I thought I’d chime in on which measurements matter. And it might be possible to distill goodness down to two composite curves. This is an expanded discussion of the 150+ anechoic measurements discussed in Amie’s blog:

https://www.axiomaudio.com/blog/the-family-of-curves/

First of all, it’s been known for three decades how sound coloration affects frequency response. This unattributed image has been circulated around Audio Science Review, and I haven’t found anyone in the audio field who’s refuted it’s validity yet.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0bcbw2c7v7spqzb/1614637989068.png?dl=0

Using the audiophile press to make recommendations, particularly those that don’t use measurements nor A/B direct comparison with rival products, is audio foolery.

https://seanolive.blogspot.com/2009/04/dishonesty-of-sighted-audio-product.html

Axiom only provides three types of curves. The 2 way speakers usually have a frequency response graph (leaving us to imply that it’s an on-axis frequency response curve), and the 3 way speakers have a listening window and sound power curve. I’ve wondered why they chose to post these particular curves out of the 150+ measurements they’ve made.

These are the Axiom measurements of various models:

M5HP: https://www.axiomaudio.com/pub/media/catalog/product/m/5/m5hp-listening-window-and-sound-power.png
M60: https://www.axiomaudio.com/pub/media/catalog/product/m/6/m60_freq.gif
M80: https://www.axiomaudio.com/pub/media/catalog/product/m/8/m80_freq.gif
M100: https://www.axiomaudio.com/pub/media/catalog/product/m/1/m100_freq_graph.gif

LFR660: https://www.axiomaudio.com/pub/media/catalog/product/l/f/lfr660.jpg
LFR880: https://www.axiomaudio.com/pub/media/catalog/product/l/f/lfr880.jpg
LFR1100: https://www.axiomaudio.com/pub/media/catalog/product/l/f/lfr1100-sp-lw.jpg
LFR1100 active: https://www.axiomaudio.com/pub/media/catalog/product/l/f/lfr1100_active_graph_1.jpg

These are some competitors that have been acclaimed for both their measurements and their subjective audio performance.

JBL M2: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/jbl_m2/
KEF Reference 1 Meta: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/kef_reference_1_meta/
Dutch & Dutch 8C: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/dutch_dutch_8c/
Genelec 8331a: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/genelec_8331a/
Revel Performa F226be : https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/revel_f226be/

What they all have in common is a great listening window and gently sloping sound power curve. These curves are straight because straight means minimal colorations and resonances, and we are highly sensitive to low-Q deviations (very broad hills and dips). High-Q (sharp spikes up and down) look terrible on a frequency response graph but are psychoacoustically inaudible to us. Here are some deeply flawed (and expensive!) loudspeakers to contrast with the above. Can you say “buyer’s remorse”?

Klipsch Heresy IV: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/klipsch_heresy_iv/
Bose 901: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/bose_901_series_v/
McIntosh XR50: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/mcintosh_xr50/
Wilson Audio TuneTot: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...review-high-end-bookshelf-speaker.29219/
Magnepan LRS: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/magnepan-lrs-speaker-review.16068/

An example of what high-Q looks like:

IKEA Symfonisk: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/ikea_symfonisk_lamp/

There’s a composite curve that appears to combine the listening window and sound power curve into something called the in-room response. Ideally, it should be straight and sloping slightly downward. I’m still evaluating its merits because some reviews with good looking in-room response have noted subjectivity issues if there’s deviations in the midrange and lower treble range.

Is frequency response king? If you don’t get it right, it’s hard to compensate with other redeeming qualities. Sean Olive listed some other factors that matter to perceived performance: spatial width, spaciousness, dynamics, and maximum sound pressure level:

https://seanolive.blogspot.com/2010/05/evaluating-sound-quality-of-ipod-music.html
https://seanolive.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-loudspeaker-specifications-are.html

At least there’s some agreement (for some of us) that science is a great thing in audio:

Don’t fear modern tech: https://www.audioholics.com/editorials/future-audiophiles
Why measurements matter: https://youtu.be/zrpUDuUtxPM?t=3433

Author of "Status 101: How To Keep Up In A World That Keeps Score While Buying Into Buying Less"