Listener preferences for neutral loudspeakers proved stable across decades and countries.

Evidence

The reduced variations in Figure 17.1 indicate that loudspeakers have clearly improved. The performance objectives of their designers did not change but measurements, engineering methods and transducers improved. Listeners 30 years and 2800 miles (4500 km) apart in different countries all preferred spectrally balanced, timbrally neutral loudspeakers. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1926

Categorization

• SHARE: Worth sending to anyone in audio: the cross-cultural, cross-decade stability of neutral-sound preference is a strong argument against taste relativism in loudspeaker design.