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Re: Mini monitors in a big room ?

Posted by David Aiken (A) on May 6, 2007 at 13:13:25

In Reply to: Mini monitors in a big room ? posted by Lambda on May 5, 2007 at 13:06:25:

There are a few issues but probably the biggest is bass response. Most monitors have limited bass response. Rooms do provide increased support for bass frequencies below the frequency of the lowest room mode but most monitors are already rolling off considerably by that frequency so this doesn't help them much, if at all. On the other hand there are some monitors with reasonably extended—for monitors—bass response and they will work much better. I don't know what you mean by "a big room" but I use Dynaudio Contour 1.3 SEs quite happily in a 2500 cu ft room which is permanently open to other areas of the house because of 2 archway entrances which have no doors. The 1.3 SEs have a -3 dB point of 37 Hz, better than quite a few floorstanders, and there are other monitors with similar extension. I'd look for monitors with their lower -3 dB point below 40 Hz.

There is a cost to pay for the bass extension and it's sensitivity. These aren't going to be sensitive speakers so you're going to be looking at amps of at least 100 w ch, probably more, in order to drive the speakers.

Speaker placement counts. Near field or similar setups will probably produce the best results. You're close enough to the speaker to limit the drop in volume with increased listening distance and the bigger room allows you to get the speakers further away from wallls to reduce the impact of early reflections, provided of course that the room isn't being used for purposes that limit where the speakers can be placed.

As Klaus suggests, there are going to be issues if you like large scale symphonic music or other music which works best on larger speakers. You shouldn't have problems with chamber music and small group jazz and acoustic music.

With the right mix of speaker, placement, and music things can work reasonably well. With the wrong mix it won't work well at all. Like most things the end results depend on suitability and imlementation. Get things right and you could be quite happy. Get them wrong and you'll never be satisfied with the setup.

David Aiken

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