Endless debate: monitor + sub vs floorstanding


Have made a simple system with Peachtree Inova and Proac Sig 8 Tablettes on sand filled stands. Lovely sound I am quite pleased with though I'm considering either supplementing my beloved Tablettes with a sub bass (most likely the new Rel T5) OR grabbing a pair of full range floorstanders (likely used Proac as well).

Any thoughts on the relative merits of the two setups in terms of expression, detail, dynamic spectrum, musicality and also flexibility? Intuitively, it seems I may have more opportunities to play with and fine-tune the experience using Tabletttes plus sub.

I realize there is probably no perfect answer here. Unfortunately, my opportunities for a good side by side listening comparison of the two systems is pretty much nil.
marburg
[quote]03-27-11: Buconero117
monitor + sub is the way to go. I have proac 1SC's used with dual subs (a Jim Smith must). Great sound. I also have Proac 140's, floor standers. I give the edge to the 1SC's + subs, which have more focused presentations and yet the subs add the missing bottom. [/quote]

The 140 floorstanders have inferior drivers compared to the 1SCs. A properly implemented high quality monitor+sub setup is always more desirable than an inferior pair of floorstanders.
03-27-11: Buconero117
monitor + sub is the way to go. I have proac 1SC's used with dual subs (a Jim Smith must). Great sound. I also have Proac 140's, floor standers. I give the edge to the 1SC's + subs, which have more focused presentations and yet the subs add the missing bottom.

The 140 floorstanders have inferior drivers compared to the 1SCs. A properly implemented high quality monitor+sub setup is always more desirable than an inferior pair of floorstanders.


ok..if I'm not beating an already debilitated horse here...

I found to my surprise, a local Proac dealer who adamantly insisted that "most people can't set up 2 speakers properly let alone three. A floorstanding speaker like the D18 will completely demolish any monitor + sub arrangement. "

Any thoughts on that? Is this at all accurate or is the guy another hardened criminal?
I'm partial to a good pair of 2-way with a pair of subs. This way you tune your monitors for best sound staging and imaging and tune your subwoofers for best bass response. Most of the time they are never best in the same location, but set up time is longer than floor standers.