Have you moved away from full range to standmount speakers + subs?


I want to know if you have been on a journey moving from a large full range speaker to a smaller one paired wit subs, maybe even four subs.


Maybe you moved away from the big speakers because you had too much bass or you got a better soundstage from the smaller speakers. Let me know what motivated you and if you think it’s better now.


My motivation for wanting to try smaller speakers.


I have the Tekton DI and until a month ago I was using a LM845P SET amp to drive them.

It only sounded good on simple jazz and vocals but on complex music everything was falling apart.

I am not playing loud but I think it was the low 2 ohm load in the midrange that made the LM break down.


I bought a used PS Audio BHK250 and pre and it was like getting new speakers. Never ever had it occurred to me that speaker and amp matching could have such a profound effect.


So I am enjoying my speakers now and listen to music I have avoided like the plague and enjoying it (:


But all of this got me thinking, what if I paired my LM845P with an easy to drive speaker and paired it with some subs?


Then the LM845 could do what it's best at, playing glorious midrange and the subs could play the bass.

So that's my motivation for trying smaller speakers.


I am also hoping that maybe I could get better and more even bass with 2 or 4 subs. Maybe a better soundstage because the small speakers have a very small baffle.

martin-andersen
I agree with Douglas Schroeder in the effects of underpowered speakers. My experience that poorly controlled woofers is a more common issue than the old and overemphasized sensitivity/watts/distance/SPL calculation. Generally, the more compact the speaker, the more power it requires to sound normal. My opinion is that subs alone will not make up for that. 
I wemt the other route. I started out with B and W bookshelves and a pair of subs on the recommendation of someone. They couldn't move enough air to fill the room without driving them hard and I think it's why I had such a hard time integrating my subs. Ended up getting a pair of Dali Opticon 8 and voila! Happiness.
Big speakers WITH subs is the way to go. 
Listen to Douglas Schroeder he is one of the few good reviews left. 

Look at what JBL does with their active M2 horn speaker. They put crazy amounts of power on it on a very efficient speaker. 
For me it was bass and space.  With a separate sub, I have much better control over the bass and integration with the room than I would have with a full range.