The Truth About Speaker & Subwoofer Specs

Specifications are often the first thing people look at when comparing speakers and subwoofers. Numbers like sensitivity, frequency response, and wattage seem straightforward, but in reality, specifications in home audio are not standardized. This makes them tricky and often misleading when used for brand-to-brand comparisons.

The Problem with Specifications

• No industry standard – Each manufacturer can measure specifications differently. For example, frequency response might be listed at different tolerance ranges, or sensitivity may be measured in non-comparable conditions.

• Unclear methods – Some brands don’t even publish the circumstances under which their specs were achieved. Was the measurement taken in an anechoic chamber or in-room? At what volume? With what distortion levels?

• Marketing over accuracy – Because there are no enforced rules, every brand is free to highlight numbers that look good for marketing, regardless of whether they reflect real-world performance. This means specs can be polished to sell products rather than to inform customers.

The result: two products with “similar” published specs might perform completely differently in reality.

The Arendal Approach

At Arendal Sound, we take a different path. Our specifications are based on facts, transparency, and explainable methods.

• We publish measurements that reflect real-world performance.

• Our testing follows known, repeatable standards such as Klippel NFS (Near-Field Scanner) analysis.

• Every number we share can be explained and verified, rather than chosen for marketing appeal.

This approach ensures that when you look at an Arendal specification sheet, you’re getting honest, meaningful data, information you can trust to reflect how the speaker or subwoofer will actually perform in your home.

Summary

Specifications alone don’t tell the full story, especially when brands measure differently or present numbers without context. At Arendal Sound, we believe in providing clear, factual, and transparent specs that help you make an informed decision, not just a marketing pitch.