Kenjit clearly has never actually been in a studio, but I have. As far back as the late 60s and as recently as this year, and I can say without hesitation that studio monitors have never been "flat." Large horns, the JBL stuff in the 70s, those terrible Yamaha NS10s...seriously...some are better sounding than others but man...I'm amazed that anybody makes a great recording, but talented engineers often do, thankfully.
Who says studio monitors are "cold and analytical"?
Who says studio monitors are "cold and analytical"? Does that mean audiophile speakers are warm/colored and distorted? If Studio Monitors main goal is low distortion, does that mean low distortion is not something audiophiles want? They want what, high distortion? "Pretty" sounding distortion? Or find pretty sounding speakers that make bad recordings sound really good? What is the point of searching out good recordings then? They won't sound as intended on a highly colored distorted speaker!