floorstanders vs bookshelf (1 Viewer)

[Sam A]

what would you do and why? what feateures to look for and why
I have been ordered to find new mains and a center for my house. they need to pass my girlfriend's designer eye. she's suggested Kef XQ speakers, but those are too expensive. can someone help me?
Please do not suggest axiom or fluance.

 

[John Garcia]

Not to be harsh, but do a search, this has been covered endlessly.

What's the budget? What's wrong with Axiom?

 

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

Sam,

IMO it depends mostly on room size. Floor standing speakers tend to have more prodigious bass output than bookshelf models. If you have a large living room/family room you may need that capability.

However if we’re talking about a small room, perhaps bedroom-sized, you don’t need speakers with tons of bass output. They’ll just sound muddy.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[Sam A]

I dont know why I keep using it today, but the word of the day is fugly and axiom exudes it.
actally I was looking at hammer dynamics speakers. they look nice and have a high eficiency and they arent 'towers of speakers' wayne, any experience with these?

 

[Richard_B]

Sam A,

Take a look at www.AV123.com, ELTs, Rockets and Refs all tend to pass the girlfriend/wife acceptance factor. They have many choices in both floorstanding and bookshelf speakers and the product lines cover many price points.

Goodluck

 

[Sam A]

been there, big no for all of them. I dont want AND she doesnt want towers of speakers. grilles will not be on the speakers.

besides, they look so cheap. especially the sonus faber knockoffs.

 

[John Garcia]

Yeah, Axiom doesn't exactly look great, but they sound good. I know, looks are a factor here. (IMO, the Gallos are fugly )

I like grills off on my speakers, but the Mordaunts I leave on (even though they look good with them off).

If you want interesting looking, there's always: http://www.norh.com/

KEFs are decent. Haven't heard the XQs yet, but the Refs are very nice. B&W 700 series are attractive, but not cheap either.

You're the first person I've heard say the Rockets looked cheap.

 

[Sam A]

thanks for keeping up with me john, we are just overwhelmed at the amount of speaker companies, designs, philosophies, blah blah blah. a stereo shop across town has b&w's, ill go check the 700's out tonite.

 

[Richard_B]

Wow - I have never heard anyone ever say any Onix speaker looks cheap. Well I don't know what you're looking for. If you have seen an Onix speaker in person and you still feel that way, you're a very hard man to please. If you have not seen them in person I'd bet your mind would probably change. I think you'd be shocked if you knew how many different companies these guys built cabinets for.

Curious - Do you even care how they sound?

Do you want a more exotic type of speaker?

Do you have a budget in mind, I see you're gonna look at B&Ws so you must have some money to spend.

Anthony Gallo Speakers would probably please your GF.

 

[Sam A]

Curious - Do you even care how they sound?
- well duh [no offence] but Ive been told on other forums that my CV's are pieces of shit and they sound like crap. I love them. to each his/her own huh? so yes, but obviously I 'dont know good sound' as someone on another forum put it. yes I care how they sound, that is why I havent agreed to bose speakers. I want at least my front 2 to be very musical. I mentioned Hammer Dynamics in a post above but noone seems to have heard them. I guess because of the CV's Im a fan of the one large woofer instead of multiple drivers. I really detest the look of multiple drivers. just my opinion.

Do you want a more exotic type of speaker?

well she really liked the B&W cm2 we heard last night. it was OK, but no punch, but I guess nowadays thats the subs job.


Do you have a budget in mind, I see you're gonna look at B&Ws so you must have some money to spend.

yes and no. I realize its not as easy anymore as buying 2 speakers and a good quality receiver. its 7 speakers, a HUGE MF sub, power enough to run them all, the a processor to make it sound good, and other components, and if I want multichannel music I have to do more and more and...then its all gotta be hidden .

here is the breakdown of what weve agreed upon, I just have to verify the $$$. 4 Mourant Short "genie" speakers for the surrounds, and B&W CM2 for the mains and the matching center. for the amps and dvd players, processors and whatnot, we have yet to decide. and thats another thread.

