Vote

I think smaller cabinets, especially with narrower front baffles, sound clearer.

Good Amplifiers and bass require cabinet space. Sure you can trade off bigger cone diameters with multiple vertical arrays of mid sized speakers, but that still takes a lot of space.

Speakers are like sex. Size may make a visual statement, but it's what you do with it that counts.

House constraints normally dictate the maximum size of a new speaker purchase

The solution comes from Kansas. Get bigger Martin-Logan speakers so you are happy.

You can't refute the laws os physics!

I'm fortunate to be having a home built with a dedicated music/home theater room, which allows me to upgrade my big Maggies to bigger.

Many factors dictate size. If one wants unrestricted full-range, 20Hz-20kHz, then big is essential for bass response, whether one likes it or not. If, on the other hand, one is content with the FR of both acoustic and electronic musical instruments, a moderate-size speaker with a bass response beginning at 40Hz should be adequate. Again, if bass response is not a factor, a well-designed small speaker enclosure with just two speaker units can be rewarding. Then comes the size of room the speaker will be functioning in. Maggie 3.3s in a 10x9-foot listening area (I've seen it!) is plainly ridiculous, particularly if one has neighbors and a modicum of consideration for them! If one has no restrictions, then by all means as big as you like. Otherwise . . .

Most of the speakers I have owned have been large. However, several years ago I purchased a Bose Lifestyle 5 System for my office, and the sound quality is amazing.

I have maggie 0.5's and can not go back to dynamic speakers. I think i will buy ML aerius next, which are medium sized, but the size is irrelivant.

Size should not matter, but doing more with less seems to be a common theme in today's society... Preferentially, as long as things get better then any advance in technology is better then no advance.

my situation c0onstantly changes, which requires more adaptability more often than not, equates to smaller size system

i moved from speakers with convetional drivers to Msgnepans. so though my speakers are taller and wider they are not nearly as deep.

I find that 2way designs are more true to small jazz combos, for my small room.

In many cases, large full-range speakers obviate the need for subwoofers. However, minimonitors and mid-size speakers are still important as room size (among other things) dictates speaker size.

I'm out of money and I don't have any room. I read your mag and dream.

Although It's the design&how it's made that determines the quality

Depends upon size of room

I own a pair of Acoustic Energy AE1s, and although they lack the bottom end of larger speakers, I will take their detail and speed over loose, thumping bass any day.

Speaker size must match the room's size and acoustic characteristics. Period!

Subwoofers with bookshelf speakers are better for sound and the budget. Large speakers are a macho thing that forces the low-bass drivers to go in unsuitable locations and vice versa for the midrange and treble.

bought the VonSchweikert VR4.0 - why have you guys never reviewed VonSchweikert speakers

NO small speaker can re-create the soundfield and sound pressure of a symhony orchestra! Anyone who believes otherwise should attend a few live performances in a good concert hall.

electrostatic is best

I have moved in the last year from Mirage M3's 130lbs each to Coincident Triumph grand Sig's around 37 lbs each. Love them, and have not missed the much larger speakers.

I was going to buy a pair of minimonitors but my psychologist said that speakers are really phallic symbols so not wanting to give my friends the wrong impression I bought an 8' pair of floorstanding speakers but then my Feng Shui master told me it would be "bad luck" if anyone tripped over the speaker cables running across the living-room floor so I decided to replace the floorstanders with some wall-mounted speakers and I probably would have to replace the asbestor in the walls with some acoustic damping lead shot but my doctor told me that at least I would retain my hearing if I died slowly of asbestos poisoning as opposed to dying "andante" so to speak of lead poisoning so my final trend in speaker systems is that I am no perched upon a big subwoofer wearing a pair of headphones.

Seriously, one does not need very big speakers as a status symbol of perfection. I must tell you that, through the years, my speakers have become bigger as I've developed a severe taste for electrostatics. Presently I have the marvelous Martin-Logan Sequel IIs. It is an understatement to call them fabulous!

A high-quality big speaker just sounds soooo right.

In the past I liked towers, and lately I have gone to satellites with a powered sub. I've done this in my home-theater room, and am now considering doing the same throughout the house.

Because I have had to move into a dorm room, I am right now considering trading in my $2000 floorstanding speakers for some more expensive smaller ones (maybe Totems).