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Why "bookshelf" sspeakers?

This is not a rhetorical question. I’m asking because I don’t know.

The question is this: What is the point of "bookshelf" style speakers if they are not going on a bookshelf or table? In other words they are on speaker stands.

Here is the reason I’m asking. For a short time I had a pair of Aerial Acoustics 5T speakers along with a pair of Aerial Acoustics 6T towers (which I still have).

I listened to each set of speakers through a Bryston AV amp. I felt like the 6Ts sounded much better. More bass. Fuller sound. (I think a subwoofer would have resolved that easily for the 5Ts.)

The 5Ts are not exactly small and would barely fit on most bookshelves (although they are front ported and recommended for bookshelves by AE). The ones I listened to were on heavy metal stands which made them almost as big and heavy as the 6Ts.

So why buy smaller speakers which need to go on large heavy stands that make them as big as a floor standing speaker and not sound as good? Space saving does not seem to be the answer and I see some ’bookshelf’ speakers that are a good bit bigger than the AE 5ts.

I’m sure there must be a good reason since I see many people with them. And of course my assumption that a floor stander sounds better than a bookshelf might be wrong.

I guess cost comes into play somewhere in the equation as well.

Interested in people’s thoughts on this.

n80
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
5,219 posts
 

Interesting thread. I moved from standmounts to towers, but there are standmounts that I still thought were uniquely special -- Fritz Heiler's Carbon 7 Mk 2 SE, to be precise.

That leads me to one reason to prefer a standmount -- it’s made with special talent and attention and there is no equivalently good tower in the line or perhaps just none at all.

It’s like that one particular menu item at a restaurant that is exceptional -- but not a main course.

Or that short song that is just a "gem." (Think: "Blue, Red, and Grey" by the Who. Short, perfect, unique.)

Question for anyone interested in commenting: Name a standmount speaker which was special even though a tower from that same maker/line was not. I’ll start:

Dynaudio Evoke 10 and 20 sounded special to me. Dynaudio 30, the Tower, was "meh."

mark200mph
336 posts
 

I have bookshelf with ribbons and like it.sometimes I put them on top of my 8 feet tall speakers and the feel better almost like it's there safe space.i put some on my usher d2 and made it into a d3 saved alot of cash there.i stack speakers all the time with antivibrational material between them.i hope they have babies and I can get more speakers.i have delivered a few babies in this life but never a baby speaker yet. Enjoy the music stay healthy, relax,humor and the literature medical is full on how humor helps the immune system. Dr. Carson who separated the first conjoined twins said music helped him study and focus. Great documentary watch it.as surgens low music in the background help in the operating room.it relaxes the staff.

waytoomuchstuff's avatar
waytoomuchstuff
1,211 posts
 

Reminds me of the study a few years ago that concluded: "DUCT TAPE NOT GOOD ON DUCTS!"

So, now: "BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS NOT GOOD ON BOOKSHELVES?"

 

boxcarman
447 posts
 

So lets call them standmount speakers instead.  Hardly anyone puts them on a bookshelf.

vthokie83
1,004 posts
 

OP, for many reasons stated above: easier to move around, easier to store when not in use, less expensive, easier to place as they are usually "two way" speakers, seem to pair well with subwoofers.

I'd also add they are better at imaging and soundstage, and maybe that is because of their flexibility at placement.....because I didn't have to worry about one box providing deep bass, vocals, and highs

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