Who needs big speakers?

Are you the sort of audiophile who needs big speakers? Do you crave big dynamics, lots of bass, play REALLY loud from time to time, and/or have a king size room? If so, you might need large speakers.
Thumbnail photo by Big Wes Bender!
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[@jan.lotvall]

For me, the most important feature in a speaker is that it should sound amazing when played at low volume.

[@henriksrensen3220]

Yes, I agree 👍

[@guvenayaz]

What speaker do you use, low volume quality is a priority for me too

[@henriksrensen3220]

@@guvenayaz Im not sure It's me you are asking, but I use Audiovector r1 arrete

[@KevlarCondom]

So... Headphones? Im a dick.

[@tejkarangehlot4741]

Yes very true ..

[@donvito8652]

After dabbling in home audio the better part of the last 60 years I think one thing has never changed...You can't break the laws of physics! Some manufacturers may give the impression they can bend them a little bit but all in all if you want more bass energy from your speakers in your system like Steve says: "Size matters"

[@99thDimension]

Today's mfg are driven by how many they can fit in a shipping container in CHINA...build local yourself.

[@cuttinchops]

I.e. That company that has no highs and no lows? I can’t remember who makes those overpriced “white van” style speakers with good marketing again, who was that? They also had amazing crossover points too! Lol

[@brydon10]

Axiom M80. Great bass - made in Canada.

[@Sylvan_dB]

more bass, more volume, needs more size.

[@pnnielsen]

Yes, size still matters for speakers. Not much have changed in 50 years. However, on the amplifier front the same can't be said. Today we have cool running digital amps without bulky and heavy transformers. A good amp used to weigh in at 100lbs easily. Today a much more powerful amp can be had at only a fraction of the weight and size...

[@davidh.7305]

I added a Rythmik 15” sealed sub to my system. What I love is what it does to all music and movies. Can’t live without it. It basically disappears sonically until the source demands it, and then wow!

[@thecheese2386]

A big THANK YOU goes to you ! I retired 3 weeks ago and found a set of used Klipschorns and a LaScala for my home theater. WOW they are amazing. I have always had to use my space for both audio and video. I can finally do both with the Klipschorns. Following your channel steered me in the right direction. Thank you

[@christinearmington]

Wow 🤩. Congratulations 🎉🍾🎊🎈

[@floydloonie4880]

Bobs your Uncle Dude!!! NICE !!! Do you need a babysitter for your stereo!??

[@FelixtheMetalcat]

I am now standing up with hand raised high ! I LOVE big speakers and what they deliver !

[@erictorres4889]

Me too !!!!

[@gurdyman1]

Me, also.

[@Revelator2025]

Yup. (!)

[@westernartifact580]

Yep. My Klipschorns are a wonder. I like little speakers too but there is nothing like my big corner horns.

[@rd264]

you need 2 big subwoofers

[@IWantMyMTV1969]

I enjoyed small speakers for most of my audiophile life, then I got the Cornwalls. Size does matter. Completely agree.

[@ptg01]

Laws of Physics working here... I've had my Cornwalls(II's??) since 1983 and its a great sounding speakers driven by an SET amp !

[@Harry-Giles]

Agree completely. C IV owner.

[@docdeens4030]

Physics! You cannot argue with the air that a 12-15 driver produces

[@SmallRoomAudio]

Cornwalls are big beautiful beasts!!

[@ptg01]

@@docdeens4030 Exactly.. It MOVES a lot of air.. That's the key... Plus big cabinets help.

[@miamiron]

The year was 1973, and as a freshman in high school I would visit the audio shop across the street before the long walk home because it was worth missing the school bus just to hear some good songs in an actual sound room. It was the end of October with a chill in the air in my small Rhode Island town, as I hurried to get to the shop , my buddy stood in the doorway with the biggest grin on his face, as he said, '' Wanna hear something special?'' I asked him,'' What'' He replied, '' The new Who album and something special' I was so excited to hear this new Who album, I didn't hear the something part of our conversation .As I walked into the sound room I immediately noticed two huge pieces of furniture that looked like my grandmother's furniture but on a much larger scale. I asked him, ''What are those?'' He replied, ''I'll explain after we listen to the album'' He had it cued up to Love Reign O'er Me. As my jaw hit the floor and actual tears came to my eyes I had never heard nor felt music like this before. We listened to the whole album while we both sat there with ear to ear grins. He later told me ''My Grandmother's furniture'' was a pair of Bozak Concert Grand Speakers and ''YES THEY WERE''. I've been chasing that elusive sound and feeling for almost 50 years but have not experienced what I did that Autumn day but I'll be grateful till the day I die ''for that special day.''

[@ProgRockKeys]

I have very large “line-source” speakers - tall boys like Magna-pan. I was just listening to a remix of Santana Abraxis, when out of no where this disembodied tambourine starts playing, clearly positioned all by itself, right near the ceiling, about 2’ to the left of my right speaker.

[@socksumi]

I love that "big" sound as long as smoothness and refinement doesn't get lost in the process.

