Bookshelfs and sub generally provide the best 'bang for buck' for HT.
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For HT, will bookshelf speakers do the job or should i focus on Main Tower Speakers?
i know it depends on preference and which models, but in general, for great home theater, just i focus in on towers or could bookshelf speakers do the job just as good?
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
I think a lot of it depends on what budget you are working with.
wouldn't towers provide the best bang for the buck because of big sound they produce just from the fact that they are big and their size are not a limiting factor like bookshelves? besides, once you put bookshelf speakers on a stand they take up the same space like the towers.
But you can get a better quality bookshelf then tower. Sound quality is what it's all about.
Example
Paradigm Monitor series tower or Studio series bookshelf. Stepping up to the Studio series will, IMO sound much better.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gooomz /forum/post/0
wouldn't towers provide the best bang for the buck because of big sound they produce just from the fact that they are big and their size are not a limiting factor like bookshelves? besides, once you put bookshelf speakers on a stand they take up the same space like the towers.
But you can get a better quality bookshelf then tower. Sound quality is what it's all about.
Example
Paradigm Monitor series tower or Studio series bookshelf. Stepping up to the Studio series will, IMO sound much better.
If you listen to music at all room size is a factor that must be considered. In my case I initially went the bookshelf/sub route. I have just now replaced the bookshelves with towers. My room is 24x17 with a cathedral ceiling. The bookshelves just didn't have enough midrange to fill in the room. Although the speakers are the same quality (Infinity Betas 10s and 40s) the change is dramatic. I now use the bookshelves in a much smaller room and they are great there.
And how much where the Betas 10's vs. the 40's?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmps /forum/post/0
If you listen to music at all room size is a factor that must be considered. In my case I initially went the bookshelf/sub route. I have just now replaced the bookshelves with towers. My room is 24x17 with a cathedral ceiling. The bookshelves just didn't have enough midrange to fill in the room. Although the speakers are the same quality (Infinity Betas 10s and 40s) the change is dramatic. I now use the bookshelves in a much smaller room and they are great there.
And how much where the Betas 10's vs. the 40's?
It depends on:
budget,
size of room you are trying to fill,
efficiency of the speaker you are considering
Some bookshelf speakers will run out of steam and headroom trying to fill a large room, even with a sub filling in the low end.
The Paradigm monitor vs Paradigm Studio is a good example of where you want a bookshelf because the Studio line is a much better sounding speaker.
Another consideration.
If you can accomodate it, going three identical towers speakers across the front is going to give you the best matching (rather than getting a center channel), but not many people can accomodate this physically. So usually people who want matching fronts will go for 3 identical bookshelf speakers. In this case, three good identical bookshelf speakers is a more ideal solution than a pair of towers + center channel for home theater. I'm a believer that one should strive for identical speakers for the best seamless soundstage.
budget,
size of room you are trying to fill,
efficiency of the speaker you are considering
Some bookshelf speakers will run out of steam and headroom trying to fill a large room, even with a sub filling in the low end.
The Paradigm monitor vs Paradigm Studio is a good example of where you want a bookshelf because the Studio line is a much better sounding speaker.
Another consideration.
If you can accomodate it, going three identical towers speakers across the front is going to give you the best matching (rather than getting a center channel), but not many people can accomodate this physically. So usually people who want matching fronts will go for 3 identical bookshelf speakers. In this case, three good identical bookshelf speakers is a more ideal solution than a pair of towers + center channel for home theater. I'm a believer that one should strive for identical speakers for the best seamless soundstage.
"Buck" may go to the bookshelves, although the need for a better performing sub that can blend and produce distinction from 50-80 cycles might wipe out some of the cost advantage.
"Bang" would likely go to the floorstanders if you have a large room , like it loud, or enjoy great leaps in dynamic range without trouble.
The reason , I think, that many go the bookshelf route is cost savings (which the OP didn't bring up in his post, by the way), and if you are buying a sub based on output or depth per dollar you may wind up with a sub that is more of a challenge to integrate with the bookshelf speakers at a higher crossover point, and you are asking the sub to cover a wider range than it would have to if it was blended in at 50 cycles .
