Big Sound = Big Speakers = Big Problems?

There is no subsitute for large radiating surfaces :)

You said you use “no name” copper wires for your speakers. I found that when I went from my ten year + Monster cable speaker wire to the Nordost stuff the different was night and day. By that, I mean the sound was so huge and wide that I had to toe in my speakers at first because I was not use to such an open wide soundstage. Just something else to look into.

I'm probably not sure exactly what I mean by "big" sound either - it's probably a combination of a few things, including soundstage size. But also the "size" of the instruments being played - does a piano sound like a full-sized piano being played, or a miniature-sized piano, for example.

My guess and my assumption is that the #1 thing that affects most of this is the recording itself, but it seems like physics probably plays at least a part in recreating the proper presentation. Room physics certainly do, as well as proper setup. I know that many recordings are severely limited from the start, but it also wouldn't surprise me if, to recreate the sound of an electric guitar, for instance, in a non-miniaturized size, you need a bigger, physical speaker.

I'd be glad if it's not the case, or if I can close the gap in other ways, as I really like the Dyn's for the sound quality vs. physical imposition - they fit very nicely in the room, and as I say, in most ways keep me completely satisfied.

Sure, your correct...many times it is the recording. A recording mixed with even the best intention towards sound quality may not sound very good when played back for several reasons:

A big one as far as bass goes might be and often is..the person doing the mix for any number of reasons does not understand or has no control over the acustics of the room it's self.

He will boost or cut those freq's as he hears them at his location...of course if his location is at a null point, he will boost the bass to compensate.

When played back at home (on your audiophile system and even in your audiophile tuned room), the bass would be to strong.

One reason audiophile records and cd's sound so good is because they were controled at every step by audiophiles...

Those "other" recordings that you mentioned above (the ones with all the life bled from them) so they sound loud on the radio are another story..what a waist in the hunt for $$$.

As far as large full-range speakers sounding fuller...this is often true. The main reason is simply the fact that they often contain more drivers...push more air.

My Apogee Duetta Signatures and VMPS Supertowers are large full-range.

My Apogee Centaur Minors and VMPS 626's are not full-range but I do have a VMPS sub that I have used with both at times.

While the sub does make them full-range...it does nothing for the upper freq. heft that the much larger speakers can produce.

You can get a heck of a lot of horsepower out of a six cylinder...but it will never sound like big-block V-8.

Dave