[@CVH0907]

Hi Steve, longtime viewer and first time leaving a comment. I just entered into the wonderful world of audiophile land last year during lockdown and I have really enjoyed your channel. I have learned allot from you and your recommendations. I have a pair of Harbeth Super HL5’s and dual REL S5 SHO subs connected to a pair of PrimnaLuna ProLogue Seven mono blocks and a NAD M10 that I use as my pre-amp/DAC and music streamer (Also a HEED CD transport, HEED Quasar MM/MC Phono stage and a Marantz TT 15S1 turntable). Loving the “big” sound that I get from my system but I “hear” what you are saying about the “big boys” and I hope one day to add a pair of Klipsch Cornwall IV’s. Cheers!

[@docdeens4030]

Steve and Herb are the best in the business

[@keywestjimmy]

You nailed it with the words, "scale and fullness". I put up a fabric wall to mount a screen. Speakers are hidden behind. Then is stumbled across a pair of 52"x36" Bozak Concert Grands with line array tweeters. 500lbs of speakers, 28 drivers! At the same time a friend gave me two HSU Research prototype subs 48"x24" tubes. Wow! I went from Monitor Audio Gold bookshelf to huge. (For about half the price) One characteristic of these larger speakers are their ability to sonically disappear. Impossible to localize where my speakers are placed behind the screen. The soundstage is life-sized and palpable. (I moved to Maine from NYC, and this fulfilled a dream of moving to the country--big speakers!)

[@Unpreeeedictable]

I've done the dance between floorstanders and bookshelf + subs and I settled on the latter. There is something to be said for having the flexibility to put your sub-bass in the right spot in the room rather than where the mains go (rarely are the two the same). As I get older I appreciate being able to move my bookshelf speakers around with ease. The floorstanders were more challenging and are also physically more imposing in my room. To each his own, but for me a 2.2 system is my sweet spot.

[@khanhdang8342]

I have a pair of Magnepan 3.7i with a pair of REL S5 subwoofers in my living room.

[@scottscottsdale7868]

Love my JBL Studio 590’s. I know folks poopoo them, but I love them. Full, rich sound. I love them. Extremely cost effective.

[@bigjay1970]

I surly don't po, po mine!😇 Add two 550p subs like me at $189 a piece🤪 and spending anymore seems a little silly from what I witnessed recently going to high end showrooms!!

[@scottscottsdale7868]

@@bigjay1970 I always at the Harman store in NYC about two years or so. Listened to some excellent Revel bookshelves, ones that Steve reviews back then. Very well-regarded speakers. Anyway, we were listening to Dark Side of the Moon CD on Mark Levinson gear. I said to the Assistant General Manager of the store, “My speakers sound better in my humble set up”. He said, “well. They would”. I took him to mean a decent large floor stander will sound better than a good bookshelf. True story.

[@bigjay1970]

@@scottscottsdale7868 It's not even about the floor standibg aspect of things to me and my wife at least! We'll go into a design center of Magnolia which is the higher-end version of the Magnolia stores and listen to some B&Ws 803s I believe total cost about 50 grand with equipment and we'll just look at each other and be like we paid $1,000 for both of our speakers combined! Same with the Martin Logan Summits!🙄 I must have some super duper treated room or something because from what I've heard these JBL 590's sure sound good for the money! Also use 2 550p subs that surely don't hurt. I set them up like a true OCD. Nut Case and you never know they're even in the system!🤔🤫😉🤗

[@scottscottsdale7868]

@@bigjay1970 I am insane but I am seriously thinking about getting another pair to see if I can have two L and two R. Have you seen the Kenrick Sound channel? Fantastic looking JBL’s in Japan. They kind of like resto moding for speakers.

[@gregturner2668]

Living in the UK and being of only average means, my listening room is 3.8m square (that's about 12ft square). I've built a system (about $40k) to be the best 'small room' system it can be, which means the speakers, though large for standmount, are still only 10" bass driver/horn loaded standmounts. A good friend of mine has a room that measures more like the large rooms you're describing (so about 20 feet wide and 30 feet long), and since he is of substantially more means, he has built the best 'big room' system he can afford at around $400k. His system includes a pair of Wilson Benesch Resolution speakers, which easily count as 'big'! This provides a really useful comparison, both to the difference that your budget makes and the size of the room. I’m conscious that you can make a small room system sound exceptional but it doesn’t matter how much money you throw at the equipment, you’re always going to be listening to the size of the room. The big room system however, has scale, energy and dynamics in spades. However, what it doesn’t do quite so well, is ‘intimacy’. Of course, ‘intimacy’ could be the only upside of a small room system or it could be just a more positive word for ‘small’ and therefore a way to feel better about having a smaller house and lesser means!

[@ginopagnani7286]

Watching this video while in my music room with Klipsch Belles. YES to big speakers.

[@mmdusa]

I have the same speakers. Here's to our lovely, big Belles!

[@petethegreekre]

Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change. Didn't see that the first time Steve.

[@flowtoolz5554]

"When I was living with those speakers" ... clearly an audiophile 😅

[@sum2automation]

Yes, I stacked my klipsch and I'm never un-stacking them. It's just sounds more lively and live. Love you show and your knowledge. Lots of fun, thanks again for sharing!

