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?

128x128daveyf

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

@ 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. 

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 ...

 

 

Toddalin system

Original music

 
 

 

 

Thanks mijostyn...

I will watch it and report ...My best to you ...

Watched the movie Oppenheimer last night. Highly recommended.

@mihorn

None of those videos would compel me to buy your speakers. Timbre seems off and the room sounds too lively.

 

And what's up with all that tape hiss?