Legendary Speaker Designer Says Hi-Fi Accuracy Is a Myth and the “Perfect Sound” Doesn’t Exist

[Analogous]

“accuracy” can’t be pinned down universally, preference trends do exist. Still, no single tuning works for everyone.“

Multiple experts have shared their insights on this:

• Karlheinz Brandenburg, who helped invent the MP3, says we’re still limited by human hearing. Even perfect digital files end up going through analog parts, like the DACs, amps, speakers, and rooms, that add their own flaws.
• Audio engineer John Watkinson also pointed this out years ago. You can start with a perfect signal, but once it hits the real world, it’s not perfect anymore.
• Dr. Earl Geddes adds even more layers: your position in the room, speaker direction (polar response), and reflections from walls or ceilings all change the sound. It’s different at every seat.
• Joshua Reiss ran studies comparing high-res audio to CD quality. His results? There’s a difference, but it’s small, and it only stands out in controlled settings. Most people wouldn’t notice during everyday listening.
• Dr. Sean Olive’s research also found that listeners don’t always agree, but there are strong patterns. Many people preferred a slight bass boost and smooth treble, which is the basis of the Harman target curve.

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Every design choice has a cost​

Jones and others often talk about the “triangle” of speaker design. If you push for one goal, you usually give up something else.

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Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Goal	What You Gain	What You Give Up
Deep bass	Low-end extension	Efficiency or small size
Small cabinet	Compact design	Bass depth or efficiency
High sensitivity	Easy-to-drive speaker	Bass output or compact size

You can’t have all three at once. Want a small speaker with deep bass and high output? Physics says no.

There are more such insights. Read here:

Legendary Speaker Designer Says Hi-Fi Accuracy Is a Myth and the “Perfect Sound” Doesn’t Exist

Chasing "the sound the artist intended" is a losing game no one can actually win, according to experts.

www.headphonesty.com

 

[General_sound]

He has actually said it right. Very difficult to get the ‘perfect’ sound. Room dynamics, as brought out by Dr Earl Geddes is very important. Thanks Analogous, for an enlightening post.

 

[oldmonk]

Over time..this has been my inference too

A. No single system is a "do it all".

B. Thats why folks change components a lot..atleast those who can afford to...

Some find joy in chasing a Mirage

Others find joy in the knowledge that a Mirage is a Mirage after all

Some Others like me have learnt to find joy in bring a frog in your own well

)

 

[bornfi]

Over time..this has been my inference too

A. No single system is a "do it all".

B. Thats why folks change components a lot..atleast those who can afford to...

Some find joy in chasing a Mirage

Others find joy in the knowledge that a Mirage is a Mirage after all

Some Others like me have learnt to find joy in bring a frog in your own well

)

And this is so simple to understand. Take a look at the list of components at different mastering studios - they all have different set of equipment and on top of that, a pair of ears is what is making the final judgement. Let us just take the speakers, some monitor on standmount and then some on large speakers and we know these will sound different.

With so many variables now, it is just not right to expect perfection.

 

[sidvee]

S

Post in thread 'Back to tubes'

Jul 20, 2025

That's very good information. You have described it very well. A different perspective and interpretation into the recordings. Speakers makes so much difference!!

Ideally I would like to have one speaker that does it all, but in about 35 years of searching, have yet to find one. Hence I usually own 2-3 pairs at any given time, each having a special virtue.
Cheers,
Sid

• sidvee

• 

And what I have experienced as well.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[Analogous]

So, we are left with the basic question: how do I define my audio goals so I can try to get components to get close to this goal?

 

[sidvee]

So, we are left with the basic question: how do I define my audio goals so I can try to get components to get close to this goal?