[@richardvannoy1198]

Have always loved the “large speaker” sound. Love LOUD Rock n Roll and symphonic Classical.

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

For some reason I still want the Altec Voice of The Theaters. The odd part is I don't watch movies anymore.

[@kloss213]

Get an a5 and use a modern network and they will blow you away even at low levels they will sing.

[@finscreenname]

Almost all Jungle movies are ruined for me now because they use a Kookaburra call in all of them and yet a Kookaburra is only native to Australia and there is no jungles there...

[@gurdyman1]

I lust for an Altec model 19.

[@frankjames4573]

Yep I agree with the comments... Big speakers that can play at low volumes, and still have a warmth, and high detail... However, this comes at a price!

[@brkly99]

I upgraded to Avantgarde Duo XDs a couple of years ago, my first (and last?) large speakers. Horn speakers with large integrated subwoofers, a little over 200 lb each. I have a large enough room to accommodate without any problems. Wonderful full-range, dynamic sound. “Effortless” is a word I often use to describe it.

[@cheapaudioman]

Love a solid pair of book shelfs with a sub. The Elac Unifi UB52's played so big and I didn't even use a sub with them. Filled up a room way bigger than they should. Wharfedale Diamonds play way bigger than they should too. With that said, I've never gotten the chance to hear something really big like the Cornwalls or the Fortes

[@bigjay1970]

Look At you venturing over to the other side! Just watched your 530 video, well done as usual!😉🤗😇 The difference from a truly big tower speaker and a standmount is the difference from drinking cheap coffee and good coffee!😝 Subs are great for home theater much more than audiophile music. Go order a pair of SVS Ultra towers for your channel considering you can return free shipping both ways with a no questions asked policy and see the difference that a well sorted out Tower gives you compared to a stand mount!😉😇

[@trevorharrison29]

I got big speakers (Tekton Encores) because I do ~70% of my listening to music standing up, not sitting down. I live in an apartment, so many of the drivers sit above all the clutter and furniture. Speakers are 96 dB sensitive, so they do sound good at low volume. Another desired feature in apartment living!

[@Gregor7677]

I need big speakers, and I have them. Tekton Double Impacts. Great.

[@printzapper]

I JUST received the grills for my 2-10 perfect SET, so I consider them mine now. Little brother to yours, nonetheless, 38" tall is nothing to sneeze at, thank you. IMHO best US made.

[@nofacemonster]

I used to listen small speakers and stuff that i could afford all my life until my friend gave me a pair of philips AD1255/M7 speakers mounted to a big home made housing. They are full range drivers, when i first played music through them, i was like "WOW", even though they weren't sounding sharp as things i heard, they did sounded amazing. You are absolutely right about big speakers.

[@ronkaye1957]

I just purchased Totem Kin Monitors, wow, in my small home office. Pushing them with Marantz 2245 , Circa 1971, Pro-Ject turntable. Very pleased.

[@RJ_Chicago]

Steve, first, I love the T-Shirt! Next, I have two systems. One has Magnepan 1.7i speakers. The other has a pair of Magico A3. I agree with you for the most part about big speakers and bass. However, I was in denial for a long time about the the quality of the bass from the Maggies. But I have to say that they are lacking in slam and sub bass. These are quasi ribbon speakers. They are very detailed. The mid range and treble is fantastic. But they do not move air. So I broke down and bought a pair of REL T/9i subs. Well, that just revolutionized the Maggie 1.7i system! The 1.7i plus RELs move lots of air, have great sub bass and slam. Plus the super detailed mids and highs of the Maggies. I was hesitant for a long time. But once you or anyone as a Magnepan owner add a pair of RELs to the Magnepans it will be game over. You will be delighted and will never want the RELs to leave. The Magico A3s need less help in the bass department. But the RELs help them too. Just not to the amazing degree as for the Maggies.

[@psych0s15]

Steve, I'm trying to buy a bigger house only to justify buying bigger speakers!

[@Gadgetdad007]

A bigger caravan ? 😂

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

I want/need big speakers. I have them and love them. 1. ) big room 20x25 2. ) play loud - nope, but want the sense of mass in sound. A piano and a stand up bass can work really well at 85dB on big speakers. 3. ) Dynamics - Yup 4. ) bass - Yup I hear the more stylish speakers at shows, but they don't have that sense of mass / you are there kind of sounds. I built my OB speakers based on Fikus P17 (aka Lampizator) design with 18" pro drivers and 10" alnico full range. They don't play really low and I plan to buy subs to fill out the lower octaves. But the sound is very real and effortless. And massive. But they need to be out in the room so you need space. Love the shirt BTW

[@danielcramer9600]

I used to have floorstanders with 12 inch woofers. When I got married my late wife, (the Aesthetics Commission), said they had to go. Love conquers all. I replaced them with Rogers LS7s. A large stand mount speaker. Some years later my wife agreed they could be replaced by Castle Howard S2 s. They are transmission line speakers with 2 x 6inch woofers, one of which fires upwards, and a tweeter. With the right music and Krell amplification you can physicall feel the base. My room is 23 feet long and 15 wide. I no longer feel the need for a very large woofer. If I were to go stand mount again it would be the Gershman Studio 2 s that I would buy. Keep up the good work. Daniel

[@stonecoldcustoms]

Yup there is no replacement for displacement! There's just something about the ambiance and house and body filling sound that gigantic speakers provide, that smaller speakers can never accomplish, no matter how good they are.

