I'm certainly no expert on measurement techniques. However, I do know that he uses a pretty sophisticated measurement system.
@shadyJ would be better to respond to this.
I do think that Amir has enough audio geeks looking over his shoulder that he would get called out for it if his measurement technique was not up to snuff and I know ErinH (link below) is very advanced with this stuff and chose to use the same measurement system.
Mods: I don't *think* this violates any rules but if it does and needs to be removed, please let me know how I can still share this info since I think many here will be interested in it. Many of you know that I used to do speaker/driver testing for a number of years for DIYMA before moving on...
forums.audioholics.com
As far as listening to one speaker, that is based on research at Harman Labs, and I have found that it is easier to pick out performance details when I am listening to a single speaker.. I am not convinced that this does not miss out on how a stereo pair presents the sound stage, so prefer doing both (stereo and mono), but if I had to chose one are the other for auditioning a speaker, it would be a single speaker.
I do know that Amir is pretty picky and his reviews of electronics pretty well condemn products which have no audible issues. On the one hand I am with him in that there is little excuse for the measurements not to be better in this day and age; but on the other hand, If you can't hear it, what does it matter?
Maybe a 3800 will cross his path before too long. Certainly the Revel are an option, but I know you prefer the way the horns give you a good reacharound grab while you are testing the port!!
One thing I would recommend is that you buy one (or two) HDI 1600's from Crutchfield. They give you 60 days to check them out and you are only out-of-pocket for $10/ea when you return them. A-B them against your 530's (or even 590's) to get a sense of what to expect. You've got this Coronavirus stay at home time after work time, so when better to audition speakers?:
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www.crutchfield.com
You can do the same with the towers, but it is a lot more trouble than the smaller speakers, and I think it may be something like $75 each (instead of $10/ea.) for towers.
I feel kind of bad about doing this when I really expect to return them, but offset any guilt by buying from them (especially instead of Amazon) whenever I can! I know Amazon is destined to become our future overlord, but like to slow it down where I can!