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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 ieales

ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
Neither PC desktop speakers or automobile can be considered Hi Fidelity. Most here probably consider your post a troll and hence the lack of typical blatherskite response.

An ideal source would is a point as it would have no coloration from cabinets, crossovers / driver displacement interactions.

Speakers have become taller because they fit beside TVs. Multiple woofers in a column have a time delay.

Big does not mean better. There are a 1001 things to get right and size is no guarantor that any are correct.

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.

Recall Amercian cars of the 50's & 60's? They were huge because that's what people wanted. Great on the newly constructed freeways but hopeless in the twisties.
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
Multiple woofers in a column have a time delay.
Assume 3 woofers spaced 12" apart at 1, 2 & 3 feet from floor, a 15 foot listening distance and a 4 foot ear height. Relative to the direct wave from w1, @ 350Hz w2 ≈11° and w3 ≈30° of phase shift.

From the floor, w1 ≈177°, w2 ≈106° and w3 ≈47° phase shift for the 45° wave from the woofer.

Please explain how the laws of physics have been defeated by speaker stands.
When a speaker is on a stand, it is closer to a point source than is a large box.

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