Help with understanding Stereophile test results.

Those aren't bad numbers. The broad bass dip is not all that substantial and better than any sharp peaks. Room treatment is difficult to nearly impossible in that range but it wouldn't hurt ... too much.

If that 10 dB is really that noticeable, perhaps the best cure would be a Rives PARC or one of the digital equalizers.

Well chosen but modest system. Flat would be optomistic and unrealistic.

1. Those are not bad numbers.
2. You need to measure more, both in terms of frequency spacing and multiple readings. In-room frequency variations are generally sharper than can be distinguished with certainty from one measurement at only one place.
3. Room treatment down to 100-125Hz is readily doable. Below that, it becomes fairly bulky and inconvenient but still doable.

thanks guys for all thoughts, I never heard anything bad but I ran the test to learn more so just trying to make sense of it all....................much appreciated.

I hate to intrude on the question of this thread, but can anyone explain what the "compensation chart" is and what is the need/purpose of it for testing the frequency response. Maybe I should post this such questions as a new thread, but since I own a Radio Shack SPL meter (digital), I never really understood what people mean when they say it needs to be re-calibrated. I mean, isn't it just measuring sound pressure? Thanks to anyone who responds.

Chad -- what are you measuring FOR? If it's balance b/ween the spkrs, then you have an IMbalance in the mid-bass and lower between L-R. This is probably due to spkr positioning/room interaction.

I never really understood what people mean when they say it needs to be re-calibrated.

If you measure sound pressure against a "reference" -- say 1kHz -- you want the measuring device to equally sensitive at all other frequencies. If it's not, then you'll get a lower/higher reading at some frequencies even the the actual sound pressure level may be the same.... it;s just that the meter isn't reading correctly.
So, for the ratshack you get a chart which shows you how far off from reality the meter is at each frequency -- and you compensate to get the real -life reading.