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Do Bigger Speakers Mean a Bigger Window?

I enjoy listening to small loudspeakers, in fact a lot of my listening is done via my Logitech desktop computer speakers (2 SATs + 1 small sub) or those in the car.

However ultimately there's nothing like the sense of ease of listening via a big pair of speakers such as big Harbeths, vintage JBLs or Tannoys etc.

I wouldn't say that the bigger speakers (8 inch+ cone) are more accurate, in fact the Logitech's have an uncanny way of getting voices stunningly right as  
watching home movies on the PC demonstrates. It's just that the larger loudspeakers seem to reveal more of the recording quality and bandwidth. So much so that sometimes you can easily hear the limitations of the original tapes sometimes.

So, if you are after high fidelity sound, why would you buy small speakers? 



cd318

Showing 2 responses by hifiman5

hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,836 posts
 
@ieales   "An ideal source would is a point as it would have no coloration from cabinets, crossovers / driver displacement interactions."  Please edit.

"Speakers have become taller because they fit beside TVs. Multiple woofers in a column have a time delay."  Please supply the data that supports this assertion.

"Small speakers on stands do not interact with the floor. Small boxes can be very strong and more rigid. Small drivers can be very fast without the need for massive power. They will not play as loud but they can as play better."  Please edit.  Please explain how the laws of physics have been defeated by speaker stands.

hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,836 posts
 
@cd318   In my experience you don't need big speakers for a large size image.  My Treo CTs are modest in size compared to many floorstanders but they can envelop the front of my listening room in sound.  Many "experiments" have been done where a small group of listeners will listen to what they think is a big floorstander in the room only to find out that they are empty boxes and that they've been listening to the stand mounted minis in the room!  Quite the ear-opening experience.  You correctly mention that there are many factors at play in any listening space.  If there is a science of acoustics it is subject to many, many variables.😮
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