• Visual appearance of loudspeakers shifts listener preference ratings (similarity 0.82)
• Most listeners can recognize audio excellence when comparing loudspeakers side by side. (similarity 0.81)
• Movie and broadcast speech is poor material for revealing loudspeaker flaws. (similarity 0.81)
• Side-placed surround speakers beat rear placement by wide margins (similarity 0.81)
• Recordings translate because recording processes add none of the defects listeners reject. (similarity 0.81)
• Even professional monitor loudspeakers showed measurable defects in early tests (similarity 0.81)

Broader Connections

• Two loudspeakers can synthesize a credible 5-channel surround illusion #expands (0.80)
• Double-blind evaluation can identify the most transparent loudspeakers #exemplifies (0.75) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 139
• Speaker cables and devices show near-zero audible differences in blind tests #responds-to (0.70)