Directivity, not equalizable response, is the fixed determinant of loudspeaker sound.

Evidence

What is rarely understood is that the sound of a loudspeaker is primarily determined by its direct sound frequency response (on-axis and listening window) and its directivity (off-axis performance or DI) as a function of frequency. The former can be altered by equalization. The latter is built into the loudspeaker; equalization cannot change it. So, if one purchases loudspeakers having well behaved directivity (constant or smoothly and gradually changing over the midand high frequencies) then an equalizer or tone control can be freely used to create whatever sound is desired. — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1847

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the reader’s prior highlights on loudspeaker frequency response and directivity as the two variables of greatest importance (Olson). — connects to: Minimum-phase loudspeaker resonances are correctable with parametric equalization. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 510; Fixed reference loudspeakers can turn their flaws into sought-after virtues; A neutral loudspeaker can emulate many colored loudspeakers via equalization because woofers are minimum-phase (+7 more)
• SEED: Angles toward an essay: ‘why you can’t EQ your way out of a bad loudspeaker’ — the fixed-directivity argument as a consumer buying guide.

Related

• Fixed reference loudspeakers can turn their flaws into sought-after virtues (similarity 0.92)
• Advertised speaker directivity specs can be meaningless for the speech band. (similarity 0.92)
• Loudspeaker directivity determines which curve predicts the room (similarity 0.89)
• The direct, on-axis sound dominates perceived loudspeaker quality in rooms. (similarity 0.87)
• EQ cannot fix directivity problems that a better loudspeaker requires (similarity 0.87)
• Highly regarded loudspeakers measured far from flat in anechoic response (similarity 0.87)
• Reverberant rooms make loudspeaker directivity important for sound quality (similarity 0.86)
• Equalization cannot fix loudspeaker directivity problems because it only changes frequency response. (similarity 0.86)
• Increasing speaker directivity reduces the reverberant field like a tone control does (similarity 0.85)
• Anechoic on-axis and sound power responses suffice to predict perceived loudspeaker quality (similarity 0.85)
• Loudspeaker directivity and early reflections affect sound quality and imaging (similarity 0.85)
• Perceived loudspeaker sound quality depends only on amplitude responses (similarity 0.85)
• Direct sound governs perceived quality in rooms, not room curves (similarity 0.84)
• A neutral loudspeaker can emulate many colored loudspeakers via equalization because woofers are minimum-phase (similarity 0.83)
• On-axis response alone cannot predict how a loudspeaker sounds in a room (similarity 0.83)

Broader Connections

• Perceived loudspeaker sound quality depends only on amplitude responses #contradicts (0.90) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 711
• Loudspeaker directivity determines which curve predicts the room #expands (0.90)
• Highly regarded loudspeakers measured far from flat in anechoic response #corroborates (0.85)
• Reverberant rooms make loudspeaker directivity important for sound quality #expands (0.85) — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 474
• Increasing speaker directivity reduces the reverberant field like a tone control does #expands (0.80)
• Direct sound carries signal information uncontaminated and governs speech intelligibility #expands (0.78)