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This is one of those 'late afternoon' half-baked thoughts...
But in listening to commercial speakers when I have been shopping has given me a little exposure to a few models - not a comprehensive test by any means. But subjectively, my perceptions is that I've found something special about the sound of smaller speakers on stands compared with larger speakers (especially floorstanders).
More specifically, the bass of larger speakers is more extended but the smaller speaker has more 'kick', a tighter cleaner sound. The extended bass usually won me over and I bought mostly floorstanding speakers which I've been very pleased with. But lately I've had a nagging desire to hear some smaller speakers again.
Most of the small speakers I've heard are Reflex loaded and are universally 2-way (mid-bass cone and supporting tweeter).
Anybody else come to their own subjective opinions on this topic ?
But in listening to commercial speakers when I have been shopping has given me a little exposure to a few models - not a comprehensive test by any means. But subjectively, my perceptions is that I've found something special about the sound of smaller speakers on stands compared with larger speakers (especially floorstanders).
More specifically, the bass of larger speakers is more extended but the smaller speaker has more 'kick', a tighter cleaner sound. The extended bass usually won me over and I bought mostly floorstanding speakers which I've been very pleased with. But lately I've had a nagging desire to hear some smaller speakers again.
Most of the small speakers I've heard are Reflex loaded and are universally 2-way (mid-bass cone and supporting tweeter).
Anybody else come to their own subjective opinions on this topic ?
Maybe the higher SPL of the lower frequencies of the larger speakers won you over. "Boomier" so to speak? It could be the fs on the larger speakers are also lower, vs. the smaller speakers. The smaller box volume will probably also sound more tighter, more focused, at the expense of it's lowest freq response not going as low than the big box.
In the end, both speaker models may be using different drivers, different crossovers, different wattage, and have differing T/S parameters and thus, the resulting boxes they're used in have different volume, design, etc., and will therefore sound different.
In the end, both speaker models may be using different drivers, different crossovers, different wattage, and have differing T/S parameters and thus, the resulting boxes they're used in have different volume, design, etc., and will therefore sound different.
Hi Bigun,
I've been doing more measurements as of late and my room sucks for floor bounce (or boundary condition) in the 200-400Hz range. Even though the "tops" (medium sized 2-way) on top of H-bridge dipole, the speaker sounds different when the H-bridge is left off and the 2-way run fullrange.
The tops model around 55Hz extension. I think my brain messes with things too much. When I switch from 2-way to 3-way, the bass in the 3-way sounds fuller and more extended even though the extension is close to the same. The dip in 200-400hz fills in. When going 3-way to 2-way, my initial reaction is a bit less bass but it slams a bit harder. Extreme low end seems highlighted. After I listen to the 2-way for a while I seem to forget the sound of the 3-way and 2-way sounds just fine and not poundy.
This probably doesn't help but maybe someone who knows how us humans hear can help?
The old mini-monitor conundrum. Maybe the deeper response of the bigger speaker excites more room modes leading to a slow-sounding, less tight presentation?
Bill
The front baffle extending to the floor changes the low mid and overal lowend spectra. Did some tests using two identical speakers. One a bookshelf and the other to include a detachable base making it a floorstander back in the '80's. The extended baffle length adds additional reflections eg interference to the front wall/floor bounce delays.
Check out some Dyna A25 speakers if you like bass done well. Plus, the woofer surround is rubber and normally ages well.
Hi,
Many commercial 2 two floorstanders with a similar bookshelf
are simply not a lot much larger with the bottom blanked off.
If you could fill the bottom with sand the floorstanders may
stand a chance a chance against the bookshelves and stands.
Sadly with most you can't unless you start drilling.
rgds, sreten.
Many commercial 2 two floorstanders with a similar bookshelf
are simply not a lot much larger with the bottom blanked off.
If you could fill the bottom with sand the floorstanders may
stand a chance a chance against the bookshelves and stands.
Sadly with most you can't unless you start drilling.
rgds, sreten.
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Interesting ideas and observations - and perhaps there is something about the extended baffle and interaction with the floor that makes it different for my ears. I think I'm going to have to get some small 2-ways on stands sometime to try it in my house instead of the store.
Anybody else prefer stand mounts ?
