floorstanding or no

[bigen27]

Hello all and sorry if this has been asked 1000 times but I'm looking at getting new speakers and was wondering if floor standing speakers were worth investing in? I mostly just watch TV or play video games put I do like to listen to music. So 70% HT 30 music. What do you guys think?

[Deleted]

No one can answer this for you. We can give you our own biased opinion but in the end you have to decide what is best for your room, setup, and sound. I love floor standing speakers. Mainly because I don't want to add a sub to my two channel, and I have the space for them. Sound wise is going to be a push. Floor standing and bookshelf speakers can sound excellent. Usually with the bookshelfs it is advised to get a sub as they don't go as low as some floor standing speakers.

Take your time and try to listen to as many different speakers you can to try to isolate the one your ears like the best. If you don't have any audio dealers close by then it is a game of chance to pick the speakers from reviews, and people opinions.

Good luck on your search, and let us know your decision when you are ready to pull the trigger.

[hemster]

Will you be using a subwoofer too?

Given a choice I'd opt for floor-standing speakers versus bookshelf. Certainly for music but also for TV and a bit less so for games.

Floor standing > bookshelf, unless you have space/room/WAF limitations.

[ncred02]

some monitor speakers will outrun some floor standers. But be ready to fork over some cash. I have had both and always return to floor standing towers, but thats my taste

[copperpipe]

Feb 26, 2016 18:04:35 GMT -5 hemster said:

Will you be using a subwoofer too?

Given a choice I'd opt for floor-standing speakers versus bookshelf. Certainly for music but also for TV and a bit less so for games.

Floor standing > bookshelf, unless you have space/room/WAF limitations.

I'd agree with that, but then add (probably the obvious): Some bookshelfs are far > some floor standers. Generally though, in the same speaker series, the floor stander will sound better but it also costs more. But maybe the bookshelf from "brand / model X" sounds better and costs less (or same) as floor stander from "brand / model Y". No hard / golden rules here WRT bookshelf / floorstander.

[hemster]

Feb 26, 2016 18:08:34 GMT -5 copperpipe said:

Feb 26, 2016 18:04:35 GMT -5 hemster said:

Will you be using a subwoofer too?

Given a choice I'd opt for floor-standing speakers versus bookshelf. Certainly for music but also for TV and a bit less so for games.

Floor standing > bookshelf, unless you have space/room/WAF limitations.

I'd agree with that, but then add (probably the obvious): Some bookshelfs are far > some floor standers. Generally though, in the same speaker series, the floor stander will sound better but it also costs more. But maybe the bookshelf from "brand / model X" sounds better and costs less (or same) as floor stander from "brand / model Y". No hard / golden rules here WRT bookshelf / floorstander.

I'm not comparing apples with oranges. So although implied, any particular brand's floorstander > that same brand's bookshelf. Pretty much a form-factor thing and here size does matter. Some bookshelves allow eq settings to compensate for boundary effect (e.g. Airmotivs from Emotiva) which can help. 

[teaman]

Personally I prefer towers but not everyone's living space can accommodate them. I find towers offer more bottom end for the most part, especially if you are not going to run a sub. If I were going with book shelf speakers than I would aim for a three way. Personally I am a big fan of the Klipsch Heresy. Nice full range performance from a smaller floor stander/ bookshelf that can be paired well with a sub.

[Loop 7]

I think stand mounted speakers (bookshelfs) look better in small rooms.

[bigen27]

Thanks for the replies guys. Honestly I'm not sure what iI'm going to do, I thought about starting with a pair of floor standing and center or get something like monitor audio bx2 an center. Or I thought about going with the pioneer sppk52 5.0 with a bic f12 sub that way I could up grade a little at a time. Just not sure that buying entry level floor standing is worth it. An know that my question is a loaded question but just wanted to hear some opinions.

[Percussionista]

Feb 26, 2016 19:50:04 GMT -5 bigen27 said:

Thanks for the replies guys. Honestly I'm not sure what iI'm going to do, I thought about starting with a pair of floor standing and center or get something like monitor audio bx2 an center. Or I thought about going with the pioneer sppk52 5.0 with a bic f12 sub that way I could up grade a little at a time. Just not sure that buying entry level floor standing is worth it. An know that my question is a loaded question but just wanted to hear some opinions.

