speakers and size

[nandac]

do small speakers produce small sound? do big speakers produce big sound?

there are tiny speakers like bose/gallo etc. there a bookshelves. then there are floor standers.

i once remember a speaker sales man in a shop (maybe stereo exchange) in new york, dismissing bose cubes, saying the sound it produced had 'no body'.

what is the minimum size a speaker should (heights, width, depth etc) be to produce the full range of sound - maybe not the lowest of bass, but still an overall range.

or even if we discount bass totally (and say use a sub), what minimum size should a speaker be to produce the full midrange and highs.

appreciate the insights.

 

[moktan]

the people behind my speakers (Audire) believe that for the speakers to disappear they have to be physically imposing.

 

[BLASTO]

Price dictates sound rather than size.
But smaller than a typical bookshelf size size is calling for trouble.

Only Bass is dependent on driver size. If you have a great sub, a 6 - 6 1/2" driver should do just fine.

 

[avidyarthy]

More than the size of the drivers, I have reasons to believe it is the cabinet design which does the wonders. Got convinced of the same after hearing out the DIY Advanced Transmission Line speakers I am in the process of procuring of late.

The FS pair uses one Peerless 5.25" mid-woofer and 1" Aluminium dome tweeter each and frankly I am yet to come across any speakers, whatever little I have listened to uptil now coming close to them. Be it the midrange or the lows ... it is par excellent. Yes, these are big speakers ... at 42" in height, but, am dead sure a similar result can be achieved out of a cabinet designed to the BS specs.

 

[slash1814]

The following factors may affect most ::

1. Speakers efficiency / sensitivity (close to 90 Decibles is good)
2. Diameter of Speaker / Woofer : > 5 inch. is good.
3. Speaker's Internal Baffle / Cabinet Design (like polks RTi's have slighlty curved back to mitigate resonance)
4. Speaker's diaphgram's material ( Synthetic like Polypropylene Or some proportion of Isobutyl rubber)
5. Speaker's cabinet material (quality of wood affects tone)

~Slash

 

[anuragn]

More than the size of the drivers, I have reasons to believe it is the cabinet design which does the wonders. Got convinced of the same after hearing out the DIY Advanced Transmission Line speakers I am in the process of procuring of late.

The FS pair uses one Peerless 5.25" mid-woofer and 1" Aluminium dome tweeter each and frankly I am yet to come across any speakers, whatever little I have listened to uptil now coming close to them. Be it the midrange or the lows ... it is par excellent. Yes, these are big speakers ... at 42" in height, but, am dead sure a similar result can be achieved out of a cabinet designed to the BS specs.

Very true. The tiny Wharfedale 10.1's produce deeper lows and sound fuller than the Sony Floorstanders (appx 30 inch tall) that I had earlier. It's a function of design and (quality of) material which in turn boils down to function of price!

 

[grubyhalo]

The biggest rig your better half would allow in your home is the most optimum setup for you...

 

[Sumanta]

If you follow makers of full ranger driver speakers (with or without cabinet), 8 to 12 inches seems the best compromise for home use.
If you have proper cabinet you can reduce driver size to augment base by the cabinet itself.

If you want to go without a cabinet, you either add drivers or use wider baffles. Or both if you are a bachaelor.

 

[jaudere]

In my opinion, for human voice, anything above 4" is ok but for drums/bass, you need bigger diaphragms. I use 12" full rangers. Sorry to be off topic but I am lucky that my big speakers are considered as part of the decor by my wife. In fact my speakers and music system is the decor in living room. They look so intersting that The moment guests come, they are more intersted in listening to the huge speakers rather than anything else!