High sensitivity would most likely affect your perceptions if the demo or comparison was not precisely level calibrated. Even 1/2 dB of additional [SPL] output is enough to COMPLETELY convince you one speaker sounds better than another. You'd put money on it - you'd even buy the winner.
This is a very old hi fi demo trick where a highly skilled sales person can control the outcome of any demo by subtle level differences. Often the salesperson is unaware of these differences themselves, unless they have had extensive listening training/experience. With most hi fi gear unable to repeat the same exact L/R level over and over because pots (volume controls) are mechanical wipers that can vary, the only way around it is precise stepped attenuators that are mostly 1/2dB or more. It may not be enough precision as 1/4dB across a large portion of the audio spectrum is definitely audible.
This is the exact problem of passive crossovers, they cannot account for sensitivity variance of production that is always more than 1/4 to 1/2 dB, its often more than 1 to 3 dB. Cheap machine made drivers often have a "acceptable variance" of 6dB. Passive crossovers cannot be controlled precisely enough to adjust for this variance. You are literally swapping out parts in the passive crossover trying to match levels and youo wont get there perfectly, only within a dB or 2. Your perception "this speaker is brighter than the one I heard in the store may actually be true because the drivers vary every so slightly in sensitivity (the more sensitive one sounding like it has better low end and high end). The manufacturer themselves cannot adjust for this, they just try and get close.
Precise level control in a shoot out is extremely difficult with the obvious varying sensitivity of multiple complete speaker systems. Most preamps do not have enough resolution to adjust in 1/4 dB increments. Most switchers are not good enough themselves to get precise (+/-1/4dB) level control. Audio memory does not last long enough to manually switch cables over and have it be an accurate A/B. So shootouts are useless without an inordinate amount of time being spent on precision level calibration.
With room effects changing every single speaker in the room, the differences in position of each speaker are the smoking gun that position ALONE is responsible for many significant spectral changes that you perceive as "qualities". Room influences of speaker position or YOUR position are responsible for many of the "I swear to God I hear more/less xyz" that we attribute to various system components.
Brad
This is a very old hi fi demo trick where a highly skilled sales person can control the outcome of any demo by subtle level differences. Often the salesperson is unaware of these differences themselves, unless they have had extensive listening training/experience. With most hi fi gear unable to repeat the same exact L/R level over and over because pots (volume controls) are mechanical wipers that can vary, the only way around it is precise stepped attenuators that are mostly 1/2dB or more. It may not be enough precision as 1/4dB across a large portion of the audio spectrum is definitely audible.
This is the exact problem of passive crossovers, they cannot account for sensitivity variance of production that is always more than 1/4 to 1/2 dB, its often more than 1 to 3 dB. Cheap machine made drivers often have a "acceptable variance" of 6dB. Passive crossovers cannot be controlled precisely enough to adjust for this variance. You are literally swapping out parts in the passive crossover trying to match levels and youo wont get there perfectly, only within a dB or 2. Your perception "this speaker is brighter than the one I heard in the store may actually be true because the drivers vary every so slightly in sensitivity (the more sensitive one sounding like it has better low end and high end). The manufacturer themselves cannot adjust for this, they just try and get close.
Precise level control in a shoot out is extremely difficult with the obvious varying sensitivity of multiple complete speaker systems. Most preamps do not have enough resolution to adjust in 1/4 dB increments. Most switchers are not good enough themselves to get precise (+/-1/4dB) level control. Audio memory does not last long enough to manually switch cables over and have it be an accurate A/B. So shootouts are useless without an inordinate amount of time being spent on precision level calibration.
With room effects changing every single speaker in the room, the differences in position of each speaker are the smoking gun that position ALONE is responsible for many significant spectral changes that you perceive as "qualities". Room influences of speaker position or YOUR position are responsible for many of the "I swear to God I hear more/less xyz" that we attribute to various system components.
Brad