You don't understand. No headphones measure flat. The "flat" headphones that you have have been tuned after a loudspeaker too. They don't measure flat.
I literally said as much in another comment you also replied to.
The flat measurements that you see online from Crinacle and others are "compensated" flat.
This is not flat, nor is it compensated in the way you say. This is what crins graphs look like. It's actually what most headphone graphs look like, since they usually aren't compensated flat.
What you mean is this:
Your description of the research being "just people turning knobs" is an oversimplification and it shouws that you're fresh.
Lmao, buddy you reek of arrogance. Drop it.
That's exactly what they did, let people adjust the treble and bass to their taste.
And what is that thing that they prefer to hear exactly? You want to know? IT'S MUSIC MIXED FOR SPEAKERS. Your arguments have no legs.
You must have missed the part of the video I have linked previously where some audio engineers even specifically mix for Airpods (among other devices). Because as I have said repeatedly, music is mixed to sound good on everything!
I'm kind of tired of repeating this so maybe just read some more on the subject and then you'll see what I mean and what I don't mean. You really are trying to argue things that you just learned and it'll take you a while before you get it.
Maybe drop that high and mighty attitude and provide some sources.
You can read about what they actually did here:
https://www.juloaudio.sk/Umiestnenie_reprosustav/History%2520of%2520Harman%2520Target%2520Curve.pdf
The whole point is that a simple transfer of speaker loudless levels to headphones did not result in a target curve people felt was pleasant.
So the whole notion of "it's derived from speakers" is kinda misguided.
