Audio Measurements Aren't Everything

In this brief video I discuss how audio measurements aren't everything when it comes to choosing audio products such as amplifiers, AV processors, loudspeakers and subwoofers. I discuss how a single instant gratification performance metric or graph cannot tell you the whole story on how a product will perform in your system.

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0:00 Introduction
0:50 The Quest for Measurement Perfection
1:10 Audioholics Measurements
1:40 Measurements Don't Tell Whole Story
1:58 Amplifier and AV Processors
3:12 Loudspeakers
4:18 Subwoofers
5:55 Subjective Performance Matters
6:30 MartinLogan F100 Giveaway!

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[edbrumbaugh]

I don't think measurements are everything, but I find that objective, repeatable, measurements provide a common starting point for a conversation on any given audio topic. So, yes, would love to hear you dive into the topic further.

[ErinsAudioCorner]

The measurements tell you a whole lot. Unfortunately, we have been conditioned to think that there are just one or two graphics that tell the whole picture. For example, people who are measurement adverse will often site measurements that show similar performance and then note that they don’t actually sound the same. Of course, that is true. But that is because the entire picture isn’t there. A single on axis frequency response does not tell you much about the speaker. You need more than that to really get a whole picture of what the speaker is going to do in your room and how it is going to sound. There needs to be a more thorough set as well as deeper understanding of measurements in order to draw meaningful conclusions.

On the flipside, those who don’t understand this are the first ones to downplay the importance of good, thorough and accurate measurements.

It’s pretty easy to see who understands what they are talking about and who doesn’t in regards to measurements and their importance.

[mcknyc]

Hi Gene. Thanks for soliciting your viewers/readers opinions about what information we would find most useful. Although I subscribed to Stereophile and TAS for a couple of decades, a few years ago I found I was spending less and less time reading their equipment reviews. Since I ran across Audioholics (sorry, but only 3-4 years ago) and other on-line magazines that provide objective measurements, I realized that what I was looking for, in addition to interesting, engaging presentation, was information about potential purchases that wasn't based only on the personal tastes and preferences of (usually) old guys I would never meet, never know, and with whom I shared nothing. To answer your implied question, what I would like to see more about is information on how specific measurements and features of a reviewed piece of equipment can or can be used to affect the listening/viewing experience when it's in use in an actual room. Audioholics, ASR and Erin all have dedicated videos on understanding measurements. (I just watched your series with Matt Poes on speaker directivity for second time, last night.) They are very informative, but when that information is separate from an actual review, it tends to be too abstract to easily digest. And attempts to use examples from previous reviews really require familiarity and interest in that previous review in order to be meaningful for us audience members. Thanks for this opportunity, and have a happy new year.

[abxaudiophiles]

Well said Gene! Measurements tell us some basics and some starting points. But we can measure VERY LITTLE of what we actually hear and experience. Keep up the great work!! LOVE IT.😊 😊 For example. How do we measure soundstage width? Depth? Height? Focus? In room projection, detail placement, transient ability, resolution, etc etc…..

[hifihometheater]

YES!!! Please dive deeper! This topic needs to be discussed! Thank you Gene!

[JimClark-rwzw]

The big picture only becomes clear with a product in your system at home. Measuring components doesn't necessarily describe their performance in a system. The system combinations are almost endless. In home trial offers clear things up. Great video.

[vagabond]

Yes, please continue this series! Understanding measured performance versus subjective performance is the holy grail of audio analysis IMO.

[Random-kqpz]

Glad you are going to the Florida Audio Expo next month!

[buzzcrushtrendkill]

Thank you. This subject needs to be emphasized.

[zzz]

Hi Gene! I agree with you that measurements are not everything. But on the flip side, having measurements is better than "flying blind", or relying on some strangers's assessment on an equipment.

