floor vs. bookshelf

[fotozcd]

I'm buying a new stereo (music only). I listen to a wide range of music---from Radiohead to Bossanova---and I'm considering an Audiosource Amp 3 to power two rooms each approx. 24'X14'. Can anyone suggest some speakers? I'm debating floor or bookshelf. I assume floors have the better sound, but they're so bloody big (see Athena AS F2s!). That said, if the sound is that much better I may go for it.

Thoughts anyone?

[PAT.P]

For room that size I would go with towers! At least for front in back bookshelf would do.Pat.P

[Lord_Magnepan]

One of the few "small" speakers i have heard which can fill up a medium sized room quite nicely was a Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor.

Cheers

[Geoffcin]

One of the few "small" speakers i have heard which can fill up a medium sized room quite nicely was a Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor.

Cheers

Fill a room, and empty your bank account too!

[Lord_Magnepan]

Fill a room, and empty your bank account too!

Kinda normal for this hobby

I would rather save up and buy a good speaker then just go out and buy a cheap speaker just in order to get it faster.

Maybe its just me

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Kinda normal for this hobby

I would rather save up and buy a good speaker then just go out and buy a cheap speaker just in order to get it faster.

Maybe its just me

No its not just you, I would prefer to have a great two channel system, than a mediocre multichannel system. I believe everyone should save their money and buy good stuff, rather than instant gratification, some cheap easy to get stuff, and lousy sound.

[Lensman]

I'm buying a new stereo (music only). I listen to a wide range of music---from Radiohead to Bossanova---and I'm considering an Audiosource Amp 3 to power two rooms each approx. 24'X14'. Can anyone suggest some speakers? I'm debating floor or bookshelf. I assume floors have the better sound, but they're so bloody big (see Athena AS F2s!). That said, if the sound is that much better I may go for it.

Thoughts anyone?

Floor standers have more bass. This does not mean they sound better. In fact in the under $2,000 price range, they often sound worse than bookshelves. So it's usually better to pair bookshelves with a sub. To recomend speakers we'd need to know what your budget is.

An important consideration for you will be the speaker's efficiency. Given your room size and desired amp, I'd recommend speakers with a reasonably high sensitivity (88 db or better). I personally use bookshelves with a sub in a room of almost identical size (14x24.5) to good effect.

[chimera128]

The best thing is for you to get out there and audition speakers, especially if you aren't really familiar with the brands out there. Since you mentioned the Athenas I assume that you went to Best Buy. I would stay away from the big store chains. Look in your phone book and visit some of the high end audio stores in your area. I tend to favor the sound of bipolar/dipolar speakers over direct radiators (even for music) but there are a lot of people out there who prefer the directs for 2 channel music. BTW.. what kind of budget are you looking at?