how much minimum distance is required from Floorstanders vs Bookshelves to appreciate quality music? I stay in an apartment and get a maximum distance of 5-6 feet from the speakers to the sweet spot. Will that be an overkill for Floorstanders(Towers)?
It depends on the floorstanders, it depends on the bookshelves. Sealed speakers, front ported, rear ported and a multitude of other factors will make a difference.
Are you looking for soundstage, depth, height, stereo imaging, etc.?
Do you speakers have wide dispersion, pinpoint dispersion?
No one can answer this question without more information about the room size, what's in it, what speakers you're looking at, what distance apart you can place the speakers, front or rear ported or sealed and I'm sure I've missed a few hundred other things.
hm, 5-6 feet is pretty close to nearfield listening if I'm not mistaken. In your situation, I'd get bookshelves over floorstanders...preferably a sealed design so you can put the speakers close to the rear wall, and use a good 8-inch subwoofer for extra bass extension.
For example, a pair of Ascend HTM-200s with Hsu STF-1 sub, would run you just around $600, less if you buy b-stock.
or if you don't mind rear-ported speakers, a pair of Onix XL-S bookshelves with the Onix X-subwoofer would be just $400. I'd take that combo over any $400 floorstanders any day.
You can add another X-sub for $600 total and get very even bass, esp. great for music.
JJ - I hate to point this out, but your post doesn't make things very clear. Are you telling us you can separate the speakers by five feet or you listen five feet away from the speakers but they can be spaced more widely than five feet apart?
"what disadvantages does "nearfield" listening have?"
None, if your speakers work well in the near field. Most small speakers can do well at a short distance. Many floorstanding speakers can have problems. When you go to listen to the speakers, ask the salesperson if the speakers do well in the near field and ask to audition them in such a manner.
i'm let to believe driver integration(if thats the term?) varies between brands and models. this from reading manuals. but i dont have a good mental picure of what is happening sonically if one sits closer than recommended distance.
i've speakers which the manufacturer recommends keeping a 1:1.1 - 1:1.3 distance of speaker-to-speaker:speaker-listener. and mentions a 6' starting distance.
i find nearfield vs farfield to be a big issue for me, one that has a massive bearing on presentation. i move my listning chair fairly often, sometimes preferring the action happening at arms-lenth, and sometimes prefering being immersed in it, especially for those special late night sessions . i also find better low level detail in the near field.
sorry, cant say if i think 5-6' is too close for your floorstanders. might just be a matter of personal preference.you might have to just go on what your ears are telling you.
In such a small listening space, a good stand-mount would be the more likely solution. Driver integration in multi-driver systems is dependent on the implementation of the crossover. In a two-way system with a good crossover design you can be very close to the speaker with little driver locatability. Then again, the whole issue can be avoided with a good single driver system.
Juggy, it's best u stick with the standmounts buddy. The ones I had advised you about and then the Quads. But, for a newbie the 9.1 + Marantz combo rocks! Go to Prithvi in Cubbon Road - Absolute Phase - he'll be a big help. Refer me if need be!!