 

[JohnSmith]

If you can afford a high quality pair- floorstanders. But none under £900.

The "features" of a floorstnader would be great sound, high quality fit & finish, good drivers.

Checkout Ruark PROLOGUE II..

http://www.ruark.co.uk/ruark/prod_pages/contemp.htm

 

[Richard_B]

Sam A,

If you like the Mordaunt Short Speakers the website Accessories 4 Less carries some of their products. I have used these guys before to purchase some equipment and everything was first rate service.

 

[Sam A]

thanks Richard, ill give them a call to see if the genies are coming in.

 

[ernie.bin]

I own paradigm studios, don't think rockets are nearly as attractive as everyone else does, agree that axioms are butt, and I get a hard on looking at the bare front maple / silver energy connoisseur speakers.

They sound quite nice too. If not for my paradigms, the energys would be next in line for me.

 

[Sam A]

got to hear martin logan speakers hooked up to Mcintosh 500 watt monoblock amp. Icame 3 times

OH MY GOSH!!!!! I was in heaven. wish I could afford that setup

now i need to find amps that will run my system. Im sure 500 watts per channel is overkill but man the choices/prices are killing me. any help is appreciated.

 

[Evan M.]

Is it just me who is suprised at some of the "content" on this thread??? I am in NO WAY offended but jeesh'... I don't think Ron or the mods would like this thread too much.......

 

[Sam A]

evan, as a side note and as the one who started this thread, I feel I can safely ask why you feel this way? what comments exactly do not fit?

"I don't think Ron or the mods would like this thread too much....... " if you plan on hijacking my thread, please have info to back it up. I am not offended, just wish you would leave examples and give your own opinion. I must ask, have you ever listened to martin logans with 500 watt mono Mcintosh amps?

it does irk me that you came in but offered nothing else to this thread, like what systems you have heard and why you would choose a bookshelf over floorstanders, or whatever.

 

[Evan M.]

LOL!!! "what comments esxactly do not fit?"

I thought it was obvious but you are correct I should have explained instead of just throwing in my 2 cents.

I was referring to the....."I get a hard on looking at the bare front......."

and the nice little comment you said that is behind the spoiler box .
I have been a member of this forum for almost 3 years and I have never seen comments like those on this forum go by with nobody saying anything. Generaly this is a pretty "clean" forum. I am sure that you would agree with me after you have been here long enough. I see that you are new to this forum so let me welcome you aboard and apologize if you felt I "hijaked" your thread. Not my intention at all.....I just did not want to see somebody who is new here lose any posting priveledges because of a few comments that many people here consider rude. I agree with you and should have explained my comments better. At any rate......

I am in the process of purchasing a se of ML's. I have had my eye on the Mosaics for little over a year. I am a huge fan of ML's and their elecrostats but the funds just are not avilable for me to land them. I found the Mosaics, with their ATF technology to be cloe to the stats' though and more in my price range.
I prefer floorstanders over BS's but it is more for aesthetic reasons to be honest with you. I simply do not like stands. I also have a larger room and an old set of BS's that I had just did not "cut it". As for speakers that look nice.....I really like anything that has a wood finish or heck....a decent veneer is fine. I like the looks of ML, Rockets and the "new" Paraadigm Signature line is absolutely gorgeous but pretty pricey. Best of luck to you in your search and of course......no hard feelings !!

 

[Sam A]

well evan, some are a bit more passionate about their stereo and audio . thanks for the reply, i really appreciate it. im sick of trollers and flamers. yeah, it was off the cuff, but they had the Mcintosh amps pinned, or the needle was showing that it was using all 500 watts!!! . it really was a wonderful experience, the great thing is that they invited me to come back with my cd's to test their system out.

Sadly budget does indeed restrict the toys we buy. I have decided on B&W BS's and center with wall/ceiling mount type of surrounds which I hope to be genie Morant Shorts [if I can find them online]

good luck with your ML purchase, I know you will enjoy them. please let us know how the mosaics work for you.