Firstly thank you to Goneten for some usefull insights.
i can assure everyone that there is no conspiracy around printing manufacturer based claims.
On consistency, speaker reviews have always had claimed frequency response listed. Sub not, but as already stated this can be added.
Let us assume speaker A has been tested and found to exhibit a - 3db response of 25 Hz in the anechoic chamber and speaker B has a response of 35 Hz at wwith the same input voltage/current and both have the same sensitivity across the frequency range, the same number of speaker drivers of the same size
We're talking about active subs here right?
This means that we may be able to measure the same output level (let say 90db) and we may know the input voltage to the amplifer section (if this is a THX spec), but this is unlikely.
We never know sub gain, or level setting (important as on full gain setting there may be a 50Hz hum that would just be measured as a possible peak, and harmonics), we also don't know how much power is actually being delivered to the driver, we don't know if the subs internal crossover or equalisation was used (and these could artificially skew results) or bypassed and we often don't know what kind of measurement was taken either (anechoic, in room, etc).
So many unknowns and the only way for us to resolve the issue of which sub is best for you or me is to actually listen.
Good specs mean nothing if they don't translate into an enjoyable experience.
As per usual the offer to pop around to the AVSA studio to have a look and listen is open, and I'll even go so far as to say that if you have a sub that you want to bring along, bring this too. If you ask nice enough I may even be persuaded to bring along one of the real time analysers I have or possibly even find/make a new cable for my Linear X LMS.
Heck I'm even willing (if the boss agrees) to have everyone who has a sub that they would like measured over to the AVSA office on a weekend. Who knows it could even make for a decent article.
Don't think I can do any more than stating my position and making the offer that I have
Further to what Joel has said, it needs to be made very clear that the specs listed in these reviews are the specs that have either been given to us by the importer/distributor, or have come off the official websites. Prior to going to print, these reviews are sent to the various importers/distributors for them to make sure that there are no factual errors - if that review is returned with no corrections, we have to assume that they are happy with those details. So from our side, we have done all we can with regards factual accuracy. There is only so much that the reviewers can do with regards the details and accuracy of the specs.
