The bookshelf speaker "thing" is fairly recent.
I remember there were lots of small factor loudspeakers in the 80's, actually more than floorstanders. Though no subs were available then.
Why "bookshelf" sspeakers?
This is not a rhetorical question. I’m asking because I don’t know.
The question is this: What is the point of "bookshelf" style speakers if they are not going on a bookshelf or table? In other words they are on speaker stands.
Here is the reason I’m asking. For a short time I had a pair of Aerial Acoustics 5T speakers along with a pair of Aerial Acoustics 6T towers (which I still have).
I listened to each set of speakers through a Bryston AV amp. I felt like the 6Ts sounded much better. More bass. Fuller sound. (I think a subwoofer would have resolved that easily for the 5Ts.)
The 5Ts are not exactly small and would barely fit on most bookshelves (although they are front ported and recommended for bookshelves by AE). The ones I listened to were on heavy metal stands which made them almost as big and heavy as the 6Ts.
So why buy smaller speakers which need to go on large heavy stands that make them as big as a floor standing speaker and not sound as good? Space saving does not seem to be the answer and I see some ’bookshelf’ speakers that are a good bit bigger than the AE 5ts.
I’m sure there must be a good reason since I see many people with them. And of course my assumption that a floor stander sounds better than a bookshelf might be wrong.
I guess cost comes into play somewhere in the equation as well.
Interested in people’s thoughts on this.
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gdnrbob: I never had a bookshelf speaker until computers became mainstream. Bought my first pair of bookshelves when I got my first computer at a Radio Shack. Personally, I don’t remember seeing many bookshelves back then. Everybody (at least in my circle) wanted 15" floor standing speakers on a short stand, or a pair of the now legendary Acoustic Research AR9 towers (still have mine)!
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Bookshelf speakers are typically smaller, simpler, and less expensive for a given quality level. At a given price point, less money has to go toward a larger cabinet, and can go toward better drivers and crossover parts. A well designed two-way can have pretty incredible clarity and coherency...there's no high pass capacitor in series with the midbass driver. |
I’ve always been a fan of bookshelf/standmount speakers. I heard the comment in the past that a good big ‘un beats a good little ‘un and generally I agree with that, though I still like standmounts for a few reasons. I agree that standmounts with stands taking up pretty much the same amount of floor space, but I find the standmounts can have a smaller visual impact. I tend to build my own speakers, so I find that smaller speakers are easier to build in my shop. Materials cost is less as well. As mentioned above, for a given budget it may be possible to go higher up a manufactures line for a smaller speaker, though in some cases the cost of the stands can even out that difference. Good thing is that there are plenty of options no matter your preference. |
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