[@andershammer9307]

It's the sound of weight and authority that smaller speakers can't reproduce.

[@cornelmatusoiu8718]

I have 13 Klipsch speekers in 100m2 room and four amplifiées drived n’y a Maranz préamplificateur …and i like it!!!

[@davidwilder7366]

I've wanted a pair of Klipschorns since I first heard them in the late 70's. Instead, I settled for a pair of Acoustic Research AR-9s, also large speakers (w/two 12 in. side firing woofers) but inefficient. They still sound good (refoamed) with my old 200 wpc McIntosh 2200 pwr amp. I bought a pair of late 70's Klipschorns a few months ago and paired them with a Boyuurange A-50 (based on Steve's review) and my old Dual CS731Q turntable outfitted with a Shure V15 Type -V cartridge fitted with a recent Jicio Neo SAS stylus. WOW,WOW, WOW! The K-horns get really loud with that 7.5 watt amp. Amazing sound- So much better than my Mac system with the AR-9's ever sounded. Imaging and soundstage just don't compare. Steve, you mentioned that the Boyuurange A-50 sounded a bit grainy. Your show on terms doesn't mention grainy. Would you elaborate?

[@uberuser1999]

AR9’s are still some of my favorite big speakers. I would have loved to hear the difference between your McIntosh/AR9 setup and your Klipschorns/A-50 set that you said could not compare. That had to be Heaven if that’s the case. Now I am totally jealous. Old is good in many ways!

[@bikdav]

I remember the AR-9s. I liked them. Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford them. And none of my rooms would accommodate them.

[@realworldaudio]

I love my baby Altecs! 515C woofer in a 10,6cuft cabinet (300L) with the 288 compression driver, so it's basically an Altec A5 in an altogether different cabinet (my design ; ). They totally redefine music reproduction. The most amazing thing about them is that they can play whisper quiet but still keep the scale and dynamic scale. It's almost as if volume control does not exist anymore. The only thing you notice with volume control is that very deep base is coming up when played very loud. (LOL they are tuned to play down to 13Hz.) I just call them Reality Transformers, they take you to another reality. Live Mike Oldfield concert blowing up the house with a super beefy less than 1W SET amplifier. Yet, normal listening levels require microwatt level of power, peaking at 60milliwatt for VERY loud passages. Playing them for 10+ hours every day.

[@pdcragin33]

Affordability is a non-issue if the bookshelf speakers you’re eyeing include a made-to-fit stand. Once the cost and the footprint space are considered, today’s towers are often within 15% of the cost. Over a system’s lifetime, that differential isn’t worth sacrificing the bass. And if you’re like me, in terms of not needing foundation -rattling bass, towers allow foregoing a bulky subwoofer, so you may end up saving money for a completely satisfying system that requires less space.

[@timspence3092]

When it comes to speakers, bigger is better. I use 5 pairs of of full-size speakers in my smallish main listening room, and the sound is great at all volume levels.

[@Coilaman]

I have a pair of PSB Image 4T floorstanders. They are only 3 feet tall and very slim, but they give a huge sound with tons of bass and they can go stupid loud with ease. I really love them. They gave me 21 years of real music enjoyment so far and I played everything from opera to heavy metal through them. They are very versatile.

[@billyarvidson6610]

Hi Steve I started my current setup after not having any system for years. The first thing I purchased were 2 BOZAK Urban floor standing speakers; very large and very heavy. My son carried them with very little help from up three flights of stairs to my apartment. Back in September I moved and he and I used a hand truck to carry them back down the stairs. They are fantastic sounding speakers I play them with my MFA MAGUS A2 PRE to MIetner MTR101 monoblocks oh and my source is Amazon Music HD to a Monarchy DAP to a Bel Canto DAC2 to the Magus. The BOZAK speakers not only sound good but they are fantastic mid century style furniture pieces as well. Love your channel!

[@euclidallglorytotheloglady5500]

I've had Cornwall IV's for over a year now and have had ZERO desire to add a sub. I love them.

[@b97209]

We have had them for nearly a year. When we got some Magnepans and two REL T7is recently, I tried the Cornwalls with the two subs. Doesn't work. REL and Zero Fidelity said they are not fast enough. Still love the Cornwalls without subs. Just trying to figure it out and learn.

[@retohofmann5878]

The Cornwall are great, great speakers...they even have more punch then my Klipschorns sometimes i.m.o...! Enjoy them and your music!

[@talamayer404]

Am I the only girl who loves a great stereo system? Here's the problem, my husband absolutely hates it. I am leaving him! Gotta have my tunes.

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

You go girl!

[@dennisw4654]

See Anthony Efx from up the list.

