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

@daveyf wrote/quoted:

I thought you did not care about speaker-room interaction because upstream you posted this:"brought on as the BS rationale of "fitting your speakers to the listening room size-wise."

You're missing an important piece of information, because as I stressed at the end of above quote: "size-wise." Your (and many others') presumption of fitting speakers to a given listening space is based on a size matching criteria (that is: small speakers to small rooms, (not least) large speakers to large rooms, and everything in between), a strict adherence I don't buy into, whereas I care about fitting bulky speakers of high efficiency into a given listening space that isn't necessarily a large one (fitting smaller speakers into larger listening spaces is usually problematic, unless sitting relatively nearfield and having the mains subs augmented and preferable high-passed). So, I DO care about speaker-room interaction, just not the way you'd like for it to pan out.

While my position, at not least my context of it isn't representative with regard to speaker segment and configuration, I will state categorically that a large speaker system CAN work extremely well in a moderately sized listening room, and that a larger ditto isn't mandatory for the same to come true. In fact larger listening rooms can bring about new challenges with added room interaction, as you've no doubt experienced re: your OP, that - unless taken very well care of - can make matters worse. 

@phusis 

Small speakers only sound small because of no low bass and visual considerations.

I have set up, lord knows, maybe 10 LS3 5A systems with two subwoofers crossed at 100 Hz. I always put the speakers up on stands in positions people would normally use for towers. Close your eyes and they sound as big as any Wilson or Magico. 

Our vision and eyes are intimately connected. Our eyes and ears have to agree on our position in space or you get vertigo and sea sick. Our brains are also very suggestible. You tend to hear what you see which is why I always close my eyes when evaluating a system. 

@mijostyn wrote:

Small speakers only sound small because of no low bass and visual considerations.

I have set up, lord knows, maybe 10 LS3 5A systems with two subwoofers crossed at 100 Hz. I always put the speakers up on stands in positions people would normally use for towers. Close your eyes and they sound as big as any Wilson or Magico. 

Our vision and eyes are intimately connected. Our eyes and ears have to agree on our position in space or you get vertigo and sea sick. Our brains are also very suggestible. You tend to hear what you see which is why I always close my eyes when evaluating a system. 

The LS3 5A's are lovely speakers in their own right, but they're also hideously inefficient and will have to be used within their confinements. High-passing them of course will help adding more headroom. 

With regard to perceived sonic size, yes, a pair of subs will also help. As such (not least high-passed @100Hz) they could really be regarded as 3-way speakers with a 4 1/2" midrange/upper bass driver.

I'll still maintain though that as a standalone speaker the LS3 5A's aren't big sounding in my book (eyes closed and all), even disregarding my own speaker context at the opposite end of the size scale.  

An interesting thread @lemonhaze as I had the same question to my dealer (who is very pragmatic … and definitely believes in diminishing returns)

His view on reference speakers ($100k+) is they were “money is no object” speakers and really not about sound. Look and best of everything … with no real return on sound. 

In my case he believed the “tipping point” for diminishing returns was the Sonus Faber Amati.. half the price of a reference (or even less than half) and incredible sound with a tonne of volume and fullness. 

After 40 years of selling audio .. those are his dream speakers .. when he could have any speaker.
 

@phusis 

I live with 8 foot tall electrostatics and you would be surprised. With enough power (200 watts/ch) and crossed out at 100 Hx 48 dB/oct the little suckers (LS3 5As) will punch it out louder than anybody needs. As a system for people who really do not want big speakers in the room this is a wonderful solution which is why I have done so many of them. The last one being for my son in law around Harbeth P3 ESR XDs crossing to two 12" subs digitally with a MiniDSP HSD.  

@bubba12 

No need to change that approach if you pick the right line. Check out the Franco Serblin Ketema. One of the best dynamic speakers I have ever heard and relative to other top of the line speakers dirt cheap. They are also really good looking.