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Bookshelf and sub vs tower speakers
- Thread starter TankTop
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Even if the bookshelf version of the towers has plenty of SPL for your needs and the extra bass is wasted in the towers?
What about distortion?
Also there are new-er things in audio like Dirac ART room correction system that will work better with more capable speakers, so towers would not be wasted.
Cogito
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It's not so cut-n-dry... There are many "bookshelf" speakers that offer floorstander like bandwidth performance. Some examples are Adrenal Sound 1528 Bookshelf 8, Aperion Audio Grandis GR8 (What I own), Philharmonic's BMR Monitor, Leak Sandwich 250, Wharfedale Dovedale, KLH Model 5, etc... Of course, if you need ear damaging SPLs, floorstanders will be a better option in most cases.
What would you call a Neuman KH420 or D&D 8? Are they big bookshelves/ big stand mounts? I don't think you can call them towers. In any case they are more capable than the majority of towers on the market. I don't mean to be pedantic but generalizations are often not really helpful.
ZolaIII
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Multiple same driver's out of standing waves will give only +3 dB increase with each x2 of drivers. Most budget tower speakers skimp on enclosure, meanwhile good stands for bookshelf's still have positive impact on received sound. There are good bookshelf's with quite good SPL (100 dB near field each) capabilities of course those aren't exactly small and same goes for studio monitors. Then there is Pro and cinema one's which no one will call bookshelf's al do by use and design they are and intended to build towers using them a top of sub's. You can do very same thing with home HiFi one's or studio monitors but they will never be capable of club or live gigs SPL as they aren't designed for it no matter how much woffer's they might have, they simple don't have tweeters to follow. Bottom line things are never so simple! So always ask your self what you want to accomplish.
I think most of us are aware of capable bookshelves and monitors, including active. The reference, I believe, at least mine, was with respect to standard passive bookshelves vs. standard passive towers. This is where some generalisation is applicable. Every rule aka generalisation has exceptions, so this one has as well.
So on that basis I would agree that towers are not really wasted in the setup that can use its capabilities.
So on that basis I would agree that towers are not really wasted in the setup that can use its capabilities.
- Thread Starter
- #9
Considering good quality bookshelf speakers with matching or high quality stands are about the same price as the tower version… it’s up to you. Also towers are generally more efficient and an easier load on your amplifier.
- Thread Starter
- #10
Yes there are exceptions. I had Dynaudio Contour 20’s (which I really miss) and they could fill a pretty good size living room augmented with a pair of subs. But with the Stand 20 you’re spitting distance from the Contour 30’s. Same goes for many bookshelf versions of towers.
Would you mind giving your thoughts on the Leak 250? There is surprisingly not a ton of info from owners on them. Particularly build quality and sound vs the KLH Model 5 or Lintons/Supers of you have heard them.
Cogito
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The Leak Sandwich 250 was on my shortlist ealier this year when I was shopping for a bookshelf system, but I never got to audition them as there are no local dealers in my area. Anyway, I was able to listen to the KLH model 5 and they were actually quite nice (Built like a tank). They had a full bottom end, but the midrange is where they really shine. Ultimately, I didn't care for the tall & shallow look and went with the Aperion Audio GR8s (Which are visually stunning to me), and to my ears are the better speaker overall. I haven't heard the Wharfedales.
I just looked them up and they are beautiful speakers. Wonder how they sound vs their tower variant.
Cogito
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IMHO They are asking too much for the towers. At $7998.00 a pair, that brings them into a very competitive market of well established and reputable brands (I think 5K would be more realistic, especially when they are also coming out with the dual 8" tower shortly).
Anyway, as to how they would compare, they publish the same frequency bandwidth response 30-42k +/- 3dB (BTW The 30Hz is real with the GR8s, at least in my room), but the tower has the dome midrange, which should change the voicing a bit. The real advantage I see at this point, is that the tower will play a bit louder.
What I can tell you for sure, is that the GR8s have amazing bass capabilities. In fact, it's go good, I don't use my subwoofer anymore. As for the rest of the range, male vocals have zero chestiness/bloat and female vocals simply sound spot-on. Treble is on the ever so slightly warmer side, but still airy (My hearing is limited to 14k). The build quality, from the fit & finish to quality of the binding posts are as good as I've seen at ANY price. I believe the finish is a polyester material (Mine are red), that has an opalescent depth to it that shifts with the viewing angle. It is really quite stunning.
The GR8s are now my main system speakers, replacing my $5,000 towers.
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