[citation][nom]Cleeve[/nom]If you know audio, you know that the environment has a *MASSIVE* effect on response recording. Even moving the mic a few inches in the same environment can change the result by a large amount.As we've stressed in the article, we don't have the luxury of a professional-grade anechoic chamber for testing. Our results are likely heavily degraded by comb filtering and phase cancellation, but they can be used to compare speaker output to each other because they were all tested in the same conditions.The bottom line is, don't write these products off based on a response taken in less than ideal conditions.Use these response graphs for what they are good for--not absolute, but relative measurements.[/citation]
I don't think comb filtering should be an issue with the test setup. It can certainly happen if you are recording in extreme nearfield, especially if there are multiple similar drivers in a speaker. But, I would think these speakers would be designed for nearfield listening, and, with simple 2-way 'TM' designs with close diver spacing, it should have been easy for a designer to control. At the most it may emphasize some of the peaks.
As for the test environment effects, Absolutely. But, you don't need a studio to take decent measurements. With the proper mic and a decent sized room you can can get accurate results with a little experimentation. Would you mind posting your measurement methodology? i.e. speaker positioning, horizontal and vert axis, room dimensions.
If the tests really are that flawed, I disagree about using them comparatively. If a room is distorting the sound image that much, you're likely just showing that repeating effect on speakers, and there's very little to gain from those graphs. I doubt that is the case entirely though. Though getting perfect results is very hard, getting decent results isn't, and I'm sure you put some thought into your testing.
As to the comment about audiophiles bashing on the regular guy, that is far from the truth. I'm just pointing out that there are other and better options. I don't understand why no one has put out a decent 2.1 setup. Performance is the the biggest consideration when it comes to pc hardware; why isn't the same applied to peripherals. No one has yet to put out a boxed system that will even touch the low end/budget side of a proper setup.
I know a little about audio, and am a hobbyist, but I am far from a professional, and not really an audiophile either. I'd like to see a test of systems like this against some regularly available speakers on a receiver. Nothing high end. Energy, mirage, even polk would do. Then test the whole set against a high end pair of reference monitors. I think that would give an appropriate scale to performance. Features and appearance could be rated separately.
I could go on for hours, but I'll just leave it at this.
The bar is set too low in pc speakers, and companies take advantage of it. Expecting a little more isn't snobbery, especially when hard earned money is involved.