How do you judge your system's neutrality?

Don ... I have heard or read that there are acoustic specialists who do just what you said. But in my anecdotal story, all the fiddling in the world didn't change the outcome. Brand P killed Brand X. And as I said above, I don't know why. The outcome should have been the opposite of what I experienced. But ... that was my reaction and opinion. I acknowledge that other members might have walked away with very different opinions.

This thread is too long to re-read, but here's a new addition to the audiophile tool box that will bring one's system closer to "neutrality" (whatever that means): DEQX. Read the various threads on A'gon that speaks to and about DEQX and see why. If interested, look at the DEQX web site too.

IMO and IME, the DEQX PreMATE has squeezed about all there is out of my Paradigm Sig 8 (v3) speakers and achieved a modicum of "neutrality" that was not otherwise possible. Not just because of deficiencies with my speakers, but also because of anomalies caused by room ... an all too often overlooked "component part" of one's system.

Although in the end, one must rely on their ears, FWIW, after correction, my speakers are pretty flat out to 30K HZ and closer to being time coherent. How do I know?? The DEQX set up entailed using a high quality mic which measured my speakers in-room response.

The neighborhood dogs are in doggy heaven.

As Ronald Regan used to say, "trust ... but verify." And that's why I boldly write this post. My system sounds better and measures that what too.

Cheers,

BIF

About 2 months ago or so, I auditioned 2 speakers (call them Brand P and Brand X) at a dealer. Many members would probably say that Brand X was the better speaker hands down, and I respect personal opinions.

But here's what I found bizarre. The Brand X manufacturer must have had OCD because the dealer had to use a tape measure to measure off precise distances between the speakers, some kind of protractor to measure toe in, and back to the tape measure to place the listening chair just the right distance back from the speaker fronts.

Not done yet, the dealer had to use a bubble level to ensure the Brand X speakers were perfectly vertical. Why?? I have no idea. I suppose I could make a joke by saying that I had to place my head in a vice contraption to make sure I was facing the speakers just so and also use a bubble level to make sure my head was horizontally flat.

Well ... after all that, I listened to the Brand P speakers. This time no tape measures, bubble levels, head vices and so forth. Brand P was the better sounding speaker .... to my ears.

The point -- if my poor dealer friend had to go through this much trouble to get Brand X to sound just right, yet Brand P wiped the floor up with Brand X with no advance prep, what does this say about neutrality. I think a lot.

IMO, most equipment "presents" sound in a way that hopefully one will find musically enjoyable. I mean we're not listening to our rigs inside an anechoic chamber. So why can't we just accept the fact that we're listening to gear that has its own unique acoustic presentation in a room that colors the sound too. Isn't it enough that we can enjoy the musical experience. And if it sounds like the live thing ... great.

Just my opinion here.