Do we really need anything more than 8" woofer and 1" tweeter for medium size room?

Inna, here's a link that will bring the reality of what is being discussed into the light of day; we are not discussing "frequency" in an absolute sense, but music which incorporates a multitude of frequencies that bring a multitude of harmonics into play at any one given instant.


    http://www.psbspeakers.com/articles/The-Frequencies-of-Music


I had a hearing test that proved I have excellent hearing. I also went to a speaker store that generated "straight frequencies" that were not music, and I couldn't hear much over 16K. Now those two facts are in contradiction, because I know I can hear over 16K; therefore the answer must lie in the "harmonics".

If you look at the music chart in the link, you will see that not a lot of music is produced over 16K, but I can tell the difference in tweeters that produce very high frequencies, and those that don't; here again, the answer evidently lies in the "harmonics".

Although I'm an electronic tech who thought he had all answers in the days of Julian Hirsch, and Stereo Review. It was not until I got into the high end, that I discovered I don't have all the answers. For example; how can someone who knows absolutely nothing about electronics, know more than I do about the same subject in regard to speakers?

When it comes to "specifications" and the reality of the way we hear music, those are two different worlds; the "audiophile" who doesn't understand specifications, but knows the reality of the quality of sound that emanates from various speakers, trumps all specifications.



Enjoy the music.

Orpheus10, I think you are taliking about the perception and processing of those harmonics that you mentioned. Within the context of this thread, the designer of the drivers must be very advanced in terms of the ability to accoplish that. In other words, he/she must also be a 'musician' and audiophile, in addition to scientist and engineer.
When art and science come together then we get a true outcome.

Listen to enough live music and your concept of what the bottom end and room ambience are supposed to sound like will change.

Nothing will change. Room is a small box compared to concert hall or even to a jazz club. It means it is a very different environment.
I am sure that all participants here heard enough of live music. Live music can sometimes sound terrible too, so can poorly made and tuned instruments.

Inna, I just compared a 6 inch woofer on a two way, to headphones, to 12 inch woofer in the listening room. Bass is bass; naturally the 6 inch woofer on the two way in the bed room came up short, but so are the quality of the electronics. The headphones were better than the two way in regard to bass.

Since I've never had anything other than a 12 inch woofer, I can't comment on that, but a 12 inch woofer "feels" right; in other words I'm accustomed to "feeling" the bass. In regard to economics, an 8 inch woofer could cost more, and be of a higher quality than a 12 inch woofer, but the biggest cost increase is the cabinet; and that's more of a reflection of the manufacturers cost increase versus profit.

Without actually knowing the difference, I think you should audition the difference in your listening room. The enjoyment of music is very important to me; it's my main enjoyment, and when the economic factor is within reason, the only thing left is discovery. Audition speakers with 12 inch woofers in your listening room; in your listening room is a must because 12 inch woofers cause resonance problems.


Enjoy the music.