[@chelle12368]

I'm a female audiophile and have been going crazy buying gear for just over 3 years. My husband absolutely hates it! I'm driving him nuts and I don't know how many times I've promised him I will stop buying but I just can't stop. I love finding different gear and experiencing the synergy between speakers and amps. I'm sure I'll eventually settle on one great system but for now, I have several systems and alternate between them. My name is Michelle and I am an audioholic!

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

@@chelle12368 Audioholics AnonymousTM

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

Your husband probably watches a lot of TV.

[@carlosbauza1139]

I built the B.J. Webb 4-way TL tower, Audio Amateur project, 42 inches tall, etc. LOVED them no end! But today I love my pair of KEF LS50. Each design is pertinent to its intended use. Large rooms need large speakers. Small rooms work best with small speakers.

[@witchmonkey8745]

The best thing about a small speaker collection is the room they take up. I love big speakers, and the only downside is squeezing them all in. Love the scale and weight that they bring, and all sound so incredibly different.. from my B&W 800 D2's, to the Apogee Duette Signature, to the Snell Model A and the Naim DBL which have a more 'house sound'. Tannoy 15'' golds move surprising air, considering they have a more gentile reputation among audiophiles.

[@glmaughan]

Big speakers if designed right simply mean that at any listening level, the diaphragm movement is less so quicker response and less IM and Harmonic distortion. Plus when you need dynamics they can deliver. But like Steve states, your room needs to be incorporate them, as with any speaker. The room is the one component many don't deal with.

[@jjohns288]

Big sound comes from big speakers. Period.

[@3dScience8]

Thanks for uploading this video. The scale of dynamics, the headroom of well built large speakers is something that can't be unseen when we use simulation and modelling software.

[@RonaldRagn]

Yep I quality... which is good because my speakers are big :) & yes, I still use a subwoofer, just with much lower crossover imp. (maybe around 70-80hz or so)...

[@phillm156]

I had a set of magnapans. Their sound stage and transparency is phenomenal. They sound equally nice at low power but the bass is just ok, easily overpowered. They really come to life with a nice sub.

[@jefflashway6644]

Nothing is better than planars.

[@tsmberk]

@@jefflashway6644 Agreed, as I own Maggies, but I lust after Quads!

[@MichaelLivingston-me]

Yes ... but I think I still liked stacked large Advents (2 pair) over the sound of the Klipsch corner loaded loudspeakers. That's the beauty in variety. We get to listen and appreciate what we want.

[@Johnnytrades101]

Hi from Calgary ! Have Paradigm Prestige 75F floor standers, fairly small for a floor stander, but have 2 - 13.5 in 1200w subs. I sometimes just listen to the floor standers, 1 sub, or blow the dishes out of the kitchen with the 2 subs! I'm 59, but still really like being in a concert like the old days....Genisis, YES, AC DC.... or chilling out with some cool blues. Always watch your channel, cheers!

[@xiretsa9166]

You're complete right! The only thing, which is better than a big speaker is a bigger one. And its more important to find the right setup, than to spend to much money. I build my own equipment and use active crossovers with equalizers build in. Means that I have to have an amp for each single bass, midrange and tweeter, but using a measuring system you can handle the room very exactly. And if you don't have a measuring system, you can trust your ears, which is mostly the best way...

[@thegrimyeaper]

You shirt makes me feel so smart.

[@bakkerem1967]

5m4r7 ;-)

[@kohnfutner9637]

I'm glad Steve agrees with me: adding a sub with bookshelf isn't the same as a full range big speaker. I always go tower.

[@paulwibb.8944]

👍

[@paulwibb.8944]

@Mr Do cos he uses speakers rated from 20hz upwards,,, ??

[@billbones1000]

I'm with you Steve! I'm a sucker for dynamics. I try always to play my instrument dynamically, my favorite musicians are all people who put dynamics at the forefront of their writing and playing. My spatial audio open baffles deliver dynamics better than any speaker I've ever heard, from the moment I heard them I knew they were for me!

[@anthonyhopkin]

Same here. Can't recommend these more. They are very large (in my wife's opinion ;¬) but they just disappear as the music opens. M3 Sapphires : Two 15" drivers for the bass... So smooth - so clear - so vivid. Such a bargain... Greetings to one and All.

[@naturalverities]

I AM standing up! I have the large room (1000 sq ft), in my barn loft, and a neighbor who comes over to listen when he hears me cranking it up. 15" woofers, and 18" sub, 22" wide radial mid horns, ring slot tweeters with upwards of 105db sensitivity. Kenrick-like quality, nuff said! Come on over, Steve!

[@johnnymags]

I have the klipschorns and love them. I recently got a set of Tekton Encores, and they are very similar to the sound of klipschorns, but with much better bass and midrange. If you have a chance you should give them a listen.

[@dilbyjones]

I have also heard the phrase there is no replacement for displacement.

[@tigertiger1699]

Lol.. in near all things👍

[@naturalverities]

Yeah, but... all displacement is not created equal. Engine designers know that the ratio of bore to stroke (torque vs horsepower) is important in addition to the total displacement volume. Piston area matters! Cheers!

[@tigertiger1699]

@@naturalverities 👍 if ya talk about engine displacement..

