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Should I graduate to floor standers or will larger bookshelves suffice?

Hey guys,
I moved into a larger space several years ago, more of an open floor plan, and soon realized that my current speakers, Legacy Studio HD, in a surround array, might be a bit overwhelmed. It’s a weird, asymmetrical space, but it’s also significantly larger than my previous one. So the title of my post says it all…can I still get adequate coverage with bookshelf speakers, or do I now need floor standers? A friend told me to basically “sit closer to the tv” but that isn’t practical.

I thought about the Calibres from Legacy as an option, which is about my price range…up to 7k or so. I also see all these great internet only brands, like Fritz, or Philharmonic, etc, and I hear about their prodigious extension and sound stage, but can these bookshelves fill my room, or any room for that matter?

Let me also add, I have no problem graduating to floor standers, so suggestions are also welcome.

Thanks in advance.

jonasandezekiel
bajaed
269 posts
 

I'll second the Legacy Calibre. I have the XD model and I bi amp them with a Rogue Cronus Magnum running the mids/highs and the powerful XD internal amps powering the bass.

They are like a floorstander in a big bookshelf package. The have an 8" woofer with two passive 8" radiators, a 7.5" midwoofer and a large AMT ribbon tweeter. Not many bookshelves can boast of that kind of firepower. The drivers are all substantial, high end components. 

Highly recommended. 

digsmithd
913 posts
 

I am with celtic66...the ATC scm 40 is got one of the nicest mid drivers made...well controlled,No ported.Needs power?

mrroll81
1 posts
 

Definitely like the Fritz Carreras BE, they’re awesome!  Give Fritz a call, he’s more than happy to speak with you.

ddgtt's avatar
ddgtt
56 posts
 

As has been mentioned in a few different ways, to get the best performance out of a bookshelf speaker they really need to be on their dedicated stands. A slender floor standing speaker takes the same amount of space. But because the floor stander is optimizing cabinet volume (when properly designed) it has the ability to give greater bass extension. Others have suggested subwoofers to accompany a pair of bookshelf speakers. But now you're getting into the ideal of being able to properly blend the subwoofer with the smaller stand mounted speakers. If you are a careful listener you'll likely find (in most cases) the sonic discontinuities troubling. Why not go for the floor stander within that loudspeaker's series. One of the best slender floor standing speakers you'll ever encounter is the Vivid Audio Kaya K25. The bass is amazing and the sound is coherent, smooth, and 3D.     

digsmithd
913 posts
 

Well said "ddgtt"...if you have the room...go floorstander.Youll wonder what your missing.Stand mount in my room works...im alright with no sub...but at times?

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