Are FS only for larger space & BS for smaller?

[TaureanBull]

Hi guys,

I am not sure if such a thread exists. In case it does, i request Mods to merge it.

I have a serious doubt lingering on my mind for a long time.

I am planning to buy a pair of FS. I have a transferable job. The listening space varies from 10x10 to 15x17 etc. Immaterial of the above uncertainty about speaker size, I have come across people suggesting to go for BS since the listening space is small and it might be an "overkill".

IMO FS is a different category where the speakers normally have drivers for all three frequency ranges. In case of BS, normally this is not the case. In case I opt for the BS normally there is no separate bass driver. Its midrange cum bass driver. Is n't it advisable to go for a FS just for the sake of sound quality.

FS look good too!

 

[iaudio]

Taureanbull, it is difficult to place FS in a small room and make it sound good. But there are exceptions which work well in small rooms.
For you, BS seems good as they will be easier to carry when you shift too.
And a well designed 2 way is good enough for good sound quality.

 

[Bluu]

Looks are subjective. BS can be outright amazing speakers and its true, an FS in a 10x10 room will be overkill.

I have heard Usher's Be-718 and X718 in a reasonably large room (demo room as well as a friend's place) and they have never felt small or underpowered. The Be-718 is in fact, a very powerful and robust performer. By contrast, the Be-20 DMDs in a similar sized room sounded average because they clearly required a much larger room to show their true potential. I'm sure ATC, B&W and a host of other manufacturers, have in their catalogs, BS speakers that will do very well for your requirements of moving often, while still providing beautiful musical reproduction.

At the end of the day, what I'm trying to say is that a well-built BS will match and many times outshine a decent FS.

 

[reignofchaos]

Well the deal is really simple - its far easier to get a 2 way bookshelf right at a reasonable price than get a 2.5 or 3 way floor stander right at the same price.

There's a far simpler crossover in a 2 way and hence, compromises are fewer. Also for the same price, you get a choice of multiple mediocre drivers or two extremely good drivers. Also the biggest cost is the cabinet - a small super rigid cabinet will sound better than a large boomy cabinet.

However this does not mean a 3 way at the same price will always sound worse. There can be extremely well designed 3 ways at reasonable prices. But typically a good 3 way will cost a lot more.

In my limited experience, what I've normally found is that you either have a choice of a lower range floorstander or a higher end bookshelf - e.g. a Dynaudio Confidence C1 costs almost the same as a Dynaudio Contour s3.4 floorstander.

You are basically choosing between the refinement and overall sound of the bookshelf vs the low end grunt of the floorstander. The choice is yours - however unless you listen to a lot of synth music like techno/trance where 20 Hz sounds are prevalent, a bookshelf will give you more than enough bass to satisfy you when its driven correctly - e.g. my ushers easily manage bass down to low 30's to high 20's in my listening room.

What is better for you? Only an audition will tell .

Hope this helps!

 

[TaureanBull]

ok. Let me ask a simple question. Does one feel lack of number of drivers in a good BS? The FS, more often than not, have dedicated drivers for each frequency range.

It looks like I am going to save some moolah... :licklips:

PS : I am talking purely for music and not for movies.

 

[sud98]

Bookshelves - Allow more placement options, but need some money on the stands, Also, there is a compromise due to two drivers trying to do the work of hf, mid range and low freq, may end up needing a sub.

FS - placement can be a problem, can sound boomy in a <150 sq ft room, can have compromises throughout as there are more drivers, more crossovers.

 

[avidyarthy]

It looks like I am going to save some moolah... :licklips:

PS : I am talking purely for music and not for movies.

Fullrangers possess only one driver .... and are any day preferred over multidrivers ... used primarily for music.

 

[reignofchaos]

Nope. In fact lesser the drivers, better it is as the sound feels like its coming from a point source. There are less integration issues to deal with. Again there are always exceptions - Some floorstanders like the ATC SCM40 integrate really really well.

 

[magma]

ROC has explained in the most detailed manner
and he hit the head when he said
"Well the deal is really simple - its far easier to get a 2 way bookshelf right at a reasonable price than get a 2.5 or 3 way floor stander right at the same price"

why are you bothering about how many drivers are doing what ?

best way to decide when one is starting out is
have a budget
hear the best floorstander you can in that budget
hear the best BS you can in that budget
DECIDE
simple

i say this because there are many non critical listeners
there are many who wont know the differrence between a warfedale 9.5 and a Quad 11L2 and there are many who will
now both cost the same ( or at least at one point they did)
one is a floorstander and the other is a BS

hear both
if you cant hear the differnce get the floorstander
at least you wont have to spend on stands!

the collary to this can be argued
once you get into music you will be able to hear the diff and then youll curse yourself for not getting the more refined speaker

which camp are you in?

 

[GeorgeO]

i tend to agree with Magma's simple principles.

In addition, I'd like to add that BS and FS is not as simple-in between you also have stand mounted monitors, which can perform very well and physically fall in between in terms of size.