There are THREE things that I learned from George Krampera of KV2 about audio:
1. SPL (ex. 100dB)
2. Frequency (ex. 20kHz)
3. Time (ex. 5ms)
If we have measurements on these 3 factors, then you are MOSTLY there. For example:
1. SPL - Simply how loud can a speaker go before it's distorted. Want a more detailed picture about how distortion works on a speaker? Then bind SPL and Frequency data, you will then see at what frequency a speaker is distorting at what SPL.
2. Frequency - simply what frequency spectrum can be produced by a speaker. You want to see if a speaker has a good crossover design? Bind the Frequency data with Time data, this will result in something similar to CTA2034 where vertical directivity plot is affected by many drivers time domain properties intermingling with each other.
3. Time - want to see at a glance if a speaker's crossover is well designed or not? Watch the Step response graph and watch for break-up/discontinuity. Bad step response graph USUALLY indicates that there is a problem with the crossover, that will (most of the time) affect staging/imaging of the system, one way or the other. Want to see if a DAC has a pre-ringing filter, or some other filter in place? Watch for its impulse response. Want to see if a speaker driver has ringing on its drivers or cabinet? Bind the Frequency data with Time data in the form of Cumulative Spectral Decay graph and watch those waterfall plot falling away, and if we see a row of long ringing, we can see it, at what frequency and for how long.

So are measurements everything? No of course, but with complete measurements data on these 3 aspects that I mentioned above, I can have a HIGHLY EDUCATED GUESS about the CHARACTERISTICS of a speaker system. Might not be 100% accurate, but it won't be too far from it either.

[markmcfeaters]

Great review.
For people that will read thi.
Hopefully this message helps.
Buy what you can afford and what sounds the best in yours ears.
Measurements may tell you enough of the performance you may expect.
Quality is on the parts used in conjunction with the rest of the build.
It doesn't tell you everything.
Remember every brand has a distinct sound and build technique.
It also pends on what your measuring for. Knowing you, you go to great lengths to test everything possible.
You do a great job.

[wa]

Gene, do a deep dive with Andrew Jones on this topic, if possible.

[jaakanshorter]

What im getting from this is understanding which measurements apply to a persons situation is what really matters. I think a deeper dive into making those connections would help a lot of people.

[Nightjar]

I think that it’s great that you guys are sorta ‘ reeling things in’. But not reeling things in from your own content but from other ‘ measurement ‘ forums which do not have objective interests in mind.
It would be great to objectively put those differences into quantifiable measurements or variables.
Great stuff

[jatoavor]

I really appreciate your in depth analysis. Most of my current equipment was purchased based at least partially upon reviews & opinions expressed here. YouTube is pressuring creators to post short tiktok style content. I’m not going to base a multi thousand dollar equipment purchase on a 30 second soundbite.

[mwaikibaki]

I've never seen a discussion on speaker measurements and what consumers should look out for when purchasing speakers, would be an interesting and helpful topic

[Albert-edhg]

Measurements are wanted and listening assessments neccessary! Keep up the awesome work and more subwoofers please:)

[zainhassan]

Many thanks for all your hard work and passion champs!

My two cents while referring to some of your invaluable subwoofer measurements: A lot of companies are trying to look good on paper/measurements using digital processing to show a flatter response. Most of them just end up looking good on paper only and sound terrible in room. It took actual listening to realise that the DSP takes away so much of the head room and introduces so much time delay, so even if we have an app to tweak the response with a subwoofer, it is not going to sound right, like ever! Not this named DI brand at least.

I couldn’t pick this up from the measurements the first time, but quickly learned from this trial and error and knew what I have to avoid in the next purchase.

The measurements misled me in this case. And then reading that any time domain performance below 1.5 cycle does not usually affect the sound. Found that not true as well.

But again it was the measurements like how loud the sub plays at different frequencies, if it responds similarly at different SPLs and excellent time-domain paired with actual listening tests. And the biggest lesson of realising what my room will give me back at different frequencies is what helped me get the right sub for my set up.

Big kudos to your team and the likes such as Erin’s, parts of ASR etc. Keep listening and measuring please!

[KirillChufarov]

Gene, thanks. My two cents is that Product review in audio without measurements, is incomplete review and doesn’t allow make a quality conclusion about product objectively.

[sandmanoseven]

I am still waiting for your review of the NAD M23 amp and how it sounded. I saw it measured very well but how does it sound and perform?