Anyone Successfully Go from Floor Standers to Bookshelf Monitors w/ Subs?


My system is in a Large Living room which opens to dining room & Kitchen. I figure about 6k cu ft. I have Silverline Sonata speakers now with subs. Unfortunately I did not build my addition when I should have 10-15 yrs ago. Now I'm not really up to the task. Too old & wore out. So I'd love to make the LR a prettier room for my wife. One thing we talked about was the large speakers, and possibly using Watkins Gen 4 monitors. But as good as they sound, I am concerned about the ability to fill the room, or at least my listening area. As I understand, it is about moving air. I cannot see how a 6.5 & 1 inch speaker can move as much as a 10, 7, 3 & 1 inch. So I am quite concerned about that. Right now, the system sounds very pleasing to both of us. We don't want to take a backward step but can live with a sideways step if it is more visually pleasing.

Has anyone made this kind of a step from floor standers to monitors, both with subs, in a large room, with success? Or am I thinking correctly about the small speakers inability to move the proper amount of air for the room size? Thanks for your help.

OH, FWIW, The addition may not be completely out of the picture. But it depends on whether I can get one of my previous sub contractors to do a large part of it. 
128x128artemus_5

Showing 3 responses by artemus_5

Well, FWIW, I have decided to stick with the floor standers (Silverline). They  sound excellent. Kind of concerned that unless one has a fat wallet, the monitors will be too much chance of going backward instead of forward. Thanks for the input

Thanks for the answers so far. FWIW, I have 2 Sumiko S10 subs which are a clone of the Rel S5. they have Fiberglass Cones instead of metal (I believe that is correct). The speaker size and amps are the same size 12" & power 550 watts as well as their connection types. They are very easy to integrate and work well with my speakers now. I agree with Eric, in that integration is extremely important. 
I've also considered the Silverline Prelude Plus which are thin towers with 4 3 1/2" woofers/mids & soft dome tweeter. Supposedly go to 35hz. Yeah, mine were supposed to do 20hz. Also I have heard the Gen 4's and they are quite amazing for monitors. Bill Watkins was a master of bass who holds several patents including for the  Infinity-Watkins Dual Drive Woofers . The Gen 4's go to 41hz with great clarity. But again, the amount of air pushed is questionable
Wow! So many responses to answer. Thanks guys. FWIW, the Watkins Gen 4 have a return policy and Watkins Stereo is about 3 miles from my house. So, they wouldn’t be that hard to return. Once again, I have 2 Rel S5 subs (with Sumiko S-10 badges) So the subs are adequate for the job and I like them. I agree with @rauliruegas about the setup and crossover points. I have also played live music (drums & vocals) so I KNOW what a bass guitar should sound like and these subs do that well.

@allenf1963 We may be neighbors. I’ve lived in Kingsport for 25 yrs and have known Bill Watkins & his son for 35-40 yrs. I used to go up to just talk with Sr from time to time prior to his death. Bill Jr, says he was a genius and I believe it. I know about his patents & I believe he holds some on the Gen 4 too. Both speaker drivers are modified by Bill to get the desired outcome. He told me before he produced them that he was working on the best speaker he had ever produced. Again, Bill Jr says they are better than the WE-1’s. There again, Jr’s hearing is not as good as his fathers from what I understand (tinnitus) Nonetheless, both of them are very knowledgeable and are men of high integrity, IMO