Speakers getting too small!

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Halloween Jack, Apr 25, 2016.

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  1. Halloween Jack

    Halloween Jack Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Lately I've been thinking about putting together a second stereo with a better budget (the next step above Pioneer or Yamaha speakers and receivers).

    Locally, I have these speaker brands available: JBL, Boston Acoustics, Definitive Technology, Energy, Klipsch, Jamo (and KEF, I think). Those besides Yamaha and Pioneer.

    Well, JBL speakers seem cool. But Boston, Def Tech, Energy and Jamo all are more expensive than Yamaha or Pioneer, but they have these tiny speakers without any imposing looks. Check the Energy CB-20, Boston CS-26 or Jamo C 91 bookshelf speakers. They all seem like micro-system speakers (or satellites for home theater). The Klipsch RP-160M are better, but still a little small.

    However, their floorstanders seem better.

    The Yamahas I have are good looking and bigger than average (8" woofers). And right now, I'm only liking JBL, Klipsch or maybe the Jamo C 93 (these do have good size but overbudget).

    I don't like this "small footprint" trend. Thoughts?
     
  2. Gary

    Gary Nauga Gort! Staff

    Location:
    Toronto
    I have never heard them but I would check out the ELAC UF5. Or something else in that line, they are getting good reviews. Supposed to be $499.00.

    UF5 – Elac »
     
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  3. The Pinhead

    The Pinhead KING OF BOOM AND SIZZLE IN HELL

    Their floorstanders ANHILATE, period. Don't get fooled by small footprints, the RF 28s with their dual 8¨ woofers produce bass that rival those of 12¨ powered subwoofers.
     
    bluesky, Dave and SandAndGlass like this.
  4. FJosh

    FJosh Forum Resident

    I think you should hear some of these smaller speakers in your setup before dismissing them. A quality 5 to 8" driver in a well designed speaker will sound and image way better than over 95% of the giant 12 to 15" woofers in the 70's and 80's Pioneer/Fisher/Yamaha speakers.

    Are you looking for extreme volumes and large amounts of muddy bass or imaging, sound stage, and clean musical bass?
     
    Shiver, Adam9, F1nut and 1 other person like this.
  5. Ghostworld

    Ghostworld Senior Member

    Location:
    US
    But a big ten inch is best.

    [​IMG]
     
  6. Bananas&blow

    Bananas&blow It's just that demon life has got me in its sway

    Location:
    Pacific Beach, CA
    Those ol' advents sure are a beauty...the way they sound that is. I rocked Advent hockey pucks for 10+ years. Such a natural old school sound.
     
  7. Danby Delight

    Danby Delight Forum Resident

    Location:
    Boston
    This might not be a viable option in Costa Rica, but is there any way you can lay hands on refurbished (re-coned, maybe new crossover, etc.) speakers from the '70s or '80s? I have three systems set up right now, all with refurb late '70s/early '80s-vintage Boston Acoustics (A40s, A60s, A70s) speakers. I spent between $100 and $250 per pair, and I would put them up against any $500-$1000 speaker manufactured today.
     
    Halloween Jack likes this.
  8. Jrr

    Jrr Forum Resident

    The Pioneer bookshelf Elite series speakers are wonderful! If you are patient, you can get a pair of customer returns from Best Buy for around $350. You just have to keep checking with your local BB store if they have a Magnolia audio dept. I have scored two sets and use one pair for an office, modest vinyl set up, and another pair for a high end surround sound system. They sound great, even at the full retail price of $800.
     
  9. Jrr

    Jrr Forum Resident

    I have a pair of Boston Acoustics as well...they are fantastic! They were a bit expensive when I bought them new, maybe $900, but worth every penny. Speakers are a great thing to buy second hand if you know what you are getting as you save a bundle and are still getting amazing audio.
     
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  10. Halloween Jack

    Halloween Jack Forum Resident Thread Starter

    I don't mind the "slim" towers. It's just these small bookshelves that don't seem too interesting. Some have 6inch woofers, and that's good, but I'd prefer a bigger cabinet.

    I understand. And yes, good bass from small cabinets is another thing that I'm worried about.
     
