Reference Speakers - what does this mean ?

[omikey]

I've seen this in many speaker specs, I see it mentioned here often and was wondering just what this really means.


Thanks,
Mikey

[Debbi]

....used to mean best speakers in a line...Klipsch for example uses it for mid range speakers and have Heritage speaker which cost more....its become a word a lot like "deluxe" which has no meaning in the absence of comparison with something else specific.

[Woochifer]

It would depend on the context. Audio reviewers typically keep a "reference" system at home, which represents their individual definition of something good enough to compare all other components with. Reference in that case is their point of comparison, sort of like how you have reference color definitions for calibrating video monitors, even though there a lot of areas in audio have no agreed upon standard reference points.

Audio manufacturers produce reference equipment that's supposed to represent their best in class products. With speakers, reference systems often represent the speakers that they use for prototyping and something designed to be as close to accurate as possible without any considerations for cost or decor-friendliness. Infinity used to make reference speakers that they called their IRS models. Those were room-sized modular panel speakers with multiple driver arrays that were initially developed for lab testing, but were so popular in public demos that they made the IRS systems available to consumers. They subsequently came out with an entire series of IRS branded models that were more or less conventional speakers that used some of the features in those mammoth IRS reference systems. That's one example of how the meaning of the reference terminology has gotten diluted over the years. It's similar to how similar terms like "studio" and "monitor" have gotten so overused that they have no consistent meaning anymore.

[omikey]

Not unlike many of the things that we run into in our lives, but your descriptions help me to better understand it here in the audio world.

Debbi and Whooch - Thanks for the discussion and helping me to frame the term 'Reference Speaker'.
Thanks !

[Sealed]

Reference, like the term "studio monitor" is overused, and abused.

Reference should mean a system that is comprised of no-compromise components that has an accurate/flat frequency response, uncolored sound and detailed presesntation to use a a point of compare.

"Today we are testing the Axiom M80 speakers and Anthem separates, and we will se how they compare with our $50,000 reference system"

But many speakers get the name "reference" for prestige that really don't deserve it.

[Bryan]

As defined by me:

With speakers and electronic equipment - A particular companies best/most expensive. Their top of the line products. VMPS RM/X and the SVS PB4-Plus would fit into this category.

With a reviewer - The equipment they use to judge everything else against.

[omikey]

As defined by me:

With speakers and electronic equipment - A particular companies best/most expensive. Their top of the line products. VMPS RM/X and the SVS PB4-Plus would fit into this category.

With a reviewer - The equipment they use to judge everything else against.

AHHHHHH, OK ...... Thanks !!!

[gonefishin]

I've seen this in many speaker specs, I see it mentioned here often and was wondering just what this really means.


Thanks,
Mikey

Reference speakers are different from person to person. Not only because of what they may have been exposed to and what their preferences are...but also how the system in question was set up at the time they heard them.

This reference speaker is what the person compares all other speakers he/she listens to to.

As for "reference" being in the name of the speaker or model name...well, that's just marketing hype.

I suppose there can also be a number of "reference" standards within one industry (recording or playback) that are adopted for a group of people. It seems things like that have been tried or adopted in the past...but companies always seem to end up skewing the numbers and falsely representing their speaker "also" as reference.

Further, many things can make up a "reference" speaker. Not one characteristic of this reference speaker will make another speaker of reference quality. Having the same frequency response as one speaker which may be of "reference" quality does not alone make it ALSO reference quality. There are obviously other factors.

Tho I can find enjoyment from almost any system or from any speaker. The speaker that I compare others I listen to are the EdgarHorn TiTan System. Like I've said, along the way I've heard many good speakers...but the TiTans seem to get many things right, to me


enjoy your reference!