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

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to listen to some very large speakers that are considered to be at, or close to, the pinnacle in speaker design and ability. Needless to say, the speakers retail in the mid to high $300k range. These speakers, and I will not be naming them, were sourced by about $800k of upstream gear. Room size was about thirty by twenty, maybe a little larger.
To say the the overall sound was BIG would be accurate, but also I noticed something else, that I typically hear with big speaker systems. Generally, the speakers were right on edge of overloading the room, depending on music, the dreaded bass boom could be heard. But, the whole presentation was greater in impact than most any smaller speaker system, yet it was almost unlistenable for the long term.

The question I asked myself, is do we really want this type of presentation in our home audio systems? The speakers threw a pretty large soundstage, but also made things sound somewhat larger than life. I also thought that this type of speaker is akin to the large box dynamic speakers of yesteryear. For example, a set of large horns from Altec Lansing or similar was reminiscent of this sound. Makes me believe that if one has a big room, a similar sound can be obtained from most any large speaker system and at a fraction of the price.

I listen in a very small room, and by necessity in the near field, yet I think the overall intimacy of this type of listening experience is better for me, your thoughts?

daveyf11-05-2023 8:35pm

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toddalin Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 284 posts 11-27-2023 at 02:03am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @mihorn: I will compare to any audio system in the world. Please you show me any audio system’s live recording video sounds better than mine. Alex/Wavetouch audio OK, I've heard your videos and I’ll play. I cobbled these together with used professional JBL PA parts (2241H, 2251J) and Heil AMTs that I modified. The crossovers are of my design and use Audyn Q4 caps, heavy air core chokes, and Dale 1% resistors. Total cost was under $1,500. I’ve done some work on them since the video was made. Source is an Oppo95 through a Yamaha RX-Z9 Receiver in "Pure Direct" mode. Recoding was performed with a Nikon D750 SLR placed in the sweet spot. There is no eq or room correction, either electronic or physical being used. Unfortunately, you can’t hear the soundstage and imaging which is stellar outshining anything I or others have ever heard. If you like Steely Dan, select something with a bit more variety of instrumentation and we’ll do a new video. So who decides and what do I win?
mihorn Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 517 posts 11-27-2023 at 06:39am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Toddalin system Original music Alex / Wavetouch Please compare to the original music (center). I will respect members’ opinion. Please post your opinion. I’ll post my feedback tomorrow. Thank you for participation! Alex/WT
mijostyn Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 8,570 posts 11-27-2023 at 01:49pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @ phusis All quite correct. However, nobody in their right mind would run them that way. It would damage your ears. The real immediate limiting factor is the woofer. Run full range the woofer will start doubling when pushed too hard which is very annoying. High passing solves this issue completely. Next is the tweeter and I really do not know how much it can take. All I can say is I have never seen one blow. Watched the movie Oppenheimer last night. Highly recommended.
mahgister Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 13,188 posts 11-27-2023 at 03:51pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete This music is not my taste at all ... 😊 The two system are good at most ... Not top sorry ... The timbre perception is not optimal in the two case...Milhorn lack bass impact and probably highs refinement ...Toddalin lack mids density ... Why my criticism of the two ? The room controls matter the more and is lacking in the two case it seems and because we cannot hear anyway the speakers/room relation from the internet ... How is the soundstage? the listener envelopment and immersiveness ? and to really judge the timbre and immersiveness and the spatial aspects of sound we need something else than this commercial tune , as a chord quartet or a big band jazz etc ... I apologize for my rudeness or frankness ... mihorn 357 posts 11-27-2023 at 01:39am Toddalin system Original music
mahgister Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 13,188 posts 11-27-2023 at 03:53pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Thanks mijostyn... I will watch it and report ...My best to you ... Watched the movie Oppenheimer last night. Highly recommended.