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When is a standmount preferred over a floorstander? {NT}

98.193.42.217
Posted on August 6, 2020 at 14:50:35
sisterray
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Location: Northern Illinois
Joined: October 3, 2007
Contributor
  Since: April 28, 2012
"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"

 

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Maybe add additional info for a good response, posted on August 6, 2020 at 16:20:48
Charlie8521
Audiophile

Posts: 914
Location: South East Michigan
Joined: October 2, 2004
 There are fantastic Stand and Floor speakers at various price points. Maybe post the size of your room, amplification power, music preference, what is the distance you will be listening to the speakers from, cost target (and other suggestions by viewers that should be considered). Oh, is there a significant other issue (they may not like big box speakers).

 

RE: When is a standmount preferred over a floorstander? {NT}, posted on August 6, 2020 at 16:21:50
Bigun
Audiophile

Posts: 7
Location: Ontario
Joined: May 24, 2012
 I built some standmount speakers because a) they were easier to make b) much easier to transport for casual listening tests with friends, c) I just fancied the visual appeal after harbouring fond memories of hearing a demo of Totem Model 1's a long time ago

"The test of the machine is the satisfaction it gives you. There isn't any other test. If the machine produces tranquility it's right. If it disturbs you it's wrong until either the machine or your mind is changed."


 

RE: When is a standmount preferred over a floorstander? {NT}, posted on August 6, 2020 at 16:55:08
sisterray
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Posts: 899
Location: Northern Illinois
Joined: October 3, 2007
Contributor
  Since: April 28, 2012
 Bigun -

Those are good reasons.

I'm on the fence when it comes to speakers. I need something to balance out my Stax for times I want music beyond between my ears. I'm a huge fan of single drivers, and intend to build something along that line. This is important because we'll be moving into a small apartment next year. However, I will want something bigger occasionally, so a second pair would be in order. I'm looking at the ELAC Uni-Fi floorstander. I've never heard a coaxial, so that could be fun, and this one should move a fair amount of air.


"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"

 

RE: When is a standmount preferred over a floorstander? {NT}, posted on August 6, 2020 at 17:08:43
Bigun
Audiophile

Posts: 7
Location: Ontario
Joined: May 24, 2012
 I'm not sure if this helps you or not but my experience has been that if you really want to move air, it needs big speakers not just floorstanders. I mean 12" woofers for starters.
Slimline floorstanders don't do much in this area for me. Technically, they make better use of space than a standmount, they offer the length needed for an MLTL type of speaker and you can squeeze in multiple drivers.

"The test of the machine is the satisfaction it gives you. There isn't any other test. If the machine produces tranquility it's right. If it disturbs you it's wrong until either the machine or your mind is changed."


 

RE: When is a standmount preferred over a floorstander? {NT}, posted on August 6, 2020 at 17:09:41
sisterray
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Posts: 899
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Joined: October 3, 2007
Contributor
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 Charlie -

These would be driven by about 50W for orchestral, organ, and some rock into a 13x15 area. My primary pair, the single-drivers, would get more time, playing jazz, solo instruments, and small ensembles. The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning toward a coaxial. KEF & ELAC are two choices. DIY & kit-built are possibilities. Listening distance will likely be about nine feet. I don't want to spend more than $800.


"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"

 

RE: When is a standmount preferred over a floorstander? {NT}, posted on August 6, 2020 at 20:09:12
6bq5
Audiophile

Posts: 4387
Location: SF Bay
Joined: August 16, 2001
 As has been said -
Room
Power (AMP)
Musical choices
Preferences - Yours

I have a number of different speakers, and I love them all-
But what I have set-up and operable/operating varies with room, power and 'use'

I have a pair of ProAc Response 3 with 100wpc amp for the "main rig" in a large irregular room for Vinyl

I have an old pair of GNP being driven by an old Luxman receiver in my Bedroom

In a small LR, I have a pair of the Andrew Jones Pioneer speakers being driven by a Kenwood Multi-media receiver-

and in a second bedroom some Focal stand mounted speakers driven by a Linn Classik-

Which do I prefer -
No,
I like them all-
I listen to different music in each....

Happy Listening

 

If you can swing 1k, posted on August 7, 2020 at 06:43:00
G Squared
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Posts: 8486
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  Since: May 23, 2023
 The evaluation is are the stand mount speakers plus the stand a better value than a floor stander.

Zu Dirty Omens may be just the thing. Some synergy with single driver design and a great speaker that does not need a lot of power at an insane price, if you don't go crazy on the finish and upgrades. Although I might bite the bullet on the cap upgrade. No stands needed.
Gsquared

 

The old adage, "Big speakers, big problems." nt, posted on August 7, 2020 at 09:42:42
viridian
 Nt

 

RE: I'm old and I never heard that one before , posted on August 7, 2020 at 10:06:27
B. Scarpia
 Don't how it became an adage.

"a proverb or short statement expressing a general truth."

Where's the general truth?

 

Just keep looking....one day you will find it, Socrates. nt, posted on August 7, 2020 at 12:53:44
viridian
 Nt

 

Try PI, posted on August 7, 2020 at 14:44:36
Phil_S
Audiophile

Posts: 1145
Location: Washington DC
Joined: July 17, 2003
 Very efficient. Should sound very good w/50 watts. Especially DIY, you could do VERY well with an $800 budget.

