I kind of think we're not talking about the same things here when I refer to "flat" on a pink-noise competition, and you refer to flat equalization of music.

I'm pretty sure that a flat spectrum test (the pink noise calibration you refer to) is actually not very flat in terms of the EQ settings required to pass that test.

Most stereo equipment is designed to sound good to the ear rather than to a calibration test. So most of the stuff you buy off-the-shelf is going to have far from flat response. So when you (Doug) say "flat", you're referring to the pink noise test. But when your average consumer says "flat" he means "whatever my stereo sounds like natively with all the tone and EQ controls set to zero".

Tony Fabris
Empeg #144