Big speakers, are they really the best way to get great sound?

I consider myself extremely fortunate that, in my listening room, I don't need any room treatments, nor do I think I need any. My living/listening room is connected to my dining room, which is connected to my kitchen. It measures 16.6" W X 34.6 D, with cathedral ceilings in the living room/dining room. The kitchen floor is uncovered, all else is carpeted.

I use two 12" Dual Concentric Stereo drivers, one 15" subwoofer, and two 12" subwoofers. Nothing is being overdriven (the nice thing about subs is they're volume is easily controlled). My room seems to have the right amount of clutter to help keep thing easier to adjust.

I also have a multi-channel system lashed in, and it has all worked out very well for me, which I am extremely grateful for.

Regards,

Dan

 

What is it about a local context of a large system + listening space that makes you deduce the observations made here translates into a general characteristic of other, similarly-ish sized systems - the astronomical price of +$1M? - does that make it a representative for all larger sized speaker setups? If anything it goes to show price in itself doesn’t tell you much about the potential at hand (as you have indicated yourself), also not knowing about the hardware specifics, nor the overall implementation acoustically or otherwise.

Why the secrecy - what’s so important to keep the lid on exposing the speakers at play here? It’s just your opinion - calling out über-expensive speakers + gear for sounding less than ideal shouldn’t be a more precarious matter than saying the same of less expensive speakers. I take it there’ll be no red dot placed on your forehead for spilling the beans, as they say.

While the speakers I had the pleasure of hearing definitely seemed to not portray what I felt were the same level of specific detail and intimacy that other smaller systems I have heard can; I do agree that a generalization cannot be made. I do not believe I was trying to say that ALL large speakers fall down in this way, although most that i have heard certainly do. What would be point of disclosing the speaker in question, besides to feed your curiosity? It is a model that has- and is receiving the highest in hype and praise (as it should for its asking price!) To many on this forum, I suspect they would consider it to be SOTA, which just goes to show the variety in tastes.

As to what I hear live, I am an ex-pro studio musician, so i have had some exposure to the ’live’ unamplified sound... mostly fairly close up, although also many times in large halls. This is where I come from as a 'frame of reference'. What is your 'frame of reference'?

mulveling, that piece of Swiss transistor Soulution cannot compete with VAC Statement even in the wildest of fantasies. Besides, not all big speakers are created equal in terms of how they perform in relatively small rooms. Don't know about present but Kevin of VAC used to own JM Labs Grand Utopia.

i always ask is Diana Krall really ten feet tall ?
 

OP we live in the same hood if you are near Peter…stop by sometime…. we do serve up a BIG Pinot…

Jim

Neal Young famously had his roadies set up an entire pro PA system outdoors so he could listen to a mix of an album. One pile of speakers was close to a barn so at some point he could row out on his lake and yell, "more barn!"