Neutral loudspeakers should be transparent messengers of the art
Evidence
Throughout, hundreds of listeners in hundreds of double-blind multiple-comparison tests have shown a remarkably reliable preference for the most timbrally neutral, resonance-free loudspeakers. The correlation between what is measured and what is heard is truly impressive (see Chapter 11). — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1958 (
#corroborates, via linked claim)
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: 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; Blind listener tests reliably favor the most neutral loudspeakers — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1958 (+1 more)
Related
- Blind listener tests reliably favor the most neutral loudspeakers (similarity 0.92)
- Neutral loudspeakers preserve musical inspiration better than colored ones (similarity 0.87)
- Well-designed loudspeakers converge on neutral, nearly identical sound. (similarity 0.87)
- Listener preferences for neutral loudspeakers proved stable across decades and countries. (similarity 0.87)
- Roughly 75 percent of people have sufficiently normal hearing to make reliable loudspeaker judgments (similarity 0.87)
- Audible resonances drove low sound-quality ratings in early blind tests (similarity 0.86)
- Statistically confirmed listener preference for neutral timbre with deep bass (similarity 0.86)
- Neutral reproductions serve as a reliable baseline for tonal preferences (similarity 0.85)
- Modern loudspeakers converge so closely that choices become statistical ties (similarity 0.85)
- Blind testing found 20% preferred synthesized phantom surround over real speakers (similarity 0.84)
- Listeners rate neutral, uncolored reproduction as best, preferring it to any coloration. (similarity 0.84)
- A neutral loudspeaker can emulate many colored loudspeakers via equalization because woofers are minimum-phase (similarity 0.84)
- Fixed reference loudspeakers can turn their flaws into sought-after virtues (similarity 0.83)
- Double-blind evaluation can identify the most transparent loudspeakers (similarity 0.83)
- Speaker cables and devices show near-zero audible differences in blind tests (similarity 0.82)
Broader Connections
- Blind listener tests reliably favor the most neutral loudspeakers
#corroborates(0.85) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1958 - Fixed reference loudspeakers can turn their flaws into sought-after virtues
#contradicts(0.80) - A neutral loudspeaker can emulate many colored loudspeakers via equalization because woofers are minimum-phase
#expands(0.75)