[@naturalverities]

@@tigertiger1699 yep, and for speakers too. Big tweeters begin to beam at lower frequencies than small ones do; so do big woofers, concentrating the bass energy toward the listening position. But I get your drift. ;->

[@tigertiger1699]

@@naturalverities 😍

[@jamester1ful]

Just got a pristine pair of Technics SB7000A speakers for my basement room, my first set of decent "big" speakers. WOW. Amazing sound.

[@xsmi]

I LOVE Mahler’s symphonies. Right now I’m in the process of rehabbing a pair of 35yo Polk Audio SDA-SRS’s. As soon as I’m done with these behemoths, I’ll send pictures.

[@dancomiskey2101]

I used to own those heavy scratching posts. Playing a Mahler symphony would freak out the housecat, not to mention triggering the "Classic" landlord/tenant dispute. Good luck with your project.

[@xsmi]

, luckily I have my own home. Right now, the room they’re in isn’t the most ideal. However, I’ve got a large back room that is begging for an addition to my house. 😁

[@laorhino9702]

Had a pair then some fool broke into the apt, still looking to replace them.

[@jameswheeler7679]

Gosh Steve I live in an apartment and I have Klipsch KG4'S in my Apartment and I believe they are as large as I can go for right now: I also have Klipsch , RP600,s , RB 61 11's and Klipsch R 15M's

[@Woodzyowl0309]

I inherited my father's old Klipsch Chorus speakers when they failed at WAF. They're glorious. Dynamics for days. I supplemented them with a Rythmik F18 subwoofer and they got even better. Now I have that setup in my home theater and La Scalas in my listening room.

[@richheckelmann]

Steve you nailed this. Size matters. 15s are just better because they move more air. Fullness. Vocals. Most Subs are not fast no where near open baffles which are so amazing. I didn’t believe or could afford it until I built them myself. I cracked the code. And you can tune them to your room which is essential. Believe me it’s mind blowing. Comment if you want to learn how.

[@MOOeymania]

I'd love to see one of the larger Tektons like the Encore

[@simonlow3039]

I'm still listening to my vintage Martin Logan Summits with the scale and sound stage I can never go back to small or even medium size speakers even with subs

[@brazillm10]

Martin Logans do such a great job of creating a "wall of sound" in medium and larger sized rooms. I totally agree. One of my favorite speakers on the planet right now is the ESL 15A.

[@erichaskell]

I just ordered Tektron Double Impacts. Large room, high ceiling (17 feet). Replacing, sadly, my 1985 Polk Audios which I continue to love.

[@dwightballard3868]

Having a good dynamic response and bass is a must, and I do have a dedicated listening space to enjoy. When I first heard the Revel Salons I was amazed at the dynamics of the speaker, and have owned them ever since. I just don't find smaller speaker systems quite as engaging even though they can when done right sound excellent. I have kept my Genesis 2 subwoofer towers- each tower has 4 12 inch drivers and even though the Salon2s are no slouch in the bass department, adding the Genesis gives a visceral bass experience with aplomb!

[@dennislynch4783]

Mcintosh MC2500 with my Altec Lansing Voice of the Theater speakers, any other questions?.....lol, have a great day!

[@dennislynch4783]

@Analog Looney it really is a great old school system......my friends come over to enjoy often, always fun!

[@yannick930]

Small room so small speakers, listening close range with a sub. The little speakers have slam bass till 60hz, it's enough for me. But if I move I'll definitely try big speakers.

[@Gadgetdad007]

Stop living in the cupboard. 😂

[@yannick930]

@@Gadgetdad007 Big city, small place is the rule :) I'm not ready yet to settle in a rural erea. I'm in a 40 square meter. Not so small but not big.

[@georgeanastasopoulos5865]

I've got a pair of large bookshelf speakers in the basement; separate stereo system. Then upstairs is a pair of Klipsch R-51Ms; high efficiency speakers. Although there is not much bass to hear of; there is plenty of detail, there is an assertive, and energetic sound. Most music has that forward, and lively character from a Klipsch loudspeaker; these speakers are suited very well to listening to music such as rock, pop, rhythm & blues, and for some people country music. Anyhow, mostly my opinion.

[@Bubba_fett]

Steve, I've never owned a truly large set of speakers but I did take a pair of Advent 6003 and modified them. I left the bass speaker in the original cabinet, took the other two speakers out and the xover. Sealed the cabinet up air tight. Took the one inch dome and bought another and wired them for 16 ohm and put one over and above the midrange and made a new cabinet for them and hung them on the wall over the bass cabinet. The sound stage grew noticeably and the highs sweetened out nicely by increasing the total resistance. Sure wish I had them still. They could handle the canons on the 1812 by Telarc well and with some punch. I was using two mono bloc Carver cubes. The lights would dim when those canons went off.

[@edud8452]

Do you have neighbors in your apartment building? And if so how do you test subwoofers and speakers do they ever complain?

[@NerdyMeathead]

Guide to getting glorious floor standing speakers. Step 1 . You need to not be married step 2. If you are married see step 1

[@MickTimmy]

I've removed my comments out of respect for Steve and the people on this channel.

