Have Slim Floorstanding Speakers "Had Their Day?"

[fpitas]

New item by daniel quintanal

photos.app.goo.gl

Radial horns never go out of style

 

[MattHooper]

Yes- mine are modified from the original design (described on my website) but have the same drivers and geometry. I haven't heard every new modern speaker, but after hearing a lot of the contenders in some homes and at audio shows, I haven't felt like any were a step up. The Kantor approach to stereo is, I think, particularly effective but doesn't lend itself to the Harman or Klippel paradigms.

Cool!

I'm curious about one more thing. It was so long ago, but I have this strong recollection of the soundstage being very strictly contained between the speakers, vs some of the more airy/spacious presentations of other speakers. I just double checked the stereophile review which mentioned the same impression from the 3.3s.

Do you find it to be the case of the sound being sort of hard-limited between the speakers? And if so, are you good with that, or perhaps prefer that sort of precision vs other presentations?

 

[SIY]

Cool!

I'm curious about one more thing. It was so long ago, but I have this strong recollection of the soundstage being very strictly contained between the speakers, vs some of the more airy/spacious presentations of other speakers. I just double checked the stereophile review which mentioned the same impression from the 3.3s.

Do you find it to be the case of the sound being sort of hard-limited between the speakers? And if so, are you good with that, or perhaps prefer that sort of precision vs other presentations?

It is very recording dependent. Which is, IMO, as it should be.

Note that if you don't set them up correctly, you won't get the imaging and soundstage "magic." Most setups I've heard have them too widely spaced which paradoxically causes soundstage restriction.

 

[Holdt]

I never followed trends. I've had all speaker types. Settled with large old Infinity Kappas and happier than ever. I appreciate the looks of some tall slim floor standers though.

 

[egellings]

Obviously there's a lot more nuance than is implied in my sort of click-baitish title (had to keep it short), but...

The question was partially inspired by my listening to this podcast:

Why BIGGER loudspeakers are BETTER​

‎Darko.Audio podcast: Why BIGGER loudspeakers are BETTER on Apple Podcasts

‎Show Darko.Audio podcast, Ep Why BIGGER loudspeakers are BETTER - Apr 23, 2023

podcasts.apple.com

Where Peter Comeau if AIG talks about designing the larger new Wharfedale Dovedale speakers, and why smaller/slim speakers tend to be a compromise:





Clearly this is yet another speaker in the trendy "bringing back old school big box wider baffle speaker design" trend, at least in the audiophile world. And it's more that trend, than the specific podcast, that I'm thinking of. Though not strictly limited to the old-school designs...really anything on the subject of why bigger/wider speakers may be desirable vs the slimmer speakers.

Of course any manufacturer/designer can come up with an excuse to hop on the "old school box speaker" design trend. (I'm looking at you, Mo-Fi).

But nonetheless, some make the case based on claims like how bigger speakers are easier to design to sound rich and full, how they can get around some of the baffle-step problems that lead many slim speakers to a lack of body/richness/scale etc.

The arguments for jumping out of the slim speaker paradigm is that the goal of trying to make speakers ever more domestically acceptable pushed speaker designers to ever thinner speakers, with smaller drivers, (and lower sensitivity) which tend to compromise sound for looks.

Personally, I caught the narrow floorstanding speaker "bug" when I heard Audio Physic Virgo speakers in the 90's, and later owned several Audio Physic models. I really loved the way they did not take up much visual space and "disappeared" as apparent sources of the sound, with a big airy soundstage etc.

On the other hand I've also come to appreciate a bigger, beefier sound from some of the more old-school wider-baffle/bigger driver designs. So...I like both.

At the moment I'm using Joseph Perspective floor standing speakers, the very definition of "small, domestically acceptable slim floor standing speaker," which tries to pack a big sound in a smallish speaker. I went back and forth between these and some of the bigger more old school designs. The wider speakers didn't ultimately suit the needs of my room, and I have to say I still quite enjoy the sort of magic act of sitting between widely spaced slim speakers that take up so little visual space yet seem to conjure up a vast soundscape.


What are your thoughts? Did you ever like any slim floor standing speakers? Are you "over them" and happy to go with beefier looking (sounding?) speakers that don't put a slim profile as a premium? And of course any arguments against the 'slim floor standing speakers are compromised' are welcome. (For instance, the new KEF LS60 has been very well received).

I have had a pair of ProAc Response Three Point Eight floor standers that ate 5 feet tall, 8 inches wide, and about 18 inches deep for about 20 years now, and I am still happy with them.

