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Why are big speakers in small rooms bad?

I'm moving shortly to a new house and a new dedicated room that is 11x15. I was hoping to use an old pair of PSB Goldi's that are, no doubt, a bit large for that size of a room.

My question is, what are the reasons behind big speakers being a no no in smaller rooms? I've heard that the bass will overpower the room. If so, then why are people recommending monitors with a sub for a small room? Is it simply because of more flexable placement?

So, if you're able to place your speakers anywhere in the room and apply suitable acoustic treatment to the room, what are the physics behind the universal disdain for large speakers in smaller rooms? Not tiny rooms mind you, but say a 150^2 ft. room vs. a 300^2 ft. room. All rooms have nodes and other problems, is it just easier to treat a large room?

Thanks.
superfund
distortion
571 posts
 
Cruz, I sure will. The speakers (Sol6.2) need a ton of break-in. As it is they have about 40 hours at the most. There is certainly a bass hump no matter where I place them. Patience is a virtue, so I'll dont plan on jumping the gun on bass control devices yet.

Super, I dont dont have any experience with Planars in small rooms. I see in the systems area that members Pcking and Ace427 both have Planars in small rooms. Maybe a direct email wouldnt be in order. I do recall a memeber building an all A'gon system on the cheap and commenting several times about the small room and how well it sounded. I am pretty sure he was using MMGs. So apparently some folks liked that arrangment.
distortion
571 posts
 
Thats "would" be in order =)
larry_s
128 posts
 
I'm in similar situation. My room is 13x17x10.3, which, from reading around, is a small(ish) room (about 2200cf). I am currently using Studio 100 V1s that are probably too much for the room. The room is treated with Echo Busters products and some wall "hangings" and the 100s sound very good but I still have some significant bass "humps" that I've measured. It may or may not be the 100's fault, I'll know better when I get the Silverline Sonatinas I ordered. The best I've heard the 100's is currently 65" from back wall and 42" from the side walls. I sit about 7-8ft from the speakers leaving about 3-4 feet behind me. Closer to the front wall, the 100s were boomier and the soundstage shrunk.

Like others said, you need to listen for yourself and you will need room treatments (any room should have them if possible). You may want to get a SPL meter and some test tone discs. Part of my problem is the room is on the second floor and the floor is wood (rug covering). I'm thinking of trying some type stand to help isolate the speaker vibrations from the actual floor if my new speakers have the same size measured bass humps.
deecee's avatar
deecee
99 posts
 
The speakers may or may not work in the room... you can only try it and see.

I have "big" speakers and they work ok in my room; although not perfectly.

A trick you might do is to try arranging the speakers diagonally.

This will gain you a little more room from the speaker plane (this worked wonders in my application - better soundstaging and improved bass).

Still need bass traps though... Of course YMMV.

Good Luck & Happy Listening!
mikesinger
572 posts
 
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