Professional monitor loudspeakers were not reliably neutral or accurate references of sound quality

Evidence

The dedicated professional monitor loudspeakers in these tests had some problems. Over the years everything has improved from these examples, and the best of today’s products would surpass all of the products in these tests, although poor ones persist. — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 303 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Long ago, respected audio engineer John Eargle (1973) recognized the consequences of mismatches between monitoring and home systems in what is done during the recording process. Børja (1977) noted “dramatic and easily audible” differences in recorded sound quality caused by recording engineers compensating for spectral defects in control room monitor loudspeakers. He found that the inverse of the frequency response of the monitor loudspeakers could be seen in the spectra of the recordings. If the monitor loudspeaker had a response peak, the recording exhibited a spectrum dip—the engineer simply did what was necessary to make it sound right in the control room. — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 105 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Consumer loudspeakers rated higher than professional monitors in blind tests; Some professional monitors have resonance and directivity flaws no equalization can fix; Historically, published loudspeaker specifications were often artistic rather than factual. (+4 more)

Related

• Even professional monitor loudspeakers showed measurable defects in early tests (similarity 0.92)
• Some professional monitors have resonance and directivity flaws no equalization can fix (similarity 0.92)
• Engineers’ colored monitors embed personal EQ into the recording itself (similarity 0.89)
• Historically, published loudspeaker specifications were often artistic rather than factual. (similarity 0.89)
• Flawed studio monitors bake their own coloration into recordings (similarity 0.89)
• The UREI 811B, a popular studio monitor, scored lowest in double-blind listening tests (similarity 0.89)
• Unstandardized loudspeakers once meant recordings could not reliably reproduce their intended sound. (similarity 0.88)
• Consumer loudspeakers rated higher than professional monitors in blind tests (similarity 0.86)
• A spectral flaw echoed across many speakers gets misattributed to the recording. (similarity 0.86)
• Selecting flattering monitors perpetuates the flaws of earlier generations. (similarity 0.85)
• Consumer loudspeakers at moderate prices rival professional monitors in sound quality. (similarity 0.85)
• Professional monitors rated lower than consumer products in blind sound quality tests. (similarity 0.84)
• Early reflection control often concealed flawed off-axis loudspeaker performance. (similarity 0.84)
• Well-designed loudspeakers converge on neutral, nearly identical sound. (similarity 0.82)
• Audible resonances drove low sound-quality ratings in early blind tests (similarity 0.81)

Broader Connections

• Even professional monitor loudspeakers showed measurable defects in early tests #corroborates (0.90) — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 303
• Flawed studio monitors bake their own coloration into recordings #expands (0.80) — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 105