[@gottrekk5798]

@GeneralCurtis3LeMay "But you know 'Class D' is not Hi-Fi". Are you saying NAD M33, Devialet Pro220, Primare i35, Marantz Model 30 are not HiFi amplifiers?

[@gottrekk5798]

@GeneralCurtis3LeMay there are great class D amplifiers from USA manufacturers as well.

[@kloss213]

@GeneralCurtis3LeMay How about a link to a picture of your glorious system? I am thinking it's a pair of Beats headphones your mommy bought you powered by an old Soundesign rack system prove me wrong? And if you want to see my kit google my name. I know you're afraid of using your name and prefer a stupid sockpuppet so you can troll others since you are weak and afraid.

[@MickTimmy]

@GeneralCurtis3LeMay I'm not sure who hurt you or how badly, but I will pray for you. You need someone in your life to love you for you and I'm sure you are a great person behind that wall you have put up. Please know that you are loved and that I hope the best for you.

[@Vintaronica]

Hi Steve. I'm in agreement with you. Big speakers seem to just satisfy. I have Kef Raymond Cook 104/2, not exactly huge speakers, but not small either. The presence and body that they produce is so satisfying, you feel the sound pumping through your torso.

[@kennymills575]

My Klipsch RF 7 II have that wonderful big speaker sound that you are at talking about . :-)

[@tejkarangehlot4741]

I have really big speaker..steve but limitation of room nevertheless like them very much they sound tremendous... larger than life...

[@gurdyman1]

I have big speakers in a small room. They sound terrific!

[@laurelhardy4064]

Thought of the day: If you really are a bass freak, then you should go and buy two subs and set them up as perfectly as you can, and only then if you still think you need main speakers, you should go and buy them.

[@Gadgetdad007]

Buy big straight away as you can use them in the garden in the summer.

[@mikerowney4633]

I like bass and playing loud. My music choice range from folk and celtic to grunge and heavy metal. I have a living room - 192sq feet and have just bought a nice used pair of B&W 801 s2 speakers, and a NAD M 22.2 to deliver the power. When I play loud it's between 90 - 95 db, listening 12 feet from the speakers. Like the beginning of "Wake Up" by Mad Season makes the floor vibrate... I just love it :)

[@fbike4539]

I have a big room (24 × 20) and my AR 9's fill the room really well, luv them. I've tried many large speakers over the past 10 years and these won me over with their mid range, tweeter and of course the bass (4 - 11 inch woofers). Big Power are required to get the best of these speakers given they can dip below 4 ohms.

[@uberuser1999]

The AR9’s are by far some of the best big speakers I haver ever heard. Dollar for dollar, the ARE the best I have heard.

[@bjmsamrlm]

Acoustic Research really nailed it with the AR9 (dual 12") and AR90 (dual 10") which share the same upper section.

[@saint6563]

Need BIG... tweeters. Learned last Century; more 'relaxed' top end. 1st Linaeum's 1 1/2" h dipole & then Magnepan's 1.7i. Even have 1" ribbon in the vehicle [eXcelon Reference].

[@hanshenrik9870]

Must admit it took me a couple of minutes to read and understand the text on your shirt 😄

[@TheAnxiousAardvark]

I was a senior at college in the 70's and one day while walking across the commons, during summer school, there was music flooding the area. Perfectly clear, and clean. I'd been to the Dead/Allman Bros concert at RFK and knew loud. But this was so much better. After a while, I realized it was coming from one of the top floors of a 13 story dorm. Long story short, it was a graduating resident advisor with a set of La Scala's celebrating. I've never lived in a place where they were feasible, but the sound was amazing.

[@FOH3663]

Wow! I lived on the 10th floor of a 12 floor dorm tower ... and La Scalas in a dorm room is outrageous, ... I love it!

[@TM-fx2pi]

I believe after watching all the reviews and reading all the articles, I need to zero in on a somewhat big, dynamic speaker and some good power to drive them. I enjoy the the hard hits of rapid fire double bass drums that you can feel in your chest ! Lots of hard rock in my world. Currently I am enjoying a pair of RP 600m and a SPL 150 sub. I get PLENTY of bass but it’s all going through my NAD t763 home theater receiver. I will soon be ready for some Heresy IV and a couple of mono blocks perhaps? I know they’re not BIG but.....Still working on that setup. Gotta keep the cost somewhat reasonable.

[@machavez00]

I have a pair of 35 year old Bose 301 II’s that still sound great in my 14’ by 13’ room.

[@mattgiunt]

Hardest thing about having large speakers is the unboxing

[@machavez00]

Check out the Kenrick Audio videos.

[@mattgiunt]

@@machavez00 I had a few scary afternoons with the entire Polk LSIM line.

[@ashleywatson5101]

‘No replacement for displacement’ = my favourite truism... I’ve built 350L cabs and wouldn’t go back to smaller speakers. The sense of ease, even if the volume isn’t loud, is their best quality

[@thesean68]

I was using some small speakers with a sub woofer and then went over to large Sonus Faber - It was no contest, the change filled the room musically much better and more importantly gave a extended richness to the music which made you feel more connected. I personally will never go back to small speakers...

