Do Physicists Or Musicians Design Better Speakers?


While looking at and listening to various speakers, I notice that the designers behind the speakers often fall into two distinct camps: They either have impressive academic credentials, usually in physics or mathematics and design speakers from a technical perspective. Or, they are musicians, or have a musical backround, and design from an artistic standpoint. I've heard speakers designed by scientists that sounded great and not so great and by musicians also with divergent results. Wondering which backround consistently results in great speakers.
steinway57
Just curious, but is Thor available assembled? I understand the tweeter is dome which some people like less than ribbon etc.
As far as speaker design goes, the only two guys in this industry that know what hell they're doing are Jim Thiel and Richard Vandersteen.

All others are hopefuls, at least until they get aboard the time and phase accuracy wagon, and eventually they will because they will have to.
I'll add that the late John Dunlavy and Pat McGinty also realized this, even though both companies are (sadly) history.
If you can build great sounding loudspeakers who cares what your back ground is? Its about sound not measurements music not nums. Let the engineers design transducers let those with the will and skill design the loudspeakers.
Of course, you are absolutely right. If Brian, my insurance salesman, designed the best speakers I'd buy those and recommend to eveybody else here as well. :) However, the spirit in which I took the question was, what kind of person in real life usually designs or is likely to design a speaker that many people might consider "best". I also emphasize that when I say physicist, technical tinkerer, musician, I am refer to approach rather than formal formal degrees.