[gregsq]

There have been high quality loudspeakers available since at least the 60's, and arguably since before then. For example the quad electrostatic from 1957 or there abouts, a selection of which far exceeds the quality of apple earbuds or similar. Or Grado SR60's from 1992 or Stax SR1 headphones from 1960. Or Hartley loudspeakers evolved from an idea originating in the 1940's.

My brothers studio, where music for UK film and TV music was made, had NS10's as near fields. They sounded atrocious, I mean really bad. Leaving aside their electromechanical benefits, which are pretty well covered in the article, the accepted notion was that if you could make sounds sound ok with them with all their colourisation, then you'd get a fair result on televisions, radios and so on. In fact thinking about it, if you wanted music to sound good on Beats, then they'd still make a good reference choice.

Their listenability was pretty well irrelevant.