Floorstanders or Bookshelfs?

[niccolewis]

Hello,

This is a question that I've been dying to ask. What do you people think is a better option - Floorstanders or Bookshelf speakers?

I enjoy listening to music and watch movies on my htpc connected to my TV. I would say my usage would be 50 - 50.

What would you guys recommend is the best route to take?

I have auditioned a few of both from the above two categories - Polk 330t and 440T and Yamaha NS 8390 from the floor stander category. I've also tried out the TSx110B and TSx220B from Polk and Yamaha HS5.

I've enjoyed the sound of the above speakers and have some preferences too but I would like to know your opinions on what is a better option.

 

[raghupb]

Small listening spaces are better served with bookshelf speakers. For floorstanders, the ideal setting would be:
2-3 ft from back wall, 2-4 ft from side walls (if any), 6-8 ft separation between speakers.
Bookshelf speakers are a bit more forgiving on the setbacks. And they will not give you a hernia when you need to move them.

Many mass market FS don't sound right in most untreated rooms because of reflections (room boom).
So if you do not have space or the opportunity to treat your room, lean towards BS speakers.
If you end up buying BS speakers, buy a decent pair of speaker stands. They do make a difference.

You must audition more brands within your budget, before arriving at a decision.

Cheers,
Raghu

 

[Hari Iyer]

If you end up buying BS speakers, buy a decent pair of speaker stands. They do make a difference.

Cheers,
Raghu

I am aware of the importance of speaker stands for a BS speaker. But wont' they again hamper my speaker placements issues. In a FS speaker i can get rid of the stands completely as the speaker stands on its own.

 

[sound_cycle]

Many mass market FS don't sound right in most untreated rooms because of reflections (room boom).
So if you do not have space or the opportunity to treat your room, lean towards BS speakers.

1. All you need to know in one easy thread

In the interest of accuracy and correctness I have to add

2. There is no magic speaker that can sound "right" in an an untreated room

3. Room boom is not because of reflections, they are standing waves a/k/a room modes (they are reflections only in the sense that it is because of sounding bouncing between your floor/ walls

4. Room modes can and will affect your listening regardless of whether you are exciting that room with a f/s or a b/s

5. It is completely misleading to say that BS speakers can "do well" without or do not need treatment. imaging will suffer, room modes will still be excited.

ciao
gr

 

[efernand1]

Hi Niccolewis,

Everyone has different tastes and expectations ....also these depend on budget, appearance and performance etc.

Which ever speakers appeal to you in performance with your kind of music etc, you should go for them.

In terms of appearance, if you feel the floor standing ones will clutter along with the furniture in the room then go for bookshelf ones which can be wall mounted or placed on some stands.....all boils down to personal choices....

All the best....

P.S if you have heard Polks....why not the RTi series? Anyways, ProFx would rope in some 10% odd discount.....

 

[sound_cycle]

Deleted .

 

[tuff]

My outlook on it is the word "bookshelves " inherently is misleading. Stand mount is more appropriate. So FS and BS take the same amount of space in a given room to get the best out of them.
The choice could be made upon whether the listener wants more bass extension in sound production or not.
Secondly I 'd say the cost factor.Example would be Polk LSiM703 vs Polk LSiM705. That's more like a comparison where you get more bass extension in the FS model, but spend twice as much for it. On the other hand, unfair comparison would be a Jamo S628 FS vs the Polk LSiM703.

 

[niccolewis]

Thanks for all the info. There's a lot to digest here.

I'm definitely looking at trying out some other brands that are available in the same price range. 23 - 35k is the range I'm in and I know that there are quite a few options available to me in that range.

Can you guys recommend where I can audition some other brands in Bangalore city? Brands like Dali, Wharfdale, etc?

Also, @tuff, I see that you have the Yamaha NS 8390. How do you like them?

 

[Aanuj]

Simple but general rule.
A one Lac bookshelf will always be a better speaker than a 1 lac Floorstander from that same brand. Only a two lac or three lac flrs can match that one Lac bookshelf in sonics and accuracy!

 

[tuff]

They are pretty nice for movies and TV.I have paired it with Yamaha 477 and they work together quite well, Although a bit sharp for my ears when it comes to music. But again, for music, I use Magnepans so there is no competition.