 

[jkasch]

what about “tapered” speakers ?

I like mine. !0" woofer, but they image very well.

 

[MarkS]

Are those DIY? They look very professional!

 

[mhardy6647]

FWIW.

yowza!

 

[jkasch]

Are those DIY? They look very professional!

Selah Audio. Rick Craig (RIP) did a great job on them.

 

[CDMC]

FWIW.

(It is incumbent on me to credit the source: https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/measurements/pmc_gb1/)

That is one of the smoothest impedence curves I have ever seen.

 

[LouB]

Had cheap big box speakers in the 80's, changed over to slim towers early 90's had a KEF model can't remember which one & now using Paradigm SE 3 towers both used with a sub. I'm about to pull the trigger on JBL L100 classics & ditch the sub. I used to run a surround system with an Yamaha AVR. I scaled back to 2 channel only & with a large woofer in the JBL's I can't imagine needing a sub.
(movies excluded)

 

[Colonel7]

I think it’s more like wide speakers are having a popular moment (again). Not that I mind. Nice thing about DIY is if you want to try something you just build it.

 

[idv_42]

Had cheap big box speakers in the 80's, changed over to slim towers early 90's had a KEF model can't remember which one & now using Paradigm SE 3 towers both used with a sub. I'm about to pull the trigger on JBL L100 classics & ditch the sub. I used to run a surround system with an Yamaha AVR. I scaled back to 2 channel only & with a large woofer in the JBL's I can't imagine needing a sub.
(movies excluded)

I wouldn't argue that the JBL L100 Classic doesn't need a subwoofer.
Although it depends on the content, of course.

First screenshot - JBL L100 Classic + Michi X3; second screen - KEF LS60 (in the same place; wall mode - off / treble trim - 0 / bass extension - extra).

 

[AM88]

FWIW.

(It is incumbent on me to credit the source: https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/measurements/pmc_gb1/)

Well that explains it then. Shame they didn’t sound better, as they did look very nice. I wonder why they had such a huge dip in the 150hz region? I often eq this area down a few db myself with speakers that sound boomy either because of room gain or because the speaker is bass heavy. Perhaps this was an attempt to mitigate this problem by pmc.

 

[MattHooper]

I think it’s more like wide speakers are having a popular moment (again). Not that I mind. Nice thing about DIY is if you want to try something you just build it.
View attachment 283090

"Don't Shoot!" Looks like an execution

Did the speaker sound any good?

 

[MattHooper]

Speaking of going the opposite route of small and slim speakers...

I haven't heard these speakers at the audio shows but they actually get pretty good word of mouth. As I understand it, this guy's idea is that multiple speakers are better at reproducing the sense of instrumental variety in an orchestra. I have to say I have some sympathy with the intuition. Having played around with my L/C/R and surround speakers for music, especially with one of the modes that creates a stereo mix with the L/C/R speakers, I do find something seems added when more speakers are thrown at the job. One thing is size and heft to the sound, but another is that instrumental timbres seem a bit more varied to my ears, less homogenized. I've gone back and forth between strict stereo mode using my L/R speaker and stereo modes using my L/C/R and also all surround speakers, and that's what I keep hearing.

So I have a feeling I'd probably like what I heard from that wacky system.

 

[Colonel7]

"Don't Shoot!" Looks like an execution

Did the speaker sound any good?

That was to get driver measurements in box so still prototyping - have another 10" driver to test as well. Will let you know how it sounds

 

[Digby]

The above speakers in MattHooper's post look like something out of movie, that might just become sentient and attack at any moment.

I don't think slim speakers have had their day, because most (outside America) tend to live in relatively small homes. I do think that big(ger) speakers present a sense of scale/dynamics that smaller (thinner?) ones cannot. Don't ask me why, but many have noticed it, so I believe there is something to it.

 

[fpitas]

Nice speakers, but to short.

Tad used to make nice wood stands for their horn speakers for domestic use, that lifted and tilted them slightly back. I avoided the problem by stacking my MTM array on the woofer.

 

[fpitas]

The above speakers in MattHooper's post look like something out of movie, that might just become sentient and attack at any moment.

I don't think slim speakers have had their day, because most (outside America) tend to live in relatively small homes. I do think that big(ger) speakers present a sense of scale/dynamics that smaller (thinner?) ones cannot. Don't ask me why, but many have noticed it, so I believe there is something to it.

Wives here generally prefer slim speakers, from what I've gathered. Less obtrusive or something.