Does speaker size matter!

[John]

Over the last 20 years speakers have become smaller and smaller to adapt to modern living expectations.
Yet there is something about the scale and dynamics large speakers are capable off that makes muisic sound more realistic
My own view is you need to match speakers to suit your room size So small rooms require smaller speakers but if you want real scale then bigger speakers are the best way to go if you room allows

[chris@panteg]

I am inclined to agree with you 100% ' but not sure if Marco would ' have you seen his Lockwood's and the room they are in .

[John]

Yes I have but they somehow work in his room so maybe room size is over stated

[DSJR]

If I can be devils advocate for a minute and try to dilute AVI's Ashley's comments regarding small vs large loudspeakers.....


Big speakers like large Tannoys have an effortlessness about them which few small speakers posess it seems. However, the larger the drive unit and box, the more scope there is for colouration to creep in and there can be problems with dispersion etc if the large bass cone is allowed to go too high in frequency - physical fact I think rather than opinion. WE mustn't also forget the WAF and, in the UK, smaller living rooms with thinner walls. Three way speakers with large bass unit crossong over to a mid driver also have the lower crossover point right in the middle of the vocal region which can be extremely difficult to design away and even more difficult to deal with.

Modern small speakers have never had it so good, the advances in small drive unit technology in the last fifteen years or so have been huge and I dare say Ash is correct when he makes huge claims for his 6.5" bass/mid driver having a very long and controlled "throw" and with very low distortion at high cone excursions..

The fact remains though that a small but capable speaker reminds me of those thrashy little "hot hatches" yuppies used to spin around in (literally in the case of the Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9) compared to, say, a big Jag or Merc or 5 series up B&W, these latter being just as quick to 60mph but so much nicer getting there.

'Scuse the clumsy prose above. I can see a case for top quality small speakers from the likes of Sonus faber, Harbeth and, yes, AVI, but I also love the easy way with music that golden oldies like the IMF's and well fettled Tannoys have (ok even a VERY good pair of 'briks too, in a room they like and preferably EAR 509 driven.....).

[John]

Interesting points I do think the WAF factor plays a part in this; maybe a lot more than most would like to admit
I think that perhaps in the past Ashley views had a lot more merit But I have heard quite a few big speakers recently and none of them had any colouration issues, all have been dynamic and clean
I do however think small speakers can create good music but good big ones well we really talking
I like the difference you describe between big cars and small cars I guess for most people a big car is not going to be to practical but on long distant journeys it will be a lot more comfortable

[DSJR]

Old Tannoys without Marco's expensive fettling can squawk and screech with the best of them. A better cabinet fixes one thing and a crossover re-think (as Tannoy themselves did in the early eighties) usually sorts out the other, together with either the tulip tweeter wave-guide or a properly made pepperpot (which wasn't always good on the HPD drivers it seems from online photos).

Big bass is one thing. properly controlled bass that rooms don't screw up is another and the extremes get bigger - 'Briks could sound fine in one room and bass-light in another. The big Spendors and Harbeths are designed to work in a properly controlled room and plonking them down in a room with bass problems will make them sound off like a foghorn at certain frequencies - Hamish is finding this with his FB1's at the moment I think....

The above is one reason why small speakers can be so popular, as their lack of bass "power" and "extension" suits often small concrete box style rooms as we have in the UK...

[The Grand Wazoo]

I've always thought that though small speakers are 'safer' and easier to get acceptable results from, a good big 'un, well placed is unbeatable.

[John]

I've always thought that though small speakers are 'safer' and easier to get acceptable results from, a good big 'un, well placed is unbeatable.

Agree

[John]

My listening room is small 3.5m x 3m
I use 15" Augmented bass speakers and manage to have well controlled bass so it is possible to control bass speakers even in a smallish space
For me clean controlled bass is essential I want kick bass drums that kick and clean extended bass notes I want to hear the bass underpin the drums its not easy to achieve this but is possible but i do not have to compromise around room set up

[Covenant]

My room is the same size as yours John and I use floorstanders. I get a little bass boom.
Have you done any acoustic treatment?