• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Book shelf speakers cost vs floor standing speakers.

Well I get it if one does not have the room but basically when you buy some book selves then put them on stands that is basically the same room as a floor standing speaker. I know this is a stupid subject but I have asked Audio Advisors and others and they deflect the question. For If I am going to pay 2000 dollars for a speaker it is not going to be a third of the size of the floor stander with the same woofer and tweeter for the approx. same price. I guess I am not educated enough.
opnly bafld said:
Do you have them wired series/parallel?



How did you accomplish that? :idea:
Click to expand...
Well a lot of xlr to rca , rca to xlr, xlr to xlr,, and a lot of head scratching.
 
et land said:
Well I get it if one does not have the room but basically when you buy some book selves then put them on stands that is basically the same room as a floor standing speaker. I know this is a stupid subject but I have asked Audio Advisors and others and they deflect the question. For If I am going to pay 2000 dollars for a speaker it is not going to be a third of the size of the floor stander with the same woofer and tweeter for the approx. same price. I guess I am not educated enough.
Click to expand...

Can you at least give one example of this? Brand - Models
 
opnly bafld said:
I meant more specifically using tube amplifiers connected to live stage amplifiers???
How did you connect the tube amplifier to the other amplifier?
Were speakers connected to the tube amplifiers?
Click to expand...
I run the tube amps and I am talking the components speakers all from tube amps. High end speaker selectors. I run separate towers of amps if I had to tear it all down I do think I could remember how to put it back to together again. I am serious. . I have interconnects everywhere all Morrow which I like very much. All tubes NOS power tubes Ken rad 1950 tubes. I just got a big mess but it works and sounds fantastic.
 
GChief said:
:idea: wondering if that has anything to do with the question :biggrin:
Click to expand...
Well it may sorry for asking a stupid question. I guess I thought someone would have a intelligent answer but not here. I do not appreciate this comment. Why is it people have to make fun of people when they do not know or have an answer or just just be smart. I just wondered if anybody else ever thought about it . I guess no one has. Yes a stupid question. Ok I guess I am not the brightest bulb on the block but I can walk around and find one. Sorry to waste you all time.
 
opnly bafld said:
Can you at least give one example of this? Brand - Models
Click to expand...
Dswankey said:
I asked him that already and he's not answered it.

I'm not sure where he's coming up with that as it doesn't make sense..
Click to expand...
https://upscaleaudio.com/products/spendor-classic-2-3-bookshelf-loudspeakers-pair https://upscaleaudio.com/products/spendor-a2-floorstanding-loudspeakers-pair https://upscaleaudio.com/collections/spendor
Take a look at these spendors.. now yes maybe NOT apples to apples.. but still. If I had the room the floors would be in my room.. Like I said stupid question.. but anyway whatever.. Someone has already make fun of my question I guess there is no answer. The prices my not be exact, maybe the specs are not exact but still I wonder.
 
et land said:
Well it may sorry for asking a stupid question. I guess I thought someone would have a intelligent answer but not here. I do not appreciate this comment. Why is it people have to make fun of people when they do not know or have an answer or just just be smart. I just wondered if anybody else ever thought about it . I guess no one has. Yes a stupid question. Ok I guess I am not the brightest bulb on the block but I can walk around and find one. Sorry to waste you all time.
Click to expand...
You may need to lighten up a little... my post was in response to post #3 not you :rolleyes:
 
Well after all of this take a look at these from Upscale Audio, (Not picking on Uncle Kev)
https://upscaleaudio.com/collections/spendor Yes some are pairs , some are book selves. Yes maybe the specs are not quite the same. However not all are pairs and look at the price of some of the bookshelves to the floor standing models. These Spendors just for an example. Compare the prices for the pairs and the prices for each between the two types. Guys I was just asking that is all. If you look at the prices there are some that are priced in that manner.. Sorry if I am not intelligent.
 
GChief said:
You may need to lighten up a little... my post was in response to post #3 not you :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Well you are right.. I have PTSD and I am sorry sometimes it gets the best of me hence my music. Nam and watched my whole family burn to death I could not get to them..no excuses though here. Just an old man asking a simple question. Sorry... did not mean to get nasty here.
 
et land said:
... one sees bookshelf speakers then you see floor standing speakers with the same components. Why do the Bookshelf cost as much as the floor standing?
Click to expand...
You answered your own question.

