For the general person, simply listening is the best methodology that is practical in most circumstances. I can, however, often make specific suggestions regarding specific speakers with modifications and methods of tonal control that will yield the best results for almost anyone, for a minimum price range. But this is not the ordinary process of buying commercial speakers -- and is often more complex than most people care to bother.
While the correct set of measurement data is more accurate to define sound quality characteristics of a speaker when correlated with the proper perceptual research, actually executing this requires extensive knowledge of said perceptual research and how to interpret the measured data. Nor is the measured data commonly provided by most review publications enough measured data to come to a full conclusion.
-Chris