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Why "bookshelf" sspeakers?

This is not a rhetorical question. I’m asking because I don’t know.

The question is this: What is the point of "bookshelf" style speakers if they are not going on a bookshelf or table? In other words they are on speaker stands.

Here is the reason I’m asking. For a short time I had a pair of Aerial Acoustics 5T speakers along with a pair of Aerial Acoustics 6T towers (which I still have).

I listened to each set of speakers through a Bryston AV amp. I felt like the 6Ts sounded much better. More bass. Fuller sound. (I think a subwoofer would have resolved that easily for the 5Ts.)

The 5Ts are not exactly small and would barely fit on most bookshelves (although they are front ported and recommended for bookshelves by AE). The ones I listened to were on heavy metal stands which made them almost as big and heavy as the 6Ts.

So why buy smaller speakers which need to go on large heavy stands that make them as big as a floor standing speaker and not sound as good? Space saving does not seem to be the answer and I see some ’bookshelf’ speakers that are a good bit bigger than the AE 5ts.

I’m sure there must be a good reason since I see many people with them. And of course my assumption that a floor stander sounds better than a bookshelf might be wrong.

I guess cost comes into play somewhere in the equation as well.

Interested in people’s thoughts on this.

n80

Showing 1 response by lemonhaze

lemonhaze
410 posts
 

I have mentioned before that so called full range speakers really are not! The salesman claims:  "Sir with these full rangers you will never need subs"

This is, in it's most innocent form, a misunderstanding or ignorance but probably a simple lie.

Get those full range jobs home and position them for good sound stage and imaging and have compromised bass as has been mentioned earlier in the thread. To set them up for their bass potential would then ruin their imaging qualities. Result is dissatisfaction and money wasted. Those expensive jobs will work but need subs.

Many times, and I can't think of any right now, some high-end speaker manufacturers have a model or two below their 'full range" flagship speakers that use the identical mid range and tweeters, which they boast of, in a smaller cabinet with smaller woofers and the considerable $$$ saved will comfortably buy 2 good subs to augment the bass and if properly positioned and set up will handily outperform the flagship imposters 😜 

 

 

 

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