Are floor standing or bookshelf speakers better for a stereo setup?

[RLiu818]

I already have a nice subwoofer (20-39 PCi SVS) on the way.

Would bookshelf or floor standing speakers be better? Space issues and aesthetics is not a major issue. I just want the best performance. My receiver is stereo only, so a surround setup is not possible at this time, but there is always a possibility for upgrading the receiver to a surround sound setup.

[markw]

I get pretty good imaging with my towers. Likewise, some say that bass is bloated in a tower. Again, I say that depends on the tower and it's placement in the room.

I prefer to have my main speakers deliver all the sound possible. By using a full range speaker, you have the option of having the sub come into play only in the lowest registers. You won't need it for the mid/upper bass like witt a standmount. Tht improves imaging overall.

I had my sub hooked up to my main (stereo) system and had the speakers running full range from the preamp output with another run going to the sub. I used the sub's low pass filter to have the sub cut in only below 50 hz and I found the sound stupendous. Others were quite impressed as well.

IOW, the sub is very rarely called into play in the stereo and that's the way (uh huh uh huh) I like it.

YMMV

[calegrant]

It really depends on your budget. For say 500 bucks you can get a fairly decent set of bookshelves. The same can't be said for floorstanders, 500 bucks doesn't get much quality.

Give us a budget and you'll get a better answer.

[Dmax]

It really depends on your budget. For say 500 bucks you can get a fairly decent set of bookshelves. The same can't be said for floorstanders, 500 bucks doesn't get much quality.

Give us a budget and you'll get a better answer.

I soooooooooo disagree with you, you have been around to many audiophiles.You can find superb floorstanding speakers (Brand New) for 500 bucks ,even a little less.You can also find really great bookself speakers for much less. I dont know what type of sound some people are seeking but if you cant find really great sound in this price range your expectations are unrealistic and you"ll never be totally satified with anything.Just my opinion

[PAT.P]

I soooooooooo disagree with you, you have been around to many audiophiles.You can find superb floorstanding speakers (Brand New) for 500 bucks ,even a little less.You can also find really great bookself speakers for much less. I dont know what type of sound some people are seeking but if you cant find really great sound in this price range your expectations are unrealistic and you"ll never be totally satified with anything.Just my opinion

What superb floorstanding speakers are you talking about?Dont get much for $500 for towers.

[Dmax]

What superb floorstanding speakers are you talking about?Dont get much for $500 for towers.

Im not going to hardly entertain you with a list of good speakers for 500 bucks because you have already put in your mind that there are none but I will keep my faith in profesional established speaker manufacturers such as Polk, Infinity,Klipsch , Boston ,Athena,and many many more that can be found for 500 bucks if you search for them and not you.Im not going broke to suit your standards whatever rediculous ones those are.Can you build a better speaker than Matthew Polk? If so you should be out making money with your speakers instead of trying to be a snob towards these speaker companies who can and do.

[shokhead]

I soooooooooo disagree with you, you have been around to many audiophiles.You can find superb floorstanding speakers (Brand New) for 500 bucks ,even a little less.You can also find really great bookself speakers for much less. I dont know what type of sound some people are seeking but if you cant find really great sound in this price range your expectations are unrealistic and you"ll never be totally satified with anything.Just my opinion

So do you think the best $500 floorstanders will be better/worst then the best $500 booksahelfs you can find?

[markw]

.. a nice pair of maggies and a good sub comes to mind...

'course the receiver would have to be stable at 4 ohms...

[accastil]

hi, id go for a full range floorstander..the incorporation of the low level freqs are not as good when using a subwoofer as compared when it is being reproduced in majority by the mains...i am speaking most especially during stereo music listening. try auditioning a Mordaunt Short 502 THX. this one has excellent mid/highs and the internal active subwoofer would definitely satisfy your soul...you may view ratings as well coming from its owners.

[shokhead]

hi, id go for a full range floorstander..the incorporation of the low level freqs are not as good when using a subwoofer as compared when it is being reproduced in majority by the mains...i am speaking most especially during stereo music listening. try auditioning a Mordaunt Short 502 THX. this one has excellent mid/highs and the internal active subwoofer would definitely satisfy your soul...you may view ratings as well coming from its owners.

Low level freqs are not as good when using a sub as mains? Better rethink that and do some listening with some better subs.

[T BOMB25]

I will 2nd the Epos M12.2,the best balanced speaker I've heard for under $4000.