Anybody else prefer stand mounts ?
It depends on the music...
I almost always prefer floorstanders when listening to rock or other loud stuff.
For jazz and acoustic music, my monitors almost always are a better bet.
Its difficult to make floorstanders that do not excite room modes - I have yet to hear one that did not. Maybe the Emerald Physics CS series with open baffle bass, or the Jamo R909. All others sound ponderous. That is also a nice acoustic effect, but not for all forms.
This is all my subjective opinion, FWIW.
I almost always prefer floorstanders when listening to rock or other loud stuff.
For jazz and acoustic music, my monitors almost always are a better bet.
Its difficult to make floorstanders that do not excite room modes - I have yet to hear one that did not. Maybe the Emerald Physics CS series with open baffle bass, or the Jamo R909. All others sound ponderous. That is also a nice acoustic effect, but not for all forms.
This is all my subjective opinion, FWIW.
I prefer stand mounted.
It is hard to make a floor-stander "floats". They can (with effort) but will not as good as stand-mounters.
Problem is most woofers have too high a Vas, requires big volume for decent bass response. But stand-mount doesn't have to be small (most PA speakers are stand mount).
If floorstanders, I prefer the ones with shallow depth
If the matter is to avoid the early reflections caused by the vicinity of the woofer to the floor ( WMT) why don't [you] put the woofer away from surfaces ?
Equi-distant from floor and ceiling is the logical answer, i.e. compromise, but the best in the particular environment [room].
Equi-distant from floor and ceiling is the logical answer, i.e. compromise, but the best in the particular environment [room].
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With floor standers the woofers are often positioned close to the tweeter - which is usually at 'ear' height for somebody sitting down. This is the same woofer height as a stand mounter - so it's something else that is responsible for my subjective perception of the differences.
The fact that the stand mounters I've heard are small boxes may also be a factor in this.
The fact that the stand mounters I've heard are small boxes may also be a factor in this.
Aaahhh, you mean those colums with the woofer and the tweeter at the edge.
Never listened to any 🙂😛
Or maybe you are referring to the extra sound generated by n baffles
The one that B&W with matrix system and Magico with solid steel are trying to fight ?
Never listened to any 🙂😛
Or maybe you are referring to the extra sound generated by n baffles
The one that B&W with matrix system and Magico with solid steel are trying to fight ?
is not the same as
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Two speakers I remember listening to in a showroom that were particular 'clear' and which has given me such a good feeling about stand-mount speakers:
AR7 (30 yrs ago in Leeds) - but I was young and foolish, I needed more BASS so I got the AR38's which were big (they sat on small 6" pedestals)
Totem Mite (15 yrs ago in Waterloo) - but I was middle aged and foolish, I needed more BASS so I got PMC FB1s
But there was something special about the smaller speakers that left an impression with me still.
AR7 (30 yrs ago in Leeds) - but I was young and foolish, I needed more BASS so I got the AR38's which were big (they sat on small 6" pedestals)
Totem Mite (15 yrs ago in Waterloo) - but I was middle aged and foolish, I needed more BASS so I got PMC FB1s
But there was something special about the smaller speakers that left an impression with me still.
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I almost forgot about this thread - but recently was thinking once more about getting myself some stand mounts, or perhaps building a pair.
I have different opinion which would explain, at least to some digree, the main difference between floorstander and bookshelf on stand. Even if they share midrange and tweeters, they end up sounding different.
Floorstanders often suffer more of the floor bounce, where direct signal and one bounced of the floor are arriving too close at the ear. The luck of surface below the bookshelf is helping here to minimize floor bounce, not that it would be eliminated, just reduced.
Cheers.
Floorstanders often suffer more of the floor bounce, where direct signal and one bounced of the floor are arriving too close at the ear. The luck of surface below the bookshelf is helping here to minimize floor bounce, not that it would be eliminated, just reduced.
Cheers.
I have a different view as when I passed 65 I found low bass was getting in the way due to hearing loss (10kHz max). First I went from floor standing speakers that did 30Hz to floor standing speakers that did 40Hz. Now I'm spending more time listening to bookshelf speakers that do 55Hz with some around 70Hz.
Like my amps my speakers are getting smaller.
Like my amps my speakers are getting smaller.
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