Whats better? Bookshelf speakers with a sub or floorstanding speakers? | For Beginner Audiophiles

Comments · 664

• ZE

  @ZeroFidelity · 6 years ago (edited) · pinned

  Some people think there is a definitive answer to this question.  Fact is, there isn't one.   We all live in different environments and have different preferences when it comes to the reproduction of sound.   Since hi-fi is always a balance of give and take, it's best to focus your attention on the speakers that work best for you - and then worry about the subs later.    You can always add more bass should you need it.   Edit:  Since people want to know what my own preference is,  I tend to like towers by themselves.

  57

• MU

  @Musicman1959Daily · 6 years ago

  I've been rocking bookshelf speakers and a subwoofer since the 1990s. I'm not changing.

  23

• AN

  @anandarochisha · 6 years ago (edited)

  Get your dream speakers and sounds system, then take the specs to a good architect and a team of sound engineers to build your new home around them. Easy...

  231

• PD

  @pdcragin33 · 6 years ago

  I’ve shifted to floorstanders because the cost of furniture quality stands matching my desired bookshelf speakers offsets much of the cost of upgrading to floorstanders.

  74

• HU

  @hughb5092 · 4 years ago

  As a lifetime Audiophile who has known some of the deceased legends from Stereophile, I'm highly impressed with your clear, simple, and concise videos on what's not a simple subject for those who care about music, keep up the fantastic work!

  35

• LO

  @LorenzoNW · 6 years ago

  The other consideration is if you live in an apartment or condo, stands help to mitigate sound transmission to your neighbor below.

  10

• JO

  @Joker-ĝü · 6 years ago

  Two channels, 2 floorstanding speakers, 2 subs. Sub on the left side only plays the left channel and the sub on the right side only plays the right channel. Never settle. You deserve it all.

  24

• NI

  @nickreecy4229 · 6 years ago

  I cycled through bookshelves until I finally settled on floorstanders, this has always included a subwoofer. The floorstanders brought a weight to music that still makes me happy.

  22

• TH

  @themastroiannis · 3 years ago

  very articulate thoughts on this matter... as a professional musician (classical) but also music-lover musichphile, i have experimented a lot with speakers with and without subwoofers. if you are going the subwoofer route and you absolutely love music (no cinema stuff), you will need 2 subwoofers, no matter what other 'experts' might tell you. if you want a balanced realistic presentation of your bass frequencies, you will need two subwoofers and be prepared to spend some time experimenting. one single subwoofer, no matter how well integrated, will give you an unbalanced holographic picture of the stereo image. for a small room (my bedroom), i prefer the sound of 2 bookshelf speakers and 2 well integrated subwoofers. once you have convincingly set your crossover, you can balance the subwoofers overall volume/output. in my living room, for a more realistic, being there experience, i definitely prefer my tower speakers without subwoofers. sounds more realistic, organic, more natural.... my 2 cents.

  6

• TH

  @theoracleprodigy · 4 years ago

  I used to have a set of infinity crescendo floor standing speakers.  My speakers now are a bookshelf scanspeak diy set.  I've even listened to the kef meta in that space and was very impressed with them.  I should mention I am using a css sdx12 sub.  It's very good and found bookshelf speakers can pressurize the room quite nicely.  They have to be turned up though to really hit where as a floor standing speaker doesn't.

  6

• FU

  @fualexander7798 · 6 years ago

  I always end up getting floor-standers thinking I don't want to lose out. But, the truth is I tend to get impressed far more often by standmounts. You know  a lot of the times when you go to audition speakers, they tend to play a lot of jazz vocals which I also happen to  like and in that realm I find standmounts tend to sound better.  It is a cleaner and more precise sound. My suggestion is to get both and just unplug speakers cable when you change speakers for different music.

  7

• JE

  @jeffadams9699 · 6 years ago

  Only <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lP_AYPObos&amp;t=101">1:41</a> seconds in and you&apos;re already nailing it. You and I have talked before and I love your no no-nonsense, no bs, style. &nbsp;Buy what makes YOU happy and checks all the boxes. Not, oh, these will sound more like what I am looking for once I add this or that. Get the speaker that nails it for you right out of the gates and compliment them with subs or other electronics later.

  3