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Re: It has to be subjective when it comes to auditioning speakers,

Everyone's preconceived expectation of the original event would only be different if one could hear with another's ears. However, for each of us, as I have said before, any personal filtering of ear/brain is a constant for both live and reproduced, so it is not a factor.

I understand what you are saying, but I think fortysomething still has a point. Even if two listeners experience the same live event, they are likely to be influenced by and remember different elements of the sound. That will in turn influence what they listen for when evaluating speakers.

The point I was trying to add is that the live event usually cannot be a reference when auditioning speakers based on a recording, because the listener has not experienced the live event. So in most cases, the listener's expectations of what a recording should sound like are based largely on preconceptions and preferences.

To illustrate my argument, consider two concert goers, one who prefers a mid-back hall seat and another who prefers a seat near the front of the audience. Now select a set of orchestral recordings made in different halls with varying perspectives and let both individuals evaluate speakers using those recordings. I argue that the individuals will come to different conclusions, with each individual preferring speakers which, on average, make the set of recordings sound more like their preferred concert hall sound.

Going further, assume one of the individuals prefers dramatic orchestral performances and the other prefers Baroque chamber music. They are likely to listen for different aspects of performance when evaluating speakers and judge them based on different criteria.

Dave

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