Vintage full-range vs modern bookshelf

johnnm

johnnm

Audio Enthusiast
Which can generally produce a lower -3dB frequency: vintage full-range speakers or a pair of modern bookshelves?

I've heard some bookshelf speakers that simply cannot compete with the large 12" woofers found in older vintage speakers (specifically a pair of Utah Hertigage something-or-other). The modern may be more sonically accurate, but their bass extension leave something to be desired.

That said, I've never heard a TOTL or very/even moderately expensive pair of bookshelf speakers which claim to reach low frequencies. Are these worth investigating?

Just curious as to thoughts out there...

EDIT: I'm not talking about reaching subwoofer frequencies here. Just lower-end frequencies. Clearly there is no substitute for a dedicated subwoofer unit in the price range I'm talking about (a few thousand dollars).
 
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Define "bookself". I've got speakers that call themselves bookself speakers that have 12" woofers in them. Certainly there are many 10"ers as well.
 
many modern speakers are produced w/ HT in mind ,so there's gonna be a sub
somewhere in the system . also, the trend is "these 2 or 3 teeny woofers have the
same area as that bigger woofer, and are faster to boot" .

i disagree with these assumptions, but then again i don't believe the Bose wavweradio
sounds as "full and lifelike" as my clumsy ,antiquated stereo setups (L-112s driven by
carver M500t, snell e-type driven by NAD, and on and on....)

i don't know about any Utah 12" speakers sounding better than the little Sonus Fabers
a friend has...maybe tubby b,loated bass /no mids/cone tweeter rolloff.

i do know my little mission 700s don't have the bass extension of my polk 10Bs or JBLs
w/ 12" woofers , but they sure are articulate and shine in their own way without
much going on below 50 cycles.
 
like artk said, you can get deep bass from smaller woofers at the cost of efficiency,
jus make sure you've got big power to spare (crown,carver,bgw,crest...)
 
Art K. said:
Totem Mani 2 Signature

29 hz and still thumping...bring an amp with balls as this one eats 'em for lunch.

http://www.totemacoustic.com/products/compact/mani-2_signature/
Click to expand...

I bet those sound fantastic. I heard a pair of Totem Forests last weekend that simply amazed me with how low they could go, and how they could fill a room with that one small woofer. Yeah, the Forests weren't bookshelfs, but a lot of people that toss around generalizations about the bass you can't get from a small woofer really owe it to themselves to hear something like what Totem puts out.
 
JohnVF said:
I bet those sound fantastic. I heard a pair of Totem Forests last weekend that simply amazed me with how low they could go, and how they could fill a room with that one small woofer. Yeah, the Forests weren't bookshelfs, but a lot of people that toss around generalizations about the bass you can't get from a small woofer really owe it to themselves to hear something like what Totem puts out.
Click to expand...

Properly driven Mani 2 Sigs may be the best sounding speaker in their lineup. Visceral bass.
 
Hello John,

I use a variety of smaller bookshelf speakers as mains for setups throughout the house. Many smaller 2-way's might surprise you how well they compete with larger full-range speakers. There are some exceptional speakers given your budget range. If you have the means I would get out and listen to some if you can.

Below I have mentioned some of the smaller 2-ways I liked.

Bookshelf Speakers I've owned.

B&W 685's
B&W 705's
Totem Acoustic - Rainmaker's
Paradigm - Titan Monitor's
Paradigm - SE 1's

Bookshelf Speakers I have auditioned recently.

Usher Audio - Be-718's :tresbon:
Thiel - SCS4's
DALI - Mentor 1's

Regards,
TB
 
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