 

[niccolewis]

Thanks for the reply @tuff. I liked the Yamaha NS8390 but felt that maybe there was more bass that was crowding out the other sounds from them for music.

I loved the Polk 330t even for music and so did my wife! Its at the top end of my budget but I can't get that sound out of my head. As I mentioned above, I will still have to audition a few of the other brands and take a more cooler/logical approach to making my choice. Maybe a bookshelf is the right thing for me to start off on my audio journey!

Hope to get more info about where I can audition the Dali's and Wharfdale speakers soon. I know Vector Systems is good and will try and speak to them tomorrow or the day after to set up an audition.

 

[tuff]

You haven't mentioned amplification in your query. Also with "bookshelves" you might want to consider decent stands. some thing rigid.

 

[tuff]

Also if going by bookshelves, Try and audition dali Zensor series,Q acoustics and Boston acoustics and PSB alpha. A lot of people have started out into hifi with PSB's and over time moved on to greener pastures. They all are under 20k and leaves you with a bit of cash for stands.

 

[sound_cycle]

but felt that maybe there was more bass that was crowding out the other sounds from them for music.

I loved the Polk 330t even for music and so did my wife! Its at the top end of my budget but I can't get that sound out of my head. As I mentioned above, I will still have to audition a few of the other brands and take a more cooler/logical approach to making my choice. Maybe a bookshelf is the right thing for me to start off on my audio journey!

Remember the room you are listening in is the biggest part of your setup - in size and effect.

If you are after imaging more than anything else, then BS is what you need.

You will also need stands, a mutlibit DAC (IMEHO D/S is not anywhere close) and for sure some room treatment/ DRC to make tuneful bass with imaging happen

More likely than not, you will, eventually, have your speakers singing better
than they sounded at your audition - going by the places I tried to listen to stuff - only one was kinda okay.

BTW as I have described on hfv earlier what sounded good in those places sounded like crap in my room, initially. As they say the journey is fun and bumpy but the destination is nice etc. Till you sef off again, but that is another story

ciao
gr

 

[Beginner_N]

Hi, please listen to Sonodyne fs as well. They are really nice ones.


Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

 

[sound_cycle]

Hi, please listen to Sonodyne fs as well. They are really nice ones

Maybe I had the worst luck twice.

ciao
gr

 

[niccolewis]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm currently looking at picking up some good quality speakers (probably bookshelves after doing more research) and then picking up a good quality AVR from the US sometime in the start of next year.

Once I pick up the speakers I'm planning on running them off a Lepai 2020+. Yes, I know they are looked down upon but I can't justify spending for an AVR right now when I'm planning to buy a car sometime later this year.

As I've said above I'm planning on auditioning some Dali's and Wharfedales sometime this week in Bangalore. I'm guessing I'll have a clearer idea after that about the kind of sound I enjoy and am looking for.

I was wondering with regards to speaker stands, do they need to be standalone ones? I have a great media center unit which houses my TV and has more than adequate space for speakers on the left and right. The speaker spots are higher up which means that they are at ear level for me when I'm on the couch.

The quality of the media center unit is great because it was made to my specifications and design with very good quality materials and craftsmanship. Would you still recommend I pick up speaker stands instead though?

 

[sound_cycle]

The quality of the media center unit is great because it was made to my specifications and design with very good quality materials and craftsmanship. Would you still recommend I pick up speaker stands instead though?

If possible post a pic of your room please.

ciao
gr

 

[MaSh]

The quality of the media center unit is great because it was made to my specifications and design with very good quality materials and craftsmanship. Would you still recommend I pick up speaker stands instead though?

How far will the rear of the speaker be from the rear wall? Usually a minimum distance of 1 feet is recommended. Would that be possible?

MaSh

 

[niccolewis]

How far will the rear of the speaker be from the rear wall? Usually a minimum distance of 1 feet is recommended. Would that be possible?

MaSh

Easily more than one foot, around 2 right now. I can more it back and forth as required. The left speaker would be at a distance of about a foot or more from the wall on that side.

Will try and put a pic of the media stand unit later in the evening.