You are paying for the components and the cost of the extra material to make a floor standing version is insignificant. I would think retailers would rather sell bookshelf versions because there is a potential for them to earn an added profit if you decide to by the available speaker stands.
 
Route 66 said:
Because good things come in small packages.
Click to expand...
That's NOT what she said!

cat%20mad%20wet%20cat_zpsuy9cgrzp.jpg
 
Back to the original question... if it fits in the room and sounds good, does the speaker's format make any difference?
 
et land said:
Hello all, This is a stupid question but one sees bookshelf speakers then you see floor standing speakers with the same components. Why do the Bookshelf cost as much as the floor standing? It is maybe half of the floor standing. speakers. You will see a brand of speakers with both and they cost pretty close to the same? I do not get it. However I am not the brightest bulb on the block. Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Hi et land,

I think what your seeing when comparing the cost of bookshelf vs floor standing speakers is part design & engineering and part esthetics.

What I mean is I believe it is more difficult to design/build a bookshelf speaker and make it as close to full frequency (20hz to 20khz) then it is to build the larger floor stander to obtain the same or better frequency response.

In a large floor stander the enclosure size is used to help reproduce the lower frequencies. For bookshelf speakers it is much more difficult to design and build them to be able to effectively produce the lower frequencies.

From the esthetics point of view I believe the small & compact design is being considered more desirable then the large floor stander by most younger audiophiles. The small speakers can be placed on a shelf or can be easily moved or even hidden. This type of approach for speaker placement is much more difficult with a large floor stander. This is also the reasoning for in-ceiling or in-wall speakers. There is a percentage of the general population that believe that sound should only be heard and not seen as with the minimal thought process of "less is more" when it comes to esthetics of speakers.

Although, recently I believe there are many people that actually appreciate the speaker builder/cabinet maker craftsmanship, so there is some level of new appreciation for large floor standers made with exotic hardwoods such as the Klipsch Heritage line or the JBL S9900 K2 or 250ti speakers.
 
Last edited:
Split the difference and go with something like the Totem Forest. Takes up as much space as bookshelf speakers on stands, but the extra cabinet volume allows for much better bass. Totem-Forest-Mahogany-Veneer-1.jpg
 
For my application, floor standing speakers would be totally impractical and wouldn't live up to their potential. My system is in a very small space (an unused bedroom) and stand mount speakers are ideal for such a small room. I augment their bottom end with a REL T5/X sub which allows me to adjust its crossover frequency and volume level to complement my speakers.
 
Route 66 said:
For my application, floor standing speakers would be totally impractical and wouldn't live up to their potential. My system is in a very small space (an unused bedroom) and stand mount speakers are ideal for such a small room. I augment their bottom end with a REL T5/X sub which allows me to adjust its crossover frequency and volume level to complement my speakers.
Click to expand...
:thumbsup:

My son's 5.1 Dolby gaming system uses A/D/S 310 speakers (6 X 6 X 8 inches) and one Bose subwoofer powered by a Yamaha AVR receiver. The system fills his game room quite well.

ADS L310aw (3).jpg

ADS L310aw (6).jpg
 
et land said:
https://upscaleaudio.com/products/spendor-classic-2-3-bookshelf-loudspeakers-pair https://upscaleaudio.com/products/spendor-a2-floorstanding-loudspeakers-pair https://upscaleaudio.com/collections/spendor
Take a look at these spendors.. now yes maybe NOT apples to apples.. but still. If I had the room the floors would be in my room.. Like I said stupid question.. but anyway whatever.. Someone has already make fun of my question I guess there is no answer. The prices my not be exact, maybe the specs are not exact but still I wonder.
Click to expand...

As you said not apples to apples, a bookshelf from the BBC line compared to a budget line (for Spendor) floorstanding.

Like comparing a Corvette to a Malibu and saying the Corvette should be less because it only has 2 doors.
 
Last edited:
It seems pretty clear to me that floor standing speakers tend to go for better bargains used than bookshelf speakers, which seem to hold their value better. This means that if you have room for floor standing speakers, you may be able to find a great bargain on some good oens on CL, FB Marketplace and the like...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom