Speakers "Too Big" for room


I have an office with KEF LS50 speakers. I’m gonna try to move in some large Infinity full-range speakers. Typically, conventional wisdom would say that these speakers are too big for the room. I’ll know for sure how they will sound but, why would anyone say that. Why can’t you put large speakers in a small room???

pawlowski6132

The fundamental issue is near field listening to large speaker arrays designed to use power is like sitting next to a jet engine. Hence the art of bookshelf speakers. 

A very interesting set of speakers. It looks like a closed baffle with a large front face with extra external speakers. As one of the posters said above, just add more acoustical treatment. and find the spot it will sound best. 

good luck

 

@OP The RS II owner's manual suggests a starting point of two to three feet from the front wall for the speakers. There's no reason that the speakers can't work in a room the size of your office. It's not a small room by international standards. The later II B came with an equaliser so you could always use something like a Schiit to shelve down the bass if necessary. As has been said by a few posters, correct room treatment is the key to getting big speakers to work in, shall I say, less big rooms.

Why not?  Give it a try.  I put larger speakers in a smaller room and it worked out magnificently!!!  I’ve never been happier.  Happy listening.  

The first step I took in working with a restricted space was in the speaker design selection. Speaker (and baffle) size is only one factor and can even mislead. Some speakers of equal size are simply going to demand a larger room space than others.  One issue is how the speaker treats bass. You might want to avoid floor standers that have bass vents firing out the back side, which by design critically use the space/distance between the speaker and the front wall.  Front-firing speakers usually require less reverse space and can be positioned much closer to the background (front) wall, thus giving more space in a tight room for the listener's space and the essential acoustic blend and balance. And some speakers are more aggressive in delivery as well. Knowing the brand and listening to different speakers and setups could help avoid the typical speaker remorse.