On the opinion of "entry level" I guess it depends on what price range you think you are going to be in. For example, if you can wait a little bit, there will be the T1 small towers from Emo, at $349 each speaker. Existing now there are speakers like SVS's Prime Towers at $499 each speaker.

It also depends on how hard you are trying to listen ahead of time at a dealer, or are willing to go direct from the manufacturer with a 30 day return policy (personally I hate to return stuff, and big speakers would be high on my list). Emo and SVS are both returnable after auditioning, and both (will) have reasonably priced SW's to go with the mains. Lots (bazillions) of other choices of course! Emo's new gear might even be at a retailer near you from their list of new brick-and-mortar dealers.

Otherwise, my opinion is... definitely go with towers ;-) I would only consider "bookshelf" on a stand if they could handle the power and would radiate as good a soundstage as towers - with all the heft implied. I did temporarily try Stealth-8's on stands in my HT in place of my Vandersteen towers just to see how they did - no problem on power, they were big and bold (Star Trek movie), but on music they did not have the soundstage; yes wide, no on height/depth. Great clarity though.

[MusicHead]

Something to be said is that tower speakers have often multiple mid drivers, giving them an efficiency and midrange presence advantage.

At the same time, with many drivers vertically aligned they will sound at their best at a distance.

Also, unlike bookshelf speakers + subwoofer, you may have cases where positioning is good for imaging but not for bass.

Just my $0.02

[guitarforlife]

IMHO, The biggest bang for the buck that sound awesome. Are Maggie MMG's(you can return them if you do not like them) use your existing sub with them and you would be pleased by what you hear. I'm Not a HT guy so I have my TV hooked up though my stereo 2.1 stereo.
I think it sounds great. I do not do surround sound my biggest concern is Music not TV.
I never play games tough so I cant comment on that aspect of it.

[simpleman68]

A lot of good advice here already given.

I have a complete Paradigm 5 speaker, matching set for sale here if it is of interest. Speakers have very low hours on them and are in near new condition.

emotivalounge.proboards.com/thread/45585/early-spring-cleaning-speakers-amps

Scott

[Boomzilla]

Well, bookshelf speakers at least have the potential to image better than multi-driver towers (KEF LS-50s come to mind). But if you want bass...

[mshump]

If there are any places around you to audition speakers, I would really suggest that. Buying speakers is very personal as far as sound wise( what sounds good to one person, may sound like garbage to another) Take some cds with you, have them run similar source equipment as you have at home. I have heard some great bookshelves and great towers. I myself prefer towers. If you have some good power and space you could look at a set of Magnepan MMG's. They are not the speaker for everyone but one heck of a deal for the price, but you would need a sub with them.

Mark

[ottaone]

There used to be a section on the Emo site that recommends systems based on a budget but I can't find it. Maybe others can point to it.

If I were to start from somewhere today, I would go with the Airmotiv 6s or Stealth 6s, a pair of 10" or 12" subs, and a UMC-1. Wait, I think that's what I have.:-)

And, assuming that you're in the US, the combo above wouldn't cost much more than a pair of a decent floorstanding speakers and you can enjoy music, movies, games.

[bigen27]

Thanks for all the replies. Firstly Scott I wish I could but those speakers of your's are out of my price range. Think might just do do a speaker package and upgrade as I can plus I can play around with different set ups that way as well.

[garbulky]

If you are on a budget please tell us what. The more specifics you can give the better we can help you. Speaker packages. If you are going surround sound, I am not sure why you would want to on a budget. Here's how I look at it. Now instead of spending limited money on two speakers. You are going to be spending it on an reciever of some sort, maybe a multichannel power amp and five speakers. Better in my opinion to spend it on the front two speakers that get most of the work than splitting up limited funds towards more ( and worse) speakers.

Then later work on getting surround if you like.
I think it's less costly this way. Otherwise you risk rebuying your front speakers when they are not as good as what you wanted because you spent money on all the surrounds.

[yves]

For movies and gaming I think surround sound is almost compulsory... how big is your screen, and at what distance from it do you sit? Not sure what your budget is like.

[bigen27]

I have a 55 in TV which I sit eight feet from my budget is about 600.