Graphs in audio reviews can deceive by manipulating axis scaling.

Evidence

Most of the graphs in this book use the same scaling to make it easy for readers to make comparisons. Many published graphs use different scales, compressing or expanding features of interest, to exaggerate or to diminish aspects of performance. This can be done for extra clarification, or for outright deception. Pay attention to the numbers on the vertical scale and determine what it is that was measured. It is not uncommon for graphs to be shown without any indication of what was measured. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 887

Categorization

• SEED: Could seed an essay on how to read audio-review graphs critically—spotting scale manipulation in loudspeaker measurements.
• SHARE: Worth sending to anyone who reviews or compares loudspeaker specs, since axis-scaling deception is rampant in the field.