I think what one might crudely call the "audiophile phase beef" is not about the comb-filtering that results from misalignment but the non-linear phase response

I think what one might crudely call the "audiophile phase beef" is not about the comb-filtering that results from misalignment but the non-linear phase response of most crossovers, before the signal hits the air. Most act somewhat like an all-pass filter: a flat frequency response but varying delay across the frequency spectrum. This doesn't affect frequency sweeps or white noise, but results in impulses and clicks being smeared out in time or ringing a bit. The thought among some is that this is audible on percussion sounds, but experimental evidence is dubious as far as I can see. There are some references in the classic Douglas Self crossover book: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=D9l6JWKKSzUC&lpg=SA2-PA14&ots=wEtgaIUCgH&pg=SA2-PA22#v=onepage&q&f=false http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=D9l6JWKKSzUC&lpg=SA2-PA14... A similar argument which I think more people would agree with is that reflex-loading a speaker hurts the low-frequency group delay, the lack of which is one reason suggested for the supposed clarity of the classic NS10 monitor: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep08/articles/yamahans10.htm http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep08/articles/yamahans10.ht...