Yep, well known that several manufacturers bump up their ratings from what they really are. The other trick is to leave off the +/-db in the frequency response. However, there are many that tell the truth (ex. Revel, Paradigm, PSB). You just have to learn which ones or have enough experience in speaker design to know what's achievable.
???Why The HUGE Discrepancy in Sensitivity Ratings???
I'm shortlisting speakers & have noticed a HUGE difference in the sensitivity ratings provided by manufacturers & what they actually measure.For example the Martin Logan Motion 35XT is specd at 92db.sens.@1 watt & yet actually measured at 87db!At least 4 different pair of speakers on my list are the same,specd at 90db or better @1 watt yet NONE measured better than 87db so what gives?