[@beauranheim8694]

Sounds like I qualify on all points, except for being able to afford them!

[@beauranheim8694]

@Christiaan Baron Thanks for the info, they look interesting. I already have a pair of 15" Tannoys that work fairly well. To do what Steve is proposing though I would need both large and efficient loudspeakers to work with my 3W SET amplifier. I have a preference for large horns and when you are talking large horns the prices start increasing very rapidly! .

[@anderssoderlind90]

Buy second hand, I did

[@beauranheim8694]

@@anderssoderlind90 I have a plan! :)

[@prabinpaudel5572]

I want to have 2 rooms. 1 room for magnepans one for Cornwall 4. 😂

[@kohnfutner9637]

I'm with you but this may help you decide between the two: The magnepan will take a lot more to power them and take more room and I would expect more maintenance. Just saying.

[@prabinpaudel5572]

@@kohnfutner9637 yeah.. I'm also just saying.. I got a 250 dollars total of dac/amp and iem. And I'm still to pay the girl who bought it for me. All these speakers are like a dream for me. At least for a decade. 😉😂

[@prabinpaudel5572]

@GeneralCurtis3LeMay I don't want America at the current state it's in. I'd rather have Japan or Belgium or some country like that. 😂 But thank you for being generous and offering me one.. 😂 😂 😂

[@shadyoptics]

Was thinking the same thing!

[@kohnfutner9637]

@@prabinpaudel5572 I understand you friend. I've been working for 25 years and I still haven't reached cornwall iv but I do have klipsch 280f. They are pretty great imo. Know something though: to enjoy these big speakers requires you to sit stationary and listen - you don't get the freedom of wireless earbuds. You don't get to take them with you to work and you can't play them loud if anyone's around to bother them. So, you probably won't often be able to enjoy these great expensive large sound systems for much longer than an hour at a time (if that) nor whenever you want unless you live alone and like sitting still for long periods of time. Just something I've realized about home sound systems: spend appropriately. That's not even getting into the real frustration, the reason you keep seeing so many reviews and new gear: there's always some flaws or things you think need improving.

[@adamyelle4901]

Big speaker guy here. Unfortunately I've just never heard a small speaker with sub combo that blended as clean top to bottom as big speakers do on their own. An Anthem receiver utilizing ARC for optimum placement and room correction is about as close as I have come, but it in the end it was clear to me that something was still missing. I will say the one benefit I found with small speakers and a sub is that bass can be easier to control since you can set the sub directly in the best spot for the room, whereas big speakers have fewer placement options and sometimes your left or right speaker can produce bass that is unruly since one could be sitting in a spot that is not ideal.

[@roberthart9886]

I do. My room is ~ 19 x 35 x 12ft peak in open beam ceiling. 20 years ago I owned Accoustat 2+2s with both servo amps and upgraded interfaces. Much later I had Magnepan 3.5Rs, but never could get them to integrate with dual subs. I now have much smaller (

[@anderssoderlind90]

It's a myth that you need to have a big room, it's a myth that you have to play loud because you have big speakers. It's the presence and the way large speakers handle music that never small speakers come close to. There is a balance in the whole register that is difficult to imitate and the dynamics that arise are phenomenal and above all the music is reproduced with an ease. I have the Altec Lansing 604E in larger boxes than the Altecs 620 and I do not play loud at all, if I use one watt it is more than enough. If I are going to be very picky, my big speakers have ruined my listening to music because when I end up in front of smaller speakers, there is always something missing. For my Altec I have either DIY EL84 SEP or Le Monstre there are two different ways to listen to music I am happy and do not have to look any further.

[@Ineedtotakeabreak]

Size matters? No wonder she didn’t call me back.🙄

[@ImBillionaire]

I have LS50s with 2 x Rel 5Ti subs, it's a huge improvement. Can't image not using subs now.

[@luke78333]

Recently updated my system from bookshelves to towers. I bought a pair of 3-way Wharfedale Atlantic AT-500-HG towers (3 x 8" bass drivers), coupled with a dual 15" sealed PSA subwoofer. Has a much richer sound and bass that can hit pretty hard, yet the wharfedales can image well.

[@keithmoriyama5421]

Size matters. At least that's what she told me. So I went out and bought the biggest ass speakers I could find. Then she tells me, "that's not what I meant."

[@edthefirst2859]

Bigger IS better

[@superdougie10]

Bigger is better because you don't have to use it all.....lol

[@keithmoriyama5421]

@@superdougie10 Well then I guess I'm in trouble.... I'm using everything I got!

[@laurencel.2493]

Magnepans. Got ‘em, love ‘em, always will have ‘em.

[@RHJ3]

Small speakers have been the engineering compromise to compete with full size cabinets since day 1. I love BIG speakers. Thanks Steve for shooting the straight dope. Small is small big is BIG!

[@CptMark]

I do. The best thing I did is upgrading to floorstanding speakers. It's not about the loudness, it's about the bass. No full FR, no HiFi.

[@TheBodhisattvaWisdom]

My big speakers need me..