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Speaker Asylum General speaker questions for audio and home theater. |
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Speaker Asylum General speaker questions for audio and home theater. |
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In Reply to: RE: Big speakers + small room = Bad? posted by John Elison on June 28, 2012 at 15:43:09:
Currently, my "big" stereo resides in the smallest room in which I've ever had a stereo system. With a pair of nearly full range floor standers (NHT Model 2 -- 40Hz-22kHz) plus a powered subwoofer (M&K 12", also sealed cabinet), I'm getting great sound in a room that's just about 12'x15'x9' (speakers along 12' front wall). I actually have two more 2.1 stereos in this room at the moment - the TV setup and the laptop's "desktop" system - each consisting of a pair of mini-monitors and a subwoofer. Though it's perhaps not entirely fair to compare the little systems against their bigger, "featured" sibling, I do notice a distinct advantage with the big system.
Disregarding the TV system for the moment (I do care about it, but not nearly as much as I care about the other two), while the computer's system sounds great, there's simply no contest with the larger system. Without question, the big system sounds more "life size". The computer's system is in the probable process of sounding even better with the trickling in of a couple more components over the next couple weeks (new "fuller range" satellite speakers and a small hybrid tube/ss amp).
I'm curious to hear what will happen with the following changes to the computer's system...
Currently:
Digital USB from computer to Bifrost DAC (big system has its own Bifrost)
NHT Super Zero mini-monitors (low end of frequency range being -3dB at 85Hz)
HSU Research STF-1 subwoofer (down firing 8", ported, pretty large cabinet). With the Super Zero's low end already rolled off at 85Hz, the HSU sub's "high end" of 90Hz is cutting it pretty close, though the combination is sounding pretty good. Still though, I'm working on getting small speakers with a lower low end, to take some pressure off the sub.
Dayton DTA-100a Tripath 50 wpc integrated amp
Coming changes (orders placed - now on their way):
1) Napa Acoustics NA-208S ported mini-monitors (low end of frequency range - 55Hz)
2) Maverick Audio TubeMagic A1 hybrid tube/class A/B integrated amp (20 wpc)
To be fair:
I don't expect either the 50 wpc Tripath or the 20 wpc hybrid to compete with the big stereo's 50 wpc pure class A Forté 4a. Nor do I expect the 8" HSU sub to compete with the M&K 12", but I must say, that little HSU goes surprisingly low, with high quality sound!
As mentioned above however, there's no way around the reality here - the "big" system is far and away the most "life size" and pleasing sound in this small room.
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Follow Ups
- On the other hand, sometimes floor standers plus subwoofer works in a small room... - willkayakforfood 16:35:23 06/29/12 (1)
- I agree! However, I still like small speakers in a small room... - John Elison 21:37:50 06/29/12 (0)
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