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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 2 responses by mahgister

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
12,734 posts
 

For sure there is acoustic differences between bookshelf and Stand-mounted and Tower speakers ...

As there is difference between different speakers types too and not only about their sizes...

Acoustics taught us that there is a trade-off for each size and each types in relation to each room geometry and size and in relation to specific needs ...

Then debating what is the best does not means much ...

Acoustics taught us that we can use any types or speakers sizes optimally or not ...

The soundscape perception can be created by acoustic knowledge from any speakers...There is a trade off for sure between the acoustics factors in relation between types and size... But the good news is that we can create a relatively good High Fi soundfield with any speakers well embedded ...

My personal ultimate criteria is not size or types, more S.Q. levels/ price ratio...Because i dont have a big room now nor a unlimited budget ,...

But i dont mind, i use acoustics knowledge to shorten the distance between the best S.Q. possible and the optimal one for a price level ...

And it is not only enough to be acoustically happy, it is enough to smile at the astronomical prices paid by some compared to my own speakers value ... But for sure without modifications my active speakers are not good at all for me...Acoustics knowledge is way more than buying panels ...

We are all different in goal and tastes and needs... This is why i am very proud of my 150 bucks active speakers which modified gave me 50 hertz from their 4 inches woofer and a soundscape that made me smile with pride not envious at all but in the opposite almost taking pity of those who had invest way more for sometimes way less ...😁

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
12,734 posts
 

Because of place...

Small room now...

But i need one with a porthole because when they are modified they sound nearer to bigger speakers ... So much i dont need subs...

The soundscape encompass my listening position with imaging more than good and a soundstage outside of the speakers plane encompassing my listening position ...

So much even it it is not as good as in my past listening dedicated room with big speakers i dont miss them too much ...I appreciate their qualities and anyway my circonstances had changed and i enjoy headphone at their top level also in my listening post ...

Better to have headphone and speakers than just one choice...For sure bigger speakers in an acoustic room will beat all headphones ... But my K340 are not far from top speakers even for bass...

I will never own a bigger room after 72 years old ...I must had decrease my house size...

It is better to own small bookshelves acoustically optimized than big speakers not optimized... I say it by experience ...Then it is not so much about the size as about how you use them ...

For sure they differ optimized or not but small optimized one may be  way better than many big speakers right out of the box...Choose them well ...

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