... violin, no matter which room it's in. I agree with that, but a speaker isn't a violin. For instance, take something "real" - like a human voice you're familiar with. No matter which room you're in, the voice with sound similar... maybe a little echoey in one, less in another - whatever. Now take a recording of the voice... it will sound very different through a variety of speakers. I think there is a lot going on when listening to a stereo, and, no... I don't have any technical answers. In other words, the "real thing" will be less affected by the environment.

Listening to different speakers in the same room will let you know which sounds better - sorta agree, as long as each speaker is set up the way it should be (close as possible). For eg., your ANs probably sound wildly different close to the corners, or far out into the room. I had a pair of Snell Js that HAD to be the correct distance from the corners, and more importantly, the correct height off the floor.

Aw, well... a few rambling thoughts...