Bookshelf vs Floorstanding

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Well I now found out why floorstanding are much better. Went to my home audio store and spent about 5 hours there listening to a few tracks on switching between various speakers. I had them switch between a 2.1 Focal 705 bookshelf paired with a Paradigm sub, and a 2.0 system with the Focal 716 floorstanding speakers. Started with the 2.1 and switched to the 2.0 and I immediately ruled out a 2.1 system. The 2.0 system just offered so much more then the 2.1, it simply blew it away even without the sub.

I also listened to the Focal Electra bookshelf's that were setup correctly with proper imaging and such. Wow that was the first time I actually have listened to a system with a good soundstage and imaging. The speakers disappeared and the sound appeared to come from about 3 ft behind the speakers. I could actually place different parts of the band on the sound stage. It was beautiful.

Now I just need to find $6000 or so for some floorstanding Electra's

That was a poor comparison IMO. You should have used the 706 against the 716 as they have the same drivers. Which Paradigm sub did you use?

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Well I now found out why floorstanding are much better. Went to my home audio store and spent about 5 hours there listening to a few tracks on switching between various speakers. I had them switch between a 2.1 Focal 705 bookshelf paired with a Paradigm sub, and a 2.0 system with the Focal 716 floorstanding speakers. Started with the 2.1 and switched to the 2.0 and I immediately ruled out a 2.1 system. The 2.0 system just offered so much more then the 2.1, it simply blew it away even without the sub.

I also listened to the Focal Electra bookshelf's that were setup correctly with proper imaging and such. Wow that was the first time I actually have listened to a system with a good soundstage and imaging. The speakers disappeared and the sound appeared to come from about 3 ft behind the speakers. I could actually place different parts of the band on the sound stage. It was beautiful.

Now I just need to find $6000 or so for some floorstanding Electra's

That was a poor comparison IMO. You should have used the 706 against the 716 as they have the same drivers. Which Paradigm sub did you use?

I would have used the 706, but the shop didn't have any in stock at the time (and they have the 705 on display not the 706). I used the Paradigm 8 inch sub (don't know model # off hand), and while I know its not going to be the best sub it was close enough to a higher performance sub I would think.

While I should have compared the 706 vs the 716 with more like a 10 inch sub, IMO the outcome would have been the same. Yes the 716's blew the 705/sub away, but I know part of that is due to the larger driver in the 716. For about the same price (the 706's would have made it about a wash between 2.1 and 2.0), there is no question in my mind the 716's are the way to go with a 2.0 setup then later add a sub.

 

[spidey07]

You're not comparing apples to apples here. If you are listening to towers with music then of course they will sound much better.

Eitherway, I'm glad you heard what imaging/soundstage sounds like. You now have a new obsession.

 

[olds]

My towers have built-in subwoofers.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Although what is weird is that many of the audio reviews prefer the "compact monitor"/bookshelfs to full towers due to their lack of a lot of bass. While I certainly understand that as my car just is running fronts with no sub, I just found towers to be so much more appealing (I even compared the Paradigm Titan's to the Focal 816's and the 816's kicked the Titan's all over). I will say however that the Focal 1007 BE's sounded much better then the 916's but thats like saying a Lexus is better then a Toyota. I was VERY impressed by the 1007 BE's even compared to the tower, I just want to hear the tower version of the 1007 BE.

I also want to hear the Mini Grand Utopia's, but I don't really think that anyplace near me has them setup.

 

[mshan]

If you're main focus is music, I'd tend to lean towards a tower speaker because you remove one factor (different speaker stands) that designer of tower speakers could not account for (i.e. you are more likely to get intended voicing of speakers).

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: mshan
If you're main focus is music, I'd tend to lean towards a tower speaker because you remove one factor (different speaker stands) that designer of tower speakers could not account for (i.e. you are more likely to get intended voicing of speakers).

True, but depending on the speaker they will come with factory stands if I am not mistaken (Like the Focal 1007 Be's). If they don't the stands are not as important as figuring out if the speaker (usually based of the tweeter) should be at ear level, above/below ear level and buy a stand that will put the speaker where it should be. Most speakers want the tweeters at ear level, but not all.

 

[mshan]

IMO, it will be easier to get designer's intended voicing of speaker with floorstanding tower (removing a lot of variables, such as how particular speaker stands can change sound of speakers, extra crossover, proper placement of sub).

Again, this is if your primary focus is music (for movie soundtracks, I'd go satellite sub because that is soundtracks are designed to be played back, and soundtracks, unless you need subterranean bass or extrerme spl, just ain't that challenging to reproduce convincingly).

 

[sdifox]

Size of the room and the dimensions? Depending on that you must to determine best speakers. WTH am I talking like Yoda?