Do Bigger Speakers Mean a Bigger Window?


I enjoy listening to small loudspeakers, in fact a lot of my listening is done via my Logitech desktop computer speakers (2 SATs + 1 small sub) or those in the car.

However ultimately there's nothing like the sense of ease of listening via a big pair of speakers such as big Harbeths, vintage JBLs or Tannoys etc.

I wouldn't say that the bigger speakers (8 inch+ cone) are more accurate, in fact the Logitech's have an uncanny way of getting voices stunningly right as  
watching home movies on the PC demonstrates. It's just that the larger loudspeakers seem to reveal more of the recording quality and bandwidth. So much so that sometimes you can easily hear the limitations of the original tapes sometimes.

So, if you are after high fidelity sound, why would you buy small speakers? 



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Yes, but is it a fair analogy to compare recordings to images? For example, if you attempt to enlarge a low resolution image beyond a certain point it only becomes pixelated and distorted, doesn't the same apply to recordings?

This is often an argument used by high-end salesmen when your favourite recordings sound worse through their speakers. I can still recall how bad 'You Are the Quarry' sounded through Quad 2905's. I know they're great speakers but are they really too good for most recordings? Too much resolution?

Or perhaps they just weren't mastered through a pair of Quads!



 
You may be interested in the current trend (past 20 years or so) of manufacturers designing speakers that are @ 6' tall or taller.

I always wonder where they got this idea...and why.