Quote Originally Posted by SpankingVanillaice
If a speaker such as my JBL S26 monitors are from 48hz to 20K -3 db. Will I hear a difference on compairing them to a speaker that is more flatter response.
Many years ago, when I first got into audio, I cared about nothing but stats. I purchased my first speakers based purely on brief lines of numbers, and frequency response was the most important one. If speaker A went from 40-22K and speaker B went from 50-20K, then A was clearly superior. If A was rated +/-3 db and B was +3/-2 db, B was better. It seemed completely unnecessary to listen to speakers (which are boxes that produce sound to hear) because I had stats.

It took a number of years for me to realize there might actually be some importance to listening to speakers. When I finally auditioned them, it was revelation. To my surprise, I discovered that EVERY speaker sounds different and no stat will ever tell you if the sound from X hz. to Y hz. will actually be pleasing to your ears or not. Stats like you're quoting may tell you a speaker can generate a tone up to 20K at a certain volume level within a certain db range. But they won't tell you if the high end is shrill or smooth. Likewise they may tell you the bass can go down to a certain point, but they won't tell you if that bass is boomy and muddy or clean and tight. Nor will stats such as these tell you anything at all about how the critical midrange frequencies sound, which is where the majority of sound is located.

Frequency response charts can give you a little better look, if you know how to read them. But even then, they can't tell you whether your ears will like the way a set of speakers sounds or not. Speakers that looks flatter on a chart may sound better, but they may also sound flat and devoid of life.

As I listened I also learned everybody has their own ideas about what makes good sound. This might have something to do with the fact that everyone has different shaped ears. There are so many different brands, styles and types of speakers out there because it turns out there is no set right way to build a speaker that sounds good to everybody. A speaker I may think is the greatest ever might be the same one you find completely unlistenable.

Speakers are designed to produce sound. So the only way to know how they sound and to determine whether you like them or not is to hear them. Don't let a few numbers limit your audio experience.