2. speakers
  3. 167173-110665

Speaker size and soundstage

Question: for floor standing speakers, how does speaker size affect sound stage, bass response, and the depth of music?

I’m searching for a new speaker, and just tested Dynaudio Contour 30 against Tekton Electrons (16x18 room with cathedral ceiling). Tekton’s are bigger (48 vs 45 high, and 10 vs 8.5 wide, about the same depth) and had a much larger sound stage and greater dynamics and depth. Tekton’s as a rule are much bigger than most other brands, which can be imposing in a room, but the size must equate to a greater sound stage. 
But can a smaller tower be designed to achieve the same sound stage and bass depth of a bigger speaker? If so, what what speakers pull this off?
w123ale
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,305 posts
 
Electronics and detail matter but It’s mostly about the room acoustics and how the speakers use it relative to the listener. The sound radiation pattern and dispersion being a big factor.

All you need to do to prove the room and acoustics is the key is set your system up outside and see how big your soundstage is there regardless of recording.
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 

Since the audio comes out of the speakers, many seem to think they control everything. This speaker forum has gotten downright comical; nobody is considering what fifty eleven dozen other things have to do with the audio?
mozartfan
2,143 posts
 
Since the audio comes out of the speakers, many seem to think they control everything

~~~~
Some of us here do believe Spaekers reign as The Kings in our system,. Power = power. 
cd player = DAC
Phone gets a tad edge vs CDP, Not much. 
Speakers rule
 The Crown Jewels

I have a  4 inch clone on the Lowther/Fostex design. 
Its ok, nothing great, at a  miserable 91db. I us it for low mids-low highs,  
Although a  tiny 4 inch cone, this lil driver puts out huge massive soundstage that will blow you away in near field/small room acoustics. .
 = Size does not matter, 
db sensitivity is all that matters, 
db sens is the Holy Grail in speaker design. 
This lil fullrange will match the masssive 300 lb Wilson speakers in midrange soundstage. 
Size is not materail, Efficiency is all that matters. In mids/highs, Bass is different. 
andy2
1,553 posts
 
In general the bigger the speakers the bigger the soundstage.  There are a few exceptions just like everything else in life.  
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
One of these is not like the others:

"The soundstage starts a few feet behind the speakers, and extends well out into the room, seemingly surrounding you. I've never (in a true two speaker setup) felt so enveloped by the music as I was last night."


"The imaging was so good that I felt like the vocalist was performing right in front of me and that I could reach out and touch them."


"so far above any system I had heard ...because of the detailed soundstage."


"They certainly did not image well when I heard them and I do not think you can get them beyond what I would call standard imaging."

Wonder why?

More to discover