Bookshelf or Tower

I love the detail and imaging of my studio 20's, it was surprising to hear instruments here and over there in the room. what I don't like is thinking that I have left some more of that good stuff on the table by not spending more as I will have these speakers for a while and this is the first pair of speakers I have bought as I have been using my parents hand-me-down snell e-III's for almost 18 years until the drivers finally fell apart.

B Limo, I private messaged you (I think) not sure if I had technical difficulty or if that is just the way this site works.

some good stuff in the buying forum I see too

thanks all!

I agree that a 3-way is the only way :) Gosh,did not know what I was missing.

So went to audition speakers yesterday and today. Ended up at the Paradigm, B&W, Aerial and Wilson dealer.

To mimic my setup we used an Anthem P2 amp, Ayre pre, Naim CDP with transparent cables all around. First we listened to my Studio 20's and they were good. then the Signature S2's and they were really good and then the 805D and they were really really good and detailed but then at that price point, I was curious about towers. Listened to Paradigm S6 and Tributes. I have to say I am biased to the looks of the Paradigm stuff, especially the signature cabinets are very sexy.

once I heard the towers it was clear to me the shortcomings of a bookshelf and the sound I am seeking came from the towers. So after two days of audition sessions, I ended up putting a deposit down on the signature S6's. They are very sleek and will look great in my room.

They gave me full paid value for my 3 month old studio 20 trade-in plus 10% off retail of the S6's. Not bad considering I did not purchase the studio 20's from them.

Funny though each day I came home and listened to my system and I thought the studio 20's sounded great and better on my system than on the store's setup. hmmmm...

Photonman, congrats on the s6's!! I'm jealous...
And, your studio 20's probably do sound better in your home, just as I suspect the s6's will too. Same thing happens to me also, people here will argue that it's mostly about the room differences but I think it's more than that.
I am also a fan of floorstanding speakers but I will always have a place in my heart for bookshelf speakers also, as they were my first love.
Anyways, good to know that you are a fan of berrylium also, just don't lick the tweeters ;-)

Interesting sidenote...Studio 20 was Class C in stereophile...believe Studio 60 was Class B...granted this is all relative and highly subjective...but outside of the bass reproduction...these models are quite similiar...add a decent sub to the 20s...and who knows...probably a dead heat...and yes the inflated cost of towers is primarily the cabinet...and depending upon the manufacturer... much of that is in veneers,custom options, etc...however they dont require stands...which is the hidden cost of smaller speakers...Enjoy your new speakers!

my neophyte understanding behind the purpose of the larger cabinet is more air volume to move through the drivers which translates to range and sound etc.

the killer part is that these cabinets are composed of el cheapo MDF or particle board.