Oh, not denouncing perceptual research, but this is certainly a case where it is loosely used, and the reference was not directly compared, and in addition, I can think of several highly regarded speakers that would not fair so well in a poor acoustic environment - the kind that said tests are conducted in - that is simulating an average domestic space. Speakers for example wit the highest potential SQ for stereo sound reproduction would be a poor choice for most recordings in such a room - such as high performance omnipolars for example. The Primus is by far a great speaker in it's stock condition - though it's great for street price - but it's one of the more resonant speakers I have come across than even many casual users seem to often notice the strange 'sound' it produces in stock condition.....I even wonder if the Primus speakers used in the 'comparisons' were 'specially' prepared - different from the ill equipped OEM ones that have zero effective acoustic damping in the main cabinet volume, since it's such an obvious issue. Even with acoustic damping, the speaker is extremely lively in regards to cabinet wall vibration/resonance, another issue I have to wonder about here. No one could seriously consider the Primus in stock retail condition to be a high performance audio product. Though I can personally say it has a lot of potential to be a very high performance product with the right mods/corrections.
And the power response issue is blown way out of proportion, especially when a room with good acoustics control(MANY highly regarded speaker systems including ESLs require extensive acoustics control to sound optimal). And you know the comparison tests used room with no controls; a room that represents an average non-treated domestic environment. There is much more to SQ than simply off axis response as a lone factor and I already made all of these statements in one of those old threads that maybe you linked(it's not even worth my time to click the links) so I'm not about to repeat it now. I have said nothing new or unique in this thread - but I will gladly make sarcastic remarks like above when such opportunity is so obviously placed - since it's such as absurd issue....
William, you are being a naughty boy again: You're definitely NOT getting a pair of Primus 362's from the Science-of-Sound Santa!
I'm not exactly sure what listening test or "poor acoustic environment" you are referring to but if I assume it's the Harman Multichannel Lab, what acoustic criteria or rationale do you have to make that call? Can you please define what constitutes a "poor acoustic environment"?
The Primus tested were stock speakers with no mods, and I don't appreciate the inference of being accused of manipulating scientific-based tests with modified speakers.
Regardless of your personal opinions of the loudspeaker, it does performs very well when personal prejudices, axes-to-grind and sighted biases are removed from the test. You seem to agree on that point - but speculate that the 802N is much superior, despite its poor measurements. Unless you have done the proper tests that is just another opinion.
Your point about the sound power/early reflection response being overblown is purely speculative and contrary to everything published in the scientific literature so far about loudspeakers -- and also contrary to the SQ ratings of our trained listeners with normal hearing.
Your opinion about what "good acoustic control" is meaningless without being properly defined. There is nothing I can think about our room off-hand that constitutes "poor acoustic control". It has extremely low background noise, no apparent flutter echoes, and a combination of absorption/diffusion/reflection. To say the room is untreated is simply untrue.
If you think a listening room has to be filled with fibreglass to absorb the off-axis sound of a poorly designed loudspeaker to make it sound passable, then you come from the 1970s Disco LEDE Control Room School of Design. Turning bad loudspeaker sound into heat is passe these days, a waste of energy, and not very environmentally responsible in 2010. Buy a good loudspeaker instead, and save the environment. Donate the money you save in fiberglass treatments to clean up the BP Oil mess in the Gulf.
The Science-of-Sound Santa is very disappointed in you William, and he says you're likely to get a rotten 802 in your stocking (w/o the $10k of wall treatments included just so you learn your lesson the hard way about the importance of sound power response) --instead of a Primus 362 that needs no wall treatment. He is also giving you a double-blind scrim to help control your biases, an audiometer, some listener training software, and a copy of Floyd Toole's book "Sound Reproduction" with the Cliff Notes included to facilitate and accelerate your learning. Merry Christmas