For me at-least, the goal post for an ideal audio system sound reproduction keeps moving. Started with 80s pop right at the commercial advent of cds, moved to 90s rock/heavy metal, to blues in the late 90s, to classic jazz in the early 2000s, and holding steady there, albeit listening to new age jazz extensively as well. Every time my tastes changed, so did the system. Currently what I own, I feel, does justice to what I hear, within my means. I can throw a few more zero's at it if I could afford it. So if your music tastes are settled, then build your system around it. However if you listen to diverse genres, then atleast for me there is no other option, then having multiple components that serve that particular choice the best. And even within genres, some eqpt. will have an entirely different presentation. I think to sum it up, atleast ime, getting the right components for an ideal system, is a journey, one that has to be enjoyed, without an end really (well atleast till we become immobile or sick or when it's time to go meet our maker).
Cheers,
Sid

 

[grindstone]

So, we are left with the basic question: how do I define my audio goals so I can try to get components to get close to this goal?

All I can say is what I came-up with for myself.

Write things down--a few bullet attributes, and RANK them. Then just keep listening. If you hate something, that means you might like the opposite, etc. Either way, it's important so write it down.

If you don't know where to start, start on the speaker end, stay on that one piece. You don't need to write a book--stay simple. 3 or 5 "gotta haves", jot them down and add/change them if they change. The most important thing is to Rank them as priorities in order. And keep listening. Once you start a list, it changes how you listen (intentionally or not). Just notice things that you like or don't like (or wish you had), that's all--and go about your daily life.

Personally, I just kept a little notebook. Took me about 2.5 years, give or take, for my list to stop changing. Part of that was going through a lot of speakers that were cheap/local but I've also always DIY'd. Couple-three amps and more DIY tube crap, etc. I kept notes from those things. Couple times a year I'd drag-out whatever was around and make a session out of it and another set of notes from head-to-head things. That helped a lot. Years earlier, I'd joined the local audio society and got to hear the expensive gear, that way.

If you don't know where to start on speakers, start with bass--exactly how low Must you have from your loudspeakers before it doesn't bother you. However you wish to do that--F3, F6, F10/slope whatever. Maybe you listen to EDI/dub/modern stuff that *needs* low-lows, maybe you're in an apartment and can't have any w/o hearing about it from neighbors, etc. Whatever your situation, that's something that goes on the list. Either way, you instantly know something about your own list.

IMO, the only way to peace is to know that what you've traded-away (say efficiency for size+extension) is less important to you than the other two things. Your own personal list fixes that--so you know that chasing for the thrill of the chase is just you being human and not a fault with your gear. A car is not a truck--they're different tools for different jobs. If you wanted something different, you'd have a different list. This presupposes you know what things are traded for what other things, but that can come in time, too--or just post and somebody else can help, too.

So yeah--agreed that there's no accuracy or Santa Claus, but once you know that, you're free. Everything sounds like something and not like something else. The only thing that matters is whether it pleases you or not. Audio == food. None of us would force our food prefs on someone else. So in the food analogy, audio is cooking. It's easy to cook when you know what you want--the recipe and groceries "fall out".

One more point: If you are going after "source stuff", use "microscope" speakers. Two ways I've found, depending on what you're trying to hear: (1) straight wire into very-much non-flat unbaffled "fullrangers" like Fostex/etc and (2) high-sensitivity (100dB+) speakers. For sources, (2) works better, IMO. For say power supplies/filters, and/or individual discrete parts (say coupling caps), I've had better luck with live clip leads and (1). FWIW.

 

[Analogous]

So, Defining our audio goals depends on:
Knowing ourselves and our musical choices/ preferences well.
Being aware that this could change over time.
It’s easier if the preferences in music work well within the attributes of a particular type of set up (as detailed by @grindstone, @sidvee and @square_wave
If the musical preferences are across several generes and choices an option is to have multiple set ups that perform well and bring out the best in each genre or style of music.
Anything else?

 

[oldmonk]

So, Defining our audio goals depends on:
Knowing ourselves and our musical choices/ preferences well.
Being aware that this could change over time.
It’s easier if the preferences in music work well within the attributes of a particular type of set up (as detailed by @grindstone, @sidvee and @square_wave
If the musical preferences are across several generes and choices an option is to have multiple set ups that perform well and bring out the best in each genre or style of music.
Anything else?

Anything else??

Invest in this hobby with spare funds only

Family needs come 1st and always...

 

[jenson]

perfect sound does exist, get a big assed 3 way or 4 way speaker and be done with it.