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Although I read and consider measurements, not a single measurement has ever made my toe tap.

We all know great-sounding gear does not always test well at the bench!

Mostly sound. The measurements to consider are basic things like watts and ohms. Beyond that, both sound and measurements are elusive.

Measurements? It's about the sound! Why listen to vintage RCA/Deccas from the '50s and '60s, when there are many modern digital sources to choose from? It's because they sound better in most cases. Measurements, including build-quality/reliablity and cosmetic appearance, are behind—in order of importance for me—the sonic nature of the product (I mean how this product reproduces sound from the source). I enjoy JA's measurements sidebar, but mostly to see how it supports the reviewer's assertions regarding listening.

I rarely look at the measurements, but I don't completely ignore them.

Uh, bad decisions. You forgot the input of reviewers who have been "calibrated". NOT in nearly thirty years have I given a damn about "measurements". A bad survey. You forgot the important aspect of skilled and well-trained reviewers. Better luck next time.

I'm looking at both measurements/specs and technical features (how many inputs do I need on the preamp?) of the component in question in order to establish a short list. In the case of my last acquisitions (turntable, phono preamp, preamp, speakers, CD-recorder) the short list happend to contain only one component, which I subsquently bought without any auditioning. In the case of speakers, if you happen to have a difficult and non-symmetrical acoustic environment (and almost no possibility to apply room treatment) you need measurements to know what speakers will be most appropriate for that environment. Audio and hifi is about faithful reproduction and measurements will tell you whether or not a given component is capable of reproducing faithfully. Klaus

The sound and the measurements both carry weight. But the other one-third of the equation is the price. I don't care how good something sounds or how good it measures, if the value for money isn't there, it doesn't get purchased. If two products have similar specs and similar sound, the product with the lower price gets my nod. There is zero sense in spending money unnecessarily. "Bragging rights" carry no weight with me.

If you do not have good measurement equipment and do not know what to look for in measurements, auditive measurement can help. But you can not educate your hearing if you do not listen through a wlll adjusted system before. Today, a computer, some good audio computer interface, with microphone inputs and phantom, an inexpensive behringer measurement microphone, and some free measurement software, like Praxis free demo, can help a lot. Good and complete factory measurements and audio knowledge can do it too. You will always need a room equalizer to get any system sounding right.

Never trust the "music" you hear at an audio store. Who has ideal listening situations? Who will have the exact equipment they are using? I have never felt screwed by any of the high-end components I've purchased, except for over-priced speaker cables. I've had favorite amps and speakers, for example, but I suspect returning to them would provide more disappointing than not. My hearing has changed, as have my musical preferences, not to mention my listening rooms and how I listen to music. Go with your ears, but accept that room dynamics, mood, and synergy are never static.

I always focus on how it sounds to me and forget the rest. However, all things being equal, some measurements can be helpful (for instance, loudspeaker impedence when attempting to match an amp). Measurements at the extreme of "good" are almost completely meaningless (THD 0.0001% vs. 0.001%) in terms of sound quality. However, chances are great that if a component measures extremely poorly, it will have a comensurate sound; and very poor measured performance likley reflects lack of attention to detail in the manufacturing/designing process. I tend to avoid products and manufacturers with extrememly poor measure performance and use some measurements to help me with system matching. in the end, the sound matters the most!

Measurements are meaningless, the only thing that matters is how it sounds in your home and will it last. Everything else is just hype, spun in different directions to try to increase sales.

Mostly sound—and (very much) the cost!

front to back stage tone timber sub harmonics live sound memory great music well done great music amaturely done just love music opera rock jazz blues old country blue grass world music RC fine and mercury records period P.S. subscriber off and mostly on sice 1980

is this question a joke? how can it not be sound?

If it doesn't sound good it's rubbish, and vice versa.

Music is our passion. Music is sound. Sound in the form of music is capable of elevating us to clouds of rapture and soothing our collective souls. How, pray tell, does a test bench fit into this equation?

Unless, of course, the measurements indicate the product is about to burst into flames, the sound of the product is of greater interest to me.

The Ears Have It! (but the specs will tell me if it'll function in my system)

I can't listen to numbers written on a piece of paper

Let's see, my two favorite components, my Martin-Logan speakers and my Conrad-Johnson CD player, both measure LOUSY on the bench, especially the latter. I guess I sorta care about measurements, but these days I wonder why. It just has to get my groove on and get my mojo flowin'. Hey, those tiny SE triode amps measure like dirtclods with wires attached. But they sound good . . . . .

The old saying that, "If it measures great and sounds bad, you're measuring the wrong thing" applies in spades here. Measurements are important only to those who lack confidence in their listening ability. Scientists like Jim Thiel use them as a starting point, then move forward with listening to make the ultimate evaluation...the one done by the ears.

More emphasis needs to be placed on dynamic/transient performance (in measurements as well as listening reviews).

Price matters too.

I wouldn't consider buying a component that measures too bad. But a good review or two and some decent measurement can push me to an audition. My own audition is the most important part in my buying descision. Like my purchase of Sonus Faber Cremona... some good reviews, not too bad measurement and finaly: I liked them !

Why does measuring matter if you do not like the audible end result?

I need to live with a product before making a purchase decision. If that product is expensive then sufficient review time should be mandatory.

Read the magazines, ask the salesperson and ask your friends; narrow the field down. Then listen and forget about what everyone said.

Most products are not available locally for auditioning so I mostly go on reviews for as many sources as available.

How well is the correlation between measurement and quality of reproduced sound?? I don't know...