I have zero affiliation with the vendor.

 

RE: The guy with the lantern was Diogenes but then you're always a little off, aren't you? *, posted on August 7, 2020 at 15:34:08
B. Scarpia

 

Thought it was "Big women, big problems"... , posted on August 7, 2020 at 15:47:12
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31878
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 oh, wait, wrong site!

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

No newbie you are the one that lives in the dark., posted on August 7, 2020 at 16:56:16
viridian
 And elevates boorish pedantry to an art form.

 

RE: The old adage, "Big speakers, big problems." nt, posted on August 7, 2020 at 20:33:41
hahax@verizon.net
Audiophile

Posts: 4309
Location: New Jersey
Joined: March 22, 2006
 And a friend of mine's mantra was a GOOD big one beats a good little one every time.

 

I have heard that as well. nt, posted on August 9, 2020 at 21:18:36
viridian
 Nt

 

NEVER, posted on August 10, 2020 at 15:08:15
cawson@onetel.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2381
Joined: September 27, 2004
 Why waste the space under a standmount?

The stand itself costs money and contributes nothing. That space should be properly used to improve the bass in particular, with a bigger speaker taking no more floor space than the standmount.

 

Amen! (NT), posted on August 10, 2020 at 15:10:39
Kal Rubinson
Reviewer

Posts: 12436
Location: New York
Joined: June 5, 2002

 

RE: NEVER, posted on August 10, 2020 at 16:41:39
sisterray
Audiophile

Posts: 899
Location: Northern Illinois
Joined: October 3, 2007
Contributor
  Since: April 28, 2012
 Good reasoning.


"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"

 

Perhaps when the best available space for the speakers results in poor bass performance?, posted on August 12, 2020 at 08:01:29
David S.
Audiophile

Posts: 3552
Location: Mountains of WNC
Joined: August 31, 2000
 Sometimes, you just don't have any choice as to where the speakers are positioned, but have some freedom of placement with respect to a subwoofer or two?

Or? Perhaps there is a series of loudspeakers that you REALLY love the sound of, but can only afford the smallest in the line. Add a subwoofer, and you get 90+% of the "house sound" at 20% of the price. (In my case, that was B&W N805s paired with a Von Schweikert subwoofer - was FANTASTIC, and got me REALLY close to what an N802 would have done in the same space.)

 

Sure but, around here, I always hesitate............................., posted on August 12, 2020 at 09:17:54
Kal Rubinson
Reviewer

Posts: 12436
Location: New York
Joined: June 5, 2002
 to mention subwoofers, bass management, DSP, etc.

 

RE: Agreed., posted on August 13, 2020 at 07:42:01
tketcham
Audiophile

Posts: 6701
Location: East of the 100th meridian USofA
Joined: March 21, 2005
Contributor
  Since: October 1, 2005
 I have the space for floor-standers and I still prefer stand-mounts and subwoofers because I can position the subs for the best low frequency output, that is, minimizing inherent room modes. If my stereo room had acoustically optimized dimensions, construction, and treatments I'd use full-range floor standers. But I'm not working with a perfect acoustic space so I use the best two-way speakers I could audition (and afford) in combination with a pair of DSP-controlled powered subwoofers.

The stand-mounts have been located and oriented so they provide a good sound stage and tonal balance for the listening area. The subwoofers have been situated to minimize room modes and individually configured for best phase and volume levels to match the speakers and the room. I also use a Loki mini tone control to roll off the lowest frequencies to the mains.

I don't make bets but I'd say that I probably have better output from my speaker setup than I would if I were using full-range floor-standers. At least in my listening room.

Tom

 

RE: When is a standmount preferred over a floorstander? {NT}, posted on August 13, 2020 at 14:39:34
LtMandella
 Unless the speakers have *very* non-resonant cabinet, I have found that smaller cabinets are better for imaging and "clarity" of midrange.

ALL the smaller speakers I have owned have given me better imaging and "cleaner" midrange than any of the floor standers I have owned.

Bass inevitably won't go as low of course...

 

RE: When is a standmount preferred over a floorstander? {NT}, posted on August 15, 2020 at 21:40:46
immatthewj
 Sisterray, t5he reason i went with two ways on stands (B&W 805s) was that I started my system out as an audio video system (this was back in the days of Dolby Prologic), & after I bought my processor, the next thing I bought was a big sub. Stuff kind of revolved around that sub, so therefore, even though I could (at the time) afford floor standers, what I was doing & what I was doing with my system led me to go with two-ways. I think the 805 (back then it was the Matrix series) is a pretty good little speaker, it strikes me as fast & dynamic, however the sub probably doesn't stand up to the quality of the speakers it is supporting & therefore, although I definitely have bass, it is probably not in the best synchrrony with the speakers.

If you were wanting your system to do home thaeter & double as your listening system, I'd think that 2 ways with a sub would have to be the way to go.

As for me, I never got past prologic & VHS (& now a days when I watch a movie I settle for what ever sound my TV produces, so if I could afford to start over, it would be with floor standers.

 

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