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Anyone Successfully Go from Floor Standers to Bookshelf Monitors w/ Subs?

My system is in a Large Living room which opens to dining room & Kitchen. I figure about 6k cu ft. I have Silverline Sonata speakers now with subs. Unfortunately I did not build my addition when I should have 10-15 yrs ago. Now I'm not really up to the task. Too old & wore out. So I'd love to make the LR a prettier room for my wife. One thing we talked about was the large speakers, and possibly using Watkins Gen 4 monitors. But as good as they sound, I am concerned about the ability to fill the room, or at least my listening area. As I understand, it is about moving air. I cannot see how a 6.5 & 1 inch speaker can move as much as a 10, 7, 3 & 1 inch. So I am quite concerned about that. Right now, the system sounds very pleasing to both of us. We don't want to take a backward step but can live with a sideways step if it is more visually pleasing.

Has anyone made this kind of a step from floor standers to monitors, both with subs, in a large room, with success? Or am I thinking correctly about the small speakers inability to move the proper amount of air for the room size? Thanks for your help.

OH, FWIW, The addition may not be completely out of the picture. But it depends on whether I can get one of my previous sub contractors to do a large part of it. 
128x128artemus_5
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,969 posts
 
Wow! So many responses to answer. Thanks guys. FWIW, the Watkins Gen 4 have a return policy and Watkins Stereo is about 3 miles from my house. So, they wouldn’t be that hard to return. Once again, I have 2 Rel S5 subs (with Sumiko S-10 badges) So the subs are adequate for the job and I like them. I agree with @rauliruegas about the setup and crossover points. I have also played live music (drums & vocals) so I KNOW what a bass guitar should sound like and these subs do that well.

@allenf1963 We may be neighbors. I’ve lived in Kingsport for 25 yrs and have known Bill Watkins & his son for 35-40 yrs. I used to go up to just talk with Sr from time to time prior to his death. Bill Jr, says he was a genius and I believe it. I know about his patents & I believe he holds some on the Gen 4 too. Both speaker drivers are modified by Bill to get the desired outcome. He told me before he produced them that he was working on the best speaker he had ever produced. Again, Bill Jr says they are better than the WE-1’s. There again, Jr’s hearing is not as good as his fathers from what I understand (tinnitus) Nonetheless, both of them are very knowledgeable and are men of high integrity, IMO
52356
24 posts
 
Yes...for my second dedicated stereo room, which is small, I bot Tannoy Autograph mini and a Rel t7i paired w my old, but wonderful McCormick DNA-1...very happy with this second, intimate system.
phastm3's avatar
phastm3
88 posts
 
I just set up a pair of the new Fleetwood Audio Deville Monitors. very big sounding speaker...>I’m not even sure if I need my sub with it. Here’s a quick video I made of them...video is better than a picture.
https://youtu.be/hFoneEceqSY
jon_5912
605 posts
 
There's no way to duplicate a big woofer playing mid and upper bass.  I've gone back and forth and the energy isn't there without a big woofer, 8" minimum.  The only way I've heard small woofer speakers rival big ones is nearfield.  This is a good way to go in my opinion and I'm surprised more people don't do it.  If you want your small speakers to rock put them a couple of feet away and they'll do a lot better than they do across the room.  
devildog1316
6 posts
 
I have a small listening space. So I opted to go with SF Sonetto 1’s with the matching Gravis 1 subwoofer. Basically, It’s a Rel T5i with a down firing 8” woofer. Anyway, this combination works well in my room. The Sonettos’s are great at creating a good imaging sound stage and the Gravis 1 subwoofer helps the Sonetto speakers provide a good tight bass response that’s enjoyable to listen to. Granted, its not earth shattering or chest thumping bass.  But then again, I’ve never been a Bass Head.
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