    The Pinhead likes this.
  11. Shiver

    Shiver Forum Resident

    Location:
    UK
    Some speakers belie their size well (try hearing Kudos X2s), especially some small towers, but IME there's no real substitute for moving some air.

    What I'm not keen on as a design is wall-augmented bass from small rear-ported bookshelf speakers. It's a path to 'bass', but has always sounded so artificial.
     
    Bolero and F1nut like this.
  12. HiFi Guy 008

    HiFi Guy 008 Forum Resident

    Location:
    New England

    It depends on the size of your room. What are the dimensions?
     
  13. GuildX700

    GuildX700 Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    That's a real stretch.
     
  14. Baron Von Talbot

    Baron Von Talbot Well-Known Member

    In a small living room these new bookshelves do the job - couple them with a good subwoofer and you get serious sounds even at higher leves. I got the KEF LS50 and hust heard an audiophile DEMO CD Audiophile dreams Vol. 3 with Pop/Blues, nice Jazz and classic from violin quartes over piano and a big symphonie orchestra - Amazing how exact these speakers reproduced the 4 string instruments left front/back right back, right front, even that large syphoniy orchestra was not too big to spot each instrument. Plus these tiny co axial woofers can rock and groove with/without a subwoofer. For some styes a sub is better...I bet the JAMO C 93 sounded just as great ..
     
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  15. timind

    timind phorum rezident

    No "size doesn't matter" comments?
     
    CrazyCatz and lobo like this.
  16. Manimal

    Manimal Forum Resident

    Location:
    Southern US
    Boston Acoustic speakers just sound "right" man. I have a pair of of CR-6 bookshelves I bought new in 98 for rears on a surround system. Later moved them to a second 2 channel bedroom system and was blown away at how good they were. Still have them and will never sell. I read a review somewhere that stated "BA never made a bad speaker":)
    Turned a couple of buddies on to them, and they love them. Peace
     
    soundboy and timind like this.
  17. Halloween Jack

    Halloween Jack Forum Resident Thread Starter

    22 feet long by 16 feet wide.
     
  18. soundboy

    soundboy Senior Member

    The Boston CR-9 is the speaker that the OP wants. Two way bookshelf speakers with 8" woofer are rare and the CR-9 can do without any powered sub to dig deep into the lower frequencies. And it was huge and heavy.

    I had the CR-8 and I regret selling those. The CR series were the last great BA speakers, IMHO.
     
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  19. The Pinhead

    The Pinhead KING OF BOOM AND SIZZLE IN HELL

    Pretty big room. I wouldn't shy away from the beefiest floorstanders I could afford if I were you.
     
  20. Manimal

    Manimal Forum Resident

    Location:
    Southern US
    Yep, and you can find them used for cheap. They won't disappoint.
     
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  21. Otlset

    Otlset I think I am I think

    Location:
    Temecula, CA
  22. murphythecat

    murphythecat https://www.last.fm/user/murphythecat

    Location:
    Canada
    just add a sub. I have had a couple of 12 inch woofers base speakers, and a 2-way + sub gives just as much bass when the sub is properly integrated.

    what a 12 inch invariably offer though is higher spl and less compression, distortion. but for normal spl in small room, I think with a good sub, the small two ways are really good.

    that said, im plannning to build a 15 inch 3 way coaxial.
     
  23. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    Another floor-stander conformist here. After owning Castle Acoustics Conway II's, H 27", W 13.5", D 13.25", with appropriate stands to bring the tweeters to ear level my current Unity Audio floor-standers were a real large eye/ear opener in every way. My room is similar in size to yours, but is not empty.
     
  24. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    Now those I would like to hear. Let us know when you finish them with some thoughts and pictures. :thumbsup:
     
    showtaper likes this.
  25. murphythecat

    murphythecat https://www.last.fm/user/murphythecat

    Location:
    Canada
    will sure do! Hans satink will build this speaker and i will likely do the same!

    plan on using the coaxial 15 inch Oberton CXN3562 15NCX3562 » or CX3572 in open baffle + a tweeter (soft dome scan speak revelator) . (the 3572 have "better" compression driver and will be released soon)

    woofer 20hz-1khz
    Compression driver tweeter 1khz-3khz
    Tweeter 3khz - 20khz.
     
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