 

[aeroash]

if funds permit simply get a sub along with the the BS...you can place and adjust the sub volume as per the size of the room. ...this the most versatile option...if budget does not permit look for a Tannoy F1 (the updated model is V1)....with their larger cabinets they drive decent enough bass...and U ALONE be the judge of sound quality.

if you have no qualms on used stuff, keep searching the forum for used subs for sale....you get pretty good deals.

 

[murali_n]

ok. Let me ask a simple question. Does one feel lack of number of drivers in a good BS? The FS, more often than not, have dedicated drivers for each frequency range.

It looks like I am going to save some moolah... :licklips:

PS : I am talking purely for music and not for movies.

Hi TB,

Its the quality of the drivers and not the quantity that counts, in that case, Fullrange speakers may not sell at all.
I dont know your budget, but try auditioning the following BS speakers they have had good reviews :
1) KEF Q300
2) EPOS Epic-2,
3) PSB Image B-6,
4) MS Aviano-2
5) Dali IKON-2

I hope they will not require a Sub to get good bass, as they already have it sufficiently.

N.Murali

 

[captrajesh]

Are FS only for larger space & BS for smaller?

I am planning to buy a pair of FS. I have a transferable job. The listening space varies from 10x10 to 15x17 etc. Immaterial of the above uncertainty about speaker size, I have come across people suggesting to go for BS since the listening space is small and it might be an "overkill".

IMO FS is a different category where the speakers normally have drivers for all three frequency ranges. In case of BS, normally this is not the case. In case I opt for the BS normally there is no separate bass driver. Its midrange cum bass driver. Is n't it advisable to go for a FS just for the sake of sound quality.

Many members have posted their comments most of which, are sensible IMO.

I'm quoting the posts which I'm in 100% agreement with. Posts of Reighofchaos and Magma have also given examples of commercial speakers which though I have no knowledge appear to be very apt to provide apt examples.

Generally speaking, FS is an overkill for small rooms; it also depends on what SPL levels do you listen. Since room contributes a lot to sound, esp LF sound, high SPL levels from a FS in a small room is a sure recipe of disastrous SQ.

Most commercial Hifi speakers provide optimum value (minus their profits) for the money's worth. So, generally speaking, at a given price point, a BS would deliver better SQ than an FS. (Disclaimer: Exceptions may be there) Considering that you are more into music and that your job is transferable, (Due to size, BS is less likely to be mishandled) (Disclaimer: "less likely" and not "unlikely) BS may be the way to go. When you move into a much bigger listening room at a later date, you may have budget to buy an optimal sub.

For you, BS seems good as they will be easier to carry when you shift too.

FS in a 10x10 room will be overkill.

Well the deal is really simple - its far easier to get a 2 way bookshelf right at a reasonable price than get a 2.5 or 3 way floor stander right at the same price.

However this does not mean a 3 way at the same price will always sound worse. There can be extremely well designed 3 ways at reasonable prices. But typically a good 3 way will cost a lot more.

ok. Let me ask a simple question. Does one feel lack of number of drivers in a good BS? The FS, more often than not, have dedicated drivers for each frequency range.

why are you bothering about how many drivers are doing what ?

best way to decide when one is starting out is
have a budget
hear the best floorstander you can in that budget
hear the best BS you can in that budget
DECIDE
simple

 

[TaureanBull]

Thank you all for your valuable contributions. It did indeed clarify many misconceptions.

To tell you all, buying the speakers would be my first point. I have a budget of upto 40k for speakers, although I wont mind spending more if the quality demands.

I am going through other threads in the forum. This thread was basically to reduce the basic scope of search. Now I intend to start my search with BS.

 

[keith_correa]

Are FS only for larger space & BS for smaller?

Short answer - Yes.

 

[saran]

What about small floor standers or FS with single driver

 

[captrajesh]

What about small floor standers or FS with single driver

Things are no different even with single driver speakers.

 

[Dr.Bass]

For about 40k you CANNOT beat the Epos M12i. It looks like a bold statement but interestingly it is just too good for the money. The M12i has replaced the M12.2 (which was an earlier version and was superb) and it sounds like a more matured speaker in terms of high frequency reproduction, silkier and natural.
And, to address your concern about FS vs BS, this Epos speaker can do bass much better than many floorstanders. So it will ideally suit almost any small to medium sized room.

The guys who deal in Epos in Bangalore is Reference point in Indiranagar. Unfortunately the electronics they use is Creek which to my ears sounded way to soft and rolled off. Pick up a Marantz, Arcam or Naim amplifier if you want this speaker to dance. Whatever be your decision in the end, please listen to this speaker.

 

[Rajiv]

Are FS only for larger space & BS for smaller?

Short answer - Yes.

Hi,

There are no absolutes in this hobby of ours.

I have "big" speakers(15 inch woofers+large format compression drivers/horns) and they work great in my 12X10 small room.

Its the implimentation that counts.

Regards
Rajiv

 

[Bluu]

Now I intend to start my search with BS.

All the best! Don't think it will be cheap just because its a BS.