I have room which I currently use 50% for music and 50% Home Theater (I wish I could split, but no way at the moment). The room is 15 x 21 x 10 feet and I'm working on some acoustic panels to help with overall image and definition. I'm looking forward to make an upgrade on my system, more specifically buying new speakers for left and right channel. The budget is $14,000 max. I see lot of people happy with bookshelf speakers, especially for their imaging and ability to "disappear". Main complain is the lack of bass. I'm considering buying a nice pair of bookshelf plus a pair of sub woofers, instead of going with classical floorstanding ones. I really like a sound stage "reproduction" and that "separation" of instruments. What would you recommend and why?
If speakers don't play low frequencies due to design, it doesn't matter how small the room is...a good sub can make a gigantic difference overall as it's not just the bass, but a "room charging" effect that makes music sound more lifelike through your main speakers. My smaller sub is an older model REL 8" downfiring (Q108 MKII) that by itself is amazing...and small.
Floorstanders should give you more coherent sound, theoretically. Personally, I don't ever even think about subs for a relatively small room. You will of course need good source and electronics too, along with cables and wall current. $14k is pretty good, and if you consider used as well - great, you could have $45k speakers, maybe.
It's actually very easy to get great sound from a sub or two, so don't pay much attention to anybody saying otherwise. Use subs that take the signal from the amp, like RELs or Vandys , and simply move the sub around and adjust the level. Not as head scratchingly difficult as many imply. Note that a good sub (I have 2 perfect "previously owned" RELs bought cheap) allows control over the bass simply by phase and level adjustments on the sub, and DSP in most cases is unnecessary and just adds electronic junk (and more cables to get in the way) to the signal...less is more, simple is better. A "full range" tower speaker generally doesn't allow the flexibility of bass control, and obviously doesn't allow for bass speaker placement free of the main speakers.
Dear @fabifrac: Satellites plus two self powered subwoofers always is a great option. Due that you will use it for music and home theater is very important to know the maximum SPL and sensitivity spec of the satellites.
@gdnrbob said: "I think the Vandy subs will be a better integration than the HSU's- which are running parallel to the speakers, so there is some overlap, which I think muddies the sound."
If you have a phase control on the Hsu's, you may be able to find a setting where there is enough partial cancellation between your mains and subs that you won't have over-emphasis in the region of overlap.
With a small room, 10x12x8, I had to go with bookshelf speakers and subs. I initially tried Zu Omen Bookshelf speakers with HSU subs (2), but it really didn't cut it. I am now converting to a pair of Vandersteen VLR's and a pair of 2w subs that I had lying around. As I write this, I have the VLR's and Hsu's hooked up. It sounds pretty good (better than the Zu's). When I get things in their final position, I will add the Vandy subs. I think the Vandy subs will be a better integration than the HSU's- which are running parallel to the speakers, so there is some overlap, which I think muddies the sound. I know this is overkill for an office system, but, hey, I had to try. Bob
In my opinion the "bookshelf + sub" format arguably has greater potential because of the greater low-end extension/output/flexibility that you get with separate subs. But the specifics matter - most "bookshelf" speakers are designed to have acceptable low-end when used without subs, so they trade off efficiency and/or max SPL capability that might be nice to have if you're going to use subs anyway.
So the "best" bookshelf speakers might not be the "best" for this application, because you really don't need your bookshelf speakers to extend much if any below about 80 Hz. And if home theater is on the menu, then max SPL probably matters. So imo you'd be looking for "bookshelf" speakers that go pretty loud but don't necessarily go very low. Not that these are the only things that matter of course, but imo there is no point in spending money for deep bass from your bookshelf speakers when higher output capability would better serve you.
Dutch & Dutch 8C + HSU VTF-2 MK5 If you have other gear, receiver or whatnot, just sell it, use the cash for more treatment or the next step up HSU (or dual).
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But yes, for your setup, I’d much have a 2.2 bookshelf setup over a 2.0 tower setup, as hardly any are full range and can reach >100dB in the bass at the listening position with ease .
If you had towers that got loud enough and were true full range, than there is really no downsides, unless you have some bad room modes.
Bookshelves don’t inherently have better imaging than towers, it’s just a lot of tower designs are not optimal (like using 7” woofers as a midrange).
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