Now, if that potential lack of articulation is something you wouldn't think you'd notice, and the distortions at higher volumes are something you wouldn't notice either (or you rarely listen to anything dynamic at higher volumes) then this may, indeed, be a cost saving route for you, and many who are less critical listeners (or don't lisen to well recorded music on their systems) are perfectly happy with this combo.
For the record, both of my current SS systems are bookshelf configurations.
Quote:
Bookshelfs and sub generally provide the best 'bang for buck' for HT.
"Buck" may go to the bookshelves, although the need for a better performing sub that can blend and produce distinction from 50-80 cycles might wipe out some of the cost advantage.
"Bang" would likely go to the floorstanders if you have a large room , like it loud, or enjoy great leaps in dynamic range without trouble.
The reason , I think, that many go the bookshelf route is cost savings (which the OP didn't bring up in his post, by the way), and if you are buying a sub based on output or depth per dollar you may wind up with a sub that is more of a challenge to integrate with the bookshelf speakers at a higher crossover point, and you are asking the sub to cover a wider range than it would have to if it was blended in at 50 cycles .
Now, if that potential lack of articulation is something you wouldn't think you'd notice, and the distortions at higher volumes are something you wouldn't notice either (or you rarely listen to anything dynamic at higher volumes) then this may, indeed, be a cost saving route for you, and many who are less critical listeners (or don't lisen to well recorded music on their systems) are perfectly happy with this combo.
For the record, both of my current SS systems are bookshelf configurations.
Since you're using this for HT, unless you're getting powered floorstanding speakers, you're more than likely going to need a sub either way. There's pro's and con's to both setups. Go listen to different bookshelf and/or tower speakers and see what floats your boat.
Scott
Quote:
Originally Posted by gooomz /forum/post/0
wouldn't towers provide the best bang for the buck because of big sound they produce just from the fact that they are big and their size are not a limiting factor like bookshelves? besides, once you put bookshelf speakers on a stand they take up the same space like the towers.
Since you're using this for HT, unless you're getting powered floorstanding speakers, you're more than likely going to need a sub either way. There's pro's and con's to both setups. Go listen to different bookshelf and/or tower speakers and see what floats your boat.
Scott
Your best bet for a HT (or surround music) system is to get the same speaker all the way around. If you get front floorstanders, you will probably have more calibration issues with your bass and with your center than if you have the same bookshelf speaker all the way around. And for HT, you will need a sub regardless of what front speakers you get, so there is no bass benefit to getting front floorstanders. In fact, there is probably a bass detriment from doing so. So unless you are a 2-channel fan, you'd be better off skipping the front floorstanders (good floorstanders will cost you more than good bookshelf speakers too).
Bigger is NOT always better.
I have REVEL M22's with a C52 for my center, and B12 subs for my 7.2 system and they are fantastic.
So it is not size but the quality of the bookshelves. If you get ones with good range and use Sub
Do to the size of most home theaters these are actaully a better choice in many cases then floorstanding speakers.
I have REVEL M22's with a C52 for my center, and B12 subs for my 7.2 system and they are fantastic.
So it is not size but the quality of the bookshelves. If you get ones with good range and use Sub
Do to the size of most home theaters these are actaully a better choice in many cases then floorstanding speakers.
I am not recommending specific speakers for you since you may not like the Infinity Beta sound. The 40s are 3X the 10s but the 10s can be gotten for so little given Harman is clearing out the line. So, the absolute dollar difference has become small for THIS line.
As previous posters have written it comes down to how critical you are, if music is important, how loud you listen, how big your room, how much space you have, and the usual WAF.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mazersteven /forum/post/0
And how much where the Betas 10's vs. the 40's?
I am not recommending specific speakers for you since you may not like the Infinity Beta sound. The 40s are 3X the 10s but the 10s can be gotten for so little given Harman is clearing out the line. So, the absolute dollar difference has become small for THIS line.
As previous posters have written it comes down to how critical you are, if music is important, how loud you listen, how big your room, how much space you have, and the usual WAF.
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